:^^ CORNELL 
 
 '^ ' UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 E591 .P84 
 The naval history of the Civil War 
 
 3 1924 032 779 385 ^ 
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Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032779385 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CIVIL WAR 
 
 BY 
 
 Admiral DAVID D. PORTER, U. S. Navy 
 
 ILLUSTRATED FEOM ORIGINAL SKETCHES MADE BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE AND OTHERS 
 
 New York 
 THE SHERMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 1886 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1885, by 
 
 THE SHERMAN PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. O. 
 
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 ROGERS &. SHERWOOD 
 
 21 AND 23 BARCLAV STREET 
 
 26 AND 28 PARK PLACE 
 
 NEW YORK CITV 
 
^a % ^eguld^ 0/ficej[S, the ^uiriotic ^alunteers md the §rdv^ M'^^^^^^ 
 
 and purines of the t^<tvg 
 
 THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL REMIND THOSE 
 
 STILL LIVING OF THE MANY THRILLING SCENES THROUGH WHICH THEY PASSED FROM 
 
 1861 TO 18G5, AND ALSO ASSURE THEM THAT THE AUTHOR IS STILL ALIVE TO 
 
 THE GREAT SERVICES THEY ALL PERFORMED, THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE, 
 
 AND THE SMALL REWARDS THAT WERE RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO SO 
 
 STEADFASTLY FOUGHT AN INTELLIGENT FOE THAT THIS UNION 
 
 MIGHT BE PRESERVED TO MILLIONS YET UNBORN. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE Naval incidents of the War of 1813 with. Great Britain are better understood 
 to-day by the great mass of American readers than are the naval incidents of 
 the Civil War between the northern and seceding States, which lasted from 
 1861 to 1865. In the War of 1812 half a dozen frigates and a dozen sloops of 
 war on the ocean, and three small squadrons on the lakes, made up about the 
 sum total of our Navy afloat when the war commenced, and those vessels performed 
 such marvelous exploits, considering the great superiority in ships of Great Britain, 
 that the events, comparatively few in number, have impressed themselves indelibly 
 on the mind of every schoolboy who read of them in books that were put in their hands 
 at an early age : events that were taught them as part of the history of a nation which, 
 previous to that time, had not paid much attention to the Navy, or even calculated that 
 it would become so famed. 
 
 Since that era the Navy of the United States has been making history for the 
 country on a scale almost bewildering, and could the old pioneer captains of 1813 have 
 been permitted to look on from their present abode (wherever that may be), we doubt 
 not but that they would have been astonished at the large fleets we were putting afloat 
 with such wonderful rapidity; and they would also have acknowledged that their descend- 
 ants had nobly borne themselves in the war for the salvation of this Union, which 
 was as dear to our forefathers as it is to us at the present time. 
 
 A man who undertakes to write a history of the naval events of such a war as we 
 were forced into, has a great responsibility resting upon him. He has to be careful of his 
 statements and the sources from which he obtains them; as a person has a right to 
 know before he purchases a book, whether the facts stated for his perusal are taken 
 from substantial authority, or from the common traditions which have been passed 
 down from decade to decade, and have been finally accepted as truth. 
 
 History could not be properly written after such a fashion as the latter; it must be 
 taken from the official naval records of the times, which, with but rare exceptions, have 
 been found to be remarkably correct. Many of them — indeed nearly all — have been writ- 
 ten by persons holding the most prominent positions in command, who have left the 
 stories of their achievements written in that truthful language which carries conviction 
 with it. No naval officer during the war would have dared to write any thing in his 
 official reports that was not strictly correct, for there were too many witnesses (and 
 interested ones) who would not have hesitated to impeach the veracity of any officer 
 who made anything but a proper report. 
 
 As far as it goes this history is made up from the official record of the Navy, and 
 the author has endeavored as far as possible to confine himself strictly to naval mat- 
 ters, except in cases where the Army and Navy co-operated. 
 
 Several books claiming to be naval histories were written directly after the war, 
 but as a rule these were of a partisan character, not written particularly to do justice 
 to the Navy but to give credit to particular individuals who had a good deal to do in 
 the matter of ensuring success, and who no doubt deserved much of the praise that was 
 bestowed upon them; but in all cases the authors lost sight of the main object of the 
 history, and that is to do justice to all, and not allow themselves to be diverted from the 
 true facts because they may have had official relations with those they took care 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 to applaud. There was too much of this in some histories which dwelt so much on 
 the virtues of the heads of departments that they forgot to do justice to those who fought 
 the battles. In all the histories the author has read there have been serious misrepresenta- 
 tions, purposely printed and written with the intention to do harm to the reputation 
 of some who deserved not only the highest praise from the government but the truth 
 from impartial historians. 
 
 While our Army has been written of by a thousand ready pens, the Navy has not, as 
 a rule, been a popular theme for the historian, and now and then only do we meet 
 with some well drawn story of the Navy and the benefits it conferred upon the 
 country. Our Army was full of writers who could delineate in the most happy manner all 
 the events that were transpiring around them— they were also ready with the pencil; the 
 photographer, while he traveled with the army, would spend his days in photograph- 
 ing every noted scene, reprints of which were scattered broadcast over the Union, 
 keeping the movements of our armies as clearly before the millions of people in the 
 North as if the battles had been reflected in a mirror. The camp, the march, the 
 bivouac, the battle-field were almost as familiar to the friends and relations of those 
 in the field as if they had been on the spot, but there were no such means of bringing 
 the Navy before the public. Naval ships did not travel with reporters, photographers 
 ■or sketchers, there was no room for these on board ship, and if perchance some stray 
 reporter should get on board, the discomfort of a man of war, the exacting discipline, 
 and the freer life in camp sent him back to shore, where in most cases he only re- 
 membered his associations with the Navy as a trip without any satisfaction, and with 
 no desire to do justice to the work of the naval service. 
 
 The author is quite aware that he may not possess all the requisites for a historian, 
 but he thinks he can put the records in plain shape and write them down in plain Eng- 
 lish, which on the whole is quite as much as has been done by others. The object will 
 be to show how little the work of the Navy was appreciated by the people of this 
 country, while they lavished all their attention on the Army. It is true our Armies 
 were entitled to all that could be showered on them by a grateful people ; yet the part 
 performed by the Navy when placed in its true light before the world, will show to ad- 
 vantage compare it as you may with any other branch of public service. Time 
 with unsparing hand has swept away nearly all the men who led our fleets to battle 
 during the war. But one or two remain, while those who were in the flower of manhood 
 when the war was at its worst, have reached the highest honors the country had to 
 bestow, and with no more naval duty afloat to perform, except in time of war, when 
 they can offer their services, none the less efficient for a green old age, are waiting 
 calmly (enjoying the rest from the hardships of the past) to reap those higher rewards 
 for duties well performed on earth, where the sounds of battle will no more be heard, and 
 where the laurels they have gained will never wither — these officers must not be forgot- 
 ten, and wish to be remembered. 
 
 If this work does not satisfy public expectations, it may point out the way for some 
 future historian, some patient, plodding man, who will delve into old closets and bureaux 
 until he finds the missing links which may escape the heedless writer of this fast age. 
 
 History is better written after the lapse of years, when those who have taken part in 
 it have all passed away, when prejudices have all been laid aside, and when the historian 
 knows nothing of the actors' deeds besides what is told in the records. But the present 
 age is an impatient one, and the young American who was not on the scene of action 
 when civil discord plunged the country into the most bloody war the world ever saw, is 
 anxious now to know all that occurred at the time that tried men's souls; they particu- 
 larly desire to see how their forefathers deported themselves on fields of battle or in 
 ships of war, and to become familiar with all the thrilling scenes which, though pleasant 
 reading now, brought sorrow and desolation to thousands of homes, homes where to this 
 day they worship the memory of the loved one who left them in the vigor of manhood, 
 and on whom they never looked aeain. The Atttttor 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Note. — At the commencement of each Chapter will be found a detailed syllabus of the matter therein contained. The following embraces 
 only the principal subjects of each Chapter. See General Index for List of Vessels and Officers of Squadrons. 
 
 Chaptbr 
 
 I. Organization op the Navy Department. — Blockade-Runners, etc. 
 
 II. Bombardment and Pall op Fort Sumter.— Destruction op Norfolk Navy Yard 
 
 PAGES 
 
 17-23 
 24-33 
 
 III. 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Closing op Southern Ports.— Increase op the Navt.— List op Vessels and 
 THEIR Stations. — Purchased Vessels.— Vessels Constructing, etc. . 
 
 Death op Ellsworth.— Capture op Alexandria.— Operations op the Potomac 
 Flotilla, etc - . . 
 
 Capture op the "Works at Hattbbas Inlet. 
 "Judah,"etc. 
 
 -Destruction op the Privateer 
 
 Naval Expedition Against Port Royal 
 
 The " Trent " Appaib. — Capture op Mason and Slidell, etc 
 
 Capture op Fernandina and the Coast South op Georgia, etc 
 
 Operations op Admiral DuPont in the Sounds op South Carolina . . . . 
 
 Naval Engagement at Southwest Pass.— Operations op the Gulp Squadron, 
 1861.— Attack on Forts McRae and Pickens 
 
 Goldsborough's Expedition to 
 Roanoke Island ... 
 
 Fight Between the "Monitor" and 
 gress " and " cumberland " 
 
 Sounds op North Carolina.— Capture op 
 Merrimac."— Sinking op the "Con- 
 
 'S^^ Building a Navy on the Western Waters — Battle op Belmont, etc. 
 XIV. Capture op Fort Henry, etc. 
 
 Capture op Fort Donklson and Battle op Shiloh 
 
 Operations on the Mississippi River in 1863 
 
 Bombardment and Capture op Fort Pillow.— Battle op Memphis, etc. 
 
 Capture op Forts Jackson and St. Philip. -Farragut before New Orleans 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 
 Battle op the Forts and Capture of New Orleans.- Interesting Reports of 
 Commanders op Vessels. -Mayor OF New Orleans, ETC. . . . . 
 
 A Brave Officer's Mortification 
 
 First Attack on Vicksburg.— Ram "Arkansas."— Engagement at Port Hudson . 
 
 Operations in the Potomac. — Destruction of Confederate Batteries. — 
 Losses by Shipwreck, in Battle, etc 
 
 Destruction op the Ram "Arkansas."— Capture of Galveston.— Capture of 
 THE "Harriet Lane." — Sinking of the Hattebas— Attack on Baton Rouge. 
 — Miscellaneous Engagements op the Gun-boats 
 
 Second Attack on Vicksburg, etc.- 
 Haines' Bluff, etc. 
 
 -Expedition up the Yazoo. — Attack on 
 
 XXV. Capture of Fort Hindman or Arkansas Post, etc 
 
 XXVI Siege op Vicksburg.- Combat between the Federal and Confederate Gun- 
 boats. — Yazoo Pass Expedition.— Engagement with Fort Pemberton 
 
 33-38 
 
 39^3 
 
 44^53 
 53-62 
 63-74 
 75-79 
 80-86 
 
 87-107 
 
 108-118 
 
 119-138 
 134-140 
 141-148 
 149-157 
 
 , 158-167 
 168-174 
 
 , 175-188 
 
 189-234 
 335-345 
 346-264 
 
 365-367 
 
 268-283 
 
 283-288 
 389-294 
 
 395-303 
 
VI 
 
 Chapter 
 XXVII. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 XL. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 XLII. 
 XLIII. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 XL VI. 
 
 XL VII. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 L. 
 
 LI. 
 
 LII. 
 
 LIIL 
 
 LIV. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAOES 
 
 Expedition Through Steble's Bayou and Debr Creek 303-309 
 
 The Fleet Passing Vicksburg.— Capture of Grand CrULP.— Attack on Haines 
 Bluff.— Capture of Alexandria, La., ktc 310-318 
 
 Siege of Vicksburg Continued— Attack on Vicksburg by Army and Navy.— 
 Destruction op Confederate Rams.— Vicksburg Surrenders, etc. . . 319-330 
 
 Expedition to Yazoo City.— Attack on Helena, Ark. General Morgan's 
 Raid, ETC 331-344 
 
 Operations op Parragut's Vessels on the Coast of Texas, etc. . . 345-353 
 
 Navy Department.— Energies Displayed.— Building of IRON-CLADS . . 354-366 
 
 Operations op the South Atlantic Squadron, Rear-Admiral DuPont, 
 1863— Attack on Batteries in Charleston Harbor.— Capture of the Con- 
 federate Ram "Atlanta," ETC. 367-398 
 
 Further Operations of Flag-officer Goldsborough in the Sounds of North 
 Carolina.— Capture of Fort Macon.— Blowing up of the "Merrimac," etc. 399^11 
 
 Operations of the North Atlantic Squadron, 1863. — Rear-Admiral S. P. 
 Lee.— Loss of the " Monitor,'" etc 412^31 
 
 Operations of the South Atlantic Squadron under Rbar-Admiral Dahl- 
 gren, 1863.— Operations in Charleston Harbor, etc 433-453 
 
 Operations op the East Gulf Squadron to October, 1868.— Rear-Admiral 
 Bailey Commanding 453^61 
 
 Review of the Work Done by the Navy in 1863 462-467 
 
 Miscellaneous Operations, Land and Sea. — Operations in the Nansemond, 
 Cape Fear, Pamunky, Chuckatuck and James Rivers.- Destruction of 
 Blockadb-Runners.— Adventures op Lieutenant Cushinq, etc. . . . 468-479 
 
 Operations at Dutch Gap. — Manceuvres op Generals Grant, Sherman, Sheri- 
 dan, AND Confederate Armies. —Engagement with Ram "Albemarle," etc. 480-493 
 
 The Red River Expedition under Major-Gbneral Banks, assisted by the 
 Navy under Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter 494r-534 
 
 Red Rivbr Expedition Continued 535-553 
 
 Operations of the Mississippi Squadron under Rear-Admiral Porter after 
 the Red River Expedition 554-564 
 
 Battle of Mobile Bay 565-600 
 
 Cruise op the Confederate Cruiser " Sumter," and the havoc she Committed 601-630 
 
 Adventures of the "Alabama" and " Florida."— Engagement Between 
 the "Kearsarge" AND "Alabama" 621-658 
 
 Operations op the South Atlantic Squadron under Rear-Admiral Dahl- 
 gren during the latter end of 1863 and in 1864 659-676 
 
 Potomac Flotilla.— Increase of the Navy, and Improvements in Naval 
 Ships during the Year 1864 . . 677-682 
 
 First Attack on Fort Fisher.— Destruction of the Confederate Ram 
 
 " Albemarle " 683-709 
 
 Second Attack on Fort Fisher, and Other Operations ..... 710-747 
 
 Effects of the Fall of Fisher, etc 748-757 
 
 Operations about Charleston, 1865.— Fall of Charleston and Savannah . 758-774 
 
 Operations of the West Gulf Squadron in the latter part of 1864, and 
 IN 1865.— Joint Operations of Rbar-Admiral Thatcher and General Canby. 775-791 
 
 Capture of Richmond.— Destruction of the Confederate Fleet in Jambs 
 River, etc 793-801 
 
 Operations of the Mississippi Squadron in the Latter End op 1864 and in 1865 803-812 
 
 Commerce-Destroyers.— Their Inception, Remarkable Career and Ending. 813-830 
 
 The Ram "Stonewall" 831-837 
 
 Conclusion 828-833 
 
 Prizes Adjudicated from the Commencbmbnt of the Rebellion to November 
 1, 1865, with the Names op Vessels or Other Material Captured, and the \ 
 
 Names of Vessels Entitled to Share in Distribution of Proceeds . . 833-84^4 
 
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 APPEARANCE of Fort Sumter at the Close 
 of the Attack 442 
 
 Attack on Aquai Creek Batteries ... 41 
 " the U. S. S. "Cricket" . . .513 
 
 " Fort Henry 143 
 
 of Gun-boats at Memphis . .170 
 
 on Port Macon 403 
 
 " Roanoke Island 115 
 
 " Fort Sumter 34 
 
 BATTERIES at Grand Gulf, captured by 
 Mississippi Squadron 314 
 
 Battle of Belmont 137 
 
 " Fort Donelson 156 
 
 " Fort Pillow 166 
 
 " Memphis, enemy retreating . . 173 
 
 " Mobile Bay 574 
 
 " New Orleans; Farragut's Fleet pass- 
 ing up the Mississippi River . . 183 
 Captain Bailey's division meeting 
 Enemy's Flotilla above Forts . 184 
 " " New Orleans. Diagram of . . 340 
 Baton Rouge, La., Captured by Capt. Palmer, 
 
 of the " Iroquois " 274 
 
 *'Bi/ACK HA"WK," Admiral Porter's Flag-ship 495 
 " Brooklyn," the U. S. Sloop-of-War . . 88 
 3UBNING of the Norfolk Navy Yard . . 31 
 
 CAPTURE of Fort De Russy . . . .498 
 " " the Forts at Hatteras Inlet . 47 
 "the Privateer "Royal Yacht" . 93 
 " theU.S.Steamer "HarrietLane" 270 
 ■Capture of the Ram " Atlanta" by the Moni- 
 tor " Weehawken " 385 
 
 ■Commodore Foote's Iron-clads at Cairo, 111. . 143 
 
 •CoNEBDBBATE Iron-clad "Atlanta," Diagram of 384 
 
 " Ram " Tennessee " surrendering. 577 
 
 " Steamer "Alabama" . . 648 
 
 Steam-cruiser "Sumter" . .607 
 
 ■" Cricket," TJ. S. Gun-boat, Attack on . . 513 
 
 DEATH of Captain Jas. H. Ward . . .43 
 Defences of Charleston Harbor. Fortifi- 
 cations on Sullivan's Island . . . 767 
 Defences of Charleston Harbor. Fortifica- 
 tions on James Island .... 766 
 Destruction of the Ram " Arkansas '' by II. 8. 
 
 Gun-boat "Essex" 269 
 
 ELLET'S Steam-wheel Ram .... 296 
 Exterior of Fort Walker . . .58 
 
 FORT Beauregard, Interior of ... 60 
 " Donelson, Battle of 156 
 
 " De Russy, Capture of . . . .498 
 Forts Hatteras and Clark, Plan of attack on . 48 
 Fort " Interior of, after Bombardment 49 
 
 " Henry, Attack on 143 
 
 " Hindman or Arkansas Post -Casemate 
 No. 1 destroyed by U. S. Gun - boat 
 
 " Baron DeKalb" 293 
 
 " Hindman, Casemate No. 3 destroyed by 
 
 U. 8. Gun-boat " Louisville " . . 292 
 ■" Hindman, appearance of Casemate be- 
 fore attack 292 
 
 " Hindman, Near View of Casemate No. 2 392 
 
 " Macon, Attack on 402 
 
 *' Ocracoke, Destruction of . . . 50 
 
 Pillow, Battle at 166 
 
 " Sumter. Attack on .... 34 
 
 Forts WalkerandBeauregard,Plan of attack on 54 
 Forts Walker and Beauregard, Bombardment 
 
 and capture of 56 
 
 Fort Walker, Exterior of 58 
 
 Fortifications on James Island . . . 766 
 " " Sullivan Island . . 767 
 
 GENERAL Map of Charleston Harbor ; op- 
 posite . 760 
 
 HATTERAS INLET, fleet opening fire on the 
 Forts . . . ." . . . .47 
 
 " Harriet Lane," Steamer .... 29 
 " Hartford," U. S. Flag-ship . . . .180 
 Home Squadron, U. S. Navy .... 35 
 
 TNDIANOLA, Iron-clad 298 
 
 1 Iron-clad Gun-boats " St. Louis," " Caron- 
 
 delet" and "Essex" 147 
 
 Island No. 10, The " Carondelet " running the 
 batteries at 162 
 
 MATHIAS POINT, Skirmish at . . . 42 
 Memphis, Attack of the gun-boats at . 170 
 
 " Merrimac," The 134 
 
 " sinking the "Cumberland" . 133 
 
 Mississippi Squadron passing the batteries at 
 
 Vicksburg 311 
 
 Mobile Bay, Battle of 574 
 
 " Monitor," in Battle Trim .... 133 
 " The, lost in a Gale . . . .413 
 
 " and "Merrimac" fight at short 
 
 range 137 
 
 MAPS, PLANS, Etc. 
 
 Chart of Mobile Bay 566 
 
 " showing Fleet passing Fort Morgan and 
 Position of Confederate Ports and 
 
 Vessels 566 
 
 " of the Action between the "Alabama" 
 
 and "Kearsarge" 653 
 
 Diagram of the Ram "Tennessee," (11 . . 577 
 " " (3) . . 595 
 
 " Second Attack on Fort Fisher, show- 
 ing Position of Vessels ; opposite . 730 
 Map (General) of Charleston, showing Defences 
 
 and Obstructions . . . opposite . 376 
 " Fortifications on James Island . . 766 
 " Fortifications on Sulhvan's Island . . 767 
 " showing Fortress Monroe, Newport News, 
 Chesapeake Bay, James River, and sur- 
 rounding Country 133 
 
 " and Plan of Attack on Roanoke Island. 113 
 Plan of Attack on Forts Hatteras and Clark . 48 
 " " Attack on Forts Walker and Beau- 
 regard 54 
 
 " (No. 3), showing Farragut's Vessels pass- 
 ing Fort Morgan ... . . 573 
 
 " of the Attack on Forts Walker and Beau- 
 regard ....... 54 
 
 " of the Battle at Grand Gulf . . .314 
 " " Fort Hindman or Arkansas Post . . 394 
 Sketch, showing Line of Confederate Fortifica- 
 tions at Mouth ot Cape Fear River . . 713 
 Sounds of North Carolina .... 45 
 
 "lUORFOLK Navy Yard, Burning of . . 31 
 
 DANORAMIC View of Pensacola Bay . . 95 
 
vm 
 
 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PORTRAITS : 
 Aldbn, Captain James . . - 582 
 
 Ammbn, Commander Daniel . . 371 
 
 Bachb, Lieutenant George M 333 
 
 Bailey, Captain Theodorus ... 236 
 Baldwin, Aotlng-Lieutenant Charles H. 253 
 
 Balch, Captain Charles H. .... 661 
 
 Bankhbad, Commander J. P. . . 415 
 
 Barnbs, Lieutenant-Commander John S. , 728 
 Belknap, Lieutenant-Commander Geo. E. . 450 
 BoQGts, Commander Charles P. . . . 181 
 
 Braine, Lieutenant-Commander D. L. . . 714 
 Bbeese, ■' " K. Randolph 694 
 
 Bridge, Horatio, Chief of Bureau of Provisions 
 
 and Clothing 364 
 
 Broome, Captain J. L. (Marine Corps] . . 220 
 Buchanan, Commodore Franklin, C. S. N. . 120 
 Caldwell, Lieutenant Commanding C. H. B. 211 
 
 Case, Comimander A. L. 404 
 
 CoLHOUN, Commander Edmund R. . . 477 
 
 Cot KB, Lieutenant-Commander Augustus P. . 349 
 COOPBB, Commander Charles H. . . . 670 
 Crosby, Lieutenant-Commander Pierce . 259 
 
 Cdshing, Lieutenant Wm. B 687 
 
 Cutter, Paymaster Geo. F. ... 217 
 
 Dahlgren, Rear-Admiral John A. . 433 
 
 Davis, Lieutenant-Commander John Lee . . 697 
 Davis, Rear Admiral Charles H. . . . 169 
 
 Drayton, Captain Percival 370 
 
 DuPONT, Flag-officer S. F 61 
 
 English, Lieutenant-Commander Earl . 455 
 
 Ericssbn, Captain John 125 
 
 Evans, Acting Ensign Robley D. . . . 717 
 Fairfax, Commander D. MeiNT. . .376 
 
 Farragut, Admiral David G 176 
 
 Flusser, Lieutenant-Commander Charles W. 484 
 
 FoLTZ, Fleet-Surgeon J. W 194 
 
 FooTB, Rear-Admiral A. H 135 
 
 Fox, Gustavus V., Assistant Secretary of Navy 21 
 Ghbrardi, Lieutenant-Commander Bancroft 585 
 
 Glisson, Captain O. S 723 
 
 GoDON, Commanders. W. .... 722 
 
 GoLDSBOBOUGH, Rear-Admiral Louis M. . . 109 
 Greene, Lieutenant Samuel Dana . . . 128 
 
 Green, Captain J. F 386 
 
 Greer, Lieutenant-Commander James A. . 313 
 GwiNN, " '• Wm. . . 287 
 
 HOLLINS, Commodore J. S., C. S. N. . . 89 
 
 Howell, Commander J. C 702 
 
 ISHBRWOOD, B. F., Chief of Bur. of Steam Eng. 361 
 Jenkins, Captain Thornton .... 581 
 Jones, Lieutenant Catesby, Ap. R. (C. S. N). . 121 
 JouETT, Rear-Admiral James E. ... 92 
 Lenthall, John, Chief of Bur. of Construction 858 
 " " " 378 
 
 379 
 623 
 715 
 734 
 456 
 778 
 187 
 129 
 586 
 584 
 776 
 678 
 28 
 407 
 247 
 340 
 403 
 
 731 
 186 
 271 
 724 
 720 
 475 
 185 
 
 LeRoy, Commander Wm. E. 
 Luce, Lieutenant-Commander S. B. . 
 Mappitt, Commander J. Newland, C. S. N. . 
 Maulsby, Fleet-Surgeon George . 
 McCoOK, Lieutenant Roderick S. . . . 
 McCauley, Lieutenant-Commander E. York 
 Mbadb, Lieutenant- Commander R. W. . 
 Mitchell, Commander John K., C. S. N. . 
 Morris, Lieutenant George U. ... 
 MuLLANY, Commander R, Madison . 
 Nicholson, Commander J. W. A. . 
 Palmer, Commander James S. . 
 Parker, Commander Foxall A. . . . 
 Paulding, Commodore Hiram . 
 Paulding, Lieutenant Leonard 
 Perkins, Lieutenant George H. . 
 Phelps, Lieutenant-Commander S. Ledyard 
 Phblps, Lieutenant-Commander T. S. 
 PiNKNBY, Fleet-Surgeon Ninian . 
 Porter, Carlile P., Admiral's Secretary . 
 Porter, Commander David D. . . . 
 Porter, Commander William D. 
 Porter, Lieutenant Benjamin H. . 
 Preston, Lieutenant Sam'l W. . . 
 Quackenbush, Lieutenant Commander S. P. 
 Queen, Lieutenant W. W 
 
 Radford, Commodore William . . • 707 
 
 Reed, Commander Abner 353 
 
 Rhind, Commander A. C 375 
 
 Rodgbrs, Commander John . . • . 406 
 Rodgkrs, Commander George W. • • • 444 
 Rodgbrs, Rear Admiral C. R. P. • 81 
 
 Rowan, Vice- Admiral S. C IH 
 
 Schenck, Commodore James 8 706 
 
 Selfridgb, Lieutenant-Commander T. O. 384 
 
 Sbmmbs, Lieutenant A. A 458 
 
 Semmes, Commander Raphael, C. S- N. . 602 
 
 Shirk, Commander James W 160 
 
 SiGSBBE, Commander Charles D. . . . 736 
 Simpson, Commander Edward ■ ■ .664 
 
 Smith, Lieutenant Joseph B 130 
 
 Smith, Commander Melancton ... - 206 
 Steedman, Commander Charles ■ . • 383 
 
 Stbmbbl, Rear-Admiral R. N 145 
 
 Stringham, Commodore Silas H ... 46 
 Tatnall, Commodore Josiah, C. S. N. . ■ 131 
 Taylor, Captain Wm. Rogers. • .388 
 
 Thatcher, Rear-Admiral Henry K. . . .780 
 Trenchard, Commander 8. D ... 418 
 
 Truxtun, Lieutenant-Commander W. T. . .690 
 Turner, Captain Thomas .... 378 
 
 Upshur, Commander John H 381 
 
 Wainwright, Commander Richard . . 201 
 
 Wales, Surgeon Philip S 725 
 
 Walkb, Rear-Admiral Henry . • . . 154 
 Walker, Lieutenant-Commander John G. . 290 
 
 Ward, Commander James H 40 
 
 Weaver, Lieutenant-Commander .AW. . .667 
 Welles, Hon. Gideon, Secretary of the Navy, 
 
 1861 to 1869 19 
 
 Wilkes, Captain Charles 64 
 
 Wilson, Lieutenant Commanding Byron . . 320 
 
 WiNSLOW, Captain John A 649 
 
 Wise, Captain H. A., Chief of Bureau of Ord. 363 
 WOOD, Lieutenant, John Taylor, C. S. N. . 133 
 WORDEN, Rear-Admiral John L. ... 126 
 
 rvUEEN OF THE WEST, Gun-boat . . 297 
 
 RAM " Arkansas," Destruction of . . . 269 
 Red River Dam: Gun-boats passing the 
 
 Rapids 530 
 
 Red River Expedition: The Fleet of Gun- 
 Boats starting out . 496 
 " U. S. Hospital Ship ... 300 
 Roanoke Island, Attack on ... . 115 
 
 SECOND Attack on Fort Fisher, showing 
 Position of Vessels 
 
 Skirmish between the " Freeborn" and "Reso- 
 lute," and a Secession Force at Mathias 
 
 Point 43 
 
 Surrender of the U. S. Steamer "Mercedita" 
 
 to the Confederate Ram " Palmetto State " 368 
 
 THE GUN-BOAT " Carondelet " running 
 the Batteries at Island No. 10 . . . 162 
 
 The "Merbimac" 133 
 
 The " Sinking the " Cumberland " .134 
 
 The " and "Monitor," fight between 127 
 
 The " Monitor " in Battle Trim . . .123 
 
 UO Frigate " San Jacinto " overhauling the 
 . O. British Steamer " Trent " ... 71 
 " Gun-boats " Taylor " and " Lexington " 139 
 " Gun-boat " Cincinnati," sunk at Vicks- 
 
 burg 324 
 
 " Iron-clad " Cairo," sunk bv a Torpedo 285 
 " Naval Hospital-ship, " Red Rover " .300 
 " Sloop-of-war " Brooklyn " ... 88 
 " Steamer " Kearsarge " .... 657 
 
 VICK8BURG, Mississippi, Squadron passing 
 batteries at 311 
 
 TITHISTLING DICK 331 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 NOTE. — Persona, Vessels, Places, Hivers, etc., casually mentioued in this History, are not noted in this Index. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Abraham, the 294,344 
 
 A. B. Seger.the 277 
 
 A. C. Powell, the 411 
 
 Adams, Ensign 350,436 
 
 Adams, Captain (C. S. A.) 428 
 
 Adams, Captain H. A 105, 200 
 
 Adams, Charles W 92 
 
 Adelaide, the 45 
 
 Adolph Hugel, the 179 
 
 Adela, the 469 
 
 Agassiz, the 418 
 
 Agawan, the 477,480 
 
 Alahama, the (C. S. N.), 70, 271, 466 ; the 
 adventures of and captures made hy, 
 621 to 650, inclusive ; engagement 
 with Kearsarge, 650; sunk by Kear- 
 
 sarge, 661; list ot officers of 656 
 
 Albatross, the, 272 et eeq 281, 349, 464 
 
 Albemarle, the (Confederate Bam^, 356, 
 
 486; destruction of ' 688 
 
 Albemarle Eiver 417 
 
 Albemarle Sound, 47, 108, 110, 112,371,412, 426 
 Alden, Commander James, 29, 107, 198, 
 208 et seCL.; 261, 272, 670, 5S2, 697 et seq. 
 
 Alert, the ,. . . 418, 493 
 
 Alexander Cooper, the 428 
 
 Alexandria, the 343 
 
 Alexandria, Va., evacuation of 40 
 
 Alexandria, La 310, 318, 347, 495, 632 
 
 Allison, the 415,418 
 
 Alligator River 425 
 
 Alps, the .166, 157 
 
 Althea, the, blown up 782 
 
 Amanda, the 460 
 
 America, the 391 
 
 Ammen, Lieutenant-Commander Daniel, 
 67, 79, 81, 84 et seq.; 372, 376, 394. . . 709 
 
 Anacostia, the 40etseq. 
 
 Anderson. Major 25, 96 et seq. 
 
 Andrews, Colonel (C. S. A.) 46 
 
 Anglo American, the 262 
 
 Anna Dale, the (C. S. N.), captured 779 
 
 Annie Sophia (Confederate Ram) captured 778 
 
 Ansonia, the 641 
 
 Appalache Bay 453 
 
 Appalchicola 454 
 
 Appomattox River 471 
 
 Aquia Creek 40 
 
 Ai^osy, the 340, 343 
 
 Aries, the 471 
 
 Arizona, the 317, 318, 346,349 
 
 Arkadelphia 495 
 
 Arkansas, the ram (C. S. N.), 176, 260; de- 
 struction of 263, 268, 275, 357 
 
 Arkansas Post, 32, 287 et seq. ; capture of, 
 
 289 et seq. 
 
 Arkansas River 293 
 
 Arietta, the 179,410 
 
 Armstrong, Commander J. F. . , 403 
 
 Aroostook, the 281,404, 490 
 
 Artillery, the First 104 
 
 Aihby's Harbor 112 et seq. 
 
 Ashley River 434 
 
 Aspinwall, William H 97 
 
 Atchaf alaya Bay 277, 339, 496, 632 
 
 Atlanta, the (C. S. A.), 366; surrender of 
 
 384 et seq. 
 
 Atlantic, the 53, 102, 105 etseq. 
 
 Augusta, the 67, 370 
 
 Avenger, the 344 
 
 Ayletta 426 
 
 Baoon, the 179 
 
 Bache, Prof. H. D 280 
 
 Bache, Lieutenant-Commander G. M., 
 288 et seq. ; 292 ; 303 ; complimentary 
 letter to, from Sec. of Navy, 323 ; 335, 339 
 
 Bailey's Ferry 142 
 
 Bailey, Colonel 538 et seq. 
 
 Bailey, Captain Theodorus, 177, 181, 188, 
 190 et seq.; 196, 198. et seq.; 204; jus- 
 tice to, 236; receives Confederate flags, 
 235; tells story of the capture of New 
 Orleans, 1.S6 et seq.; 237, 239; 247 et 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bainbridge, the 36 
 
 Baker, Captain Charles E 112 
 
 Bates, Attorney-General 138 
 
 Baldwin, Lieut.-Commander C. H., 223, 226 
 
 Ball'sBluff 637 
 
 Barrataria, the 348 
 
 Barron, Flag-offlcer Samuel (C. S. N.) 46 
 
 Bankhead, Lieut.-Commander J. P., 65, 79, 
 
 84 413 
 
 Balch, Lieut.-Commander G. B., 79, 86, 
 
 439 etseq.; 660 C66 etseq. 
 
 Bartholomew, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Barnes, Lieutenant, John S 181, 371, 480 
 
 Baltic, the 97 et seq. 
 
 Barney, Lieutenant (C. S. N.) 132 
 
 Badeau, Oeneral 137; 752 et seq. 
 
 Baron de Kalb, the, 139, 284, 288, 289, 293, 
 
 295, 300, et seq.; 316 et seq.; 320, 324 331 
 Baton Bouge, La., 193, 247, 262, 268, 274 
 
 et seq 274 
 
 Baker, Marion N. (C. S.) 193 
 
 Bashford, James A 213 
 
 Bayou Sara 252 
 
 Banks, Major-General N. P., 272, 296, 
 208, 318 ; relieves General Butler at 
 
 New Orleans 346, 494, 526, 634, 635 
 
 Banshee, the (blockade-runner), eludes 
 
 the blockaders 671 
 
 Baltimore, the 404 
 
 Bayou River 335 
 
 Badger, Lieutenant-Commander O.C. ,436, 446 
 
 Bacon, Lieutenant-Commander 370, 440 
 
 Balch, Ensign Edward 459 
 
 Bald Head 313 et seq. 
 
 Balch, Acting-Master J. W .471, 478 
 
 Bayport 455 
 
 Berwick's Bay 18L 
 
 Belle Algerine, the (C. S. N.) .178 
 
 Benton, the, 139, 160 etseq.; 166, 168 et 
 seq.; 273, 283, 286 et seq.; 288, 295, 310, 
 313, 314 et seq.; 317, 318, 321, 322,343 
 
 Beaufort, N. C 76,403.408 
 
 Bell, Captain Henry H , 177, 180, 184, 190 
 
 etseq.; 198,200, 248, 271 346 
 
 Beauregard, General (0. S. N.), 370, 470, 471 
 
 Beauregard, the 461 
 
 Behm, Lieutenant-Commander C. F. W. . . 109 
 
 Belmont, Ky 134, 337, 339 
 
 Belmont Landing, battle of, 136 137 
 
 Berry, Captain 415 
 
 Bendigo, the 471 
 
 Belknap, Colonel J. C 417. 450 
 
 Ben Morgan, the 431 
 
 Bermuda Hundred 474 
 
 Bissell. Colonel 334, 341 
 
 Bienville, the 57, 77, 389, 778 
 
 Big Black River 312,316 
 
 Bishop, Lieutenant-Commander Joshua, 
 
 169 336 
 
 Black Bayou 304 
 
 Blanchard, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Black Warrior, the (C. S. N.), capture of.. 116 
 Black. Hawk the, 283 et seq.; 291, '295, 
 
 316,318, 327, 342 534 
 
 Blair, Montgomery 96 
 
 Blake, Captain 27 
 
 Blake. Lieutenant F. B... . 61 
 
 Blodgett, Lieutenant 174 
 
 Black River 313, 318, 332 
 
 Black Water River 400 
 
 Blue Wing, the 292 
 
 Blockade - runners, British Merchants 
 speculating in, 368 ; large number 
 captured, 363 ; destruction of, 472 ; 
 
 crowd into Nassau 686 
 
 Bohicthe 282 
 
 Boynton, . naval historian, 34, 97, 104 
 
 etseq.: 153 451 
 
 Boutelle, Captain 56, 81, 82 
 
 Boyd's i^eck 84 
 
 Boston, the 85 
 
 Boggs, Commander Charles S., 183, 185, 
 
 190, 192, 198 etseq.; 206 
 
 Bowling Green 141, 154 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bombshell, the 487 
 
 Brashear City 277 
 
 Braine, Lieutenant D. L., 49 et seq.; 423 
 
 Bragg, General, 56, 105, his forces 106 
 
 Brooklyn, the, 36. 89, 105 et seq. ; 177, 181, 
 183 et seq.; 187, 193, 198, 203, 207, 269, 
 
 271 279 
 
 Brown, General Harvey, 49, 93 et seq. ; 
 
 102 et seq. 
 
 Brigades ; Braggs, 106 ; Indiana, 173 ; 
 Iowa, second, 497 ; Mississippi Marine 
 Brigade, 312 ; Pope's, 162 ; Smith's, 
 
 142; Weitzel's, 279; Wright's 77 
 
 Brown, Acting-Master Henry 179 
 
 Brooke, Lieutenant John M. (C. S. N.)....119 
 Breese, Lieutenant K. Randolph, 179, 228, 
 
 292,316,320,570 694 
 
 Bryant, Lieutenant-Commander N. C 169 
 
 Brown, Acting-Master George W 179, 288 
 
 Brunswick 78 
 
 Brown, Lieutenant George 249, 257, 297 
 
 Brincker, the 109, 113 etseq. 
 
 Breckenridge, Major-General ■ iohn C. 
 
 (C. S. A.), 263. 276 et seq 340 
 
 Brown, A. 8., officer at Naval Rendezvous 
 
 at Cincinnati 294 
 
 Brown, Lieutenant (C. S. N.), 276, 321 
 
 Bragg, the 336 
 
 Braziliera, the 390 
 
 Bridge, Paymaster Horatio 364 
 
 Bryson, Lieutenant-Commander A.. .403, 446 
 
 Broadhead, Lieutenant E 440 
 
 Brower, Lieutenant E. P 447 
 
 Bradford, Lieutenant Charles H.. 447 
 
 Brilliant, the 344 
 
 Bruensburg 311, 312, 316 et seq.; 454 
 
 Brown, Acting-Master L. A 423 
 
 Brandy wine, the 429 
 
 Britannia, the 478, 492 
 
 Buckner, General 158 
 
 Budd, Lieutenant-Commander T. A.. 57, 
 
 79. 8* 
 
 Butler, Major-General Benjamin F., 45 
 et seq.; 187, 190 et seq.; in charge at 
 New Orleans, 198 et seq. ; 207, 248, 275, 
 470, 473, 476 ; attack on Fort Fisher, 
 695 ; abandons the expedition, 700, 748 
 
 Buchauan, President 96, 104 
 
 Burnside, General A. E., 108, 110, 113 et 
 
 seq.; 338, 403 476 
 
 Buchanan, Flag-ofBcer (C. S. N.), 119 
 etseq.; wounded, 125, 567, 575; sur- 
 render of. 677, 5P3 
 
 Butt. Lieutenant Walter (C. 8. N, ) 120 
 
 Buchanan. Lieutenant-Commander Thos. 
 McKean, 123, 271, 277 et seq ; killed 279 
 
 Buford, General 160, 163 etseq. 
 
 Bunce, Lieutenant F. M 440, 447 
 
 Bullock, Captain James D., Confederate 
 Agent in England 821 et seq. 
 
 Caieo, m 135, 160. 169. 283 
 
 Cairo, the 139, 166, 169, 2:i3 
 
 Carondelet, Mo 139 
 
 Carondelet, the, 139, 143 et seq.; 148, 160 
 etseq.; 155 et seq.; 161 et seq.; 168 
 etseq.; 174,283, 288, 295, 303, 310, 
 
 313, 321 342 
 
 Caldwell, Lieutenant-Commander Chas. 
 
 H. B 180, 184, 191,200, 211 
 
 Carlton, the, sunk 180 
 
 Cayuga, the, 181, 183, 190 et seq.; 198 et 
 seq.; 203, 206 et seq.; 212, 236, 269, 
 
 2''6 281 
 
 Carrolton, La _ 193 
 
 Calhoun, the, 277 et seq.; 281 348 
 
 Case, Commander A. L 404, 425 et seq. 
 
 Carthage , 311, 319 
 
 Cape Fear River. N. C 423, 478, 683 
 
 Catskill, the . . , 366, 388, 434, 436, 437, 440, 444 
 
 Cavendy, Lieutenant Edward '. 403 
 
 Camarra. Acting- Ensign J. B. de 424 
 
 Carr. Lieutenant 472 
 
 Cambridge, the 411, 429, 491 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Canonicus, the *77 
 
 Canby, General 496, 634 
 
 Cainpti, Village of 616 
 
 Cabell, General (C. 8. A ) 618 
 
 Cape Canaveial 453 
 
 Cane River 620 
 
 Cape St. Roqiie 615 
 
 Ganandaigua, the 309, 370, 388, 440 
 
 Castle Pinkney 445 
 
 Centreville 278 
 
 CerroGordo 149 
 
 Ceres, the, 109, 114, 116, 408, 411,423, 425, 
 
 431 487 
 
 Cedar Keys, Fla 463 
 
 Choctaw, the, 316 et seq.; 320, 325, 335, 342 
 
 Chillicothe. the 295, .300 et seq.; 342 
 
 Charlotte, the 382 
 
 Chalmette 208 
 
 Christian, Acting-Master A 179 
 
 Chasseur, the 112 
 
 Chaplin, Lieutenant-Commander J. C, 41, 
 
 108 440 
 
 Chase, Colonel 106 
 
 Charleston, 8 C, 81, 86, 96 et seq.; 99, 
 118; great desire of Secretary Welles 
 to capture, 365, 369, 373; plans for the 
 reduction of, 373; great desire of the 
 North that it should be taken, 375, 
 433, 446, 461; armament of, 452. 478; 
 exhibit of work done by the fleet, 662; 
 list of actions before, 664; operations 
 
 about, 768; fall of 761 
 
 Chauncey, Captain 44 
 
 Chickasaw, Ala 169 
 
 Churchill, General 290 et seq. 
 
 Chickasaw Bayou 296 
 
 Chickasaw, the 344 
 
 Chicora, the 369 
 
 Chippewa, the 403, 437 
 
 Chocura, the 403, 411, 430 
 
 Chowan River 414, 417 
 
 Cherokee, the 479 
 
 Charles Phelps, the. 431 
 
 Charlotte Harbor 453 
 
 Chatfield, Acting-Master Thomas 458 
 
 Chuekatiick Creek 473 
 
 Champion, the No. 10) 340, 343, 622 et seq. 
 
 Chickaraauga, the (C. S. N. ) 818 
 
 Cincinnati, the, 139, 143 et seq.; 147, 160 
 etseq.; 16.5, 166. 288 et seq.; 290,291, 
 292, 295, 303, 304, 305, 323, 332, ;139. . .342 
 Cincinnati, officer of naval rendezvous 
 
 at 294. 424 
 
 Cimmerone, the 388, 400 
 
 City Point 474, 480 
 
 City of Pekin, the 564 
 
 Clifton, the . . . .177, 226. 269, 281, 346 et seq. 
 
 Clay, , of Alabama 469 
 
 Clara Dolson, the 293, 344 
 
 Clarke, Colonel 348 
 
 Colorado, the 23, 36. 61, 177, 188, 280 
 
 Columbus, the 28 
 
 Columbus, Miss., 135 etseq.; 154: recon- 
 
 noissance of 159 et seq. ; 286 
 
 Columbia, the 28, 430 
 
 Collins. Acting-Master . . 179 
 
 Collins, Lieutenant-Commander N., 65.83,813 
 Commodore Perry, the, 108, 114, 110, 411, 
 
 430 492 
 
 Colhoun, Lieutenant-Commander E. R., 
 
 108, 400, 436, 446 477 
 
 Colonel Lovell, the 167 
 
 Corinth, Miss 159, 168 
 
 Confederate line of operations 141 
 
 Cosmopolitan, the - 85 
 
 Coleman, Paymaster William B 148 
 
 Coosaw River 84 et seq. 
 
 Congress, the . . 36, 123 et seq.: 171. 362, 410 
 Conestoga, the 13R, 140, 143, 147, 149 et 
 
 seq.; 167, 173,286, 293 343 
 
 Constellation, the 36 
 
 Conroy, Lieutenant-Commander. ...... 79 
 
 Confederate Ram Flotilla, vessels of . . 171 
 Confederate Officers captured in Forts 
 
 Jackson and St. Philip 229 
 
 Cooke, Lieutenant-CommanderA. P., 278, 349 
 
 Cox, General , 334 
 
 Cox. Brigadier-General 338 
 
 Ciuithony, Lieutenant J. P 339 
 
 Cook. Lieutenant A. P 213 
 
 Conchetta Chute 511 
 
 Columbine, the, 391; recaptured by the 
 
 Confederates 668 
 
 Comstock, General 711 
 
 Commerce-Destroyers 811 
 
 Commodore Barney, the, 411, 418, 420, 
 
 430,473 492 
 
 Corwin, the 403, 410 
 
 Conger, Colonel 341 
 
 Counemaugh, the 389 
 
 Commodore Hull, the 423, 431, 487, 492 
 
 Cony, Ensign J. S 428 
 
 Cohasset, the 411, 418, 431, 493 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Colby, the 414 
 
 Colham's Point 421 
 
 Connecticut, the 491 
 
 Countess, the 497 
 
 Commodore McDonough, the 390, 440 
 
 Commodore MoiTis, the, 418, 426, 426, 430, 481 
 
 Commodore Jones, the 426, 426, 474, 492 
 
 Covington, the 340, 344 
 
 Courier, the - 390 
 
 Cockpit Point 26i 
 
 Cooper River, the 434 
 
 Cornwell, Lieutenant-Commander J. J.. 446 
 
 C. P. B. Williams, the 179, 391, 660 
 
 Crosby, Lieutenant-Commander Pierce, 
 
 46, 180, 191,213, 260 472 
 
 Craney Island 30, 123, 130, 404 
 
 Crusader, the 36, 106, 418, 431 
 
 Croly, .Historian 153 
 
 Grossman, Lieutenant A. F 107,4^8 
 
 Craven, Captain Thomas T., 184, 193, 201; 
 captures the Georgia, 816, 822; tried 
 
 by court-martial 823 
 
 Craven, Commander T. A. M., 477, 670 et 
 
 seq. ; drowned 589 
 
 Craven. Ensign Charles H 447 
 
 Croatan Sound Ill et seq. 
 
 Crocker. Captain Frederick 112, 346 
 
 Craig, Midshipman (0. S. N.) 120 
 
 Craig, Colonel 333 
 
 Cricket, the 339, 343,532 
 
 Creighton, Commander J. B 440 
 
 Crystal River ; 453, 456 
 
 Cuyler,the 626 
 
 Cushman, Commander C. H 477 
 
 Currituck, the ..403.411 
 
 Oushing, Lieutenant William H.,401, 403. 
 417, 418 et seq.; 422; 428. 473, 478, 687; 
 brave act of , 688 ; complimentary let- 
 ter from Secretary Welles 689 
 
 Cummings' Point 434, 417. 689 
 
 Cumberland, the, 28, 30, 32, 36,44 et seq.; 
 
 123. 124, 126, 171, 362 ... 410 
 
 Curlew, the . . .67, 112 et seq.; 114, 343, 396 
 
 Currituck Inlet 112 
 
 CuUom, General 159 
 
 Cummings, Lieutenant 209 
 
 Dacotah, the 36,404,409,429 
 
 Daisy, the 344 
 
 Dale, the 36,460 
 
 Dahlgren, Admiral, 361, 387, 432 et seq.; 
 436. 436, 439, 440, 444, 445, 446, 452. 
 659; takes command from Admiral 
 
 DuPont, 661, 670 768 
 
 Daffodil, the ; 391 
 
 Dandelion, the 391 
 
 Dan Smith, the ... 179 
 
 Davenport. Lieutenant-Commander H. K., 
 
 108,112,114,408,417 423 
 
 Darlington, the (C. S. N.), captured by 
 
 Commander Rodgers 77 
 
 Davis, CaptJiin Charles H., 66, 62, 76. 79, 
 85 ; takes command of Western 
 Flotilla, 164, 166 et seq.; 168, 171 et 
 
 seq.; 250, 268, 283 332 
 
 Davis. Jefferson 96,469 
 
 Davidson, Lieut. Hunter (C. S. N.), 120... 473 
 
 Dahlia, the 343 
 
 Dawn, the 366, 371, 390, 475 
 
 Davis, Lieutenant-Commander John L., 
 
 371, 440, 446 697 
 
 Daylight, the, 403, 409, 431, 471 492 
 
 Dai Ching, the 440 
 
 Dare, the 471 
 
 Deep Bottom 480 
 
 Deerhound, the (English yacht) 651 
 
 Delaware, the, 28, 85, 108 et seq.; 114, 
 
 116. 410 431 
 
 Delphiua, the (blockade-runner) captured 777 
 
 Decatursville 340 
 
 Decatur, Ala 160 
 
 Deflanoe, the (C. S. N.) 178, 192, 229 
 
 De Camp. Commander John 183. 208, 225 
 
 Destruction of property by Confederates, 192 
 
 Delta 300; 306, 324 
 
 DeerCreek 303,304 
 
 Devens, Lieutenant Edward 471 
 
 Delaware, the 416 
 
 Diana, the 278,282,347,348 
 
 Dispatches: from General Gillmore, 442; 
 from General Steele to General Hal- 
 leck, 639; from Captain John A. Wins- 
 low to Secretary Welles, 655; from 
 Admiral Porter to Secretary Welles, 
 
 690 721-725 
 
 Dix, General John A 400, 425 
 
 Dolphin, the 28 
 
 Dolson, the 203 
 
 Donaldsonville 277, 349, 361, 369 
 
 Donaldson, Lieutenant - Commander E , 
 
 191 200 
 
 Dove, Commander B. M., 150, 157, 168, 
 160 169 
 
 Dodge, General ^^ 
 
 Downes, Commander John 372, 376, 435 
 
 Dog River Bar 568 
 
 Drayton, Commander Percival, 59, 76, 77, 
 
 79,81, 82, 84 etseq.; 372, 376 680 
 
 Dragon, the 139,409 
 
 Drury's Bluff.. .386, 444 et Beq.; 471, 475, 477 
 
 Dutch Gap Heights 474 
 
 Dunn's -Bayou 527,628 
 
 Duncan, Assistant-Surgeon J. M 660 
 
 Dudley. Colonel 506 
 
 Duck River 334 
 
 Dunnington, Colonel 290 
 
 Duncan, Brigadier-General Johnson K. 
 (C. S. A.), 177, 180, 186etseq ; surren- 
 der of 215et8eq. 
 
 DuPout, Flag-ofticer S. F., 53 et seq.; 69 
 et seq.; 76, 77 et seq.; 80, 84, 118, 366, 
 373; order of, 374, 376, 381, 382; his 
 return to Fort Royal, 383, 887, 391, 
 
 396, 396, 432, 434 450 et seq. 
 
 Duval's Bluff 32 
 
 Dwight, General 737 
 
 Eads, Engineer James B., 53, 134 et seq.; 366 
 
 Eagle, Captain Henry .. . 92,107 
 
 Eastport, the 149,293, 340,344,499 
 
 Eastport, Miss 154 
 
 Eagle, the 423 
 
 East Gulf Squadron, operations of .453 
 
 Edith, the (blockade-runner) 818 
 
 Edisto, North Bar 76, 81 
 
 Edisto Island 76 
 
 Edinton Bay 487 
 
 Eggleston, Lieutenant J. R, (C. S. N.) 120 
 
 Elfln, the 344 
 
 Ellet, Gen. Alfred. 312, 325, 333, 334, 335. 336 
 
 Ellet, Colonel Charles, Jr 284, 285, 308 
 
 Ellet, Lieutenant-Colonel John A. . . 171, 326 
 
 Elizabeth City 117, 399, 408 
 
 Ellison, Captain F. B 93, 107 
 
 Ellen, the 76 etseq. 
 
 Ellsworth, Colonel 10 
 
 Ellsworth's Zouaves 40 
 
 Ellis Lieutenant ... 348 
 
 Ellis, the, 401; set on fire 402, 403, 409 
 
 Emma, the 493 
 
 Emmons, Commander George F 107 
 
 Emory, General 608, 632 et seq. 
 
 Emerson, Captain Samuel . 112 
 
 England, Lieutenant-Colonel 421 
 
 English, Lieutenant - Commander Earl, 
 
 464 455 
 
 Ericsson. Capt. John, inventor of "Mon- 
 itor." 73 121; fame of, 133 et seq.; 
 246, 266, 357 ; financial aid to ... . 363, 377 
 
 Escort, the 424 
 
 Estella. the, 277 et seq.; 282, 317, 318,347, 
 
 349 541 
 
 Essex, the, 139, 143, 147, 262. 269, 276; de- 
 stroys the '" Arkansas" 276, 280 
 
 Ethan Allen, the 464, 460 
 
 Eugenie, the ". 460 
 
 Eustis, George, attache to John Slideil, 
 
 69 et seq. 
 
 Exchange, the 344 
 
 Fabbagot, Admiral David G., 164; Flag- 
 oflicer in the expedition against New 
 Orleans, 175, 180 et seq.; on his way 
 to New Orleans, 186, 186 et seq.; 189 
 et seq.; 194, 198, 214, 235, 238, 246 
 etseq.; 260, 267, 272 et seq.; Com- 
 mander-in-chief of the West Gulf 
 Squadron, 1863, 279, 308, 317, 332 '-M 
 353, 463, 464. 565; his statement of the 
 
 battle of Mobile Bay 578 
 
 Fair Play, the 298,343 
 
 Fairfax, Lieutenant 66, 376, 436 
 
 Fanny, the.. 45, 48 117,294 
 
 Fan-ell, P. M 319 
 
 Faunce, Captain ".'.'.', ,.'.*44, 98 
 
 Fawn, the "...343 
 
 Fagan. Lieutenant L. E [ . 447 
 
 Fah-Kee, the 4^7 493 
 
 Farrand, Flag-offlcer (C. S. N. )..".'.'.'. . ' 784 
 Feriiandina, Fla., 82; abandoned by Con- 
 federates 77 
 
 Fearnot, the !!!![ '*282 
 
 Fern, the .'!.".*."*.! J.'!! !344 
 
 Feriiandina, the ' .[''"'390 
 
 Febiger, Commander .'486, 487 
 
 First naval engagement of the war .' 166 
 
 First gun tired 25 
 
 Fisk, Colonel '.....'.'.".'.! .".'.'. ".164 
 
 Fitch, Lieutenant-Commander Le Rot 
 
 333 334,338 803 et^^eq. 
 
 Fitch Coloiiel 168. 173 et seq. 
 
 Flambeau, the qm 
 
 Fletcher, Captain ^.'I! "" qr 
 
 Flusser, Lieutenant-Commander c' W 
 108, 114, 116 et seq.; 400, 407. 408 414* 
 
 416,417,426.. 
 
 .481 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 XI 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Floyd. Captain (C.S.N.) 151 
 
 Flycatcher, the (C. S. N.) i!78 
 
 Florence, Ala 341 
 
 Flag, the , 338 
 
 Florida, the "Oreto" (0. S. N.). adven- 
 tures of and capture8 made by, 371, 
 624 to 627 inclusive ;'811 et seq.; cap- 
 tured by the "Wachusetts," 813; 
 taken to Fort Fisher, 813 ; sank at 
 
 Newport News 814 
 
 Foote, Captain Andrew H., in command of 
 Mississippi Squadron, 53 ; of New 
 York Navy Yard, 99, 107, 134 et seq.; 
 139 et seq. : 143 et seq. ; 146. 149 et 
 seq.; wouuded, 152, 154. 156 etseq.; 
 161, 163; retires from active service. .164 
 
 Folkerson, Captain John L.. 112, 114 
 
 Forest, the.... 117 
 
 Forest, Lieutenant Douglas (C. S. N.).. . .120 
 
 Forney, Lieutenant James. 203 
 
 Forsaith, Captain Archibald, of the Biit- 
 ish vessel " John Gilpin," taken 
 
 prisoner 210 
 
 Foltz, Dr. J. M 107, 260 
 
 Forrest, General 286 
 
 Forest Rose, the, 288, 295, 320, 324, 332, 
 
 341 342 
 
 Forest Queen, the. , 311 
 
 Folger, Acting-Master 456 
 
 Fort Anderson 417 
 
 " Bartow.... 112 
 
 " Beauregard, 55; destruction of, 57; 
 
 abandoned by Confederates 69 
 
 •' Bolivar 92 
 
 " Caswell 416,423,473 
 
 '* Clark 45, 103 
 
 " Clinch 77 
 
 " Cobb 114 
 
 " Columbiis, -recounaiasance of 159 
 
 •* Chalmette 205 
 
 *• DeRussy 317,388,496 
 
 " Donelson, 32. 141; attack on, 142, 
 149 etseq.; attack on, 150; cap- 
 ture of, 152, 154 et seq.; news- 
 paper correspondent on the ac- 
 tion at, 157, 158, 283, 262, 292 . 339 
 " Fisher, 426, 478; first attack on, 683; 
 list of volunteers who went with 
 the powder-boat, 695; Monitors 
 engage the, 696; list of officers 
 who participated in the attack 
 on, 703; second attack on, 710; 
 position of fleet, 710; guns cap- 
 tured at, 717 ; list of officers killed 
 and wounded, 718; surrender of, 
 716; list of gun-boats engaged at, 
 727; effect of the surrender of. . . 727 
 
 " Grimball 439 
 
 " Gray 484 
 
 " Gaines, 567; surrender of, 589 
 
 •' HatteraSt45; bombardment of and 
 
 capture. - 46,53,108 
 
 " Henry, 32, 141; officers and vessels 
 attacking, 147; attack on. 142; 
 capture, 143 et seq.; 147 etseq.; 
 
 292,339, 341. 458 460 
 
 •* Hieman, evacuated 142 
 
 " Hindman (Arkansas Post), 289, 290, 
 
 291 ; surrender of 291, 292 
 
 " Jackson. 164, 175 177; Confederate 
 fleet and list of vessels and com- 
 manders, 178 ; Federal fleet at, 
 178; bombardment of, 179; state- 
 ment of the condition of, 180, 1h6, 
 188, 190; capture of, 191, 199; ca- 
 pitulation papers of, 215; list of 
 
 officers, 216, 268, 490 697 
 
 " Johnson 434,439.445 
 
 " Livingston, surrender of 215 
 
 • ■ McAllister 371 
 
 ** Macon 403 
 
 • ' MoCrea, attack on 93, 103 
 
 " Monroe.. 27, 123, 126, 127, 130, 132, 473 
 
 " Moultrie ...25,434,444 
 
 " Morgan 668, 570, 573, 591 
 
 " Pemberton 301, 304, 324 
 
 •' Pickens, 50, 93 et seq.; plan for re- 
 lief of, 100; success of expedi- 
 tion 103 
 
 ' ' Pike, abandoned 191 
 
 * ' Pillow, attack on, 164 et seq. ; battle 
 of, 166; Federal victory, 167; 
 bombardment and evacuation of. 168 
 
 *' Powell 568 
 
 " Pulaski, 76; bombardment of, 78; 
 
 surrender of, 79, 85, 461 
 
 " Ripley 445 
 
 " Sumter, 17; bombardment of. 25 et 
 seq.: 36, 83, 94, 96 et seq.; relief 
 of, 97; evacuation of, 98, 100, 421, 
 434; General Gillmore opens fire 
 
 upon i ,.659 
 
 Fort St. Philip, La., 177. 179, 181. 183. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 188, 190: capture of. 191, 199; ca- 
 pitulation papers, 215; list of offi- 
 cers 216 
 
 Fort Walker, 56; attack on, 57; descrip- 
 tion of, 57 et seq.; capture of. 59, 76 
 " Wagner, 434. 43i3; Southern bulle- 
 tins on the bom,bai'dment of. . .441 
 
 Folly Island . 434. 440 
 
 Foster, General J. G 415, 430, 670 
 
 Foster, Lieutenant A. P 415 
 
 Forest, Lieutenant-Commander Moreau, 
 
 300 et seq. ; 412, 424, 447 487 
 
 Four-Mile Creek 430 
 
 Fort Hindman, the, 344.522 
 
 Fox. Gustavus V., Assistant-Secretary of 
 Navy. 1861-66, 20, 37, 96, 99, 101, 123, 
 
 356, 357. 360, 364 377 
 
 Fremont, General John C 139 
 
 French, General (C. S. A. ) 419 
 
 French, Lieutenant Charles A., 109, 114, 
 
 400,425 487 
 
 Freeborn, the 40, 97, 99 
 
 Freedman's Bureau 76 
 
 France. Government of, uufriendly to 
 
 Union side ... 21 
 
 Fredericksburg 265 
 
 French, Commander Henry.. 107 
 
 Fry, Captain (C. S. N.) 174 
 
 Franklin 277,400 
 
 Friganza, Naval Contractor Romeo 135 
 
 Franklin, General , 346 
 
 Frailey, Commander J. M 370 
 
 Franklin, Lieutenant-Commander C. L., 
 
 403 .407 
 
 Fulton, the 339 
 
 Furbes, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Galena, the, 132, 357, 386. 404 etseq.; 
 
 409 ... 430 
 
 Galveston, Texas 92,269 
 
 Gazelle, the 344, 4^6 
 
 Garver, Asst.-Surgeon George W 147, 174 
 
 Garrett, Asst.-Surgeon S. (C. S. N ) 120 
 
 Gardiner, Lieutenant 472 
 
 Gaines, the (C. S. N.), burnt 590 
 
 Geddings, Acting-Master John E 109, 114 
 
 Gerasbok,the 403, 410, 460 
 
 Gem of the Sea, the 390,455 
 
 General Pillow, the 294 
 
 General Rusk, the . 92 
 
 General Bragg, the (C. 8. N ), 166, 171 ; re- 
 fitted. 172, 342 562 
 
 General Sterling Price, the (C. S. N.), 167, 
 
 171, 172. 310, 317 ...318 
 
 General Earl VanDorn, the (C. S. N.), 167, 171 
 General Jeff Thompson, the (C.S.N.). 167. 
 
 171; burnt 171 
 
 General Lovell, the {C. S. N )....171, 173, 178 
 
 General Beauregard, the 171 et seq. 
 
 General Sumter, the. 171. 172 
 
 General Quitman, the (C. S. N.) 178 
 
 General Grant, the 344 
 
 General Pillow, the 344 
 
 General Lyon, the 344 
 
 General Bumside, the 344 
 
 General Thomas, the 344 
 
 General Sherman, the 344 
 
 General Putnam, the 431, 493 
 
 Genesee, the 272, 409 
 
 George Maugham, the 179 
 
 George Peabody, the ... 45 
 
 Georgia, the (C. S. N.) 466, 644, 814 
 
 Georgian, the 373 
 
 Germantown, the ....28, 30 
 
 Getty, Lieutenant Robert 288 
 
 Getty, General 419, 420 et seq. 
 
 Gettysburg... .. 488 
 
 Gillis, Commander J. P 44, 55, 79, 88. 425 
 
 Qilmore, Colonel... 62 
 
 Givin, Lieutenant-Commander John. 143. 
 
 148 et seq.; 150, 153, 157, 159, killed, 
 
 387 et seq. 
 
 Gillmore, General, Q. A., 433, 434 et seq.; 
 
 436. 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 445, 446, 
 
 451, 452, 470 659 
 
 Gibson, Lieutenant-Commander William, 
 
 371 437 
 
 Gloucester 403 
 
 Gloucester Point 403 
 
 Glassell, Lieutenant W. T 449, 450 
 
 Glassford, Lieutenant H. A 555 
 
 Glynn, Captain James 104 
 
 Glide, the 291,295,344 
 
 Glisson, Captain 0. S 697 
 
 Goldsborough 115 
 
 Governor Moore, the (C. S. N.), 178, 183, 
 
 204 207 
 
 Gordon, General 660 
 
 Godon, Commander S. W. .55, 77, 79, 85. 721 
 Goldsborough, Flag-officer L. M., 53, 108 
 
 112, 118, 123, 399, 403, 404, 408 414 
 
 Gorman, General 292 
 
 Golden Aee. the 304 
 
 page 
 
 Gordon, Captain 348 
 
 Goodrich Landing 335, 336 
 
 Golden Belle, the (blockade-runueri, ca.p- 
 
 ture of 777 
 
 Golden Liner, the 423 
 
 Governor Buckingham, the . 492 
 
 Gooch, Hon. D. M 535 
 
 Gorringe, Acting-Master H. H 656 
 
 Gotwold, Asflt.-Surgeon Jacob H , scalded 
 
 to death.. 370 
 
 Granite City, the, 109, 34C. 409, 423 493 
 
 Green, General 349 
 
 Griswold, John A 363 
 
 Greene, Lieutenant Joseph A 408 
 
 Green, Captain J. F 440 
 
 Green, General Thomas (C. ri. A.) 512 
 
 Grover. General 533 
 
 Grampus, the 164, 344 
 
 Grant, Captain {C. S. N ) 178 
 
 Granada . 284 
 
 Graves, Acting-Master G. W., 109, 114, 
 
 415,, 423 424 
 
 Grand Gulf, 32. 175, 308, capture of, 310, 
 
 312 etseq,; 316,316, 318.. 464 
 
 Greer, Lieutenant James A 65,310 
 
 Green Island 82 
 
 Grimes, Senator James W, . .. . ..235 et seq. 
 
 Gregory, the 85 
 
 Greenville, .... Ill 
 
 Greene, Lieutenant 8. D., 129. 139, 133,413, 414 
 
 Green, Lieutenant 210 
 
 Grant, General Ulyses S., 136, 140; ad- 
 vance on Fort Henry, 146, 142. 144, 
 147; attack on Fort Donelson. 150: 
 madeMajor-General, 152 etseq.; 154, 
 284, 288, 295. 296, 299, 303, 307, 308, 
 318, 320, 323 ; starving out the Con- 
 federates, 324, 325, 326 etseq.; 328; 
 generosity of, 328. 332, 463, 464, 469. 
 470, 475, 480; extracts from his mem- 
 oirs, 528, 701,748 749 
 
 Gun-boat, No. 8 (C. 8. N ), captured 208 
 
 Guns, " Lady Davis " and '* Lady Polk,". 159 
 Guest. Lieutenant-Commander John, 179, 
 
 186,225, 269 697 
 
 G. W. Bhmt. the ,. .., 39:| 
 
 Gwin, Lieutenant William. 143. 148 et seq. ; 
 150, 153 etfecq.; 157, 159, 249; killed. 
 287 et seq. 
 
 Hard Times 313, 315 
 
 Harrisonburg 318,332 
 
 Hastings, the 336, 342 
 
 Hart, Lieutenant-Commander John E.. 349 
 
 Haynes. Captain 421 
 
 Harrison's Landing 481 
 
 Hammill, Captain W. W 408 
 
 Hanford. W. C 334 
 
 Hamburg, the 341 
 
 Harris, Captain 420 
 
 Harris, Lieutenant-Commander T. C 437 
 
 Hancock, General W. S 47tf 
 
 Hampton Roads. 28, 45, 54. 117, 119, 121, 
 
 123, 126, 171, 190, 399, 406 4lV 
 
 Halleck, General H. W., 141, 148 et seq ; 
 
 155, 158, 161, 163 et seq. ; 251 283 
 
 Hamilton Ill 
 
 Hayes , Acting-Master Peter 109 
 
 Hamilton, Captain James 25 
 
 Haggerty, Commander F. S. 55 
 
 Haywood's Plantation 84 
 
 Hatterae, the 107; svmk, 271, 281 
 
 Harriet Lane, the. 28, 44. 98, 176, 186 et 
 
 seq.; 269,270,280; loss of. 346 
 
 Harrel, Lieutenat A. D 42, 217, 224 
 
 Hatteras Inlet, 32,38; capture of, 44; forts 
 
 garrisoned, 47. . 109 
 
 Hartford, the 36. 177. 181 , 183, 189, 191,194, 
 
 198, 203, 251, 268, 272, 276, 279, 305, 307 
 
 Hawkins, Colonel 47, 49 
 
 Hale, the..., ... 84 
 
 Handy, Commander Robert. 90, 91, 107 
 
 Hartstene, Lieutenant 96 
 
 Haas: Colonel 160 
 
 Hart, Captain (C. S. N.) 167 
 
 Harrison, Lieutenant- Commander, 09,198,212 
 
 Harris, Acting-Master George 210, 459 
 
 Harris, Joseph {Coast Survey), 217, 23!, 
 
 232 234 
 
 Haines' Bluff, 285, 316; evacuation nf, 320, 332 
 
 Henry Janes, the 179, 269, 282 
 
 Hell Gate 82 
 
 Henry Andrews, the 82 
 
 Henderson, Lieutenant (C. S. A ) 208 
 
 Henderson Station . . 159 
 
 Hetzel. the... .108, 114, 116, 409, 417, 430,' 491 
 
 Hebe, the. 427, 428 
 
 Henry Brinker, the 409, 431 
 
 Helena, Ark _ 202, 300, 336 
 
 Henry Clay, the, 310 
 
 Herron, General 331, 332 
 
 Hertford. 417 
 
 Helen, the .' " ' " iSK 
 
Xll 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 HiEglnson, Lieutenant F. J. 447 
 
 Hill's Point 423, 424 
 
 Hilton Head 55, 59 62, 76, H2, 432 
 
 Higgins, Colonel Edward (C, S. A.), 179, 
 
 183, 186, 214, 215, 321, 322 325 
 
 Hooker, Acting-Master Edward 408 
 
 Hewlett 412,477 
 
 Homosassa Eiver 466 
 
 HofFner, Acting-Master R. J 457, 458 
 
 Holcombe of Virginia (Confederate) 469 
 
 Hogiie, Lieutenant 472 
 
 Hoge, Colonel 564 
 
 Hoke, General (0. S. A.) 706 
 
 Houghton, the 466 
 
 Howard, Ensign C. W 460 
 
 Horwitz, Surgeon P. J 364 
 
 Housatonic, the 388 
 
 Holly Springs, Miss 284 
 
 Holt, Secretary of War J. (0. S.) 105 
 
 Hollins, Commander J. S. (C. 3. N.). ■ -89, 91 
 
 Howell, Lieutenant J. C 107 
 
 Hotchkiss, Acting-Master W. J 109, 114 
 
 Hoel William B...147, 162, 165, 303, 3l0, 314 
 
 Horace Beales, the 225, 228, 282 
 
 Holland, Major 334 
 
 Hope, the 391 
 
 Howquah. the 478, 492 
 
 Hughes, Commander A. K , . 440 
 
 Huse, Lieutenant S. . , .478 
 
 Huron, the 77, 389, 439 
 
 Hunter, Major-General 383 
 
 Huger, Lieutenant Thomas B. (C. 8. N.), 
 
 178; killed 183 
 
 Hubbell, James L., Speaker of House of 
 
 Representatives U7 
 
 Hunter, General David 78, 105, 629 
 
 Hutchinson's Island 83 
 
 Huntsville, the 107, 460 
 
 Hurlburt, General 153 
 
 Hunchback, the, 108, 400, 409, 417, 423. 
 
 430 493 
 
 Hussar, the 112 
 
 Huntress, the , 344 
 
 Hyacinth, the 344 
 
 Ibebville, the 516 
 
 Ida, the, ennk by torpedoes 782 
 
 Ingraham, Commander D. N 369 
 
 Indianola, the, 296; operations of, 297, 
 
 332 .342 
 
 L N.Seymour, the 109, 409 
 
 Indian River 455 
 
 loaco, the 697 
 
 Iroquois, the, 36. 183, 187, 198. 208, 261, 
 
 274,426,429 617 
 
 Iron Age, the 471 
 
 Ironsides, the 176 
 
 Iron-clads, service of 663 
 
 Irwin, Lieutenant 79, 84 
 
 Isherwood, Chief Engineer 29, 265 
 
 Island No. 10, 32, 160; surrender of 163 
 
 Isaac Smith, the 65,77 
 
 Itaska. the. 180, 184, 187,198, 208,201,274, 
 
 426.429, 567 .617 
 
 Inka, Tenn 168 
 
 Ives. Captain T. P 112 
 
 Ivy, the 317,343 
 
 James Island 26, 439, 440, 445 
 
 Jamestown, the 36, 405 
 
 James Adger, tbe 77, 3H9, 426, 428 
 
 Jack, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Jackson, the (C. S. N.) 177 
 
 Jackson, Miss 296, 312, 327 
 
 Jamestown Island 418 
 
 James L.Davis, the 460 
 
 James S. Chambers, the 460 
 
 Jamesville 417 
 
 James River 404, 419, 475, 480 
 
 Jacksonville.. * 401 
 
 Jacob Bell, the 409 
 
 Jeffers, Lieut.-Commander W. N ,108, 114, 
 
 132 . 404 
 
 Jenkins, Captain T. A., severely wounded. 352 
 
 Josselyu, Acting-Master Francis 487 
 
 Johnson, Lieut. Amos 205. 346 
 
 Johnston, General Joseph E., 111,159, 296, 
 
 316. 320, 327, 331 332 
 
 Jones, Lieut. Catesby (C. S. N.), 119, 125, 
 
 128, 131 133 
 
 Jones, Lieut. Pembroke 132 
 
 John Griffiths, the . 179. 282 
 
 John Gilfin, the (blockade-runner), cap- 
 ture 210 
 
 Jones, Captain (C. 8. A.) 233 
 
 John Walsh, the 324 
 
 Johnson. Ensign ML 374 
 
 JohnL. Lockwood, the 410, 431 
 
 J.P.Jackson, the 260, 2K1 
 
 Judah, the 50, 51 
 
 Juniata, the. , 370 
 
 Judge Torrencc, the 294, 343 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Kanawha, the 280, 625 
 
 Katahdin, the, 189, 198, 209, 269, 275. . .281 
 
 Kate, the 426, 427 
 
 Kearsarge, the, 650 et seq.; engagement 
 
 with Alabama, 661 ; list of officers of, 665 
 Kearney, Asst. -Surgeon Thomas H. . . 148 
 Keystone State, the. 77, 369, 388, 491, 615, 617 
 
 Kempff, Acting-Master 84 
 
 Kevil. Captain (C. S. N.).. 120 
 
 Kettle Bottom Shoals.. 131 
 
 Key West 175,190,344 
 
 Kennebec, the, 177, 184, 190, 192, 198, 200. 
 
 214, 268, 281 625 
 
 Kennon, Commander Beverley (C. S. N.), 
 
 178, 183, 204 207 
 
 Kensington, the 190,282 
 
 Keyes, Major-Gt;neral ..418,426 
 
 Keokuk the 365,374,377,391 
 
 Kenwood, the 331 , 343 
 
 Kenton, the 564 
 
 Kilty, Commander A. H., 160. 166, 173 ; 
 
 scalded to death 174 
 
 Kineo. the 189, 192 et seq.; 
 
 213, 269 272, 275 280 
 
 Kinsman, the 277,282 
 
 Kittatinny, the 282 
 
 Kickapoo, the 344 
 
 Kinston 415 
 
 Kingfisher, the 390 
 
 Kittiedge, Lieutenant J. W .... 345 
 
 Kilpatrick, Brigadier-General 425 
 
 King, Lieutenant 564 
 
 Koehler, Ensign J. G 459 
 
 Kuhn, the 282 
 
 Labarre. S. P de (C. S.) 196 
 
 Ladona, the 440 
 
 Laird, John, the builder of the Alabama. .(;34 
 
 La Mott,Major .425 
 
 Lake Providence 317 
 
 Lamb, Captain M. W. (C. S. N.) 167 
 
 Lancer, the ...112 
 
 Lardner, Captain L L 55 
 
 Lancaster, the 168, 308 
 
 Landis, the {C. S. N.) 178,229 
 
 Langthorne, Acting-Master :. 179, 526 
 
 Law. Lieutenant-Commander Richard L..270 
 
 Laurel, the 343 
 
 Lafavette, the, 296, 310, 313, 314 et eeq.; 
 
 317 342 
 
 Lamson, Lieutenant E. H., 346, 418, 419, 
 
 421,422. 428.... 695 
 
 Latham, Lieutenant (C. S. A.). 428 
 
 Lafitte, J. B., Confederate Agent in Eng- 
 land . . 624 
 
 Lapham, Acting-Master H. K 456 
 
 Lehigh, the ,659 
 
 Lea, Lieutenant Edward, 225 ; killed. 270 
 Lee, General Robert E (C. S. A.), 77, 111, 
 
 138 468 
 
 Lee, Rear-Admiral 8. Phillips, 93, 198, 
 203, 206, 261, 407, 412, 414, 418. 423, 
 462, 470. 473, 474, 475, 477, 486. 490.. ..802 
 
 Lewis, Acting-Master Eluathan 107 
 
 Lenthal, John 121,358 
 
 Lexington, the, 136. 138, 143. 147. 149, 163, 
 169, 173, 288, 290, 293, 325, 363, 335, 
 
 339 344 
 
 Leonard. Captain (C. S. N. ) 166 
 
 Le Roy. Commander 369 
 
 Letters : Adams, Captain, from W. H. 
 Seward, 62 ; to Secretary Welles, 105. 
 Ander.-^on, Captain, to Captain John- 
 ston. 565. Bailev. Theodorus, to Ad- 
 miral Farragnt, 237,238. 239; from D. 
 G. Farragut, 241; to Hon. A. E. Borie, , 
 241. Bache. G. M.. 323. Borie. Hon. 
 A E., to Admiral Farragut, 241; from 
 Theodorus Bailey, 241. Belknap, Col- 
 onel J. C, to Commander Daven- 
 port, 417. Beauregard. General (C. 
 8. A.), to General Gillmore, 443. But- 
 ler, General B. F. , to Admiral S. P. 
 Lee, 476; from J. J. Peck, 485. to 
 Admiral Porter, 700; from Admiral 
 Porter, 700. Banks, General, from 
 Admiral Porter, 527; from General 
 Sherman, 639. Balch, Captain George 
 B., from Colonel W. H. Noble, 
 608. Cushing. W. B., from Secre- 
 tary Welles, 422, 689. Cabell, 8. C. 
 {0. S. A.), from S. R. Mallory {0 8.). 
 567. Courtuav, F. E., to Colonel Olark 
 (C. 8. A), 659; from Colonel Clark, 
 669 Duncan, General (0. S. A.), to 
 Commander Mitchell (C. 8. N.), 180, 
 221. DuPont. Admiral, from Secretary 
 Welles, 3S1, 382, 387, 391, 395, 396; to 
 Secretary Welles, 398. Davenport. 
 Commander, from J. 0. Belknap. 
 417, Dawson, Commander, from Sec- 
 retary Welles, 422. Dahlgren, Ad- 
 miral, from Secretary Welles. 684. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Foote, Flag-officer, from Secretary 
 Welles, 147, 148, 104. 165; from Com- 
 mander Walke, 155. FaiTagut, Ad- 
 miral, from Secretary Welles, 188 ; 
 to Mayor of New Orleans, 194, 
 196; from Theo. Bailey, 237, 238, 239; 
 to Theodorus Bailey, 241 ; to Hon. 
 A. E. Borie, 241 ; from Secretary 
 Welles, 500, 692. Getty, General, 
 to Admiral 8. P. Lee, 419. Gillmore, 
 General, from General Beaurepard 
 (C. S. A.), 443. Higgins, Colonel 
 (C. S. A.), from Admiral Porter, 
 215. Hunter, W. M. (C. S. N.), 669. 
 Johnston, Captain, from Captain An- 
 derson, 555. Lincoln, President, to 
 Admiral Porter, 101 ; to Captain 
 Samuel Mercer, 102; t» Commander 
 of Navy Yard, N. Y., 102; to M. C. 
 Meigs, 102; from Secretary Welles, 
 691, 752; Laning. James, 144. Lee, Ad- 
 miral S. P., from General Getty, 419; 
 from General Butler, 476; to Melaiic- 
 ton Smith, 486. Mercer, Captain fam- 
 uel, from A. Lincoln, 102. Meiga, M. 
 Cfrom A. Lincoln, 102. Mitchell, 
 fC. S. A.), from General Duncan (C. 
 S A), 180; to Admiral Porter, 229; 
 J. McArthur, 322. Mallory, b. R. (C. 
 S.), to E. C. Cahill, 657. Noble, W.H., 
 to Captain Geo. B. Balch. 668. Porter, 
 Admiral D.D..fromPresideutLiQColii, 
 101; from i^ecretary Welles, 18«, 230, 
 330, 684. 705, 729; to Secretary Welles, 
 229, 230. 530. 702, 704 ; to Colonel 
 Higgins ^0. S. A.), 215; from Gen- 
 eral Sherman, 327; from Comman- 
 der Selfridge. 614; to General Banks, 
 527; from Brigadier-General Kilby 
 Smith, 545; from General Butler, 
 700; to General Butler, 700. Peck, 
 J. J., to General Butler. 485. Rivers, 
 A. R., 588. Ripley, Brigadier- General, 
 R. 8. (C. S. A.), to General Schim- 
 melfennig. 669. Seward. W. H., to Mr. 
 Adams, 62; Sherman, General, to Ad- 
 miral Porter, 327; to General Banks, 
 539, Stanton H. M., from Secretary 
 Welles, 485. Smith, Melancton, from. 
 Admiral Lee, 486; from Secretary 
 Welles, 486. Selfridge, Commander, 
 from Admiral Porter, 614. Smith, 
 Brigadier- General Kilby. to Adminil 
 Porter, 545. Semmes, Captain Ra- 
 phael. 609; to Governor of Puerto 
 Cabello, 612. Schimmelfennig, from 
 Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley (C. 8. 
 A.), 669. Welles, Secretarj-, to Captain 
 Wilkes, 68; from Captain Adams, 105; 
 to Flag-officer Foote, 147, 148, 164. 166; 
 to Admirals Farragut and Porter, 188; 
 to Admiral Porter, 230, 323. 330, 684, 
 705, 729; from Admiral Poiter, 630, 
 702. 704; to Admiral DuPont, 381, 387, 
 391. 396, 396: to Commander Dawson, 
 422; to W. B. Cushing, 422; to E. M. 
 Stanton, 485; to Congress, 485;to Admi- 
 ral Farragut, 660; to Captain John A. 
 Winslow. 655; to Admiral Dahlgren, 
 684; to Captain MelanctOD Smith, 686; 
 to W.B. Cushing, 689; to President 
 Lincoln, 691, 7f)2. Wilkes, Captain, 
 from Secretary Welles, 68 Walke, 
 Commander, to Admiral Foote, 155; 
 the same to Admiral Dahlgren, 769; 
 complimentary from Secretary Welles 
 to Admiral Thatcher, 783; from S. R. 
 Mallory (Confederate), to Admiral 
 Semmes, 797. 
 Lincoln. President Abraham, 22,27,44, 
 71. 74; first proclamation, 77, 83, 94, 
 96, 99 et seq.; 102, 105 et seq.; orders 
 naval expedition against New Orleans, 
 
 173; visits Richmond 798 
 
 Linden, the, 295, 316. 320. 324 344 
 
 Littlepage, Midshipman {C. S. N.) .120 
 
 Little Rebel, the (C. S. N.), 160,171,172,294, 343 
 
 Little Cricket, the, attack on 513 
 
 Little River 416, 471 
 
 Lilac, the 3^3 
 
 Lilly,the 294,344 
 
 Lioness, the 300 
 
 Light- House Inlet 434 
 
 Liverpool Landing . . 321 
 
 List of vessels and officers of squadrons. 
 
 See sqxiadrons. 
 Lockwood, the 109, 113. 327, 416, 418. 423, 492 
 Lowry, Lieutenant R. B.. .. 40. 45, 203, 262 
 Louisiana, the (C. S. N.>, 108 114 116 
 164, 176, 178, 180, 184, 187, 192,198, 
 
 365,408,410,423 491 
 
 Louisville, the, 139, 151. 157, 169, 160, 168, 
 288,290, 295,303, 310, 313, 317, 332... ,342 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 xiu 
 
 PAGE 
 
 LoTell, General (C. S. A.), retreat from 
 
 New Orleans, 186 195 
 
 Lord, Lieutenant George P 287 
 
 liockwood, Commander Samuel 403 
 
 Longetreet, General (0. S. A.) 419 
 
 Lodona, the 460 
 
 Lockwood's Folly Inlet 471 
 
 Longhaw, Assistant-Surgeon William 660 
 
 Lucas, Colonel 506 
 
 Luce, Lieutenant 84 
 
 Lyons, Dr. L. M 213 
 
 Lyon , Lord, British Minister at Washington 69 
 Lynch, Commodore (0. 8. N.) 114 
 
 Macedonian, the 36. 104 
 
 Mallory, M., Sec. Confederate Navy, lOi 
 
 etseq., 119 604 
 
 Maynardier, Captain, 161; captures crew 
 
 of the "Beauregard" 172 
 
 Massachusetts, tlie ...107 
 
 Marion, the 36 
 
 Massachusetts Volunteers 30 
 
 Matthias Point, attack on.. 41 
 
 Marston, Captain 44, 123 
 
 Martin, Colonel (0. 8. A ) 46 
 
 Mason, J. M., arrest of, on the ■' Trent," 
 
 64 et seq 73 
 
 Manassas, the (C. S. N.), 89, 175, 178, 1S4 
 
 etseq.; 185,192 198 et seq. 
 
 Marmaduke, Midshipman (0. S. N.) 120 
 
 Mackall, General (C. S. A.), captured by 
 
 Pope ..166 
 
 Matthew Vassar, the 179, 423 
 
 Matthewson, Dr 262 
 
 Magruder, General (0. S. A.) 269 
 
 Maria A. Wood, the. 282 
 
 Marmora, the, 284, 286, 288, 295, 339, 343, 
 
 859 et seq. 
 
 Mattabasett, the 486, 487 
 
 Marine Officers 294 
 
 Marine Brigade, the 326,333, 334,335 
 
 Manitou, the 332 
 
 Marmaduke, General (C. S. A.) 339, 518 
 
 Masonboro' Inlet 693 
 
 Maury, Commander William 644 
 
 Marblehead, the 390, 407, 439. 660 
 
 Madgie, the 390 
 
 Macdearmid, Lieutenant John A., 109, 
 
 114, 117, 408,423 ...424 
 
 Mahaska, the 410, 429, 440 
 
 Matthews County 425 
 
 Mattapony River .- 426 
 
 Mackenzie, Lieutenant A, S 374 
 
 Mausfteld 600 
 
 Manchester, Colonel 415, 416 
 
 Maratauza, the 407, 408, 429, 491 
 
 Magnolia, the 460 
 
 MalvernHill 480,726 
 
 Macomb, Commander William H . . .490, 689 
 Maffltt, Commander J. N. (C. S. N.), 623 
 
 etseq.; 626 626 
 
 Maple Leaf, the, blown up by the Con- 
 federates 667 
 
 MoParland, J. E 69 
 
 McCauley, Commodore 28, 30 
 
 McCready. Captain 25 
 
 McKean, Hag-ofacer W. W., 63, 87, 93 et 
 
 seq 107 
 
 McClellan,the, 77 90 
 
 McGowan, Captain 96 
 
 McClernand, General. 138, 142, 152, 284, 
 
 287 et seq.: 290, 292 et seq.; 293, 295, 
 
 311, 312 et seq 624 
 
 McNeil, Captain John 337 
 
 McArthnr, General 322, 325 
 
 McPherson, General 293, 295, 313, 325 
 
 McGunnegle, Lieutenant - Commander 
 
 Wilson, 169 173 et seq. 
 
 Mcintosh, Commander Charles P. (C. 
 
 S. N.l 178 
 
 McParland. Acting- Master 200 
 
 McKintry, Commander 272 
 
 MoDonough, the 370 
 
 McClennan, General 403, 407 
 
 McDonald, E. A 416 
 
 MoCawley, Captain C. G 447 
 
 McCann, Lieutenant-Commander, 417, 
 
 423 424 
 
 McCauley, Lieutenant E. T 455, 456 
 
 McDougal, Commander David 665 
 
 McElroy, Acting-Master 660 
 
 Memphis, Tenn., 32, 136, 165, 169. 170, 
 
 171; captured, 173 et seq.; 191, 283 
 
 etseq.; oiflcers at naval station.. . 294 
 Merrimac, the, 23; 32, 119 et seq ; 123 et 
 
 seq.; 126 et seq-; 129; blown up at 
 
 Hampton Koads, 132 et seq. ; 171, 176, 
 
 265, 366, 367, 386, 336, 399, 403, 404,413, 430 
 
 Mercer, Captain 44, 97, 101 
 
 Mervin, Commodore 60, 99 
 
 Meigs, Captain M. C 99, 102, 106, 138 
 
 MedicalStaff 294 
 
 Memphis, the 370,390 
 
 Meade, Commander B. W,, Jr 660 
 
 Mendota.the 480 
 
 Meade, Lieutenant R, L 447 
 
 Meade, General 477 
 
 Metacomet, the 573 
 
 Miantonomoh, the 17, 41, 361 
 
 Minnesota, the, 36, 44 et eeq.; 47, 123, 
 126 et seq.; 130, 403, 408, 418, 421, 
 
 42«, 429,473 490 
 
 Mississippi, the, 36, 177, 181, 183, 185, 189, 
 
 192, 198, 272; blown up, 273; 280,339,356 
 Mississippi Squadron, 53, 134, 283; Jan. 
 1, 1863, 293; 332 et seq.; 336, 342; 
 operations of, 554; operations in 1864, 
 1865, 802; list of vessels and officers 
 
 of, 806 810 
 
 Miller, Lieutenant 77 
 
 Mississippi Kiver, 87 et seq.; vessels 
 of blockade, 87 et seq.; blockade 
 abandoned ; discreditable retreat, 90; 
 obstructions in, 177: 312 et seq.; 318, 
 
 320, 323, 325,332, 468 536 
 
 Mitchell, Lieutenant John J 92, 107, 426 
 
 Minor, Lieutenant Robert D 120. 126 
 
 Milliken's Bend, landing of army at, 292, 
 
 296, 313, 326, 335 336 
 
 Milledgeville, Ga 758 
 
 Miami, the 177, 224, 4S6, 487, 491 
 
 Mitchell, Commodore John K. (C. S. N.j, 
 
 178,180, 186, 214,221 229 
 
 Mignonette, the 344 
 
 Mistletoe, the 294,344 
 
 Milwaukee, the 344 
 
 Mississippi Marine Brigade 312 
 
 Midnight, the 390 
 
 M. J. Carlton, the 179 
 
 Mobile, Ala., 780; suiTender of, 782; con- 
 ditions of suiTender 783 
 
 Mobile Bay, battle of, 665; vessels en- 
 gaged at, 678 ; list of killed and 
 wounded, 578; true heroism of the 
 sailors at the, 588; list of officers who 
 
 participated at 600 
 
 Mohican, the 36, 77 
 
 Mohawk, the 36,389 
 
 Mouadnock, the 17, 361 
 
 Monitor, the, 32, 120 et seq. ; 126, 130, 132, 
 176, 265, 366, 399, 403, 404, 407, 413, 414 
 
 Monticello, the 44, 49, 409. 423, 430, 478 
 
 Moir, Captain, of British Mail Steamer 
 
 •Trent" 64 
 
 Morris, Captain Henry W 201, 421 
 
 Morris Island 96 et seq. ; 433, 436, 436 
 
 Morris, Lieutenant George N 134, 198 
 
 Mosher. the (C. S. N.) 178,183 
 
 Mosquito Creek 83 
 
 Morse, the. 109. 114, 116, 425, 430, 491 
 
 Morgan, Captain M. B 112 
 
 Mound City, U. S. Naval Yard 135 
 
 Mound City, the, 139, 160, 166, 168. 173, 
 174, 295. 303, 310, 313, 319. 320, 337, 342, 526 
 
 Montgomery Plotilla (C. S. N.) 198 
 
 Montgomery, Captain John E. (C, S. N.), 
 
 167 171 
 
 Monarch, the, 168, 171; saves crew of 
 "General Beauregard," 172 et seq.; 
 
 288, 291 ... 295 
 
 Monroe, John T. (O. S.), Mayor of New 
 
 Orleans 195, 248 
 
 Monongahela, the 272, 280, 351, 576 
 
 Monson, General (C. S. A.) 278 
 
 Montgomery, the 280, 471, 492 
 
 Morning Light, the 2:2 
 
 Mower. General 325, 326, 497 
 
 Morgan, John 337,878 
 
 Morton, Acting-Master Thomas H 200 
 
 Mount Washington, the 418, 420, 492 
 
 Moose, the 344, 4' 8 
 
 Morris, Commodore 347 
 
 Montauk, the, 365, 366, 371, 389, 483, 
 
 436, 440 447 
 
 Morrell's Inlet 423 
 
 Moore, Ex-Governor (C. S.) .499 
 
 Mosquito Inlet, Fla 464 
 
 Mount Vernon, the, 410, 420, 426, 431, 478, 492 
 
 Mullen, Captain 233 
 
 Music, the (0. S.N.) 178,275 
 
 Murf reesboro' 160 
 
 Murray, Lieutenant-Commander A., 108, 
 
 112,114,415 416 
 
 Mud Biver 8! 
 
 Mystic, the 406, 407, 430 
 
 Myrtle, the 294, 344, 425, 493 
 
 Navy, the. prizes, 18; serviceable ves- 
 sels, 18; home squadron, 36; total 
 number of vessels and seamen, 37; 
 organization of, 37; river work of, 43; 
 weakness of, 73; good service of, 78, 
 117; complete exhibit of, 465; in- 
 crease of in 1864, 677; improvement 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Navy Department, what if is, 19; organi- 
 zation when the rebellion broke out, 
 20; task of, 33; adjudication of liable 
 blocbade-runners, 63, 120, 139, 236; 
 to build up an iron-clad navy on the 
 
 Erricsnn plan 364 
 
 Nashville 154, 283 
 
 Nashville, the (0. S. N.) 98, 365, 371, 618 
 
 Nag's Head 114 
 
 Nantucket, the 132, 365, 387, 437. 446 
 
 Natchez, Miss 274, 333 
 
 Naval Station at Cairo, 111 294 
 
 N lumteag, the 344, 663 
 
 Naiad, the 344 
 
 Nansemond Biver 419, 420, 425, 473 
 
 Nansemond, the 423, 478, 491 
 
 Naugatuck, the 404 
 
 Nassau, N.P 453 
 
 Nahant, the 365, 372, 389, 435, 436. 440 
 
 New National, the 294,331,343 
 
 New Era, the 294,344 
 
 Negroes, neglected and suffering, 84; join 
 
 the Uniou Army 312 
 
 New Orleans, 32, 87; illuminated, 91, 164; 
 expedition against, 175; left defence- 
 less by Confederate army, 186, 188; 
 capture of, 189, 190, 192 et seq. ; 199, 
 200; battle of, 205. 208, 236. 237; cor- 
 rected diagram of battle of, 240, 264, 
 268, 274, 276 etseq.; becomes a model 
 
 city 363,463,635 
 
 New York, the 28 
 
 New Hampshire 85 
 
 New London, the 107. 206, 280, 351 
 
 Newspaper Correspondent on the ac- 
 tion at Fort Donelson 157 
 
 Newbern, N. C 111. 399, 408, 417, 424 
 
 Neuse Biver 112, 412, 416, 471 
 
 Newport News. 123; batteries at 125 
 
 New Madrid, Mo., 160; expedition against 
 
 161 165 
 
 Nelson, Dr. WilUam H 174 
 
 Nelson, General ' 154,176 
 
 Nelson, the 117 
 
 Neosho, the 344 
 
 New Ironsides, 367. 365. 370,374, 387, 436, 
 
 439, 440, 445,449, 460 661 
 
 Negley. General .412 
 
 New Inlet , 426 et seq. 
 
 New Topsail Inlet, the 428 
 
 Newbern, the ,..492 
 
 Neutrals, right of searching 73 
 
 Niagara, the 93, 104, 107, 822 
 
 Nieid, Acting-Ensign Henry C 589 
 
 Nichols, Commander E. T 4 
 
 Nicholson, Lieutenant-Commander J. W., 
 
 79, 83, 85; creditable action of 594 
 
 Nichols, Lieutenant Edward, 184, 200, 209, 
 
 216 , 262 
 
 Nightingale, the 366, 437, 440 
 
 Niphon, the 427.492 
 
 Norfolk, Va., hotbed of secession, 28 et 
 seq ; destruction of Navy Yard, 30; 
 loss to Union, 32; guns captured at 
 by the rebels, 62, 111 et seq,; 117, 129; 
 
 evacuated, 132; 404,412,413 417 
 
 Norfolk Navy Yard 30, 32, 119, 265 
 
 Norfolk Packet, the 179, 226, 391 
 
 Norwich, the 369 
 
 North Biver 425 
 
 North Carolina, the 478 
 
 Nymph, the 344 
 
 Obebly. Dr. A. S 213 
 
 Obstructions in Mississippi River 177 
 
 Ocracoke, 32; abandoned 47 
 
 Octorara, the 179,267,410 
 
 Octavia, the 667 
 
 Ocean Wave, the 415 
 
 Officers and vessels. See squadrons. 
 
 Official thanks to army and navy 147 
 
 Ogeecbee, Great Eiver 82,305,371 
 
 Ogeechee, Little River 82 
 
 O. H. Lee, the 179, 282 
 
 O'Kane, Lieutenant James 203 
 
 Old Dam 415 
 
 O. M. Pettil, the 391 
 
 Onondaga, the 477 
 
 Oneida, the. 183, 198 203, 280, 625, 026 
 
 Onslow Court House 401 
 
 Orders; general order of Foote, 164; con- 
 gratulatory order. 165; general orders 
 from Farragut, 180, 252; from Eear- 
 Admiral DuPont, 374 ; DuPont's order 
 for ships, 395 ; general order from 
 Secretary Welles, 396; from 8. C. 
 Rowan. 400; Admiral Farragut's gen- 
 eral order No. 1, 671; No. 11. 572; No. 
 12,588; No. 13, 688; from Mr. Benja- 
 min (Confederate), 614 ; general order 
 No 70, 699; special order No. 10, gen- 
 eral order No. 78, Admiral Porter's 
 
XIV 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Oreto, the (O.S.N.)..... 623 
 
 Orvetta, the 179,282 
 
 Oeaipee, the *29 
 
 Osage, the 333,344 
 
 Ottawa, the... 66, 76. 81, 84, 389, 437, 440 
 
 Otter Island '5 
 
 Ouiohita. the 844, 496, 656 
 
 Outre, Pass a' 1' 89. l" 
 
 Owens, EasigD 444 
 
 Owen, Lieutenant-Commander E. K., 288; 
 honorable mention o£, 292, 303, 310, 
 
 815 31T 
 
 Owasco, the 177,226, 209,281 
 
 Ozark, the 344,632 
 
 Paulding, Commodore Hiram, 27, 30, 32, 
 
 97, 369, 389, 439,440 660 
 
 Paulding, Lieut.-Commander Leonard, 
 
 143, 148, 160, 167 160 
 
 Pawnee, the, 30. 32, 36, 40, 41, 44, 47, 65, 
 
 75, 77 82 
 
 Parrott, Commander E. G 67, 79, 370 
 
 Padueah, Ky 136,160 
 
 Para, the 179,301,410 
 
 Palmer, Commander James S., 261, 272, 
 
 274, 776. 780 
 
 Pampero, the 282 
 
 Palmetto State, the (C. S. N.) 369 
 
 Patapsco, the, 365, 372, 389, 437, 440, 441, 669 
 
 Pattersonville 277, 279 
 
 Pasquotank River 114 
 
 Pamlico River 112, 423 
 
 Pamlico Sound 47, 108, 412, 426 
 
 Pansy, the 294, 343 
 
 Paw Paw. the 343 
 
 Passaic, the 372,388,440, 
 
 441 447 
 
 Paul Jones, the 388,437 
 
 Paulina, the 66, 76, 77 
 
 Patterson, Commander T. H 403, 426 
 
 Parker, Commander Foxhall A.. 412, 444. 677 
 
 Parker, Commander W. A 478 
 
 Parrott, Commander E. S 47/ 
 
 Pamunky River 4/3 
 
 Pagan Creek 474 
 
 Page, Commander Thomas Jefferson, (C. 
 
 S. N.)778 822 
 
 Pennsylvania, the 28, 30 
 
 Pensacola 29, 36, 93, 100, 103, 104, 177 
 
 Perrv, the 36, 116,400. 407,417 
 
 Penguin, the 6/, 77. 460 
 
 Perkins, Lieutenant George H. 200, 212, 
 
 235 247 
 
 Perkins' Landing 313 
 
 Perkins, Acting-Ensign James T 348 
 
 Pearson, Midshipman 79 
 
 Pennington, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Pelican Island 92 
 
 Pemberton, General (C. S. A.), 284, 296, 
 
 301; extraordinary ability shown in 
 
 the defence of Vicksburg, 301, 306, 
 
 311,316,320 324 
 
 Pembina, the 81, 84. 281 
 
 Pensacola, the, litl, 183, 187, 191. 193, 198, 
 
 201, 206, 207 279 
 
 Pendergrast, Lieutenant 126 
 
 Peck, Oscar, powder boy 205 
 
 Pennock, Commander A. M 135 
 
 Peosta, the 343 
 
 Peri, the 344 
 
 Penobscot, the 410, 426,430 
 
 Peck, General .418 et seq. 
 
 Pequot, the 476 
 
 Petersburg 405,476 
 
 Pennell, Acting -Master, J. A 464 
 
 Pet. the (blockade-runner), capture of, 778 
 
 Petrel, the 316, 324, 332, 344 
 
 Pegram, Captain (C. S. N.) 618 
 
 Phcenix, the (0. 8. N.) 178 
 
 Phcenix, Lieutenant-Commander 79 
 
 Phinney, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Philadelphia, the 109, 410, 431 
 
 Phillips, Surgeon (C. S. N.). ...120 
 
 Phillips, Captain 169 
 
 Phillppi. the 692 
 
 Phelps. Libutenant S. L.. 143, 147, 149, 167, 
 
 169, 166, 169, 214, 340 623 
 
 Phelps, General 187, 341 
 
 Phelps, Lieutenant T. S 403 
 
 Pittsburg Landing 163, 169, 164, 168,337 
 
 Pittsburg, the, 139. 160. 167, 160, 162, 165, 
 
 284, 296, 303, 310, 313, 314, 317, 318, 342 
 
 Pillow Captain (0. S. N.) 161 
 
 Pilottown 90,186 
 
 Pickens, General 96 
 
 Picket, the 112,408 
 
 Pioneer, the 112 
 
 Pike, Captain 172, 259 
 
 Pinola, the 180, 212, 268, 281, 626 
 
 Plymouth, the 28, 30 
 
 Plymouth, 111 etseq.; 408,414,415,417, 
 
 483 ... 489 
 
 Plum Point Bend 166 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Pleasant Hill Landing 617 
 
 Pocahontas, the 36, 59, 77, 97, 281 
 
 Port Hudson, 32, 262, 272, 273, 296, 299, 
 
 319, 463,464 463 
 
 Port Royal, 32, 38; expedition against. 54; 
 
 65, 67, 69, 61, 76, 78, 82, 84, 114, 404. 536 
 Powhatan, the, 36, 87, 97, 100, 102, 105, 
 
 369,370, 388, 448 616 
 
 Portsmouth, the 36, 190,192, 280 
 
 Potomac, the 36,107,2811 
 
 Potomac River, fortification of banks of, 
 
 39,40,42, 43,283 470 
 
 Potomska, the, 77.85,390 
 
 Poor. Commander Charles. ..89, 327, 328, 332 
 
 Pope, Captain John 89, 90 
 
 Pork Point llSetseq. 
 
 Porter, Midshipman B. H 112 
 
 Pope, General 160,164,168 
 
 Powell, Captain L. M 107 
 
 Polk, General Leonidas (C. 8. A.), 134, 
 
 136 159 
 
 Porter, Commodore William D., 143, 146, 
 
 262,269 273 
 
 Ponchartrain, La 193 
 
 Ponchartrain Lake 247, .177 
 
 Ponchartrain, the (C. S. N.) 292 
 
 Port Gibson 316 
 
 Port Roval, the 409.416,460 
 
 Porter, Lieut. B. H ... .447. 478. 718, 719, V26 
 
 Polignac, General (C. S. A.) 656 
 
 Potomac Flotilla, t77; listof vessels, Jan. 
 
 1, 1864 631 
 
 Porter, Rear-Admiral David D., 8/, 99 et 
 seq.; 121, 179, 180 etseq ; 20.5, 214, 
 216, 216, 217 et seq ; 223 et seq; 232, 
 257, 260, 268, 273, 283 et seq - 308, et 
 seq.; 328 et seq.; 333 et seq.: 463, 464, 
 614 et seq. , 545, 548, 616 ; detached 
 from the command of the Mississippi 
 Squadron, 684; assumes command of 
 the North Atlantic Squadron. 684 ; 
 first attack on Fort Fisher, 684 et 
 seq.; 709; second attack on Fort 
 
 Fisher, 712; 718 et seq 799 
 
 Preble, the 36, 81, 89, 107, 282, 625 
 
 Prentiss, Commander 79 
 
 Price, Commodore Cicero 107 
 
 Price, the 313 
 
 Price, General Sterling (C. 8. A.), 312, 325, 
 
 335, 336, 337, 339 343 
 
 Presto, the (blockade-runner), destruc- 
 tion of 665 
 
 Prairie Bird, the 344 
 
 Prichett, Lieutenant - Commander, 313, 
 
 336 837 
 
 Prentiss, General 336 
 
 Preston, Lieut 9. W., 374, 436. 447,718, 719, 765 
 Princess Royal, the (blockade-runner), 
 
 349, 367 778 
 
 Prizes adjudicated 833, 843 
 
 Putnam. Colonel 438 
 
 Putnam, the 109, 118 
 
 Pursuit, the 466, 460 
 
 Purquiminous River 417 
 
 Purviance, Captain 123 
 
 Pulaski, the 36 
 
 Puritan, the 41 
 
 QuANTico Creek 42 
 
 Quackenbush, Lieutenant - Commander 
 
 S. P 108, 114,367,475 
 
 Quaker City, the 370, 388, 491 
 
 Queen's Creek 418 
 
 Queen. Lieutenant W. W 179, 227, 486, 487 
 
 Queen of the West, the, 168, 171, 173, 249, 
 
 284, 286, 288, 295, 296 et seq 308 
 
 Queeu City .340, 344 
 
 Queen of the Wave, the 373 
 
 Raleigh, the 478 
 
 Raleigh, N. O Ill 
 
 Racer, the 179 
 
 Raritan, the . 28 
 
 Ramsey, Lieutenant Alan 107 
 
 Ramsay. Lieutenant-Commander P. M., 
 
 310, 320, 335 661 
 
 Ranger, the 112, 471 
 
 Radford, Commander William 124 
 
 Ram Flotilla, the vessels of the 168 
 
 Ransom, Lieutenant -Commander, 198, 
 
 213. 269 276 et seq. 
 
 Rappahannock River 265 
 
 Rachel Seaman, the 282,625,626 
 
 Rattler, the 1f%, 290, 295, 300, 832, 343 
 
 Kappiones 496 
 
 Randall, Ensign J. P 469 
 
 Reindeer, the 344, .346 
 
 Red Rover 343 
 
 Rescue, the 391,410 
 
 Bed River. 273, 800, 317, 318, 832, 339, 463, 
 
 464; Expedition of , 494 634 
 
 Reed, Lieutenant-Commander Abuer,206, 361 
 Redstone Point 112 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Regiments: Connecticut, Sixth, 86, 438; 
 Seventh, 438; Chalmette (C. S. A.l, 
 192, 198, 210; Delaware, Fourth, Vol- 
 nnteere, 425; De Saussiers, 691; Haw- 
 kins, 49; Indiana, Twentieth, 48; 
 First, 606; Illinois, Ninth, 136; Thirty- 
 second Volunteers, Co. C. (bharp- 
 shooters), Co. K, Sharpshooters. 159; 
 Co. A. Forty-second Volunteers, 162, 
 166; Eleventh, 669; Iowa, Twenty- 
 third, 335; Fourteenth, 497; Thir- 
 teenth and Thirty-second, 497; Maine, 
 Ninth, 438; Missouri, Tenth Volun- 
 teers, 341; Massachusetts Volunteers, " 
 30; Fifty-fourth Colored, 438; New 
 Hampshire, Fourth, 85: Third, 438; 
 Seventh, 488; New York, Forty-eighth, 
 438; One Hundreth, 438; Ohio, Sev- 
 enty-sixth, 321 ; Sixty-second, 438 ; 
 Pennsylvania, Ninety - seventh, 86 ; 
 Seventy-sixth 438 
 
 Reports : Captain Pope's retreat down 
 Mississippi River, 90; Captain Handy 
 to Captain Pope, 91; Pope to Handy, 
 91; Fox. Fort Sumter relief. 99; Lieu- 
 tenantGreen on Hampton Roads, 120; 
 Confederate account of engagement 
 ■with Monitor, 130; the same on at- 
 tack of Merrimac. 132; Rear-Ad- 
 miral Goldsborough, 132; Capture of 
 Fort Henry, 143; Boynton's account 
 of the battle of Shiloh, 153; Givin's 
 account of Shiloh, 153; Commander 
 Walke, 155; engagement near New 
 Madrid, 166; Confederate account of 
 battle of Fort Pillow, 166: Colonel 
 Higgins /C. S. A-), 179; Farragut'e on 
 capture of New Orleans and bombard- 
 ment of Fort Jackson, 189, 190; Cap- 
 tain Bailey, 198: Captain H. H. Bell, 
 200; Captain H. W. Morris, 201; Cap- 
 tain Craven, 201, 263; 8. P. Lee, 203, 
 254; Samuel Swartmout, 205; Melanc- 
 ton Smith, 206; Charles 8. Boggs, 206; 
 Captain De Camp, 208; James Alden, 
 208, 264; Edward T. Nichols, 209, 255 
 et seq.; Geo. H. Pmble, 209, 233; Chas. 
 H. B. Caldwell, 211; N. B. Harrison. 
 212; Pierce Crosby, 212; Geo. W. 
 Ransom, 213; A. N. Smith, 213; 
 John H. Russell, 214, 254 ; Admiral 
 Porter, 211 ; W. B. Benshaw, 223: A. 
 D. HalTell. 224; J. M. Wain Wright, 
 224; John Guest, 226; C. H. Baldwin, 
 226, 262; Watson Smith, 226; Walter 
 W. Queen, 227; K. B. Breese. 228; 
 relative to prisoners, 229; special of 
 Admiral Porter, 280: Coast Survey, 
 230; F. H.(Jerdes,280; .Joseph HaiTis, 
 232; Ed. Donaldson, 263; B. Wain- 
 wright. 254 etseq.; J. M. Foltz. 265; 
 John De Camp, 266; H. W. Halleck, 
 256; Admiral Porter, 267; Pierce 
 Crosby, 269; S. K Woodworth, 269; 
 Admiral Farragut, 250 et seq., 260; S. 
 P. Lee, 261 ; J. S. Palmer, 266, 261; B. 
 
 B. Lowry, 261; C. P. Nichols. 262; W. 
 D. Porter, 262; R. K. Kelly, 262; Lieut. 
 Brown 297; T. M. Farrell,319; on in- 
 juries to vessels, 322; Admiral Porter, 
 328; Flag-officer DuPont 391; C. E. P. 
 Eodgers, 393: Charles Steedman, 394; 
 D. Ammen, 394; T. H. Stevens, 396; 
 Flag-offlcer DuPont, 396; J. G. Rey- 
 nolds; 396; extract from Lamson's 
 Report, 420; extract from General 
 Spinola's report, 424; General Gill- 
 more, 446; Admiral Porter, 630; Gen- 
 eral Banks, 642; W. 8. Bums, 646; 
 extract from General Banks' report, 
 647; General Banks. 642, 647; Con- 
 federate report on Singer's Torpedo, 
 668; Farra^it on the Battle of Mobile 
 Bay, 678; P. Drayton, 680, 688; G. 
 Mundy,580; La Rue P, Adams, 681; 
 G, B. Glidden, 681; W. Starr Dana, 
 581; T. Williamson, 681; T. A. Jen- 
 kins, 681, 687; J. B, Marohand, 681- 
 688; James Alden. 683; J. H. Strong, 
 683 ; W. E. Le Roy, 684 ; T. H. 
 Stevens, 684; J. W. A. Nicholson, 684; 
 
 C. H. Wells. 684; James E Jouett. 
 686; Bancroft Gherardi, 686; C. H. 
 Greene. 685; W. P. McCanu, 686; 
 George Brown, 686; G. H. Perkins, 
 686; Chas. L. Huntington. 586; J. M. 
 Duncan, 660; Secretary Welles, 680; 
 Admiral Porter, 698; Commodore 
 Thatcher, 701; J. C. Howell, 792; 
 Admiral Porter, 703 ; Commodore 
 Schenck, 707; W. Radford, 707; James 
 Alden, 708; M. Sicard. 709; K. R. 
 Breese, 719, 724, 725; H. K.Thatcher 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 XT 
 
 PAGE 
 
 729; W. Eadford, 729; James Parker, 
 730; I/. E. Fagan, 732; Charles Steed- 
 man, 732; L. L. Dawson, 734; W. B. 
 Cushing, 735: H. W. GrinneU. 736; 
 Admiral Dahlgren, 762, 768; Edward 
 
 Simpson, 784; Admiral Thatcher 788 
 
 Bene, General 114 
 
 Belief, the 36, 282 
 
 Besolute, the 41, 178 
 
 Eenshaw, Commander W. B., 186, 216, 
 
 223, 269,346, 408.424 486 
 
 Eepublio.the 321 
 
 Review of the work done by the navy in 
 
 1863 462 
 
 Belease, the 493 
 
 Bead, Lieutenant fO. S. N.) 812 
 
 Restless, the 390 
 
 Remey, Lieutenant George C 447 
 
 Reynolds, Maj or A. H 77, 246, 396 
 
 Rhiud, Lieutenant-Commander. . .79, 376, 
 
 437 696 et seq. 
 
 Rhode Island, the 229, 413, 414 
 
 E. L Breckinridge, the (C. S. N.) 178 
 
 Eider, Lieutenant 163 
 
 BipEaps 127,132 
 
 Eichmond, 111, 132, 159, 405, 417.469; 
 
 capture of 792 
 
 Eichmond. the, 36, 89, 91, 93, 104, 107. 
 
 181, 183, 191, 198, 200, 261, 268, 272, 380 
 Eipley, Brigadier-General (0. 8. A.), 86; 
 
 official circular Irom 371 
 
 Eoe, Commander Francis A., 103, 201, 275, 
 
 472,486 487 
 
 Eoanoke Eiver . 112,483 
 
 Eouckendorflf, Commander William, 107, 637 
 Eoanoke Island, 32; expedition against, 
 108; defences of, 110, 112; capture 
 
 of 114, m 
 
 Eoanoke, the , 36.123,126, 490 
 
 Robinson, Acting-Master 79 
 
 Rockville. stores captured-at.. 82 
 
 Bodgera, Commander John. 52, 65, 59, 
 
 75, 79, 85, 134, 140, 386, 394. 404 444 
 
 Bodgers, Commander 0. E. P., 66. 62, 75, 
 
 78, 81, 85 374 
 
 Bowan, Commander S. C, takes Alexan- 
 dria, 40, 44. 109, 112, 114. 116, 123, 399, 
 
 400, 407, 408, 439, 440, 444 449 
 
 Borneo, the 288, 295. 316, 320, 343, 344 
 
 Roberts, Colonel George W 1 62. 165 
 
 Eobb, the 294, 334, 340, 344 
 
 Robert, the 338 
 
 Boiling Fort 304, 306, 324 
 
 Eodgers, Captain 416 
 
 Bodman, Lieutenant-Colonel 438 
 
 Boss, Brigadier-General 300 
 
 Boman, the 431 
 
 Bobeson, Lieutenant H. B 440 
 
 Boebnck, the 466,460 
 
 EuBsell, Lieutenant-Commander J. H 214 
 
 Bussell, Lieutenant J. H., 61, 184, 200 . . .216 
 EusseU, Lord John, letter to Lord Lyon, 
 69 , 72 
 
 Sabine, the 36 
 
 Saginaw, the 36 
 
 San Jacinto, the 36, 64, 404, 409, 460, 637 
 
 Saratoga, the 36 
 
 Santee, the 86, 92, 107 
 
 Savannah, the 36, 81 
 
 Sachem , the 219, 230, 282, 346 
 
 Savannah. Ga 75,85,433 
 
 Sandy Point 112 
 
 Sallie Robinson, the 277 
 
 Sanford, Lieutenant I. P 135, 161, 417 
 
 Savage, Acting-Master,, 179 
 
 Sarah Bruen, the 179, 282 
 
 Saltonstall, Acting-Master 423, 424 
 
 Samuel Botan, the 431,493 
 
 Sagamore, the 464,460 
 
 Saugus, the 477 
 
 Sassaous, the 486,487 
 
 Sabine Lake 508 
 
 Santiago de Cuba, the 697 
 
 Siicraraento, the 822 
 
 Sabine Pass, expedition against 346 
 
 Samson, the 294, 344 
 
 Saxon, the 232, 270 
 
 Sam Houston, the 282 
 
 Sabine Cross Roads 607.636 
 
 Scott. General Winfleld. . . .27, 40, 96. 102, 105 
 
 Scott, Colonel H. L 97. 102 
 
 Scott, Lieutenant John 288, 439 
 
 Scotia, the 473 
 
 Scotland, the 324 
 
 Schimmelfennig, General 670 
 
 Schenck, Commodore -Tames Findlay 707 
 Sciota, the, 184, 189, 191, 198, 200, 208, 
 
 262 281 
 
 Seabrook 84et seq. 
 
 Sea Islands 76 
 
 Seminole, the 36. 55, 77, 404 
 
 Sewell's Point SO, 32, 125, 130, 403 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Seneca, the. . . .57, 76, 77. 84,365, 371, 3S9, 437 
 Seward, William H., 67 ; letter to Mr. 
 Adams about the " Trent." 68 et seq.; 
 
 94.100 102et8eq. 
 
 Semmes, Captain Raphael (C. S. N.), 89, 
 602 ; resigns commission in IT. 8,N.. 
 603; takes command of "Sumter." 
 604. 609. 612. 622. 622. 627. 628; 
 christening of the "Alabama," 6G8; 
 swearing in his crew, 629, 630 ; ad- 
 dress to his crew before the engage- 
 ment with "Kearsarge," 651; saved 
 from drowning by the English Yacht 
 " Deerhound," 651 : assumes com- 
 mand of Confederate ileet as Rear- 
 Admiral, 796; blowing up his ships.. 797 
 
 Seabird. the 113 
 
 Seymour, the 113, 415, 423, 431, 487, 493 
 
 Sea Foam, the 179, 282 
 
 Seaman, the 292 
 
 Sebago, the 389,407,410 
 
 Selfridge, Lieutenant-Commander T. O.. 
 
 234. 323. 332,404 514 
 
 Selma, the ;C. S. N.). captured. .629 
 
 Seaver. , Master of the " Philippi," 
 
 cowardly conduct of 593 
 
 Semmes, Lieutenant A. A., 79, 85, 458 et seq. 
 Sherman, General T. W,, 54. 59 et seq.... 62 
 Sherman. General W. T . 76 et seq.: 76, 
 84, 111 ; assigned to district of Cairo, 
 152, 28tetseq.; 2^5. 288 et seq.; 291, 
 292 et seq.; 295, 296. 303; arrives at 
 Black Bayou. 304. 306. 30S, 312 et seq.; 
 316 et seq ; 320, 322 et seq.; letter to 
 
 Admiral Porter, 327, 463, 469, 748 758 
 
 Shirk. Lieutenant James W., 143. 147, 
 
 159 et seq.; 174, 288, 290, 292, 310.. ..316 
 Shiloh. 152 ; battle of, 163 ; loss at, 164, 
 
 163 339 
 
 Shaw, Lieutenant Edward 283 
 
 Shawsheen, the . 408, 410, 415, 417, 493 
 
 Shankland, Acting-Master W. F 403 
 
 Shokokon, the 427, 428 
 
 Shaw, Colonel 438 
 
 Sherrill, Acting-Master , 456 
 
 Shenandoah, the 490 
 
 Shreveport, 603, 634; surrender of Con- 
 federate property at 806 
 
 Shenandoah, the (C. S. N.) 815, 816 
 
 Simms, Lieutenant Charles 0. (C. S. N.J, 120 
 
 Sidney C. Jones, the 179 
 
 Signal for Communication 197 
 
 Siren, the 344 
 
 Silver Lake, the 333, 343 
 
 Silver Cloud, the 334, 340, 343 
 
 Signal, the, 284, 288, 295, 316, 324, 331, 
 
 344 628 
 
 Simpson, Lieut. -Commander Edw... 446, 784 
 
 Simmons, Lieutenant J. W 475 
 
 Slemmer, Captain. 100, 104 et seq.; 106.. .149 
 Slidell, John, arrest of, on board the 
 
 "Trent" 64etseq.: 73.105 
 
 Small, Eobert. bringing outthe " Planter" 
 
 from Charleston 86 
 
 Smith, Commander Melancton, 107, 190, 
 
 192, 198, 200. 272 et seq. ; 480 486 
 
 Smith, General C. F 141 et seq. 
 
 Smith, Commodore Joseph, 121; killed, 125 
 Smith, Lieutenant-Commander Watson, 
 179, 186, 226, 288 et seq.; 290 et seq.; 
 honorable of, 292, 300; aberration of 
 
 mind of 301 
 
 Smith, Acting-Master 179 
 
 Smith, Lieutenant • Commander A. K., 
 
 198 213 
 
 Smith, Ensign R. B 288 
 
 Smith, Captain William 403, 407 
 
 Smith, General Kirby (C. S. A.) 839, 635 
 
 Smith, Joseph, Rear- Admiral 364 
 
 Smith Briggs. the 426 
 
 Smith's Island 426 
 
 Smith, Major-General W. F 470 
 
 Smith, General A. P.. 620 etseq.; 632 et seq. 
 
 Smith. General Kilby 536 
 
 Southfleld, the, 108 et seq.; 410, 414, 416, 
 
 423, 431 491 
 
 Southern Ports, in possession of Seces- 
 sionists, 22; closing of, 33; under 
 blockade, 33 ; fortified by Confeder- 
 ates 34 
 
 South Carolina, the .388 
 
 Sovereign, the, 344, 423 424 
 
 Sophronia. the 178 
 
 Somerset, the 458, 460 
 
 Soley, Professor J. Russell 129. 629 
 
 South Atlantic Blockading Squadron 
 
 (1863. 1864) 669 
 
 Southern Republic, the (C. S. N.) 784 
 
 Sportsman, the 225 
 
 Springfield. Ill 284 
 
 Springfield, the 343 
 
 Spinola, General 424 
 
 Spicer, Commander William F... ....407. 472 
 
 Sproston, Lieutenant J. G 161 
 
 Squadrons : East Gulf Squadron (Jan- 
 uary. 1863). list of vessels and officers. 460 
 
 Gulf Squadron (1861) 1C7 
 
 Home Squadron, list of vessels 36 
 
 Mississippi Squadron, vessels and offi- 
 cers (January 1. 1863), 298; list of ves- 
 sels employed during the siege of 
 Vicksburg, with names of oflacers, 
 342; (January 1. 1864), 684; (January 1, 
 
 1866) 807 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron (1862), list of 
 vessels and officers, 408; (Jailuarv 1, 
 18631, 429; (January 1, 1864), 490; 
 
 (January 1, 1865) 789 
 
 Potomac Flotilla (January 1, 1864), list 
 
 of vessels and officers 681 
 
 South Atlantic Squadron (January,1863), 
 list of vessels and officers, 387; (Jan- 
 
 ary , 1864), 672; (January, 1866) 73» 
 
 West Gulf Squadron, vessels and officers 
 at the Battle of New Orleans, 242; 
 (January 1, 1863), list of vessels and 
 officers. 279; (January 1, 1864), offi- 
 cers, 676 ; (January 1 , 1866 ) 787 
 
 Steedman, Commander Charles. 57, 79, 394 
 
 Steece, Midshipman 61 
 
 Stelwagen, Commander H. S. . . . 45, 107, 369 
 Stringbara, Commodore Silas H.. 44. 46, 
 
 67. 97 365 
 
 St, Lawrence, the, 36, 123, 125 et seq.; 
 
 410. 460 491 
 
 Stewart. Commodore 97 
 
 St. Louis, the, 36, 139, 143 et seq.; 148, 
 
 150, 151 , 157, 160 et seq. ; 168 et seq. . . 173 
 Stevens. Lieutenant-Commander T. H., 
 65, 76, 79, 84 et seq.; 85. 396. 407, 
 
 446 447 
 
 Stormlnlet 75,440 
 
 St. Mary's 77,277 
 
 St. Simms 78 
 
 Stemble, Commodore E. N., 136. 138. 
 143 et seq.; 147, 160, 166 ; wounded, 167 
 
 St. Augustine, Fla., surrender of 78 
 
 Stars and Stripes, the ... 108, 410, 460 
 
 St. Johns 78 
 
 St. Helen's Sound, reconnaissance of, 81, 83 
 
 Star, the(C. S.N.) 178 
 
 Star of the West the 9S 
 
 Sturgia, Russell 97 
 
 Stepping Stones, the, 418, 420 et seq.; 
 
 431 493 
 
 Stodder. Acting-Master L. N 414 
 
 Steele's Bayou, expedition against, 303, 
 
 304: end of expedition, 306 308 
 
 Steele, General 287, 295, 311, 320 
 
 St. Charles, the 277 
 
 St. Charles, 173 ; evacuation of , 292 293 
 
 Stephenson, Captain .178 
 
 Stonewall Jackson, the (C. S. N.) 178. 183 
 
 Stevens, Lieutenant H. K. (O. S. N.), 178, 183 
 
 St. Louis. Mo 283 
 
 St. Clair, the 294,344 
 
 Stettin, the 390 
 
 State of Georgia, the 403, 410. 429, 491 
 
 Stevens, the 403,409 
 
 Strong, Brigadier-General 435, 438 
 
 St. Andrew's Bay 464, 466 
 
 St. George's Bay 454 
 
 Strandberg. Ensign F. A 469 
 
 Stone. General C. P 505, 636 
 
 St. John's Eiver 666 
 
 Stockdale, the 785' 
 
 Stonewall, the (Confederate Eam) 825 
 
 Sullivan's Island 445 
 
 Suwanee River 463 
 
 Supply, the 36,410 
 
 Sumner, Senator Charles 72 
 
 Sumner, George W 225 
 
 Sunflower Eiver 3C3, 307 
 
 Susquehanna, the 401. 409 
 
 Suffolk 418.420.425 
 
 Sumter, the (C. S. N.). 89. 167, 269, 276, 
 466 ; cruise of and the havoc com- 
 mitted, 601 to 619 inclusive ; arrives 
 at Gibraltar, 619; her career termi- 
 nates 619 
 
 Swartmout, Captain Samuel 192. 2U5 
 
 Switzerland, the 168, 172, 290,308,317 
 
 Sybil, the 344 
 
 Szymanski, Colonel (C. S. A.), 192, 198 et seq. 
 
 Taoont, the (C. S. N.), 486. 812; captures 
 the Archer. 812; captures theU. S. 
 Bevenue cutter Caleb Cushing. .. .812 
 
 Tallahatchie Eiver 300, 307, 331 
 
 Taylor, Fleet-Captain W. Eogers 438 
 
 Taylor, General Dick (Confederate).. 339, 610 
 Tallahassee, the (C. S. N.), 818; name 
 changed to Chameleon, 818; sur- 
 render of 819 
 
 Tatnal. Commodore Josiah (C. S. N), 55. 
 68,62,84 131etseq. 
 
XVI 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Taylor, the. 136,138 etseq.; 143, 148 et 
 seq.; 163etBeq.; 157, 169, 249, 294, 
 316 etseq.; 336, 337, 339, 342 . . 563 
 
 T. A. Ward, the 179,227 
 
 Tawah, the 344 
 
 Tampa Bay 453, 456 
 
 Tahoma.the 457,469,460 
 
 TensasEiver 300,332 
 
 Tensas Lake 332 
 
 Tensas, the 344 
 
 Terry, Lieutenant Edward 107 
 
 Terry, M'ljor-General Alfred H . . .701 et seq. 
 
 Tennesssee the 281,344,366 
 
 Tennessee Eiver, 333, 340,341; engage- 
 ment on fje 803, et seq. 
 
 Tennessee, the Army of, covered itself 
 
 with honors 326 
 
 Tennessee (Conlederat e Ram), surrender 
 of, 577; list of officers of, 691; no 
 
 damage to, 694 ; description of 595 
 
 Ten Thousand Islands 453 
 
 Tecumseh. the 475,477 
 
 Temple, Fleet-Captaio William G . . . .460 
 Thorn, Reuben, Captain of Marines 
 
 (0. S.N.) 120 
 
 Thomson, Lieut. Egbert. . . .150, 157, 160, 162 
 
 Thompson, General Jeft. (0. S. N.) 120 
 
 Thompson, Acting-Master G. B 416 
 
 Thomas, Lieut. -Commander N. W 272 
 
 Thistle, the 344 
 
 Thayer, General 618 
 
 Thatcher. Bear-Admiral. 495, 697. 701; 
 joint operations in Mobile Bay with 
 General Oanby, 718 ; instructions 
 from to Fleet Captain Edward Simp- 
 son 784 
 
 Thompson of Mississippi (Confederate) .469 
 Tighlman, Brig.-General Lloyd (C. 8. A.) 
 
 142 etseq.; 144 148 
 
 Tibbetts, Acting-Master H 346 
 
 Torpedoes, number killed by 592 
 
 Tompkins, Colonel D. D 97 
 
 Totten, General 79,461 
 
 Toucey, J., Sec. of Navy 18 
 
 Topsaillnlet 471 
 
 Tredagar Works. Richmond, Va. . enlarge- 
 ment of 
 
 Trathen. Lieut. James. 426 et seq 478 
 
 Trenchard, Commander Stephen D..413, 418 
 Trent, the (British Mail Steamer), 21; 
 arrest of Messrs. Slidell and Mason 
 on board of, 64 et seq. ; statement of 
 Mason and Slidell, 06 et seq. ; letter 
 of Minister of Foreign Affairs in 
 France, 70; Masnn and Slidell given 
 up, 71 etseq. : theU. S Government 
 disavows the action of Captain 
 
 Wilkes 72 
 
 Treachery of Government ofiicials 101 
 
 Trent'sEeach 474,476,483 
 
 Troops, first landing of Northern 40 
 
 Truitun, Lieut. -Commander 79. 85,486 
 
 Trumpeter, the 487 
 
 Tucker, Commander John R 369 
 
 Tuscumbia, the. 310. 312 et seq. ; 316, 317, 
 
 321,322 343 
 
 Turner, Colonel John W 442 
 
 Tuscarora, the 478 
 
 Tybee Island, 75; reconnaissance of , 76. 
 82,85; capture of 398 
 
 XJliam. Major 416 
 
 Uncas, the 390 
 
 United States, the 28, 32 
 
 TJnadilla. the 65,83,367,389 
 
 Uncle Ben. the. 97 et eeq.; baptized by 
 
 Confe'lerates 99 
 
 Underwriter, the, 103, 113 et seq.; 116, 
 
 410. 430. 471 492 
 
 Undine, the 344 
 
 Upshur. Lieutenant 84 
 
 Upton. Lieut. -Commander D. P 349 
 
 Van Btjskibk. Acting-Master 179 
 
 Vanma. the. 183, 185, 190, 192, 198 et 
 
 seq.; 201.204 207 
 
 Valler, Captain 421 
 
 Vandalia. the 66,430 
 
 Van Dorn. General Earl (0. S. A.) 
 
 Vanderbilt. the 65. 131, 046 
 
 Valley City. the. 108,113 et seq.; 116, 
 
 411,425 431 
 
 Van Brunt, Captain. .. 44, 123, 129 et seq. 
 
 Valparaiso, the 396 
 
 Vernon River, reconnaisBance of 82 
 
 Veaselsin pursuit of ConfederateNavy..ll4 
 
 Vermont, the 388 
 
 Venus, the (blockade-runner) 428 
 
 Vessels of Union Navy. December. 1862; 
 Naval force in 1861; in 1862; losses 
 by shipwreck and battle; vessels 
 added since March, 1861 266 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Vesse's entitled to prize-money. . . .833-843 
 Vessels, Iron-clad, of ConfederateNavy, 
 
 in May, 1862 265 
 
 Vessels and officers of squadrons. See 
 squadrons. 
 
 Victoria, the, 411, 430 493 
 
 Vicksburg, 32, 173, 194. 204, 268. 269, 273 
 et seq.; expedition against, 284 et 
 seq ; troops settled opposite, 293; 
 General Grant takes command, 293; 
 siege of. 295. 296, 301; to be capture 1 
 at any cost, 302 et seq.; 304, 306, 308; 
 plans to send gun beats below, 308; 
 passage of the fleet bv, 310 et seq.; 
 316, 320, 322,324: bombardment of. 
 325; surrender of. 325. 326; frater- 
 nizing of the two armies. 327; Con- 
 federates Betting fire to steamers. 
 330. 336; great rejoicing at New 
 Orleans on the fall of. 352, 463. 46'j, 635 
 
 Vidette,the 112 
 
 Virginia. Secession of. 27; resolutions of 
 
 compromise 105 
 
 Vincennes. the 36, 89 et seq. ; 107, 281 
 
 Vixen, the 82 et seq. ; 271 
 
 Victory, the 343 
 
 Vindicator, the 344 
 
 Vodges. Captain 105 
 
 Volunteer, the 314 
 
 Wabash, the 36. 44. 65. 76, 78, 84, 387 
 
 Washington 126, 131, 133, 236, 288, 423 
 
 Wadsworth, Colonel 30 
 
 Walke, Commander Henry, makes recon- 
 naissance of Columbus and Belmont 
 Landing, 136, 138, 143 et seq.; 148, 
 165. et seq.; 159 et seq.; running 
 the batteries at Island. No. 10, 162 
 et seq.; 169. 284. 288. 310. 316, 823 etseq. 
 
 Warsaw Inlet 81. 85 
 
 Wallace. General 158 
 
 Ward. Commander James H., 40; death 
 
 of 41 etseq. 
 
 Warrior (British Man-of-War) 73. 386 
 
 Warrior, the (C. S. N.) 178 
 
 Water Witch, the. 36. 89 et seq. ; 107. 3S0. 668 
 Watmough. Lieutenant-Commander. P. 
 
 G..57.79. 86. 370 .. 396 
 
 War Department, indisposed to co-oper- 
 ate with Navy, 76 138 
 
 Wainwright, Iiiuutenant-Commander J. 
 
 M., 224,261,2*9; killed 270 
 
 Wainwright. Commander Richard. 184. 
 
 186, 192, 198, 20D 216 
 
 Warley, Lieutenant F. B. (O. B. N.). .178, 184 
 
 Walker, Captain W. 8 104 
 
 Walker, Lieutenant 209 
 
 Walker, Lieutenant -Co.umander John 
 G., 288 et seq.; honorable mention 
 
 of, i;92 300etseq. 
 
 Walker, General (Confederate) 49B 
 
 Walker. Admiral Sir Baldwin (British 
 
 Navy) - 647 
 
 Wallace. Ensign James 444. 447 
 
 Warrenton 308,311, 319 
 
 Wallace's Lake 504 
 
 Walkertown 426 
 
 Wamsutta, the 390 
 
 Washita River 300, 634 
 
 Wachusetts. the. 403, 407, 410; captures 
 
 the "Florida" 813 
 
 Wade. Colonel (Confederate) killed 315 
 
 Warner, the ..528 etseq. 
 
 Wallace, Lieutenant Lyman P 447 
 
 Wakassa River 456 
 
 Wanderer, the 460 
 
 Warren , General 476 
 
 W. B. Burton, the (C. S. N.) 178 
 
 Warley, Lieutenant A. F 489 
 
 Welles. Honorable Gideon. Secretary of 
 Navy Department. 1861-69. begins 
 administration. 18 et seq.; 26; sum- 
 mons Commander Paulding to bis aid 
 27; 36, 36 et seq.; letter to C.iptaln 
 Wilkes, 68 ; 94, 99 et seq. ; 104 et seq. ; 
 letters to Commander Foote. 148, 164, 
 173, 188. 190 et seq ; 194 et seq.. con- 
 gratulatory letter to Admiral Porter, 
 230. 2;i0; letters to Admiral Poi;ter. 
 330. 337. 364, 367, 369. .364. 377. 381, 
 
 387. 391. 390. 464, 405. 686 823 et seq. 
 
 Western World, the 76.85 
 
 Webb, the (C. S. N.), 263. 276; destruction 
 
 of 786 
 
 Werden. Lieutenant-Commander Reed. 108 
 
 Welles. Acting-Master F. S 109. 415. 424 
 
 Welden Ill 
 
 West. Captain John 112 
 
 Weir's Point 112 
 
 Western Flotilla 136 
 
 Webster. Colonel 163. 168 
 
 Westfleld the 177.186,223,270 
 
 PAGE 
 
 West Point 403. 425.426 
 
 Weaver. Lieut.-Commander A. W....350. 667 
 
 Weitzel. General 277. 347. 684. 701 
 
 Weehawken. the. 805: attack on the, 374; 
 385. 380. 388, 435. 436, 437, 440, 444, 
 
 447, 44J 660 
 
 Westcott, Captain (C.S. A.) 469 
 
 W. G. Anderson, the 282 
 
 W. G.Putnam, the 411 
 
 White. G. M 214 
 
 Whitehead, the. 109, 112, 11 6, 390, 400. 410, 
 
 423.425 498 
 
 Whale Branch 84 
 
 Whistling Dick, the (Confederate Gun). . .32 
 
 White River ..339 
 
 W. H Brown, the 343 
 
 Wise. Governor H. A. (C. 8. A.) 114 
 
 Wise Legion, the 117 
 
 Wise. Captain George D 135 
 
 Williams. Acting-Master 179 
 
 Williams, General, 263; killed 276, 299 
 
 Wilkes. Captain Charles, of the San Ja- 
 cinto, takes Mason and Slidell from 
 the Britiph Mail Steamer Trent. 64 
 etseq.; his action not recognized by 
 
 theU. S. Government 72 
 
 Williams (British Mail Agent on board 
 the Trent) denounces action of Cap. 
 
 tain Wilkes 66 
 
 Wilmington River .' 75 
 
 Wilmington Island 85 
 
 Wilcox. Acting-Master 89 
 
 Wilmington 118,426,427,401,478 
 
 Winslow.Lieutenant-Commaiider Francis. 
 90, 107 ; engagement with the Ala- 
 
 bama .- 651.655 
 
 Wissahickon. the. 177. 192. 198. 213. 371. 
 
 389, 437 440 
 
 Winona, the. 84 et seq.; 190. 192. 198, 200, 
 
 209.262.281,360.626 026 
 
 Wigging, Acting-MasterGeorge. ..278 etseq. 
 
 Wise, Captain Henry A 364 
 
 Wilson, Colonel 300 
 
 Wilson. Lieutenant-Commander Bvron. 
 
 303.310.315.319 337 
 
 Winnebago, the 344 
 
 William Bacon, the 431 
 
 William Badger, the 410 
 
 Wilson, the 415 
 
 Williams, Lieutenant-CommanderE. P.. 447 
 
 Withlacoochee River 456 
 
 Wilkinson. Lieutenant 472 
 
 Wilderness, battle of the 470 
 
 Wilderness, the 695 
 
 Wilcox's Wharf 481 
 
 Wilson. General James Grant 626 
 
 Whiting, Lieutenant-Commander W. D., 
 
 437 440 
 
 Williamsburg Va 418 
 
 Willoughby's Point 404 
 
 Winnissimmet the 425 
 
 Woodward, Colonel 334 
 
 Woodward. Acting - Master T . G., 109. 
 
 117 408 
 
 Worden. Lieutenant John L.. 105. 112, 
 
 121. 126 etseq.; 129. 133, 366 ...371 
 Wood. Lieutenant John Tavlor (C. 8. N.). 
 
 120 .' .472 
 
 Woodworth. Lieutenant - Commander 
 Selim E., 223. 260 291. 292. 310, 313. 318 
 
 Wood. Colonel 336 
 
 Woolsey. Commander M. B. . 349. 350. 369 
 
 Wool. GeneralJobn E 404 
 
 Woodward. Lieutenant T. C 415 
 
 Wright. Brigadier-General H. G., 65, 76, 
 
 77.85 152 
 
 Wright River 85 
 
 Wyman. Lieutenant -Commander R. H. 
 
 56 165 
 
 Wvandotte. the 36. 431. 492 
 
 Wyoming, the 4S6. 648 
 
 Wyalusing. the 486,487 
 
 Yazoo City 276.312. 321. 331 
 
 Yazoo River. 173; expedition against and 
 list of vessels and olflcers. 288, 303. 
 307. 312, 316, 319, 320 et seq.; rams 
 
 burned 321; 324, 334, 336 
 
 Yankee, the 97 etseq.; 99 
 
 Yard. Dr Thomas 260 
 
 Yallabusha River 300. 303 
 
 Yazoo Pass 300 et seq.; 303. 308 
 
 Young's Point, landing of Army at, 292. 
 
 295. 317. 318, 326, 326. 334 336 
 
 York River 418 et seq.: 426 
 
 Young Rover, the 431, 493 
 
 Yorktown, evacuated by the Confeder- 
 ates 403,406. 418.425 
 
 Young America, the 411 
 
 ZiMMEKMAN. Lieutenant 270 
 
 Zouave, the 411, 431. 493 
 
CH A PTE R I. 
 
 Organization of the Navy Department. — The Wretched Condition of the Navy 
 AT the Outbreak of the Civil War. — What Could Have Been Done. — Blockade 
 Runners. — Loss to the Confederacy. —Prizes. — Naval Triumphs. — Faithful 
 Officers. — Gideon Wells. — Gustavus V. Fox. — Lavish Praise of the Army. — 
 Unprepared for War. — Premeditated Secession. — Separate Government —The 
 Navy and the Happy Condition of Affairs now Existing, &c. 
 
 AT the outbreak of the great rebellion 
 our Navy was not in a condition 
 to render that assistance which 
 the occasion demanded; the larger 
 portion of it was employed on 
 foreign stations, and the Government had 
 not at its disposal a class of vessels that 
 could enter Southern ports and act offen- 
 sively. 
 
 Had a proper naval force existed at the 
 time the Southern people first proposed to 
 throw off their allegiance to the Union, 
 there would have been less difficulty in sup- 
 pressing the efforts of the Secessionists, for 
 •every Southern harbor could have been 
 taken possession of — our ports would have 
 remained in charge of the Federal officers, 
 and if the South did obtain supplies from 
 Europe, they would have been obliged to 
 land them on the open coast. 
 
 If two monitors like the " Miantonomoh " 
 and the " Monadnock " could have entered 
 ■Charleston harbor when Sumter was first 
 threatened, they would have prevented the 
 erection of works for the bombardment of 
 that fort, and would have held it through- 
 out the war, as would have been the case 
 with all the ports on the Southern coast. 
 
 The first policy of our Government should 
 liave been to get possession of all the ports 
 in the South, and no doubt the Administra- 
 tion would gladly have done so, but for 
 their inability to carry out such designs if 
 entertained, owing to the fact that we had 
 no Navy of any account to commence with. 
 Many of our vessels of war were, as a 
 rule, too large, and drew too much water to 
 enter the shoal Southern harbors, and a 
 majority of them were sailing frigates and 
 
 2—17 
 
 sloops of war not at all suited to the work re- 
 quired of them. 
 
 Therefore, the Navy Department had to 
 resort to a system of blockade which was 
 called for by all European nations with 
 which the South had held commercial rela- 
 tions. The Southern people once recognized 
 as belligerents, it was necessary to close 
 their ports, and the system of blockade re- 
 sorted to is unparalleled in the naval records 
 of the world — reaching, as it did, along the 
 entire sweep of our Atlantic and Gulf coasts, 
 from the Chesapeake to the mouth of the 
 Rio Grande. 
 
 So efficiently was the blockade main- 
 tained, and so greatly was it strengthened 
 from time to time, that foreign statesmen, 
 who at the beginning of the war, did not 
 hesitate to pronounce the blockade of nearly 
 three thousand miles of coast a moral im- 
 possibility, twelve months after its estab- 
 lishment were forced to admit that the 
 proofs of its efficiency were so comprehen- 
 sive and conclusive that no objections to it 
 could be made. 
 
 It is true they would point to the number 
 of blockade runners that eluded the vigi- 
 lance of our vessels, but they were fairly 
 startled with the numbers of fast steamers 
 which were constantly falling into our 
 hands, and which the Government often 
 bought and equipped for employment in 
 capturing blockade runners These latter 
 were built in large numbers in England 
 with much profit to the ship-yards of that 
 country, but generally, as fast as they were 
 built, they were picked up by the improvised 
 cruisers under command of some energetic 
 naval officers, and their loss was so greatly 
 
18 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 felt by the Southern people that they were at 
 times very much hampered, if not crippled. 
 
 What the loss to the Confederacy was, 
 and how severely injured they were in their 
 resources from abroad, by the activity and 
 energy of the Navy, will appear from the 
 mention of the fact that during the war 
 1,119 prizes were brought in, of which num- 
 ber 3iO were fast steamers. 
 
 " There were also 355 vessels burned, sunk, 
 driven on shore, or otherwise destroyed — 
 a total of 1,504. The value of these vessels 
 and their cargoes, according to_ a low esti- 
 mate, was equal to thirty millions of dol- 
 lars." They were condemned for an 
 amount equal to twenty-eight millions of 
 dollars. 
 
 Many may consider that keeping up a 
 blockade was a pleasant pastime, and that 
 officers were rewarded handsomely with 
 
 Erize money; but that did not obviate the 
 ardships of the duty, nor remove the many 
 obstacles which the officers encountered 
 at every point. 
 
 The blockade was a military measure of 
 vital importance, and it depended upon the 
 manner in which it was conducted, whether 
 the Confederacy would be deprived of arms 
 and munitions of war. provisions, clothing, 
 and, in fact, everything that goes toward 
 maintaining a great military establishment^ 
 
 Without the supplies which the Confeder- 
 ates procured from abroad, they could not 
 have maintained their position for many 
 months, for they were very destitute, as 
 compared with the North, of all the ap- 
 pliances for making weapons of war, or 
 for furnishing clothing and other material] 
 necessary to armies. ^ 
 
 Hence, it might be well said that without 
 the close blockade which was kept up by 
 the Navy, the war might have been carried 
 on indefinitely, while the battles would 
 have been far more bitter and bloody than 
 they were. 
 
 The naval battles that were fought were 
 more exciting to the public than that close, 
 dreary blockade, but we doubt very much if 
 they were of any more value to the Union 
 cause. 
 
 As long as the Confederacy could be fur- 
 nished with provisions, clothing, arms and 
 the munitions of war they could fight on, 
 even in a desperate cause, but when the 
 sinews of war were taken from them they 
 collapsed. 
 
 With the capture of the last of the ene- 
 my's seaports, from which they had been 
 drawing all their supplies, the rebellion 
 was virtually ended. Taking into consid- 
 eration the extent of coast that had to be 
 blockaded, and the short time in which it 
 was all accomplished, the work can scarcely 
 be comprehended by the ordinary mind. 
 
 but it is not yet forgotten by those who 
 managed the industrial necessities in 
 Europe, and whose cupidity led them to 
 embark in what was then considereda wide 
 field for accumulating large profits, suppos- 
 ing at the time that our crippled Navy was 
 incompetent to comply with the obligations 
 imposed upon the Government in complet- 
 ing a bona fide blockade of the whole coast. 
 
 Of all the naval triumphs of the war, this 
 was one of the greatest. There were ques- 
 tions raised, it is true, with regard to the 
 competence of the blockade in certain lo- 
 calities, but they were seldom sustained by 
 the courts, and foreign Governments were 
 obliged to admit, notwithstanding the great 
 commercial interests they had at stake,that 
 the blockade was the most complete of any 
 that had ever been undertaken. 
 
 At the breaking out of the rebellion, our 
 serviceable Navy consisted of two sailing- 
 frigates, eleven 'sailing sloops, one screw 
 frigate, five screw sloops of the first class, 
 three side-wheel steamers, eight screw 
 sloops of the second class, and five screw 
 sloops of the third class. 
 
 Eighteen sailing vessels of various classes, 
 five screw frigates, one screw sloop and 
 three or four side-wheel steamers were 
 what is called available, that is, they were 
 laid up at the different yards; but of alL 
 these, and those in commission, there were 
 only eight vessels that the Government 
 could use immediately — those of the Home 
 Squadron — and only four were steamers 
 
 That was a poor showing for the Navy 
 Department to commence with. Twenty- 
 eight of the vessels in commission were on 
 foreign stations, and by the time the Navy 
 could be assembled the Confederates had 
 ample time to prepare to meet them with 
 offensive weapons, and keep them out of 
 Southern ports. 
 
 When Mr. Toucey handed over the Navy 
 Department to Mr. Welles, it was in a 
 ratlier demoralized condition — Southern 
 officers were resigning right and left, offi- 
 cers of the bureaux, even, were talking of 
 going with their States, and there was a. 
 want of confidence in all quarters. When 
 men who had held the highest and most in- 
 fluential positions in the Navy came for- 
 ward and offered their resignations, there 
 was apparently no one upon whom the 
 Secretary could rely; distrust seemed to 
 pervade every branch of the naval service. 
 No commander could be sure who would be 
 faithful to the flag, and the Secretary of the 
 Navy could not be certain of any Southern 
 officers being true to the Government. It 
 was a bad state of affairs for a Secretary to 
 commence his administration with, but'the 
 eventful year, 1801-02, will show that the 
 operations and achievements of the Navy 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 19 
 
 were such, that great credit was reflected rebellion — or, to use the language of the 
 
 not only upon the Secretary but upon the present day, in persuading our Southern 
 
 personnel of the service, which so signally brethren to come back into the Union, 
 
 aided the Department in carrying out the It is but justice to the Navy Department to 
 
 measures tending so greatly to cripple the explain to the reader the difficulties under 
 
 Confederate cause. which that branch of the Government la- 
 
 HON. GIDEON WELLES, SECBETAET OF THE NAVY, 1801-69. 
 
 It is only intended, in this narrative, to bored to carry out a system of offense, on 
 
 give a comprehensive history of the naval which hung the whole problem of bringing 
 
 events of the wa.r, so that the general reader the contest to a happy conclusion. 
 
 can form a rapid idea as to the conduct of The Navy Department is different in its 
 
 naval affairs, and understand how much organization from any other department 
 
 the Navy had to do with putting down the under the Government. Its relations to 
 
20 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the central Government, it is true, are the 
 same as the others, yet its operations and 
 wants are not understood except by experts 
 who have had a long training in the De- 
 partment; a politician wlio takes charge 
 of the office for the first time will find him- 
 self quite at sea, and entirely in the hands 
 of those who run the different branches of 
 the department. 
 
 The Secretary, then, should be considered 
 as surrounded by his Cabinet officers, on 
 whom he must depend at all times for such 
 advice and council as he may need. 
 
 His chiefs of bureaux are not clerks. 
 They are, or ought to be his advisers, and 
 should hold to the Secretary the same rela- 
 tions as the heads of departments hold to 
 the President. It depends upon the fitness 
 of bureau chiefs whether the Secretary can 
 conduct his department with success or not. 
 
 The Navy Department combines in itself 
 so many branches, that it would be an im- 
 possibility for any one man to comprehend 
 them all, much less direct them. 
 
 We have had a number of secretaries who 
 have attempted to "run the machine on 
 their own account," and make themselves 
 independent of the chiefs of bureaux, but 
 those who have made the effort have always 
 scored a dead failure, and have left no re- 
 cord behind them that would innure to their 
 benefit, publicly or privately. 
 
 It is quite clear that the head of the 
 Navj^ Department should be a statesman, 
 thoroughly acquainted with the policy of 
 the country; he should be a constitutional 
 lawyer, should have a thorough knowledge 
 of international law, and of the obligations 
 we are under to all foreign Governments; 
 he should be familiar with all the mercan- 
 tile interests of the country, and understand 
 the relations the Navy holds to our com- 
 merce afloat. He should be a man of sound 
 judgment in all business matters, and 
 should possess executive ability of the 
 highest order. Above all, he should be a 
 man of liberal ideas; not considering that 
 he is placed at the head of the Department 
 to do nothing but find fault with the offi- 
 cers under him. but to aid them with all his 
 power to build up a Navy, and keep it in a 
 proper condition to defend the country. 
 In fact, the Secretary of the Navy should 
 be the political, judicial and financial head 
 of tlie Navy Department. 
 
 AVhen the war broke out it was very ap- 
 parent that the organization of the Navy 
 Department was very defective, and that 
 the system of bureaux which worked fairly 
 well in time of peace, did network at all in 
 time of war. It was like a balky team; it 
 required a professional hand to guide the 
 several bureaux wliich seemed to be trying 
 to run their departments, each without re- 
 
 gard to the other, with no unanimity of 
 opinion, and it was soon found necessary 
 to add a professional man to the department 
 with the title of Assistant Secretary, who 
 should supervise all the operations of the 
 different bureaux, and take charge, under 
 the Secretary, of all professional matters. 
 
 The vast operations of the Department 
 during the war were divided into two great 
 branches, one belonging to matters per- 
 taining particularly to the Navy, the other 
 embracing civil transactions, together with 
 the whole business machinery and opera- 
 tions of the Dex-)artment. 
 
 Mr. G. V. Fox, who had formerly been 
 an officer of the Navy, was placed at the 
 head of the first named branch of the De- 
 partment; while the Chief Clerk, Mr. Faxon, 
 was placed at the head of the Civil Corps; 
 he was really the representative of the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, Mr. Gideon Welles. 
 
 This organization was found necessary, 
 owing to the defective system then exist- 
 ing, which exists now, and which will be 
 found defective again if we should ever 
 be involved in a war of any magnitude. 
 
 It was rather remarkable that the Gov- 
 ernment, after the war, sliould have fallen 
 back upon the old bureau system without 
 any professional head, when its defects 
 were so glaring just after the commence- 
 ment of hostilities. 
 
 Mr. Fox, on entering upon the duties of 
 Assistant Secretary of the Navy, brought 
 with him into the Department a knowledge 
 of naval matters which could not by any 
 possibility have been attained by a" pure 
 civilian, and though he did not, perhaps, 
 have the prestige that would have been 
 held by a Board of Admirals or the Board 
 of Naval Commissioners, the success of the 
 Navy during the war, its rapid increase in 
 numbers and efficiency, showed that he was 
 alive to all the requirements of the service, 
 and was always ready to meet the demands 
 made upon the Navy Department by the 
 exigencies of the moment. 
 
 Congress, at all times, has been slow to 
 recognize the importance of a Navy com- 
 mensurate with the interests of this great 
 country, and has doled out ships and sail- 
 ors, even in times of great need, with a par- 
 simony that has, on several occasions, 
 placed the country in great straits. 
 
 It was even so in the outset of the great 
 rebellion, and it was some time after the 
 commencement of hostilities before our 
 legislators could be made to understand the 
 necessity for a large number of vessels to 
 blockade the Southern ports, and put down 
 the privateers and vessels of war which 
 the Confederates were putting afloat, and 
 which were destroying our commercial 
 marine in all parts of the world. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 21 
 
 Almost from the beginning, the Navy 
 Department had proper appreciation of 
 what the struggle was to be, and how 
 necessary it was for the Secretary of the 
 Navy to be provided with the means of 
 purchasing ships, guns and supplies of all 
 Idnds, and. it would be idle to say, in the 
 light of results, that the Department did 
 not put forth all the energy required on 
 such an occasion — first, by gaining the 
 confidence of Congress, and, by using the 
 large amounts intrusted to its charge with 
 a fair degree of economy, considering the 
 vastness of the 
 field of opera- 
 tions. 
 
 The adminis- 
 tration of the 
 Department was 
 conducted with 
 ability, which is 
 the most con- 
 vincing proof of 
 the fitness of its 
 officers for the 
 important du- 
 ties they were 
 called upon to 
 perform. It 
 would be untrue 
 to say that such 
 results as hap- 
 pened could 
 have been 
 achieved by per- 
 sons of ordinary 
 capacity, or that 
 the head of such 
 a combination 
 of officers was 
 deficient in the 
 qualities neces- 
 sary to control 
 so many grave 
 matters as came 
 within his juris- 
 diction. 
 
 The commu- 
 nications that 
 were addressed 
 to Congress 
 
 from time to time, by the Navy Depart- 
 ment, show conclusively that the officers 
 who filled the different positions, from the 
 Secretary down, had a very clear compre- 
 hension of the situation in all its details, 
 and that at no time was Congress without 
 information of all that was going on in the 
 Navy, or of what was required to keep it in 
 efficient condition. 
 
 It was seen very early in the struggle 
 that the policy of England and France was 
 unfriendly to the Union side, which was 
 fully evinced in the case of the "Trent" 
 
 GDSTAVUS V. FOX, ASS'T SECEETAKY OF THE NAVY, 1861-66, 
 
 later on, and all the influence and argu- 
 ment of the Navy Department was brought 
 to bear upon Congress to place our Navy in 
 a position to meet every attempt on the 
 part of foreign governments to meddle in 
 our affairs. Hence it was that we finally 
 commenced building a class of vessels that 
 set at defiance those who seemed disposed 
 to interfere with us, and left us, at the end 
 of the civil war, mistress of the situation 
 at home and abroad. 
 
 With these preliminary remarks, which 
 do not by any means convey what is due to 
 
 those who had 
 charge of naval 
 matters at the 
 Department, we 
 will proceed to 
 give as near as 
 we can a short, 
 but comprehen- 
 sive, account of 
 the various 
 events which 
 occurred during 
 the war, and en- 
 deavor to show 
 the bearing they 
 had, not only 
 on particular 
 movements of 
 the army, but 
 the infiuence 
 they exerted in 
 the quelling of 
 the rebellion in 
 general. 
 
 We do not de- 
 sire to take one 
 atom of praise 
 from our gallant 
 soldiers, who, 
 throughout the 
 war, showed 
 courage and en- 
 ergy unsurpass- 
 ed; but we feel 
 with many oth- 
 ers, that while 
 the country has 
 been lavish of 
 its praise to the Army, it has not always 
 rendered that justice to the Navy which'it 
 actually deserved. 
 
 The writer does not hesitate to say, that 
 but for tlie exertions put forth by the naval 
 branch of the government, the rebellion 
 would not have been brought to a close so 
 rapidly as it was. 
 
 No nation was ever more unprepared for 
 war than were the United States when the 
 rebellion of eleven States was thrust upon 
 them, and when the people of the South 
 committed their first hostile acts by seizing 
 
22 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 upon the forts and arsenals that were built 
 for their protection, without the expectation 
 that they would be used against the gov- 
 ernment. No pen could adequately express 
 the utter impotence of the general govern- 
 ment for attack or defence when it was 
 called upon to perform the imperative duty 
 of rescuing the federal fortifications from 
 the hands of the rebels, or of yielding up 
 all authority over them, and thereby sacri- 
 ficing the life and honor of the nation. 
 
 The Navy, in particular, on which alone 
 the government seemed disposed to depend 
 at the first outbreak, was unquestionably 
 in a bad condition to undertake all that 
 was required of it. 
 
 Some there were who — rebels at heart and 
 purpose — after holding for several years 
 previous to the war higli positions in the ad- 
 ministration preceding that of Mr. Lincoln, 
 had done all they could to dispose of the 
 Navy, so that it could not be used in the 
 event of trouble between the North and the 
 South. The object was to destroy all its 
 resources, to cripple the navy yards, dis- 
 mantle the ships or have them on distant 
 stations, so as to render it impossible for 
 the Navy to strike an effective blow; or, if 
 possible, to throw the ships and Southern 
 yards into the hands of the Secessionists. 
 How well they succeeded the history of the 
 war will tell. 
 
 It may be supposed hj those unfamiliar 
 with the events of the times, that the rebel- 
 lion was the result of measures forced upon 
 the South just previous to the election of 
 Abraham Lincoln, and that in his election 
 they saw the death blow to the hopes they 
 had cherished for extendingslavery into new 
 states and territories. If any one supposes 
 that tlie rebellion was an impulsive measure, 
 let liirn dismiss such an idea, for the writer 
 was told by a Southern Senator in 1860, that, 
 as far back as 1855, when the "Colorado" 
 class of ships were built, he and others 
 had voted to have them and all other vessels 
 constructed of such a size and such a draft 
 of water, that they could not enter any 
 Southern ports; so it seems that the thought 
 of secession had been maturing for years, 
 and wliile Southern statesmen were appa- 
 rently urging the building of large vessels 
 instead of small ones, on the ground that 
 the dignity of the Nation called for these 
 cumbersome structures, it was really for 
 the purpose of crippling the Government in 
 case the Southern States should secede. In 
 this they succeeded admirably, so much so, 
 in fact, that these large ships were of little 
 use in the beginning of the war, as tliey 
 could enter no Southern ports, and their 
 guns, without so doing, could not reach the 
 oi^posing forts. 
 
 Young men of the present day who will 
 
 want to make themselves informed of the 
 events of our Civil War, will scarcely be- 
 lieve that it was the settled purpose of the 
 South to organize a separate government, 
 or that they would resort to such means to 
 carry out their plans, especially when, after 
 a careful investigation of affairs at that 
 time, it will be clearly perceived that they 
 had no actual ground for complaint. On 
 the contrary, the South for years had en- 
 joyed more than their share of honors and 
 emoluments, and had gained from the 
 North compliance with urgent demands, 
 which often passed the bounds of proper 
 concession. 
 
 From the time Mr. Lincoln became Presi- 
 dent, all the Southern ports were in the 
 possession of Secessionists; they were sealed 
 against our large ships, and open to block- 
 ade runners, which immediately began to 
 supply the South with munitions of war, 
 thus giving that section a start, from which 
 they were benefited for a year to come. 
 
 Had our Navy at that time consisted of 
 some thirty small gun-boats, or a dozen 
 monitors, the rebellion would have been 
 unable to raise its head. Yet, with all the 
 experience we have had before us, we are 
 at the present time in a worse condition 
 than we were on the breaking out of the 
 rebellion. If to-day events occurred similar 
 to those of 1861, we would be in a worse 
 condition to prevent them. Why does this 
 settled purpose to keep the Navy down ex- 
 ist, when it was shown so conclusively 
 during the Civil War, that without the aid 
 of the Navy the South would have succeeded 
 in its attempt to dismember the Union? 
 Does it not look as if that good service had 
 been forgotten, and that it is determined 
 that only a ghost of a Navy shall remain— 
 a shadow that can be of no actual use in 
 war, and fit to serve only as an idle pageant 
 in time of peace? 
 
 If the Navy in the first outburst of the 
 war did not perform any act that would 
 show its importance in putting down the 
 rebellion at once, it was because it was in 
 such a crippled condition regarding its 
 ships, while over two hundred of its officers 
 were throwing up their commissions and 
 hastening South to try their fortunes with 
 the seceding States. 
 
 A retrospective view of the history of 
 the times will show how opposed the coun- 
 try was to commence a war, the end of 
 which no man could see. So much was 
 this the case that the North humiliated 
 itself with concessions, and it was not until 
 violent resistance had begun on the part of 
 the South, and the honored flag of the 
 Republic had been fired upon, that the 
 North awoke to the indignity, and never 
 rested until its Army and Navv had wiped 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 23 
 
 •out the foul blow that had been struck, and 
 the Union was once again restored in all 
 its entirety. 
 
 The Navy Department was beset with 
 ■difficulties at the very beginning; the friends 
 of the South in Congress did all they could 
 to withhold supi)lies of money. Our mer- 
 chant marine did not then, as now, hold 
 out the same facilities for improvising a 
 naval force. Six hundred vessels were de- 
 manded at once for the purposes of block- 
 ade and for putting afloat a force that 
 could keep down the Southern privateers, 
 and when it is considered what the Depart- 
 ment did under all the adverse circumstan- 
 ces attending the execution of these re- 
 -quirements, the highest praise cannot be 
 withheld from those who managed its 
 operations. 
 
 Every man who held position of honor 
 and trust in the Navy Department in those 
 trjdng times is dead and gone, and the mul- 
 tiplying events of a quarter of a century 
 have crowded out for a time the great 
 works which emanated from their conjoint 
 exertions; but those who will take the 
 trouble to hunt up and read over the docu- 
 mentary history of the times, will find 
 ample evidence that to the Navy Depart- 
 ment and the Navy is the present genera- 
 tion largely indebted for the happy condition 
 of affairs now existing in a united country 
 — a prosperity never exceeded in the history 
 of the land — and the most substantial proofs 
 that the Navy will always be found fore- 
 most to support this union of States, no 
 matter what may be the sacrifices made by 
 its officers and other personnel. 
 
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CH A PTE R I I. 
 
 BOMBARDMENT AND FALL OF FORT SUMTER. —DESTRUCTION OF THE 
 NORFOLK NAVY YARD BY THE FEDERAL OFFICERS. 
 
 FiEST Gun of the Civil War Fired.— Batteries at Cummings Point.— Capt. 
 McCready's Battery. — Capt. Hamilton's Floating Battery. — Major Anderson. 
 — Sumter Returns the Fire. — Unequal Contest. — Tardy Attempts to Relieve 
 Sumter. — Indignant People. — Anderson's Gallant Fight, and Surrender to the 
 Secessionists. — Effect of the Surrender of Sumter. — Lincoln's Position Toward 
 Virginia. — Gen. Scott and the Virginians.— Commodore McCauley. — Secrets of 
 THE Navy Department Made Known by Disloyal Officers. — Conspirators at 
 Work. — A Plot to Seize Norfolk Navy Yard. — The Navy Department Powerless. 
 — Commodore Paulding Summoned. — Hostile Attitude of the People of Norfolk 
 and Portsmouth. — Vessels at the Norfolk Navy Yard. — Ships that were 
 Historic. — Aggressive Movements of the Confederates. — Commander James 
 Alden.— Chief Engineer Isherwood. — Indecision of Commodore McCauley. — The 
 Torch Applied to the Navy Yard and Vessels by the Federal Authorities. — • 
 Vessels that were Saved. — The Greatest Misfortune to the Union Cause. — The 
 Merrimac, etc., etc. 
 
 AT thirty minutes past 4 o'clock, on 
 April 12, 1861, the first gun of civil 
 war was fired, the battery on 
 James Island discharging the 
 first howitzer shell, which fell in- 
 side Fort Sumter, blowing up a building; 
 this was almost immediately followed by 
 another shell, which scattered destruction 
 all around. 
 
 Fort Moultrie then took up the assault, 
 and in another moment the guns from the 
 gun battery on Cummings Point, from 
 Captain McCready's battery, from Captain 
 James Hamilton's floating battery, the 
 enfilading battery, and every other point 
 where a gun could be brought to bear 
 on Sumter, opened in succession; and the 
 guns poured forth their wrath as if the fort 
 standing out in the bay had been some 
 vengeful foe on which they desired to 
 wreak their vengeance, instead of consider- 
 ing that it had been placed there for their 
 protection against all foreign enemies. 
 
 It was well understood by all those in that 
 beleagured fort what would be the result of 
 building all those earth-works, and that it 
 was only a matter of a few days or perhaps 
 
 hours, ere the South Carolinians would pro- 
 ceed to extremities — had they waited until 
 the 15th of April the garrison would have 
 been starved out, and obliged to surrender 
 for want of provisions. But that would not 
 have suited them ; they wanted to strike 
 a blow that would make separation inevit- 
 able, and one that would unite the whole 
 South in the measures then pending to form 
 a Southern Confederacy, or whatever kind 
 of government they might finally drift into. 
 Major Anderson, the Commander of Sum- 
 ter, received the first shot and shell in 
 silence; the batteries at regular intervals 
 continued to belch forth their deadly mis- 
 siles, and still no answer was returned by 
 the besieged, until about an hour after the 
 firing commenced, then two shots were fired 
 from Sumter and glanced harmlessly from 
 the face of Fort Moultrie. Sumter fired no 
 ■more until between six and seven o'clock 
 when, as if enraged at the onslaught made 
 upon it and kept up with increasing vigor, 
 it then opened from casemate and parapet a 
 hail of shot and shell on Moultrie, steam 
 iron battery, and the floating battery, that 
 fairly made them shake. This was re- 
 
 (25) 
 
36 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 turned with great vigor by the South 
 Oarolina gunners. There were good sol- 
 diers on both sides, men trained to arms 
 and neither to be daunted by a few shot and 
 shell. The story of that day is known to 
 all who read history, and it is not necessary 
 to further refer to it, excepting in connec- 
 tion with the naval expedition which was 
 fitted out in the earlier part of April to go 
 to the relief of Sumter, the history of which 
 will appear further on in this narrative. 
 
 Secretary Welles, with a decision worthy 
 of the occasion, did fit out an expedition 
 for the relief of Sumter, the last vessel of 
 which sailed from New York on the 9th of 
 April, but owing to various reasons did not 
 reach Charleston harbor in time to be of 
 any use, and the attack on the fort com- 
 menced soon after the leading vessels 
 showed themselves off the bar. A number 
 of the smaller vessels never arrived at all, 
 and under the circumstances could have 
 been of no use had they arrived twenty-four 
 hours before the attack. The expedition ar- 
 lived only to see the declaration of war be- 
 tween the North and the South, which was 
 promulgated by the thunder of cannon and 
 the hissing of the shot and shell, as they car- 
 ried death and destruction to those who had 
 been united by the strongest bonds of love 
 and friendship. Those who fi'om the ships 
 witnessed the fiery shells as they crossed 
 each other in the night, knew that this was 
 war that would never cease until one or the 
 other of the contending parties were de- 
 prived of the resources to carry it on; war 
 that would oblige the Government to call 
 forth large armies to put down rebellion 
 on the field of battle, and to build and 
 equip large fieets to blockade the insurgent's 
 ports, and bombard the heavy forts the 
 enemy had snatched from the hands of their 
 lawful owners. The men in that fleet of 
 succour to the besieged Sumter knew then 
 that ten times the number of vessels could 
 not have rendered aid to the fort in face of 
 that terrible fire, and that their missions 
 might better have never been undertaken. 
 They started homeward to carry the news 
 to the startled North, but the telegrams far 
 out-traveled them, and as its messages on 
 the wires were announced to an indignant 
 people, there was but one general feeling, 
 namely, to resist the audacity of the insurg- 
 ents and bring them back to reason, if it 
 took every man in the country to do it. The 
 rebellion was a dreadful thing to inaugu- 
 rate, to be sure, and those who undertook to 
 bring it about must have been imbued with 
 some other ambition than was apparent, or 
 the desire to escape from a form of govern- 
 iTient which had so far proved the best j^et 
 known to man : there must have been 
 greater inducements to break up this most 
 
 beneficent union than has ever appeared on 
 the face of events. 
 
 The South was a great oligarchy, hold- 
 ing their millions of slaves, and they 
 aimed to be recognized by the world as a 
 power above the gift of the people. Per- 
 haps the best thing that ever happened to 
 this great country was the firing on Fort 
 Sumter with the guns of Moultrie and other 
 forts. Who can say that we are not a greater 
 nation to-day, with freedom throughout 
 the land, than we were in the days of the 
 errors and follies of the South, and the 
 anger and prejudices of the North, which 
 embittered one against the other, and made 
 the great Council Hall of the nation a place 
 of violence and discord ? All that has been 
 swept away with the fall of slavery, and 
 instead of it has come a union of all the 
 States, more earnest and fraternal than 
 before, with the Southern section of the 
 country growing more prosperous and more 
 happy under free labor and equal rights for 
 all those who live in the South. In another 
 generation people will likely bless the day 
 when James Island and Moultrie opened 
 their guns on Sumter, and caused to be wiped 
 out that dark blotch on our escutcheon, 
 which the whole world were pointing at 
 and asking us how we could call ourselves 
 a free country while four millions of people 
 were held in bondage. Who knows what 
 we might have been but for that long war, 
 which brought so much sorrow and deso- 
 lation to so many homes ? Slavery, with 
 its seductive influences, might have led us 
 all away, and in the course of a century 
 our country might have become a land of 
 slaves. 
 
 Let this country not forget, then, the men 
 who so nobly risked their lives in the cause 
 of freedom, and let them erect monuments 
 to those who died that this union of States 
 might live to be an asylum for all time to 
 come for those who love not despotism, and 
 love liberty. 
 
 The Navy had a large share in bringing 
 about the happy results which grew from 
 the war, and many on both sides do not 
 hesitate to say that, but for the Navy the 
 South never would have been brought "back 
 into the Union— and yet. who is there that 
 has taken the trouble to erect a monument 
 to the sailors ? 
 
 As this narrative continues people will 
 learn with surprise that the Navv did so 
 much towards putting down the rebellion; 
 yet the author will scarcely flnd time or 
 space to give a fair account of all the Navy 
 did do, and must leave untold many events 
 to be related hereafter by some more gra- 
 phic historian. As years pass on. people 
 who have been born long after the great 
 War of the Rebellion, will long to know of 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 37 
 
 the great battles by land and sea. which 
 took place from 1861 to 1865, and it is to be 
 hoped that by each one contributing his 
 mite, in the course of time a true history 
 will be written. The best of efforts will 
 be made in this history to make it a true 
 if not an interesting one. 
 
 When President Lincoln entered upon 
 the duties of his office, his position towards 
 "Virginia differed somewhat from that 
 which he assumed towards the States far- 
 ther South. It was deemed desirable that 
 the Administration should do nothing to 
 wound the sensitive feelings of the Virgin- 
 ians, and General Scott, the General-in- 
 Chief of our Army, was particularly solicit- 
 ous that the Government should give the 
 State of Virginia no excuse to secede. 
 
 There were several reasons for this extra 
 tenderness towards Virginia — one of the 
 principal navy yards, filled with Southern 
 officers, was within the limits of the State. 
 The commanding officer, Commander Mc- 
 Cauley, was considered loyal, and had in his 
 day stood high in the service; but he was 
 now old, and at a time when he should have 
 maintained his self-possession he appears 
 to have completely lost his head. 
 
 The Secretary of the ISTavy, Mr. Welles, 
 had not yet made himself familiar with the 
 conditions of affairs in his department. 
 His position was a difficult one for a man 
 advanced in years, for tlie duties were com- 
 plicated, and such as only an expert could 
 be expected to fathom in so short a time. 
 
 Mr. Welles was surrounded with officers 
 and clerks, some of whose loyalty was 
 doubted, and one bureau of the Department 
 in particular, presided over by an officer of 
 Southern birth and of national reputation, 
 ■was the headquarters of naval officers who 
 were plotting the downfall of the country to 
 which they owed their position and what- 
 ever importance they possessed. 
 
 It was bad enough for officers to openly 
 desert their flag, but far worse treachery 
 to continue holding positions in order to 
 hamper the Government and betray its 
 secrets. Every official act in the Navy De- 
 partment was known at once to these plot- 
 ters, and immediate steps taken to render it 
 abortive. Officers with pleasant faces, but 
 with treason in their hearts, assembled in 
 conclave in the Department to devise plans 
 for the overthrow of the Government. 
 
 A short time before Fort Sumter was fired 
 upon, the commandant of the Washington 
 Navy Yard gave a large party at his quar- 
 ters, on the occasion of the marriage of his 
 daughter, to which the President and his 
 cabinet were invited. A number of dis- 
 loyal naval officers were present, and the 
 house was everywhere festooned with the 
 American flag, even to the bridal bed; yet 
 
 just after Sumter was fired on, the Com- 
 mandant, with most of those under his 
 command, including his new son-in-law, re- 
 signed their commissions and left the 
 Washington Navy Yard to take care of it- 
 self. 
 
 At that very time the secession of Vir- 
 ginia had been resolved upon, which was 
 known to these disloyal officers, although 
 not to the Government; for the action of 
 the Secessionists had been delayed and kept 
 secret, so that the blow would be more de- 
 cisive and enable the conspirators to seize 
 the public property at Norfolk and else- 
 where, to help them carry out their designs. 
 
 At one time it was even thought doubtful 
 if Washington could be held, as the people 
 at the North, unprepared for such an emer- 
 gency, were slow in getting troops to the 
 Capitol. 
 
 Those who had been plotting against the 
 Government in the Navy Department, felt 
 sure that the Norfolk Yard must fall into 
 the hands of the Secessionists, as everything 
 possible had been prepared for that event. 
 They lost no opportunity to impress upon 
 the mind of the Secretary of the Navy the 
 importance of doing nothing to offend the 
 State of Virginia and give it an excuse 
 for seceding from the Union on the ground 
 of invasion of " State rights;" which meant 
 that the Government should exercise no 
 authority over its own property within the 
 limits of a seceding State. The Naval De- 
 partment at that moment seemed powerless 
 to preserve the public property at Norfolk 
 against the rebel troops then assembling 
 in Virginia. General Scott threw cold 
 water on every attempt to hold the Norfolk 
 Yard, on the ground that he had no troops 
 to spare, as he could not deplete Fortress 
 Monroe, which must be held at all hazards. 
 
 It seems a pity that the Secretary should 
 not have selected some loyal and energetic 
 officer, placed him in command of a few gun- 
 boats and armed tug-boats and sent him to 
 Norfolk with orders to bring all the vessels 
 away, and even put the Commandant under 
 arrest if he should interpose any obstacles. 
 A guard of fifty marines would have been 
 sufficient to overawe all malcontents. 
 These proceedings would not have influ- 
 enced the secession of Virginia, which was 
 already decided upon. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navj^, finding him- 
 self unable to cope with the difficulties of 
 the situation, summoned to the Navy De- 
 partment Commodore Hiram Paulding, a 
 loyal officer, but who was now declining in 
 years and not equal to a position which re- 
 quired not only energy of mind but great 
 bodily vigor. Commodore Paulding broke 
 up the conclave which was in the habit of 
 meeting in the Bureau of Ordnance, for he 
 
28 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 felt that these officers were inimical to the 
 government, and he recommended the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy to change the suspected 
 Chief of Bureaux for another known to be 
 loyal. 
 
 Frequent accounts reached Washmgton 
 of the hostile attitude of the people in Nor- 
 folk and Portsmouth towards the govern- 
 ment, and their determination that the 
 Navy Department should not remove a ship 
 or a gun from the station. Large bodies 
 of troops were reported moving towards 
 Norfolk to enforce this decision. In fact, 
 Norfolk, which had for many years lived 
 on the bounty of the government and flour- 
 ished by the appropriations for the support 
 of the Navy Yard, was now the very hot- 
 bed of secession. 
 
 COMMODORE HIEAM PAULDING. 
 
 The Southern officers could hardly restrain 
 their impatience until the State of Virginia 
 should secede, so anxious were they to 
 show their gratitude to the United States 
 Government, which had conferred upon 
 them whatever importance they possessed, 
 by pulling it to pieces, and endeavoring to 
 dim the glory of the flag under which they 
 had served from boyhood. 
 
 Most of the officers of the Navj^ Yard were 
 Southern men whose honor had heretofore 
 been unquestioned, but their heads were now 
 so turned that they were as wild as the sans 
 culottes of the French Revolution. 
 
 Commodore McCauley, who commanded 
 the Navy Yard, had long and faithfully 
 served the government, but was now ad- 
 vanced in years and no match for the wily 
 secessionists about him, who so hampered 
 and bewildered him, that he for a time 
 rested under the suspicion of being luke- 
 warm in his allegiance. 
 
 At this time there were lying at the Navy 
 Yard the following named vessels: 
 
 The steam frigate " Merrimac," of _ 40 
 guns, the same vessel which, after being 
 converted into an ironclad by the rebels, 
 made such havoc among our ships at Hamp- 
 ton Roads; the sloop of war. "German- 
 town," 32 guns ; sloop of war, " Plymouth," 
 22 guns ; brig, " Dolphin," 4 guns. All 
 these could have been prepared for sea in a 
 short time. 
 
 There were also the following named old 
 ships which were of no great use, but they 
 had been associated with the history of the 
 Navy and were dear to the country. These 
 were the "Pennsylvania," "United States," 
 "Columbus," "Delaware," "Raritan," 
 and "Columbia." 
 
 There was also an unfinished ship-of-the 
 line, the "New York," in one of the ship 
 houses. 
 
 The sloop-of-war " Cumberland," was 
 moored at the Navy Yard. These vessels 
 were valued at about two millions of dol- 
 lars. 
 
 Any one to see these ships lying quietly 
 at their moorings, the officers and men go- 
 ing to and fro about their duties, the sen- 
 tries pacing up and down guarding public 
 property and preserving order, would 
 have supposed that the interests of the 
 United States Government were being well 
 taken care of; but this was merely the calm 
 which precedes the storm — the fearful storm 
 which was soon to burst upon the country, 
 when " Hope for a season bade the world 
 farewell," and truth and honor hung their 
 heads with shame. 
 
 Early in April tlie Navy Department 
 began to get very uneasy for the safety of 
 the Navy Yard, for it was by this time well 
 understood that the Secessionists would 
 make an aggressive movement on the first 
 favorable opportunity. 
 
 The Department was most anxious to get 
 the ' ' Merrimac " away from the yard to a 
 place of safety, but was informed' by Com- 
 modore McCauley that it would take a 
 month to put her machinery in working 
 order. 
 
 The department did not seem to reflect 
 that a few armed tow-boats with marines 
 on board, could have been sent from New 
 York to tow all the vessels under the guns 
 of Fortress Monroe. One tug with a twenty 
 four pound howitzer on board, properlv 
 handled, would have been master of the 
 situation, and if the Navy Department had 
 displayed a little forethought in this 
 emergency, the government would have 
 been saved deep humiliation and a loss in 
 ships, guns and stores not easy to repair. 
 
 On the 31st of March 250 seamen and 
 landsmen were ordered to be transferred 
 from the New York Navy Yard to Norfolk, 
 and fifty seamen were transferred to the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 29 
 
 revenue steamer " Harriet Lane," which 
 vessel was ordered to proceed at once to Nor- 
 folk. It shows the miserable condition of 
 the Navy when the department had nothing 
 but a revenue cutter to depend upon. 
 
 Days went by before anything else was 
 attempted. On the 11th of April Commo- 
 dore James Alden was ordered to report to 
 Commodore McCauley to take command of 
 the " Merrimac," and Chief Engineer Ish- 
 erwood was sent to Norfolk to get the ship's 
 engines in working order as soon as possi- 
 ble. 
 
 On the 14th the work was commenced, 
 and on the 17th the engines were in work- 
 ing order — so much for the Commandant's 
 assertion that it would take a month to get 
 the ship ready to move, as he was made to 
 believe. 
 
 It is no wonder, under these circumstances 
 
 The work was all done with the consent 
 of Commodore McCauley; but when he was 
 informed that everything was ready to 
 fire up, he replied that next morning would 
 be time enough. At midnight the fires 
 were started and the engines worked at the 
 dock, and were found to be in good order. 
 
 Next morning the Commandant was 
 again informed that everything was ready, 
 but he replied that he had not decided to send 
 the "Merrimac" out. It was in vain that 
 he was reminded of the peremptory char- 
 acter of the order which Mr. Isherwood had 
 brought from the Secretary of the Navy 
 to get the "Merrimac" out at the earliest 
 possible moment. He only replied that he 
 would let his decision be known in the 
 course of the day. He gave as a reason the 
 obstructions that had been placed in the 
 channel, but when assured that they could 
 
 
 THE STEAMER ■■HARRIET LANE." 
 
 that the loyalty of the Commandant should 
 have been questioned, yet he was simply 
 influenced by officers whom he trusted and 
 who were desirous that the "Merrimac" 
 should be retained for the future navy of 
 the Southern Confederacy. 
 
 In a majority of instances when South- 
 ern officers had determined "to go with 
 their States," they turned over their com- 
 mands or trusts to the government and 
 went away with clean skirts, but in the 
 case of navy yards this rule did not seem 
 to hold good, as was shown at Pensacola 
 and Norfolk; and every impediment was 
 thrown in Commodore McCauley's way by 
 his own subordinates to prevent his carry- 
 ing out the orders of the department. 
 
 The disloyalty which existed to such an 
 extent among the officers did not at that 
 time extend to the mechanics, for they 
 worked night and day until the " Merri- 
 mac's " machinery was repaired. 
 
 Then forty -four firemen and coal-heavers 
 volunteered for the service of taking the 
 " Merrimac " out. 
 
 be easily passed, and that every moment 
 increased the danger, he gave orders to 
 haul the fires, and thus the noble "Mer- 
 rimac " was finally lost to us. 
 
 It is difficult at this late date to tell all 
 the motives that influenced the Navy De- 
 partment and the Commandant at Norfolk. 
 Indecision seemed everywhere to exist, and 
 some of the best officers in the Navy were 
 apparently quite dazed at the course which 
 events were taking. Commodore McCaulej^ 
 at one time was master of the situation, and 
 with promptness and decision might have 
 saved all the ships, guns, and stores, even 
 if he judged it advisable to abandon the 
 Navy Yard. 
 
 The Commodore probably thought that 
 by retaining the "Merrimac" and her bat- 
 tery he would have a strong force to repel 
 any attack that might be made from the 
 outside. The old Commodore, who had 
 fought gallantly for his country in former 
 days, was completely acquitted of anything 
 like disloyalty by the officers who were sent 
 down to take the " Merrimac " away from 
 
30 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Norfolk, but it is unfortunate that he did 
 not show more decision of character when 
 the crisis came upon him. 
 
 Every officer connected with the destruc- 
 tion of the Norfolk Navy Yard came in for 
 a share of censure, which is not to be won- 
 dered at when it is now known that every 
 ship and gun could have been saved. The 
 Id roadside of the " Germantown," which was 
 all ready for sea and only waiting a crew, 
 or the "Plymouth," in the same condition, 
 would, with a few men on board, have 
 saved the Navy Yard against attack, over- 
 awed Norfolk" and Portsmouth, and pre- 
 vented the channel from being obstructed 
 by the Confederates. 
 
 Even when the yard was abandoned and 
 the buildings set tire to, the work was done 
 in a panic in which the coolest persons 
 seem to have lost their heads. The de- 
 struction took place when the yard had 
 been re-enforced by a regiment of Massa- 
 chusetts Volunteers under Colonel Wads- 
 worth, while the " Pawnee " of fifteen guns 
 had brought Commodore Paulding from 
 Washington with instructions "to save 
 what he could and act as he thought 
 proper." 
 
 When Commodore Paulding arrived at 
 the Navy Yard he found that all the South- 
 ern officers had sent in their resignations 
 and abandoned their posts. The mechan- 
 ics, following their example, had left the 
 yard in a body, and persons had even come 
 in from outside and possessed themselves 
 of the Government arms. It was reported 
 that several thousand men were organizing 
 for the purpose of seizing the yard. The 
 powder had been taken from the Govern- 
 ment magazine near Norfolk, and batteries 
 were being erected along the approaches 
 to the Navy Yard, and hulks sunk in the 
 channel near Craney Island and Sewell's 
 Point, three light boats having been used 
 for the purpose; and this was done, not- 
 withstanding the Commandant of the 
 yard had ample force to have prevented it. 
 Actual war existed between the Govern- 
 ment and the inhabitants of Norfolk, who 
 were doing all in their power to destroy 
 public property and obstruct the public 
 highway. Worse than all, the "Merrimac," 
 "Germantown" and "Plymouth" had 
 been scuttled by orders. 
 
 All the guns in the Navy Yard had been 
 spiked, with the exception of some two 
 hundred, as well as those on shipboard, ex- 
 cept five heavy guns on a side on board 
 the "Pennsylvania," which sturdy old cas- 
 tle commanded the whole yard; and fifty 
 good seamen on board could have bid de- 
 fiance to 5,000 Confederates in arms, and 
 held Norfolk and Portsmouth under her 
 
 guns until every ship was hauled out of 
 harm's way. 
 
 After the arrival of the "Pawnee "had 
 made the yard doubly secure, the shells 
 were drawn from the "Pennsylvania's" 
 guns and the guns spiked ! 
 
 The whole thing looked so hopele&s to 
 Commodore Paulding that, in view of the 
 orders he had received from the Depart- 
 ment not to let anything fall into the hands 
 of the Confederates, he determined to de- 
 stroy everything. 
 
 It must have been a painful alternative 
 to that faithful old officer. Commodore 
 Paulding, who abhorred everything in the 
 shape of rebellion, to be obliged to apply the 
 torch to the historic ships of the Navy, and 
 destroy the other valuable property the Gov- 
 ernment had been so many years accumu- 
 lating; especially since he was aware that 
 most of the destruction might easily have 
 been prevented, had not so many days been 
 lost in deciding what to do. 
 
 But the fiat had gone forth, the mania for 
 destruction had seized upon every one,' as 
 we see boys go mad over the burning of a 
 hay-rick, which they have set fire to in wan- 
 ton sport. 
 
 All the ships, except the "Cumberland," 
 were well filled with combustibles, and the 
 whole saturated with oil and turpentine. 
 The ship-houses and other buildings were 
 prepared in the same manner, and nothing 
 left to chance so that the rebels could derive 
 any benefit from what was left behind. 
 The fine dry-dock that had cost millions to 
 build was undermined, and a hundred men 
 ran to and fro with heavy hammers trying 
 to knock off the trunnions of the heavy guns, 
 but with a few exceptions these attempts 
 were failures. 
 
 It was a beautiful starlight night, April 
 20, when all the preparations were com- 
 pleted. The people of Norfolk and Ports- 
 mouth were wrapped in slumber, little 
 dreaming that in a few hours the ships and 
 pubhc works which were so essential to the 
 prosperity of the community would be a 
 mass of ruins, and hundreds of people 
 would be without employment and without 
 food for their families. 
 
 The "Pawnee" had towed the "Cumber- 
 land " out of the reach of the fire, and laid 
 at anchor to receive on board those who 
 were to fire the public propertv. Commo- 
 dore McCauley had gone to bed that night 
 worn out with excitement and anxiety, un- 
 der the impression that the force that had 
 arrived at Norfolk was for the purpose of 
 holding the yard and relieving him of re- 
 sponsibility, and when he was called at 
 midnight and informed that the torch would 
 be applied to everything, he could hardly 
 

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33 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 realize the situation, and was chagrined 
 and mortified at the idea of abandoning his 
 post without any attempt to defend it. 
 
 At 2:30 A. M., April 21st, a rocket from the 
 "Pawnee" gave the signal; the work of 
 destruction commenced with the " Mer- 
 rimac," and in ten minutes she was one 
 vast sheet of flame. In quick succession 
 the trains to the other ships and buildings 
 were ignited and the surrounding country 
 brilliantly illuminated. 
 
 The inhabitants of Norfolk and Ports- 
 mouth, roused from their slumber, looked 
 with awe at the work of destruction, and 
 mothers clasping their children to their 
 breasts bewailed the fate that cut them and 
 their offspring off from their support. Yet 
 this was but a just retribution for the trea- 
 son which the inhabitants had shown 
 towards the best government on earth. 
 They had killed the goose that laid the 
 golden egg. 
 
 As the boats containing the firing party 
 moved off down the river to the "Pawnee " 
 and "Cumberland," the rebels from Nor- 
 folk and Portsmouth rushed into the Yard 
 to save what they could from the flames, 
 and were more fortunate than they expected 
 to be. The dry-dock was not materially in- 
 jured, some of the work-shops and officers' 
 quarters were preserved, and the frigate 
 " United States " was not much damaged. 
 Even the " Merrimac," though burned to 
 the water's edge and sunk, was afterwards 
 raised and converted into the powerful 
 ironclad which wrought such havoc in 
 Hampton Roads and carried consternation 
 through the North. 
 
 The loss of the Navy Yard at Norfolk 
 was felt all through the North to be a great 
 calamity. Misfortunes seemed accumula- 
 ting, and people began to doubt whether 
 the administration had sufficient vigor to 
 meet the emergencies that were continually 
 arising. The destruction of the Navy Yard 
 seems now to have been the result of a 
 panic which was not justified by the facts 
 of the case, but the actors in that scene 
 believed they were consulting the best in- 
 terests of the Government. No one can 
 doubt the loyalty of those gallant old sea- 
 men, McCauley and Paulding, for undoubt- 
 
 edly they had the best interests of the 
 country at heart, and acted with good in- 
 tent. 
 
 In tlie midst of our other misfortunes 
 the loss of the Navy Yard was soon for- 
 gotten. It was abandoned by the Con- 
 federates after the defeat of the "Mer- 
 rimac" by the "Monitor" in a panic quite 
 as causeless as our own, and has not yet 
 risen like the Phoenix from its ashes, its 
 reconstruction progressing very slowly. 
 
 Congress has apparently viewed with dis- 
 trust appropriations made for this yard, 
 scarcely yet realizing that the people em- 
 ployed there are worthy of confidence in 
 consequence of their past acts of rebellion, 
 which caused the destruction of the most im- 
 portant naval station in the United States. 
 
 The greatest misfortune to the Union 
 caused by the destruction of the Navy 
 Yard, was the loss of at least twelve hun- 
 dred fine guns, most of which were un- 
 injured. A number of them were quickly 
 mounted at Sewell's Point to keep our ships 
 from approaching Norfolk; others were 
 sent to Hatteras Inlet, Ocracocke, Roanoke 
 Island and other points in the sounds of 
 North Carolina. Fifty-three of them were 
 mounted at Port Royal, others at Fernan- 
 dina and at the defences of New Orleans. 
 They were met with at Fort Henry, Fort 
 Donelson, Island No. 10, Memphis, Vicks- 
 burg, Grand Gulf and Port Hudson. We 
 found them up the Red River as far as the 
 gunboats penetrated, and took possession 
 of some of them on the cars at Duvall's 
 Bluff, on White River, bound for Little 
 Rock. They gave us a three hours' hard fight 
 at Arkansas Post, but in the end they all 
 returned to their rightful owners, many of 
 them indented with Union shot and not a 
 few permanently disabled. 
 
 Had it not been for the guns captured at 
 Norfolk and Pensacola, the Confederates 
 would have found it a difficult matter to 
 arm their fortifications for at least a year 
 after the breaking out of hostilities, at the 
 expiration of which time they began to 
 manufacture their own ordnance, and im- 
 port it from abroad. Great as was, there- 
 fore, the loss of our ships, it was much less 
 than the loss of our guns. 
 
CH A PTE R III 
 
 Closing of the Southern Ports. — Operations Against the Federal Commerce by 
 Privateers. — Triple Task op the Navy Department. — Increase of the Navy. — ■ 
 Purchases Unwisely Made. — British Vessels and the Blockade. — Sufferers by 
 THE Blockade. — Flag Officers Appointed to Commands. — Difficulties of the 
 Blockading Forces — Energy and Watchfulness of Naval Officers. — Remark- 
 able Activity op THE Confederates. — Inadequate Appropriations by Congress. — 
 Condition of the Navy. — List of Vessels ano their Stations — Available Ves- 
 sels. — The Home Squadron.— Old Navy. — Purchased Vessels. — Vessels Con- 
 structing. — Reorganization of the Service. — Promotions. — Three Grades Added. 
 —Schools of Gunnery and Naval Training Established. — Patriotic Volunteer 
 Officers. — The Commercial Marine. — High Tribute to the Secretary of the 
 Navy. 
 
 THE Navy Department, with its lim- 
 ited resources, had a weighty task 
 imposed upon it from the very out- 
 break of the civil war. In a very 
 brief period the rebellion assumed 
 such formidable proportions, and naval op- 
 erations had to be maintained on such an 
 extensive scale to include over three thou- 
 sand miles of coastline, that the energy and 
 ability of the naval authorities were put to 
 the severest tests. 
 
 First. There was the closing of all the 
 ports along our Southern coast under the 
 TQOst exacting regulations of an interna- 
 tional blockade, including the occupation of 
 the Potomac River from its mouth to the 
 Federal Capitol. 
 
 Had the Potomac been blocked by the 
 ■enemy's guns at any time during the war, 
 it would have rendered the position of our 
 armies in Virginia and around the Capitol 
 very embarrassing. 
 
 Second. The necessity of establishing an 
 effective organization of combined naval 
 and military expeditions against various 
 points on our Southern coast, including also 
 all needful naval aid to the Army in cutting 
 off communication with the rebels. Besides 
 this it was seen at an early date that a large 
 naval force would be required on the Mis- 
 sissippi River and its tributaries. 
 
 Third. There had to be provided a suit- 
 
 pursuit of the Confederate cruisers, which 
 might elude the vigilance of our blockading 
 forces and proceed to prey upon our com- 
 merce in every part of the world. Im- 
 mediately on the breaking out of the re- 
 bellion the Confederates prepared to operate 
 against Federal commerce, and after the 
 escape of their first privateer the destruction 
 of our vessels became very common. 
 
 This was the triple task the Navy Depart- 
 ment was called upon to perform, and it is 
 but fair to say that, considering the disad- 
 vantages under which the Department 
 labored, never were duties better performed. 
 
 When the proclamation was issued de- 
 claring all the Southern ports under block- 
 ade, it found the Navy Department totally 
 unprepared for such a contingency. Con- 
 gress had adjourned without providing for 
 it, and it devolved on the Secretary of the 
 Navy to meet the difficulties of the situa- 
 tion in the best way he could. 
 
 There were but few vessels in the Navy 
 which could be relied on for blockading ser- 
 vice, and none suitable for the pursuit of 
 Confederate cruisers, which would natur- 
 ally be very swift steamers. The only 
 thing to be done was to put into commission 
 every vessel in the Navy that was tit to go 
 to sea, and to purchase from the mercantile 
 marine such as would answer for temporary 
 service: but so few vessels in the merchant 
 
 aT^lci ■miTYiKoT' n-p a-viTif-t. Trocaola ■fr\T» +Ti*:i Gr^+iira coT*Trir^^ WTC^ra fif cnrtm -fz-i-t. l-il/-vr*T-ri/1^ /1it*-tt- 
 
34 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 much less for ships of war, tliat it was with 
 difficulty that a sufficient number could be 
 obtained to make such a blockade as was 
 called for by the law of nations. 
 
 Purchases were unwisely made, and some 
 unfit vessels were thus added to the Navy — 
 through that spirit of grasping cupidity 
 which is sure to come to the surface in time 
 of war. 
 
 Some men who had always been consid- 
 ered honest and patriotic, did not hesitate 
 to take advantage of the necessities of their 
 country, and deplete the Federal treasury 
 without adding to the efficiency of the IS avy, 
 thus hampering the naval authorities at the 
 very outset of hostilities. 
 
 Purchases and contracts were made to 
 meet the exigencies of the times. Orders 
 were issued to equip vessels that under or- 
 dinary circumstances would not have been 
 considered safe to go to sea in. 
 
 The force thus hastily gathered and sta- 
 tioned along our coast would scarcely have 
 been considered an " efficient blockade " if 
 a European power had thought fit to insti- 
 tute close inquiries into our proceedings. 
 Now and then a British vessel of war made 
 her appearance for the purpose of observing 
 that the blockade was effectual, but as far 
 as the writer's observations are concerned, 
 this duty was always performed in the most 
 delicate manner, and the British command- 
 ers were satisfied with the appearance of a 
 blockade that was far from satisfying to the 
 Federal Governniont. 
 
 A great deal has been said by Boynton, 
 the naval historian, about the exacting 
 character of the British Government in re- 
 lation to the blockade of our coasts, but we 
 rather think his style of writing was 
 adapted to the public sentiment of the time, 
 which was prepared to find fault with any 
 nation that did not sympathize with the 
 Union cause. 
 
 The English people were the great suf- 
 ferers in our war by the loss of a commerce 
 that was absolutely necessary for them to 
 keep their manufactories going, and they 
 exercised no greater surveillance than the 
 Federal Government would have done had 
 there been a blockade of the Irish coast 
 established. 
 
 Flag Officers were appointed to the com- 
 mand of the different stations, and vessels 
 were sent to each according to the necessity 
 of the case as fast as they could be pur- 
 chased and fitted out. Under the supervi- 
 sion of these flag officers the coasts and 
 harbors of the Confederates were subjected 
 to as close a blockade as the limited force 
 of vessels would admit. 
 
 The difficulties of the blockading forces 
 were much increased owing to the number 
 of great bays, sounds and rivers of the 
 South, but in spite of all drawbacks the 
 
 duties of the blockade were remarkably- 
 well performed. 
 
 What was lacking in vessels was more 
 than compensated for by the energy and 
 watchfulness of the naval officers on the 
 different stations. 
 
 The expectation of prize-money was 
 doubtless a stimulus to both officers and 
 men, yet there was a higher motive govern- 
 ing tlieir conduct, a determination to do- 
 all in their power to put down the rebellion 
 by cutting off foreign supplies, without- 
 which they felt the Confederate resistance 
 would soon terminate. 
 
 One of the most remarkable features of 
 the war was the manner in which at an 
 early date the Confederates had seized upon 
 and fortified so many important points oa 
 the Southern coast, actually cutting Fede- 
 ral vessels off from any port of shelter in 
 stormy weather, and compelling supply- 
 vessels of the different squadrons to keep 
 out to sea. Our ships were compelled often- 
 times to anchor in heavy gales on the open 
 coast, where in case of accident to machin- 
 ery or cables a steamer would be liable to 
 drift on shore into the heavy breakers- 
 which lined the coast, and where a sailing 
 vessel under like circumstances would have 
 great difficulty in clawing off a lee shore. 
 
 The Confederates doubtless considered all 
 these circumstances when they undertook 
 the task of freeing themselves from what 
 thej^ were pleased to consider the thraldom 
 of the North. With all ports of shelter 
 closed against the Federal Navy, and 
 storms continually raging along the coast, 
 they laughed at the idea of a blockade. 
 
 They did not know the energy which ani- 
 mated the Federal Navy when circumstan- 
 ces should arise to call it forth. The offi- 
 cers themselves did not know until called 
 upon to act what zeal and energy they 
 could evince, and the present generation, 
 can hardly realize the hardships and dan- 
 gers of the work then performed. 
 
 To many of the survivors of those scenes- 
 it may seem like the dreams of early child- 
 hood, shadows of which flit through the 
 mind, dim and shapeless as reflected images 
 from misty waterfalls. 
 
 The necessity of seizing some of the 
 Southern ports soon became apparent; for 
 though our officers had shown great ability 
 in takmg care of their ships on the blockade 
 m the most tempestuous weather, and at 
 the same time had rendered it difficult for 
 blockade runners to enter Southern ports, 
 yet it was found that harbors of refuge 
 were indispensable to properly carry on 
 such extensive operations. 
 
 Great demands were made upon the Navy, 
 notwithstanding Congress had adjourned 
 in 1801 without making adequate appropri- 
 ations, considering the condition of affairs. 
 
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36 
 
 THE NA VAL HISrORY 
 
 It is true that the measures adopted by 
 Mr. Secretary Welles in advance of the 
 session, and which had been rendered nec- 
 essary in consequence of events that had 
 been precipitated upon tlie country, had 
 been approved by Congress, but that, after 
 all, only provided for a comparatively small 
 force of vessels and men, not even enough 
 for ordinary police operations along the 
 Atlantic coast, much less a strict blockade. 
 
 In order that the condition of the Navy 
 may be understood, the list of vessels and 
 their stations is herewith inserted. In the 
 eyes of one not familiar with naval affairs 
 it appears like a large show of available 
 vessels, but not half of them were really fit 
 for the service required of them. 
 
 The Home Squadron consisted of twelve 
 vessels, and of these only four were in North- 
 ern ports and available for service, viz. : 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. 
 
 No. OF Guns, j Where Stationed. 
 
 Pawnee 
 
 C'x'UHader.. . . . . 
 
 Mohawk 
 
 Supply . . 
 
 Screw Sloop 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Storesbip 
 
 8 
 8 
 5 
 4 
 
 Wasbinston. 
 New York. 
 
 4 ve.ssels 
 
 25 
 
 
 The remaining vessels of the Squadron 
 were stationed as fol ows: 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. j No. of Guns. Where Stationed. 
 
 Sabine 
 
 St. Loiiis 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Wyandotte. ., 
 Macedonian . . . 
 Cumberland. . . 
 Pocabontas. .. 
 Powhatan 
 
 Frigate 
 
 Sloop 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Sloop 
 
 Sloop . ... 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Steamer 
 
 50 
 20 
 25 
 
 5 
 22 
 21 
 
 5 
 11 
 
 Peus;icola. 
 
 Vera Cruz. 
 
 \ Returning from 
 1 Vera Ci-uz. 
 
 8 vessels 
 
 KVJ 
 
 
 The Powhatan arrived at New York 
 March 12, 1861, and sailed early in April 
 for Fort Pickens. 
 
 The Pocahontas reached Hampton Roads 
 on the 13th of March, and the Cumberland 
 on the 23d of the same month. 
 
 Of vessels on foreign stations the follow- 
 ing had returned in obedience to orders 
 from the Department. 
 
 From Meditebranean: 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. 
 
 No. OF Guns. 
 
 Date of Arrival. 
 
 Kicbraoud . ... 
 Susquehanna. . . 
 Iroquois 
 
 Steam Sloop 
 
 Steam Sloop 
 
 Steam Sloop 
 
 16 
 15 
 G 
 
 July Z. 
 Jiuie 6. 
 June 15. 
 
 From Coast of Africa: 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. 
 
 No. OF Guns. 
 
 Date of Arrival. 
 
 Constellation 
 
 Portsmouth. . .. 
 
 Mohican 
 
 Mystic. 
 
 Sumter 
 
 San Jacinto 
 
 Belief 
 
 Sloop 
 
 Slnop 
 
 Steam Sloop . . . 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Steamer .... 
 Steam Sloop.... 
 Storesbip 
 
 22 
 
 6 
 5 
 13 
 o 
 
 Sept. 28. 
 Sept. 23. 
 Sept. 27. 
 Oct. 7. 
 Sept. 15. 
 Nov. 15. 
 Oct. 12. 
 
 From Coast of Brazil: 
 
 Name. 
 
 Con^^-ress. 
 Seminole.. 
 
 Class. 
 
 Frigate 
 
 Steam Sloop .... 
 
 No. of Guns. 
 
 50 
 5 
 
 Date of Arrival. 
 
 August 12. 
 July 6. 
 
 The following had not arrived, Dec. 
 From East Indies : 
 
 18G1, 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. 
 
 No. of Guns. 
 
 
 
 Sloop 
 
 20 
 16 
 6 
 
 
 Hartford 
 
 Dacotah 
 
 Steam Sloop . . . 
 Steam Sloop.... 
 
 
 The following were to remain abroad: 
 
 Name. 
 
 Class. 
 
 No. OF Guns. 
 
 Wheee Stationed. 
 
 Saratoga 
 
 Pulaski 
 
 Saginaw .. 
 
 Sloop 
 
 Steamer 
 
 Steamer 
 
 18 
 1 
 3 
 
 Coast of Africa. 
 
 Coast of Brazil. 
 
 East Indies. 
 
 Add to these the vessels on the Pacific 
 coast, the steam frigate Niagara, returning 
 from Japan, and four tenders and store- 
 ships, and there was a total of 42 vessels, 
 carrying 535 guns and about 7,600 men, in 
 commission on the 4th of March, 1861. 
 
 Without awaiting the arrival of vessels 
 from our foreign squadrons, the depart- 
 ment early directed such as were dis- 
 mantled and in ordinary at the different 
 yards, and which could be made available, 
 to be repaired and put in commission. They 
 are exclusive of those lost at Norfolk Navy 
 Yard, embraced in the following table: 
 
 FrU/ates — 
 
 Potomac. 
 
 St. Lawrence. 
 
 San tee 
 
 Sloops — 
 
 Savannah 
 
 Jamestown.. . 
 
 Yincennes. . . 
 
 Marion 
 
 Dale 
 
 Pi-eble. 
 Brigs — 
 
 Bainbritlge . . 
 
 Pen-T 
 
 Stfavii?rs — 
 
 Roanoke . .. 
 
 Colorado . . 
 
 Minnesota. . 
 
 Wabasb . . . 
 
 Peusacoia . . , 
 
 Mi.<isissippi. . 
 
 Water Witch. . 
 
 New York 
 
 PhiladeliJhia. ... . . 
 
 Portsmouth, N. H.. 
 
 1861. 1801. 1861. 
 
 April 27 July 30 Sept. 10 
 April 20 Lateinlklay '.June 29 
 April 17 May 27 .June 20 
 
 New York . April 1 
 
 Philadelphia I April 9| 
 
 Boston ; April 9 
 
 Portsmouth . . 
 
 Boston . 
 
 April 20 
 April 20 
 April 2U 
 
 Boston April 20 
 
 New York April 20 
 
 June 1 
 May 18 
 June 24 
 June 30 
 June 30 
 June "22 
 
 May 
 
 May 
 
 New Y'ork April 20 
 
 Boston April 20 
 
 " l.ipril 3 
 
 New York April 9 
 
 >ya.shington . . i 
 
 Boston I April 6 
 
 Philadelp uia I Feb. li 
 
 June 20 
 June 3 
 May 2 
 April 29 
 
 May" is' 
 April 10 
 
 'July 10 
 June 8 
 Julv 12 
 Julv 14 
 July 17 
 iJul.v 11 
 
 May 21 
 May 14 
 
 June 25 
 June 18 
 May 8 
 May 30 
 
 :Mav"23 
 April 17 
 
 When the vessels then building and pur- 
 chased of every class, were armed, equipped, 
 and ready for service, the condition of the 
 Navy would be as follows: 
 Old Navy. 
 
 Number of Vessels. 
 
 GfNS. TONN.VGE. 
 
 Ships of the Line (useless) 
 
 7 Frigates (useless) 
 
 504 
 
 350 
 
 342 
 
 12 
 
 106 
 
 222 
 
 109 
 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 28 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 16,094 
 
 12,104 
 
 16,031 
 
 539 
 
 342 
 
 6,340 
 
 21,460 
 
 11,953 
 
 8,003 
 
 7,593 
 
 2,405 
 
 1,808 
 
 699 
 
 17 Sloops (useless) ]"' 
 
 2 Brigs (useless) 
 
 3 Storeships 
 
 6 Receiving Ships, &c , . , . 
 
 6 Screw Frigates .... 
 
 6 First-class Screw Sloops .' ] , . 
 
 4 First-class Sidewheol Steam Sloops." .'.' ". 
 8 Second-class Screw Sloops 
 
 5 Third-class Screw Sloops .'.'.".'!.'!!!".'. 
 
 4 Th ird-class Sidewheel Steamers '. ! ' ! i ! ! ! ! ! . 
 2 Steam Tenders "...!'.'.!."!! 
 
 70 
 
 1,788 
 
 105,271 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 37 
 
 Purchased Vessels. 
 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 36 Sidewheel Steamers 
 
 43 Screw Steamers 
 
 13 Ships 
 
 160 
 
 17.5 
 
 62 
 
 49 
 
 78 
 
 4 
 
 26,680 
 20,403 
 9,998 
 
 24 Scbooners .... ..... 
 
 5 324 
 
 18 Barks 
 
 8,432 
 
 2 Brigs 
 
 460 
 
 
 
 136 
 
 618 
 
 71,297 
 
 Vessels Constructing. 
 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 14 Screw Sloups 
 
 23 Gunboats 
 
 98 
 92 
 48 
 18 
 
 16,787 
 11 661 
 
 12 Sidewheel Steamers 
 
 8,400 
 
 3 Ironclad Steamers 
 
 4 600 
 
 
 
 62 
 
 236 
 
 41,448 
 
 Making a total of 264 vessels, 2,557 guns, 
 and 218,016 tons. The aggregate number 
 of seamen in the service on the 4th of 
 March, 1861, was 7,600. The number in De- 
 cember, 1861, was not less than 22,000. 
 
 This was a very good exhibit for the Navy 
 in less than a year after the commence- 
 ment of the war, but it must be remembered 
 that of these vessels 6 were ships-of-the- 
 line, on the stocks, 7 sailing frigates, 17 
 sailing sloops-of-war, 2 brigs, 3 storeships, 
 6 receiving ships, 13 sailing merchant ships, 
 24 schooners, 18 barks and 2 brigs. All 
 these may be said to have been of little use 
 as blockading vessels, as a swift blockade 
 runner would have little diflBculty in elud- 
 ing them. 
 
 Yet our vessels were the best the Federal 
 government could procure, and they were 
 used to the best advantage. 
 
 Just before the breaking out of the rebel- 
 lion the Navy was in a stagnant condition 
 for want of those inducements which in- 
 fuse life into a military service. 
 
 There was little hope of promotion, and 
 the navy list was encumbered with the 
 names of a lot of elderly gentlemen who 
 had long since bade farewell to any hope of 
 advancement. Some of the younger offi- 
 cers had sought temporary service in the 
 mercantile marine, many had outlived 
 their usefulness, and lieutenants on the 
 verge of fifty years of age, with large 
 families of children, had to employ all their 
 faculties to feed them. 
 
 One of the acts of the new Secretary of 
 the Navy was to recommend a reorgani- 
 zation of the service to increase its effi- 
 ciency. 
 
 In December, 1861, Mr. Secretary Welles 
 recommended that the permanent organi- 
 zation of the line officers of the Navy 
 should be as follows, adding three grades 
 to the number then in existence : 
 Flag Officers to command Squadrons, 
 Commodores, 
 Captains, 
 Commanders, 
 
 T.iontfmQTit.c-nnTnTYianflin <r 
 
 to command 
 
 ' single vessels. 
 
 Lieutenants, Masters, Passed Midshipmen, 
 Midshipmen, Cadets. 
 
 At the same time were established the 
 sensible rules for promotion for gallant 
 conduct in time of war, which did so much 
 to elevate the service, and also to retire 
 those who from age or other disability were 
 no longer fit for active duty. 
 
 For all this the Navy was indebted to 
 Mr. G. V. Fox, the Assistant Secretary, 
 whose ideas were promptly adopted by Mr. 
 Secretary "Welles. It was the first gleam 
 of sunshine that had illuminated the Navy 
 for half a century, and the first time that 
 the sanction of Congress had been given to 
 the President to appoint to the highest 
 grades, officers on the list of Commanders 
 who had shown themselves gallant or effi- 
 cient in the performance of their duties. 
 
 The efficiency of the service was further 
 promoted by a provision which enacted that 
 officers should be retired from service on 
 three-fourths of their sea pay after being 
 forty-five years in the Navy, or on attain- 
 ing the age of sixty-two years. 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1861, many 
 important measures were recommended by 
 the Secretary of the Navy for the improve- 
 ment of the personnel of the service, which 
 showed that he appreciated the claims of 
 officers upon the country to which they 
 were devoting their lives and energies. 
 
 Many officers of ability had left the Navy 
 to cast their fortunes with the seceding 
 States, and the result was a scarcity of offi- 
 cers for the vessels in service or about to 
 go into commission. A law, therefore, 
 passed Congress, authorizing the Secretary 
 of the Navy to appoint from the mercantile 
 marine for service during the war, persons 
 who could pass satisfactory examinations 
 and show that they possessed necessary 
 qualifications. 
 
 In order to prepare the different classes 
 of officers introduced into the Navy for 
 " temporary service," schools of gunnery 
 and naval-training were established at the 
 different Navy Yards, where the appoint- 
 ees were kept busily employed under com- 
 petent naval instructors learning the duties 
 peculiar to the service. 
 
 It is with the greatest pleasure we state 
 that the volunteer officers were, with very 
 few exceptions, capable and patriotic; they 
 offered their lives as freely for the preser- 
 vation of the Union as did their comrades 
 who had been brought up in the service. 
 Composed as they were of tlie best material 
 of the finest commercial marine in the world, 
 the spirit and zeal with which they surren- 
 dered peaceful pursuits to undergo the 
 severe discipline of the Navy, was honor- 
 able alike to themselves and to their coun- 
 trv. 
 
 ftVimilrl if. tnrov Ko rmr* c(T\r\A -f/^T-fn 
 
 VI ii^k r\ir\ ne\ 
 
38 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 more to build up a commercial marine such 
 as we possessed at the outbreak of the Civil 
 War, its officers will be our dependence in 
 time of need to fill up the complement re- 
 quired by the addition of ships, that will 
 then have to be made, to the Navy, and if 
 they exhibit the same qualities evinced by 
 the volunteer officers of the late war, the 
 honor of our country will be safe in their 
 hands. 
 
 The trained officers who are at present in 
 the Navy would be a mere handful in case 
 of a foreign war. They would serve as 
 a nucleus and as instructors to those taken 
 from the commercial marine. The cry of 
 demagogues that the Navy is overburdened 
 with officers, is as shallow as it is false, 
 and should be treated with the contempt 
 such misrepresentations deserve. 
 
 There was comparatively little opportu- 
 nity during the year ISGl, except at Hat- 
 teras and Port Roj^al, for the Nav}^ to ex- 
 hibit the zeal, courage and ability which it 
 manifested at a later period. Yet in liis 
 report for that year, Mr. Secretary Welles 
 pays the highest tribute of praise to the 
 officers and men of the service. 
 
 The Honorable Secretary says: — " To the 
 patriotic officers of the Navy and the brave 
 men who in various scenes of naval action 
 have served under them, the Department 
 and the Government justify owe an ac- 
 knowledgement even more earnest and em- 
 
 phatic. Courage, ability, unfaltering fidelity 
 and devotion to the cause of their country, 
 have been the general and noble character- 
 istics of their conduct in the arduous and im- 
 portant service with which they have been 
 intrusted. We state in all confidence, that 
 in their hands the historic renown of the 
 American Navy has been elevated and 
 augmented." 
 
 This is not too much to say about the 
 Navy, which even in the beginning of the 
 civil war showed its determination to 
 wrench from the grasp of the insurgents 
 the property seized by them from the Gov- 
 ernment, and it is but just to the Secretary 
 of the Navy, who paid its officers and men 
 so high a ti-ibute, to assert that he showed a 
 spirit of loyalty and devotion to duty which 
 was worthy of his high position, and that 
 he met the very heavy responsibilities with 
 which he was burdened with entire honesty 
 of purpose, laboring faithfully to the end. 
 
 Mr. Welles made mistakes during the 
 war, as any man in sucli a perplexing con- 
 dition of affairs must have done, and was 
 sometimes unjust, owing to intriguers who 
 made representations against certain offi- 
 cers, by wiiich the Secretary allowed him- 
 self to be influenced; but when left un- 
 biased to the exercise of his own judg- 
 ment he was as impartial as any man who 
 would likely have been selected for his 
 position. 
 
C H A PTER IV. 
 
 DEATH OF ELLSWORTH. — CAPTUEE OF ALEXANDRIA, VA. 
 
 FLOTILLA. 
 
 ■POTOMAC 
 
 oonjectures and uncertainties. — secessionists and the potomac. — secessionists 
 Erect Batteries in Sight of the Capital. — The Potomac Flotilla Established. 
 — Landing of Ellsworth Zouaves at Alexandria. — Death of Ellsworth. — 
 Commander Rowan Demands the Evacuation of Alexandria. — Alexandria Evac- 
 uated BY THE Secessionists. — Batteries at Aquia Creek. — Arduous Duties of 
 the Potomac Flotilla. — Engaging the Batteries at Aquia Creek.— The Batteries 
 Silenced. — The "Freeborn," "Anacostia" and -'Resolute." — Renewal of the 
 Attack Against THE Aquia Creek Batteries. — The •"Freeborn" Damaged. — The 
 "Ball Opened" Along the Potomac. — Attack on the Batteries at Matthias 
 Point. — Repulse of the Flotilla. — Death of Commander Ward. — Secessionists 
 AND Their Supplies. — Lieut. Harrbl Destroys a Schooner in Quantico Creek. — 
 Undeserved Criticism of the Flotilla. — The Public Obliged to Acknowledge 
 the Value of the Flotilla. — Vessels Arriving from Foreign Stations. — Officers 
 Resigning, Cashiered, etc., etc. 
 
 AT the commencement of the war, 
 many wild conjectures were made 
 as to its duration, and many of 
 those who had hitherto stood high 
 in the nation's opinion, were list- 
 •ened to anxiously, as if on their views de- 
 pended the life and safety of the country, 
 iDut as the war went on it was seen that the 
 wisest statesmen and the ablest soldiers 
 were at fault. Indeed, as events multiplied, 
 the question of the Republic's future baf- 
 fled all human ingenuity. That which all 
 men predicted did not come to pass, and 
 that which all declared impossible, was 
 ■constantly being done, and our leaders 
 were compelled to adopt measures they had 
 liefore rejected, not only as unsound, but 
 impossible. 
 
 It is not our province to write about mat- 
 ters concerning our Army, or about the im- 
 mense line of insurrection which early in 
 the war stretched across our country in 
 •chains of military posts within supporting 
 ■distance of one another, but as these in- 
 ■creased and Rebellion continued to raise its 
 hydra head from Chesapeake Bay to South- 
 
 -mt^atfr-n MiHsniiri it. was fniind to bfi npY>,Ps- 
 
 sary to increase the Navy, not only for the 
 protection of our long line of sea-coast, but 
 to guard our great lines of river transpor- 
 tation which the enemy was rapidly seiz- 
 ing vipon for the purpose of strengthening 
 their great lines of defence, the speedy ma- 
 turing of their plans enabling them to get 
 possession. 
 
 One of the first ideas of the Confederates 
 was to get possession of the Potomac River, 
 fortifj^ its banks, and thereby cut off all 
 communication between Washington and 
 the sea. Their object was to prevent the 
 transportation of troops from the North to 
 the seat of government by sea, for as there 
 was but one line of railroad between Balti- 
 more and Washington, the Confederates 
 were of the opinion that the North could not 
 supply troops in sufficient numbers by that 
 route; besides, at any moment, it might pass 
 into the hands of the enemy. So satisfied 
 were the rebels of this fact that they con- 
 sidered the fall of Washington as certain. 
 The authorities of Maryland forbade the 
 passage of troops across that State, heavy 
 batteries were rapidly thrown up by the 
 rinnffirlfiratfis aloiip- the hanks of the Pntn- 
 
40 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 mac, atid parties of rebel soldiers, with their 
 colors flying, were in sight of the Capitol 
 on the west bank of the river. 
 
 The first thing the Navy Department 
 effected amidst all the difficulties of the 
 situation, was the establishment of a flo- 
 tilla of small steamers, armed with light 
 guns, upon the Potomac. 
 
 It could hardly be supposed that the Navy 
 would attempt, with these fragile vessels, 
 to contend with the guns in battery on 
 shore, or that they would be of any other 
 service than that of patrolling the river, 
 watching every movement of the enemy 
 along the banks, and their operations ; but 
 those who are left to remember those days, 
 will not forget the daily watchfulness, the 
 sleepless nights, the sickly toil, and the 
 hazardous character of the expeditions 
 upon which the officers and crews of those 
 vessels were engaged. 
 
 C03IMANDEK JAMES H. WABD. 
 
 The first landing of Northern troops 
 upon the Virginian shore was under cover 
 of these improvised gun-boats, when the 
 gallant Ellsworth landed with his Zouave 
 regiment at Alexandria, and went to almost 
 instant death at the hands of an assassin — 
 an event which, unimportant as it Avas 
 compared with others at the time, so fired 
 the Northern heart that it added thousands 
 of soldiers to our armies. 
 
 In this case Alexandria was evacuated 
 by the Confederates upon demand of a 
 naval officer — Commander S. C. Rowan — 
 commanding the " Pawnee." carrying a 
 battery of fifteen guns, and Avhen Ells- 
 worth's troops were landed the American 
 fiag was hoisted on the Custom House and 
 other prominent places by the officer in 
 charge of a landing party of sailors — Lieu- 
 tenant R. B. Lowry. 
 
 This, though not a very important 
 achievement, gave indication of the feel- 
 
 ings of the Navy, and how ready was the 
 service to put down secession on the first 
 opportunity offered. 
 
 The death of Ellsworth created a great 
 impression upon the minds of the naval 
 officers and sailors from its brutal accom- 
 paniments, and showed them forcibly that 
 treason would only carry in its train ra- 
 pine and murder, with all the horrors at- 
 tending vindicative warfare. 
 
 As earlv as the last of May, 1^61, th& 
 Confederates had completed three batteries 
 on the Potomac, at Aquia Creek— railroad 
 terminus — and others above and about the 
 landing. The guns mounted in these 
 works were mostly rifies, giving the Con- 
 federates an advantage over our vessels, 
 which mounted only smooth-bore thirty- 
 two-pounders. 
 
 As the Government had already, on sev- 
 eral occasions, shown great decision, it is 
 remarkable that it did not at once proceed 
 to put down this work of the Confederates 
 in fortifying the commanding points of the 
 Potomac, but there seemed to have been 
 an indisposition on its part at that moment 
 to take any hostile action; and amidst the 
 daily increasing confusion of affairs which 
 startled the Nation, even the Navy Depart- 
 ment did not exhibit an unusual activity. 
 
 The Potomac fiotillawas chiefly engaged 
 in moving up and down the river, gaining 
 information of the enemy's movements, 
 convoying transports to and from Wash- 
 ington, often fired upon, and only able te 
 return the fire without much effect, and 
 with no power to land and capture the bat- 
 teries for want of a proper landing force — 
 which had been declined by General Scott 
 whenever application had been made to- 
 him. It was a national disgrace, and be- 
 spoke the weakness of a country when, 
 at the very outset of the war, a great 
 highway — the Potomac — could be closed, 
 and our own people slaughtered in transit- 
 by these rebel batteries, which seemed te 
 increase in numbers with a rapidity never 
 conceived of, while it appeared as if they had 
 all the military depots of the country to- 
 draw from. 
 
 It was at last determined by the Depart- 
 ment that the Potomac fiotilla should take 
 the initiative, and make an effort to clear 
 the river banks of the rebel batteries. 
 
 Commander James H. "Ward, an energetic 
 officer, had been placed in command of the 
 fiotilla, and on the 20th of May. 1861, he 
 started to engage the batteries at Aquia 
 Creek, with no expectation, we imagine, of 
 any great success against them with the 
 small and fragile vessels under his com- 
 mand. These consisted of the " Freeborn," 
 a paddle-wheel steamer of two hundred and 
 fifty tons, and carrying three guns; the 
 "Anacostia, a small screw steamer of two 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 41 
 
 hundred tons, and the " Resolute," a small 
 craft of ninety tons and two guns. 
 
 The largest gun on board this little squad- 
 ron was a thirty-two pounder, most of the 
 others being small howitzers. The impov- 
 erished condition of the Navy may be im- 
 agined when it had to depend upon such 
 craft as these to crush a rebellion, while two 
 or three thousand rebel troops were in the 
 field with batteries against them. 
 
 No one who knew anything about such 
 matters would form any favorable idea of 
 succeeding against land batteries with this 
 small flotilla, but notwithstanding the dis- 
 parity of force, the batteries were silenced al- 
 together in two hours, and the Secessionists 
 driven to their earthworks on the hills over- 
 looking the landing. These hills proved 
 too high for the elevation to be obtained 
 from the guns of the vessels, and the 
 enemy's shot falling all around them with- 
 out chance of return, the flotilla was with- 
 
 keeping up an incessant fire for five hours, 
 only ceasing upon the over-fatigue of his 
 men. The enemy were again driven out of 
 their works, but carried their artillery away 
 with them. Some damage was done the 
 flotilla, and the "Freeborn" was obliged 
 in consequence to go to Washington for 
 repairs ; there was no loss of life, nor were 
 there any wounded on this occasion. 
 
 The flotilla had been increased by the 
 " Pawnee," Commander Rowan, who had 
 reported on the previous evening. More than 
 a thousand shot were flred by the enemy, 
 but though a number struck the hulls of 
 the vessels, there was no irreparable dam- 
 age done. This little affair may be said to 
 have "opened the ball" along the banks of 
 the Potomac, and it gave the Secessionists 
 some idea of what they might expect in the 
 future under the energetic management 
 of Commander Ward; but unfortunately 
 the career of that officer was cut short soon 
 
 ATTACK ON THE AQDAIA CEEEK BATTERIES BY THE U. S. STEAMERS ■' FREEBORN," "ANACOSTIA" AND "RESOLUTE.' 
 
 drawn out of range. Little damage was 
 done to the vessels, the enemy not proving 
 to be very good marksmen. 
 
 This was, I believe, the flrst battle of the 
 war where the enemy's batteries were en- 
 gaged by the Navy, and though not an im- 
 portant affair, it marks an era in the strug- 
 gle which shows how remiss our Govern- 
 ment had been up to that time in not having 
 in the Navy a class of vessels suitable for 
 just such occasions as this, and how poor 
 indeed was our merchant marine when it 
 could provide nothing better than the "Free- 
 born," " Anacostia " and the " Resolute " — 
 three high-sounding names, which seem 
 now so insignificant beside the " Miantono- 
 moh," " Puritan," etc., vessels that even- 
 tually revolutionized the navies of the 
 world, and made us, at one time, as regards 
 the defence of our coast, equal if not su- 
 perior to England and France. 
 
 On the following day Commander Ward 
 resumed the engagement at Aquia Creek, 
 
 after in the attack on Matthias Point, when 
 he attempted to disperse some batteries, 
 having also made preparations to land; but 
 in the heat of the action, and while sight- 
 ing a gun, he was shot in the abdomen and 
 soon after died. The Navy lost a gallant 
 officer, whose example would have inspired 
 his men to deeds of daring if any example 
 was needed, for it was a noticeable fact 
 that the blue-jackets of the Navy were up 
 with the foremost in their devotion to the 
 flag, and viewed these hostile movements on 
 the Potomac against the government with 
 something akin to horror. Let us remark 
 here, that, during the war,we do not remem- 
 ber an instance where a sailor was found 
 untrue to the flag of the Union, or where 
 one ever hesitated to volunteer for an ex- 
 pedition, no matter how dangerous it was. 
 In the affair at Matthias Point our party 
 was overwhelmed by numbers, and Lieu- 
 tenant Chaplin of the " Pawnee," who had 
 charge of a landing party, only succeeded 
 
43 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 in bringing off his men by his coolness and 
 intrepidity under a perfect shower of bul- 
 lets. In those days, when the war was in 
 its infancy, the soldiers of both sides lacked 
 that precision of fire which tliey acquired 
 later in the contest, and which made the bat- 
 tles so bloody. But for this our repulse at 
 Matthias Point would have been a bloody 
 one, indeed. 
 
 Criticism of this expedition is disarmed 
 when we reflect that the gallant officer who 
 planned it sacrificed his own life in the per- 
 formance of a duty he considered neces- 
 sary to clear the Potomac of the bush- 
 whackers that lined the banks of the stream 
 all along, and were firing on unarmed mer- 
 chant vessels and transports as they pur- 
 sued their course up or down. 
 
 small affairs which took place on the river 
 rose to importance from the fact that there 
 was then no other field of naval enter- 
 prize. 
 
 So great were the facilities of communi- 
 cation between the shores of Virginia and 
 Maryland that the Secessionists could hold 
 intercourse with their friends in the latter 
 State by means of small boats, and obtain 
 not only information, but supplies of all 
 kinds, including munitions of war which 
 the Marylanders were too willing to pro- 
 vide them with. Hence it became a neces- 
 sity not only to guard every salient point 
 onthe river^ but to capture all boats that 
 were secreted in the numerous creeks and 
 nooks with which the river abounded. 
 
 This duty, apparently insignificant, was 
 
 SKIEMISH BETWEEN THE "FBEEBOEN" AND 
 
 ■ KESOLDTE " AND A SECESSION FORCE, AT MATTHIAS POINT.— DEATH OF 
 CAPTAIN "WARD.— JUNE 27. 1861. 
 
 Had Commander Ward lived, he would 
 have made as high a mark as any officer in 
 the Navj'; no one ever entered the contest 
 with more zeal and activity than he, and to 
 this day the shock of hisdeatli has not been 
 forgotten, though thousands died after- 
 wards on more important occasions. 
 
 It was only wlien these deaths of gal- 
 lant officers occurred that the countr}- be- 
 gan to realize the Secessionists were ani- 
 mated with a fell purpose which would 
 not be appeased until the whole land was 
 saturated with blood and sorrow walked 
 over the battle-fields where friends and foes 
 lay mingled together in the arms of death. 
 
 The Potomac naturally became the first 
 theatre of v/ar as regards the Navy, for the 
 Department at that moment had no ships 
 with which to operate elsewhere, and some 
 
 in fact most important, for the mischief 
 carried on by these small boats, which per- 
 formed postal service and transported spies 
 back and forth, was so constairt that it was 
 necessary to repress it if possible. 
 
 On the nth of October, Lieutenant A. D. 
 Harrel was informed that a large schooner 
 was lying in Quantico Creek, and that a 
 body of troops had assembled there for the 
 purpose of crossing the Potomac, and he de- 
 termined to make an attempt to destroy her. 
 
 He manned three boats, and under cover 
 of darkness, started up the creek, boarded 
 the schooner and set her on fire, then pulled 
 away under a heavy volley of musketry 
 from the rebel soldiers. The vessel was 
 totally destroyed, and the crossing of the 
 Secessionists put a stop to. 
 
 In all this river service performed bv of- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 43 
 
 ficers of the Navy there was great peril, 
 and no hope of reward held out as remune- 
 ration for the risk of life. Every covert on 
 the banks of the river held men in ambush, 
 and many unerring riflemen, who would 
 wait until our people atttempted to land, 
 or came near their place of concealment, 
 when they would pull trigger on them 
 with as much malignity as if firing upon 
 the bloodiest pirates instead of conservators 
 of the peace. They seemed to f oi-get alto- 
 gether that the men they were slaying not 
 long before may have met them in amity 
 at the festive board. 
 
 Such was the strife already begun, and it 
 could not be hoped that it would diminish 
 as the war progressed. 
 
 In this river work, as in all other where 
 the Navy was called upon to act, it per- 
 formed its duty with unflinching courage. 
 The public did not know what the service 
 had to contend with, or how much good 
 work they were actually doing; with all 
 their discomforts, toil and suffering they 
 received but little commendation; the 
 country was too busy watching the black 
 clouds gathering in the South and West to 
 note the ordinary events that were taking 
 place on the Potomac, yet they formed the 
 small links in the chain which, in the end, 
 shackled the arms of the great rebellion. 
 
 A steamer captain coming up the river 
 would be fired upon from some point Avhere 
 there were none of the flotilla in sight, and 
 though he might receive no damage what- 
 ever, he would make complaints of what 
 he called the useless Potomac Flotilla, 
 which complaints would flnd their way to 
 the papers, with the usual result of abuse; 
 but in the end the public were obliged to 
 acknowledge the value of the service, for 
 though the intercourse between the oppo- 
 site banks of the river could not be alto- 
 gether prevented, it was made so harrass- 
 ing and dangerous to those who followed 
 it that its effectiveness was destroyed. 
 
 The Secessionists, finding they could nei- 
 ther close the river against the Govern- 
 ment transports, nor keep it open for their 
 friends, abandoned the plan of erecting 
 batteries, and in 1862 withdrew from the 
 line of the Potomac Eiver. The patrol of 
 
 the Potomac was, however, carried on by the 
 Navy during nearly all the war, and 
 though the river bad been freed of the 
 hostile batteries, the duties of the officers 
 and men still remained more or less haz- 
 ardous. 
 
 The public, as a general rule, are not at- 
 tracted by events which have not some 
 brilliancy in them ; they read only of bat- 
 tles by land and sea ; they never then 
 stopped to consider the importance of such 
 tedious work as occurred on the great high- 
 way from Washington to the sea, nor did 
 they ever seem to reflect that if the river was 
 once closed the very life of the Union 
 would be imperilled. It was only in read- 
 ing over the accounts of a successful battle 
 that they became really interested in the 
 subject, and their minds rested simply on 
 the central figure of the successful chief, 
 who monopolized for the moment all the 
 glory. 
 
 Few ever thought of all the toil and hard- 
 ships officers and men had to undergo to 
 win one of these battles, or cared what be- 
 came of the workers and sufferers in 
 the conflict. Nor, while carried away 
 with the glamour of a great contest, did 
 they ever reflect upon the dead and 
 wounded, who. to secure victory, had given 
 up their life's blood that their country 
 might live, and the time-honored flag under 
 which they received their first inspirations 
 of glory might float proudly at the peak, 
 without a stain to dim its stripes and stars. 
 
 While these apparently unimportant mat- 
 ters were carried on along the Potomac, the 
 Navy Department was putting forth all its 
 energy to get every ship to sea ; vessels 
 were beginning to arrive from foreign sta- 
 tions, many of the officers tinctured with 
 secession sentiments, and handing in their 
 resignations, some departing without, and 
 being cashiered : about two hundred and 
 fifty in all leaving the Navy. The ships, 
 after undergoing hasty repairs, were put 
 into commission as soon as possible, and 
 from this time commenced that series of 
 brilliant actions which gave the Navy a 
 name it will never lose, and which ought 
 to make it dear to the heart of every true 
 American. 
 
CH A PTER V. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE WORKS AT HATTERAS mLET BY FLAG OFFICER 
 STRINGHAM.— DESTRUCTION OF THE PRIVATEER "JUDAH." 
 
 Determination of Lincoln to Regain Possession of the Southern Ports and Harbors. 
 — A Board of Eminent Civilians and Naval Officers Convened. — The Sounds 
 of North Carolina, their Defences, etc. — Hatteras Inlet. — A Squadron Fitted 
 Out to Capture Hatteras Inlet. — Vessels Composing the Squadron and their 
 Commanders. — Commodore Stringham.— The Squadron Leaves Hampton Roads.— 
 The Squadron Anchors at Hatteras Island. — Bombardment and Capture of Forts 
 Hatteras and Clark. — The Garrison Surrender to General Butler and Com- 
 modore Stringha.m.— Effect op the Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark on the 
 Confederates. — Destruction of Fort Ocracoke. — The Pamlico and Albemarle 
 Sounds. — Colonel Hawkins Sends a Regiment to take Possession of Chica- 
 coMico. — Capture of the Transport •'Fanny "' by Confederate Steamers, — Plans 
 of the Confederates Frustrated. — Colonel Brown and Colonel Hawkins Join 
 Hands. — The " Monticello "' Renders Good Service. — Disastrous Retreat of the 
 Confederates. — Cutting Out op the Confederate Privateer '• Judah." 
 
 ^^T was evident to any one who had 
 
 I studied the subject, that the United 
 
 I States Government could make no 
 
 I headway against the Confederates 
 
 M while the seaports and their defences 
 
 remained in the hands of the latter. From 
 
 the beginning President Lincoln had boldly 
 
 avowed his purpose to regain possession of 
 
 all the Southern ports and harbors. 
 
 A board of eminent civilians and naval 
 officers had been convened by the Navy 
 Department to consider the whole subject, 
 and report upon the best means of ap- 
 proaching and attacking the ports then in 
 the possession of the Secessionists; and the 
 result of their labors, when placed in the 
 hands of the Secretary of the Navy, was of 
 great service in enabling the Department 
 promptly to take proper measures for the 
 recapture of the ports along the Southern 
 coast. 
 
 From the beginning the Secessionists had 
 appreciated the necessity of securing pos- 
 session of the Sounds of North Carolina and 
 defending their approaches against our 
 gunboats. There is in this region a net- 
 work of channels (X)mmunicating with the 
 
 (44) 
 
 Chowan, Neuse and Roanoke Rivers by 
 which any amount of stores and munitions 
 of war could be sent by blockade runners 
 to supply the South. 
 
 The numerous inlets are navigable for 
 light draft vessels, but owing to their shal- 
 low water our vessels of war could not 
 penetrate them. 
 
 The main channel for entering the Sounds 
 was Hatteras Inlet, and here the enemy had 
 thrown up heavy earthworks to protect the 
 most important smuggling route then in 
 operation ; for, althoug:h Charleston and 
 Mobile were considered important ports for 
 smuggling supplies to the South, Hatteras 
 Inlet was none the less so. 
 
 For the purpose of capturing the defences 
 of Hatteras Inlet a squadron under com- 
 mand of Commodore Stringham was fitted 
 out. It consisted of the "Minnesota," 
 Captain Van Brunt, '^Wabash," Captaia 
 Mercer. "Monticello,"' Commander J. P. 
 Gillis, ••Susquehanna," Captain Chauncey, 
 ••Pawnee," Commander Rowan. "Cumber- 
 land," Captain Marston, and the Revenue 
 Steamer "Harriet Lane," Captain Faunce. 
 
 Three transports accompanied the squad- 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAE. 
 
 45 
 
 Ton. The " Adelaide," Commander Stell- 
 wagen, "George Peabody," Lieut.-Com- 
 manding Lowry, and the " Fanny," Lieut.- 
 Commanding Crosby. They carried about 
 900 troops under command of Major-Gen- 
 eral B. F. Butler. 
 
 On the 27th of August, 1861, the day 
 after leaving Hampton Roads, the squad- 
 
 five on shipboard, but even this allowance 
 made the squadron superior to the forts, 
 without considering the heavier guns and 
 better equipments of the frigates. 
 
 Part of the troops landed on the island 
 under cover of the guns of the squadron, 
 and at 8:46 on the morning of the 28th, the 
 battle commenced. The " Wabash," of fifty 
 
 •yba J/aXicrtts 
 
 ^zt'^es 
 
 THE SOUNDS OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 
 
 Ton anchored off Hatteras Island, on the 
 extreme southwestern point of which were 
 Forts Hatteras and Clark, separated by a 
 shallow bay, half a mile wide. Of these 
 works Fort Hatteras was the larger, and 
 "together they mounted twenty-five guns. 
 
 In those days of wooden ships one gun 
 mounted on shore was considered equal to 
 
 guns, with the "Cumberland" in tow and 
 followed by the "Minnesota," stood in to- 
 wai'ds Fort Clark and opened fire, and were 
 soon joined by the " Susquehanna." 
 
 The plan of attack, althougli afterwards 
 followed in several cases during the Civil 
 War, was not the best calculated to bring an 
 engagement to a speedy conclusion. The 
 
46 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 1 i-^r^t ir, mntinn in a circle or At 2:30 p. M. General Butler went on board 
 
 ""tS plan has the advantage of bothering commanding naval defences of Virgmia 
 the enemy's gunners, as 
 the ships are constantly 
 changing their range, 
 but it detracts from the 
 accuracy of the nre on 
 board the vessels and it 
 tends to lengthen out an 
 engagement. At H a t - 
 teras what should have 
 been finished in six 
 hours required twenty- 
 four to accomplish. 
 
 In our opinion had all 
 the larger vessels an- 
 chored in line abreast of 
 the forts, with the small- 
 er vessels on their flanks, 
 the enemy's batteries 
 would have been quickly 
 
 silenced. As it was the 
 
 people in the forts were 
 
 almost smothered by the 
 
 fire from the frigates, 
 
 and their aim made so 
 
 uncertain, that little 
 
 damage was done to the 
 
 ships. Shortly after 
 
 noon the Confederate 
 
 flags had disappeared 
 
 from both forts, and the 
 
 enemy were evidently 
 
 abandoning Fort Clark, 
 
 on which our troops 
 
 moved up the beach and 
 
 hoisted the Union flag on 
 
 that work. 
 Fort Hatteras still kept 
 
 up the fire, and at night 
 
 the squadron hauled off. 
 At 7:30, on the morn- 
 ing of the 39th, the ships 
 
 again opened on Fort 
 
 Hatteras, and continued 
 
 the fire with vigor until 
 
 11:10, wlien a white flag 
 
 was displayed by the 
 
 enemy. 
 
 Although the reduc- 
 tion of these works was 
 
 not a very great achieve- 
 ment for a squadron 
 
 mounting 158 guns, yet 
 
 the work was well done, 
 
 and little damage was re- 
 ceived from the enemy. 
 As soon as the white 
 
 flag was shown from 
 
 Fort Hatteras, some of 
 
 COMMODOEE SILAS H. STEINOHAM, U. S. N. 
 (attehwauds ee.vr admiral.) 
 
 ^„,„ ^^ .„„, „„ -^ the light draft 
 
 vessels entered the inlet and drove off the 
 reinforcements that were evidently en- 
 deavoring to reach the forts. 
 
 and N. Carolina, Col. Martin, 7th Reg.,]Sr. C. 
 Infantry, and Col. Andrews, commanding 
 Forts Hatteras and Clark, who had surren- 
 dered unconditionally with their commands. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 47 
 
 Soon after the Commodore proceeded in 
 the " Minnesota " to New York, where all 
 the prisoners were transferred to Gover- 
 nor's Island. 
 
 This was our first naval victory, indeed 
 our first victory of any kind, and should 
 not be forgotten. The Union cause was 
 then in a depressed condition, owing to the 
 reverses it had experienced. The moral 
 effect of this affair was very great, as it 
 gave us a foothold on Southern soil and 
 possession of the Sounds of North Carolina, 
 if we chose to occupy them. It was a 
 death-blow to blockade running in that vi- 
 cinity, and ultimately proved one of the 
 
 " Pawnee," who rendered useless twenty- 
 two guns and a quantity of munitions of 
 war. 
 
 The closing of these inlets to the Sounds 
 of North Carolina sent the blockade run- 
 ners elsewhere to find entrance to Southern 
 markets, but as channel after channel was 
 closed the smugglers' chances diminished 
 and the labors of the blockading vessels 
 were much reduced. 
 
 The great value of the Albemarle and 
 Pamlico Sounds may be judged by refer- 
 ence to subsequent events, when they 
 formed a base of operations for the enemy 
 which we found it extremely difficult to 
 
 Pawnee. Minnesota. CuirBERLAND. Susquehanna. 
 Harriet Lane. Wabash. 
 
 Fort Clark. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE POETS AT HATTEEAS INLET.— FLEET OPENING FIEE AND BOATS LANDING THEOUGH THE SDEF. 
 
 AUGUST 28, 1861. 
 
 most important events of the war; and if 
 we recall the pertinacity with which the 
 Confederates fought for these Sounds, even 
 to the end of the war, we can appreciate 
 the value they placed upon them. 
 
 To prevent Hatteras Inlet from again 
 falling into the hands of the Confederates, 
 the forts were garrisoned, although diffi- 
 cult to hold owing to unforeseen circum- 
 stances. 
 
 Fort Ocracoke, on the inlet of that name, 
 twenty miles south of, Hatteras, was aban- 
 doned by the enemy soon after the fall of 
 Forts Hatteras and Clark, and was de- 
 stroyed by a party from the U. S. S. 
 
 break up, and it was not until the Navy had 
 been largely increased by the addition of the 
 proper kind of vessels, that the United States 
 Government was able to get possession of 
 all the important points in the Sounds. 
 
 "The subsequent operations upon Pam- 
 lico and Albemarle Sounds and their rivers 
 show how important a base these formed 
 for the Confederates, and how difficult it 
 would have been to crush the rebellion had 
 they remained in their possesion." 
 
 Colonel Hawkins, who had been left in 
 command of Fort Hatteras after its capture, 
 found his position to be an uncomfortable 
 and dangerous one. 
 
48 
 
 The troops were subjected to annoying 
 privations and dangerous exposure, and on 
 one occasion narrowly escaped capture by 
 the Confederates. 
 
 On September 29th, 1861, Colonel Hawkms 
 sent the 20th Indiana Regiment to take pos- 
 session of and fortify Chicamacomico, the 
 northern point of Hatteras Island. 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 As soon as the Confederates learned the 
 true condition of affairs, they conceived the 
 bold design not only of capturing the six 
 hundred men of the Indiana regiment, but 
 of retaking the forts at Hatteras. Their 
 plan was to land a large body of men above 
 the Union regiment and another below, be- 
 tween them and Hatteras, and thus render 
 
 1 ■*< 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 lAk"^ 
 
 5 
 
 ...*'^ \ \ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 Vi V 
 
 t^ ^ 
 
 f''' 
 
 r'° 
 
 „..*' 
 
 s,^ *^ 
 
 
 "^€ , 
 
 '^ ^. 
 
 <i ■ 
 
 
 
 «q;; 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 J-.,.^..^A*««j} 
 
 ~^^ 
 
 ^ ;. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 =< 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON FORTS HATTEK.AS AND CLARK, AUGUST 28th AND 29Ta, 1861. 
 
 These troops were but partially equipped 
 and scantily provisioned, their supplies be- 
 ing sent the next day in the army trans- 
 port " Fanny." Just as this vessel arrived 
 she was met'by three Confederate steamers, 
 but their true character was not known 
 until they opened fire, and but few of the 
 "Fanny's" crew escaped. 
 
 retreat impossible and their capture cer- 
 tain. At the same time a fleet of light 
 steamers was to pass quickly down the 
 Sound and make a sudden attack upon the 
 forts at the inlet. 
 
 But for unforeseen events they might 
 perhaps have succeeded. 
 
 The Confederates having collected ten 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 49 
 
 ■transports, six steamers, one cotton-barge 
 and two flat boats, carrying in all about 3,000 
 men, commenced their movement on the 
 4th of October, intending to land a part 
 above and a part below the Indiana en- 
 campment. 
 
 Colonel Brown, commanding the Union 
 "troops, divided his forces also, intending to 
 fight the enemy at the two points threat- 
 ened, but at this juncture he received per- 
 emptory orders to retreat, and as he was 
 now some distance from his camp and there 
 was no time to lose, he was obliged to start 
 on a march of forty miles without supplies 
 of any kind. 
 
 had been re-enforced, the Confederates be- 
 gan a retreat up the island which proved far 
 more disastrous to them than that of the 
 Union troops had been, for they were at 
 once pursued, not by marching troops, but 
 by a gun-boat, following them on the out- 
 side of the island. 
 
 This steamer was the " Monticello," com- 
 manded by Lieutenant D. L. Braine, and 
 she rendered good service on this occasion 
 by inflicting heavy loss upon the enemy, 
 and driving him on board his vessels in a 
 thoroughly demoralized condition. 
 
 The Confederates, when first seen from 
 the " Monticello," were marching along the 
 
 INTEEIOE OP FOKT HATTERAS AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT. 
 
 The Confederate steamers attempted to 
 cut off his retreat by landing troops about 
 eighteen miles below, and it now seemed to 
 be reduced to a question of speed between 
 steamers, and men wading through the 
 loose and scorching sand. 
 
 The Confederate flotilla, however, was de- 
 layed by some of the boats getting aground, 
 and their troops were not landed until after 
 dark. Captain Brown, passing the fleet 
 without being perceived, reached Hatteras 
 light-house after a day of intense suffering 
 and fatigue, and was soon re-enforced by 
 Colonel Hawkins' regiment sent up from 
 the forts to his relief. 
 
 Upon learning that the Indiana regiment 
 
 narrow strip of sand in close order, and 
 being entirely without cover offered an ex- 
 cellent mark for the Union gunners. 
 
 The " Monticello's " fire was very well 
 directed, and the bursting shells caused 
 great havoc in the ranks of the enemy. 
 
 They soon broke and ran, many of them 
 taking refuge in a clump of woods abreast 
 of their steamers. 
 
 The Confederate vessels at once sent 
 boats to bring off the troops, and as they 
 neared the shore the soldiers rushed wildly 
 into the water, having lost all idea of order 
 or discipline in their great eagerness to es- 
 cape. 
 
 Two of the boats loaded with men were 
 
50 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 struck by shells and sent to the bottom, 
 several officers were killed, and the shore 
 for a distance of four miles was strewn with 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 The Confederate steamers fired several 
 times across the island at the " Monticello," 
 but their projectiles fell short and they soon 
 desisted. Lieutenant Braine continued his 
 attack until 5:35 P. M., when, as he was 
 running short of ammunition and the en- 
 emy were completely scattered and disor- 
 ganized, he decided to withdraw. 
 
 Destruction op the Privateer Schooner 
 
 "JUDAH." 
 
 There is always an excitement in a cut- 
 ting-out expedition that does not exist in any 
 
 circumstances, have been successful with- 
 out any serious loss to the boarding party ; 
 but under whatever circumstances it may 
 be undertaken, a "cutting-out" party is 
 always attended with the greatest peril. 
 
 When Fort Pickens was fully manned 
 and all the guns mounted necessary to give 
 it a superiority over the batteries of General 
 Bragg on the navy yard side, it was sup- 
 posed that Pensacola was hermetically 
 sealed, not only against the entrance of 
 blockade runners, but that Pickens would 
 prevent the exit of any hostile vessel in- 
 tended to prey upon American commerce. 
 
 But this was not the case — notwithstand- 
 ing that the guns of Fort Pickens com- 
 manded all the works under General Bragg, 
 
 DESTEDOTION OF FORT OCBACOKE, ON BEACON ISLAND, BY A PAETY FROM THE U. S. S. ■'PAWNEE. 
 
 other service during war, and many events 
 of that kind which happened in the Ameri- 
 can and British navies hold a larger place in 
 the memory of old sailors than some more 
 important achievements. 
 
 One of these cutting-out expeditions took 
 place in the harbor of Pensacola. and is 
 worthy to be chronicled in history, for from 
 all accounts it was a gallant affair, and most 
 creditable to those who commanded and ex- 
 ecuted it. 
 
 There is no act in naval science requiring 
 more skill, courage, dash and judgment 
 than the cuttiii g out of an armed vessel in an 
 open roadstead, or under the guns of a ship 
 or fort. Some of these have "been at times 
 connected with scenes of terrible slaughter; 
 others, by taking advantage of favorable 
 
 and could have knocked them to pieces in 
 the course of a few hours. The Confed- 
 erates did not seem to attach much im- 
 portance to the Union fort or its auxilliary 
 works, and it Avas reported to Commodore 
 Mervin, the commander of the naval forces 
 off Pensacola, that the schooner "Judah" 
 was fitting out at the Pensacola Navy Yard 
 as a privateer to prey upon our commerce, 
 rhis vessel had been seen from day to day 
 lymg m a small basin formed by the Navy 
 Yard on one side, and a dock on the 
 other. She could be seen from the fort and 
 her daily progress noted, as her rigging was 
 being fitted and other preparations being 
 made towards sending her to sea— but not a 
 protest was made by the guns of Fort 
 Pickens against this cool proceeeding of fit- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 51 
 
 ting out a privateer right in the sight of the 
 fort, and in reach of its shot and shell. 
 
 This vessel had been watched for some 
 time by the officers of the squadron lying 
 four miles outside, and Commodore Mervin 
 determined to make an effort to destroy 
 her, knowing the damage she would com- 
 mit if once permitted to get out to sea. 
 
 The schooner was secured in such a posi- 
 tion that it was very difficult for an attack- 
 ing party to get at her without great expos- 
 ure to themselves. The Confederates con- 
 cluded that they had made her so safe that no 
 naval force would undertake to cut her out, 
 and General Bragg evidently attached little 
 importance to the guns of Fort Pickens — a 
 lO-inch Columbiad and a 13 -pound field- 
 piece, were mounted so as to command the 
 schooner's deck and also the wharf, to 
 which she was secured by chains — and it 
 was reported that there were a thousand 
 soldiers stationed in and about the yard 
 ready to repel any number of boats that 
 might attempt to approach the wharves. 
 To attack the schooner under such circum- 
 stances was a perilous undertaking, but 
 Commodore Mervin considered the de- 
 struction of this privateer of so much im- 
 portance as to warrant the risk of a failure 
 and the loss of men. 
 
 On the night of the 13th September a 
 boat expedition was fitted out from the 
 frigate " Colorado," consisting of the fol- 
 lowing boats : first launch, Lieut. J. H. Rus- 
 sell, commanding the expedition, 39 men; 
 first cutter, Lieut. J. G. Sproston, 18 men ; 
 second cutter, F. B. Blake, 36 men ; third 
 cutter. Midshipman J. Steece, 17 men; in all 
 the expedition there were 100 officers, sail- 
 ors and marines. 
 
 The plan was for Lieut. Sproston and 
 Midshipman Steece to land with their boats' 
 crews and (if possible) spike the two guns 
 mounted in the yard, while at the same 
 time Lieuts. Russell and Blake were to at- 
 tack and carry the schooner. 
 
 The attack was made on the morning of 
 the 14th September, 1861, at 3 o'clock a. m. 
 The schooner was found moored to the 
 wharf, one pivot gun and two in broadside 
 mounted, with all her crew on board ready 
 to repel boarders. 
 
 The boats were discovered and hailed. 
 When about one hundred yards from the 
 wharf the sentry gave the alarm by firing 
 his gun, and immediately after followed a 
 volley from the schooner's deck. The sail- 
 ors sprang to their oars, and in less time 
 than one could think Lieuts. Sproston and 
 Steece from their respective boats sprung 
 upon the wharf, followed by their men, and 
 made a rush to find the guns— the other boats 
 boarding the schooner. Only one man was 
 found guarding the guns, and he was shot 
 dnvrn Viv crnnnpir 'RirfitOTi as he was in the 
 
 act of firing on Lieut. Sproston, both wea- 
 pons going off at the same time. In the 
 darkness the party became separated, and 
 Lieut. Sproston and the gunner succeeded 
 in finding the guns, which they immedi- 
 ately spiked. 
 
 Then came the contest for the schooner, 
 which was a severe one while it lasted. In 
 addition to the crew on deck some of the 
 Confederates had gotten into the fore-top, 
 from whence they poured a destructive fire 
 upon the boats, while a hand-to-hand fight 
 took place on the deck; but the sailors soon 
 drove the crew of the schooner to the 
 wharf, where they rallied, and being joined 
 by the guard on shore (which had marched 
 to the rescue) they kept up a continuous fire 
 on the boarding party. 
 
 While this fight was going on, parties of 
 the expedition were engaged in setting fire 
 to the schooner, as it was found to be im- 
 
 Eossible to move her. An effectual fire was 
 indled in the cabin by Assistant-Engineer 
 White and a coal-heaver named Patrick 
 DriscoU. The " Judah" was soon inflames, 
 and as there was no prospect of doing any- 
 thing more, the boarding party shoved off. 
 
 By this time a large force of the enemy be- 
 gan to collect in the Navy Yard, and opened 
 fire on the boats, but the officers and men, 
 nothing daunted, returned the fire on the dis- 
 organized crowd with two howitzers loaded 
 with grape and canister, firing six rounds 
 before they were out of range of the enemy's 
 sharpshooters. All this time the schooner 
 was burning rapidh^, with a great blaze, by 
 the light of which the sailors could see 
 where the enemy had posted themselves on 
 shore, and they were soon scattered. The 
 schooner blazed up so rapidly that she soon 
 broke from her moorings and, having burnt 
 to the water's edge, floated off and sank op- 
 posite to Fort Barrancas. The boats re- 
 mained near the place until it was certain 
 that the "Judah" would never be of any 
 more service to the Confederates, and then 
 returned to the "Colorado" which they 
 reached at daylight. Here they were wel- 
 comed with that heartiness which belongs 
 to the sailors, who were on the alert to greet 
 their chums and look after wounded mess- 
 mates. 
 
 To show the dangerous character of this 
 expedition and the severity of the encoun- 
 ter, nearly one flfth of the boarding party 
 were either killed or wounded; but the 
 regrets that were felt for the loss of the gal- 
 lant fellows who fell were somewhat com- 
 pensated for (in the minds of the sailors) by 
 the fact that their comrades had met the 
 death of brave men fighting for the country 
 they loved better than their lives. 
 
 This was without doubt the most gallant 
 cutting-out affair that occurred during the 
 war. The boardinar nartv had not onlv the 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 crew of the schooner to contend with, but 
 there was a force of over a thousand troops 
 stationed a short distance off, tliat could 
 be called upon at a moment's notice to drive 
 away intruders. There was every prospect of 
 a failure when the party started out, and 
 no certainty whatever of success. It was 
 one of those cases where men carried their 
 lives in their hands, and no one there had a 
 right to hope that he would return scatheless 
 from such a daring adventure. The young 
 officers who went out on this expedition 
 have since that time been engaged in some 
 momentous battles, but in none of them did 
 they run such risks or require more nerve 
 than on the night of the 13th of September, 
 1861, when they boarded and set fire to the 
 
 schooner " Judah" and sent her, in flames, 
 drifting down the harbor, as a proof of 
 what American officers and seamen were 
 willing to undertake to put down rebellion 
 and uphold the majesty of the law. Those 
 officers and men may think that their brave 
 act has been forgotten amid the grander 
 events that dazzled the imagination; but its 
 completeness has given it a place in history 
 it should never lose, and in after j^ears when 
 millions yet unborn realize what they owe to 
 the Navy for the work performed during an 
 intestine war to save this galaxy of States 
 from disruption,the burning of the "Judah," 
 with all its attendant gallantry, will be read 
 with as much avidity as any action of the 
 kind that took place during the war. - 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 NAVAL EXPEDITION AGAINST PORT ROYAL AND CAPTURE OF THAT PLACE. 
 
 Commander Rodgers. — River Steamers Pitted and Armed as Gun-boats. — Commence- 
 ment OF THE Mississippi Squadron.— Captain A. H. Poote Ordered to Command 
 THE Western Flotilla. — James B. Eads. — Commodore Stringham Relieved. — Com- 
 mands Given to Flag Officers Dupont and McKean. — The Port Royal Expedition 
 Fitted Out. — Assembling of the Ships of War and Transports at Hampton 
 Roads. — Frail Ships. — The Expedition Reaches Port Royal Harbor. — Great 
 Sufferings of Officers and Men. — Reconnoissancb by Commander Rodgers and 
 Brigadier-General Wright — Battle of Port Royal. — The Batteries at Hilton 
 Head Open Fire. — Forts Walker and Beauregard. — Order of Battle. — List of 
 Vessels Comprising the Fighting Squadron. — Commodore Tatnall Withdraws. — 
 Loyalty of Commander Percival Drayton. — Evacuation of Fort Walker by the 
 Confederates. — Treacherous Foes. — Explosion of a Torpedo Left Behind by the 
 Confederates. — Capture of Fort Beauregard. — Prisoners Turned Over to Gen- 
 eral T. W. Sherman. — Naval Battles Contrasted. — Sherman's Legions. — Dupont's 
 Eminence as a Commander. — Attempts to Despoil Dupont of his Honors. — Du- 
 pont's High Commendation of his Officers. — General Sherman's Headquarters 
 Securely Established at Hilton Head. — Tatnall Escapes. — Colonel Gilmore's 
 Reconnoissance. — Results of the Loss of the Norfolk Navy Yard. 
 
 OWING to the increase of the Con- 
 federate forces in the States of 
 Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, 
 it became necessary to fit out 
 armed vessels on the Western 
 rivers. In May, 1861, Commander John 
 Rodgers, U. S. N., was directed to report to 
 the War Department, which in the early 
 stages of the conflict practically assumed 
 the control of the Western flotilla, although 
 the vessels were under command of naval 
 officers. 
 
 Commander Rodgers proceeded at once 
 to the West and purchased a number of 
 river steamers, which were fitted and armed 
 as gunboats; and this was the commence- 
 ment of the Mississippi Squadron which 
 afterwards performed such efficient service 
 for the Union. 
 
 Captain Andrew H. Foote was afterwards 
 ordered to the command of the flotilla, 
 which under him swelled to the proportions 
 of a fleet, all his talents and energies 
 being devoted to the task of making it 
 a formidable force such as the necessities 
 
 of the case demanded. In this work Cap- 
 tain Foote was assisted by that distin- 
 guished engineer, James B. Eads, who 
 planned and built that class of ironclads 
 known on the Mississippi as "turtle backs," 
 which gave such a good account of them- 
 selves during thewar,and fought their way 
 through many a bloody encounter, from 
 Fort Henry to Grand Gulf, Port Hudson 
 and the Red River. 
 
 After the capture of Fort Hatteras, Com- 
 modore Stringham was relieved of the com- 
 mand at his own request. Two squadrons 
 were organized on the Atlantic coast, one to 
 guard the shores of Virginia and North 
 Carolina under Flag Officer L. M. Golds- 
 borough ; the Southern Squadron, extend- 
 ing from South Carolina to the Capes of 
 Florida, was assigned to Flag Officer S. F. 
 Dupont, and the Gulf Squadron to Flag Offi- 
 cer W. W. McKean. 
 
 Although the capture of the ports at Hat- 
 teras Inlet was an important achievement, 
 yet it did not accomplish all the Navy De- 
 Dartment aimed at. 
 
54 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 There was no entrance to the Sounds ex- 
 cept for vessels of very light draft of water, 
 and there was no harbor in the vicinity 
 where a depot could be established for large 
 vessels to carry on operations along the 
 Southern coast. 
 
 A depot was required for supplying coal, 
 provisions and stores at a point where our 
 ships could find safe anchorage at all times, 
 and where machine shops and docks could 
 be constructed for refitting vessels. 
 
 Tlie work of supplying vessels was one of 
 vital importance, and a harbor was also 
 
 and so well aware were the Confederates of 
 its importance that one of their first acts 
 was to fortify it against the entrance of our 
 ships. 
 
 It was determined by the Government to 
 fit out a naval expedition against Port 
 Royal under command of Flag Officer Du- 
 pont, reinforced by an Army corps under 
 General T. W. Sherman. 
 
 Notwithstanding that the greatest precau- 
 tions were taken to keep the proposed expe- 
 dition a secret, the Confederates ascertained 
 that a movement against Port Royal was on 
 
 PLAX OF THE ATTACK ON FOllTS WAIKEE AND BEAUBEGAED, NOVEMBEK 
 
 ISCl. 
 
 needed as a base of operations against the 
 whole Southern States. 
 
 The choice of harbors lay between Bull's 
 Bay, Port Royal, Brunswick and Fernan- 
 dina. The latter, for some reasons, was con- 
 sidered an available place, but finally the 
 Department concurred in the opinion of 
 Flag Officer Dupont that Port Royal con- 
 tained all the required advantages. 
 
 Port Royal is one of the finest harbors in 
 the United States, with water sufficient for 
 the laigest vessels. It is about equidis- 
 tant between Charleston and Savannah. 
 
 foot, a nd with their accustomed energy pre- 
 pared to receive it by mounting all the guns 
 they could collect, with a proper force to 
 man them. 
 
 By the 37th October, 1861, all the ships of 
 war, transports for troops, and supply ves- 
 sels had assembled at Hampton Roads, pre- 
 senting a formidable appearance. They 
 numbered fifty sail, not including twenty- 
 five coal vessels which had sailed the day 
 previous. 
 
 Never before in our history had any officer 
 command of so large a fleet. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 55 
 
 The weather had been unpleasant for 
 some time, but now gave promise of a 
 change for the better; and when on the 29th 
 the signal went up from the flag- ship 
 " Wabash " — " underway to get " — the 
 sounds all through the fleet showed that 
 sailors and soldiers were equally glad to 
 move towards the scenes of glory that 
 opened before them. 
 
 By the time the expedition reached Fort 
 Hatteras it came on to blow a gale, which 
 increased to a hurricane, scattering the 
 fleet in every direction. On the fourth day 
 out there was but one vessel to be seen from 
 the deck of the flag-ship. 
 
 What were the feelings of Flag-officer 
 Dupont on that occasion can be imagined. 
 Many of the naval vessels were far from 
 staunch. The transports, of course, were 
 still weaker, and it was doubtful if half of 
 them would ever be seen again. 
 
 The sufferings of the men on board the 
 transports, the decks of which were swept by 
 the heavy seas, were extreme and but little 
 appreciated by those on shore who after- 
 wards read the vivid accounts of these 
 hardships. 
 
 Such sufferings are part of the unwritten 
 history of the war, which because they are 
 not surrounded by the glamor of battle have 
 but little interest for the public. 
 
 Who is there that in reading an account of 
 these scenes of suffering and disaster which 
 often overtake naval and military expedi- 
 tions, ever realize the sufferings of officers 
 and men battling for their lives against the 
 stormy ocean ? 
 
 Certainly the soldiers in these transports 
 would have dared a dozen battles on shore, 
 rather than experience one such night of 
 storm as raged around their vessels. 
 
 A better seaman than Dupont never trod 
 a ship's deck, but he could do nothing for 
 that scattered fleet; he could only trust to 
 his subordinates, whom he knew would do 
 all that was possible to avert disaster. 
 
 All things have an end, and the gale 
 which had so jeopardized the expedition at 
 length abated with less damage to the fleet 
 than might have been expected. On the 
 morning of the 4th of November, 1861, 
 twenty-five vessels in company with the 
 flag-ship " Wabash," came to anchor off 
 the bar of Port Royal, while the remainder 
 of the squadron were continually heaving 
 in sight. 
 
 Although the gale was over, the safety of 
 the expedition was by no means assured. 
 The bar or shoalest water at the entrance 
 of Port Royal extended ten miles out to 
 sea. All buoys and other guides to the 
 navigator had been removed. 
 
 As soon as the flag-ship came to anchor 
 Captain C. H. Davis, Chief of Staff, and As- 
 sistant Boutelle of the Coast Survey, pro- 
 
 ceeded in search of the channel, which by 
 three p. M. was sounded out and buoyed, and 
 before dark the smaller naval vessels and 
 the transports were anchored in Port Royal 
 Roads. Some small Confederate steamers, 
 under Commodore Tatnall, formerly of the 
 U. S. Navy, were chased and took refuge 
 under the Confederate batteries. 
 
 Next morning the "Wabash," "Susque- 
 hanna," " Vanderbilt," and "Atlantic" 
 were piloted into deep water inside the bar, 
 and a reconnoissance in force was made of 
 the harbor by Commander John Rodgers 
 and Brigadier-General Wright, with four 
 gun-boats. These drew the fire of the bat- 
 teries on Hilton Head and Bay Point, which 
 were shown to be strongly built and forti- 
 fied. 
 
 When the fleet was safely anchored within 
 this spacious roadstead, the Flag-Officer 
 had cause to congratulate himself on his 
 selection of Port Royal in preference to any 
 other point on the Southern coast for the 
 establishment of a naval depot; and having 
 perfected all his arrangements made pre- 
 parations for battle. 
 
 The Confederates, attaching great im- 
 portance to Port Royal as a strong military 
 position, had built two large forts, Fort 
 Walker on Hilton Head, and Fort Beaure- 
 gard on Bay Point, opposite; and it seems 
 strange that the Navy Department did not 
 send a couple of gun-boats early in the war 
 and prevent the enemy from erecting these 
 works. 
 
 Of the two earthworks defending the en- 
 trance. Fort Walker was considered the 
 stronger, and the Flag-Officer therefore de- 
 termined to direct the weight of his fire 
 upon this work, and after reducing it to 
 make the final attack on Fort Beauregard. 
 The order of battle comprised a main 
 squadron ranged in line ahead, and a flank- 
 ing squadron to engage the gun-boats un- 
 der Tatnall, which might prove troublesome 
 and therefore required attention. 
 
 The following is a list of vessels which 
 comprised the fighting squadron of Flag 
 Officer Dupont, which operated in line 
 ahead, steaming in an ellipse from the com- 
 mencement to the close of the action. 
 
 Steam frigate "Wabash" (flagship), 
 Commander C. R. P. Rodgers ; steam frig- 
 ate " Susquehanna," Captain I. L. Lardner; 
 steam sloop " Mohican," Commander S. 
 W. Godon ; steam sloop "Seminole," Com- 
 mander J. P. Gillis ; steam sloop "Paw- 
 nee," Lieut. -Commanding R. H. Wyman; 
 steam gunboat "Unadilla," Lieut -Com- 
 manding N. Collins; steam gunboat "Ot- 
 tawa," Lieut. -Commanding T. H Stevens; 
 steam gunboat " Paulina," Lieut.-Com- 
 manding J. P. Bankhead: sailing sloop 
 " Vandalia," Commander F. S. Haggerty, 
 towed by steamer " Isaac Smith." 
 

 
 
 
 
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 AND BEAUREGARD AT PORT R 
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THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 51 
 
 The flanking squadron consisted of the 
 steana gunboat '■ Bienville," Commander 
 Charles Steedman, leading ship; steam 
 gunboat, "Seneca," Lieut.-Commanding 
 Daniel Ammen; steam gunboat " Curlew," 
 Lieut-Commanding P. G. Watmough; 
 steam gunboat " Penguin," Lieut.-Com- 
 manding T. A. Budd; and the steam gun- 
 boat " Augusta," Commander E. G. Parrott. 
 
 The plan of attack was to pass up mid- 
 way between Forts Walker and Beaure- 
 gard, which were distant from each other 
 about two and one-third miles, receiving 
 and returning the fire of both. When 
 about two and a half miles north of Beau- 
 regard the line was to turn southward, 
 round by the west, and close in with Fort 
 Walker, encountering that work in its 
 weakest flank, and enfilading in nearly a 
 direct line its two water faces. 
 
 When abreast of Fort Walker the en- 
 gines were to be slowed and the move- 
 ments of the fleet reduced to a speed just 
 sufficient to preserve the order of battle. 
 On reaching the extremity of the shoal 
 ground making off from Hilton Head the 
 line was to turn north by the east and pas- 
 sing to the northward engage Fort Walker 
 with the port battery nearer than when 
 they passed it on the same course before. 
 These evolutions were to be repeated as 
 often as necessary. 
 
 The two forts had been constructed with 
 great skill and were sufficiently armed, one 
 would have thought, to have beaten off a 
 squadron of the size of Dupont's. which was 
 indeed scarcely large enough for so impor- 
 tant a service. 
 
 The attack on the Hatteras forts had 
 given a very fair idea of what our guns and 
 shells could effect against earthworks, but 
 those works were small affairs in compar- 
 ison with the defences of Port Eoyal, and 
 Commodore Stringham's force was com- 
 paratively much more powerful than that 
 of Dupont, to say nothing of a clear sea in 
 which Stringham had plenty of room to per- 
 form his elliptical movements. 
 
 The forts at Hatteras had inflicted little 
 injury on the Union ships, but here it 
 looked as if the case would be different, and 
 that our squadron would have as much as 
 it could attend to. 
 
 FORT "WALKER. 
 
 Upon the sea front were mounted upon 
 the best improved modern barbette car- 
 riages and circular railways, the following 
 guns : 
 
 1 6-inch rifle. 
 
 6 32-pdrs. of 62cwt., 1845, navy pattern. 
 
 1 10-inch Columbiad, of 13.220lbs. weight. 
 
 1 8-inch Columbiad, 9,01Slbs. 
 
 3 sea-coast howitzers, 7-inch, l,600lbs. 
 weis-ht. 
 
 1 rifled, 6 inch. 
 In the left wing were: 
 
 1 32 pdr., same class as others before men- 
 tioned. 
 
 1 sea-coast howitzer, 43 pdr., not mounted. 
 Outer work in rear commanding land ap- 
 proach : 
 
 2 32-pdrs. 
 
 1 8-inch heavy howitzer, mounted on navy 
 carriage, commanding approach to 
 angle of outer work, the only gun in em- 
 brasure. 
 
 1 English siege gun, 12 pdr., behind em- 
 bankment at right of right wing. 
 
 1 English siege gun, mounted to the right 
 of the magazine to command the ditch 
 of the main work. 
 
 In the right wing were mounted : 
 
 3 32-pdrs. , same class as others before men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Making a total of 23 guns. 
 
 FORT BEAUREGARD. 
 
 The fort had four faces upon which guns 
 were mounted, each face looking on the 
 water, and each gun so mounted as to com- 
 mand the water approach to Broad and 
 Beaufort Rivers. The guns were 13 in num- 
 ber, of the following sizes : 
 
 5 32's, navy pattern, 1845. 
 
 1 rifled, 6-inch, new. 
 
 5 sea-coast guns, 42 pdrs., long and very 
 heavy. 
 
 1 ten-inch Columbiad, weight 13,226 lbs. 
 
 1 8-inch Columbiad. 
 
 Upon the outer works on the left flank 
 were mounted 
 
 2 24-pdrs. 
 
 Upon outer works on right flank: 
 
 3 32-pdrs. of 63 cwt., navy pattern, 1845. 
 Within the fort were also two field pieces, 
 
 6-pounders, old Spanish pattern, making in 
 all 20 pieces of ordnance. 
 
 Several circumstances prevented Dupont 
 from moving against the enemy until the 
 9th of November, when early in the morn- 
 ing the signal was made to get under way, 
 form line of battle and prepare for action. 
 The sailors had previously had their break- 
 fast, for Dupont knew the necessity of look- 
 ing after their comfort and not to take 
 them into a fight on empty stomachs. 
 
 By 9 o'clock the squadron was in line 
 ahead in close order, the flanking column 
 in position. The vessels passed within 800 
 yards of Fort Walker, on which work the 
 main line poured in its fire, while the flank- 
 ing line opened on Beauregard as soon as it 
 came within range. 
 
 It was soon evident that the accuracy of 
 the naval fire would be too much for the 
 Confederates. Our shells burst with great 
 regularity inside Fort Walker, throwing 
 sand into the guns and into the eyes of the 
 e-unners. 
 
58 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Commodore Tatnall, who was watching 
 the operations from his flotilla of fragile 
 river steamers, which were entirely unfit to 
 go into action against our vessels, wisely 
 withdrew into Skull Creek, a convenient 
 waterway just north of Hilton Head. 
 
 The Confederate gunners, when they 
 found our ships seemingly unaffected by 
 their fire, were very much surprised, as 
 they had expected to destroy them all. 
 They had no idea how strong were those 
 old wooden hulls that had so long braved 
 the storms of ocean, or what dreadful 
 blows those shell guns could deal out un- 
 der the management of skillful officers and 
 men. 
 
 When the ships again swept by Fort 
 
 to pieces, scattering the gun-carriages to 
 fragments, and killing the gunners, they 
 could bear it no longer, but turned and fled. 
 These deluded people had believed their po- 
 sition impregnable and their force suflScient 
 to sink or scatter all the ships that could 
 be sent against them. But when they saw 
 the fleet pass and repass with automatic 
 regularity, the hulls and spars of the ves- 
 sels showing no signs of injury, and the 
 ponderous cannon each time firing with 
 more rapidity and accuracy, they became 
 panic-stricken. 
 
 What hope could they have ? Their guns 
 were shattered to pieces, and whole guns' 
 crews swept away, while they could inflict 
 no injury upon the wooden ships. It was 
 
 EXTERIOR OF FORT WALKER AT HILTON HEAD, MARINES LANDING. 
 
 Walker from the north, passing within five 
 hundred yards, the fire from their batteries 
 was withering. Again the vessels turned 
 into the harbor, delivering their broadsides 
 as coolly and dexterously as if they were 
 engaged in exercising. 
 
 This was too much for the enemy's gun- 
 ners, who had never formed any idea of 
 Avhat the effect of a fifty -gun frigate's 
 broadside would be, firing shrapnell and 
 shell aimed by the steady eye of Ameri- 
 can sailors, with whom the idea of rebellion 
 was simply mutiny against the highest 
 authority. 
 
 The Confederates stood three or four 
 broadsides as well as could be expected, 
 but as the ships got their range, and shells 
 fell right in their midst, tearing everything 
 
 evident to the Confederates that the Union 
 fleet was having its own way, and that it 
 was only a matter of time when every gun 
 in the forts would be destroyed and every 
 gunner killed who remained at his post. 
 
 In addition to the broadside firing in front, 
 the enemy's works were enfiladed by gun- 
 boats stationed on either flank. This fire 
 distressed the garrison of Fort Walker very 
 much, for there were no guns on either 
 flank of the bastion to reply with. On the 
 right flank a long o2-pounder had been shat- 
 tered by a shot from the ships, and there 
 was no gun mounted on the other. After 
 the fourth fire a ten-inch Columbiad and a 
 twenty -four pounder rifle gun in the fort be- 
 came useless. 
 
 The whole affair on the part of Dupont's 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 o9 
 
 squadron had been conducted in a masterly- 
 manner. Hardly a shot was sent from the 
 ships that did not reach its mark. What 
 shots did not strike the guns and kill the 
 gunners, rebounded and fell among the 
 troops encamped outside Fort Walker. 
 
 When the Confederates commenced to 
 run they went in a body, officers and all, for 
 no one cared to leave his bones in the sacred 
 soil of Hilton Head; yet these men were 
 doubtless as gallant soldiers as were to be 
 found in the South. They had reckoned 
 without their host, and had certainly for- 
 gotten the history of the Navy, and the sea 
 fights where our ships had been made 
 slaughter-pens ere thej^ would strike their 
 fiag to the foe. 
 
 The Navy had come with a determination 
 to wipe the mutineers off the face of the 
 earth if necessary, and no one in the fieet 
 had any idea of failure; all were as certain 
 of victory when the first guii was fired, as if 
 the horoscopes of the Confederates had been 
 cast beforehand. 
 
 At a little past one o'clock p. m., the Con- 
 federates were reported as leaving Fort 
 Walker. At this time the enfilading vessels 
 were within 600 yards of the fort, having 
 everything their own way, throwing in 
 eleven-inch shells, twenty-pounder rifle 
 shots and even shots from twenty-four- 
 pound howitzers. 
 
 Before the close of the bombardment the 
 steam gunboat "Pocahontas," Commander 
 Percival Drayton, came into port andjoined 
 in the attack. 
 
 Her commanding officer was brother to 
 General Drayton, the Confederate comman- 
 der of the forts. 
 
 Commander Drayton, although attached 
 to the South by the strongest ties of con- 
 sanguinity and friendship, chose to sever 
 them all rather than prove faithless to the 
 Government to which he had sworn alle- 
 giance, and to which he considered himself 
 bound by every honorable sentiment. He 
 condemned the action of the South from 
 the beginning, and now he had an oppor- 
 tunity to strike a blow for his country be- 
 fore the Confederate flag was hauled down, 
 and his brother with the forces under his 
 command had retreated from the well 
 beaten fort. 
 
 As soon as the flag officer learned that 
 Fort Walker was being evacuated he sent 
 Commander John Rodgers on shore with a 
 flag of truce, and at half past two this offi- 
 cer hoisted the flag over the deserted post, 
 and three hearty cheers went up from the 
 fleet. 
 
 The enemy had left behind them the 
 greater portion of their effects, their main 
 idea being evidently to get out of the reach 
 of our shells, but they were treacherous to 
 the last. Honorable men when defeated 
 
 accept the situation and bide their time, in 
 the hope of getting even with their foes in 
 a legitimate way, but on this occasion an 
 unworthy attempt at revenge was made by 
 the defeated foe. 
 
 Commander Rodgers went into the house 
 which had been used as headquarters, and 
 over which he had hoisted the American 
 flag. A sailor moving about the premises 
 caught his foot in a wire which was at- 
 tached to some kind of torpedo. There was 
 an explosion, a cloud of smoke, and the 
 franK! building was demolished. The sailor 
 was knocked senseless but soon recovered, 
 so that no loss of life occurred. 
 
 Fort Beauregard had not been considered 
 by Dupont as an important point of attack, 
 althougli. fired upon at long range as the 
 vessels wheeled into the ellipse. At sunset 
 it was seen that the work had been aban- 
 doned, and next morning the Union flag was 
 hoisted over that fort, and thus a perman- 
 ent lodgment was gained on the Southern 
 coast that proved of great advantage to the 
 Union cause. 
 
 The victory had been gained entirely by 
 the Navy, for although there were troops 
 at hand yet they took no part in the en- 
 gagement, nor was it necessary that they 
 should. They went along simply to hold 
 the place after the Navy had captured it, 
 and after the works had been occupied a 
 short time by the marines of the squadron 
 the Flag officer turned them over to General 
 T. W. Sherman. 
 
 Fort Beauregard made but little resist- 
 ance, and hauled down its flag when it as- 
 certained that Fort Walker Avas evacuated, 
 the commanding officer remarking to his 
 subordinates : " This work is evidently 
 not suited for the purpose for which it was 
 intended, and we had better leave it." Al- 
 though very little firing was concentrated 
 on Fort Beauregard, yet it had thirteen 
 men wounded. 
 
 General Drayton, commanding the Con- 
 federate forces, reported that in Fort 
 Walker there were ten killed and twenty 
 wounded. In De Saussier's Regiment, one 
 killed, four wounded severely and twenty 
 missing — a small number, considering the 
 severe fire to which the enemy were sub- 
 jected. On board the ships eight were 
 killed, six severely wounded and seventeen 
 slightly wounded. 
 
 The small number of casualities on board 
 the ships is due to the furious and destruc- 
 tive fire kept up on Fort Walker, which 
 from the first rendered the Confederate 
 gunners' aim very uncertain. 
 
 The attack on the defences of Port Royal 
 was ably planned and skilfully executed. 
 No time was lost by vacillating move- 
 ments, and although this cannot be con- 
 sidered a great naval engagement, yet it 
 
60 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 was undoubtedly one of the best exhi- 
 bitions of naval tactics that occurred dur- 
 ing the Civil War, and has stood the test of 
 criticism both at home and abroad. It was 
 not so momentous an affair as the battles 
 of New Orleans, Mobile or Fort Fisher; but 
 it was of greater importance to the country, 
 for it was a gleam of sunshine bursting 
 through the dark clouds which enveloped 
 the Union horizon. 
 
 The Union forces had met with little save 
 misfortune from the day when the Con- 
 federates fired on Fort Sumter, and the 
 battle of Bull Run had humiliated us before 
 the world and incited France and England 
 to meddle in our affairs. The victory at 
 Port Royal put new life into Union hearts. 
 
 The North had seen arsenals and fort all 
 
 short time when he would be compelled to 
 submit. 
 
 The battle of Port Royal gave the powers 
 of Europe (who were longing for and expect- 
 ing thesuccess of the South) notice that we 
 could and would win back the forts that 
 had been filched from us, and that our 
 hearts of oak in wooden ships could bid de- 
 fiance to well-constructed earthworks and 
 solid masonry. 
 
 This affair showed conclusively that the 
 time-honored theory that one gun on shore 
 was equal to five on shipboard no longer 
 held good, when applied to the heavy artil- 
 lery carried by modern ships and served 
 with skill and precision. 
 
 Dupont demonstrated that ships under 
 steam were much more powerful factors 
 
 INTERIOR OF FORT BEAUREGARD AT BAY POINT, S. C, CAPTURED BY THE NAVAL FORCES UNDER CAPTAIN DUPONT. 
 
 alongthe Southern coast fall into Confeder- 
 ate ha,nds with scarcely an effort inade to 
 prevent it, and now, when least expected. the 
 Union people were exalted in their own es- 
 timation. The Navy had come to the res- 
 cue and gained a complete victorj' in the im- 
 mediate Ancinity of Charleston and Savan- 
 nah, the hotbeds of secession, establishing 
 a permanent foothold, and affording an op- 
 portunity of throwing into the heart of the 
 South a great army, had we of the North 
 been wise enough to force the fighting in 
 a quarter wliere it would have eventually 
 brought matters to a speedy conclusion. 
 
 This happened in the end when Sher- 
 man's legions swept through the South, and 
 the Army and Navy closed up the last outlet 
 of the enemy, leaving it only a matter of a 
 
 against forts than when they had only sails 
 to propel them, and that to make success 
 certain all that was required was skill in 
 their management, and a determination to 
 attempt anything within the bounds of rea- 
 son. 
 
 All the qualities of a great commander 
 were possessed in an eminent degree by 
 Dupont. 
 
 He was well informed in everything re- 
 lating to naval matters, had great influence 
 in naval circles, and at the first sign of ob- 
 taining a command, he gathered around him 
 a fine corps of officers, whose zeal and in- 
 telligence greatly lightened the labors by 
 which he was oppressed, during his service 
 on the Southern coast. 
 
 Dupont was a man of fine presence, and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 61 
 
 there was something so winning in his man- 
 ner to all with whom he came in contact, 
 that no man in the Navy had more friends 
 and admirers. 
 The battle of Port Royal was important 
 
 There might be more difficult places to con- 
 quer than Port Royal, but no man could 
 hereafter decline to attack an enemy's works 
 with a squadron of war vessels. From the 
 experience gained at Port Royal there could 
 
 FLAG OFFICEK S. F. DUPONT, U. S. N. 
 
 (AFTERWiRDS KEAR ADMIRAL.) 
 
 in more ways than we have enumerated. 
 Its moral effect counted prodigiously. It 
 opened the way for the more important 
 operations with wooden ships against the 
 enemy's forts at a later period of the war. 
 
 be no difficulty in estimating hereafter 
 what number of ships and guns would be 
 necessary for a certain service. So no mat- 
 ter in what aspect we view this victory, its 
 importance cannot be overestimated. 
 
63 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Later in the war it was attempted to take 
 from Dupont some of the laurels he had 
 won, and to mention with faint praise the 
 work he had accomplished; but this scheme 
 of detraction did not affect his reputation, 
 for he lived honored and died regretted by 
 all who knew him. 
 
 The good he did lives after him in the 
 hearts of those in whom he implanted the 
 seeds of discipline, and encouraged that 
 chivalrous conduct which was once para- 
 mount in the Navy. 
 
 Dupont gave all his officers full credit for 
 their gallantry in the affair of Port Royal; 
 but for these particulars we must refer the 
 reader to the official reports of the day, 
 since this is intended to be a general review 
 of naval events and cannot enter into all 
 the particulars. 
 
 Flag Officer Dupont highly commends the 
 services of Fleet-Captain C. H. Davis, Com- 
 mander C.R.P.Rodgers, and some of the sub- 
 ordinate officers of the flag-ship; but leaves 
 it to the commanding officers of vessels to 
 mention the personnel of their own ships. 
 
 The first thing to be done after the cap- 
 ture of the forts was to establish the Army 
 under General T. W. Sherman securely on 
 Hilton Head Island. This Island is bor- 
 dered on the north by " Skull Creek." a 
 fair waterway of from two and one half to 
 four fathoms, through which Tatnall es- 
 caped with his steamers, and where it was 
 thought he should have been followed by 
 our gunboats, though from some unex- 
 plained reason they failed to do so. A few 
 heavy guns at Seabrook Landing, midway 
 in Skull Creek, would have commaiided a 
 long stretch of the waterway and completely 
 closed it against ordinary gunboats; but, as 
 it happened, there were no defences of the 
 kind, and our forces lost the opportunity of 
 capturing General Drayton and all his 
 command, who escaped either in Tatnall's 
 steamers or in army transports. 
 
 Colonel Gilmore, of the Engineers, made 
 a thorough survey of the vicinity, and his 
 plans for defence were adopted, making 
 
 the island of Hilton Head secure against 
 any attack from the enemy. 
 
 Thus our forces were established in South 
 Carolina, a constant menace to the enemy; 
 the hostile movements from Hilton Head 
 keeping Georgia and South Carolina in con- 
 stant alarm. 
 
 Hilton Head Island became in course of 
 time a place of refuge for hundreds of 
 slaves, fleeing from their masters, who had 
 forced them to throw up intrenchments 
 against their friends, who offered them lib- 
 erty and protection. 
 
 Colonel Gilmore's reconnoissance after 
 the battle showed the demoralized condi- 
 tion of the retreating enemy. The road 
 from Fort Walker to Seabrook Landing 
 was strewn^ with accoutrements thrown 
 away by the' soldiers in their flight, and at 
 the landing a quantity of commissary stores 
 had been abandoned. 
 
 It may seem surprising that the Seces- 
 sionists were enabled in so short a time af- 
 ter the breaking out of the hostilities, to 
 erect so many formidable earth-works 
 armed with heavy guns. This was owing 
 to the United States Government allowing 
 Norfolk Navy Yard, with its abundant sup- 
 ply of guns and munitions of war, to fall into 
 the hands of the insurgents. From Norfolk 
 the guns were sent all along the Southern 
 coast, by way of the Dismal Swamp Canal, 
 and through the inland channels with 
 which our coast is supplied, as far as Florida. 
 The number of guns captured at Norfolk is 
 variously estimated from 1,400 to 1,500, but 
 at all events the number was amply suflB- 
 cient to provide a barrier against the en- 
 trance of such small vessels as we could 
 get into commission on the first breaking 
 out of the war. 
 
 But for the misfortune of losing, or we 
 may say throwing awaj-, the Norfolk Navy 
 Yard, all the unarmed ports of the South 
 would have easily fallen into our hands, and 
 thus enabled us to break up blockade run- 
 ning at a much earlier date than we were 
 able to accomplish it. 
 
CH A PTE R VII. 
 
 THE "TEENT" AFFAIR. 
 
 Detention of the British Steamer " Trent," and Capture op Mason and Slidell. 
 
 ONE of the first orders issued to naval 
 ofiicers in command afloat, should 
 have been one instructing them pai*- 
 ticularly with regard to neutral ob- 
 ligations. 
 
 But this was not done; the Navy Depart- 
 ment taking it for granted that every com- 
 mander would be well posted in Interna- 
 tional Law, and would not fail to ask in- 
 structions on such matters when doubts were 
 involved. 
 
 This want of a proper precaution came 
 very near precipitating the United States 
 into a war with Great Britain, at a time 
 when it was most desirable to have no com- 
 plications of any kind with foreign powers. 
 We were likely to have enough trouble 
 in the adjudication of liable blockade run- 
 ners; but those cases would come before 
 legally authorized Admiralty courts, and it 
 was not likely that any injustice would be 
 done to innocent parties, except detention, 
 for which the parties detained could have 
 recourse to law for damages. 
 
 In cases of non-condemnation, compensa- 
 tion was always allowed by the courts, and 
 sometimes to a large amount. 
 
 There is no nation so particular in the 
 care of its commerce as Great Britain. She 
 keeps large fleets in all parts of the world 
 solely for its protection, and wherever the 
 British flag flies on a merchant vessel you 
 will flnd a ship of war not far off, ready to 
 protect it with her guns; and to this protec- 
 tion from their Navy do the British people 
 owe that prosperity of their commerce 
 which it enjoys in every part of the world. 
 
 It could readily be imagined that in a war 
 which would so seriously affect so many 
 branches of British trade, that the English 
 government would observe with a jealous 
 
 eye every step taken by our government 
 for the purpose of preventing the Confeder- 
 ates from receiving supplies, contraband of 
 war, from all foreign countries; but it is 
 only fair to say, that although there were at 
 times English ships-of-war sent along the 
 coast to see that the blockade was closely 
 kept, yet there were but few instances where 
 British officers made any protest against our 
 method of arresting the vessels engaged in 
 the contraband trade. 
 
 The English government itself seemed 
 disposed to take no action in regard to the 
 seizure of English vessels, beyond having 
 agents in this country to be present at the 
 proceedings of the Admiralty courts, and 
 to report the results to their Government. 
 
 Our Admiralty courts and the British 
 being founded pretty much on the same 
 principles, there was not much misunder- 
 standing between the two Governments, 
 considering the large number of vessels that 
 came before the prize courts. On the whole, 
 matters went on quite pleasantly between 
 the two countries, notwithstanding that 
 many Americans indulged in the idea that 
 the whole English nation was hostile to the 
 North, and only held this feeling in check 
 until a favorable opportunity should occur, 
 when, with some show of reason, it could 
 assume an off'ensive attitude. 
 
 With such opinions existing it would have 
 been wiser for our Government in its then 
 weak condition to have avoided anything 
 that could in any way be considered unjusti- 
 fiable, and to have endeavored as much as 
 possible to prevent collisions of any kind 
 with foreign powers, unless it was positively 
 clear that we were in the right. 
 
 On the 8th of November, 1861, an event 
 occurred which created the wildest excite- 
 
64 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ment throughout all parts of the United 
 States and Great Britain; in fact, all Europe 
 looked on with anxiety, anticipating a war 
 between England and the Northern btates 
 of the Union. 
 
 This excitement grew out of the arrest ot 
 the British mail steamer "Trent" on the 
 high seas, by Captain Charles Wilkes, of the 
 
 , attaches to the com- 
 
 Eustis and McFarland, 
 missioners. 
 
 The " Trent " was one of aline of British 
 steamers which ran regularly between Vera 
 Cruz and Havana, thence to St. Thomas, 
 and from there to England. 
 
 The company had a contract with the 
 British Government to carry the mails, and 
 
 CAPTAIN CHARLES WTLKES. 
 
 United States frigate " San Jacinto," and 
 taking from hei four male passengers who 
 claimed the protection of the British flag. 
 
 Two of these gentlemen were Messrs. 
 Mason and Slidell, formerly members of the 
 U. S. Senate, who were now bound to Eu- 
 rope as commissioners from the Confeder- 
 ate Government to the Courts of England 
 and France; the other two were Messrs. 
 
 its steamers had ample accommodations for 
 the passenger .travel between England and 
 the West Indies. 
 
 The " Trent " left the port of Havana on 
 the morning of the 7th of November, un- 
 der the command of Captain Moir. 
 
 Nothing of interest occurred until about 
 noon of the 8th, when, in the narrow pas- 
 sage of the Old Bahama Channel, opposite 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 65 
 
 the Panador Grande light, from the 
 " Trent " was seen a steamer ahead, appar- 
 ently waiting and showing no colors. 
 
 The " Trent" at this time was on her 
 legitimate voyage; she had touched at no 
 port in the Southern Confederacy, and had 
 held no communication with vessels com- 
 ing from or going to the insurrectionary 
 States; neither was she bound herself to any 
 Southern port, but was pursuing the route 
 usually traveled by the company's mail 
 steamers. 
 
 Her captain had taken on board as pas- 
 sengers the four gentlemen above named, 
 as he had a right to do, for the British com- 
 pany had no authority to question the right 
 of these persons to travel on their steamers, 
 as long as they paid their passage money 
 and conformed to the rules and regulations 
 of the vessel. 
 
 The story of this affair is best told by an 
 officer belonging to the " San Jacinto," who 
 states as follows : 
 
 " At about 10.40 A. M. the look-out at the mast- 
 head reported a smoke from a steamer from the 
 "westward, and at 11 A. M. she was visible from the 
 •deck. We were all ready for her; beat to quarters, 
 and as soon as she was in reach of our battery, 
 ■every gun was trained on her from the starboard 
 .side. A shot from the pivot gun was fired across 
 her bow; she hoisted English colors, but showed no 
 ■disposition to slacken her speed or heave-to; we 
 ^hoisted the star-spangled banner, and as soon as 
 she was close upon us, fired a shell across her bow, 
 which brought her to. Our captain hailed her and 
 said he would send a boat on board, and gave an 
 order to Lieut. Fairfax tQ board her. Fairfax went 
 In the second cutter. At the same time Lieut. 
 Oreer was aU ready in the third cutter to shove off 
 from the port side, in case his services should be 
 meeded. 
 
 " On coming alongside of the packet, Lieut. Fair- 
 fax ordered the other officers to remain in the boat 
 with the crew until it should become necessary to 
 use force, and he went on board the ' Trent ' alone. 
 The captain of the mail steamer refused to show 
 his papers and passenger list, knowing very well 
 the object of our visit and the character and mis- 
 .sion of the Commissioners ; but Mr. Mason being 
 recognized, a part of the armed crew was ordered 
 from the boat and went on board. Messrs. Mason 
 •and Slidell were then requested to go on board 
 the 'San Jacinto,' but declined, and said that 
 they would only yield to force, Mr. SUdell remark- 
 ing that it would require considerable force to take 
 him on board the San Jacinto.' Lieut. Fairfax 
 then ordered Mr. Houston to return to the 'San 
 Jacinto ' and report that the Confederate Commis- 
 sioners were on board the 'Trent' (mail steamer) 
 ajid refused to go on board the ' San Jacinto' by 
 other means than force. 
 
 "Lieut. Greer then shoved off and went along- 
 side of the ' Trent,' sent his armed crew and mar- 
 ines on board and stationed them at both gang- 
 ways. After a gentle application of force the four 
 gentlemen were taken in the second cutter and con- 
 veyed on board the American frigate, where they 
 were received by Captain Wilkes at the gangway, 
 •and shown into the cabin which they afterwards 
 -occupied. 
 
 "Two other boats were sent on board the ' Trent' 
 "to remove the luggage ; and the ladies belonging to 
 i;he Commissioners' party having declined the hos- 
 
 pitalities offered them by Captain Wilkes on board 
 the 'San Jacinto,' at 3.30 the 'Trent' and ' San 
 Jacinto' parted company." 
 
 This is a condensed account of this affair, 
 but it fully explains the manner in which 
 the Commissioners were taken out of the 
 " Trent." 
 
 The whole matter on board the "Trent" 
 was conducted by Lieut. Fairfax with the 
 utmost courtesy. He had a very unpleasant 
 duty to perform, especially as he was much 
 embarrassed by the presence of the ladies 
 belonging to the party, who expressed 
 themselves without restraint regarding the 
 outrage which they asserted had been com- 
 mitted; but the lieutenant bore their re- 
 proaches with great equanimity, and per- 
 formed his duty as gently as possible. 
 
 The Commissioners themselves appeared 
 to be very much outraged by the proceed- 
 ings of Captain Wilkes in taking them out 
 of the " Trent," though he did all he could 
 while they were on board his ship to make 
 them forget their troubles in the coiilf orts of 
 a fine cabin; but nothing could have pleased 
 these Commissioners more than the fact 
 that they were arrested on the high seas on 
 board of a British ship, with the British flag 
 flying at the peak, and forcibly taken from 
 her to an American frigate. 
 
 This was just what would suit the Con- 
 federacy and the Commissioners at the same 
 time, for it would bring about a collision, 
 or at least a dispute, between England and 
 the Federal Government, and very much 
 increase the importance of the Commission- 
 ers on their landing in England, where they 
 expected to be received (when released) with 
 the wildest enthusiasm. 
 
 They both were too well posted not to 
 know the tenacity with which the British 
 people hold on to an idea, particularly the 
 idea that when a man or a number of men 
 seek the protection of the English flag, he 
 or they cannot be taken from under its folds 
 by force of arms on the high seas without a 
 swift demand from the British Government 
 for ample reparation. It is an idea that does 
 honor to the British nation, and is one that 
 her descendants in America have cherished 
 since 1812, when the United States went to 
 war with England, determined to resist 
 the right of search which the English ships- 
 of-war claimed the right to exercise over 
 American vessels upon the high seas. 
 
 Thoughtful people saw in the act of Cap- 
 tain Wilkes nothing to approve of. On the 
 contrary, they could only see trouble ahead, 
 unless the Federal Government should at 
 once disavow the act of that officer, and re- 
 store Messrs. Mason and Slidell and the at- 
 taches to their liberty. 
 
 The Commissioners themselves made a 
 protest almost immediately after getting on 
 board the "San Jacinto," against the seiz- 
 
66 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ure of their persons, and laid it before Cap- 
 tain Wilkes, not with the expectation that 
 it would have any effect on their detainer, 
 but it would add to the effect of what 
 they considered their false imprisonment, 
 and create an extra amount of sympathy 
 fo.r them throughout Europe. 
 
 The following is a pretty fair statement 
 of the Commissioners, and as it is a part of 
 the history of the times at a very important 
 point, it is herewith inserted : 
 
 "U. S. Ship 'San Jacinto,' ) 
 "At Sea, Nov. 9, 1861. S 
 
 "^^•,-;_-We desire to communicate to you by this 
 memorandum the facts attendins our arrest yester- 
 day on board tlie British mail steamer ' Trent,' by 
 your order, and our transfer to this ship. 
 
 " We, the undersigned, embarked at Havana on 
 the 7th inst. as passengers on board tlie 'Trent,' 
 Captain Moir, bound to the Island of St. Thomas, 
 in one of the regular passenger lines of the British 
 Koyal Mail Steamship Company, running from 
 Vera Cruz, via H avana, to St. Thomas, and thence 
 to Southampton, England. We paid our passage 
 money for the whole route from Havana to South- 
 ampton to the British consul at Havana, who acts 
 as the agent or representative of the said company; 
 Mr. SUdell being accompanied by his family, con- 
 sisting of his wife, four children and a servant, and 
 Mr. Eustis by his wife and servants. 
 
 "The 'Trent' left Havana about 8 o'clock, a. m., 
 on the morning of the 7th inst., and pursued her 
 voyage uninterruptedly until intercepted by the 
 United States steamer ' San .Jacinto,' under your 
 command, on the following day (the 8th) in the 
 manner now to be related : 
 
 "When the 'San Jacinto' was first observed, 
 several miles distant, the ' Trent ' was pursuing the 
 usual course of her journey along the Old Bahama 
 or Nicholas channel, was about 240 miles from Ha- 
 vana, and in sight of the light-house Panadoi 
 Grande ; the ' San Jacinto ' being stationary, or 
 nearly so, about the middle of the channel, and 
 where it was some fifteen miles wide, as since shown 
 on the chart. 
 
 "The nationality of the ship being then un- 
 known, when the ' Trent ' had approached near 
 enough for her flag to be distinguished, it was 
 hoisted at the peak and at the maiii, and so re- 
 mained for a time. No flag was shown by the 'San 
 Jacinto.' When the ' Trent' had approached within 
 a mile of the ' San Jacinto,' (still pursuing the due 
 course of her voyage) a shotted gun was fired from 
 the latter ship across the course of the 'Trent,' and 
 the flag of the United States displayed at the same 
 time at her i)eak. 
 
 "The British flag was again hoisted as before, 
 and so remained. 
 
 " When the ' Trent ' had approached, still on her 
 course, within from two to three hundred yards of 
 the "San .Jacinto,' a second .shotted gun was fired 
 from your ship again across the course of the 
 ' Trent.' 
 
 " When the 'Trent' got within hailing distance, 
 her captain enquired what Avas wanted; the reply 
 was understood that you would send a Ijoat. Both 
 shijjs being then stationary, with steam shut oft", a 
 boat very soon put off from your ship, followed im- 
 mediately by two other boats with full crews armed 
 with muskets and sid(>-arms. . 
 
 '' A lieutenant in the naval uniform, of the United 
 States Navy, and with side-arms, l)oarded the 
 'Trent,' and in i^resence of most of the passengers 
 asseml)led on the upper deck, said to Captain Moir 
 that he camo to demand his jjassenger list. 
 
 "The captain refused to produce it, and formally- 
 protested against any right to visit his ship for the 
 purpose indicated. 
 
 "After some conversation importing renewed 
 protests on the part of the captain against the al- 
 leged object of the visit, and on the part of the of- 
 ficer fro)u the ' San Jacinto ' that he had only to 
 execute his orders, the latter said that two gentle- 
 men, Mr. Slidell and Mr. Mason, were known to be 
 on board, as also two other gentlemen (naming Mr. 
 Eustis and Mr. MoFarland), and that the orders 
 were to take and carry them on board the U. S. 
 Frigate ' San Jacinto.' 
 
 "It should have been noted that on first address- 
 ing the captain the officer announced himself as a 
 lieutenant of the United States Steamer ' San Ja- 
 cinto.' 
 
 "The four gentlemen thus mentioned being pres- 
 ent, the lieutenant addressing Mr. Slidell, and after- 
 ward Mr. Mason, repeated that his orders were to 
 take them, together with Mr. Eustis and McFarland, 
 and carry them on board his ship, which orders he 
 must execute. 
 
 "Mr. Shdell and Mr. Mason, in reply, protested, 
 in the presence of the captain of the 'Trent.' his 
 officers and passengers, against such threatened 
 violation of their persons and their rights, and in- 
 formed the lieutenant that they would not leave 
 the ship they were in, unless compelled by the 
 employment of actual force greater than they could 
 resist; and Mr. Eustis and Mr. McFarland united 
 with them in expressing a like purpose. 
 
 "The officer stated he hoped he would not be 
 compelled to resort to the use of force, but if it 
 should become necessary to employ it in order to 
 execute his orders he was prepared to do so. He 
 was answered by the undersigned that they would 
 submit to such force alone. 
 
 "The lieutenant then went to the gangway, 
 where his boats were, the undersigned going at the 
 same time to their staterooms on the deck next 
 below, followed by Captain Moir and the other pas- 
 sengers. The lieutenant returned with a party of 
 his men, a portion of which were armed with side- 
 arms, and others appeared to be a squad of marines, 
 having muskets and bayonets. 
 
 '' Mr SUdell was at this time in his stateroom, 
 immediately by, and in full view. 
 
 "The lieutenant then said to Mr. Mason that, 
 having his force now present, he hoped to be re- 
 lieved of the necessity of calling it into actual use. 
 That gentleman again answered that he would 
 only submit to actual force greater than he could 
 overcome, when the lieutenant and several of his 
 men, by his order, took hold of him in a manner 
 and in numbers sufficient to make resistance fruit- 
 less, and Mr. Slidell joining the group, two or more 
 of the armed party Took hold of him, and these 
 gentlemen at once went into the boat. 
 
 " During this s^-ene many of the passengers be- 
 came highly excited, and gave vent to the strongest 
 expressions of indignation, seeming to indicate a 
 pur] lose of resistance on their part, when the squad, 
 armed with bayonets fixed, made a sensible advance 
 of one or two paces with their arms at the charge. 
 
 "It must be added here (omitted in the course 
 of the narrative) that before the party left the up- 
 per deck, an officer of the ' Trent," named Williams, 
 in the naval imiform of (ireat Britain, and known 
 to the passengers as having charge of the mails and 
 accompanying them to England, said to the lieuten- 
 ant that, as the only person present directlv repre- 
 senting his Government, he felt called upon in lan- 
 guage as strong and emphatic as he could express 
 to denounce the whole proceeding as a piratical act. 
 
 " Mr. Slidell and Mr. Mason, together with Mr. 
 McFarland, against whom force in like maimer was 
 used, were taken to the ' San Jacinto ' as soon as 
 they entered the boat. When they reached your 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 67 
 
 ship you received them near the gangway, announc- 
 ing yourself as Captain Wilkes, the commander of 
 the ship, and conducted them to your cabin, which 
 you placed at their disposal. 
 
 "when the undersigned came on board they 
 found the men at quarters, and the guns bearing on 
 the 'Trent.' 
 
 "After some time occupied bringing on board our 
 higgage and effects, the ' San Jacinto ' proceeded to 
 the northward through the Santilla channel, the 
 ' Trent ' having been detained from three to four 
 hours. 
 
 " The foregoing is believed to be a correct narra- 
 tive, in substance, of the facts and circumstances 
 attending our arrest and transfer from the British 
 mail steamer to the ship under your command, and 
 which we doubt not will be corroborated by the 
 lieutenant present, as well as bv all who witnessed 
 it. 
 
 '' The incidents here given may not have been 
 witnessed by each one of the undersigned individ- 
 ually, but they were by one or more of them. 
 
 "As for the most part they did not pass under 
 your notice, we have deemed it proper to present 
 them in the form before you, expressing the wish 
 that if considered incorrect in any part the inaccu- 
 racies may be pointed out. 
 
 " With a respectful request that you will trans- 
 mit a copy of this paper to the Government of the 
 United States, together with your report of the 
 transaction, to facilitate which a copy is herewith 
 enclosed, 
 
 " We have the honor to be, 
 
 "Very resijeotfully, 
 
 "Your obedient servants, 
 "John Slidell, George Eustis, 
 
 J. M. Mason, J. B. McFarland. 
 
 "To Captain Wilkes, U. S. N., 
 
 "Commanding ' San Jacinto.'" 
 
 This is no doubt a strict version of the 
 affair, and is corroborated by Captain 
 Wilkes' report. 
 
 Captain Wilkes, vs^hen he parted company 
 with the ' Trent,' made the best of his way 
 to Boston. Why he did not go into New 
 York or Hampton Eoads, where he could 
 have communicated at once with the Gov- 
 ernment, is unexplained, but the informa- 
 tion of the capture was kept from the De- 
 partment four days longer than it should 
 have been. 
 
 When it was announced in the Boston pa- 
 pers that Captain Wilkes had seized upon 
 the persons of two Confederate Commis- 
 sioners, the excitement and joy were un- 
 bounded; though why it should have been 
 so no one could tell. 
 
 What use two Commissioners from the 
 Confederate States could be to the Federal 
 Government, when their places could easily 
 be filled by the first outgoing blockade run- 
 ner, was a question no one stopped to in- 
 quire about. It was sufficient that the "San 
 Jacinto " had important State prisoners on 
 board, and that they had been taken from un- 
 der the protecting folds of the British fiag. 
 
 The conservative Bostonians completely 
 lost their heads, and made Captain Wilkes 
 lose his, for they gave him ovations in such 
 quick succession that it was quite enough 
 
 In the meantime the wires under the sea 
 were flashing the news to England about 
 the outrage to the British flag. 
 
 The exultation of the Confederates knew 
 no bounds when they heard the news, and 
 saw their cherished hope about to be realized 
 in a difficulty — perhaps war — between Eng- 
 land and the Northern States ; in which 
 event the success of the Confederate cause 
 would in the estimation of the Confederacy 
 be consummated. . 
 
 In fact, everyone seemed for the moment 
 to have lost their judgment in the joy of the 
 capture of Mason and Slidell. Even the 
 wisest men in the Cabinet, including Mr. 
 Seward, did not at first realize the situa- 
 tion. 
 
 The President alone kept his mind clear, 
 and did not commit himself in any way 
 that could prejudice the case. Yet it was 
 very plain to able jurists that the position 
 we held on account of the capture of Mason 
 and Slidell was not a defensible one, and 
 the first act of the Government should 
 have been to disavow the act of Captain 
 Wilkes, and order him to proceed to the 
 nearest British port and land the party he 
 had arrested. 
 
 It no doubt would have been very humili- 
 ating to Captain Wilkes, but that was not 
 to be considered. 
 
 A national A^essel belonging to the Navy 
 had, without any instructions whatever, 
 stopped a British mail steamer upon the 
 high seas, which was engaged in her usual 
 business of carrying passengers from the 
 West Indian ports to England, four of 
 whom were taken from under the English 
 flag — these persons charged with no of- 
 fense. 
 
 If the Captain of the "Trent" had been 
 guilty of any infraction of international 
 law — had sailed from anj' Southern port, 
 or had taken his passengers from any ves- 
 sel at sea — then he was liable to arrest ; but 
 to prove him to be so Captain Wilkes 
 should have taken the " Trent" into a Fed- 
 eral port (the nearest), and brought the 
 case before a court of Admiralty, giviug 
 the owners of the vessel so detained an op- 
 portunity to sue for damages if she had 
 committed no unlawful act. 
 
 But instead of that. Captain Wilkes in- 
 stituted a court of Admiralty on the high 
 seas, and undertook to condemn the per- 
 sons arrested without trial, and let the ves- 
 sel carrying them jaroceed on her voyage, 
 on the ground that her detention by tak- 
 ing her into port for trial and adjudication 
 would put the passengers to great incon- 
 venience. 
 
 When we look back after the lapse of so 
 many years, when the passions of men have 
 cooled down, we can hardly realize that a 
 
68 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Britain on the subject of this right of search, 
 should for a moment have hesitated to do 
 the proper thing, by at once redressing the 
 wrong committed by its officers, instead of 
 waiting until a demand was made for a re- 
 turn of the prisoners with a sufficient apol 
 ogy. But if there were no mistakes made 
 in the world there would be no work done. 
 As soon as Captain Wilkes made his re- 
 port to the Department, the Hon. Secretary 
 of the Navy wrote him the following letter, 
 which showed that Mr. Welles, if not 
 sound in an international point of view, was 
 sound in his dislike for the Confederates 
 and all that savored of disloyalty. He no 
 doubt touched the national heart, which at 
 that moment did not beat with the most 
 friendly feelings towards Great Britain. It 
 was hard to make our people believe that 
 England did not sympathize with the South, 
 and that, while she was full of friendly pro- 
 fessions towards the North, she was not 
 ready at the first opportunitj'' to throw her 
 weight in the scale against us. 
 
 " Navy Department, \ 
 " November 30, 1861. \ 
 
 "Sir: I congratulate you on your safe arrival, 
 and especially do I congratulate you on the great 
 public service you have rendered the Union in the 
 capture of the rebel commissioners. 
 
 "Messrs. Mason and Slidell have been conspicu- 
 ous in the conspiracy to dissolve the Union, and it 
 is well known that when seized by you they were 
 on a mission hostile to the Government and the 
 country. 
 
 "Your conduct in seizing these public enemies 
 was marked by intelligence, ability, decision and 
 firmness, and has the emphatic approval of this 
 department. 
 
 " It is not necessary that I should in this commu- 
 nication (which is intended to be one of congratu- 
 lation to yourself, officers and crew) express an 
 opinion on the course pursued in omitting to cap- 
 ture the vessel which had these public enemies on 
 board, further than to say that the forbearance 
 exercised in this instance must not be permitted to 
 constitute a precedent hereafter for infractions of 
 neutral obligations. 
 
 " I am respectfully yours, 
 
 " GriDEON Welles, 
 "Secretary of the Navy. 
 "Captain Charles Wilkes, 
 
 "Commanding U. 8. 8. 'San Jacinto,' 
 
 "Boston, Mass." 
 
 The news of the arrest of Mason and Sli- 
 dell was received by Congress with great 
 enthusiasm, and that body passed the fol- 
 lowing resolution by a decided vote : 
 
 "lie/solved, That the President of the United 
 States be requested to present to Captain Charles 
 Wilkes a gold medal Avith suitable emblems and 
 devices, in testimony of the high sense entertained 
 by Congress of his good conduct in promptly ar- 
 resting the rebel commissioners, J. M. Mason and 
 John Slidell." 
 
 But this resolution was indefinitely post- 
 poned, and after Congress had time to ex- 
 amine coolly into the merits of the case, it 
 
 was never resurrected. But there is no 
 doubt it expressed the sentiments of the 
 loyal people of the country, who never 
 stopped to think what the consequences 
 might be ; nor did they reflect that we were 
 not in a condition to go to war with Great 
 Britain on a point of this kind, where we 
 could find no exact precedents by which to 
 justify ourselves ; and when in like cases 
 on the part of England we had placed her 
 in the wrong in the war of 1813, and retali- 
 ated on her so severely that she was glad to 
 invoke peace. 
 
 In the mean time Messrs. Mason and Sli- 
 dell were confined in Fort Warren (in Bos- 
 ton harbor), as close prisoners. 
 
 The excitement in England was intense, 
 and all those who entertained ill-feelings 
 against the United States and her institu- 
 tions were not slow in manifesting them. 
 
 The British Government took the matter 
 in hand at once, and preparations for war 
 were commenced on a large scale. Troops 
 were sent to Canada without the English 
 Government making inquiries into the 
 matter, or waiting to see" if the United 
 States had not some explanation to make 
 in relation to the action of Captain Wilkes. 
 
 This was not generous conduct in a great 
 nation towards another with which its gov- 
 ernment professed to be at amity, and 
 which at that time (before the United 
 States had fairly collected her armies), was 
 struggling with many disadvantages to 
 hold her own against the most powerful 
 rebellion ever yet known. 
 
 Common justice should have led the 
 English Government to extend to us the 
 courtesy that would have been extended to 
 France or Russia under like circumstances. 
 
 It all looked very much as if the British 
 people were (as report stated) sympathetic 
 with the South, and were anxious to take 
 advantage of the opportunity and seek a 
 quarrel with the United States, and thus 
 secure a separation of the two sections, 
 which would weaken both, and give to 
 England a powerful ally that would enable 
 her to dictate such terms to the Federal 
 Government as would best suit her pur- 
 poses. 
 
 The first step taken by the British Minis- 
 try was a demand for the surrender of the 
 Commissioners, with an apology by the 
 United States government for the act com- 
 mitted by Captain Wilkes. 
 
 It would have been so much easier for 
 the United States to have anticipated at 
 once the action of the British government ; 
 but diplomatists have their methods, and 
 they sometimes lead nations to the verge 
 of war rather than admit a defect in their 
 system. 
 
 On the 30th of November, 1861, Mr. Sew- 
 ard wrote to Mr Arlama nni. vni'm'of ay. -t-n 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 69 
 
 England, informing him that Captain 
 Wilkes had boarded a British colonial mail 
 steamer and taken from her deck two in- 
 surgents, who were proceeding to England 
 and France on an errand of treason against 
 their own country. He says : 
 
 " We have done nothing on the subject to antici- 
 pate the discussion, and we have not furnished 
 you with any explanations. We adhere to that 
 course now because we think it more prudent that 
 the ground taken by the British government 
 should be first made linown to us here, and that the 
 discussion, (if there must be one) shall be made 
 here. 
 
 "It is proper, however, that you should know 
 one fact in the case, without indicating that we 
 attach much importance to it, namely, that in the 
 case of the capture of Messrs. Mason and Slidell on 
 board a British vessel, Captain Wilkes having 
 acted without any instructions from the govern- 
 ment, the subject is therefore free from the em- 
 barrassments which might have resulted if the act 
 had been specially directed by us." 
 
 On the same day Lord Russell wrote to 
 Lord Lyons, the British minister in Wash- 
 ington, relating the facts of the case as he 
 had received them from the commander of 
 the colonial steamer " Trent," and thus 
 states the demands of his government in 
 relation to the matter: 
 
 " Her Majesty's government, bearing in mind the 
 friendly relations which have long subsisted be- 
 tween Great Britain and the United States, are 
 willing to believe that the United States naval 
 officer who committed the aggression was not act- 
 ing in compliance with any authority from his 
 government; or that, if he considered himself so 
 authorized, he greatly misunderstood the instruc- 
 tions which he had received. 
 
 " For the government of the United States must 
 be fully aware that the British government would 
 not allow such an affront to the national honor to 
 pass Without full reparation, and her Majesty's 
 government are unwilling to believe that it could 
 be the deliberate intention of the government of 
 'the United States unnecessarily to force into dis- 
 cussion between the two governments a question of 
 so grave a character, and with regard to which the 
 whole British nation would be sure to entertain 
 such unanimity of feeling. 
 
 " Her Majesty's government, therefore, trusts 
 that when this matter is brought under the con- 
 sideration of the government of the United States, 
 that government will, of its own accord, offer such 
 redress as could alone satisfy the British nation, 
 namely, the liberation of the four gentlemen and 
 their delivery to your lordship, in order that they 
 may again be placed under British protection, and 
 a suitable apology for the aggression which has 
 been committed. 
 
 "Should these terms not be offered by Mr. Sew- 
 ard, you wiU propose them to him. " 
 
 This demand seemed reasonable enough. 
 It is what the United States would have 
 done under like circumstances. 
 
 The official document placed Lord John 
 Russell in a more forbearing light than the 
 people of the United States expected of 
 himj for he had the reputation of being not 
 onlv a svmnathizer with the Confederates. 
 
 but of being strongly hostile to the Federal 
 government, which was somewhat remark- 
 able, inasmuch as the United States of the 
 North had proclaimed themselves as anti- 
 slavery, both in theory and practice ; it 
 was, therefore, natural to suppose that the 
 English, who stood before the world as the 
 champion emancipators, should altogether 
 sympathize with the Northern States. 
 
 If, however, there was any doubt regard- 
 ing Lord Russell's sympathies, it was dissi- 
 pated by a private letter which he wrote to 
 Lord Lyons at the same time he wrote his 
 official one. 
 
 He says in his private letter : 
 
 " In my previous dispatch of this date I have in- 
 structed you, by command of her Majesty, to make 
 certain demands of the Government of the United 
 States. 
 
 "Should Mr. Seward ask for delay in order that 
 this grave and public matter should be deliberately 
 considered, you will consent to a delay not exceed- 
 ing seven days. 
 
 "If at the end of that time no answer is given, 
 or any answer is given except that of a compliance 
 with the demands of her Majesty's Government, 
 your lordship is instructed to leave Washington 
 with all the members of the legation, and to repair 
 immediately to London. 
 
 " If, however, you should be of the opinion that 
 the requirements of her Majesty's Government are 
 substantially complied with, you may report the 
 facts to her Majesty's Government and remain at 
 your post till you receive further orders." 
 
 A copy of the first dispatch from Lord 
 John Russell was handed to the Secretary 
 of State, Mr. Seward, by Lord Lyons. 
 
 Our wily diplomatist and statesman was 
 not in the least flurried or taken aback by 
 the implied threat of the British Govern- 
 ment. He believed in the oft-told story 
 that the pen was mightier than the sword, 
 and was satisfied that if the correspondence 
 could be confined to this side of the water, 
 he would make some points on the British 
 Premier, if he did not get the best of the 
 argument and prove that Captain Wilkes 
 was altogether in the right. 
 
 Mr. Seward, in reply to Lord Russell's 
 first dispatch, carefully states all the facts 
 and then reviews them with a cleverness 
 quite enough to upset the English equa- 
 nimity, and if the latter were not convinced, 
 they could not help but admire his dexterity 
 in handling this very delicate matter. 
 
 He states to Lord Lyons as follows : 
 
 " Your Lordship will now perceive that the ease 
 before us, instead of presenting a merely flagrant 
 act of violence on the part of Captain Wilkes, as 
 might well be inferred from the incomplete state- 
 ments of it that went up to the British Govern- 
 ment, was undertaken as- a simple, legal and cus- 
 tomary belligerent proceeding by Captain Wilkes, 
 to arrest and capture a neutral vessel engaged in 
 carrying contraband of war, for the use and benefit 
 of the insurgents. 
 
 "The niiAstinn Vir+tvapti n« is. whfither this nro- 
 
70 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ceeding was authorized by, and conducted accord- 
 ing to the law of nations. 
 
 " It involves the following inquiries : 
 
 "First — Were the persons named and their sup- 
 posed dispatches contraband of war ? 
 
 ''Second — Might Captain Wilkes lawfully stop 
 and search the ' Trent ' for these contraband per- 
 sons and dispatches ? 
 
 " Third — Did he exercise that right in a lawful 
 and proper manner ? 
 
 "Fourth — Having found the contraband per- 
 sons on board, and in presumed possession of the 
 contraband dispatches, had he a right to capture 
 the ]5ersons ? 
 
 "Fifth — Did he exercise that right of capture in 
 the manner allowed and recognized by the law of 
 nations ? 
 
 "If all these inquiries shall be resolved in the 
 affirmative, the British Gfovernment will have no 
 claim for reparation. 
 
 "The first four qviestions are briefly answered 
 by himself in the affirmative, and only the fifth re- 
 mains for consideration." 
 
 But admitting that Mr. Seward's inquir- 
 ies are correct, he does not refer to the fact 
 that Captain Wilkes constituted himself a 
 Court of Admiralty upon the high seas, and 
 undertook to make a seizure of the persons 
 contraband of war, and omitted to seize the 
 vessel. 
 
 If the persons seized were contraband, 
 the vessel knowingly carrying them as pas- 
 sengers was contraband also, and should 
 have been taken into a United States port 
 and the case tried before an Admiralty 
 Court; which would most likely have de- 
 cided in favor of the " Trent "and awarded 
 damages. 
 
 This course would have saved the United 
 States the humiliation of making a forced 
 apology. 
 
 England was not the only nation that 
 took exceptions to the seizure of the persons 
 of Mason and Slidell, for, on the loth of De- 
 cember, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 
 France wrote to the representative of that 
 court at Washington : 
 
 "The arrest had produced in France, if not the 
 same emotion as ni England, at least extreme aston- 
 ishment and sensation. Public sentiment was at 
 once engrossed with the unlawfulness and conse- 
 quence of such an act. 
 
 "The desire to contribute to prevent a conflict 
 perhaps imminent between two powers for which 
 the French (xovernment is associated by sentiments 
 equally friendly, and the daty to uphold (for the 
 purpose of placing the right of its own flag under 
 shelter from any attack) certain principles essen- 
 tial to the security of neutrals, have, after mature 
 reflection, convmced the French Government that 
 it could not, under the circumstances, remain en- 
 tirely silent. 
 
 ********** 
 
 "There remains therefore to invoke in explana- 
 tion of the cajjture of Mason and Slidell only the 
 protest that they were the bearers of official dis- 
 patches from the enemy; but this is a moment to 
 recall a circumstance which governs all this affair 
 and which renders the conduct of the American 
 cruiser unjustifiable. 
 
 "The 'Trent' was not destined to a point be- 
 longing to one of the belligerents ; she was carry- 
 
 ing to a neutral country her cargo and passengers, 
 and, moreover, it was in a neutral port that the 
 passengers were taken on board, 
 
 " The cabinet at Washington could not, without 
 striking a blow at the principles which all neutral 
 nations are alike interested in holding in respect, 
 nor without taking the attitude of contradiction 
 of its own course up to this time, give its approba- 
 tion to the proceedings of the commander of the 
 'San Jacinto.' 
 
 "In this state of things it evidently should not 
 (according to our view of the case) hesitate about 
 the determination to be taken." 
 
 In view of the pressure brought to bear 
 upon the government and the attitude taken 
 by France, wise counsels finally prevailed; 
 and it was determined by the Federal Gov- 
 ernment to give up Messrs. Mason and Sli- 
 dell to the representatives of the British 
 Government authorized to receive them, 
 and instructions were sent to the command- 
 ing officer at Fort Warren to place them on 
 a small steamer and have them delivered on 
 board a British war steamer then lying at 
 Provincetown. 
 
 The Commissioners and their suite were 
 conveyed in this steamer to the island of 
 St. Thomas, and thence by the colonial 
 steam line which took passengers to South- 
 ampton, England, where they arrived 
 safelj-. But notwithstanding the excite- 
 ment in England, they were received with 
 no official distinction. 
 
 The exultation of the Confederates at 
 what they chose to call the humiliation of 
 the United States was excessive, though it 
 would have pleased them better if the Fed- 
 eral government had adhered to the first 
 impulse, and refused to give up the Com- 
 missioners. This, of course, would have 
 brought about a war between England and 
 the United States, which would most likely 
 have insured the temporary independence 
 of the insurgent States ; for with England's 
 navy to back the South we could not have 
 maintained the blockade, and all our avail- 
 able force would have been required to de- 
 fend the ISTorthern coast, and to commence 
 a raid upon the English commerce in every 
 sea. 
 
 The English may not have calculated all 
 the damages the United States cruisers 
 could have inflicted upon English com- 
 merce in every part of the world ; a proof of 
 which may be seen in the performances of 
 the "Alabama," and one or two other Con- 
 federate cruisers, which caused so much 
 havoc to our commerce that it was almost 
 driven from the ocean. 
 
 The United States government found it 
 self placed m a very unpleasant dilemma, 
 having to satisfy the demands of the Brit- 
 ish government and at the same time quiet 
 the public feeling at home, which was in- 
 
 "i^Ji-'^^',,*'^'^ '^^^^ °^ surrendering Mason 
 and Slidell was scouted bv thousands of 
 
OF THE Civil WAR. 
 
 71 
 
 people, who, having no responsibility in 
 "the matter, gave vent to their feelings in the 
 most unmeasured terms, not only against 
 the British government for what was con- 
 sidered its arrogant demands, but against 
 the administration for tamely submitting 
 to them. 
 
 Unreasonable people could not be made 
 to believe that the three hundred impro- 
 vised gunboats, and the long array of frig- 
 ates which ornamented our navy list, were 
 not sufficient to set the whole British Navy 
 at defiance. But the 
 government had to 
 admit its weakness 
 as an excuse to sat- 
 isfy the people at 
 large, who were 
 clamoring so loudly 
 to go to war with 
 the English at a 
 time when we could 
 scarcely comply 
 with the demands 
 made on us to per- 
 form the proper 
 blockade duty. 
 
 The government 
 had not only to allay 
 the excitement ex- 
 isting throughout 
 the country, but it 
 had to defend itself 
 «,gainst the opposi- 
 tion party ; which 
 was ever ready to 
 seize upon any 
 weak point in Mr. 
 Lincoln's adminis- 
 tration, bring it be- 
 fore the people, and 
 «ndeavor to weaken 
 the government by 
 their cries of inca- 
 pacity. 
 
 It was finally de- 
 cided by the admin- 
 istration that the 
 long settled policy 
 of this country 
 was to resist the 
 right of search 
 ■upon the high seas; and by way of being 
 consistent we had but one course to pursue, 
 and that was to repudiate the acts of Cap- 
 tain Wilkes, which would have been the 
 better policy to pursue from the beginning. 
 
 To Mr. Seward more than any one else 
 were the people indebted for not having 
 the country involved in a war of great 
 magnitude, at a time when it would have 
 been ruin to us for three years at least; for 
 it would have taken us that length of time 
 to prepare for a definite resistance against 
 England, which we were quite capable of 
 
 AUD SEIDELL. 
 
 making at the close of the war, when we 
 were launching our invulnerable iron-clads 
 as fast as our machine shops and ship-yards 
 could turn tliem out. 
 
 It is not improbable that neither France 
 nor England would have taken so fierce a 
 stand if the "Trent "affair had happened 
 in the latter part of 18G4. 
 
 Whatever may have been Mr. Seward's 
 opinions on the subject of the "Trent" 
 matter, and though he made a faint at- 
 tempt at making an argument, yet, with 
 
 that astuteness that 
 characterized him 
 in all his foreign in- 
 tercourse during 
 the war, he thought 
 it better to confoi-m 
 to the established 
 principles which 
 had alwaj's gov- 
 erned this nation, 
 and avoid a foreign 
 war in addition to 
 what we already 
 had on our hands. 
 
 An attempt was 
 made to show that 
 Mr Seward had pur- 
 sued a timid policy 
 in opposition to the 
 broad principles 
 laid down by the 
 representatives o f 
 the people, that we 
 could claim our in- 
 surgents wherever 
 we might find them 
 on the high seas — 
 on which principle 
 we might claim the 
 right to take them 
 out of the packet 
 boat running be- 
 tween Calais and 
 Dover. 
 
 Laws of nations 
 are but conven- 
 tional rules for 
 the safe guidance of 
 governments in 
 time of war, but are 
 only so far binding when they do not in- 
 fringe upon a settled policy of some gov- 
 ernment, whose best interests would be 
 jeopardized by adhering to the opinion of 
 any international code, which the policy of 
 a powerful government might change at 
 any moment. 
 
 When ministers and ambassadors were 
 of more importance than they have become 
 since the introduction of steam and the 
 telegraph, it might have been allowable 
 to arrest them in transit from their own 
 country to one where they were accredited. 
 
 U. S. FRIGATE •■ SAN JACINTO." CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES, 
 OVERHAULINft THE BRITISH STEAMER "TRENT," HAVING 
 ON BOARD THE CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS. MASON 
 
72 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 for the purpose of preventing them from 
 laying an important treaty of alliance be- 
 fore an enemy's government. 
 
 Vattel says that "the amhassador of an 
 enemy may be stopped in transit." An 
 ambassador represents a person clothed 
 with full powers to contract with some for- 
 eign government matters of high import- 
 ance, and is carefully instructed by a well 
 established government in all he has to do. 
 
 Messrs. Mason and Slidell were not am- 
 bassadors ; they were simply commission- 
 ers from an unrecognized country of insur- 
 gents, and it was uncertain whether they 
 would be received or not by France or by 
 England 
 
 It was necessary that the administration 
 should place itself in the right before the 
 people, and for this purpose Senator Sum- 
 ner was selected to defend the government 
 on the floor of the Senate ; which he did in 
 the most able manner, and in a way satis- 
 factory to the public mind. 
 
 The British government confined itself to 
 a single point of complaint, in that it ap- 
 peared "that the present objections were 
 not founded on the assumption by the 
 American vessel-of-war of the belligerent 
 right of search, nor on the ground that this 
 right was exercised on board a neutral ves- 
 sel between two neutral ports, nor that it 
 was exercised on board a mail steamer sus- 
 tained by a subvention from the Crown and 
 officered in part from the Royal Navy, nor 
 that it was exercised in a case where the 
 penalties of contraband could not attach, 
 but it was founded simply and precisely on 
 the idea "that other than officers in the 
 military or naval service cannot be taken 
 out of a neutral vessel at the mere will of 
 the officer who exercises the right of 
 search, and without any form of trial." 
 
 As far as the English Governnaent was 
 concerned, it was not illiberal in confining 
 the question at issue to one single point, 
 and it was thought that if time had been 
 allowed our government, it could have tri- 
 umphantly met the argument advanced by 
 the British minister. 
 
 But the British people were impatient, 
 and clamoring for immediate redress or 
 else demanding war. The United States 
 was too wealc at that moment to enter into 
 a war with Great Britain on a matter 
 where it was not certain that we were in 
 the right, and discretion being in this in- 
 stance "the better part of valor," our gov- 
 ernment, after a small show of argument, 
 disavowed the act of their officer. 
 
 This was the wisest thing that could have 
 been done under the circumstances, for it 
 was better that an officer should suffer for 
 his great mistake, than that we should have 
 been involved in a war with so powerful a 
 nation, on a question in which all the pow- 
 
 ers of Europe would be sure to agree with 
 our antagonist. 
 
 The aggressive position taken by the Brit- 
 ish Government on the first important 
 question that had arisen between it and the 
 United States, and the evident desire of 
 Lord John Russell to humble us "in our 
 hour of need " before the whole world, did 
 not leave a friendly feeling in the minds of 
 the American people towards the English; 
 and while there was no immediate redress 
 for us in regard to the departure of Engv 
 land from principles which had governed 
 her for over a century, and the adoption of 
 new ones to meet the occasion, there was 
 but one thing to be done, namely, to bide 
 our time until we could repay in a measure 
 the arrogance the British Government had 
 displayed towards us. 
 
 It was not that England had claimed re- 
 dress for an assumption of power on our 
 part which we had no right to exercise, but 
 it was the haste which Lord John Russell 
 was in to push us to the wall, that made 
 the English action so offensive. 
 
 On the whole this action of Captain 
 Wilkes had a good effect in the end. It 
 rendered our officers more circumspect in 
 their dealings with neutral questions, and 
 prevented them from going out of their le- 
 gitimate course to pick up foreign mail 
 steamers with Confederate emissaries on 
 board. 
 
 It also opened the eyes of the Govern- 
 ment and Congress to the fact that, although 
 we might use the coasting steamers to 
 make blockading ships-of-war, we had no 
 vessels that could be used to contend with 
 any arrogant nation that might feel dis- 
 posed to try and humiliate us. 
 
 It was but a short time after the event of 
 the arrest of the " Trent," that the govern- 
 ment gave its attention to building a class 
 of vessels that could bid defiance to the 
 heaviest ships in the British Navy; and it is 
 safe to say here, that those vessels were not 
 so much intended for the purpose of putting 
 down the rebellion, as they were to put a 
 check on the interference of the English 
 and French in our affairs, which we con- 
 sidered tliat no foreign power had a right 
 to meddle with. 
 
 Notwithstanding that the United States 
 came near being mortified before the whole 
 world because we were not prepared to en- 
 counter a great adversary like England, 
 and were made partially to eat " humble 
 pie," yet the people have forgotten that we 
 were ever forced into making a submissive 
 explanation in a matter where at most a 
 mistake had been made. 
 
 We might be placed in the same position 
 to-morrow by some insignificant power, be- 
 cause the knowledge of those who call 
 themselves statesmen does not extend far 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 73 
 
 enough to show them that if we want to 
 hold any prestige amongst foreign powers, 
 we must have a naval force adequate not 
 only to protect our own coast but to carry 
 war into the enemy's country. 
 
 We are more deficient to-day in naval 
 ships, than we were in 1861. If called upon 
 to-morrow to redress an insult, we would 
 be no better prepared to do it than we were 
 at the time when the English threatened us 
 with her army and navy for " pursuing a 
 course which is common enough in English 
 practice." 
 
 When it suits arbitrary nations to alter 
 established principles for others which* are 
 more in keeping with their own policy, they 
 have no difficulty in changing. 
 
 It is said by a naval writer "this is the 
 last haughty and unreasonable demand that 
 Great Britain will ever make upon the 
 United States. She has abdicated the do- 
 minion of the seas and she can never again 
 ascend her ocean throne. Her insolent 
 officers have for the last time lorded it with 
 impunity over an American deck, and the 
 threat which was made of sending the 
 ' Warrior ' to Washington, will not in any 
 form be repeated." How little that man 
 knew of the American people or of naval 
 matters ! He judged from the rapid man- 
 ner we were putting afloat the clever cre- 
 ations of Ericsson's brains, that we were a 
 progressive nation, and that having been 
 taught one lesson of humiliation we would 
 not let it happen again. That we would go 
 on building up a navy (after the war) com- 
 mensurate with the needs of our great 
 country, and that the war, if it had no 
 other good effect, would open the eyes of 
 men in power to the fact that it is to the 
 Navy alone we must look in all wars to 
 protect our people, and to vindicate the 
 honor of our flag. 
 
 But what assurance have we that we will 
 benefit by past lessons ? Th£ exigencies of 
 the war taught us nothing, and, like the 
 Bourbons, we cannot learn. Our famous 
 iron-clads, which once gave us considerable 
 prestige, are lying about in rotten rows, 
 and politicians are quareling over their 
 bones. The "Warrior" with which we 
 were once threatened, is without doubt 
 somewhat impaired by age, but there is not 
 to-day a single vessel or number of vessels 
 in our entire Navy that could prevent her 
 from being sent to Washington if the Brit- 
 ish Government thought proper to send her 
 there. 
 
 If we have not the naval power, then, to 
 assert any proper principle of International 
 Law, let us not undertake to do so, until 
 we have on hand a force that will in a 
 measure arrest the first movement of any 
 nation that may attempt to threaten us. 
 The "Trent" affair was very humiliatins:. 
 
 Let us see to it that something like it does 
 not happen again. 
 
 At the time of the "Trent" affair it 
 would not have been wise in anyone to put 
 himself in opposition to the public feeling 
 which was then paramount. Men refuse to 
 be convinced, no matter how logical and 
 persuasive the argument, when it runs 
 counter to their opinion. There was not at 
 that time one man in ten who believed in 
 the doctrine that we had no right to arrest 
 bearers of treasonable dispatches when un- 
 der the protection of the British flag ,- but 
 now that a quarter of a century has passed 
 away, and the passions of men have cooled 
 down, and they are governed by reason, we 
 can discuss those matters with a chance of 
 being patiently listened to. It may be in- 
 teresting also to read the arguments made 
 on our side of the case, to ascertain how 
 far right we were in demanding to hold 
 Mason and Slidell ; and though that will 
 not help the case now, after such a lapse 
 of years, it may be a satisfaction to the 
 American reader to know that we made a 
 good fight on paper, though we could not 
 make it on the water. 
 
 In order to place ourselves right, our 
 statesmen made diligent search through 
 the records of the past for the lengthy dis- 
 cussions which arose between the United 
 States and Great Britain, on the subject of 
 the "right of search," when that power was 
 truly mistress of the seas, and when, in ac- 
 cordance with a long-settledi policy, she 
 claimed the right to take British seamen out 
 of any neutral vessel. Whenever the ne- 
 cessities of the British Navy called upon 
 her to do so her heavy hand was laid upon 
 American ships unsparingly ; and having 
 no navy at that time with which to assert 
 our rights against so powerful an adver- 
 sary, we had to resort to argument, in an 
 extreme defense of the rights of neutrals, 
 which covered much ground. 
 
 These arguments were now brought up 
 against us in the " Trent" case, and it was 
 shown that our statesmen in their argu- 
 ments, in 1813, had specified the only classes 
 that could be lawfully stopped in transit, 
 namely, persons apparently in the naval or 
 military service of an enemy. We had no 
 answer to make to our own arguments, and 
 had almost to resort to the same special 
 pleading practiced by Great Britain in re- 
 gard to the right of searching neutrals in 
 1813. Our statesmen in 1861 tried to prove 
 that the two Commissioners, Messrs. Mason 
 and Slidell, were far more dangerous to the 
 United States, if let loose in Europe to 
 work against us, than a dozen military 
 men would be; and it was considered ab- 
 surd to contend for the privilege of stop- 
 ping at pleasure any man wearing an ene- 
 my's, uniform, and prevent themost treason- 
 
74 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 able characters to go unquestioned because 
 they have not the insignia of a soldier or 
 of a sailor. The English view vi^as consid- 
 ered, on our own side, a very narrow inter- 
 pretation of phrases, to say nothing of a de- 
 parture from a principle which the English 
 had always claimed to protect. 
 
 Thei-e was one thing which did not strike 
 our statesmen — that Messrs. Mason and Sli- 
 dell had committed no overt act. There 
 was no proof that they had ever shown 
 their dispatches, or that they had said to 
 any one that they were bound on a mission 
 to a foreign government — that was all mere 
 surmise. 
 
 Some argued that it was not necessary to 
 take the vessel into court for adjudication, 
 as there was no question with regard to the 
 identity of these men, or as to the oflScial 
 capacity in which they were acting; that it 
 needed no military insignia to show that 
 they were distinguished public agents, in 
 the service of the Confederate government. 
 
 If the Captain of the "Trent" knew all 
 these facts and was aiding and abettina: 
 
 Mason and Slidell in any treasonable acts 
 against the United States, then his vessel 
 became liable, and Captain Wilkes, in as- 
 suming the authority to let the ship and 
 passengers pass free, was guilty of a vio- 
 lation of a grave principle of international 
 law; he could as well open a neutral ship's 
 hatches, and take from her hold what he 
 might consider contraband of war, and 
 transferring it to his own vessel to be taken 
 before an Admiralty Court and condemned 
 without evidence, let the ship go. Con- 
 traband of war makes the vessel liable, 
 be it in carrying a regiment of soldiers 
 or munitions of war. This is the view of 
 the case taken by the President (Lincoln), 
 and with that wisdom which never failed 
 him he decided to give up the prisoners, 
 and save the nation from a war in which 
 it was not at that time in a condition to em- 
 bark. The President did not want to go 
 back on the principles for which the United 
 Sta,tes had so strongly contended in 1812; 
 and he was right, as all unprejudiced 
 minds must see. 
 
CHAPTER V 1 I 1. 
 
 CAPTURE OF FERISTANDINA AND THE COAST SOUTH OF GEORGIA. 
 
 Reconnoitbring Along the Coast. — Confederates Evacuate Their Defences on Tybee 
 AND Warsaw Islands. — A General Stampede. — The Effect of Dupont's Victory. 
 — Lost Opportunities. — " Sea Islands." — Congregation op Slaves at Hilton 
 Head. — Entrenchments Erected at Hilton Head. — General Stevens. — Beaufort 
 Occupied.— Reconnoissance up the Tybee River to Fort Pulaski. — Expedition to 
 Fernandina. — Commanders of and Vessels Composing the Expedition. — Capture 
 of the Works on Cumberland and Amelia Islands. — Fort Clinch Occupied. — 
 Capture OF Fernandina. — Capture of the Steamer "Darlington." — General Lee 
 and Fernandina.— Fine Harbors for Blockade Runners. — Good Service of the 
 Navy. — The Forts and Toavn of St. Augustine Surrender to the Union Forces. 
 — DupoNT ..Establishes Government Authority in the Harbor of St. Johns. — 
 Retreating Confederates Burn Saw^-Mills and Other Property. — Dupont Re- 
 turns TO Port Royal. — Planting Batteries on Tybee Island. — The Navy Take 
 Part in the Bombardment and Capture of Fort Pulaski. — Cordiality Between 
 the Army and Navy Officers. — The Officers Under Dupont. — High Rank 
 Reached by Some of Dupont's Officers. 
 
 AS soon as Flag-oflScer Dupont could 
 find the time, he sent the smaller 
 gunboats in different directions 
 to reconnoitre the enemy's posi- 
 tions up the river and along the 
 coast. The larger vessels were sent to per- 
 form blockade duty, which at that moment, 
 owing to the paucity of vessels, was very 
 arduous. 
 
 Commander John Rodgers was sent with 
 the " Seneca " and "Paulina" to examine 
 the enemy's defences on Tybee Island, in 
 the Savannah River, and ascertained that 
 all the works in that quarter had been 
 abandoned, except those at Stono Inlet. 
 
 Commander Drayton, in the " Pawnee," 
 accompanied by one or two gunboats, en- 
 . tered St. Helena Sound and found on the 
 point of Otter island some heavy fortifica- 
 tions; but the magazine had been blown up 
 and the armament removed. 
 
 At the same time Commander C. R. P. 
 Rodgers made a reconnoissance of Warsaw 
 Sound, and found the fort on Warsaw 
 Island dismantled and the magazine de- 
 stroyed. An examination of Wilmington 
 River showed heavy works still occupied 
 
 by the enemy. On the Ogeechee and Ver- 
 non rivers heavy earth-works were being 
 erected by the Confederates. 
 
 Commander Drayton crossed the North 
 Edisto Bar, and found an abandoned earth- 
 work, intended to mount ten guns. In fact, 
 there had been a stampede all along the 
 coast, which indicated the moral effect of 
 Dupont's victory on the Southern people. 
 Had a suitable body of troops been landed 
 on the coast at the time, Charleston and 
 Savannah would have fallen into our pos- 
 session, and have been held throughout the 
 war, to the great detriment of the Confede- 
 rates, who depended on these ports as bases 
 of supplies. The government, however, 
 failed at that period to take in the situation, 
 and our statesmen were quite paralyzed 
 with the difficulties which threatened the 
 Union cause. The superannuated army 
 officers, called by the administration to its 
 councils, were altogether unequal to the 
 emergency, and they led the government 
 into many difficulties. 
 
 When General W. T. Sherman declared 
 that an army of two hundred thousand men 
 was required to put down the rebellion, he 
 
76 
 
 THE NA VAL HISrORY 
 
 was thought to be crazy; but the President's 
 advisers discovered, ere the war had lasted 
 a year, that Sherman had in no way exag- 
 gerated the difficulties of the situation. 
 
 Whatever may have been the reason of 
 the failure to send a larger army to occupy 
 the Southern coast as soon as the necessary 
 gunboats could be improvised to penetrate 
 the inlets of that region, it is certain the 
 movement was not made until too late, and 
 the principal theatre of war had been trans- 
 ferred to other points, around which the 
 contending forces gathered, leaving the 
 coast to be taken care of by the Navy; a 
 duty which, we think it will be admitted, 
 the Navy performed with great credit to 
 themselves and to the satisfaction of the 
 country. 
 
 From the first the Navy had to contend 
 with the indisposition of the War Depart- 
 ment to co-operate with it in getting up 
 combined expeditions against the enemy. 
 Until the battle of Cape Hatteras and Port 
 Eoyal occurred, it was not supposed that 
 the Navy would take such a prominent part 
 in the war. It was supposed our gunboats 
 would be barred out of the Southern ports, 
 which the large ships could not enter, owing 
 to their great draft of water ; and, appar- 
 ently, no one considered the great advance 
 which the Navy had made in ordnance, hav- 
 ing at that time the most powerful shells and 
 shell guns that had ever been known. These 
 guns, as they were used at Port Royal, gave 
 an example of the manner in which our 
 heavily-armed gunboats could deal with 
 earth- works; for it was here proven that 
 the defenders of a fortification would all 
 be killed if they attempted to stand to their 
 guns in the face of such a fire as could be 
 poured into them from naval vessels. 
 
 It was conclusively shown that our wooden 
 steamers, armed with nine and eleven -inch 
 Dahlgren guns, could engage the most for- 
 midable batteries on shore, with a good 
 prospect of success. 
 
 In those daj's gunboats were improvised 
 by the hundred, and if the government had 
 been so minded, all the smaller earth-works 
 along the Southern coast could have been 
 easily made to yield to the Dahlgren guns. 
 
 One result of the victory at Port Royal 
 was our obtaining possession of the famous 
 "sea islands," which, through slave labor, 
 had so enriched their proprietors; and it was 
 upon these planters that the greatest injury 
 was inflicted, as our gunboats penetrated 
 the network of inlets along the coast, and 
 the rich cotton harvests lay at their mercy. 
 
 The slaves took advantage of the panic, 
 and fled with their families to seek the pro- 
 tection of the Union flag. A large number 
 of them congregated at Hilton Head, and 
 about a thousand picked up by the vessels 
 of war were located on the southeast end 
 
 of Edisto Island, where a gunboat was 
 stationed for their maintenance and pro- 
 tection. Most of these negroes were given 
 employment and served the Union during- 
 the remainder of the war. Others found 
 homes on the " sea islands," within Union 
 protection, where they raised corn and 
 sweet potatoes sufficient to satisfy their 
 simple needs; and if they sometimes suf- 
 fered from the want of clothing, food and 
 shelter, yet they exhibited a striking ex- 
 ample of how dear is liberty to man in 
 whatever position of life, and how much 
 he will undergo to secure it. 
 
 The officers of the Navy may be said to 
 have first erected the Freedman's Bureau, 
 and given an asylum to those poor crea- 
 tures who, with all their ignorance, had 
 still sufficient manhood to appreciate the 
 boon of freedom, which perhaps some of 
 them had once enjoyed on the wild shores 
 of their native Africa. 
 
 While the Navy had been busy in pene- 
 trating the numerous inlets of the vicinity. 
 General T. W. Sherman had constructed 
 large and strong entrenchments on Hilton 
 Head, outside of Fort Walker. The Army 
 had also occupied Beaufort, a pleasant vil- 
 lage near Port Royal, where many wealthy 
 land-holders resided during the hot season. 
 Posts were also established on Tybee and 
 other islands. 
 
 The enemy gradually recovered from the 
 panic which had seized them at the battle 
 of Port Royal, and seemed disposed to com- 
 mence offensive operations against our 
 forces, and re-occupy the works they had so 
 precipitately abandoned. Upon this an 
 expedition was fitted out under General 
 Stevens and Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, 
 which resulted in the abandonment of any 
 attempt of the enemy to plant batteries 
 within range of the gunboats, whose far- 
 reaching shells committed some havoc 
 among them on this occasion; nor did they 
 ever attempt to obtain a lodgment on Port 
 Royal Island, which remained in possession 
 of the government during the war. 
 
 A reconnoissance up the Tybee River was 
 made by Captain C. H. Davis and Com- 
 mander C. R. P. Rodgers with the "Ottawa," 
 "Seneca," ••Ellen," "Western World," 
 and the armed launches of the "Wabash." 
 accompanied by three transports, having 
 on board 2,400 troops, commanded by 
 Brigadier General H. G. Wright. The ex- 
 pedition crossed the bar, and reached a 
 point nearest Fort Pulaski on its land side. 
 No shots were fired at the vessels, as the 
 enemy had no rifle guns mounted in that 
 quarter, so that the expedition was enabled 
 to accomplish its object without difficulty, 
 and return unmolested. 
 
 Several similar expeditions were sent out 
 under Commander John Rodgers and others, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 77 
 
 which served to keep the enemy in a con- 
 tinual state of uneasiness and made our offi- 
 cers acquainted with all the surrounding 
 land and water. 
 
 Having done all that was necessary in 
 the vicinity of Port Royal, Flag Officer 
 Dupont turned his attention towards Fer- 
 nandina in Florida, twenty -five miles north 
 of the St. John's River. On the second of 
 March, 1862, the "Wabash," and what 
 other vessels could be spared from block- 
 ading duty, anchored off St. Andrew's 
 Island, twenty miles north of the entrance 
 to Fernandina. 
 
 Hoisting his flag temporarily on board 
 the "Mohican," Commander S. W. Godon, 
 Dupont's squadron entered Fernandina in 
 the following order: "Ottawa," "Mohi- 
 can," "Ellen," "Seminole," "Pawnee," 
 "Pocahontas," "James Adger," "Bien- 
 ville," "Alabama," "Keystone State," 
 "Seneca," "Huron," "Paulina," "Isaac 
 Smith," "Penguin," " Potomska," armed 
 cutter; " McClellan," armed transport, with 
 a battalion of marines under Major Rey- 
 nolds, and six transports containing a 
 brigade under command of Brigadier Gen- • 
 eral Wright. 
 
 The vessels anchored at 10:30 a.m. on the 
 second of March, to examine the channel 
 and wait for the tide. Here the Flag- 
 officer learned from residents of Cumber- 
 land Island, that the Confederates had 
 hastily abandoned the defences of Fernan- 
 dina, and were at that moment in full re- 
 treat, carrying with them such of their 
 munitions of war as their precipitated 
 flight would allow. 
 
 Such was the moral effect of the Port 
 Royal victory, that there seemed to be a 
 stampede all along the coast as soon as our 
 naval vessels made their appearance. 
 
 The object of taking the vessels through 
 Cumberland Sound was to turn the heavy 
 works on Cumberland and Amelia Islands ; 
 but on receiving intelligence that the en- 
 emy had abandoned their works, Dupont 
 detached the light gun-boats and light 
 draft steamers from the main line under 
 Commander Drayton, and ordered that offi- 
 cer to push through the Sound with the ut- 
 most dispatch to try and save the public 
 and private property from destruction, and 
 "to prevent those outrages, by the perpetra- 
 tion of which the leaders of the rebellion 
 hoped to exasperate their deluded followers. 
 
 While this expedition was on its way 
 through the narrow inlets, Flag-officer Du- 
 pont proceeded by sea to the main entrance 
 of the harbor. 
 
 On entering Fernandina Harbor, Com- 
 mander Drayton sent an officer to hoist a 
 white flag on Fort Clinch, the first of the 
 national forts on which the ensign of the 
 
 the first proclamation of President Lincoln 
 was issued. 
 
 A few scattering musket shots were fired 
 by the enemy and that was all the defence 
 made by them. A railway train left the 
 town as the gun-boat arrived. Commander 
 Drayton in the " Ottawa" gave chase to it 
 along the river and fired several shells at 
 the locomotive, it is said, with some dam- 
 age to the train. 
 
 Commander C. R. P. Rodgers pushed 
 ahead with the steam launches and cap- 
 tured the steamer "Darlington" contain- 
 ing military stores, and fortunately secured 
 and held the draw-bridge of the railroad. 
 
 The same night Commander C. R. P. 
 Rodgers ascended the St. Mary's River in 
 the "Ottawa," and driving away the en- 
 emy's pickets, took possession of the town 
 of St. Mary's, while a force of seamen and 
 marines, under Lieut. Miller, was sent to 
 hold Fort Clinch. 
 
 The whole number of guns captured 
 amounted to thirteen, among them one 
 eighty-pounder and one one-hundred-and- 
 twenty pounder rifle. 
 
 Fort Clinch and the earthworks thrown 
 up by the enemy were found to be in con- 
 dition for a most vigorous defence, and it 
 is surprising that after making such for- 
 midable preparations, the Confederates 
 should have left without attempting any 
 resistance. 
 
 All the batteries were as perfect as art 
 could make them — six of them were pro- 
 tected by sand hills, and were so covered by 
 the growth of the country and so isolated 
 from each other that striking them from 
 the sea would have been almost a matter of 
 chance. 
 
 These earthworks and the heavy guns of 
 Fort Clinch commanded the main ship 
 channel so as to rake an approaching foe. 
 Besides these was a batterj' of four guns 
 on the south end of Cumberland Island, the 
 fire of which crossed the channel inside the 
 bar. The crookedness of the channel and 
 shoalness of the bar gave the Confederates 
 a great advantage, for even after vessels 
 had passed the outer defences they would 
 have to encounter a well-constructed 
 masked battery at the town, which com- 
 manded the anchorage. 
 
 General Lee had pronounced Fernandina 
 
 Perfectly defensible against a naval attack, 
 ut he did not appreciate the brave spirits 
 that manned our ships or the power of 11- 
 inch guns. 
 
 It was fortunate for the Union cause that 
 Fort Clinch and its outlying batteries fell 
 into our hands without resistance, as the 
 Confederates might have made it warm 
 work for the Navy; though the latter would 
 doubtless have prevailed in the end, owing 
 
 \- r\ r^r\r\r\ j~l i 
 
 ct /^ ir^ 1 1 v* /:» r» 
 
 T^^ 
 
 oi^^nY»oT£i min t» <:iT»T7 
 
78 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Thus, Flag Officer Dupont accomplished 
 an important part of the plan he orginally 
 proposed, viz. : to take and hold the whole 
 line of the sea coast of Georgia, believing 
 that the power controlling the sea coast 
 controls the State, a proof of which was that 
 the heavy works at St. Simms, armed with 
 Colunibiads, had been abandoned on hear- 
 ing the news from Fort Royal, and on the 
 approach of the fleet. 
 
 Thus was virtually placed in the hands 
 of the government the fine harbor of Bruns- 
 wick, the harbor and inlets of Fernandina, 
 the town and river of St. Mary's, and the 
 coast and inland waters from St. Simons 
 northward. All these j)laces, if left undis- 
 turbed, would have afforded a fine refuge 
 for blockade runners, which must have sup- 
 plied the Confederacy with any quantity of 
 munitions of war, and much prolonged the 
 conflict. 
 
 From what we have narrated it will be 
 seen that while the North was not always 
 successful in military operations, the Navy 
 was doing good service by drawing tighter 
 the coil around the Confederacy and de- 
 priving them of the means of carrying 
 on the war. Even during the short time 
 which had elapsed since our Navy had been 
 placed upon a respectable footing, it held 
 all the important approaches to the South- 
 ern States, from Cape Hatteras to Florida, 
 with the exception of Charleston, Savan- 
 nah and Wilmington, which places we were 
 not yet quite in condition to assail, aud 
 which, for the want of a sufficient Navj' on 
 the part of the North at the commencement 
 of the war, remained in possession of the 
 enemy till nearly the close of hostilities. 
 
 Every effort was made Ij}' the Navy to 
 capture these places, and much gallantry 
 was displayed, which, though often without 
 result, still showed the indomitable spirit of 
 the service while contending against odds 
 greater than they were able to overcome. 
 History has not done justice to the hard 
 work performed at Charleston, and slurs 
 have been cast on gallant officers who de- 
 served all the commendation a grateful 
 country could bestow. 
 
 The Army remained in charge of the 
 fortifications at Fernandina. and Flag Offi- 
 cer Dupont proceeded in the ''Wabash," 
 accompanied by several gun-boats, and on 
 the evening of March S anchored off St. 
 Augustine, where the town and fort were 
 quietly surrendered to the Union forces-, 
 Dupont assuring the inhabitants of kind 
 treatment as long as they respected the 
 government authority and" acted in good 
 ftiith, and that municipal authoritv would 
 be left in the hands of the citizens." 
 
 Thus Dupont not only displayed the gal- 
 lantry and energy of an able "commander, 
 but also the tact which he possessed in an 
 
 eminent degree ; for while he was deter-^ 
 mined to restore to the government the pro- 
 perty which belonged to it, he felt it due to 
 the deluded people to undeceive them, by 
 kind treatment, of the numerous misrepre- 
 sentations of the Southern leaders in rela- 
 tion to the designs of the Federal authori- 
 ties. 
 
 The places that had so far been captured 
 could be easily held by a few gun-boats; 
 and although the Confederate Government 
 realized the importance of attempting to 
 recover what they had lost, they finally gave 
 up the idea of holding these harbors and in- 
 lets and confined their operations to the in- 
 terior, where the Navy could not follow 
 them. 
 
 The harbor of St. John's was next visited 
 by Dupont and the government authority 
 established. The inhabitants were assured 
 protection while they abstained from acts 
 of hostility, and they more readily accept- 
 ed these assurances as at night the whole 
 heavens were illuminated by the burning 
 saw mills, set on fire by the retreating en- 
 emy, in order to prevent them from falling 
 into the hands of the Navy, forgetting that 
 Dupont had promised at Fernandina to re- 
 spect private property. 
 
 There were many interesting incidents 
 connected with this naval campaign which 
 the limits of this work will not allow us to 
 narrate. Suffice it to say, Dupont's labors 
 wt're entirely successful and quite up to the 
 expectations of the Navy Department — 
 not always profuse in praise of its officers. 
 
 Leaving a sufficient force of gun-boats to 
 guard the hai'bors and inlets. Dupont re- 
 turned to Port Royal in the •• Wabash." 
 
 Dupont found that during his absence 
 from Port Royal, the Army" had planted 
 batteries of rifled guns and Columbiads on 
 Tybee Island for tlie purpose of reducing 
 Fort Pulaski: but as this was purely a mih- 
 tary operation, the Flag Officer "did not 
 claim to interfere, although General Hun- 
 ter permitted the Navy to'take part in the 
 bombardment, allo\Ying- a detachment of 
 officers and seamen from the •• Wabash" 
 to serve one of the breaching batteries. 
 
 The detachment under Commander C. R. 
 P. Rodgers readied Tybee Island on the 10th 
 of April, just before the firing commenced, 
 but too late to take part in itthat day. 
 
 On the following morning the firing con- 
 tinued with excellent effect, the rifled shots 
 boring through the brick work, while the 
 shots from the Columbiads broke off great 
 masses of masonry from the walls. 
 
 Four rifled guns in batterv. about 1,600 
 yards distant from the fort, had been as- 
 signed to the detachment from the "Wa- 
 bash," and no doubt the most skillful gun- 
 ners in the ship were assigned to the man- 
 agement of the guns. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 79 
 
 The Union batteries kept up a steady fire 
 until the Confederate flag was hauled down. 
 
 Before the fort surrendered many of the 
 barbette guns were dismounted and the 
 fort breached in two places, so as to be 
 quite practicable for a storming party. The 
 garrison were convinced that it was useless 
 to contend against the Federal batteries, 
 as the rifled shots passed through the walls 
 and threatened to destroy the magazine. 
 
 When General Totten, the chief of En- 
 gineers, built Fort Pulaski, it was deemed 
 impregnable to the assault of a naval force 
 armed with the heaviest guns then in use, 
 33-pounders, and he would have been as- 
 tonished if he had been told that in a few 
 years a rifled projectile would be invented 
 that would bore through his walls and 
 crumble them to pieces. 
 
 The guns used by the naval detachment 
 were three 30-pounder Parrots and one 
 24-pounder James. Commander Rodgers 
 speaks in high terms of the officers and 
 men. Lieut. Irwin, Acting-Master Robin- 
 son and Midshipmen Johnson and Pearson, 
 Lewis Brown, Captain of the Forecastle, 
 and George H. Wood, Quartei-master. 
 
 There were many gallant affairs con- 
 stantly occurring, in which reconnoitering 
 parties from the Navy were concerned, and 
 they gave the enemy no rest. In these af- 
 fairs the Army participated whenever an 
 opportunity offered; and here we would 
 remark, that at no period during the war 
 was there a more cordial co-operation be- 
 tween the Army and Navy than while Flag 
 Officer DupOnt commanded on the Southern 
 coast. His courtesy to every one with 
 whom he came in contact gained him hosts 
 of friends, and his example was followed 
 by his subordinates in their intercourse 
 with the army officers; so that whatever 
 
 combined enterprise was undertaken, it 
 was vigorously executed with perfect ac- 
 cord on both sides. 
 
 Among the galaxy of bright spirits who 
 served under Dupont in the early part of 
 his campaign, there were manj^ who have 
 since passed away; but their names should 
 not be forgotten. They were among the 
 first to set the example of attacking heavy 
 fortifications with light-built vessels; a de- 
 parture from former usage that was first 
 made in our civil war. and is now an estab- 
 lished rule the world over. 
 
 A commander-in-chief, no matter how 
 clever, does not stand much chance of suc- 
 cess against the enemy unless he is well 
 supported by his officers; and as Dupont up 
 to this time had been everywhere success- 
 ful, we must give a portion of the credit to 
 those who served under his command. 
 
 That Dupont was fortunate in his selec- 
 tion, the names of Captain C. H. Davis, 
 Commanders John Rodgers, Drayton, C. 
 R. P. Rodgers, Godon, Pari-ott, Steedman, 
 Gillis, Prentiss, Lieutenants-Commanding 
 Balch. Stevens, Ammen, Nicholson, Trux- 
 ton, Rhind, Bankhead, Conroy.Watmough, 
 Budd, Semmes and Phoenix, in command of 
 vessels, will show, besides the junior officers 
 mentioned favorably by their conamanding 
 officers. 
 
 Nearly all the commanding officers 
 reached high rank, and the youngest of 
 them are now well up on the list of commo- 
 dores and captains. 
 
 Eleven of them attained the rank of 
 rear-admiral; and of these six are still 
 living, have retired from active duty, and 
 are reaping the reward of faithful service. 
 
 They will figure again in the course of 
 this narrative, as their service continued 
 throughout the war. 
 
CH A PTER I X. 
 
 OPEKATIONS OF ADMIRAL DUPONT'S SQUADRON m THE SOUNDS OF 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Arduous Duties Performed by Dupont's Officers. — Various Expeditions. — Valuable 
 Services of Capt. Boutelle and Officers of Coast Survey. — Com. C. R. P. 
 RoDGERS Makes Reconnoissance of Warsaw Inlet. — Lieutenant Barnes Invades 
 Forts. — Commander Drayton Goes up the North Edisto River. — Object of the 
 Expeditions. — Difficulties in the Way of Gunboats. — Ogeechee Sound and the 
 Great Ogeechee River Examined. — A Second Reconnoissance to Saint Helena 
 Sound. — Gunboats Annoying Confederate Troops. — The Torch Plays a Promi- 
 nent Part. — Desolation. — Friendship of the Blacks for the Union Cause. — 
 Expeditions to Various Points — Admiral Dupont Consults with Gen. Thomas 
 W. Sherman. — A Joint Expedition. — Engagement at Port Royal and Seabrook 
 Ferry. — Confederates Dispersed. — Effect of Co-operation of the Army and 
 Navy. — Reports of Officers of the Fleet. — Expedition of Fleet-Captain C. H. 
 Davis to Warsaw Sound.— Regiments Accompanying Expedition.— Tatnall's Gun- 
 boats Open Fire on Union Fleet and get Worsted. — Excitement in Savannah.— 
 Officers who were Conspicuous. — Patriotism of Colored People. — Courageous 
 and Heroic Act of Robert Smalls, a Colored Man. — Capturing the Steamer 
 " Planter."— Great Services of Dupont along Coasts of South Carolina, Georgu 
 AND Florida. 
 
 SHORT references have been made to 
 the various duties performed by Ad- 
 miral Dupont's officers on the coast 
 and in the Sounds of South Caro- 
 lina, the writer not deeming that 
 the limits of this work would permit of a 
 more extended account of the operations of 
 the South Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 These operations show not only a desire 
 to meet the enemy on all occasions, but a 
 wise forethought on the part of Admiral 
 Dupont regarding the ultimate use which 
 the possession of certain points would be 
 to the government in the future. He saw 
 that the enemy was daily exhibiting more 
 energy and an astonishing amount of re- 
 sources, with a fixed determination to carry 
 on the war as long as they could muster a 
 regiment or obtain powder to fire a gun. 
 
 The accounts of the various expeditions 
 fitted out cannot be narrated in order, as 
 the reports came in irregularly; but they 
 will be sufficiently so to enable the reader 
 
 (80) 
 
 to judge of the important services rendered 
 from time to time. 
 
 The enemy were continually erecting bat- 
 teries, and they moved about from point to 
 point with a rapidity that was marvelous, 
 and embarrassing enough to test the high- 
 est qualities of a commander-in-chief to 
 meet the various movements of so active 
 an adversary. 
 
 The soldiers of South Carolina seemed 
 determined that the Northerners should not 
 plant their feet on Southern soil, if they 
 could keep them out by earnest watching 
 and fighting; and it is safe to sav that this 
 untiring energy was met bv equal energy 
 and perseverance on the Union side; and if 
 the latter did not actuallv occupy all the 
 points held by the Confederates, they ren- 
 dered them so ineffectual to do harm that 
 they might just as well have been taken 
 possession of. 
 
 The coast of South Carolina is indented 
 with many sounds, bays and inlets, most of 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 81 
 
 j^^F^'. 
 
 ihem accessible to small light-draft block- 
 ade runners. It required some time to be- 
 come acquainted with the topography and 
 hydrography of these places, as no charts 
 gave an exactly fair representation of many 
 of them; and it was to close vip all these 
 gaps in the line of blockade that the smaller 
 vessels were employed in constant recon- 
 noissances and skirmishes, some of which 
 were full of danger and required nerve and 
 daring to execute. 
 
 It must have been surprising at times to 
 "the people residing along these narrow in- 
 lets, to see good-sized gun-boats ploughing 
 their way at full 
 speed through 
 their tortuous 
 and shallow 
 channels, where 
 the keel of a 
 war vessel had 
 never before 
 passed. It was 
 gall and worm- 
 wood to them 
 "to witness these 
 excursions o f 
 floating batter- 
 ies, against 
 which they soon 
 found that their 
 flying artillery 
 was of no mor- 
 tal use. 
 
 Admiral Du- 
 pont had in his 
 squadron a 
 corps of officers 
 "belonging to the 
 coast survey, 
 Tinder the im- 
 mediate direc- 
 tion of Captain 
 Eoutelle, First 
 Assistant. The 
 Coast Survey 
 office had aban- 
 doned its legiti- 
 mate duties at 
 the commence- 
 ment of the 
 war, and now 
 furnished most 
 
 valuable aid by sending its officers to any 
 squadron requiring them. Captain Eou- 
 telle was invaluable to Admiral Dupont, 
 and frequent mention is made of the hon- 
 orable service he performed in piloting ves- 
 sels through these intricate inlets. 
 
 The reconnoissance in St. Helena Sound, 
 by Commander Drayton, has been already 
 referred to. This bay was considered in- 
 valuable for a harbor, owing to its prox- 
 imity to Charleston. By its occupation the 
 Federals would be drawing the net close 
 
 EEAE-ADMIEAl C. E. P. EODGEES, 
 
 (FROM PHOTOGKAPH TAKEN IN 1885.) 
 
 around that pugnacious fort; and by cut- 
 ting off all communication with the interior 
 of the State, through the large rivers that 
 communicated with it, with a few gun- 
 boats would remain masters of the situation. 
 Commander C. E. P. Rodgers was em- 
 ployed to make a reconnoissance of War- 
 saw Inlet, in order to ascertain the position 
 and force of the enemy's battery there, 
 which information was desired by the Com- 
 manding-General of our military forces, in 
 anticipation of landing troops on Tybee 
 Island. 
 On approaching within a mile of the 
 
 fort, and seeing 
 neither men nor 
 guns, Lieuten- 
 ant Barnes was 
 sent up with a 
 flag of truce to 
 examine the 
 place,and found 
 it evacuated. 
 
 It was a heavy 
 work, with plat- 
 forms for eight 
 guns. But the 
 guns had been 
 removed, the 
 platforms cut 
 and the maga- 
 zine blown up. 
 
 The expedi- 
 tion (consisting 
 of the gun-boats 
 the " Ottawa," 
 "Seneca," and 
 "Pembina") 
 then pushed on 
 to Cabbage 
 Island, where 
 another battery 
 was expected to 
 be found. The 
 vessels went to 
 the mouth of the 
 creek, through 
 the R o m i 1 1 y 
 marsh, and to 
 the mouth of 
 Wilmin gt o n 
 River — a bewil- 
 dering cruise 
 among a network of shoals, inlets and 
 marshes, enough to test the patience of offi- 
 cers of the most energetic type. But these 
 men's minds were bent on fathoming the 
 intricacies of southern navigation, and they 
 succeeded in obtaining their object, and be- 
 fore they had been three months on the 
 southern coast every sound and inlet was 
 as familiar to our officers as to the Southern 
 pilots. 
 
 This expedition brought back valuable 
 information, ascertaining the position of 
 
83 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 forts, making reconnoissances on shore 
 with the marines of the " Savannah," until 
 their progress was stopped by an unford- 
 able stream and nothing more could be ac- 
 complished. 
 
 On the 16th of December, 1861, Com- 
 mander Percival Drayton was sent on a re- 
 connoissance of the North Edisto river, in 
 the steamer " Pawnee," accompanied by 
 the " Seneca," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Ammen, and the Coast Survey steamer 
 "Vixen," Captain Boutelle, who was gener- 
 ally the pioneer in these expeditions and 
 whose knowledge of the hydrography of 
 the country gave much valuable assistance. 
 
 "While Captain Drayton was examining 
 into the condition of some works (which 
 proved to be deserted), Lieutenant Ammen 
 proceeded with the '" Seneca " five miles up 
 the river and burned some cotton houses 
 and out-buildings. 
 
 A landing was made at the small town 
 of Rockville in hopes of surprising a large 
 body of the enemy's inf antry, but they de- 
 camped in a great hurry, leaving in Com- 
 mander Drayton's hands a sloop, loaded 
 with cotton and provisions, large quanti- 
 ties of commissary stores, consisting of rice, 
 sugar, bacon, corn, etc., which were re- 
 moved to the "Vixen." 
 
 An encampment a mile from the water 
 was visited and broken up, all the tents 
 and stores being removed to the boats. 
 
 The smaller gunboats pushed on until 
 they ran aground and could go no further. 
 They burnt one sloop, which had been run 
 on shore by the enemy and which could 
 not be gotten off. 
 
 A large number of the negroes in that 
 section greatly feared that the whites would 
 retaliate upon them for the pleasure they 
 had shown when the Union gunboats ar- 
 rived, and now tnost of them claimed and 
 obtained the protection of the Union flag. 
 
 The sentiment which pervaded the minds 
 of naval officers in the early part of the re- 
 bellion, that the negroes were the sacred 
 property of the Southern planters, not to be 
 touched under any circumstances, evapor- 
 ated a short time after operations had be- 
 gun, and when the Southern soldiers com- 
 pelled the negroes to throw up their earth- 
 works, dig their ditches and haul their loads, 
 while they enjoyed what comfort they could 
 get from camp life. The Federal officers de- 
 termined to remove as far as they possibly 
 could this important factor of war from 
 their masters, and give them that liberty 
 to which all men are entitled. Hundreds 
 of these negroes were removed in the gun- 
 boats and finally located on Hilton Head 
 Island. 
 
 This expedition found the fortifications 
 on Edisto Island entirely deserted and par- 
 tially destroyed, though on these occasions 
 
 the rebels always managed to carry off the 
 guns. Having obtained all the necessary 
 information the vessels returned to Port- 
 Royal. 
 
 Another expedition, under Commander 
 C. R. P. Rodgers, left Tybee Roads on the 
 11th of December, 1861, with the " Ottawa," 
 "Pembina," "Seneca" and " Henry An- 
 drew." 
 
 Entering and passing up Vernon River, 
 they discovered a fort on the eastern end of 
 Green Island, mounting eight guns, ap- 
 parently of heavy calibre, and near it an 
 encampment of 75 tents. 
 
 The fort was advantageously placed, and 
 its approaches landward were well pro- 
 tected by marshes. It commanded not only 
 Vernon River, but the Little Ogeechee, and 
 Hell Gate, the passage from Vernon River 
 into the Great Ogeechee. 
 
 The reader should have a good map of 
 the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia 
 by him, in order to obtain some idea of the 
 immense net of natural defences on which 
 the Southern engineers had erected fortifi- 
 cations with great skill and judgment. 
 
 These expeditions may appear to some 
 readers to be of very little importance, but 
 if they will carefully examine the map they 
 will see for themselves how difficult it was 
 for our gunboats to reach these places, 
 which were important military points and 
 convenient refuges for light-draft blockade 
 runners. 
 
 It was to obtain possession of all the 
 prominent positions held by the enemy that 
 Admiral Dupont sent out these expeditions, 
 and he desired to accomplish the work with 
 as little loss as possible. 
 
 It may be asked why this last expedition 
 did not attempt to capture the enemy's 
 works. 
 
 In the first place, the expedition was sim- 
 ply a reconnoissance, and he is an unwise 
 officer who goes to fighting and risks the 
 object in view. In the second place, the 
 vessels could not approach the fort nearer 
 than two miles, which was beyond the 
 reach of their guns. 
 
 The enemy fired at the "Pembina" with 
 a heavy smooth-bore gun, but the shot fell 
 far short, and the commander of the expe- 
 dition did not think it well, under the cir- 
 cumstances, to return the fire, and give the 
 enemy the opportunity of reporting an en- 
 gagement with and the repulse of Yankee 
 gun-boats. 
 
 Ogeechee Sound and the Great Ogeechee 
 River were examined and no batteries 
 found. A full reconnoissance was accom- 
 plished, by which the Commander-in chief 
 was placed in possession of information 
 that would much facilitate any operations 
 of the Army and Navy which might be de- 
 cided on in the future. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 83 
 
 On December 5th Commander Drayton 
 again proceeded on a reconnoissance to 
 Saint Helena Sound in the "Pawnee," ac- 
 companied by the gunboats " Unadilla," 
 Commander N. Collins, " Isaac Smith," 
 Lieut. Commander J. W. Nicholson, and 
 Coast Survey steamer "Vixen," Captain 
 Boutelle. 
 
 He reached the anchorage off the fort on 
 Otter Island at mid-day; pushed on up 
 Mosquito Creek (no doubt appropriately 
 named), but found no traces of white peo- 
 ple, except some burning buildings on 
 Hutchison's Island. Very little was ef- 
 fected to repay this expedition, yet what 
 fine harbors were found for blockade run- 
 ners, what places of safety for our fleets to 
 lie in during winter storms, and what vigi- 
 lance would be required to keep these re- 
 treats from being made useful by an 
 enemy so quick to take advantage as were 
 the soldiers of the South! 
 
 Whenever the enemy's troops appeared 
 they were reminded by a bursting shell 
 that the annoying gunboat was at their 
 heels, and would follow and harass them 
 until they retreated from the coast. 
 
 On landing at Hutchison's Island, they 
 found that two days before all the negroes' 
 houses, overseer's house, and out-buildings, 
 together with the picked cotton, had been 
 burned. 
 
 Thus early in the war did the torch begin 
 to play that prominent part by which hun- 
 dreds were driven from their homes, and 
 by which the Southern soldiers in their 
 folly thought to defeat the Federals in their 
 cherished object of securing plunder. 
 
 This system led to retaliation, which in 
 the end impoverished the Southern people 
 from Cape Hatteras to Florida. 
 
 An attempt had been made on the ap- 
 proach of the gunboats to drive off the ne- 
 groes and prevent their escaping, A great 
 many did escape, however, though some of 
 the number were shot in the back in the at- 
 tempt. 
 
 The scene of complete desolation which 
 on this occasion met the eyes of our officers 
 beggars description; the negroes cowering 
 amid the smoking ruins of their homes 
 would have touched the hardest heart. 
 These poor creatures still clung in despair 
 to the spot where their houses once stood, 
 but where they could no longer find shel- 
 ter, and here they bewailed in piteous ac- 
 cents the loss of what was once the only 
 Paradise they had on earth. In one mo- 
 ment they had seen all that was most pre- 
 cious to them reduced to ashes; but they 
 preferred to remain near the place where 
 their homes once stood, in the hope of ob- 
 taining comparative liberty, rather than to 
 follow the fortunes of their masters and re- 
 main in bondage. 
 
 The most painful spectacle of all was that 
 of old and decrepit men and women wan- 
 dering about in search of the places where 
 thev were wont to dwell, and searching 
 with bleared eyes in the hot ashes for any 
 little memento of by -gone days that might 
 cheer them in the few years they had yet to 
 live. 
 
 Little children crawled around at the risk 
 of falling into the burning embers, while 
 their heart-broken mothers sat alone and 
 gazed with despair at the wreck of all they 
 once owned — though they had only owned 
 it at the will and pleasure of their masters. 
 
 Much sympathy was felt for these poor 
 creatures; but it was not entirely deserved, 
 for the gunboats had hardly dropped down 
 the creek for the night (which they did as 
 a matter of precaution) before signal lights 
 were made at the very spot they had left, 
 to inform the enemy of their departure. It 
 could only have been done by the negroes, 
 for there was not a white man within a mile 
 of the plantation. This might appear like 
 treachery on the part of the blacks, but it 
 was only for fear of further punishment 
 that they pretended an interest in the cause 
 of their masters. 
 
 That strange infatuation which possessed 
 some of the cabinet of Mr. Lincoln, that by 
 the Constitution the negroes were the goods 
 and chattels of the South and could not be 
 liberated until that clause in the Constitu- 
 tion was annulled, did much towards bring- 
 ing desolation upon these poor people, who 
 having formed some indefinite idea of free- 
 dom, would escape to the Union lines, in the 
 hope of receiving protection; but they were 
 often disappointed, for though they were 
 kindly treated they were not protected in 
 the full sense of the word. They were al- 
 lowed to hang around the camps and naval 
 stations, and live upon the debris of the 
 soldiers' and sailors' rations, but it cannot 
 be said that they were actually taken care 
 of. They were allowed to till the land 
 around them, put up cottages of brush and 
 straw, and eke out an existence scarcely 
 superior to that of an animal, and that was 
 called philanthropy. 
 
 At first the officers of the Navy were 
 afraid to take the responsibility of openly 
 liberating the slaves, being held back by 
 the old idea of the right of the white man 
 to property in human flesh which was guar- 
 anteed to him by the Constitution. 
 
 The Cabinet would not for a time ap- 
 proach this subject, for some of its members 
 still adhered to the delusion that the South 
 would never come back into the Union if 
 the subject of slavery was tampered with 
 in any way. 
 
 If Abraham Lincoln's emancipation act 
 had been promulgated the day Sumter was 
 fixed upon, the liberated slaves would have 
 
84 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 flocked to the North, and thus have deprived 
 the Southerners of that factor in the war 
 (the slave labor) which built their forts, 
 hauled their loads, worked their planta- 
 tions, and furnished them with food while 
 fighting. They even attended their masters 
 on the battle field, carried off the wounded, 
 drove teams, etc., and every negro thus em- 
 ployed saved a soldier to the Confederacy. 
 
 Instead of depriving the Confederates of 
 their services, we avoided the expense of 
 providing for them, and left them to take 
 care of themselves. Hundreds died from 
 neglect: they were a shiftless, lazy people 
 and could not take care of themselves. 
 Many in despair wandered back to their 
 masters, who in fact treated them better 
 than we did, hoping some day to make use 
 of them again, when their cause was 
 gained, and the negro once more regarded 
 as a chattel. 
 
 Is it any wonder that they made signal 
 lights to inform their masters that the gun- 
 boats had departed ? 
 
 The slaves seemed on the whole to be em- 
 bued with more liberal sentiments towards 
 the white man of the North, than the latter 
 held for them. 
 
 I't is true that they had been removed 
 from points where they were suffering to 
 places of shelter, but not beyond the reach 
 of the Southei'n fanatics, who shot at them 
 as they would at dogs or cats. 
 
 This was done by men who would blow 
 up light-houses, burn villages and destroy 
 springs, so that tliose favorable to the Union 
 cause might not enjoy a glass of fresh 
 water. 
 
 In spite of our neglectful treatment of the 
 blacks, they were always more than friendly 
 to us. They would assist in destroying a 
 fort, though it might bring them lashes or 
 death; they would give information with 
 regard to the movements of the enemy, and 
 would hurrah when a Union shell burst in 
 the midst of Confederate troops. But they 
 did not receive that aid which would have 
 kept them from starving, and so have pre- 
 vented their old masters using them to build 
 up forts to drive the Union people away. 
 
 On the above-mentioned occasion. Com- 
 mander Drayton's policy was a generous 
 one. A large number of the negroes had 
 left Hutchison Island after they had been 
 burned out, and now crowded upon the 
 beach with what was left of their goods and 
 chattels, and prayed to be removed to an- 
 other island. 
 
 They were taken away by the gunboats, 
 and if the expedition had accomplished 
 nothing else, the Commander would have 
 deserved credit for thus relieving suffering 
 humanity. 
 
 Otter Island Fort and the adjacent waters 
 were, on this occasion, placed in charge of 
 
 Lieut.-Commanding Nicholson, who was 
 directed to supply the negroes with food and 
 do what he could for their comfort. 
 
 The attention of Admiral Dupont had, in 
 January, been drawn to the fact that the 
 enemy designed to shut up the troops on 
 Port Royal Island, by placing obstructions 
 in the Coosaw Eiver and Whale Branch, 
 by erecting batteries at Port Royal Ferry, 
 at Seabrook, and at or near Boyd's Neck, 
 and by accumulating troops in the vicinity 
 in such a manner as to be able to throw a 
 force of three thousand men upon any of 
 these points at short notice. 
 
 On a consultation with General T. W. 
 Sherman, it was determined to arrest the 
 designs of the enemy and to do it in such 
 a manner as to prevent any more attempts 
 of the kind. A joint expedition was agreed 
 upon, and a plan of conduct settled upon 
 by the commanders of the Army and Navy. 
 The first day of the year was selected for 
 the attack. 
 
 Commander C. R. P. Rodgers was ap- 
 pointed to the command of the naval forces, 
 consisting of the "Ottawa," Lieut.-Com- 
 manding Stevens, " Pembina," Lieut.-Com- 
 manding Bankhead, and four armed boats 
 from the "' Wabash," carrying howitzers, 
 under charge of Lieutenants Upshur, Luce 
 and Irwin, and Acting Master Kempff, all 
 of which were to enter the Coosaw by Beau- 
 fort river; the gun-boat "Seneca," Lieut.- 
 Com. Ammen, and the tug-boat " Ellen," 
 Acting-Master Budd, to participate, both 
 of which were to move up Beaufort River 
 and approach the batteries at Seabrook and 
 Port Royal Ferry, by Whale Branch. The 
 armed Tug "Hale," Acting-Master Foster, 
 was also ordered to report to the com- 
 mander of the expedition. 
 
 The gun-boats reached Beaufort on the 
 31st December, 1863, and in order not to 
 give the enemy notice of their approach, 
 they remained there until after dark, when 
 they ascended the river to within two miles 
 of the Coosaw. At 4 o'clock the neit morn- 
 ing the gun-boats moved up and joined 
 General Stevens at the appointed rendez- 
 vous. Here the troops embarked, crossed 
 the Coosaw, and landed at Haywood's plan- 
 tation, and with them went the two how- 
 itzers of the "Wabash," to serve as a sec- 
 tion of light artillery, under Lieutenant 
 Irwin. 
 
 The troops and gun-boats engaged the 
 enemy (who was on the alert) atPortRoval 
 and Seabrook Ferries. The Confederates 
 also appeared in force, in line of battle, on 
 the right of the Federal troops, but were 
 dispersed with some loss by the fire of the 
 gun-boats, which was very galling. 
 
 At sunset the enemy sent in a flag of truce, 
 asking permission to carry off their dead 
 and wounded; just then the gun-boats 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 85 
 
 opened fire, and before General Stevens 
 could send a messenger to stop it, the offi- 
 cer who brought the flag of truce galloped 
 oflf. 
 
 The enemy again showed themselves in 
 force the next morning, but the gunboats 
 opened such a fire on them that they soon 
 retired to a point where they could not be 
 followed and made no more demonstrations. 
 
 The military portion of the expedition re- 
 crossed the Coosaw and started on their re- 
 turn march, while the gunboats, watching 
 the tide and their opportunity, passed down 
 the channel, leaving the enemy to under- 
 stand that they would be chased up when- 
 ever they attempted to plant batteries on 
 sounds, inlets or rivers. 
 
 The co-operation of the Army and Navy 
 was very complete on this occasion. The 
 services of the officers are highly spoken of 
 by Commander Rodgers, particularly the 
 work of Lieut. -Commander Ammen with 
 the "Seneca" and "Ellen" at Seabrook. 
 
 The work was performed in very narrow 
 and crooked rivers, but with care and skill- 
 ful handling the gunboats (though often 
 aground) were brought out with but little 
 damage. 
 
 The reports of Lieuts. -Commanding Trux- 
 ton and Nicholson, though not containing 
 an account of severe service, are instructive 
 as showing how each officer of the fleet was 
 kept employed in chasing up the enemy, 
 and how the latter kept on the move. 
 
 Admiral Dupont made it a rule (and it 
 was a very good one) to give his staff offi- 
 cers an opportunity to distinguish them- 
 selves where opportunity offered, without 
 taking away from others what they might 
 consider theirs of right, namely, to do all the 
 flghting while the staff were attending to 
 what might be considered their legitimate 
 duties. 
 
 Hence we flnd the Fleet-Captain, Charles 
 H. Davis, getting underway on January 36, 
 1862, for an expedition into Warsaw Sound. 
 He had under his command the gunboats 
 "Ottawa," Lieut. -Commanding Stevens; 
 "Seneca," Lieut. -Commanding Ammen, and 
 the armed steamer, " Isaac Smith," Lieut. - 
 Commanding Nicholson ; the "Potomska," 
 Lieut.-Commanding Watmough ; the "El- 
 len," Master Budd ; " Western World," 
 " Gregory," and the two armed launches of 
 the " Wabash," and having in company the 
 transports "Cosmopolitan," "Delaware" 
 and " Boston," on board of which were the 
 6th Connecticut, the 4th New Hampshire 
 and the 97th Pennsylvania regiments, in all 
 2,400 men, commanded by Brig. -General 
 H. G.Wright. Commander C. R. P. Rodgers 
 accompanied the expedition. 
 
 The object of this move was to cut off the 
 communication between Fort Pulaski and 
 
 The vessels entered Little Tybee River, or 
 Freeborn Cut, and passed Fort Pulaski, but 
 were not fired into, as the fort was not pre- 
 pared for an enemy on this side. Prepara- 
 tions were at once made, however, to re- 
 ceive the expedition warmly on its return. 
 The distance was that of long-range guns. 
 
 The vessels were brought to a stop, after 
 passing Wilmington Island, by heavy piles 
 driven in a double row across the channel ; 
 they were anchored and a reconnoissance 
 made, in boats, of the numerous creeks with 
 which this country was intersected. 
 
 At 5 p. M. five Confederate steamers, one 
 of them carrying a square fiag at the fore 
 (probably Commodore Tatnall's), anchored 
 at the mouth of the creek. They had it in 
 their power to choose their distance, and 
 this led to an expectation of an attack, but 
 the night passed quietly. 
 
 At 11 :15 the five steamers composing Com- 
 modore Tatnall's squadron attempted to 
 pass down the river with some scows in tow. 
 Commander John Rodgers, who lay at an- 
 chor in Wright River, and Captain Davis 
 opened fire upon them, which they returned 
 with spirit. The result of the engagement, 
 which lasted less than half an hour, was that 
 Commodore Tatnall and one of his squadron 
 were driven back ; the other three vessels 
 made good their passage down to Fort Pu- 
 laski, and afterwards passed up the river 
 again to Savannah, where one of them sunk 
 at the dock. 
 
 As a demonstration the appearance of the 
 gun-boats was a success, as Savannah was 
 thrown into a great state of excitement, 
 and all the energies of the people were put 
 forth to increase the military defences: 
 
 The information required by this expedi- 
 tion was gained without loss of life or in- 
 jury to the gun-boats. 
 
 Surveys and examinations were made 
 up Wright and Mud Rivers by Commander 
 John Rodgers, and a great amount of good 
 service done. The officers and boats' crews 
 were in continual danger from the fire of 
 bush-whacking Confederates, who were 
 always ready for a fight. 
 
 The names of Commanders John Rodg- 
 ers, Drayton, C. R. P. Rodgers, Godon, 
 Rhind, Stevens, Balch, Ammen, Truxton, 
 Watmough, and Semmes, were conspicuous 
 wherever a Confederate shot was heard, or 
 wherever there was a chance to gain a point 
 on the enemy. 
 
 Heavy knocks were received by our gun- 
 boats from Confederate flying batteries, 
 which would often make desperate stands 
 behind earthworks thrown up for the occa- 
 sion. The long steel shot from their Whit- 
 worth guns would pass easily through the 
 sides of our vessels and inflict death or in- 
 jury on all around. These attacks were, in 
 
86 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 ishment from the heavy guns of the Fed- 
 eral vessels. Our officers and men had a 
 most persistent enemy to deal with, but 
 they never flinched from any kind of duty 
 until the whole coast was under Federal 
 control. 
 
 All along the coast and up the rivers, 
 where gun-boats could reach, heavy earth- 
 works were found abandoned, their maga- 
 zines blown up, and their guns removed, 
 evidently showing that the Confederates 
 did not care to dispute with our gun-boats 
 the occupancy of the soil. They would 
 scarcely have finished many of their bat- 
 teries before they would abandon them, and 
 erect new works again at some other point. 
 
 A remarkable instance of patriotism on 
 the part of the colored people was evinced 
 in the bringing out of the armed steamer 
 " Planter " from Charleston, and delivering 
 her over to the naval officer blockading that 
 port. Robert Small, who performed this 
 courageous act, was employed on board the 
 " Planter," which was used as a dispatch 
 and transportation steamer attached to the 
 Engineer Department in Charleston, under 
 Brigadier-General Ripley. 
 
 The taking out of the " Planter" would 
 have done credit to anyone, but the clever- 
 ness with which the whole affair was con- 
 ducted deserves more than a passing notice. 
 Small was a very clever light mulatto who 
 had been running this steamer for some 
 time, and he had gained the confidence of 
 his employers to that extent that, on the 13th 
 of May, the Captain went on shore for the 
 night and left Small in charge. He had 
 made all his arrangements to carry off his 
 family, and at 4 o'clock in the morning, left 
 the wharf with the Palmetto and Confeder- 
 ate flags flying, passed the forts and saluted 
 them as he went by, by blowing his steam 
 whistle. After getting out of reach of the 
 Confederate guns, he hauled down the 
 flags and hoisted a white one at the fore. 
 All this required the greatest heroism, for 
 had he been caught while leaving the 
 wharf, or stopped by the forts, he would 
 have paid the penalty with his life. 
 
 The "Planter" mounted two guns of her 
 own, and had lying upon her deck four guns 
 intended for the forts, one a 7-inch rifle. 
 
 Small was the pilot of the boat, and had 
 no difficulty in making his way through 
 
 the obstructions placed in the channels. 
 Besides the vessel and guns which he 
 brought out, he gave much valuable infor- 
 mation which only a man of his intelli- 
 gence could impart. When he left Charles- 
 ton he brought away with him eight men 
 and five women. 
 
 Robert Small was an object of great in- 
 terest in Dupont's fleet, not only for his 
 courageous act, but for being the most in- 
 telligent slave that had yet been met with. 
 He was one of the first, if not the first, col- 
 ored man who was elected to Congress 
 from Brunswick, S. C, and he held his 
 own with white men who were far better 
 educated than himself. It was not often 
 that a negro was met with of such intelli- 
 gence, from the fact that the system of 
 slavery so tended to degrade the colored 
 race that few, if any, could ever rise to su- 
 periority. 
 
 When Admiral Dupont gave up the com- 
 mand of the South Atlantic Squadron there 
 was not much left for his successor to do 
 in the way of gaining information along 
 the coasts of South Carolina. Georgia and 
 Florida. The officers under Dupont's com- 
 mand had made themselves so well ac- 
 quainted with the hydrography and topog- 
 raphy of the country that they needed no 
 pilots to point the way for them through 
 any bay or inlet. 
 
 AH the sounds or inlets where a blockade 
 runner could get in or out were so closely 
 watched, or hermetically sealed, that few 
 vessels attempted to communicate with the 
 Confederacy in that direction. As a rule 
 they had abandoned their beats, and either 
 kept to running into Charleston or Wil- 
 mington, or went to the coasts of Alabama 
 and Texas, where their chances were bet- 
 ter than in the South Atlantic. 
 
 The South Atlantic coast was throughout 
 the war the favorite ground for blockade 
 runners, and the hardest blockading duty 
 was performed in that quarter. Rich prizes 
 were sometimes taken, and watchful com- 
 manders often reaped uncommon rewards; 
 but with it all there was a monotonous 
 watchfulness that wore men out, and many 
 officers after the war fell into bad health, if 
 they did not altogether succumb to the in- 
 fluence of a climate which in winter or 
 summer was not conducive to longevity. 
 
CH AFTER X. 
 
 NAVAL ENGAGEMENT AT SOUTH-WEST PASS.— THE GULF BLOCKADING 
 
 SQUADRON IN NOVEMBER, 1861. 
 
 Attempt to Blockade the Passes of the Mississippi. — Escape op the "Sumtee." — 
 The "Manassas" Rams the "Richmond." — The Battle at the Pass. — Attempt to 
 Destroy the " Vincennes." — Final Results of the Engagements. — Capture of the 
 " Royal Yacht " IN Galveston Harbor by Lieut. Jambs E. Jouett. — Attack on 
 Fort McRae and Fort Pickens by the "Niagara" and "Richmond," November 
 22, 1861. — Correct Account OF Attempt TO Relieve Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, 
 AND OF Relief of Fort Pickens, April 17, 1861. — List of Ships and Officers 
 OF West Gulf Blockading Squadron, 1861. 
 
 IT would be a. pleasant task to be able to 
 record nothing but successes and have 
 no defeats checked against us; but 
 that could not very well be unless we 
 admitted that our enemy was deficient 
 in all the qualities which distinguish the 
 American soldier and sailor, and that we 
 gained our victories easily because we had 
 no one of any courage, energy or ability to 
 ■contend with. 
 
 On the contrary, we had all these to 
 meet us at every step; and our enemies, 
 although men of the same stamp as our- 
 selves, had their energies quickened by an 
 amount of rancor which the Federals could 
 never be made to feel, as they were fighting 
 simply to preserve the Union, while the Con- 
 federates were fighting with a cherished ob- 
 ject, to gain something new and beyond 
 their reach, which they thought would con- 
 duce to their happiness, and of which they 
 thought the North was trying to deprive 
 ihem. 
 
 We could not expect impunity from losses 
 and defeats upon the water any more than 
 ihe soldiers could on the land; for though 
 the Confederates had nothing like the re- 
 sources of the North in naval matters, yet 
 they put forth so much more energy and 
 converted so many ordinary vessels into 
 powerful rams and gunboats, that they 
 made up in that way for what they lacked 
 
 The reader must not therefore be sur- 
 prised if the Union Navy was now and then 
 caught tripping; nor must they take it for 
 granted that every officer in the Navy was 
 a perfect man, patterned after some rare 
 type, who never made mistakes or knew de- 
 feat. 
 
 In so great a field of operations as that 
 through which our Army and Navy labored 
 for so long a time, it would be strange in- 
 deed if a great many mistakes were not 
 committed. 
 
 New Orleans was the Queen City of the 
 South; the great emporium through which 
 the Confederates at one time hoped to in- 
 flict great injury upon the North by fitting 
 out vessels-of-war or privateers to prey upon 
 the Northern merchant ships, and by con- 
 verting the factories of this place into shops 
 for casting guns and making small arms. 
 
 The Confederates considered that it would 
 be a difficult matter for the Union forces to 
 blockade the different mouths of the Mis- 
 sissippi, the bayous and sounds, and flat- 
 tered themselves that New Orleans would be- 
 come the rendezvous for all the blockade 
 runners that had early in the war commenced 
 to swarm upon the coast like bees about the 
 honey flowers. But they were disappointed 
 in their expectations, for as early as June, 
 1861, Commodore McKean sent the " Pow- 
 hatan," Lieut. D. D. Porter, to close up the 
 
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THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 89 
 
 mander Charles Poor, in the " Brooklyn," to 
 blockade Pass a TOutre. 
 
 It was through the latter channel that 
 the " Sumter," Captain Semmes, escaped 
 to sea, while the "'Brooklyn " was off in 
 chase of a strange sail, and she was thus 
 enabled to commence her career of havoc 
 on American commerce. 
 
 This drew the attention of the Navy De- 
 partment particularly to the mouths of the 
 Mississippi, and a small squadron of ves- 
 sels (quite inadequate for the purpose) was 
 appointed to blockade the different passes. 
 
 The river Mississippi divides into several 
 channels before reaching the Gulf of Mexico, 
 and this division takes place at a point 
 simply known as "the head of the passes," 
 about fifteen miles above the mouths of the 
 river. It was supposed that if a squadron 
 could occupy this point it would be able to 
 intercept anything going up or down. 
 
 It was not until the 12th of October, 1861, 
 that this squadron reached "the head of 
 the passes." 
 
 It was composed of the following vessels: 
 "Richmond," screw steamer, Capt John 
 Pope, twenty -two 9 inch guns; "Vincen- 
 nes," sloop-of-war, ten guns; "Preble," 
 sloop, eleven guns: "Water Witch," small 
 screw steamer, four guns. 
 
 This squadron, mounting in all forty- 
 seven guns, seemed to be quite able to de- 
 fend " the head of the passes" and not only 
 prevent anything going up or down, but to 
 drive off any force the Confederates could 
 collect at that moment. 
 
 But the Confederates had already fitted 
 out a ram (the "Manassas"), armed with 
 one gun in the bow, covered with iron and 
 considered of sufficient power to sink a 
 heavy ship with one of her blows. 
 
 The Commander of the Union squadron 
 did not seem to be aware that the enemy 
 had a vessel of this kind on the river, or if 
 he did, he attached but little importance to 
 the fact, having the impression that she was 
 nothing more than a small converted tug. 
 
 The rule that a man should never despise 
 his enemy was never more thoroughly illus- 
 trated than on this occasion. 
 
 The "Kichmond" was coaling from a 
 schooner which lay alongside of her. not 
 keeping any particular lookout, her crew 
 being employed in getting the coal on board. 
 It was .3:45 in the morning, the "Water 
 Witch " was not in the advance, keeping a 
 lookout, and the ships of war were all an- 
 chored in the stream, when the " Rich- 
 mond " discovered a strange craft approach- 
 ing, which immediately afterwards struck 
 her a heavy blow abreast the port fore- 
 channels, tearing the schooner from her 
 fastenings, crushing in three planks of the 
 ship's side and making a small hole two feet 
 below the water line. 
 
 That was the only blow the ram struck, 
 for, as we now know, she was somewhat 
 disabled by the shock, and she moved off 
 slowly up the river, glad to get away so 
 easily. 
 
 This vessel proved to bo the ram "Man- 
 assas," at that time one of the improvised 
 squadron of Commodore HoUins, late of the 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 The "Richmond's" crew flew to their 
 quarters as soon as she was struck, and, as 
 soon as they could they fired a random 
 broadside, for there was not much chance 
 of seeing anything in the darkness which 
 then prevailed. 
 
 The ram. it is reported, remained under 
 the quarter of the "Richmond" for some 
 time, apparently trying to give another 
 blow (but in fact partly disabled), and then 
 drifted away. 
 
 COMMODORE J. S. HOLLINS, C. S. N. 
 
 Had the " Richmond" stood up the river 
 until daylight the " Manassas would have 
 fallen into her power. The " Preble " opened 
 her port battery on the ram as it passed 
 slowly up the river, but without any effect. 
 
 After a time the "Richmond" got imder- 
 way and went a short distance above the 
 passes, but Acting-Master Wilcox reported 
 that she was getting too close to the star- 
 board shore (where there was water enough 
 to float a three-decker), and the helm was 
 put hard a- starboard (instead of proceeding 
 on up, as could easily have been done) and 
 the vessel sheared off into the stream with 
 her broadside bearing up the river; she then 
 drifted down with the current until she 
 neared the " head of the passes," when "in- 
 effectual attempts were made to get her 
 head up stream" (which could easily have 
 been done by letting go an anchor). 
 
 Thfi vain fifFnrts finntiniifid until thfistfia.m- 
 
90 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 ships had drifted a mile and a half down 
 the Southwest Pass, when they were discon- 
 tinued, the helm put up, and the vessel 
 headed towards Pilottown, where her com- 
 mander thought he would be able to turn 
 round ! 
 
 When she arrived at Pilottown she still 
 drifted on, and strange to say, she drifted 
 toward the exit from the river. All this time 
 the other vessels were doing all they could 
 to drift after the "Richmond!" In other 
 words, having been sent to the passes to de- 
 fend them, on the first appearance of an 
 enemy they deserted their posts and made 
 a most shameful retreat — a retreat from a 
 few river boats that a broadside of either 
 ship would have sent to the bottom in five 
 minutes. In fact, it was a perfect stampede 
 if there ever was one, and there seems to 
 have been a desire to get into deep water, 
 which was entirely unwarranted by the cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 The " Richmond " and " Vincennes " both 
 drifted broadside on until near the bar, when 
 they grounded in that position (the most 
 favorable one to receive an attack from the 
 enemy.) 
 
 The day before Captain Pope had mounted 
 on the "Richmond's" forecastle one of 
 his 9-inch guns, in order to be ready for any 
 emergency, and it served him a good turn 
 when the time came for using it. 
 
 As soon as the enemy saw that the two 
 ships had grounded near the bar, they came 
 down below Pilottown and opened fire on 
 them with some light Whitworth guns of 
 good range, which could reach the Federal 
 ships while the heaviest guns on the Rich- 
 mond could not reach them. 
 
 The enemy kept up this fire for about two 
 hours without doing any particular damage, 
 the bolts from their rifles being quite small. 
 One of them lodged in a drawer of the bureau 
 containing Captain Pope's clothes, and there 
 seemed to have spent itself, without doing 
 any harm whatever. 
 
 There is no account of any injury being 
 inflicted on the vessels, or of any one being 
 killed or wounded. It was very much like 
 the celebrated "battle of the kegs " which 
 once set a whole fleet in motion. 
 
 While the firing was going on, the enemy's 
 shot flying over and the shot from our ships 
 falling short, it was reported to Captain 
 Pope that several boats filled with men were 
 leaving the "Vincennes." 
 
 Some went on board the steamer " Water 
 Witch," others went to the "Richmond," 
 and Captain Handy (the Commander 
 of the "Vincennes"), in company with 
 several of the officers, presented himself on 
 the quarter-deck before Captain Pope, with 
 the American flag wrapped around his 
 waist in large folds [!], and on being asked 
 
 +v> 
 
 r\ 1-1 l-n /-I /TT 
 
 -\ -r l-» 1 CI /^ i-v w-i 1 ■n <-«» in T l-» o T- t 
 
 ^„ „+„+„j 
 
 that he had abandoned his ship in obedience 
 to signal, and on being informed that no 
 such signal had been made, he insisted that 
 Captain Winslow of the "Water Witch" 
 had so read it. 
 
 When Captain Winslow was asked re- 
 garding the matter, he said that he saw no 
 such signal. It was, in fact, simply the 
 power of imagination acting on Capt. 
 Handy's nerves. 
 
 He did send to Capt. Winslow asking if 
 that was not the meaning of a signal that 
 was made by the flagship, but the answer 
 he received was "No; it is incipossible that 
 any such signal can have been made. Get 
 your guns out of your stern ports and defend 
 your ship." 
 
 It appears that on leaving his ship Capt. 
 Handy determined that nothing of her 
 should fall into the hands of Commodore 
 Hollins, and he therefore ordered that a slow 
 match should be placed near the magazine, 
 and a train of powder laid, so that by the 
 time he reached the " Richmond " the old 
 "Vincennes," that had performed many a 
 useful cruise, should go up in a blaze of 
 glory. He never reflected that his small 
 32-pounders might be whisked about in the 
 air and fall upon the decks of the stranded 
 "Richmond." 
 
 Capt. Handy's reception on board the 
 flagship by Capt. Pope was not a flattering 
 one. He was immediately ordered back to 
 his vessel when it was seen that she did not 
 blow up, and the quarter-gunner who had 
 been directed to light the match informed 
 them that he had cut the lighted part off 
 and thrown it overboard. 
 
 In the mean time the steamer "McClel- 
 lan " came in with stores for the squadron 
 and some rifled-guns of large calibre, and 
 this put the Commander of the squadron at 
 his ease. He could now drive the Hollins 
 flotilla off if it should reappear. 
 
 The " McClellan " was then set to work 
 to get the grounded vessels afloat, which 
 she finally succeeded in doing, and they 
 crossed the bar and anchored safely in deep 
 water. 
 
 Capt. Pope in his report of this unhappy 
 affair says: "My retreat down the pass, 
 though painful to me, was to save the ships 
 and prevent them from being sunk and fall- 
 mg into the hands of the enemy [!] as it is 
 evident to me that they had us in their 
 power by means of the ram and fire-rafts. 
 If I have erred in all this matter it is an 
 error of judgment. The whole affair came 
 upon me so suddenly that there was no 
 tune left me for reflection, but called for 
 immediate action and decision. The ram 
 having made her appearance next day at 
 the mouth of the river [!] the impression is 
 she sustained no injury from our shot, only 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 91 
 
 li. 
 
 li- 
 st 
 
 is- 
 
 " It having been rumored that there was a 
 panic on board this ship at the time she was 
 •engaged with the enemy, I state it to be 
 false. Both officers and men maintained 
 their coolness and determination to do their 
 ■duty. My orders and those of the officers 
 were carried out with as much coolness as 
 if it had been an every -day affair, and their 
 whole conduct merits high commendation. 
 
 " They would be gratified to prove their 
 hravel-y by being permitted to take part in 
 the contemplated attack on Pensacola, as 
 requested in notes from me to you on the 
 isubject. 
 
 " Inboth engagements with the enemy the 
 fire appeared to be directed to the destruc- 
 tion of this ship, most of the shot being ap- 
 parently directed to the quarter of this ves- 
 sel, presumed for the purpose of disabling 
 our rudder and propeller." 
 
 This relation would not be complete if 
 Capt. Handy had not had the opportunity to 
 place himself on record, on the eve of his 
 ship getting aground, as follows : 
 
 "Sib : We are aground. We have only two guns 
 that will bear in the direction of the enemy. 
 
 " Shall I remain on board after the moon goes 
 down with my crippled ship and nearly worn-out 
 men ? 
 
 "WiU you send me word what countersign my 
 boats shall use if we pass near your ship ? 
 
 " While we have moonlight would it not be bet- 
 ter to leave the ship ? Shall I burn her when I 
 leave her ? 
 
 "Respectfully, 
 
 "Robert Handy." 
 
 Capt. Pope seemed quite aware of the 
 ludicrousness of this proposition, and wrote 
 Handy as follows: 
 
 "U. 8. Str. 'Richmond,' \ 
 " South West Pass, j 
 "October 13, 1861. 
 "Sir : Tou say your ship is aground. It will be 
 your duty to defend your ship up to the last mo- 
 ment, and not to fire her unless it be to prevent 
 her falling into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 "I do not think the enemy will be down to-night, 
 but if they do come, fight them to the last. 
 
 " You have boats enough to save all your men. I 
 do not approve of your leaving your ship until 
 every effort is made to defend her from falling into 
 their hands. Respectfully, etc., 
 
 "John Pope, 
 " Captain, U. S. N. 
 "Com. Robert Handy, U. 8. N., 
 "Commanding ' Vincennes.'" 
 
 There is not much more to tell of this 
 painful business — it would have been better 
 to have left out the telling of it, but history 
 cannot be written fairly if that alone is told 
 which is creditable, and if that which 
 smacks of the disgraceful is omitted. 
 
 There is no excuse for anything that hap- 
 pened in this squadron, and the mistakes 
 made were not redeemed by any after-acts 
 of gallantry. 
 
 T^ 
 
 <-!,«+ j-i, ; 
 
 ^^,^Ar 
 
 l,„^„«„„.:l 1,^ 
 
 cause these ships were taken by surprise, 
 and because the most extravagant reports 
 had been spread by Hollins about the force 
 he had in rams and fire-rafts, was all folly. 
 
 Suppose the rebels had invented the most 
 destructive methods, which lively imagina- 
 tions had invested with supernatural power, 
 there was no reason why 47 heavy guns 
 and 700 men should run away from such 
 goblins. 
 
 A badly-constructed ram ran her snout 
 into the "Richmond" and ripped off three 
 pieces of her planking ; there were no fire- 
 rafts, and Hollins' squadron was all a sham. 
 His gunboats were nothing more than frail 
 river craft with small rifled guns — like those 
 which Bailey's division sent to the bottom 
 after a fifteen minutes' engagement at the 
 battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. 
 
 Put this matter in any light you may, it 
 is the most ridiculous affair that ever took 
 place in the American Navy. There is no 
 instance during the war like it. To think 
 that we should have to write of such a re- 
 treat is mortifying, but it stands on record, 
 described in language that almost claims 
 merit for the flight of the "Richmond" 
 and her consorts, chased by a ram that was 
 going in an opposite direction as fast as 
 her disabled machinery would take her, — 
 her officers thanking their stars that they 
 got away so easily ! 
 
 There is nothing that can equal the com- 
 icality of Capt. Handy's performance — lay- 
 ing a train with a slow match to his maga- 
 zine, and then hastening away in his boats 
 with the American flag wound around him, 
 and his remarkable antics when he found 
 that his ship would not blow up. This pre- 
 sents an example unmatched in any navy 
 in the world. 
 
 After the ships had safely passed the bar, 
 it was a subject of great congratulation to 
 them that they were out of reach of Hollins, 
 his rams and his fire-rafts; the very ene- 
 mies they had been sent into the river to 
 subdue. 
 
 New Orleans was illuminated on this oc- 
 casion, and Hollins was feted as if he had 
 won a great victory. 
 
 Perhaps this fiasco had a good effect by 
 causing the Confederates to underrate the 
 Northern Navy; if so, they dearly paid for 
 it. for only a few months afterwards all 
 their rams, ironclads, fire-rafts, and gun- 
 boats were swept away by a squadron 
 bravely commanded, notwithstanding the 
 heavy forts prepared with every skill for 
 the enemy's protection, and with all the de- 
 vices human ingenuity could conceive of. 
 
 Such events as we have related are not 
 without their benefit in time of war. They 
 make officers more careful in their plans, 
 and teach them that good commanders and 
 
 
93 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 prise; they also warn a government to be 
 careful whom it places in command of 
 its ships at a time when it is required that 
 only the bravest and best should be se- 
 lected for all occasions where success is de- 
 manded or where the honor of the flag is 
 at stake. 
 
 A small detachment of vessels, under the 
 command of Captain Henry Eagle, was at 
 this time blockading the coast of Texas. 
 His particular command was the frigate 
 " Santee." She was not a suitable vessel 
 for this purpose (being a sailing ship), and 
 her crew of 500 men might have performed 
 more effective service by being divided up 
 amongst five or six small steamers, armed 
 with howitzers. 
 
 A good deal of force was expended in 
 this way during the war, which might have 
 been exerted to better purpose; but the ob- 
 ject of the Navy Department was to have 
 a large number of guns afloat in view of 
 European complications, and these large 
 sailing ships, though perfectly useless for 
 blockading purposes, carried a large num- 
 ber of men who could at times be used with 
 good effect in landing on the enemy's coast. 
 
 Among the privateers which the Confed- 
 erates were fitting out was one called the 
 "Royal Yacht," which was being prepared 
 in Galveston harbor to be let loose on the 
 Federal commerce. This fact was known 
 to Captain Eagle, and he made prepara- 
 tions to destroy her before she could get to 
 sea. 
 
 On the 7th of November, 1S61, an expedi- 
 tion was fitted out and placed under the 
 command of Lieutenant James E. Jouett, 
 with Lieutenant John J. Mitchell, Gunner 
 William Carter and Master's Mate Chas. 
 W. Adams in the first and second launches, 
 each carrying a howitzer and a picked crew 
 of men. 
 
 At 11:40 p. M. the two boats entered the 
 harbor unperceived, intending, if they 
 could pass the armed schooner guarding 
 the entrance and the Bolivar and Point 
 forts, to try to surprise and burn the man- 
 of-war steamer " General Rusk," lying un- 
 der Pelican Island fort. 
 
 The boats succeeded in passing the 
 schooner and two forts, but in attempting 
 to avoid the sentinels on Pelican fort they 
 grounded on Pelican Spit and were discov- 
 ered by the enemy. It was then too late to 
 attempt the capture of the " General Rusk" 
 (a heavily armed vessel) as the alarm was 
 given at once, therefore that part of the 
 expedition was abandoned. 
 
 The boats then turned about and pulled 
 for the schooner " Royal Yacht," which thej^ 
 boarded and carried after a short but sharp 
 conflict. By this time the people in the 
 forts were aroused and opened fire in the 
 direction of the boarding party. Lieut. 
 
 Jouett proceeded to secure his prisoners, 13 
 in number, and leave the vessel ; before 
 doing which, he spiked the only gun the 
 schooner carried and set fire to her, as she 
 had a shot through her at the water line, 
 and the pilot on whom Jouett had depended 
 to take the vessel out was shot down. 
 
 Lieutenant Jouett himself was severely 
 wounded by a boarding pike in the hands of 
 an enemy; Mr. William Carter, gunner, was 
 wounded, one man killed of the boat's crew 
 and six wounded, one of whom afterwards 
 died. 
 
 EEAE-ADMIRAL JAMES E. JOUETT, 
 
 {FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1885.) 
 
 This was a gallant and well-executed af- 
 fair, and no doubt the "General Rusk" 
 would have been captured but for the dis- 
 covery of the boats. A boarding partv 
 agamst an enemy well armed and prepared 
 foi- such an event is alwavs a dangerous 
 attain The odds are alwavs in favor of 
 those on board the vessel, but in this case 
 the schooner was carried by one boat only, 
 because the other one did not get alongside 
 in time to be of much assistanf-f. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 .93 
 
 Captain McKean, who commanded the 
 Gulf blockading sguadron, issued a public 
 order, thanking Lieut. Jouett and his offi- 
 cers and men for their gallantry and cool- 
 ness on this occasion, with a hope that 
 "their names might be enrolled by a grate- 
 ful country with those which in former 
 years shed so much lustre on the American 
 flag." 
 
 On November 22d, 1861, Commodore Mc- 
 Kean. after consultation with General Har- 
 vey Brown at Fort Pickens, determined to 
 make an attack on Fort McRae and its de- 
 fences with the "Niagara" and "Rich- 
 mond," while Fort Pickens was to open on 
 the Confederate batteries with its guns. 
 
 It was time something should be at- 
 tempted in this quarter, for from April 16th 
 up to this time (Nov. %%d^ nothing had been 
 
 fathoms and the "Richmond " in 30 feet 
 of water, Fort McRae bearing from the 
 "Niagara" north, distant two miles. 
 
 The vessels opened fire, but finding that 
 the " Niagara's " shells fell short, boats were 
 sent out and a buoy placed in 33 feet of 
 water near the ■ edge of the shoal — distant 
 one and three-quarters miles from the fort. 
 Here the "Niagara" finally anchored and 
 again opened fire, " this time with marked 
 effect, many of her shells falling into the 
 sand battery and others passing through the 
 wall of the fort [ ?] . The barbette guns were 
 silenced immediately after the firing began, 
 and the casemates visibly slackened until 
 5 p. M., when it ceased entirely." The ves- 
 sels fired no more after sundown, but again 
 attacked the fort in the morning, as did also 
 Fort Pickens. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE PEIVATEEE "KOYAL YACHT" BY A VOLUNTEEE CEEW FEOM THE FEIGIATE "SANTEE," UNDER COMMAND 
 
 OF LIEUT. JAMES E. JOUETT. 
 
 done to show that there was any hostile 
 feeling between the Federal and Confeder- 
 ate forces at Pensacola. 
 
 Both the "Niagara" and "Richmond" 
 were vessels of heavy draft ; the former 
 could not enter the harbor, and the latter, 
 to co-operate with her, would have to lie 
 a long way outside of the fort and earth- 
 works. The " Niagara " was lightened as 
 much as possible and her draught reduced 
 to 31 feet. 
 
 During the night of the 31st, a position 
 had been selected and a buoy placed to 
 mark the spot where the ships were to 
 anchor. On the following morning at 10 
 o'clock. Fort Pickens fired the signal gun 
 and the "Niagara" stood in, followed by 
 the " Richmond " (Captain F. B. Ellison); 
 both ships came to an anchor with springs 
 on their cables, the " Niagara " in four 
 
 It was thought by those on board the 
 ships that Fort McRae and its defenses 
 were considerably damaged by the bom- 
 bardment, but that remains doubtful. 
 There was no return of the fire from the 
 ships during the second day of the attack, 
 as the Confederates saw that the naval 
 commanders had no intention of entering 
 the harbor, and that they were unnecessarily 
 exposing themselves to the fire of Fort 
 Pickens. So they withdrew from their 
 works and let the fort and ships expend 
 their ammunition at their own pleasure. 
 (There was a cross-fire from the ships and 
 Fort Pickens on the enemy's sand works 
 which it was not possible to withstand.) 
 
 The "Richmond," owing to her lighter 
 draught of water, was able to take a posi- 
 tion closer to the northern shore than the 
 "Niagara," and so far in the rear of both 
 
94 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 fort and battery that their guns could not 
 be brought to bear upon her. For several 
 hours she escaped being struck, but on the 
 afternoon of the second day "a masked 
 battery among the sand hills on the main 
 land back of the lagoon opened fire upon 
 her." Finding that the enemy were getting 
 her range and fearing that she would be 
 struck, she changed her position, and fin- 
 ally, as her shells were falling short, she was 
 signalled to retire out of the line of fire. It 
 was thought that the guns in the masked 
 battery were rifled and of very heavy cali- 
 bre [?] as their projectiles were thrown be- 
 yond the " Richmond." 
 
 At the end of the first day's bombard- 
 ment the ships retired, uninjured. On the 
 second day they took up about the same 
 positions, but their shells failed to reach the 
 forts, while the Commander says, "the 
 enemy's shells fell thick about us, some 
 passing over the ships, and far beyond 
 them. " " Therefore, " say s the Flag Officer , 
 " I deemed it my duty to withdraw the ship, 
 as to have retained our position would have 
 been to expose both her and the crew to se- 
 rious injury with no possible advantage. 
 Our not being able to get within range was 
 owing to the fact that the northerly wind 
 had lowered the water and was directly in 
 face of our fire." 
 
 In this bombardment of two days two 
 shot struck the "ISiagara," one abaft the 
 fore chains, lodging in the woodwork, the 
 other near the mizzen chains, also lodging 
 in the woodwork, the injuries being trifling. 
 The " Eichmond " was also struck twice. A 
 shot struck the rail and hammock nettings 
 forward, another (a shell) exploded four 
 feet under water, " breaking and pressing 
 inboard several of her planks and causing 
 a serious leak." The loss during this en- 
 gagement was one man killed and seven 
 slightly wounded by splinters. 
 
 Our object in mentioning this affair is not 
 for the purpose of claiming any brilliant 
 victory for the Navy, but to show the fu- 
 tility of ships engaging forts (especially 
 sand forts) at such long ranges that their 
 shell will not reach, and where they burst 
 five seconds before the proper time ! Nor 
 is the bombardment mentioned as a naval 
 exploit of any great importance, for there 
 were no results from it which could benefit 
 the Government in any way, beyond show- 
 ing the enemy that they would not be al- 
 lowed to rest quietly while they were build- 
 ing their sand forts and preparing to make 
 Pensacola Harbor impregnable against 
 Fort Pickens and the Union fleet. 
 
 Had this action on the part of Flag Offi- 
 cer McKean and Genc-ral Harvey Brown 
 been concerted earlier in the year it might 
 have had the good effect of driving the Con- 
 federates out of their works some time 
 
 sooner; but from April 17, 1861, when Fort 
 Pickens was reinforced with men and guns- 
 and made strong enough to resist any at- 
 tack from the Pensacola side, up to Novem- 
 ber 22d of the same year, not a movement 
 had been made by our Army or Navy to 
 check the work of the Confederates in build- 
 ing earthworks and mounting guns. 
 
 It is more than possible that this work 
 could have been arrested if proper steps had 
 been taken in the first place to send in a, 
 strong naval force well backed by the 
 Army. The Confederates would have evac- 
 uated Pensacola a month after troops had 
 been sent to its relief, on April 17th, 1861. 
 
 There does not seem to have been any 
 particular object in the bombardment of 
 Fort McRae, beyond at the same time de- 
 stroying the navy yard and its contents,, 
 which, it is true, was in the hands of the 
 Confederates; but the latter did not seem 
 at all disposed to injure anything, and why 
 our own forces should want to destroy 
 what the enemy were taking care of can- 
 not be understood. 
 
 There was nothing in the yard but ma- 
 chinery which the enemy could not use, 
 and guns which they had already mounted 
 and which could not have been of a very 
 dangerous character, as our ships were 
 only struck twice each in a two days' bom- 
 bardment. 
 
 The history of the manner in which Pen- 
 sacola was held by the Confederates from 
 April 1st, 1861 to May 9th, 1862, offers one 
 of the most curious commentaries on the 
 conduct of the war in this quarter. It had 
 the best harbor in the Gulf of Mexico, be- 
 longin g to the United States. It had a good 
 navy yard, with the ordinary facilities for 
 fitting out and repairijig ships, and water 
 enough on the bar to admit of the passage 
 of all but five or six of the heaviest ships of 
 the Navy. It was just the point wanted by 
 our naval commanders from which to carry 
 on operations against New Orleans and the 
 coast of Louisiana and Texas, and from 
 which to intercept blockade runners bound 
 for Southern ports from Havana and Nas- 
 sau. 
 
 Before even Fort Sumter was fired on 
 President Lincoln saw the importance of 
 our holding Fort Pickens, and at the same 
 time that Secretary W elles sent his expedi- 
 tion to reinforce Sumter, the President and 
 Secretary Seward sent one to reinforce Fort 
 Pickens and prevent it from falling into the 
 hands of the insurgents. 
 
 This is an important part of the history 
 of the war, and as it had an important bear- 
 ing on naval matters in the Gulf of Mexico, 
 and exhibited a great want of decision or 
 f orgetf ulness on the part of those who were 
 charged with the duty of recovering the 
 Government property, it may not be unin- 
 
(95) 
 
96 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 teresting to restate some events connected 
 with this place during the time of its occu- 
 pation by the Confederates. 
 
 In the early part of the difficulties be- 
 tween the North and South, and before the 
 Confederates had taken the bold step of 
 firing upon Fort Sumter, and when the Gov- 
 ernment was anxious to ascertain the true 
 condition of affairs at Charleston, Mr. G. 
 V. Fox, formerly a Lieutenant in the Navy 
 and later the Assistant Secretary, offered 
 his services to go to Charleston, communi- 
 cate with Colonel Anderson, and return 
 with the required information. 
 
 The late administration of Mr. Buchanan, 
 with a policy as feeble as it was unwise, had 
 done nothing towards asserting the author- 
 ity of the government over Fort Sumter, nor 
 taken any energetic steps for its relief, even 
 when it became known that the insurgents 
 were waiting only for an opportunity to 
 seize upon it, and turn its guns against any 
 force which the National Government 
 might send against Charleston. 
 
 The commander at Sumter, if he was not 
 ordered to remain supine under all provoca- 
 tions, was at least given to understand that 
 it would not be agreeable to the adminis- 
 tration if he should attempt to prevent the 
 Southerners from erecting such earthworks 
 as they might think proper within reason- 
 able bounds : but that he might hold on to • 
 the government property in Fort Sumter as 
 long as he could do so without precipitating 
 hostilities. That was the spirit of the un- 
 derstanding between Major Anderson and 
 the Government, if not the actual one. 
 
 Though it was known to the late adminis- 
 tration that the insurrectionists in Charles- 
 ton were openly constructing strong earth- 
 works opposite Sumter, avowedly with the 
 intention of forcing its surrender, yet no 
 steps were taken to relieve Major Anderson 
 by sending reinforcements or supplies; nor 
 did they protest against the action of the 
 Southern forces who were making every 
 preparation to attack him. 
 
 The Southern leaders had been prepared 
 for the contingency of secession before Mr. 
 Buchanan gave up the reins of office. All 
 their plans were well matured and all pre- 
 cautions taken to insure their success. 
 Thus, when President Lincoln came into 
 office he found himself face to face with the 
 most perplexing state of affairs that ever 
 beset a statesman. The little garrison at 
 Sumter was surrounded by guns, and the 
 indignant people of the North were de- 
 manding that it should be relieved at all 
 hazards. 
 
 The steamer " Star-of-the-West." under 
 Captain McGowan, of the Revenue Marine, 
 was chartered during President Buchanan's 
 administration, and ordered to carry pro- 
 visions to the beleaguered fort; but on enter- 
 
 ing the harbor and getting within range of 
 the guns on Morris Island, she was fired 
 upon, and finding that he would be sunk if 
 he persevered in going on, Captain Mc- 
 Gowan turned his vessel about and left the 
 harbor. 
 
 Mr. Fox presented certain plans for the 
 relief of Sumter to the Buchanan adminis- 
 tration, but for various reasons they were 
 not accepted, although at first deemed feas- 
 ible, even by General Scott. But on the 
 next day (Febuary 5th, 1861) news was re- 
 ceived of the election of Jefferson Davis 
 to the Presidency of the Southern Con- 
 federacy, and then General Scott intimated 
 to Mr. Fox that probably no efforts would 
 be made to relieve Fort Sumter. 
 
 On the lath of March, Mr. Fox re- 
 ceived a telegram from Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral Montgomery Blair to proceed to Wash- 
 ington; and when he arrived there he was 
 induced by this gentleman to lay the same 
 plans before President Lincoln that had 
 been offered to President Buchanan, Mr. 
 Blair informing Mr. Fox at the same time 
 that General Scott had advised the Presi- 
 dent that Fort Sumter could not be relieved 
 and would have to be given up. Having 
 been introduced to the President by Mr. 
 Blair, Fox unfolded his plans and was di- 
 rected to call upon General Scott and dis- 
 cuss the matter with him. 
 
 The General did not approve Mr. Fox's 
 plans, and informed Mr. Lincoln that it 
 might have been practicable in February, 
 but owing to the increased number of Con- 
 federate forts and guns it was not possible 
 then. 
 
 These difficulties in carrying out his plans 
 for the relief of Sumter, induced Mr. Fox 
 to go in person to Charleston to see if he 
 could not ascertain by the visit something 
 that would strengthen his argument. He 
 also wished if possible to visit Major An- 
 derson. 
 
 In consequence, with the consent of the 
 President, Secretary of War and General 
 Scott, he proceeded by way of Richmond 
 and Wilmington to Charleston and arrived 
 there on the 25th of March. At that time 
 there was a general feeling in Charleston 
 and thereabout that the Government had 
 concluded to give up Fort Sumter without 
 an attempt to retain it. 
 
 On Mr. Fox's arrival in Charleston he 
 sought an interview with Lieut. Hartstene, 
 formerly of the U. S. Navy, and stated to 
 him his desire to visit Major Anderson, and 
 Hartstene in consequence introduced him 
 to Governor Pickens, to whom he showed 
 the orders under which he acted. 
 
 Governor Pickens directed Lieut. Hart- 
 stene to take Mr. Fox to Fort Sumter, 
 where they arrived after dark and remained 
 two hours. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 97 
 
 Major Anderson seemed to think it was 
 too late then to undertake to relieve Sum- 
 ter by any other means than by landing an 
 army on Morris Island. He thought an 
 •entrance from the sea impracticable, but 
 -while discussing the matter on the parapet 
 Mr. Fox heard the sound of oars, and 
 though the boat was very near she could 
 not be seen through the haze and darkness 
 •of the night until she had actually reached 
 the landing. This gave Mr. Fox the idea 
 ■of supplying the fort by means of boats. 
 He found the garrison very short of sup- 
 plies, and it was decided by him and Major 
 Anderson that he could report to the gov- 
 ernment that the fort could not hold out 
 after the 15th of April unless supplies were 
 furnished. 
 
 Mr. Fox made no arrangements with 
 Major Anderson for reinforcing or supply- 
 ing the fort, and very wisely did not inform 
 him of his plans. On his return to Wash- 
 ington he was frequently called before the 
 Cabinet to discuss his propositions and an- 
 swer the objections of General Scott and 
 •other military authorities. 
 
 His plan was a naval one altogether, and 
 he intended that it should be carried out by 
 naval officers. It was simply running past 
 batteries over 1,300 yards distant, at right 
 angles with the enemy's fire, and there 
 were many examples where such things had 
 been done in perfect safety. Steamships 
 had even been known to pass within 100 
 yards of a fort on a dark night without 
 being seen. 
 
 The President inquired if there was at 
 that time any officer of high rank in Wash- 
 ington who would sustain Mr. Fox in his 
 project, directing that if one could be found 
 he should be brought to the executive man- 
 sion. 
 
 Mr. Fox took Commodore Stringham to 
 the President, who that morning had held 
 a long conference with Commodore Stewart, 
 and both declared that Sumter could be re- 
 lieved on the plan Mr. Fox proposed. 
 
 On the 10th of March the President sent 
 Mr. Fox to New York to make inquiries 
 about obtaining vessels for the voyage, and 
 he there consulted Messrs. George W. 
 Blunt, Wm. H. Aspinwall and Charles H. 
 Maxwell with regard to the necessary prep- 
 •arations. There were many delays in get- 
 ting off the expedition, caused principally 
 by everybody's desire to avoid a war. As 
 late as the 4th of April the President in- 
 formed Mr. Fox that he would allow the 
 expedition to start for Charleston, but that 
 he would in the meantime write a letter to 
 the authorities of that place and promise 
 that no attempt would be made to land 
 troops if vessels were allowed to supply 
 Sumter with provisions. There were but 
 nine days left between the time Mr. Fox 
 
 would arrive in New York and the time 
 when Major Anderson would be out of pro- 
 visions, when he would be at liberty to sur- 
 render. In these few days Mr. Fox had to 
 charter steamers, provide men and boats, 
 and employ tugs, and then to pass over 632 
 miles before he could reach his destination. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navy had in the 
 waters of the United States the steamers 
 "Powhatan," "Pocahontas" and "Paw- 
 nee," which he placed at Mr. Fox's disposal. 
 On the " Powhatan," which had gone out 
 of commission, Mr. Fox depended for his 
 boats and men. He arrived in New York 
 on the 5th of April, 1861, engaged the 
 steamer " Baltic" of Mr. Aspinwall, and de- 
 livered confidential orders to Colonel H. L. 
 Scott, aide to the General-in-Chief, and 
 Colonel D. D. Tompkins, Quartermaster, to 
 supply all the needed stores. 
 
 Colonel Scott ridiculed the idea of any 
 attempt to relieve Sumter, and by his indif- 
 ference and delay half a day was lost. The 
 recruits that he finally furnished were "en- 
 tirely unfit to be thrown into a fort likely 
 to be attacked by the Confederates." 
 
 Mr. Fox had applied to the Secretary of the 
 Navy before leaving Washington, to have 
 Commodore Stringham take command of 
 the expedition ; but that officer declined, as 
 he considered it too late to be successful 
 and likely to ruin the reputation of the offi- 
 cer who undertook it ! 
 
 The hiring of three tugs was intrusted to 
 Russell Sturgis, who obtained them with 
 great difficulty on account of the danger of 
 going to sea. and the Government had to 
 pay the most exorbitant prices for them. 
 These tugs were the " Yankee," the "Uncle 
 Ben," and the " Freeborn." The "Yankee" 
 being fitted to throw hot water. Mr. Fox 
 received all the aid he desired in the mer- 
 cantile line, and supposed that the naval 
 vessels were all hurrying to the appointed 
 place of meeting off Charleston. 
 
 Now on March 13th, 1861, the "Powhat- 
 an " came from sea into New York harbor. 
 She was surveyed and found unfit for 
 further service. Orders came from the 
 Navy Department to put her out of com- 
 mission, give the officers leave of absence, 
 and send her crew to the receiving ship. 
 On April 1st the stores were all landed, the 
 ship stripped, officers granted leave of ab- 
 sence, crew sent to the receiving ship, and 
 the vessel put out of commission. 
 
 To read the account of the naval histo- 
 rian (Boynton), the Navy Department de- 
 pended on the " Powhatan " for the success 
 of this expedition, yet on the 2d of April 
 she was lying at the Navy Yard a " sheer 
 hulk," preparing to go into dock ! 
 
 Mr. Fox states that the "Powhatan," 
 Captain Mercer, sailed on the 6th of April ; 
 the " Pawnee," Commodore Rowan, on the 
 
98 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 9th ; the " Pocahontas," Captain Gilhs, on 
 the 10th, the "Harriet Lane," Captain 
 Faunce, on the 8th, the tug "Uncle Ben," 
 on the 7th. the tug "Yankee" on the 8th, 
 and the " Baltic," Captain Fletcher, on the 
 8th ; rather an unusual way for an expedi- 
 tion to start out, and calculated to cause a 
 failure even if there were no other obstacles 
 in the way. Three army officers accom- 
 panied the troops. 
 
 Soon after leaving Sandy Hook a heavy 
 gale set in, and continued during most of 
 the passage to Charleston, and the " Bal- 
 tic," the fastest and staunchest vessel, only 
 arrived off Charleston harbor on the 12th of 
 April, and communicated with the "Har- 
 riet Lane," the only vessel that had ar- 
 rived before her. At 6 A. M. the "Pawnee" 
 arrived, and Mr. Fox went on board of her 
 and informed Commander Rowan of his 
 orders to send in provisions, asking him to 
 stand in towards the bar. 
 
 Commander Rowan replied "that his or- 
 ders required him to remain ten miles east 
 of the light and await the arrival of the 
 ' Powhatan,' and that he was not going 
 into the harbor to inaugurate a civil war." 
 Mr. Fox then stood in towards the bar with 
 the "Baltic" and the "Harriet Lane." As 
 these vessels sliowed themselves, heavy 
 guns were heard up Charleston harbor and 
 the smoke from the batteries which had 
 opened upon Sumter was distinctly visible. 
 Fox then turned and stood towards the 
 "Pawnee," intending to inform Com- 
 mander Rowan of the state of affairs, and 
 met him coming in. Rowan hailed and 
 asked for a pilot, declaring his intention of 
 standing in and sharing the fate of his 
 brethren of the Army. Fox went on board 
 the "Pawnee" and informed the Com- 
 mander that the Government did not ex- 
 pect such gallant sacrifice, having settled 
 naturally upon the policy indicated in 
 the instructions to Captain Mercer and 
 himself. 
 
 No other naval vessels arrived that day 
 except the "Pocahontas," but the steamer 
 "Nashville" and a number of merchant 
 vessels arrived off the bar and awaited the 
 result of the bombardment, thus leading 
 the people of Charleston to suppose that 
 there was a large naval fleet lying off the 
 bar. 
 
 Meanwhile the weather continued very 
 bad, with a heavy sea. Neither the " Paw-- 
 nee" nor the "Harriet Lane" had the 
 necessary boats to land men or provisions, 
 and it is very clear to the writer that any 
 attempt to have done so would have been 
 madness in the face of that sea and the 
 enemy's fire. In fact, the expedition was 
 useless from the time the first gun was 
 fired at Sumter. It could only have been 
 
 smooth, and the boats could have reached 
 the fort late at night. 
 
 The moment the Confederates knew of 
 the arrival of vessels off the bar, the bom- 
 bardment commenced, and there was no- 
 stopping it then in the excited condition of 
 the Southerners. They had been looking- 
 for the opportunity for weeks, and having 
 found it they made the most of it, and did 
 what they so longed to do — fired on the f ort 
 and flag which had stood there so many 
 years to protect them. 
 
 All this time Mr. Fox was awaiting the- 
 arrival of the "Powhatan." Finding that 
 she did not appear he went in the offing- 
 and made signals all night, so that she 
 might find the "Baltic" in case she should 
 arrive. The morning of the 13th was thick 
 and foggy with a very heavy ground swell 
 on, and the "Baltic," feeling her way in, 
 ran aground on Rattlesnake Shoal, but got 
 off without damage, and was obliged by 
 the heavy swell to anchor in deep water, 
 several miles outside of the "Pawnee " and 
 " Harriet Lane." 
 
 One gallant army officer (R. 0. Tyler), 
 though suffering from seasickness, as were 
 most of the troops, organized a boat's crew 
 and exercised them for the purpose of hav- 
 ing at least one boat (in the absence of the 
 " Powhatan") that could go to the relief of 
 Fort Sumter — as if one boat pulled by raw 
 recruits could ever even cross the bar, much 
 less reach the fort under such a fire. But 
 fortunately the adventure ended where it 
 began, and no boat was sent. 
 
 In the morning a great volume of black 
 smoke burst forth from Fort Sumter, through 
 which the flash of Major Anderson's guns 
 could be seen replying to the Confederates. 
 The quarters in the fort were on fire, but 
 most of the officers thought it to proceed 
 from an attempt to smoke out the garrison 
 with fire-rafts," as if the buildings of the 
 officers inside the fort with all their 
 inflammable material would not make 
 smoke enough without the addition of fire- 
 rafts ! 
 
 It was the opinion of the naval officers- 
 that no loaded boats could reach Sumter in 
 that heavy sea. The tug-boats, like every- 
 thing else in this expedition, had gone 
 astray, and it was determined to seize a 
 schooner lying at the bar with a load of ice, 
 fill her with stores and men and send her 
 on the following night to the relief of Sum- 
 ter. The records do not say who proposed 
 this scheme— for what chance could this 
 slow-moving vessel have had under a fire 
 which eventually caused the surrender of the 
 fort itself ? Fortunately this plan was also- 
 abandoned, and on the 14th Major Ander- 
 son evacuated, and with his troops was- 
 taken north on the steamer " Baltic." 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 99 
 
 IS 
 ,\ 
 
 (If 
 
 lit 
 
 It is no more than justice to Mr. Fox to 
 state what his plan really was, and we will 
 give his own words : 
 
 "My plan for supplying Sumter required 300 
 sailors, a full supply of armed launches and three 
 tugs. The ' Powhatan ' carried the sailors and 
 launches, and when this vessel was about to leave 
 in obedience to an order from the Secretary of the 
 Navy, two ofiBcers, Lieut. D. D. Porter, tJ. S. N., 
 and Captain M. C. Meigs, U. S. Engineers, pre- 
 sented themselves on board with an order from the 
 President of the United States authorizing the for- 
 mer to take any vessel whatever in commission, 
 and proceed immediately to the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 " This order did not pass through the Navy De- 
 partment, and was unknown to the Secretary of the 
 Navy, and when signed by the President he was 
 not conscious that his signature would deprive me 
 of the means to accomplish an object which he held 
 to be of such vital importance." 
 
 To tell the rest of this history we must 
 further quote Mr. Fox's report : 
 
 " The tug ' Freeborn ' was not permitted to leave 
 New York ; the tug Uncle Ben ' was driven into 
 Wilmington by the violence of the gale and even- 
 tually captured by the Confederates ; the tug 
 'Yankee' reached Charlestown a few hours after 
 the 'Baltic ' left for New York with Major Ander- 
 son's command on board." 
 
 Mr. Fox from his statement seems to have 
 relied on the " Powhatan " to assist him, 
 and considers her absence to be the cause 
 of failure. 
 
 On the 2d of April he had not even re- 
 ceived the written authority to undertake 
 this expedition, and no decision had been 
 come to by the President until April the 
 4th, and it was not until the morning of 
 April 6th that a telegraphic dispatch was 
 received by Captain Foote (commanding 
 New York Navy Yard) as follows : " Pre- 
 pare the ' Powhatan ' for sea with all dis- 
 patch, (signed) Gideon Welles." On April 
 1st President Lincoln wrote an order to put 
 the " Powhatan " in commission. On April 
 3d the work commenced on her. 
 
 On April 5th she went into commission, 
 and on April 6th sailed for the relief of Fort 
 Pickens, under the command of Lieut D. D. 
 Porter. 
 
 On the day (April 6th) when a telegram 
 came for Mr. Welles to prepare the " Pow- 
 hatan " for sea with all dispatch, that vessel 
 was about to sail on another mission. On 
 the 7th, came orders for Captain Mercer to 
 take command of the expedition to Charles- 
 ton. 
 
 Supposing that the " Powhatan " had 
 been taken in hand from her "sheer-hulk " 
 condition on the 6th, and working on the 
 best time, she could not have more than 
 been ready by the 11th. She could only 
 at the best make eight knots an hour. 
 Charleston being 630 miles distant would 
 require 79 hours, or three days and seven 
 
 l^rv-i-.^^ i._ i_ _ XT mi,'« u 
 
 have brought them to Charleston only on 
 the evening of the 14th, when Sumter was 
 past all help. 
 
 Mr. Fox says he depended on her splen- 
 did launches and 300 sailors. The "Pow- 
 hatan " had two wheel-house launches in 
 the shape of a half watermelon, which were 
 perfectly useless for want of repair, and 
 sank when they were put in the water off 
 Fort Pickens. She had two large quarter 
 boats that would carry 35 men each, and 
 two smaller boats that would carry about 
 25 men each in smooth water. Then where 
 could Mr. Fox find the launches and men 
 on the " Powhatan ?" Mr. Fox was not at 
 all responsible for the failure, in fact no one 
 connected with the Navy was to blame. 
 The absence of the "Powhatan " had noth- 
 ing to do with it. It was mostly due to the 
 inaction of the Government, the disagree- 
 ment between Army and Navy officers as 
 to the feasibility of the plan, and the length 
 of time elapsing between the period when 
 Mr. Fox first proposed to relieve Fort Sum- 
 ter and the time when he was allowed to 
 get off. No one seemed desirous of helping 
 him, and most of those whose business it 
 was to get off the expedition threw ob- 
 stacles in its way. 
 
 Whether it would have succeeded under 
 the most favorable circumstances is doubt- 
 ful, for an enemy that could (and did dur- 
 ing the next four years) hold all approaches 
 to Charleston against our heaviest iron-clads 
 would not have been likely to fail in keep- 
 ing out a few heavily-laden boats and tugs, 
 with their high-pressure steam announc- 
 ing their presence. We know now that 
 boats and tugs would have been sacrificed 
 in any attempt to relieve Sumter. 
 
 Mr. Fox, himself, manifested great cour- 
 age in volunteering for such desperate ser- 
 vice, which finally brought him into con- 
 nection with the Navy Department, where 
 his services were at that time much re- 
 quired. Mr. Welles showed a loyal spirit 
 in this attempt to succour those whom the 
 country thought should be relieved at all 
 hazards, and he needed no defense. 
 
 The cause of the contretemps which 
 directed the "' Powhatan " from the Sumter 
 expedition was in the organization of the 
 Navy Department, which, with the bureau 
 system existing then as it exists to-day, was 
 unfit to carry on a great war. The Secre- 
 tary wanted at his side an Advisory Board, 
 or what was afterwards established, a 
 clever man as Assistant Secretary. 
 
 The fact of sending a civilian down to 
 Charleston to direct the movements of a 
 naval commander, without any authority 
 of law, was all wrong, no matter if the per- 
 son had once been in the Navy. This pro- 
 duced complications from the very first; 
 £ ,„i .,«;«„„ ,„T,^ ;_j._j 
 
100 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 with the forms and precedents of the Navy 
 would submit quietly to what he might well 
 consider a reflection on his corps. 
 
 There are plenty of reasons why such an 
 expedition should fail without referring to 
 such as did not exist, and as a large portion 
 of history (which should have been devoted 
 to important duties performed by naval 
 officers) has been taken up in showing that 
 the preparations of the Navy Department 
 for the succor of Fort Sumter were inter- 
 fered with, it is time the matter was made 
 plain. The quotations from Mr. Fox's re- 
 port explain it all. 
 
 It was fortunate that nothing was at- 
 tempted after the few vessels of the expedi- 
 tion met at the bar, and the fact that the 
 Confederates opened fire on Sumter the mo- 
 ment the vessels did appear off Charleston 
 was proof positive that they were prepared, 
 not only to use up Sumter, but any number 
 of vessels that should attempt to enter the 
 harbor. 
 
 As the "Powhatan" has so constantly 
 been quoted by a naval historian (Boynton), 
 and he has stated certain matters in a way 
 not altogether historical (though no doubt 
 with a most sincere desire to write tlie truth), 
 it may not be amiss to give a little sketch 
 of how the " Powhatan " was spirited away 
 and sent on another mission. 
 
 It is part of the history of the war, has 
 been only incidentally alluded to by the 
 writer, and will not in the least detract 
 from the Fort Sumter relief expedition. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln had been installed in the 
 Presidential office, and almost immediately 
 after the question of relieving Fort Sumter 
 was proposed to him (on the 12th of March), 
 as will appear from Mr. Fox's letter, which 
 has been quoted. 
 
 Captain Montgomery Meigs, of the En- 
 gineer Corps, had been thinking of a plan 
 by whicli the Government might vindicate 
 its authority over its own forts; and as Fort 
 Pickens was very weakly manned by Capt. 
 Slemmer and 25 men, and was in danger 
 every hour of falling into the hands of the 
 Confederates, he proposed an expedition 
 for its relief by throwing in troops and 
 mounting heavy guns. 
 
 Neither Mr. Seward nor Captain Meigs 
 believed in the plan to succor Fort Sumter. 
 In their opinion the opportunity had passed. 
 This seemed to be the opinion of leading 
 naval and military men and the surrender 
 of Sumter was already looked for at a.n 
 early day; mau}^ thinking it better that it 
 should be evacuated to prevent bloodshed, 
 and others not dreaming any plan of relief 
 feasible. 
 
 Mr. Seward was anxious that the Admin- 
 istration should show its determination to 
 maintain its authority over its forts, no mat- 
 
 The Sumter expedition had been settled 
 on by the Cabinet in council, and to Secre- 
 tary Welles was left the selection of the 
 ships and the manner of conducting the 
 whole matter. 
 
 Captain Meig's plan, as proposed to Secre- 
 tary Seward, was to charter a large steam 
 transport that would carry 600 troops and 
 stores, also artillery of all kinds, and with 
 a naval vessel to protect the landing. Mr. 
 Seward was new to all this kind of busi- 
 ness, and was slow to act, though precious 
 time was flying. Captain Meigs conferred 
 with Lieut. D. D. Porter, who conceived 
 the plan perfectly feasible, and showed a 
 desire to go on the expedition : all of 
 which was reported to the Secretary of 
 State. Lieut. Porter was at that time 
 under orders for California, and was to 
 have left for New York to meet the Cali- 
 fornia steamer on April 1st. In two or 
 three hours he would have taken the train. 
 A note was sent him at 2 p. m , notifying 
 him that the Secretary of State wished to 
 see him at his office immediately. On his 
 arrival at the office the Secretary asked him 
 if he knew how the Administration could 
 prevent Fort Pickens from falling into the 
 hands of the Confederates. 
 
 He answered promptly that he did know, 
 and then suggested the plan proposed by 
 Captain Meigs. "You are the very man I 
 want," said the Secretary. " Come with 
 me to the President." At that moment 
 Captain Meigs came in and accompanied 
 the party. 
 
 Those familiar with the early events of 
 the Rebellion will remember that Fort 
 Pickens was under the command of Cap- 
 tain Slemmer, of the Army, who held it 
 with a handful of men, and was preparing 
 to defend it against a large force of Con- 
 federates on the Pensacola side, who were 
 daily augmenting their numbers, and mak- 
 ing preparations to bombard the fort, as 
 had been done at Sumter. 
 
 Pensacola, with its well-equipped Navy 
 Yard, was too tempting a bait for the Con- 
 federates to leave, and no doubt the Gen- 
 eral commanding was ordered to put forth 
 all the energy and science known in the 
 art of war to encompass the destruction or 
 capture of the formidable fort. 
 
 Lieut. Porter told the Secretary of State 
 that if the government would "give him 
 command of the •' Powhatan" (then lying 
 m New York) and supply the troops", he 
 would guarantee the safety of the fort. It 
 was not known then to any of the party 
 tliat the "Powhatan" was' lying at the 
 Navy Yard "stripped to a gantline," and 
 that on or about that dav she had gone out 
 of commission preparatory to being re- 
 paired, and would be in the dry-dock in a 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 101 
 
 in commission and all ready for service, 
 which should have been the case. 
 
 When the party reached the executive 
 mansion, the President was evidently pre- 
 pared to receive it, and was well acquainted 
 with all the plans that had been proposed. 
 He had talked with Mr. Seward and Cap- 
 tain Meigs, and was so heartily interested 
 in the scheme, that he agreed to all that 
 was proposed. 
 
 There was none of that indecision or " ap- 
 parent inaction " (which is spoken of in 
 Boynton's Naval History of the War) from 
 March 4th to April, 1861. Mr. Lincoln was 
 either belied when that expression was used, 
 or he had learned better. He had for his 
 advisers old men who moved and thought 
 slowly, and his military and naval advisers 
 were evidently more cautious than there 
 was any justification for. 
 
 When the President was told that the 
 " Powhatan " would have to get ready very 
 quickly, the Commander (Mercer) changed 
 for Lieutenant Porter, and all the orders 
 written without the knowledge of the Navy 
 Department (for the reason that everything 
 would be carried on in that department in 
 the usual red-tape style, and the whole mat- 
 ter would be known to the Confederates by 
 being flashed across the wires an hour after 
 Secretary Welles got an order to prepare the 
 ship for sea), he merely remarked "it seems 
 to me like a very irregular proceeding, but, 
 Mr. Secretary, do not let me burn my fin- 
 gers. I want that fort saved at all hazards." 
 
 Then Mr. Seward explained to him how, 
 as President and Commander-in-Chief of 
 the Army and Navy, he could issue orders 
 from the executive mansion, without pass- 
 ing them through an intermediary, and 
 that he (the Secretary of State) would 
 satisfy Mr. Welles of the necessity of the 
 present way of proceeding. 
 
 The President at that time had not the 
 faintest idea that the Secretary of the Navy 
 intended to use the " Powhatan," nor did 
 he know the name of any vessel intended 
 for the Sumter expedition, neither did the 
 Secretary of State or any of the party. 
 
 It is a well-known fact now that all the 
 orders issued by the Navy Department for 
 the relief of Sumter were telegraphed to 
 Charleston an hour after they were press- 
 copied ; for it was assumed at that time, 
 when treachery was rampant in every 
 branch of the Government, and when the 
 insurrectionists had their spies and emissa- 
 ries everywhere about the Government 
 offices, that every man who did not openly 
 declare his hostility to the Government was 
 sound on the question of loyalty. It is now 
 known that some of the meekest-looking 
 supporters of the Government were its 
 greatest enemies. 
 
 Secretary Seward evidently understood 
 
 the situation, and determined that Ms ex- 
 pedition should not come to grief for want 
 of proper secrecy. There was no waver- 
 ing then on Mr. Seward's part, there was 
 not a particle of hesitation on the part of 
 the President, there was no long talk to 
 prove the practicability of the expedition. 
 The success of the affair was all taken for 
 granted, and in half an hour everything 
 was settled. How was it then that the 
 President has been represented as hesitat- 
 ing, and Mr. Fox had to work so hard and 
 travel to and fro until his patience was al- 
 most exhausted ? 
 
 He was twenty-five days in accomplish- 
 ing what was done in this instance in half 
 an hour. The vacillation in the Sumter 
 case did not rest with the President, but 
 with those who tried to shift their want of 
 success to the President's shoulders. It 
 was, in fact, owing to circumstances which 
 none could foresee. 
 
 After the President had decided that there 
 was nothing to be done but write the neces- 
 sary orders, Lieut. Porter wrote out and 
 Capt. Meigs transcribed them. 
 
 They were as follows : 
 
 "Executive Mansion, / 
 April 1st, 1861. ) 
 
 "Lieut. D. D. Porter will take command of the 
 steamer 'Powhatan,' or any other United States 
 steamer ready for sea, which he may deem most fit 
 for the service to -which he has been assigned by 
 confidential instructions of this date. 
 
 " A 11 officers are commanded to afford him all such 
 facilities as he may deem necessary for getting to 
 sea as soon as possible. He will select the officers 
 "who are to accompany him. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln." 
 " Recommended, | 
 
 "Wm. H. Seward." I 
 
 " Executive Mansion, \ 
 April 1st, 1861. \ 
 
 " Lieut. D. D. Porter, U. S. I^avy ; 
 
 "Sir: You will proceed to New York and -with 
 the least possible delay assume command of any 
 naval steamer available. Proceed to Pensacola 
 Harbor, and at any cost or risk prevent any expe- 
 dition from the mainland i-eaching Fort Pickens or 
 Santa Rosa. 
 
 "You will exhibit this order to any naval officer 
 at Pensacola if you deem it necessary after you have 
 established yourself within the harbor, and will re- 
 quest co-operation by the entrance of at least one 
 other vessel. 
 
 " This order, its object, and your destination wiU 
 be communicated to no person whatever until you 
 reach the Harhor of Pensacola. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln." 
 " Recommended, \ 
 
 " Wm. H. Seward." s 
 
 "Washington City, / 
 April 1st, 1861. f 
 " Sir: Circumstances render it necessary to place 
 in command of your ship, and for a special purpose, 
 an officer who is duly informed and instructed in 
 relation to the wishes of the Government, and you 
 ■will therefore consider yourself detached ; but in 
 taking this step the Government does not intend in 
 the least to reflect upon your efficiency or patriot- 
 
102 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Ism; on the contrary, have the fullest confldenoe in 
 your abihty to perform any duty required of you. 
 Hoping soon to be able to ffive you a better com- 
 mand than the one you now enjoy, and trusting 
 that you will have full confldenoe in the disposition 
 of the Government towards you, 
 
 " I remain, Abraham Lincoln. 
 " Captain Samuel Mebceb, U. S. N. 
 
 " A true copy. 
 "M. C. Meigs, Chief Engineer of expedition un- 
 der Col. Brown." 
 
 "Executive Mansion, 
 
 April 1st, 1861. 
 
 " To THE Commandant oe the Navt Yard, New 
 
 York : 
 
 "Sir: You will fit out the ' Powhatan ' without 
 
 delay. Lieut. Porter will relieve Capt. Mercer in 
 
 command of her ; she is bound on secret service, 
 
 and you will under no circumstances communicate 
 
 to the Navy Department the fact that she is fitting 
 
 out. Abraham Lincoln." 
 
 "Washington, Executive Mansion, / 
 April 1st, 1861. j 
 "All officers in the Army and Navy to whom this 
 order may be exhibited, will aid by every means in 
 their power the expedition under Colonel Harvey 
 Brown, supplying him with men and material, and 
 co-operating with him as he may desire. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln." 
 "A true copy. 
 " M. C. Meigs, 
 
 "Chief Engineer of the expedition." 
 
 Similar orders were issued to Major- 
 General Scott and the Adjutant-General 
 of the Army, directing that everything 
 should be done to make the expedition a 
 success. 
 
 Then Capt. Meigs and Lieut. Porter 
 called on Gen. Scott, and after a very short 
 time he issued the necessary order for the 
 troops to go in a chartered steamer, and 
 there was nothing more wanted. 
 
 That night Lieut. Porter left for New 
 York, and at 10 o'clock A. m., on April 2d, 
 presented himself to Capt. Foots (who was 
 acting Commandant of the Navy Yard at 
 that time), and gave him the order to 
 fit out the " Powhatan ;" which order Poote 
 received with much surprise at this unusual 
 way of doing business. It required three 
 hours to convince Capt. Foote that he must 
 obey the President's order, and that he was 
 not to telegraph to Secretary Welles for in- 
 structions in this embarrassing position. 
 He at last consented to take Capt. Mercer 
 into the conference, give him the letter for 
 himself, and be guided by his answer. Capt. 
 Mercer considered it absolutely necessary 
 for Foote to carry out the President's orders 
 to the letter. He was rather pleased with 
 the idea of getting rid of an old, worn-out 
 ship, and offered to stay by the vessel as 
 her Captain, fit her out, and take her down 
 the harbor as far as Staten Island, in order 
 the better to conceal the intended move- 
 ment. Capt. Meigs also urged Foote to 
 obey the President's order, and he finally 
 decided to do so, and commenced the work 
 
 of fitting out the "Powhatan" with all 
 possible dispatch. 
 
 The "Powhatan's " engines were all apart, 
 and they were preparing to hoist out her 
 guns and take her into dry-dock, at 2 o'clock 
 p. M. of that day (April 2d), when the order 
 was issued to employ a double force of men 
 and work them day and night until she 
 was ready for sea. ' The officers who had 
 been granted leave were telegraphed for, 
 and on the fourth the crew was put on 
 board. No repairs had been put on the 
 vessel — not a pound of paint, not a new 
 rope rove, nor a sail mended. She was in a 
 shocking condition for any service; there 
 was no time even to repair her boats, which 
 were leaky (those fine boats depended upon 
 to land the troops and provisions at Fort 
 Sumter). On the Gth of April, four days 
 after the "Powhatan" was taken in hand, 
 steam was up, everything in place, the pi- 
 lot on board, and the lines ready to cast off. 
 Then a telegram came to Capt. Foote from 
 the Navy Department: " Prepare the ' Pow- 
 hatan' for sea with all dispatch." Here 
 was a dilemma ! Again Foote wanted to 
 telegraph the state of affairs to the Secre- 
 tary of the Navy, and stop the ship until 
 he could hear from the Department. But 
 his attention was again and again drawn 
 to the President's order, and at last he suc- 
 cumbed. 
 
 Lieut. Porter stepped on board the "Pow- 
 hatan " in citizen's dress, and was unob- 
 served among the crowd of people who 
 were bidding their friends good-by. He 
 went into the cabin and locked himself 
 in the Captain's state-room. The ship 
 steamed away from the dock at one 
 o'clock, p. M. on the Oth of April, going as 
 far as Staten Island before Captain Mercer 
 left her. 
 
 The moment the ship had left the yard, 
 Foote could contain himself no longer, and 
 he at once telegraphed to Secretary Welles 
 that the " Powhatan " had sailed in com- 
 mand of Lieut. Porter under orders from 
 the President. 
 
 The moment this telegram was received, 
 Secretary Welles went straight to the Presi- 
 dent to request an explanation, at the same 
 time informing liim that he had depended 
 upon the " Powhatan" to carry out nis or- 
 ders concerning the relief of Fort Sumter. 
 The President was astonished, as he did 
 not even know that the " Powhatan " had 
 been connected with that expedition. Mr. 
 Welles was much excited at what he con- 
 sidered Mr. Seward's interference with his 
 affairs, and d(\manded the ship restored to 
 him. Secretary Seward was sent for in 
 haste, and when he came into the Presi- 
 dent's presence he found Secretary Welles 
 in as great a state of excitement as his 
 placid temperament would admit of. 
 
OJt< THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 103 
 
 "Grive up the ship, Seward," said Mr. 
 Lincoln, "we will get another." And Mr. 
 Seward consenting to do so, a telegram was 
 «ent to Lieut. Porter as follows : 
 
 " Give the ' Powhatan ' up to Capt. Mercer. 
 "April 6, 1861. Seward." 
 
 While the ship was lying off Tompkins- 
 ville, Staten Island, waiting for the boat to 
 return that had carried Capt. Mercer on 
 shore, a swift little steamer came alongside, 
 and Lieut. Eoe of the Navy delivered Mr. 
 Seward's telegram. 
 
 Lieut. Porter read it, and decided that 
 there was only one thing for him to do, and 
 "that was to disobey it. The artillery for 
 the troops was on board the " Powhatan," 
 the steamer "Atlantic," with the troops on 
 board, he supposed had sailed at 13 o'clock, 
 and was ten miles ahead of him. His stop- 
 ping to restore the ship would make the ex- 
 pedition fail, his orders were from the Presi- 
 ■dent and he determined to obey them. He 
 telegraphed back : 
 
 "I received my orders from the President, and 
 shall proceed and execute them. 
 
 "April, 6, 1861. D. D. Porter." 
 
 The boat was hoisted up, the ship's head 
 put seaward, and the "Powhatan" pro- 
 •ceeded on her voyage. 
 
 The weather was dreadful, but on the 17th 
 •of April the " Powhatan " arrived off Fort 
 Pickens and found that the chartered steam- 
 er " Atlantic," with the Army contingent, 
 had arrived the day before. "^Lieut. Porter 
 stood in towards the bar and had crossed it 
 -and was standing for Fort McRea, with his 
 <;rew at their guns, when Capt. Meigs in a 
 large Government vessel laid right in the 
 track of the " Powhatan " and signalled that 
 he wanted to communicate. The ship was 
 stopped and Capt Meigs came on board, 
 handing to Lieut. Porter a protest against 
 his going inside the harbor, on the ground 
 that Fort Pickens was unprepared for an 
 attack from the enemy's batteries, and if 
 the " Powhatan " entered it would draw 
 their fire upon the fort ! Capt. Meigs had 
 obtained, before he left Washington, au- 
 thority from the President to take this 
 course of action in case the officer com- 
 manding the troops objected to the ship 
 going in. 
 
 There was nothing to be done but listen to 
 Col. Harvey Brown's plea, and obey the im- 
 plied order of the President ; and thus the 
 opportunity was lost of reasserting the 
 authority of the Government to have its 
 vessels go in and out of any port as it 
 pleased their commanders to do. As it hap- 
 pened there was no actual necessity for the 
 ship to go inside, but that was not the.ques- 
 iion : it was whether the Government had 
 iny right to its own forts, ships and har- 
 
 bors; and in starting to enter the harbor, 
 Lieut. Porter wished to test how far the 
 Government rights would be respected, and 
 if not respected to cause them to be so by 
 the power of his guns. 
 
 The President and the Secretary of State 
 had shown great decision in fitting out this 
 expedition, and, for the times, great moral 
 courage in permitting it to go on, with the 
 certainty that the guns of the " Powhatan " 
 would be liberally used in dealing with the 
 insurgents. But the timid policy of Col. 
 Brown and his authority to preVent the 
 commander of the " Powhatan " from en- 
 tering Pensacola harbor, took all that was 
 exciting out of this expedition, and turned 
 what would have been a handsome dash 
 into simply convoy duty. 
 
 After Lieut. Porter had discussed Col. 
 Brown's protest with Capt Meigs, and care- 
 fully considered the matter, he reluctantly 
 turned the "Powhatan's " head toward the 
 steamer " Atlantic," and anchored within 
 20 fathoms of the beach, with hawsers to 
 keep her broadside bearing on the Navy 
 Yard. The work of unloading the "Atlan- 
 tic " went on in safety under the guns of the 
 " Powhatan," and that night 600 soldiers 
 were lodged in the fort, with provisions, ar- 
 tillery and other munitions of war sufficient 
 to withstand a seige. Fort Pickens could 
 now bid defiance to the Confederate soldiers, 
 who stood in groups on the opposite shore 
 watching the proceedings, but with no ap- 
 parent intention of interfering for the 
 present. This indifference arose from the 
 fact that they had no ammunition to use 
 in the guns which they had found in 
 the Navy Yard — but they were biding their 
 time and would no doubt be heard from 
 when the opportunity offered. 
 
 On the second day after the arrival of the 
 " Powhatan," a flotilla, composed of steam 
 tugs, schooners and large launches, filled 
 with soldiers, was seen to be coming from 
 the direction of Pensacola, and heading for 
 the two ships lying outside of Santa Rosa 
 Island. There were about twenty-five of 
 these small vessels, but the number of 
 troops was not known. 
 
 This flotilla approached to within a mile 
 and a half of the beach on Santa Rosa 
 Island, and as they were either going to 
 land there, or reinforce the insurrectionary 
 army, it was time to stop their approach. 
 The 11-inch gun on board the " Powhatan " 
 was cast loose, and a shell fired, which burst 
 directly over the middle of the flotilla. The 
 consequence was a rapid retreat of the ex- 
 pedition towards Pensacola. No doubt 
 they had taken the " Powhatan " and " At- 
 lantic " for two store-ships which they ex- 
 pected to capture. Perhaps it was in- 
 tended to attack Fort Pickens, for the 
 troops from the "Atlantic " had been landed 
 
104 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 at night, and had not been seen by the 
 enemy. 
 
 The "Powhatan's" 11-inch gun was re- 
 loaded and pointed in the direction of the 
 Navy Yard, where groups of idle soldiers 
 were watching the operations. It was 
 fired, and the shrapnel shell exploded in 
 the midst of the yard, and at once cleared 
 it of all occupants. 
 
 If the Confederates wanted an excuse to 
 commence hostilities the opportunity had 
 been given them ; but the fact was, they 
 were not at all prepared for such a contin- 
 gency, as the troops in Charleston were, 
 and after a year's occupation of Pensacola 
 never advanced sufficiently with their for- 
 tifications to keep three steam frigates out 
 of their harbor. 
 
 By the 20th of April Fort Pickens was so 
 well protected that it could bid defiance to 
 all the Confederate forces in that quarter, 
 and so it remained until the end of the war. 
 
 Pensacola was evacuated by the Confed- 
 erates about a year afterwards, on a scare 
 — they thinking tliat Farragut's fleet was 
 on the way to take it. The Confederates 
 knew that they could not hold out twenty 
 minutes against a close naval attack, and 
 therefore wisely decamped in time. Thus 
 the harbor of Pensacola again fell into the 
 hands of the Government, and was of great 
 use to the Gulf blockading squadron as a 
 base for its operations. 
 
 The above is a strict account of the relief 
 of Fort Pickens ; there were no mistakes 
 made, nor any hitches anywhere. In sev- 
 enteen days after the matter was first 
 broached to the President Fort Pickens was 
 reinforced with troops enough to hold it, 
 and armed with heavy guns which could 
 far outmatch any possessed by the enemy. 
 With the exception of the attack of the 
 "Niagara," "Richmond" and Fort Pickens 
 on Fort McRae and other forts, Nov. 22, 
 18G1, there were no attempts made to dis- 
 turb the enemy, wlio, as long as he remained 
 unmolested, followed a do-nothing course, 
 which in the end was quite as effective as 
 if he had built a thousand-gun fort. 
 
 Mr. Boynton, a very clever and pleasant 
 historian, and who has written the only book 
 that has in any way done justice to the 
 Navy, gives a different version of this affair. 
 But Mr. Boynton was not altogether fair 
 when anything regarding the claims of the 
 Navy Department was concerned; he re- 
 ceived his information from that source and 
 naturally followed it as that to be put in his 
 history, whereas a historian should leave 
 nothing undone to obtain a true statement 
 of affairs. Mr. Boynton while writing his 
 history held an appointment under the Navy 
 Department, which he could only hold as 
 long as his writings were acceptable to its 
 chief ; not that we mean to say that he sur- 
 
 rendered the right of an historian to be im- 
 partial, but that in his close connection with 
 the Navy Department, where articles were 
 prepared for his book, he could not very 
 well reject or revise them without severing 
 his relations with a party who had given 
 him an easy office, in order that he might 
 have time to devote himself solely to writmg 
 his Naval History. Many officers of the- 
 Navy say it is simply a history of the Navy 
 Department, but in this we do not altogether 
 agree, for it has given the most vivid ac- 
 counts of naval battles yet written, and has- 
 in most cases done full justice to those whO' 
 made themselves prominent in the war. 
 
 It was only in cases where Mr. Boynton. 
 felt called upon to adopt the views of the 
 Navy Department, and not follow the rec- 
 ords, that he failed in his history. 
 
 In the case of Fort Pickens he followed 
 the information he received from Secretary 
 Welles, who really believed that what he 
 asserted was a fact, viz. : that the expedi- 
 tion to relieve Fort Pickens was all useless, 
 as he had provided against any contin- 
 gency by instructing the Commander of the 
 Gulf Squadron to hold himself in readiness 
 to assist Fort Pickens in case it was threat- 
 ened. He, however, did not provide for one 
 thing — the indifference of an officer whose 
 sympathies were with the South; who, in. 
 undertaking to carry out the Secretary's 
 order, did it with a reservation, not to do 
 anything to offend his friends on the other 
 side. 
 
 Mr. Welles' orders were never carried out. 
 The commander of the squadron laid four 
 miles away from the fort, where he could 
 scarce see a signal by day or by night, and 
 with a strong wind against the boats, he 
 could not have reached the fort to relieve it 
 under two hours after the attack could have 
 been made, even if he desired to do so. 
 
 As far back as January, 1861, the ques- 
 tion of "State sovereignty" and "no coer- 
 cion " was discussed in Mr. Buchanan's cab- 
 inet, and as the "no coercion" party was 
 in the majority he was influenced by this- 
 policy, and it was owing to it and to out- 
 side sympathizers that the President refused 
 to re-enforce Sumt«r. These Southern svm- 
 pathizers around the President left nothing 
 undone to delude him with the idea of the 
 impolicy of attempting to retain any of the 
 SoLitliern forts by force, and it was in con- 
 sequence of these representations that the 
 following telegram was sent on January 
 29, ISGl: 
 
 "To Captain Jambs Glynn, commanding the 
 Macedonian'; Capt. W. S. Walker, com- 
 mand'ing the 'Brooklyn,'' or other naval officers- 
 ill comma7id ; and Lieut. A. J. Slemmer, 1st 
 Regt. Artillery, U. 8. A., commanding Fort 
 Pickenri : 
 "In consequence of the assurances received from. 
 Mr. Mallory in a telesrram of vAst.firrlnv tn Moaars. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 105 
 
 Bigler, Hunter and Slidell, with a request that it 
 should be laid before the President, that Fort Pic- 
 kens would not be assaulted, and the offer of such 
 an assurance to the same effect from Col. Chase, for 
 the purpose of avoiding a hostile collision, upon 
 receiving satisfactory assurances from Mr. Mallory 
 and Col. Chase that Port Pickens will not be at- 
 tacked, you ai"e instructed not to land the company 
 on board the ' Brooklyn ' unless said fort shall be 
 attacked or preparations shall be made to attack it. 
 The provisions necessary for the supply of the fort 
 you will land. The ' Brooklyn ' and other vessels 
 of war on the station will remain, and you will ex- 
 ercise the utmost vigilance and be prepared at a 
 moment's warning to land the company at Fort 
 Pickens, and yoti and they will instantly repel any 
 attack on the fort. 
 
 " The President yesterday sent a special messr.ire 
 to Congress, communicating the Virginia resolu- 
 tions of compromise. The commissioners of the dif- 
 ferent States are to meet here on Monday, February 
 4th, and it is important that during their session a 
 collision of arms should be avoided, unless an attack 
 should be made or there should be preparations for 
 an attack. In either event the ' Brooklyn ' and 
 the other vessels will act promptly. Your right and 
 that of other officers in command at Pensacola 
 freely to communicate with the Government by 
 special messenger, and its right in the same manner 
 to communicate with yourselves and them, will re- 
 main intact as the basis of the present instructions. 
 "T. Holt, Secretary of War. 
 "J. ToucBY, Secretary of the Navy." 
 
 There was no mistaking the purport of 
 this telegram. The Confederates could as- 
 semble any number of troops they pleased 
 at Pensacola, erect batteries, and prepare 
 for any contingency, without the command- 
 ers of our naval vessels being able to inter- 
 fere with them; at least, so these instruc- 
 tions were construed by Capt. Adams, the 
 commanding naval officer, and when Gen. 
 Scott (subsequent to Mr. Lincoln's inaugu- 
 ration) sent an order to land the company 
 of troops that was on board the "Brook- 
 lyn" and place them in Fort Pickens, 
 Capt. Adams refused to obey the order, and 
 tried to justify himself on the ground that 
 it would be violating the armistice which 
 had been entered into with the Confederate 
 leaders. 
 
 How could the government hope to put 
 down a rebellion in the. South when there 
 was such rebellion against its orders by a 
 captain in the Navy ? The order directing 
 the landing of these troops was dated 
 March 13, 1861. 
 
 On April 1, 1861, Captain Adams, in a 
 letter addressed to the Secretary of the 
 Navy, says : 
 
 " I dechned to land the men as it would be in di- 
 rect violation of the orders of the Navy Depart- 
 ment, on which I was acting ; the orders to land 
 the troops may have been given without a full 
 knowledge of the condition of affairs — there would 
 be no justification in taking such a step without 
 the clearest orders from the proper authority— it 
 would be regarded as a hostile act, and could be re- 
 sisted to the utmost. It would be considered by 
 Gen. Bragg and his officers not only a debarkation, 
 but an act of war : it would be a serious thine: to 
 
 bring on, by any precipitation, a collision which 
 may be against the wishes of the Department. 
 Both sides are faithfully observing the agreement 
 entered into by the U. 8. government with Mr. 
 Mallory and Col. Chase. This agreement binds us 
 not to reinforce Fort Pickens unless it shall be at- 
 tacked or threatened : it binds them not to attack 
 it unless we should attempt to reinforce it. 
 
 "I saw Gen. Bragg on the 30th ultimo, who reas- 
 sured me that the conditions on their part should 
 not be violated. While I cannot take on myself, 
 under such insufficient authority as Gen. Scott's 
 ordei-, the fearful responsibility of an act which 
 seems to render civil war inevitable, I am ready at 
 all times to carry out whatever orders I may re- 
 ceive from the Hon. Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 " In conclusion, I beg you will please to send me 
 instructions as soon as possible, that I may be re- 
 lieved from a painful embarrassment. 
 "Very respectfully, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "H. A. Adams, Captain, 
 " Senior officer present." 
 
 This officer's motto should have been 
 "Festina lente." He was pursuing just 
 the course that would soonest throw Fort 
 Pickens into the hands of the Confederates. 
 And the date of writing (April 1, 1861), was 
 the very day President Lincoln started on 
 foot the Fort Pickens expedition. There 
 were only twenty-five men in the fort under 
 Capt. Slemmer, and at that time Naval His- 
 torian Boynton states that Mr. Welles had 
 taken all the necessary precautions to se- 
 cure Fort Pickens against an attack from 
 the enemy. 
 
 It was not until April 6, 1861, the day on 
 which the "Powhatan" and "Atlantic" 
 left New York for Pensacola, that Mr. Sec- 
 retary Welles answered the letter of Capt. 
 Adams as follows : 
 
 " Navy Department, April 6, 1861. 
 " To Capt. H . A. Adams, Commanding Naval Force 
 off Pensacola. 
 " Sir— Your dispatch of April 1st is received. The 
 department regrets that you did not comply with 
 the request of Capt. Vodges to carry into effect the 
 orders of General Scott, sent out by the 'Cru- 
 sader ' under the orders of this department. 
 
 "You will immediately, on the first favorable op- 
 portunity after the receipt of this order, afford 
 every facility to Capt. Vodges by boats and other 
 means to enable him to land the troops under his 
 command, it being the wish and intention of the 
 Navy Department to co-operate with the War De- 
 partment in that object." 
 
 " I am, respectfully yours, 
 
 " Gideon Welles. 
 " Secretary of the Navy." 
 
 These orders were sent to Capt. Adams 
 by a special messenger (Lieut. John L. 
 Worden), who crossed the rebellious States 
 to deliver them. He committed the orders 
 to memory, in case the papers should be 
 lost or he be arrested, but he arrived in 
 safety, and delivered the document to Capt. 
 Adams on the 12th of April. Capt. Vodges' 
 company was immediately landed at Fort 
 Pickens. 
 
 Thus from the time Capt. Vodges arrived 
 
106 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 and was placed on board the " Brooklyn," 
 and from the time of General Scott's orders 
 to land the troops, dated March 12, 1861, 
 twenty-four days elapsed before any thing 
 was done to relieve Fort Pickens, Capt. 
 Slammer remaining in command of the fort 
 all that time with only twenty-five men. 
 Where, then, is the protection that was 
 granted by the Navy Department ? 
 
 Three days after Mr. Welles issued his 
 instructions to have General Scott's orders 
 obeyed, the steamer "Atlantic," chartered 
 by Capt. Meigs, arrived and threw 600 men 
 into the fort, with all that was necessary 
 to resist a seige, and the next day the 
 '• Powhatan " was there to protect the fort 
 vsrith her batteries. 
 
 The military relief that was placed in the 
 fort from the "Brooklyn" (75 men) was not 
 at all adequate to its defence against Gen. 
 Bragg's forces ; not one man was ordered 
 by the Navy Department to be landed from 
 the ships at that time anchored off Pensa- 
 cola, and this help never would have been 
 afforded, for on or about the 20th, when a 
 concerted signal was said to have been 
 made for succor, the "Powhatan's" boats 
 with marines were the only ones that re- 
 sponded to it. One of these boats got along- 
 side the flagship by mistake and was de- 
 tained there until daylight, with the remark 
 that they knew nothing about concerted 
 signals ! 
 
 The historian Boynton rather sneers at 
 the manner in which Pickens was relieved 
 by the "Powhatan" and "Atlantic," and 
 reflects on the brilliancy of the exploit. 
 Certainly there was nothing brilliant about 
 it, but it was successful, and it must have 
 reassured the Northern people when they 
 heard that there was some decision still left 
 in President Lincoln's Cabinet, when they 
 saw that a merchant steamer had thrown 
 600 men into Fort Pickens and that a frigate 
 was protecting them with her guns; best of 
 all, that the President had asserted his right 
 to man and use the Government forts as he 
 pleased. 
 
 If there was any compact between the 
 Confederates and the Government, it was 
 broken on the arrival of the " Powhatan" 
 — for she fired upon them the moment they 
 attempted a water expedition towards Santa 
 Rosa Island. 
 
 All the claims for saving Fort Pickens 
 from the enemy, put forward by anyone in 
 favor of the Navy Department, are null and 
 void. 
 
 Capt. Meigs puts the matter truthfully 
 and squarely, when in answer to questions 
 concerning the expedition, he stated : 
 
 "An order was issued on the recommendation of 
 Secretary Seward, detaching the ' Powhatan ' from 
 the Sumter expedition, and sending her to Fort 
 Picliens. 
 
 " In conclusion permit me to remark that this, the 
 first successful miUtary expedition of the war, orig- 
 inated with Mr. Seward ; until it sailed the United 
 States had declined every where." 
 
 The above account, in relation to the 
 steps taken to relieve Sumter and Pickens, 
 is perfectly correct, and the attempt of any 
 one to detract from the credit of the Fort 
 Pickens expedition is unworthy of con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Several attempts were made to credit the 
 Navy Department with the merit of saving 
 Fort Pickens to the Union, and the same 
 authoritj^ attempted to show that the Fort 
 Pickens expedition caused the failure at 
 Sumter. There was no necessity for mak- 
 ing an excuse for the Secretary of the Navy, 
 Mr. Fox, or anybody else who was con- 
 cerned in the attempt to rescue Sumter. 
 War was a foregone conclusion with the 
 leaders at Charleston, but they still retained 
 sufficient right feeling to wish to have some 
 valid excuse for striking the first blow. Mr. 
 Secretary Welles gave them the opportunity 
 by sending down the relief vessels : the 
 first blow had to come and the sooner it 
 came the better. 
 
 No one can cast any reflection on Secre- 
 tary Welles or Mr. Fox for the failure (if it 
 may be so called) at Charleston. It was a 
 matter beyond their control ; they were both 
 loyal men and did all they could to 
 bring about the relief of the men in Fort 
 Sumter, and their loyalty and determina- 
 tion to put down the rebellion was un- 
 ceasing during a four years' war, which re- 
 quired the most eminent ability to conduct 
 the Department in which each of them exer- 
 cised that control best suited to his capacity. 
 
 If Mr. Secretary Welles does not deserve 
 the credit of succoring Pickens in time, it 
 is because he had not an officer in command 
 of the squadron at Pensacola who would 
 anticipate orders, or who was enough in- 
 terested in the Union cause to take the re- 
 sponsibility of using active measures with- 
 out instructions. Secretary Welles also 
 labored under the disadvantage of having 
 the general of the army sending down 
 orders to the captain of the company on 
 board the "Brooklyn" to land, without 
 properly passing his orders through the 
 Navy Department, so that there might be 
 perfect concert of action between the com- 
 mander of the troops and the commander 
 of the vessel. 
 
 When Mr. Welles was called on to act he 
 did act promptly, and if late in doing so it 
 mattered very little, for the expedition in- 
 augurated by Mr. Seward arrived a day or 
 two after, and made the place so secure that 
 no Confederate.force could have any efifect 
 upon it. 
 
 These two places, Sumter and Pickens, on 
 which at one time so much depended 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 107 
 
 (whether war or peace would rule the day), 
 are too prominent subjects to pass over 
 lightly, and if the writer has dwelt on the 
 matter longer than the reader may think 
 justifiable, it is because he desired to give a 
 true account of the whole affair. 
 
 The operations of the Gulf and East Gulf 
 blockading squadrons were mostly confined 
 to blockading duty, with an occasional 
 smart skirmish with the enemy. The names 
 of the following officers are spoken of as 
 active in the performance of all the duties 
 which fell to their lot in this limited sphere 
 •of action : Lieut.-Commander Francis Wins- 
 low, Commander Geo. F. Emmons, Lieuts. 
 J. C. Howell and A. F. Grossman, Com- 
 mander. H. S. Stellwagen, Lieut. Abbot, 
 Capt. Cicero Price and Act. -Master Elna- 
 than Lewis. 
 
 These officers all did good service, and 
 gave evidence of loyalty and zeal which 
 promised greater usefulness when employed 
 in a wider sphere of action. 
 
 The duty in the Gulf was harrassing, and 
 at the same time tedious and monotonous; 
 and if not as brilliant as that performed by 
 the Navy in other localities, it performed 
 its share of the work of putting down the 
 rebellion by maintaining the blockade of 
 the Southern Coast, the most severe duty 
 performed by any officers during the war. 
 
 GULF SQUADRON, 1861, VESSELS AND OFFICERS. 
 
 Flagship " Niagara." Captain Wm. W. 
 McKean, Flag Officer; Lieuts., John Guest, 
 Wm. F. Spicer, J. C. P. De Krafft, Robt. L. 
 May and Edw. E. Potter; Fleet Surg., G. 
 E.B. Horner; Surgeon, J. Foltz;Asst.Surg., 
 James McAllister; Chaplain, C. S. Stewart; 
 Paymaster, G. B. Barry; Masters, J. D. Mar- 
 vin, James O'Kane, T. L. Swan, H. B. Robe- 
 son and Silas Casey, Jr. ; Capt. Marines, 
 Josiah Watson; First Lieut., Geo. Butler; 
 •Chief Engineer, Robt. H. Long ; Asst. -En- 
 gineers, D. B. Macomb, C. B. Kidd, E. A. C. 
 JDuPlaine, L. R. Green, R. H. Grinnell, A. 
 H. Fisher and Robt. Potts ; Boatswain, A. 
 M. Pomeroy ; Gunner, R. J. Hill ; Carpen- 
 ter, John Rainbow ; Sailmaker, Stephen 
 Seaman. 
 
 Frigate " Santee." Captain, Henry 
 Eagle; Surgeon, T. M. Potter; Lieuts., 
 James E. Jouett, J. J. Mitchell, B. N. 
 Wescott, James H. Spotts; Act. -Master's 
 Mate, Charles W. Adams; Asst. -Surg., C. 
 H. Burbank ; Paymaster, L. Warrington; 
 Midshipmen, Frederick Rodgers, George M. 
 Brown, S. H. Hunt ; Boatswain, William 
 Black; Carpenter, Wm. H. Edgar; Gunner, 
 William Carter ; First Lieut, of Marines, C. 
 D. Hebb. 
 
 Steamer " Richmond." Capt., P. B. Elli- 
 son; Lieuts., N. C. Bryant, A. B. Cum- 
 
 mings, Robert Boyd, Jr., Edward Terry, 
 Byron Wilson ; Surgeon, A. A. Henderson; 
 Asst. -Surgeon, William Howell ; Paymas- 
 ter, Geo. F. Cutter; Boatswain, I. T. Clioate; 
 Sailmaker, H. T. Stocker ; Carpenter, H. 
 L. Dixon ; Gunner, James Thayer ; Act.- 
 Master's Mate, H. W. Grinnell ; First Lieut. 
 Marines, Alan Ramsey ; Chief Engineer, 
 John W. Moore ; Asst. -Engineers, Eben 
 Hoyt, J. L. Butler, Wm. Pollard, A. W. 
 Morley, G. W. W. Dove, R. B. Plotts, G. E. 
 Emery. 
 
 Sloop-of-War " Vincennes." Comman- 
 der, Robert Handy; Lieut., John E. Hart; 
 Surgeon, S. A. Engles ; Paymaster, R. C. 
 Spalding ; Asst. Surgeon, Somerset Robin- 
 son ; Midshipmen, O. A. Batcheller, B. F. 
 Haskin, M. W. Sanders and E. M. Shepard; 
 Boatswain, Jos. Shankland ; Gunner, Wil- 
 liam Wilson ; Sailmaker, Nicholas Lynch ; 
 Second Lieut. Marines, J. H. Higbee. 
 
 Sloop-of-War " Preble." Commander, 
 Henry French ; Lieut., William E. Hop- 
 kins ; Surgeon, Stewart Kennedy ; Pay- 
 master, C. P. Wallach ; Boatswain, John 
 Bates ; Gunner, E. J. Waugh ; Carpenter, 
 James Kinnear ; Sailmaker, G. A. Wight- 
 man. 
 
 Steamer "Water Witch." Commander, 
 Wm. Ronckendorff (in August) ; Lieut., 
 Francis Winslow (in October) ; Lieuts., J. 
 L. Davis, James Stillwell, C. H. Cushman 
 and Allan V. Reed ; P. Asst. -Surgeon, P. 
 S. Wales ; Asst. -Engineers, Wm. C. Selden, 
 Reynolds Driver, Edw. Scattergood, A. H. 
 Able. 
 
 Frigate *' Potomac." Capt., L. M. Powell, 
 Lieuts., Samuel Marcy, Lewis A. Kimberly; 
 Geo. E. Law; Master, W. S. Schley; Sur- 
 geon, J. D. Miller; Asst. -Surgeon, A. O. 
 Leavitt; Paymaster, James D. Murray; 
 Midshipmen, Wm. T. Sampson, C. H. Hum- 
 phrey, Merrill Miller, John H. Reed, D. D. 
 Wemple; Boatswain, C. E. Bragdon; Gun- 
 ner, W. H. French; Carpenter, O. T. Stim- 
 son; Sailmaker, Geo. Thomas. 
 
 Steamer " Huntsv-ille." Com. Cicero 
 Price; Lieut., Henry Erben; Midshipmen, 
 E. C. V. Blake, Louis Kempff. 
 
 Steamer " R. R. Cutler." Lieut. Francis 
 Winslow; Act.-Lieut., J. Van Ness Philip; 
 Act. -Master, Henry K. Lapham; Midship- 
 men, L. R. P. Adams, A. C. Alexander, 
 Wm. R. Bridgman. 
 
 Steamer "Hatteras." Com., Geo. F. 
 Emmons; Act. -Master, Hofl'man; Master's 
 Mates, McGrath and Hazlett. 
 
 Steamer ' ' M assach usetts. " Com. , Mel- 
 ancton Smith. 
 
 Steamer "New London." Com., James 
 Alden. 
 
 Note.— Names of ofBoers obtained mostly from 
 Navy Register of August 31, 1861. 
 
CH A PTE R X I 
 
 GOLDSBOROUGH'S EXPEDITION TO THE SOUNDS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Expedition to RoanOke Island. — Rear- Admiral Goldsborough in Command of Naval 
 Forces. — Army Forces Under Command op General Burnside. — Vessels and 
 Oppicers in Command. — A Nondescript Squadron. — Commander Rowan Given 
 Command. — Description of Roanoke Island. — The Defenses. — Attack on Works 
 AND Vessels. — Barracks at Fort Bartow on Fire. — Landing of Troops at Ash- 
 ley's Harbor. — Capture of Fort Bartow. — Destruction of Steamer "Curlew" 
 AND Batteries at Redstone Point. — '-Hearts of Oak" in Wooden Ships. — Con- 
 federates Surrender to Generals Foster and Reno. — Losses of Army. — 
 Advantages of Capture of Roanoke Island. — Escape of Confederate Fleet. — 
 Casualties Among Naval Forces — Commander Rowan Pursues Confederate 
 Fleet. — Destruction of Confederate Fleet and Forts on Pasquotank River.— 
 Attempt to Burn Elizabeth City. — Expeditions up Rivers Leading into Sounds.— 
 Bravery of Lieut. Flusser. 
 
 OWING to the fact that the com- 
 manding officer of the Hatteras 
 expedition did not push the ad- 
 vantages he had gained by the 
 capture of Forts Hatteras and 
 Clark, in August, 1861, the victory was al- 
 most a barren one, with the exception of 
 its moral effect and the recapture of many 
 of the guns which had fallen into the hands 
 of the Confederates. 
 
 The principal entrances into the sounds 
 of North Carolina were secured, but the 
 Confederates had still the means not only 
 of annoying the coast-wise commerce pass- 
 ing daily before these inlets, but also of 
 supplying their armies through the intri- 
 cate and numerous channels belonging to 
 the several sounds, and known only to 
 themselves. 
 
 In January, 1862, it was determined by 
 the Navy Department to fit out an expedi- 
 tion for the purpose of capturing Roanoke 
 Island, and getting possession of Pamlico 
 and Albemarle Sounds. 
 
 This had become a necessity, as the Con- 
 federates had facilities for fitting out light 
 armed and swift vessels, which coulcl get 
 in and out at their pleasure and attack our 
 commerce whenever it suited their conven- 
 ience. It was also known that the Confed- 
 
 erates were fitting out some powerful iron- 
 clads in the western waters of the sounds, 
 and it was absolutely necessary for the 
 Federal government to obtain a foothold 
 there before these vessels were completed. 
 There were many other reasons why so 
 large and important a body of water should 
 be secured, and it was a case where the 
 Navy only could take the initiative, and 
 where success could only be obtained by the 
 use of well-armed vessels-of-war. 
 
 Rear- Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough was 
 selected to command the naval expedition, 
 and General A. E. Burnside was directed to 
 co-operate with him : the latter to have 
 under his command some 17.000 troops. 
 
 The following is a list of the vessels which 
 composed the naval part of the expedition, 
 with the names of their commanders : 
 
 " Stars and Stripes," Lieut. -Comdg. Reed 
 Werdeu; •'Louisiana," Lieut. -Comdg A. 
 Murray; "Hetzel." Lieut.-Comdg. H. K. 
 Davenport ; " Underwriter," Lieut.-Comdg. 
 W. N. JefFers; "Delaware," Lieut.-Comdg. 
 S. P. Quackenbush; " Commodore Perry," 
 Lieut.-Comdg. C. W. Flusser; "Valley 
 City," Lieut -Comdg. J. C. Chaplin; " Com. 
 Barney," Act. -Lieut.-Comdg R. T. Ren- 
 shaw; '• Hunchback." Act. -Vol. -Lt.-Comdg. 
 E. R. Colhoun; " Southfield." Act. -Vol. -Lt.- 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 109 
 
 Comdg. C. F. W. Behm ; " Morse," Acting- 
 Master Peter Hayes; "Whitehead," Acting- 
 Master Charles French; " Lock wood," Act- 
 ing-Master G. W. Graves; " Brincker," 
 Acting-Master John E. Giddings; "I. N. 
 Seymour," Acting-Master F. S. Wells ; 
 " Ceres," Acting-Master John McDiarmid ; 
 "Putnam," Acting-Master W. J. Hotchkiss; 
 "Shawsheen," Acting-Master T. G. Wood- 
 
 ring his flag temporarily to the steamer 
 "Southfield." 
 
 Hatteras Inlet, through which our vessels 
 had to pass to get into Pamlico Sound, was 
 not the most desirable channel in the world; 
 on the contrary it was beset with difficulties, 
 and only those who went on that expedition 
 will ever know of the perilous adventures in 
 which the ofiicers and men were engaged. 
 
 EEAE-ADMIRAL LODIS M. GOLDSBOEOUGH. 
 
 vsrard; "Granite," Acting-Master's Mate 
 E. Boomer. 
 
 These vessels were placed by Admiral 
 Goldsborough under the "general com- 
 mand " of Commander S. C. Rowan, who 
 carried his divisional flag on the steamer 
 " Delaware " 
 
 The flagship " Philadelphia" being " unfit 
 for the purpose " took no part in the engage- 
 
 At the time when this expedition was un- 
 dertaken, the Navy Department had great 
 difficulty in obtaining suitable vessels for 
 its purpose. If the vessels were of light 
 draft, they were naturally slightly built, and 
 not calculated to contend with the winter 
 gales which rago in the vicinity of Cape 
 Hatteras. It will be seen by a look at the 
 list of naval vessels employed in this expe- 
 
 A'-,i^\, 
 
 +V.r 
 
 +T>^ 
 
 
 
 ^r^^A, 
 
110 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 script affair. It was made up of river 
 steamers, ferry-boats, tug-boats and almost 
 anything that would turn a wheel or screw. 
 It was a great change for our naval officers 
 to come down from the staunch old ships of 
 live oak (in which they had been accus- 
 tomed to sail about the world) to these 
 frail craft loaded to the water's edge with 
 guns of heavy calibre, not knowing 
 whether they would ever reach the place 
 for which they were destined, much less 
 hoping to get home safe and sound to their 
 anxious relatives. It was a mere matter of 
 luck with them, as their success depended 
 on whether thev should meet a gale of wind 
 or not, while off the coast. Our govern- 
 ment was not always careful as to what 
 kind of vessels it purchased, and if the peo- 
 ple of the country could have seen the craft 
 in which our sailors went to sea and fought 
 their country's battles they would have 
 given them more sympathy. 
 
 But there were hearts of oak in that non- 
 descript squadron, and they never stopped 
 to inquire whether there was danger in the 
 enterprise or not, or whether their vessels 
 would sink or swim; all they cared for was 
 to reach the post of danger, well knowing 
 that when once in the smooth water of the 
 sounds they would be amply repaid for any 
 risks they might run in getting there. 
 
 The reason why such vessels had been se- 
 lected for this important work was that the 
 Navy Department had no others. Gun-boats 
 were built as fast as possible, but all of them 
 were of such draft of water that they could 
 only with great difficulty cross the bars at 
 the southern inlets. The Army transports 
 were worse even than the so-called naval 
 gun-boats, for the War Department had 
 been even more unfortunate than the naval 
 authorities in selecting vessels. They had 
 no skill in such matters, and were easily 
 deceived by the harpies who are always 
 ready to take advantage of their country's 
 need, without regard to any sacrifice of life 
 which might result from their avarice: and 
 yet some of these men were considered to 
 be loyal citizens, working for the Govern- 
 ment. They took good care to make close 
 contracts, securing themselves from loss in 
 case of damage to their chartered steamers. 
 
 This heterogeneous crowd of naval ves- 
 sels and transports arrived at Hatteras In- 
 let on the morning of the 13th of January, 
 1862, and were all taken across the bar, 
 where there was barely seven and one-half 
 feet of water. They arrived at the begin- 
 ning of a northeast gale which lasted two 
 days, during which time many of the vessels 
 were severely battered ere they could reach 
 safe quarters. 
 
 On the 20th seventeen naval armed 
 steamers were over the bar and safely an- 
 chored inside, under the command of Com. 
 
 S. C. Rowan. This in effect gave the Fed- 
 eral forces full control of Pamlico Sound, 
 but the military command could only be 
 retained by the capture of Roajioke Island. 
 It was not"until the 22d that Gen. Burnside 
 was able to get all his transports over the 
 bar and into still water. 
 
 Had the enemy been on the alert with 
 what gun-boats they had, they would have 
 caused great disturbance to our fleet while 
 it was beset with dangers on the bar, where 
 the naval vessels would have found it diffi- 
 cult to use their guns, and where great 
 havoc might have been made among the 
 closely packed troops on board the trans- 
 ports. The enemy's gun-boats did not take 
 advantage of their opportunity, however, 
 but kept close to their fortifications, merely 
 amusing themselves by throwing an occa- 
 sional shell from their long range guns at 
 the vessels in the harbor, but never reach- 
 ing the danger point. 
 
 On the 21st, Rear-Admiral Goldsborough 
 sent a steamer out to examine a certain, 
 buoy, to see whether it was in the right 
 place. While engaged upon this service 
 two steamers were descried in the distance. 
 On the fact being signalled to Com. Rowan 
 he gave chase to them with several of his 
 vessels, but the enemy escaped. 
 
 It must have been very evident to the 
 Confederates, when they beheld the com- 
 paratively large force that was sent against 
 them, that they would have a hard tussle 
 to keep possession of the sounds; but they 
 had a strong position, and seemed deter- 
 mined to maintain it. 
 
 When everything was in readiness for the 
 movement to commence, the naval vessels 
 were all placed under the command of Com- 
 mander Rowan, who was to take the lead 
 and open the way for the transports. 
 
 Before giving any account of the opera- 
 tions it will be necessary to give the read- 
 ers some idea of the defenses of Roanoke 
 Island. 
 
 This island is about ten miles long and 
 three wide, running in a northwesterly and 
 southeasterly direction. 
 
 By the capture of Hatteras Inlet forts the 
 Federal Government gained possession only 
 of Pamlico Sound, and therefore the first 
 object of this expedition was to gain pos- 
 session of Albemarle Sound and the con- 
 necting waters, through which the Confed- 
 erates were carrying on an active trade. 
 Roanoke Island barred the way between 
 these two sounds, and the Confederates had 
 made it a formidable barrier by the erection 
 of heavy fortifications 
 
 The channel connecting Pamlico and Al- 
 bemarle Sounds in which Roanoke Island 
 lies is very shallow, and could therefore be 
 easily obstructed by sunken vessels or piles. 
 
 The RbpP>t of ■Wrnf.OT' r»n +.Vi£a -»XTC»o+ oii^£k ^-p +llA 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 Ill 
 
 island is called Croatan Sound, and that on 
 the east side Roanoke Sound. All of these 
 waters are navigable to a certain extent, 
 but large vessels can only pass through the 
 western channel. (See the plan, which will 
 more fully explain the situation than any 
 description.) 
 
 It is quite clear that Roanoke Island in 
 the hands of the Confederates was the key 
 to that great chain of sounds and passages 
 
 If the Northern Government had estab- 
 lished a formidable army in North Carolina, 
 in the neighborhood of Plymouth, Green- 
 ville and Newbern, connected by lines of 
 communication and supported near these 
 places by a fleet of gun-boats with powerful 
 guns, the Wilmington Railroad, Raleigh 
 and Welden would have been within strik- 
 ing distance of our army, and the Confed- 
 erates would have been obliged to use more 
 
 VICE-ADMIEAL S. C. KOWAN. 
 
 running from Hatteras Inlet to the Dismal 
 Swamp canal, and that in order to retain 
 control of these highways it was necessary 
 for the Unionists to capture this position at 
 all hazards. 
 
 It was a great strategic point which 
 enabled the Confederates to cover Norfolk 
 in the rear, Welden and the Northeast rail- 
 roads, and keep open their communications 
 with Left's armv at Richmond. 
 
 northern railroads to obtain their supplies, 
 even if they did not have to evacuate Rich- 
 mond. The final movement of our army un- 
 der Sherman in his "March to the Sea," 
 was directed towards some of these points in 
 North Carolina, and it was not long after 
 this that Lee surrendered and General Joe 
 Johnston laid down his arms. 
 
 When the Confederates found that the 
 Hatteras forts were incanable of keenins- the 
 
112 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Federal gun-boats out of the sounds, and 
 that the Neuse and Pamlico Elvers must 
 fall into our hands, they determined to for- 
 tify Roanoke Island and prevent our getting 
 into Albemarle Sound ; so that they could 
 hold communication vs^ith Norfolk through 
 the Currituck Inlet and save Plymouth and 
 the Roanoke River. They were building 
 some heavy iron-clads up that river, and all 
 the material, machinery and guns had to be 
 transported from Norfolk and Richmond. 
 
 The defences of Roanoke Island consisted 
 of six separate works. Five of these guarded 
 the water approaches and the sixth was a 
 masked battery intended to prevent troops 
 from landing and attacking the main works 
 in the rear. 
 
 This last battery was armed with three 
 guns and was flanked on either side by a 
 dense cedar swamp, so that an army land- 
 ing at this point was only supposed to be 
 able to advance by the roadway, towards the 
 water defence at Pork Point, where their 
 principal work, Fort Bartow, was situated. 
 The swamp was considered impassible, and 
 to render further protection a barrier of 
 fallen trees was formed on each side of the 
 road. 
 
 The following is a list of the defences, 
 taken from Rear- Admiral Goldsborough's 
 report : " They consisted of two elaborately 
 constructed works, mounting altogether 
 twenty guns, three of them being 100- 
 pounder rifles ; four other batteries, mount- 
 ing together twenty guns, a large proportion 
 of them being of larger calibre and some of 
 them rifled; eight steamers, mounting two 
 guns each, and each having a rifled gun 
 with the diameter of a 32- pounder; a pro- 
 longed obstruction of sunken vessels and 
 piles to thwart our advance, and, altogether, 
 a body of men numbering scarcely less 
 than 5,000. ..." 
 
 This was a strong position, and a large 
 number of guns (66 in all) to meet the at- 
 tack of 48 guns on our frail steamers with- 
 out any protection to hull or machinery. 
 
 The naval vessels, under the lead of Com. 
 Rowan, made the attack on the works and 
 vessels at Roanoke Island, on February 
 7th, at nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The plan of battle was for the naval force 
 to lead up to the attack, and engage the 
 batteries at Pork and Sandy Points and the 
 Confederate vessels. While this was going 
 on the Army was to advance and land un- 
 der cover of the naval fire. A naval brig- 
 ade of artillery was also detailed to land 
 from six launches, at Ashby Harbor, or, if 
 possible, at Sandy Point, half a mile above. 
 
 The naval division under Com. Rowan 
 was arranged in three columns, commanded 
 respectively by Lieuts. Worden, Murray 
 and Davenport, these to be followed by the 
 Army transports, also in divisions. 
 
 Two days were occupied by our fleet in 
 threading its way through the intricate 
 channels of the marshes, owing to fogs and 
 foul weather. These channels were so 
 narrow that only two vessels could proceed 
 abreast, and in this order they continued 
 until reaching the wider and deeper waters 
 of Croatan Sound. 
 
 The naval division, composed and cooit 
 manded as stated above, was accompanied, 
 as predetermined, by the '■ Picket," Capt. 
 T. P. Ives; "Huzzar," Capt. Frederick 
 Crocker; -'Pioneer," Capt. Charles E. Baker; 
 " Vidette," Capt. John L. Foster; " Ranger," 
 Capt. Samuel Emerson; " Lancer," Capt. 
 M. B. Morley, and "Chasseur," Capt. John 
 West, of the army division. Keeping in 
 close order it approached the enemy near 
 enough to begin the attack, and to devote 
 most of its firing against the fort on Pork 
 Point (not neglecting the enemy's vessels), 
 a battery between Pork and Weir's Points, 
 and another on Redstone Point (see plan), 
 all of which returned the fire of the Federal 
 fleet, but without much effect. 
 
 The Federal vessels having obtained posi- 
 tion the action became general between 
 them and the enemy, the army transports 
 also joining in with the rifle guns they had 
 mounted. 
 
 At 1:30 the shells from, our fleet set fire 
 to the barracks behind Pork Point, and in a 
 short time they were in full blaze and be- 
 yond control, as at this time the Federal 
 vessels, having got their range, were throw- 
 ing in a very destructive fire. 
 
 At 3 p. M. the troops shifted to light-draft 
 steamers and boats and started to land at 
 Ashby's Harbor. This place was guarded 
 by a large body of the enemy with a field 
 battery, but Commander Rowan in the 
 " Delaware," taking up a flanking position 
 to the southward of Pork Point, turned his 
 9-inch guns towards the harbor and com- 
 pelled the enemy to retreat," thus clearing 
 the way for a landing. 
 
 At 4.30 Pork Point Battery and the one 
 next to the northward of it ceased firing; 
 five of the Confederate steamers went be- 
 hind Weir's Point disabled, and the first 
 landing of our troops took place. 
 
 At 6 p. M. these batteries re-opened, and 
 the enemy's steamers having repaired 
 damages put forth again and opened fire. 
 In a short time, however, the steamers were 
 again obliged to retired and one of them, 
 the '• Curlew," in a disabled condition, took 
 refuge under the battery at Redstone Point. 
 As evening came on, the Rear Admiral 
 commanding made signal to cease firing— 
 not wishing to waste ammunition. 
 
 In the course of the afternoon, six 
 launches, under the command of Midship- 
 man B. H. Porter, had landed their howitz- 
 ers and a bodv of men. which were em- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 113 
 
 ployed during the night in guarding the 
 main road and its two forks. On the fol- 
 lowing morning they assisted in the active 
 operations of the Army. ~Bj midnight some 
 ten thousand of our troops had been landed 
 safely at Ashby's Harbor. 
 
 On February 8th it was arranged by Gen- 
 eral Burnside that his forces should move at 
 an early hour in the morning, and begin their 
 attack upon the enemy; and as the direc- 
 tion they were obliged to take would bring 
 them in the line of fire occupied by the 
 Navy it was agreed between the two com- 
 
 to hear from Gen. Burnside. The fleet con- 
 tinued its fire upon the forts until the firing 
 in the interior of the island sensibly slack- 
 ened, when it was taken for granted that 
 our troops were approaching the batteries, 
 and carrying everything before them. 
 Then came the order to clear the channel 
 of obstructions, to enable the squadron to 
 pass up and destroy the battery on Eed- 
 stone Point, which had only one gun left 
 to fire, and also the " Curlew," which lay 
 disabled under the enemy's batteries. In 
 two hours and a half this service was per- 
 
 MAP AKD PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON EOANOKE ISLAND. 
 
 manders, that the naval fire should cease 
 until the General gave notice that it would 
 not interfere with his operations. 
 
 At daylight none of the enemy's vessels, 
 except the "Curlew," could be discovered. 
 At 9 A. M. a continuous firing in the in- 
 terior of the island showed that the Army 
 was hotly engaged with the enemy between 
 Ashby's Harbor and Pork Point. The Ad- 
 miral being thus informed of the position 
 of our troops, and seeing that they were 
 now beyond his line of fire, at once moved 
 up and engaged the forts, without waiting 
 
 formed by the "Underwriter," "Valley 
 Citv," "Seymour," "Lockwood," "Ceres," 
 "Shawsheen," "Putnam," "Whithead" 
 and "Brincker," and these vessels passed 
 through. 
 
 Just at this moment our troops hoisted 
 the American flag on the battery at Pork 
 Point, and in a feW minutes afterwards the 
 enemy himself fired the works at Eedstone 
 Point and the Confederate steamer "Cur- 
 lew:" both blew up early in the evening. 
 
 Thus ended the attack on the forts of 
 Roanoke Island, the Confederate works 
 
114 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 being now completely in the hands of the 
 Army and Navy. 
 
 To discriminate between the two branches 
 of the service on this occasion would be 
 making an invidious distinction; both per- 
 formed their duties in the most admirable 
 manner, and worked together most harmo- 
 niously. 
 
 The casualties among the naval vessels 
 were few in number, which is considered 
 strange when the light character of these 
 steamers is taken into account and the num- 
 ber of guns (56) which were brought to bear 
 upon them by the enemy; but the fire from 
 the eight and nine-inch shell guns and rifles 
 of the fleet was so vigorously kept up and 
 accurately aimed that it was the same old 
 story of Port Eoyal — hearts of oak in 
 wooden ships. 
 
 Tlie military forces had some hard fight- 
 ing on shore, and the attack was conducted 
 with great skill. The entire force of the 
 enemy stationed in the batteries and as 
 sharpshooters was 4,000. Governor H. A. 
 Wise had a force in reserve at Nag's Head, 
 but retreated when he heard of the fate of 
 the two forts. 
 
 The enemy's troops were well posted and 
 their batteries well masked, so that the 
 Federal forces were really fighting an un- 
 seen foe. 
 
 Over 150 officers and 2,500 men surren- 
 dered to Generals Foster and Reno. The 
 losses of the Confederates are unknown, 
 but they did not exceed 150 killed and 
 wounded. Our Army lost 15 officers and 32 
 men killed, 10 officers and 264 men wounded, 
 and 13 men missing. 
 
 Thus was a very important capture raade, 
 , with but little loss of life, when it is consid- 
 : ered that the enemy held a strong position 
 and was completely concealed in bushes 
 and masked batteries. The advantages 
 which resulted from the capture of this 
 island cannot be over-estimated. A large 
 quantity of military stores of all kinds fell 
 into the hands of the Federal Army which 
 the enemy could not well spare, and alto- 
 gether it was a very happy ending of what 
 promised at first to be a very difficult under- 
 taking. 
 
 The only regret was that the enemy's fleet 
 escaped. These vessels mounted 16 or 17 
 heavy guns, and had taken a secure position 
 behind the barricades, prepared to defend the 
 way against the Federal fleet. Commodore 
 Lynch (the commander of this naval force) 
 and many, if not all, of his officers, had once 
 served in the United States Navy ; but they 
 could not stand the attack of their old com- 
 rades and were obliged to retreat. Strange 
 to say, all of these steamers, except the 
 " Curlew," made good their escape. As re- 
 
 fards vulnerability these vessels were as 
 efective as those of the Federal fleet, and 
 
 their commanders saw from the first what 
 the result would be, and took advantage 
 of the darkness to move away to a safer 
 position. 
 
 Great praise was given to General Burn- 
 side for the manner in which he conducted 
 his part of the affair. There was no instance 
 during the war where the Army and Navy 
 worked together more harmoniously. It 
 was a case where each was necessary to the 
 other and where neither could have won 
 alone. 
 
 History will show that, throughout the 
 war, whenever the Army and Navy co- 
 operated harmoniously success followed: but 
 when difficulties occurred between the mili- 
 tary and naval commanders the results were 
 unsatisfactory. 
 
 By the capture of these works and their 
 garrisons, all the sounds of North Carolina 
 came under Federal jurisdiction, as the 
 naval vessels and military transports were 
 now able to reach all parts of these waters 
 and soon swept from them all traces of the 
 Confederate power: a great loss to the en- 
 emy and one that he deeply mourned. 
 
 The casualties in the Union fleet were 6 
 killed, 17 wounded, 2 missing. 
 
 Admiral Goldsborough lost no time after 
 the surrender of the forts on Roanoke Is- 
 land in chasing up the Confederate Navy, 
 which had disappeared entirely; and on the 
 9th of February he directed Com. Rowan 
 to pursue them with the following vessels : 
 "Louisiana," Lieut. -Com. Murray; "Het- 
 zel," Lieut. -Com. Davenport; "Under- 
 writer," Lieut.-Com. Jeflfers; "Delaware," 
 Lieut.-Com. Quackenbush; "Commodore 
 Perry," Lieut.-Com. Flusser; "Valley City," 
 Lieut.-Com. Chaplin; "Morse," Acting- 
 Master French; "Lockwood,"Acting-Master 
 Graves; "Ceres," Acting-Master McDiar- 
 mid; " Shawsheen," Acting-Master Wood- 
 ward; "Brincker, "Acting-Master Geddings; 
 "Putnam," Acting-Master Hotchkiss. 
 
 This was not a very formidable squadron, 
 but it was equal to the occasion. Late in the 
 afternoon of the 9th this fleet of vessels en- 
 tered Albemarle Sound in search of the 
 enemy, and soon after sighted the smoke 
 of two steamers, which were seen to be 
 heading for Pasquotank River. Chase was 
 given and an attempt made to cut them off, 
 but without success, and the Confederates 
 escaped over the bar and then up the river. 
 The Union fleet was then anchored for the 
 night, ten miles distant from Fort Cobb. 
 
 Commander Rowan knew very little about 
 the condition of affairs up the river, whether 
 there were any batteries, torpedoes or ob- 
 structions, but he well knew that if there 
 ivere any forts the Confederate gun-boats 
 would naturally seek their protection and 
 rely on their aid in any encounter that 
 might follow with the Federal forcAs. The 
 
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116 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 enemy could select their point of attack or 
 defence, and the Union commander was 
 obliged to advance against them without 
 having the slightest idea of the strength of 
 their position. 
 
 The little steamers under Rowan's com- 
 mand were certainly the frailest vessels 
 that had ever been improvised for meeting 
 the stern hazards of war. They carried 
 heavy guns, however, and the gallant spirits 
 who manned them were determined to win, 
 no matter what the risks. 
 
 Commander Rowan's plan was to avoid a 
 protracted combat, and to bring the enemy 
 to close quarters as soon as possible, for the 
 reason that his ammunition was reduced to 
 30 rounds for each gun in the fleet (owing 
 to the battle of Roanoke Island). He made 
 signal for the commanders of vessels to 
 come on board the flagship, and after con- 
 ferring with them in regard to the proper 
 measures to be adopted he gave them their 
 final orders. 
 
 It was naturally expected that the Con- 
 federate fleet would take position behind 
 the battery at Cobb's Point, and there await 
 the attack; but the result was not feared, 
 as it had been shown in the battle of Roan- 
 oke Island that the Confederate vessels 
 could not hold their own, even when sup- 
 ported by heavy forts. 
 
 The plan of attack was that the gun-boats 
 should approach in close order and proceed 
 up the river without flring a shot until or- 
 dered to do so, dash through the enemy's 
 lines, crushing and sinking him if possible, 
 or engage in hand-to-hand conflict; after 
 capturing or destroying the steamers to take 
 the forts in reverse and act according to sig- 
 nal. 
 
 The little fleet weighed anchor at daylight 
 on the 10th of February, and proceeded up 
 the river in the prescribed order: the " Un- 
 derwriter," " Perry," " Morse " and " Dela- 
 ware " keeping in advance as pickets, the 
 little "Ceres" nearer shore on the right 
 flank, and the " Louisiana " and "Hetzel" 
 leading up the remaincter of the flotilla. The 
 " Valley City" and " Whitehead" were or- 
 dered to leave the line as soon as the fort 
 was passed and attack it in reverse. 
 
 The Confederate steamers were soon dis- 
 covered drawn up in order of battle behind 
 the fort, which mounted four heavy 33- 
 pounders. Opposite the fort on the other 
 side of the river a large schooner was 
 moored, mounting two heavy 33-pounders, 
 and the enemy's line of vessels, under Com- 
 modore Lynch, was anchored diagonally 
 across the channel between these two de- 
 fences. 
 
 Thus they may be said to have held a 
 very powerful position, and it looked almost 
 like rashness for the Federal commander 
 to attack an enemy so situated. But there 
 
 was no hesitation on the part of Com. 
 Rowan or his officers. As soon as the Fed- 
 eral vessels got within fair range, the Con- 
 federates opened upon them from their 32- 
 pounders from the fort and the schooner 
 "Black Warrior," followed by the 80- 
 pounder rifles of their gun -boats. 
 
 Though shot and shell passed thick and 
 heavy over the foremost vessels and fell in 
 the midst of the main column, not a shot 
 was fired by the Federal vessels in return 
 until they got within short range, when the 
 signal was made "Dash at the enemy." 
 Throttle valves were opened and the steam- 
 ers put at full speed, at the same time open- 
 ing fire all along the line. 
 
 Sweeping forward as rapidly as their en- 
 gines could drive them they were quickly 
 in the naidst of the enemy, who were com- 
 pletely panic-stricken by this bold and un- 
 expected attack and offered but a feeble 
 resistance to the oflicers and men, who- 
 jumped on board their vessels with sword 
 and pistol in hand. Those in the batteries 
 seeing what had happened to' their gun- 
 boats immediately deserted and fled. Those 
 onboard the " Black Warrior " set fire to 
 her and got to the shore. 
 
 Some of the steamers endeavored, unsuc- 
 cessfully, to save themselves by fiight, 
 among others the fiagship " Seabird," but 
 she was run into and sunk by the " Com- 
 modore Perry" (Lieut. -Com. Flusser), and 
 nearly all of her officers and crew made 
 prisoners. 
 
 In fifteen minutes the whole affair was 
 ended, all the Confederate gun-boats having 
 been either run ashore and set fire to, or 
 captured by hand-to-hand conflicts; and thus 
 the fleet on which they had depended to de- 
 fend the sounds against any force that 
 could be sent there, was entirely annihil- 
 ated, and there was no one left to dispute 
 the control of the interior waters of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 Although this was comparatively a small 
 affair, it was one of the best conceived and 
 best executed battles of the war, in which 
 just as much skill and dash were displayed 
 as in the grander achievements which took 
 place at a later date. In fact, greater credit 
 is due the commander of this expedition 
 when one takes into consideration the char- 
 acter of the vessels which he had at his dis- 
 posal and the strong position of his enemy. 
 The attack of the Union vessels was like the 
 spring of a pack of greyhounds upon a 
 brood of foxes — it was just such a scene as 
 naval officers delight in. 
 
 No one who has read an account of this 
 dashing adventure has failed to give to the- 
 brave spirits who took part in it all the 
 credit they deserved for the skill and daring^ 
 which they exhibited throughout the affair. 
 
 After the battle was over. Com. Rowan 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 117 
 
 
 sent some of the steamers up to Elizabeth 
 City. At their approach the enemy made 
 a hasty retreat through the town, having 
 set it on fire before their departure. 
 
 It being evident to Com. Rowan that it 
 was the design of the enemy to throw the 
 blame of burning the city upon the Union 
 forces, he sent his men on shore to extin- 
 guish the flames. Having accomplished 
 this object, and taken prisoner one of the 
 officers belonging to the " Wise Legion," 
 who was caught in the act of setting fire to 
 the houses of the inhabitants, they returned 
 immediately to their ships. 
 
 A great deal of Confederate property was 
 destroyed at this place. The steamer 
 "Forest," one gun-boat and a small vessel 
 on the stocks were burned at the ship-yard, 
 and all the machinery, boilers, railways, 
 etc., destroyed. Also the machinery of the 
 steamers "Seabird" and "Fanny," which 
 had been sunk. 
 
 After this a number of expeditions were 
 started all through the Sounds of North 
 Carolina for the purpose of destroying the 
 enemy's property and blocking up the can- 
 als, so that no communication could be held 
 with Norfolk. But we cannot refer to these 
 operations at this time, as events of far 
 greater importance were now taking place 
 at Hampton Roads, which require us to 
 transfer our history to that quarter. 
 
 Before leaving the Sounds of North Caro- 
 lina, we cannot but express our unqualified 
 admiration at the happy manner in which 
 the Army and Navy co-operated, and the 
 brilliant results which followed from the 
 skill and energy displayed by both branches 
 of the service. 
 
 The Federal forces had not yet gained 
 entire possession of the interior waters of the 
 Sound, but that came a few months later, 
 and will all be narrated in its proper place. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1863, an expedition 
 was fitted out from Goldsborough's fleet for 
 the examination of certain rivers leading 
 into the Sounds of North Carolina, in order 
 to ascertain whether the enemy was forti- 
 fying the river banks or building men-of- 
 war at the small towns in the interior. 
 
 The expedition consisted of the " Com- 
 modore Perry," Lieut. C. W. Flusser; the 
 "Ceres," Lieut. John McDiarmid; and the 
 "Shawsheen," Acting-Master T. T. Wood- 
 ward, with a detachment of . about forty 
 soldiers in addition to their regular crews. 
 
 The first of the places to be examined was 
 the town of Hamilton on the Roanoke River. 
 The banks of this river were high in places 
 and afforded many commanding positions 
 from which an enemy upon the water could 
 be attacked with little danger to the attack- 
 ing party. 
 
 The Confederates did not fail to make the 
 
 mnot. rS \^\-,r 
 
 ■•■nA +!-.« 
 
 boats had not proceeded far on their way 
 before they were fired upon by concealed 
 riflemen, and although the men returned 
 the fire promptly it was with little apparent 
 effect. The river banks seemed lined with 
 sharpshooters, and for ten hours the vessels, 
 being obliged to run slowly, were kept un- 
 der a galling fire. 
 
 The men were struck down by an invisi- 
 ble foe, who lurked in the bushes or fired 
 from over the edge of the bluffs without 
 any danger of being struck from the vessels. 
 
 Flusser had been ordered to go to Hamil- 
 ton, and he was determined to get there, no 
 matter what might be the consequence. 
 This gallant officer was now placed in a most 
 trying position, but he stood unfiinchingly 
 at his post and continued on his way. The 
 only thing to be done was to keep the men 
 under cover as much as possible and return 
 the enemy's fire when opportunity offered. 
 In spite of all precautions, however, the 
 fieet had one man killed and ten wounded. 
 
 The Confederates deserted their forts as 
 the steamers approached, and Hamilton was 
 reached. Having taken possession of the 
 Confederate steamer "Nelson" at this 
 place, the expedition returned in safety to 
 the Sound. 
 
 In the latter part of October, ] 862, another 
 expedition, a combined military and naval 
 force, was started for Hamilton, and proved 
 successful beyond all expectations. Great 
 risks were run, some valuable lives lost, and 
 great skill shown in the management of the 
 gun-boats. Thus the Navy, when co-oper- 
 ating with the Army, always made its use- 
 fulness felt. Without the presence of the 
 Navy to capture and- destroy the enemy's 
 improvised gun-boats, to destroy their steam 
 transports and cut oft" their means of rapidly 
 moving an army, not a single point on the 
 Southern coast could have been wrested 
 from the enemy, or, if captured at great ex- 
 pense and labor, could not have been re- 
 tained without the continual watchfulness 
 of the Navy. 
 
 This co-operation on the part of the Navy 
 seldom failed of success, and this support 
 to the Army was of more value to it than 
 large numbers of men or hundreds of can- 
 non. The Army had with them in the gun- 
 boats a train of field-pieces no enemy could 
 resist. 
 
 The American people as a rule, knew 
 nothing during the war of the continuous, 
 exhaustive and perilous labor to which the 
 officers andmenof the Navy were subjected, 
 and in a victory sometimes made sure by 
 the presence of the gun-boats, the Navy 
 was nowhere mentioned. This was not the 
 fault of the gallant soldiers who received 
 the support of the Navy, but rather the 
 fault of the military historians, who in al- 
 
 ,J +U„ AT., 
 
 ,1+^ 
 
 ^+1,, 
 
118 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Did the limits of this paper permit, and 
 could the numerous cases of support to the 
 Army be specially noted, it would readily 
 be seen that in the Sounds of North Caro- 
 lina, under Goldsborough, in the rivers, 
 bayous and inlets along the Southern coast 
 under Dupont, on the coast of Louisiana 
 and Texas and the whole length of the 
 Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland.White, 
 Arkansas and Red Rivers, a distance of 
 over 3,000 miles, the Navy more or less 
 contributed towards success; and if defeat 
 overtook our Armies at any time while the 
 Navy was at hand, the enemy gained no 
 important or lasting advantage. Our Army 
 always had a line of defense (the naval 
 gun-boats) on which they could fall back, 
 regain its formation and send the enemy 
 retreating in his turn. 
 
 For the present we must leave the sounds 
 and inlets and follow other adventures. All 
 the sounds of North Carolina and the rivers 
 emptying into them as far up as tlie gun- 
 
 boats could reach were virtually in the 
 hands of the Federal Government. 
 
 North Carolina was no longer a base of 
 supplies for the Confederates The sounds 
 and inlets of Georgia, South Carolina and 
 Florida were nearly all closed up by the 
 Navy, and Wilmington and Charleston 
 were really the only two places by which 
 the Confederacy could obtain supplies or 
 munitions of war from abroad. 
 
 All of this work had been done within 
 a year of the commencement of the war, 
 in spite of delays which enabled the enemy 
 to erect earthworks and sink obstruc- 
 tions that required herculean labors to re- 
 move. 
 
 Inadequate as were the vessels supplied 
 to the Navy, the officers seldom failed to 
 accomplish what they attempted, and it was 
 a well-deserved compliment when an old 
 soldier said, " every man should carry a 
 gun-boat in his pocket, and then he could 
 accomplish wonders." 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 FIGHT BETWEEN THE "MEERIMAC" AND "MONITOR," MARCH 8, 1862. 
 
 Appearance op the " Merrimac."— Destruction of the "Congress" and "Cumber- 
 land." — Arrival of the "Monitor." — The Fight. 
 
 WHILE the Federal arms were so 
 successful in the sounds of 
 North Carolina, a great disas- 
 ter overtook the Federal cause 
 in Hampton Roads, filling the 
 country with dismay, and even bringing 
 many of the Union people to doubt the suc- 
 cess of the cause for which they had labored 
 so hard. 
 
 When the Union naval officers set fire to 
 the buildings of the Norfolk Navy Yard, 
 they supposed they had taken such precau- 
 tions that everything of value would be des- 
 troyed, but as soon as the Federals had de- 
 parted a detachment of Virginia volunteers 
 rushed in to extinguish the flames. The 
 " Merrimac " had been sunk, but the lower 
 part of her hull and her engines and boilers 
 were substantially uninjured. 
 
 Lieutenant John M. Brooke, one of the 
 most accomplished officers among those 
 who had left our Navy and joined the Con- 
 federate cause, visited the scene of the con- 
 flagration, and it at once occurred to him 
 that the " Merrimac " could be rebuilt as an 
 iron-clad; and his plans being accepted by 
 Mr. Mallory, the Secretary of the Confeder- 
 ate Navy, orders were issued to have them 
 carried out at once. 
 
 The vessel was raised and cut down to 
 the old berth deck, both ends for a distance 
 of seventy feet were covered over, and 
 when the ship was in flghting trim were just 
 awash. On the midship section, a length 
 of one hundred and seventy feet was built 
 over, the sides being at an angle of fifty- 
 five degrees, a roof of oak and pitch pine 
 extending from the water line to a height 
 of seven feet above the gun-deck. Both 
 ends of this structure were rounded, so that 
 the pivot guns could be used as bow and 
 
 stern chasers, or quartering; over the gun- 
 deck was a light grating, making a promen- 
 ade twenty feet wide. 
 
 The wood backing was covered with iron 
 plates rolled at the Tredagar Works in Rich- 
 mond. These plates were eight inches wide 
 and two inches thick. The first covering 
 was put on horizontally, the second up and 
 down, making a total thickness of iron of 
 four inches, strongly bolted to the wood- 
 work and clinched inside. 
 
 The ram, or prow, was of cast-iron, project- 
 ing four feet, and, as was found subse- 
 quently, was badly secured. The rudder and 
 propeller were entirely unprotected. The 
 pilot-house was forward of the smoke-stack 
 and covered with the same thickness of iron 
 as the sides. 
 
 The motive power was the same as had 
 been in the ship before; both boilers and 
 engines were very defective, and the vessel 
 was not capable of making more than five 
 knots an hour. 
 
 Another able officer, formerly of the 
 United States Navy, Lieut. Catesby ap R. 
 Jones, had charge of the preparation of the 
 " Merrimac's " armament, and to his skill 
 was due the efficiency of her battery. It 
 consisted of two seven-inch rifles, re-en- 
 forced with three-inch steel bands shrunk 
 around the breech; these were the bow and 
 stern pivots. There were in broadside two 
 six-inch rifles similar to the above, and six 
 nine-inch smooth-bores — in all ten heavy 
 guns. 
 
 When this formidable vessel was com- 
 pleted the name of the "Virginia " was be- 
 stowed upon her, and she was placed under 
 the command of Flag Officer Franklin Bu- 
 chanan, who had resigned from the United 
 States Navy, where he had reaped the high- 
 
120 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 est rewards that could be bestowed in time 
 of peace. He was a man of undoubted cour- 
 age, and his professional ability was of the 
 first order. Buchanan was fortunate in sur- 
 rounding himself with excellent officers, 
 men capable of performing any naval duty, 
 and no commander was ever better second- 
 ed by his subordinates. 
 
 The crew of the iron-clad were not all sea- 
 men, but that was comparatively unimport- 
 ant as there were no sails to handle. Gunners 
 were selected from the army at Richmond, 
 
 Lindsay; Clerk, Arthur Sinclair, Jr.; Vol- 
 unteer Aid, Lieut. Douglas Forrest; Captain, 
 Kevil, commanding detachment of Norfolk 
 United Infantry, 
 
 Thus equipped, officered and manned, the 
 iron-clad represented at the moment the 
 most powerful fighting ship in the world, 
 and the Federal Government might well 
 feel uneasy at the tidings they received of 
 this monster which threatened to carry de- 
 struction all along the Northern coast." 
 
 The government was not, however, aware 
 
 COMMODORE FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, COMM.ANDER OP THE "MERRIMAC 
 
 and they proved to be excellent men for the 
 duty required of them. 
 
 The officers of this historic vessel were as 
 follows : 
 
 Lieutenants, Catesby ap R. Jones (Execu- 
 tive and ordnance officer), Lieutenants 
 Charles C. Simms, Robert D. Minor (Flag), 
 Hunter Davidson, John Taylor Wood, J. R. 
 Eggleston,Walter Butt; Midshipmen. Fonte, 
 Marmaduke, Littlepage, Craig, Long and 
 Rootes; Paymaster, Semple; Surgeon, Phil- 
 lips; Assistant Surgeon, Algernon S^ Gar- 
 nett; Captain of Marines, Reuben Thorn; 
 Engineer, Ramsay ; Assistants, Tynan, 
 Campbell, Herring, Jack and White ; Boat- 
 
 of the rapidity and energy with which the 
 Confederates had conducted their work; in 
 fact, in this instance the Navy Department 
 was rather taken by surprise, and was not 
 quite up to the mark, for as a general rule 
 it had shown great energy in improvising 
 a Navy. 
 
 There were several large steam frigates at 
 that time which might have been cut down 
 and covered with iron in much better fash- 
 ion tlian was done in the case of the "'Mer- 
 rimac." The Department, it is true, had 
 contracted for iron-clad vessels, but two of 
 them were far behind time in building, and 
 the other was a, " little nondescript" that 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 121 
 
 i 
 
 «(■■: 
 ill 
 
 exception of Commodore Joseph Smith, had 
 any confidence in. This vessel, designed by 
 John Ericsson, was to be paid for only in 
 case she proved successful against the 
 enemy's batteries ; but had the steam frig- 
 ates been cut down and plated we need 
 have given little anxiety to the appearance 
 of the " Merrimac " or any other vessel, and 
 would have been first in the field with this 
 new factor in war which was to revolu- 
 "tionize naval warfare. 
 
 But there are many things we cannot 
 account for — we received humiliation at 
 first to teach us not to underrate an enemy. 
 Providence came to our assistance in our 
 emergency with "Ericsson's nondescript," 
 to show what skill and enterprise could do 
 in behalf cf the Union. 
 
 As the " Monitor " of Ericsson approached 
 completion the Navy Departnaent hurried 
 "the work on learning that the "Merrimac" 
 was further advanced than they had sup- 
 posed. 
 
 This was in consequence of the fact that 
 Commander D. D. Porter had been sent to 
 New York to examine the vessel, and re- 
 port his opinion as to her capacity to deal 
 with an enemy. After a thorough exami- 
 nation of all the details of the vessel, Com- 
 mander Porter telegraphed to the Navy De- 
 partment : " This is the strongest fighting 
 vessel in the world, and can whip anything 
 afloat." But when he returned to Wash- 
 ington a few days after he was laughed at 
 by a high official, and a clever one at that: 
 "Why, man," he said, "John Lenthall 
 predicts that Ericsson's vessel will sink as 
 soon as she is launched." 
 
 Mr. Lenthall was unquestionably high 
 authority, but he was certainly mistaken 
 on this occasion. Like most others he 
 looked upon the nondescript as a clever 
 scheme to obtain money from the govern- 
 ment, but he subsequently did ample jus- 
 tice to Ericsson and built many vessels 
 after the distinguished inventor's naodels, 
 which for a time placed the United States 
 Government ahead of all other naval pow- 
 ers. We did not long maintain this posi- 
 tion however, for our statesmen do not ap- 
 preciate the necessity of a navy sufficient 
 to_ protect our extensive coasts and sixty 
 millions of people, so we have fallen back 
 into our original condition, without a single 
 iron-clad that would command the respect 
 of the weakest nations; yet Ericsson still 
 lives, with vigor unimpaired and intellect 
 as bright as when his " Monitor " saved the 
 honor of the country nearly a quarter of a 
 century ago. 
 
 A month before the "Monitor" was 
 launched the Confederates, through their 
 spies, had learned the exact condition of the 
 vessel and the day on which she would prob- 
 
 P-nlTT" V»o r\n+. in+r» +I10 ihtq+.o?" in r^r\nao/n(non/^ci /-\-f 
 
 on the " Merrimac " was doubled and the 
 work carried on by day and by night. This 
 extra energy made all the difference in the 
 world, and doubtless gained the one day 
 which enabled the Confederate vessel to 
 commit such havoc without any effectual 
 opposition. 
 
 Lieut. John L. Worden, who had been as- 
 signed to the command of the "Monitor," 
 watched her building for several months, 
 urging on the work by every means in his 
 
 Eower, in which he was heartily supported 
 y the inventor. When the vessel was 
 launched and equipped, Lieut. Worden 
 started at once for Hampton Roads, with- 
 out a trial trip, and with no means of judg- 
 ing how the vessel was going to behave. At 
 one time on his passage to Hampton Roads, 
 he was doubtful if the little "Monitor" 
 
 LIEIJT. CATESBY AP R. JONES, 
 
 (EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE " MEERISIAC") 
 
 would live through the rough seas and ar- 
 rive in time to be of any assistance to our 
 fleet; or, even if she did arrive, whether she 
 could accomplish what her inventor claimed 
 for her. In fact Worden was somewhat 
 doubtful whether he should ever again set 
 foot on land, for his vessel was almost in- 
 undated and leaking apparently enough to 
 sink her. 
 
 In the meantime the "Merrimac." alias 
 " Virginia," was all ready to leave the Nor- 
 folk Navy Yard on what was said to be her 
 trial trip, and up to the last moment she was 
 filled with mechanics working to complete 
 her. 
 
 On the 8th of March, 1862, the iron-clad 
 got under way and proceeded down Eliza- 
 
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THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 123 
 
 Craney Island and through the obstructions, 
 the ramparts of the fort were lined with 
 soldiers who shouted success to her until 
 their throats were hoarse. Thus the " Mer- 
 rimac" started off with all the glamor of 
 success, for there was no one on board who 
 doubted that she could destroy the fleet 
 then lying in the roads. 
 
 Buchanan and his officers knew the weak 
 points of every vessel in the Federal fleet, 
 and the number and calibre of their guns. 
 He knew that none of their shot could 
 pierce the "Merrimac" and that he could 
 choose his distance and fire with his rifled 
 guns at the ships as if at a target, should 
 
 a. Prow of Steol. 
 &. Wooden Bulwark. 
 h. Pilot HoUBe. 
 
 THE "MEKRIMAC 
 
 dd. Iron under water, 
 c. Propeller, 
 
 (FROM A SKETCH MADE THE DAY BEFOBE THE FIGHT.) 
 
 he think proper to do so. Instead of mak- 
 ing it a " trial trip," as first intended, Buch- 
 anan determined to make it a day of tri- 
 umph for the Confederate Navy. 
 
 At this time there was at anchor in 
 Hampton Roads, off Fortress Monroe, the 
 " Minnesota," of forty guns, Capt. Van 
 Brunt; " Roanoke," of forty guns, Capt. 
 Marston; " St. Lawrence," fifty guns, Capt. 
 Purviance; and several army transports. 
 Seven miles above, off Newpo'rt News, lay 
 the " Congress," fifty guns, and the " Cum- 
 berland," thirty guns. Newport News was 
 well fortified and garrisoned by a large 
 Union force. 
 
 It was a beautiful day, following a storm. 
 The water was smooth and the vessels in 
 the Roads swung lazily at their anchors. 
 Boats hung to the swinging booms, washed 
 clothes on the lines, nothing indicated that 
 an enemy was expected, and no one had, 
 apparently, the least idea that the " Merri- 
 mac " was ready for service. The utmost 
 ignorance seems to have prevailed in our 
 squadron with regard to her capacity to do 
 harm. 
 
 The writer was in Hampton Roads a short 
 time previous to the appearance of the 
 " Merrimac," and while standing on the 
 wharf a decent looking mechanic landed 
 from a small boat. He told the writer that 
 he had escaped from Norfolk, where he had 
 been employed on the "Merrimac," which 
 vessel he said was very formidable and 
 
 when the man was taken to Captain Van 
 Brunt, that officer questioned him fiercely 
 and then roughly dismissed him. as if he 
 considered him an impostor. The writer 
 was of a different opinion and wrote at once 
 to Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 
 urging him to hurry up the " Monitor;" but 
 no one in the squadron seemed to anticipate 
 any danger. 
 
 Rear Admiral Goldsborough was in the 
 sounds of North Carolina and could easily 
 have left what was there to be done to the 
 skill of the gallant Rowan, but he evidently 
 apprehended no danger from the "Merri- 
 mac " or he would have returned at once to 
 Hampton Roads. One would have thought 
 that the Federals could have learned 
 through spies how near the "Merrimac" 
 was ready for service, and all the particu- 
 lars regarding her. Many things which 
 ought to have been done were left undone, 
 but of this it is useless to repine. 
 
 As the squadron lay quiet, little dream- 
 ing of the danger that was so near, " three 
 small steamers " were reported to the senior 
 officer at 12:45 p. m. coming around Sewell's 
 Point. It was soon ascertained by her large 
 smoke stack that one of these vessels was the 
 " Merrimac," and great excitement pre- 
 vailed. Signal was made to the " Minne- 
 sota " to slip her cables, get underway and 
 pursue the enemy; but when within a mile 
 and a half of Newport News the frigate 
 grounded and remained fast during the 
 events which took place that day and the 
 one following. 
 
 The " Merrimac " stood straight for the 
 " Congress " and " Cumberland," and when 
 she was within three-quarters of a mile the 
 latter vessel opened on her with heavy pivot 
 guns, clos'ely followed by the " Congress." 
 Paymaster McKean Buchanan, a brother 
 of the Confederate commander, was an offi- 
 cer of the " Congress," and the "Merrimac" 
 passing that vessel steered direct for the 
 " Cumberland," the Confederate Flag Offi- 
 
 THE "MONITOR" IN BATTLE TEIM. 
 
 cer hoping that the " Congress " would sur- 
 render on seeing the fate of her consort, 
 and that his brother would thus escape. In 
 passing the "Congress" the "Merrimac" 
 delivered her starboard broadside, which 
 was quickly returned, and a rapid fire from 
 both vessels was maintained on the iron- 
 clad. The "Merrimac" continuing her 
 course, struck the " Cumberland" at right 
 angles, under the fore channels on the star- 
 board side, and the blow, though hardly 
 perceptible on board the iron-clad, seemed 
 to those on board the " Cumberland " as if 
 t.ViA -wjVinlfi shin's siVle had hepn smashed in. 
 
124 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 helm hard-a-starboard, and turned slowly, 
 while the two Union ships poured in a con- 
 tinual fire, which apparently fell harmless 
 on the iron plating of the enemy. On the 
 other hand, as the iron-clad swung round 
 from the "Cumberland," the "Congress" 
 lay with her stern to the enemy, which 
 raked her three times, fore and aft. In 
 fact, the " Congress " was a mere target 
 for the enemy's shot and shell, with little 
 danger of the latter being injured in re- 
 turn. 
 
 In the meantime the " Cumberland" was 
 settling in the water from the effects of the 
 great opening in her side, and although it 
 was evident to all on board that the day 
 was lost, and that the ship must inevitably 
 go to the bottom, these brave fellows kept 
 
 pearing beneath the waves, and his gallant 
 crew fighting to the last. 
 
 Of course as long as the " Cumberland" 
 kept up her fire the enemy returned it, 
 their shells inflicting death on all sides. 
 Those who had escaped from below were 
 decimated by the merciless shot and shell 
 poured into them by the enemy as they stood 
 crowded together on the spar deck. There 
 is little generosity or sentimentality in war: 
 the object is to kill and wound, and this was 
 too favorable an opportunity to be ne- 
 glected. In the absence of Com. Radford, 
 Lieut. George N. Morris was in command 
 of the " Cumberland," and his heroism in- 
 spired his crew to the deeds which they per- 
 formed on that eventful day. Of the "Cum- 
 berland's " crew one hundred and twenty- 
 
 THE CONFEDERATE RAM "MEEBIMAO" SINKINfl THE "CUMBERLAND." 
 
 up a rapid fire until driven by the water 
 from the lower deck guns, when they 
 retreated to the upper deck and contin- 
 ued to fight the pivot guns till the "Cum- 
 berland " went down with her colors still 
 flying. 
 
 During the whole war there was no finer 
 incident than this, and the bravery of the 
 officers and men of the "Cumberland" 
 even won tlie applause of the enemy. 
 
 Commander William Radford, of the 
 " Cumberland," was engaged that day on a 
 Court of Inquiry, which was sitting on 
 board one of the vessels in Hampton Roads. 
 When the "Merrimac" was reported as 
 coming down, all else was lost sight of, and 
 procuring a horse, Radford started at full 
 speed for Newport News ; but he only 
 reached there in time to see his ship disap- 
 
 one were either killed outright or drowned, 
 while of those saved a large portion were 
 wounded. 
 
 When the commanding ofiicer of the 
 " Congress " saw the fate of the " Cumber- 
 land," and realized how little chance there 
 was for him, he slipped his cable, set his 
 foretopsail and endeavored to get closer in 
 shore so as to have the assistance of the 
 land batteries, but the ship ran ashore, 
 where she continued the unequal contest 
 for more than an hour after the sinking of 
 
 J ^?"soi't» the "Merrimac" lying at a 
 safe distance and boring her through and 
 through with her shells, and finally setting 
 her on fire. 
 
 _ While this unequal contest was progress- 
 ing between the " Merrimac " and the "Con- 
 gress, ' the two Confederate gun-boats ac- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 125 
 
 companying the iron-clad joined in the fray. 
 They were both armed with rifle guns. 
 In a few minutes they dismounted one of the 
 stern guns of the " Congress " and knocked 
 off the muzzle of another, so that, not 
 being able to bring any of her broadside 
 guns to bear, she lay perfectly helpless. Her 
 gallant commanding officer, Lieut. Joseph 
 B. Smith, was killed, her decks were strewn 
 with killed and wounded, and further resist- 
 ance was hopeless. The colors were accord- 
 ingly hauled down and a white flag hoisted. 
 A Confederate tug ran alongside the " Con- 
 gress," and the officer in charge ordered the 
 crew out of the ship, saying he intended to 
 set fire to her. 
 
 The garrison at Newport News, not 
 comprehending the state of affairs, opened 
 on the Confederate vessel with artillery and 
 musketry, so that she was obliged to leave 
 the side of the " Congress " with only thirty- 
 nine prisoners. 
 
 Although the white flag was still flying, 
 the " Merrimac " again opened fire on the 
 "Congress." This was certainly most in- 
 human, since the crew of the " Congress " 
 were not responsible for the act of the 
 troops on shore. The Confederates claim 
 that two of their officers were killed on 
 board the tug while assisting the Union 
 wounded out of the "Congress," and that 
 many of our own men were killed and 
 wounded by the fire of the shore batteries. 
 
 The "Congress" having been set on fire, 
 Lieut. Pendergrast and most of the crew 
 undertook to escape to the shore in sma,ll 
 boats, or by swimming, leaving the ship 
 with the white flag still flying at her main- 
 mast head. 
 
 Flag-Officer Buchanan claimed that he 
 was unable to take possession of his prize 
 owing to the fire from the shore, for which 
 reason he ordered hot shot to be fired into 
 the " Congress " until she was set on fire. 
 Buchanan and his flag-lieutenant, Lieut. 
 Minor, personally directed this matter, and 
 while doing so both were severely wounded. 
 The command of the " Merrimac " then de- 
 volved on Lieut. Jones. 
 
 Notwithstanding the heavy armor of the 
 " Merrimac," her loss in killed and wounded 
 was twenty-one, showing the good use of 
 their artillery made by the Union ships. 
 The armor was, however,but little damaged 
 by the Federal shot, although the Confed- 
 erates asserted that at one time they were 
 under the fire of one hundred heavy guns 
 afloat and ashore ! 
 
 Everything on the outside of the " Merri- 
 mac" seems to have been badly injured. 
 The muzzles of two of the guns were shot 
 off, the anchors, smoke-stack and steam 
 
 Eipes were shot away, railing, stanchions, 
 oat davits, every thing was swept clean. 
 The flagstaff was repeatedly shot away, and 
 
 During the engagement the "Roanoke" 
 and "St. Lawrence," in tow of tugs, made 
 every effort to join in the combat, but like 
 the " Minnesota," they ran on shore some 
 two miles above Fortress Monroe. 
 
 While the above incidents were taking 
 place, the day had passed, and the com- 
 manding officer of the " Merrimac," find- 
 ing he could not take possession of the 
 " Congress," abandoned her to the flames. 
 How glorious it must have seemed to tliis 
 officer, who served nearly half a century 
 under the stars and stripes, to see that flag 
 hauled down by rebel hands, and those gal- 
 lant men, who had once served under and 
 admired him, ruthlessly slaughtered at his 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN EBICSSON, INVENTOR OF THE "MONITOR." 
 
 cool command ! He may have thought it 
 glory then, but in after years, we believe, 
 regret possessed him, and contributed to 
 shorten his life. 
 
 At five o'clock p. m. the " Merrimac " 
 turned towards the "Minnesota," which 
 ship lay aground apparently at her mercy, 
 but the pilots would not attempt the middle 
 channel with the ebb tide, and night was 
 fast approaching. So the " Merrimac " re- 
 turned to Sewell's Point and anchored. In 
 passing the " Minnesota " the iron-clad 
 opened fire, but only a single shot struck 
 the frigate; the gun-boats, however, ac- 
 companying the "Merrimac" did much 
 greater damage with their rifled guns, 
 though they were finally driven off by the 
 heavy guns which the " Minnesota "carried 
 forward. 
 
 The ten-inch pivot gun of the " Minne- 
 sota " produced no effect oti the iron clad, the 
 shot glancing like pebbles from her sides, 
 and it was plain that the "Minnesota," 
 as soon as the tide would allow the Con- 
 federate vessel to come to close quarters. 
 
126 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORV 
 
 as the " Congress " and the " Cumberland 
 had been. The commanding officer of the 
 Union frigate therefore made all prepara- 
 tions to abandon his ship and set her on 
 fire, anticipating an attack early next 
 morning. 
 
 Thus closed one of the most memorable 
 days of the civil war, a day which carried 
 gloom and sorrow to the hearts of all loyal 
 citizens. The authorities at Washington 
 were dismayed, and it appeared to those 
 most familiar with the circumstances that 
 this was the crisis of the Union cause. 
 
 All through the South there were scenes 
 of rejoicing ; bonfires blazed on the hill 
 tops, and everywhere the Confederates ex- 
 
 sons had confidence, and which had not yet 
 reached the scene of action. What hope 
 could there be for ,the "Minnesota," hard 
 and fast aground, or for the frigate 
 " Roanoke," with her disabled machinery, 
 or the "St. Lawrence" with no machinery 
 at all ! The commanding officers must 
 either destroy their vessels and escape into 
 Fortress Monroe or let them fall into the 
 hands of the enemy. 
 
 But the avenger was at hand, and at nine 
 o'clock that night Ericsson's little " Moni- 
 tor," under the command of Lieut. John L. 
 Worden, arrived from New York, after ex- 
 periencing trials and difficulties sufficient 
 to have appalled an ordinary officer. 
 
 EEAK-ADMIBAL JOHN L. WOBDEN, COMMANDEK OF THE " MONITOR." 
 
 pected that the next news would be the to- 
 tal destruction of the Federal fleet at Hamp- 
 ton Roads, and the advance of the " Merri- 
 mac" to Washington. 
 
 As a result of their victory the Southern 
 people saw an abandonment of the advance 
 on Richmond, the capture of Washington, 
 the laying of the seaboard cities under con- 
 tribution, the raising of the blockade of the 
 Southern coast, and the recognition of the 
 Confederate Government by the powers of 
 Europe. 
 
 There was apparently nothing between 
 them and success, for the Federal Govern- 
 ment had no means of arresting the disas- 
 ter which threatened it, except a diminutive. 
 
 It was a great relief to the officers and 
 men of the squadron to know that an iron- 
 clad of any kind was at hand to assist them, 
 but when they saw the little " nondescript," 
 her decks level with the. water, and appear- 
 ing above it only her pilot-house and a small 
 turret, in which latter were two eleven-inch 
 guns, and compared her with the apparently 
 invulnerable iron-clad of the enemy, they 
 could not feel very sanguine of the result of 
 the coming conflict. 
 
 Lieutenant Worden was ordered to pro- 
 ceed at two o'clock A. M. and take position 
 alongside the "Minnesota" to be ready to 
 receive the " Merrimac." 
 
 The morning dawned clear and bright, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 127 
 
 that it was hard to realize that two hun- 
 dred and fifty men had the previous day 
 given up their lives in defence of their flag 
 in a contest hopeless from the beginning. 
 
 The flag still floated from the " Cumber- 
 land," whose light masts appeared above 
 the surface of the water, marking the spot 
 where the dead slept their last sleep in the 
 shattered wreck, while the smoke from the 
 burning " Congress" ascended to heaven, a 
 funeral pyre over the corpses which strewed 
 the decks of that ill-fated ship. 
 
 The " Minnesota," badly cut up, still lay 
 hard and fast aground, and it was evident 
 to all that should the " Monitor " fail them 
 there was nothing but destruction to look 
 forward to. 
 
 As the " Merrimac" approached the frig- 
 ate the crew of the latter went to quarters, 
 the drum sounding more like a funeral knell 
 than a summons to triumphant battle, but, 
 contrary to expectation, the "Merrimac" 
 passed the frigate and "Monitor" and 
 headed towards Fortress Monroe. At the 
 " Rip Raps" she turned into the main chan- 
 nel by which the "Minnesota" had gone 
 up and again rapidly approached the latter. 
 
 When the "Merrimac" was within the 
 distance of a mile, the " Minnesota "opened 
 fire with her stern guns and at the same 
 time the "Monitor" was signalled to at- 
 tack. 
 
 Worden showed his confidence in the 
 "Monitor" and her eleven-inch guns by 
 
 Newport News. 
 
 MONITOE. MrtTOESOTA. Meheimao. 
 
 THE " MONITOR" AND " MEBBIMAC."— THE FIGHT AT SHORT BANGE. 
 
 FOBTEESS MONBOE. 
 
 The crew of the " Merrimac " were astir 
 at early daylight preparing for the confiict, 
 and as soon as it was fairly light the iron- 
 clad was under way and heading towards 
 the "Minnesota." On approaching their 
 expected prey the Confederates discovered 
 a strange-looking craft which they knew at 
 once to be Ericsson's "Monitor," of which 
 they had received a description from their 
 spies at the North. The ' ' Monitor " was but 
 a pigmy in appearance alongside the lofty 
 frigate which she guarded, and the enemy 
 anticipated little difficulty in overcoming 
 her. Still, her arrival was inopportune for 
 the Confederates, causing a change in their 
 plans, which were to destroy the "Minnesota" 
 and then the remainder of the squadron.* 
 
 * Confederate account. 
 
 steering directly for the Confederate iron- 
 clad. The latter slowed her engines and 
 paused as if to survey her little adversary 
 and ascertain her character; but if there 
 was any doubt on board the "Merrimac" 
 there was none on board the "Monitor," 
 which kept straight on her course, and the 
 Confederates saw that in a few moments 
 she would be directly alongside of them. 
 
 The "Merrimac" opened fire from her 
 forward gun upon what seemed more like a 
 large floating buoy than a man-of-war, but 
 not having a frigate's broadside to aim at 
 the shot passed harmlessly over. The 
 "Monitor's" answering guns were better 
 aimed The solid eleven-inch shots struck 
 the " Merrimac" fairly, with a blow that re- 
 sounded through the vessel. This was re- 
 
138 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 turned by a broadside from the " Merri- 
 mac," but those shots that struck the turret 
 glanced harmlessly off. 
 
 Both vessels then turned and approached 
 each other still closer, the " Monitor " firing 
 about every seven minutes, each shot strik- 
 ing the "Merrimac." The latter vessel, 
 having lost part of her smoke-stack the day 
 before, was not working so well, the chief 
 engineer reporting that the draft was so 
 poor that it was with great difficulty he 
 could keep up steam. The "Merrimac" 
 drew twenty-three feet of water, and was 
 thus confined to a narrow channel, while 
 the "Monitor" drawing but twelve feet 
 could take any position and always keep 
 within range of her antagonist's guns, and 
 though the enemy had many more guns, 
 the "Monitor" stuck so close to her adver- 
 sary that the latter could use but a small 
 proportion of them. Worden's plan was to 
 keep near to his enemy and endeavor to 
 break in her sides with his solid shot. 
 
 The " Merrimac " kept up as rapid a fire 
 as possible upon what was visible of the 
 " Monitor," pausing now and then when the 
 smoke cleared off to see whether the little 
 vessel had been demolished, but always 
 finding her apparently unharmed and active 
 as ever, pouring in her solid shot and shak- 
 ing the great iron-clad's huge frame in a 
 manner which her officers feared might in 
 the long run cripple their ship, unless they 
 could manage in some way to cripple their 
 antagonist.* The "Merrimac's" fire was 
 then concentrated upon the "Monitor's" 
 pilot-house, as the turret seemed impervious 
 to their shot. 
 
 More than two hours had passed in this 
 apparently unequal duel, the Confederates 
 had made no impression on the " Monitor" 
 and their own wounds were apparently 
 slight, since the "Monitor" had not yet 
 succeeded in penetrating the "Merrimac's" 
 heavy armor. 
 
 The " Monitor " had on board some forty 
 steel shot which it was intended to fire 
 with heavy charges in case of an encounter 
 with the "Merrimac," but previous to leav- 
 ing New York, Lieut. Worden received or- 
 ders from the Bureau of Ordnance not to 
 use those shot with the increased charges, 
 as fifteen pounds of powder was as much 
 as the eleven-inch guns would bear. Wor- 
 den felt obliged to conform to these instruc- 
 tions, as the responsibility of bursting the 
 guns would have fallen upon him. It was 
 subsequently proved by experiment that the 
 eleven-inch Dahlgrens would easily bear 
 twenty -five pounds of powder, and this dif- 
 ference in the charge of the guns, as is 
 now known, would have made all the dif- 
 ference in the world in the final result. 
 The "Merrimac's" armor would have been 
 
 broken, and she would have laid at the 
 mercy of the "Monitor," as her speed was 
 not sufficient to have enabled her to es- 
 cape. 
 
 Lieut. Jones having occasion to visit the 
 "Merrimac's" gun-deck saw a division 
 standing at ease, and inquiring of the offi- 
 cer in command why he was not firing, that 
 individual replied, " After firing for two 
 hours I find I can do the enemy about as 
 much damage by snapping my fingers at 
 him every two minutes and a half."* 
 
 As Lieut. Jones found he could make no 
 impression on the " Monitor " with his shot, 
 he determined to run her down or board 
 her, and for nearly an hour he maneuvered 
 for position, but his ship was too unwieldy 
 for that kind of work. The "Monitor" 
 
 LIEUT. SAMUEL DANA GREENE. 
 (EXEODTIVE OFFICEB OF THE "MONITOB.") 
 
 danced around her like a yacht around a 
 three-decker, pouring in her shot and en- 
 deavoring to find a vulnerable point. 
 
 At last Jones thought he saw a chance of 
 ramming the "Monitor," and gave the or- 
 der to go ahead at full speed, but before the 
 great vessel could gather headway the agile 
 " Monitor " turned, and the disabled prow 
 of the "Merrimac" gave a glancing blow 
 which did no harm whatever. 
 
 Again the "Monitor" came upon the 
 " Merrimac's " quarter, her bow actually 
 against the ship's side, and at this distance 
 fired twice. Both shots struck about half 
 way up the " Merrimac's " armor, abreast 
 of the after pivot, and so severe was the 
 blow that the side was forced in sev- 
 eral inches. The crew of the after guns 
 were knocked over by the concussion, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 129 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 St 
 
 bleeding from the nosQ and ears. A few 
 more shots in the same place would have 
 made an opening, and had Worden known 
 this at the time, he would doubtless have 
 taken the responsibility of using double 
 charges of powder and the steel shot, and 
 thereby secured a complete victory. 
 
 While the vessels were together on this 
 occasion, boarders were called away on 
 board the "Merrimac," and started to get 
 on "the little cheese-box on a shingle," 
 as the enemy called her, but the "Moni- 
 tor " slipped quickly astern and opened her 
 batteries upon the quarter ports. So for 
 hours this struggle was contmued with ap- 
 parently little results. 
 
 Thousand of spectators with beating 
 hearts watched the conflict from Fort Mon- 
 roe, and from the ships. It seemed to them 
 as if the battle would never end, but at 
 length the Confederate commander, think- 
 ing it useless to try his broadsides on the 
 "Monitor" any longer, steered off towards 
 the " Minnesota," which opened on the 
 " Merrimac " with all her broadside guns 
 and the ten-inch pivot. The "Merrimac" 
 returned the fire with her rifled bow gun, 
 and a shell passed through the frigate, tear- 
 ing four rooms into one, and exploding a 
 couple of charges of powder, which set fire 
 to the ship, but the flames were promptly 
 extinguished. Another shell passed through 
 the boiler of the tug " Dragon," causing an 
 explosion. 
 
 Then the "Minnesota" concentrated her 
 broadside upon the " Merrimac," and kept 
 up an incessant fire; and, although it is 
 said fifty shots struck the slanting roof 
 of the iron-clad, they did no apparent dam- 
 age. 
 
 By the time the "Merrimac" fired her 
 third shell the little "Monitor" had come 
 up with her again, and placed herself be- 
 tween the "Minnesota" and the enemy, 
 compelling the latter to change her posi- 
 tion. While doing this the "Merrimac" 
 grounded and the " Minnesota " poured into 
 her the fire of all the guns she could bring 
 to bear. As soon as the " Merrimac " got 
 off the bottom, she proceeded down the 
 bay, then suddenly turned and attempted 
 to run the " Monitor" down, but failing in 
 the attempt she concentrated all her broad- 
 side guns on the little vessel, which was 
 keeping up a rapid fire. 
 
 Suddenly the "Monitor" was seen to 
 move away from the "Merrimac "in ra- 
 ther an erratic manner, and it was at this 
 instant that Lieut. Worden was so dis- 
 abled that he could no longer direct the 
 movements of his vessel. He was looking 
 through one of the slits in the pilot house, 
 when a shell exploded in front of the open- 
 ing, driving the powder into his face and 
 eyes, rendering him blind and helpless. He 
 
 the executive officer, Lieut. S. D. Greene, 
 who was in the turret, with instructions to 
 continue the action, and the vessel was 
 again headed towards the enemy and her 
 fire recommenced. 
 
 During the time between the fall of Lieut. 
 Worden and the arrival of Lieut. Greene 
 in the pilot house, the "Monitor" was en- 
 tirely under control of the man at the 
 wheel, who having no one to direct him, 
 and doubtless being excited by the fall of 
 his commanding officer, steered off on an- 
 other course without any particular aim or 
 object. This is substantially the view given 
 of the occurrence by Prof. Soley in his 
 work, "The Blockade and the Cruisers," 
 and he obtained his information from the 
 late Commander Greene. 
 
 LIEUT. GEOEGE U. MOREIS. 
 
 (ACTING COMMANDER OF THE "CTJMBEBLAND.") 
 
 Prof. Soley further says : " Seeing the 
 ' Monitor ' draw off, Van Brunt, under the 
 supposition that his protector was disabled 
 and had left him, prepared for the worst, 
 and made ready to destroy his ship ; but at 
 this point the ' Merrimac ' withdrew to 
 Norfolk. Greene fired at her twice, or at 
 most three times. He then returned to the 
 'Minnesota,' and remained by her until 
 she got afioat." This is no doubt a correct 
 version of the affair. The "Merrimac" 
 moved off (those on board of her glad to do 
 so in an apparently creditable manner), 
 knowing that if the battle lasted much 
 longer tne " Monitor" would be successful. 
 
 When the Confederates saw the "Mon- 
 itor" moving away, they naturally con- 
 cluded she was disabled, or had run short 
 of ammunition, and their first idea was to 
 proceed again to the attack of the " Minne- 
 sota." 
 
 By Capt. Van Brunt's account, the " Mer- 
 
130 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 did head towards his ship, and reahzmg his 
 helpless condition he made every prepara- 
 tion to destroy the "Minnesota," deter- 
 mined that she should not fall mto the 
 hands of the enemy. Capt. Van Brunt 
 goes on to say: "A short time after the 
 ' Merrimac ' and her consorts had changed 
 their course, and were heading for Craney 
 
 Island." . . ,1, . • 
 
 In writing history it is no more than tair 
 that both sides should have a hearing. 
 Lieut. Greene, in his report to the Secretary 
 of the Navy, dated March 13, 1862, says: 
 
 "At 8 A. M. perceived the 'Merrimac' underway 
 and standing towards tlie ' Minnesota ; ' tiove up 
 anchor and went to quarters 
 
 "At 8;45 A. M. we opened fire on the ' Merrimac,' 
 and continued the action until 11:30 A. M., when 
 Capt. Worden was ugured. Capt. Worden then 
 sent for me to talie chart^e of the vessel. We con- 
 tinued the action until 12:15 P. M., when the ' Mer- 
 rimac retreated to SeweU's Point, and we went to 
 the ' Minnesota' and lay by her." 
 
 LIEUT. JOSEPH B. SMITH. 
 (ACTING COMaLVNUER OF THE "CONGRESS.") 
 
 This is rather a meagre report of so im- 
 portant a transaction, but no one else in the 
 squadron at Hampton Roads, so far as 
 known, says anything about the matter ex- 
 cept Capt. Van Brunt, who writes: "For 
 some time after this the Confederates con- 
 centrated their whole battery upon the tur- 
 ret and pilot-house of the ' Monitor,' and 
 soon after the latter stood down for Fort- 
 ress Monroe." 
 
 A Confederate officer on board the "' Mer- 
 rimac" says: "At length the ' Monitor ' 
 withdrew over the middle ground where we 
 could not follow, but always maintaining a 
 position to protect the 'Minnesota.' To 
 have run our ship ashore on a falling tide 
 
 return for an hour and at two P. M. steamed 
 for SeweU's Point and thence to the dock- 
 vard at Norfolk. Our crew were thoroughly 
 worn out from the two days' fight. Al- 
 though there is no doubt that the ' Monitor ' 
 first retired, the battle was a drawn one as 
 far as the two vessels engaged were con- 
 cerned, but in its general results the ad- 
 vantage was with the ' Monitor.' " 
 
 This seems to be a fair statement and its 
 author pays a high tribute to the "Moni- 
 tor." He says: "The ' Monitor ' was well 
 handled and saved the ' Minnesota ' and 
 remainder of the fleet at Fortress Monroe," 
 which seems evident enough, for had the 
 " Monitor" failed to appear every vessel in 
 the roads must have been captured or de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 There is glory enough in this fact for the 
 little "Monitor " without claiming more for 
 her. She saved not only the squadron, but 
 the honor of the na.tion, and her gallant 
 commander is fully entitled to all the hon- 
 ors he received. Had he not been disabled 
 at such an inopportune moment he would, 
 in our opinion, have compelled the "Merri- 
 mac " to surrender: for the tide was ebbing 
 and in another hour the " Merrimac " could 
 not have maneuvered and would have 
 grounded; the " Monitor " then could have 
 taken position under the iron-clad's stern 
 and knocked her frame in. 
 
 Thus ended this remarkable engagement, 
 which, in the bravery and ability displayed 
 on both sides, has never been excelled; and 
 the foreign officers who witnessed the con- 
 flict, could judge from it how desperately 
 we could meet a foe attempting to invade 
 our shores. 
 
 It is stated by the Confederate authority, 
 to whom we referred, that " the ' Merrimac '' 
 was not penetrated by any of the shot fired 
 by the ' Monitor.' Had the fire been con- 
 centrated on one spot the shield could have 
 been forced; or had larger charges been 
 used the iron on the ' Merrimac ' could 
 not have withstood them. Most of the 
 ' Monitor's ' shot struck obliquely, in most 
 cases breaking both courses of iron, but not 
 injuring the vessel's backing. When struck 
 at right angles the wood backing would be 
 broken but not penetrated. " These are mat- 
 ters of interest, since it has been a mooted 
 point as to the amount of damage the ' ' Mer- 
 rimac " received. The " Monitor," we know, 
 received none, except to her pilot-house, 
 and could have fought all daj- without dan- 
 ger of vital injury to her hull or machinery, 
 but the "Merrimac" was obliged to go 
 into dry-dock to be very thoroughly re- 
 paired. 
 
 The joy of the Confederates at the news of 
 the first day's fight in Hampton Roads, was 
 much dampened when the information came 
 that the " Merrimac " was obliged to leave 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 131 
 
 out effecting anything. It was a severe dis- 
 appointment, since they had reckoned on 
 the capture of the whole Union fleet in the 
 Roads, and an advance of the " Merrimac " 
 upon Washington. 
 
 As soon as the "Merrimac" was again 
 ready for service, on the 29th of March, 
 1863, Commodore Josiah Tatnall was or- 
 dered to command her instead of the cool 
 and judicious Catesby Jones, who had con- 
 ducted the engagement with the "Moni- 
 tor " with so much skill and bravery. Com- 
 modore Tatnall had a high reputation in the 
 old Navy as a brave and chivalric officer. 
 The writer served as his executive officer in 
 some desperate encounters with the enemy 
 during the Mexican War, and knew him as 
 
 supplied with steel-pointed solid shot, and 
 one hundred tons of ballast were put oil 
 board to increase the vessel's draught and 
 bring her weak point under water, though 
 this decreased her speed. The" Merrimac" 
 was greatly improved, when a month later, 
 on the 11th of April,she left the Navy Yard, 
 and steamed down towards Hampton Roads 
 accompanied by six gun-boats. 
 
 Commodore Tatnall fully expected the- 
 " Monitor" to be ready to meet him as soon 
 as he had passed Sewell's Point, but the- 
 Federal authorities had grown wary. The: 
 fleet had been re-enforced by the "Vander- 
 bilt," fitted as a powerful ram, and she lay 
 ready to attack the "Merrimac" in con- 
 junction with the " Monitor." Could the 
 
 COMMODORE JOSIAH TATNALL. 
 
 well as one man can know another. Tat- 
 nall was ready for any desperate service, 
 but he lacked Catesby Jones' coolness and 
 judgment. 
 
 Up to the time Tatnall took command the 
 iron-clad had been in dock undergoing re- 
 pairs, and it would seem from this circum- 
 stance that she had been more roughly 
 handled by the " Monitor " than the Con- 
 federates chose to admit. At all events 
 they were convinced that she was not fit to 
 cope with the "Monitor" in her original 
 condition. The hull for four feet below the 
 water line was covered with two-inch iron, 
 a new and heavier ram was strongly 
 secured to the bow, the damage to the 
 armor was renaired. and wroue-ht-iron nort 
 
 " Vanderbilt " have but struck the "Merri- 
 mac," going at half speed, she would have 
 penetrated her as easily as a knife opens a 
 watermelon. 
 
 To Tatnall's surprise no one seemed to 
 notice his appearance, the " Monitor " and 
 her consorts lying quietly at anchor below 
 Fortress Monroe. The " Monitor " was just 
 as we left her after the fight; she- needed 
 but trifling repairs, while the " Merrimac " 
 had been long enough in dock to make her 
 doubly strong. The "Monitor" had been 
 kept in readiness in case the "Merrimac" 
 attempted to pass the fleet and make to- 
 wards Washington, although the Confede- 
 rate vessel could hardly have passed the 
 Kettle Bottom shoals in the channel of the 
 
133 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 The officers of the " Merrimac," knowing 
 Tatnall's reputation, expected a desperate 
 engagement at the outset, but he showed 
 more than ordinary judgment when he 
 found how matters stood. He had requested 
 permission from the Confederate govern- 
 ment to act on his own discretion and to 
 pass Fortress Monroe if he thought proper; 
 but this was denied him for prudential rea- 
 sons. While the "Merrimac" remained 
 intact it was supposed that Norfolk would 
 be secure against attack, and the way for 
 an army to Richmond would be barred by 
 the iron-clad; all of which was in a measure 
 true. For equally prudent reasons the 
 "Monitor" was kept out of battle for the 
 present, and lay off Fortress Monroe under 
 command of Lieut. Jeffers. There were no 
 Federal war vessels above Fortress Monroe, 
 but there were three merchant sailing ves- 
 sels within the bar off Hampton. 
 
 Tatnall ordered Lieut. Barney, in the 
 " Jamestown," to go in and bring them out. 
 This was accomplished, although the gun- 
 boat was fired on by the forts. Two of the 
 vessels contained supplies for the Federal 
 Ai-my. 
 
 This was a humiliation and should not 
 have been suffered, but prevented at all 
 hazards, especially as the crew of an Eng- 
 lish corvette cheered the Confederates as 
 they towed their prizes away. 
 
 " That night the ' Merrimac' lay at anchor above 
 Sewell's Point, and a few days later she went within 
 gunshot of the fort at the Rip Raps, with which she 
 exchanged a few rounds. It is said that the ' Mer- 
 rimac ' opened fire, hoping that the ' Monitor ' 
 would go out and meet her, when by numerous de- 
 vices it was intended to board the little vessel, 
 smother the officers and crew, put out the fires and 
 tow her into Norfolk! The 'Monitor,' however, 
 lay quietly at auclior biding her time, and the ' Mer- 
 rimac's ' engines breaking down, she was obliged to 
 return to Norfolk. 
 
 " On the 8th of May the 'Merrimac' again ap- 
 peared and found the 'Monitor,' 'Galena,' 'Nan- 
 tucket' and a number of heavy ships shelling the 
 works at Sewell's Point ; but on the appearance of 
 the iron-clad they all returned below Fortress Mon- 
 roe. Tatnall stood direct for the 'Monitor,' which 
 retreated with the other vessels, the 'Merrimac' 
 and consorts following close down to the Rip Raps, 
 where shot passed over the ship and a mile beyond. 
 Tatnall remained for some hours in the Roads until 
 finally in disgust he gave an order to Lieut. Jones 
 to fire a gun to windward and take the ship back 
 to her buoy." 
 
 The above Confederate account does not 
 agree with the report of Rear Admiral 
 Goldsborough, who says : 
 
 "By direction of the President our vessels shelled 
 Sewell's Point yesterday, mainly with a view to see 
 the practicability of landing a body of troops there- 
 abouts. The ' Merrimac ' came out but was even 
 more cautious than ever. The ' Monitor ' was kept 
 well in advance and so that the 'Merrimac' could 
 have engaged her without difficulty had she been so 
 disposed, but she decUned to do so, and soon re- 
 turned and anchored under Sewell's Point." 
 
 This disposes of the statement that the 
 
 rimac " and consorts, for the writer can find 
 nothing on record to substantiate the Con- 
 federate account. There is every reason to 
 believe the commander of the " Merrimac " 
 was willing to let the " Monitor " alone, for 
 he was too clever a man to risk his vessel 
 against all the ships awaiting his attack. 
 
 The Federals were evidently desirous to 
 draw him as far as possible from his base 
 and then overwhelm him with the " Moni- 
 tor," heavy frigates and powerful rams that 
 were prepared to attack him. 
 
 That was the last appearance of the 
 "Merrimac." According to a Confederate 
 account : " On the 9th of May, while at an- 
 chor off Sewell's Point, it was noticed at 
 
 LIEUT. JOHJJ TAYLOR WOOD, OF THE " 5IEERI1UC." 
 
 (APTERWAEDS COMMANDER OF THE PRIVATEES "TALLAHASSEE.") 
 
 sundown that the Confederate flag was not 
 flying over the batteries. A boat was sent 
 on shore and found them abandoned. Lieut. 
 Pembroke Jones was then dispatched to 
 Norfolk, and returned with the news that 
 Norfolk was evacuated, and the Navy Yard 
 on flre." 
 
 That determined the fate of the " Merri- 
 mac."" Her occupation was gone, and to 
 prevent her from falling into the hands of 
 the Federal Government, she was blown 
 up and entirely destroj'ed. 
 
 Several plans had been proposed to save 
 the vessel for further use, such as lightening 
 her and getting her up the James River as 
 a protection to Richmond, but they were 
 found impracticable. , 
 
 It was just as well that the Merrimac's 
 career ended thus, for she would never have 
 been of any more use in Confederate hands, 
 and her officers and crew would have fallen 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 133 
 
 who ventured to attack the " Monitor," 
 backed as she was by an overwhelming 
 force. The Federal government had made a 
 great mistake in not being prepared for the 
 " Merrimac" on her first appearance; they 
 were not going to be caught again, and in 
 their precautions to this effect they rather 
 overdid the matter. The lesson was not lost 
 on the Government during the war. The 
 experience we gained by the loss of the 
 " Congress " and '•' Cumberland " was worth 
 a dozen frigates, although we mourned the 
 brave fellows who fell gloriously fighting 
 for their country. 
 
 Had there been no " Merrimac" we should 
 never have built those magnificent iron- 
 clads, which for a time placed our Navy in 
 the front rank of the navies of the world, 
 and enabled us to bid defiance to England 
 and France, who were too much inclined to 
 meddle with our affairs. 
 
 The " Merrimac " taught our legislators 
 the necessity of being more liberal in our 
 naval expenditures, and to build armored 
 vessels such as would not only be able to 
 stand the heaviest seas, but to batter down 
 the strongest forts, or destroy any enemy's 
 vessel that came upon our coast. 
 
 After the war was over the lesson was 
 unfortunately soon forgotten, and in a few 
 years the Navy, which was so powerful at 
 the close of the rebellion, relapsed into an 
 insignificance from which it will take long 
 to recover; while other nations, taking ad- 
 vantage of our experience, have gone on 
 building iron-clads which astonish the world 
 with theit power. 
 
 To this day the principle of the "Moni- 
 tor" is recognized in every navy in the 
 world, and the fame of Ericsson promises 
 to endure for centuries to come. 
 
 The " Monitor " did not long outlast her 
 huge antagonist. She was lost a few months 
 afterwards in a gale off Cape Hatteras in 
 attempting the impossible, for it was never 
 intended she should be used as a cruiser. 
 She was not intended to ride out heavy 
 gales, and of this the government had had 
 proof in her first voyage to Hampton Roads, 
 when she was very near going to the bot- 
 tom. When she foundered she carried 
 down with her some brave fellows who 
 stood by her to the last. May they rest in 
 peace ! 
 
 After reading all the accounts which 
 have been published in regard to this en- 
 gagement, we come to the conclusion that 
 the " Monitor" was too much for the " Mer- 
 rimac." The latter was damaged so much 
 that she had to remain some time in dock 
 for repairs. For a short time after Lieut. 
 Worden was wounded, the " Monitor " 
 headed away from her antagonist until 
 Lieut. Greene could get into the pilot-house, 
 and the commanding officer of the " Mer- 
 rimac " took advantage of this circumstance 
 to return to Norfolk. 
 
 Catesby Jones was too clever an officer not 
 to know that if he should get aground in 
 the narrow channel the "Monitor" would 
 certainly capture him. Had Worden not 
 been wounded the " Merrimac" would have 
 been captured as it was. 
 
 After the " Merrimac " retreated Worden 
 was removed to Washington, where he re- 
 ceived every attention his condition re- 
 quired, and all the honors the government 
 could bestow for his skill and bravery, 
 which had averted a terrible catastrophe 
 and humilation. To Worden belongs the 
 credit of having performed one of the most 
 important achievements of the war. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 BUILDING A NAVY ON THE WESTERN RIVERS.— BATTLE OF BELMONT. 
 
 James B. Eads Engaged to Build Gun-boats.— Depot Established at Cairo.— Navy 
 Yard at Mound City.— Flag-officer Foote in Command of Mississippi Squadron. 
 —Captain Pennock and Assistants.— The "Taylor," '-Lexington" and " Cones- 
 toga. "—Grant Seizes Paducah.— Commander Walke Attacks the Batteries 
 near Columbus.— Battle of Belmont.— Grant gains two Victories in one day.— 
 Efficient Services Rendered by Gun-boats.— The Western Flotilla, etc., etc. 
 
 TO enable us to keep pace with the 
 progress of events we must now 
 turn our attention in another direc- 
 tion, and see what the Navy was 
 doing in the western rivers. 
 
 Early in 1863 the attention of the Navy 
 Department was directed towards the West. 
 The necessity of building gun-boats there 
 to assist the Army in its operations had be- 
 come evident to the dullest comprehension. 
 
 There were more than four thousand 
 nniles of navigable rivers, the control of 
 which was absolutely necessary to the Fed- 
 eral Government to enable it to crush out 
 rebellion, and the only way to obtain this 
 control was to build a fleet peculiarly 
 adapted to smooth and shallow waters, 
 while carrying the heaviest smooth-bore 
 and rifled ordnance. 
 
 Strange as it may at this day appear, 
 some of the Army officers argued that gun- 
 boats would be useless to co-operate with 
 the Army in the West, as the Confederates 
 would establish heavy forts all along the 
 rivers, and knock the vessels to pieces; in 
 April, 1863, after the war had progressed 
 for a year. General Leonidas Polk seized 
 upon the heights near Belmont, Ky., and 
 mounting heavy guns there blocked the 
 way for Army transports from Cairo to the 
 sea. Then the Army began to talk of im- 
 provising a Navy of their own, and the 
 Navy Department sent Commander John 
 Rodgers to St. Louis to superintend the con- 
 struction of an army flotilla. 
 
 While the North had its Ericsson, the 
 
 '^N^f^.fif. wn.« fnrtnnntA in rinQcacGiTifr in fho T 
 
 person of Mr. James B. Eads, the very man 
 for the occasion. Mr. Eads undertook to 
 build seven large gun-boats, heavily plated 
 on the bow and lighter on the sides, which 
 were calculated to carry very heavy ord- 
 nance. 
 
 It is strange how slowly even the clever- 
 est of men receive new ideas. These gun- 
 boats, intended for service in the smooth 
 waters of the western rivers, could have 
 been plated with iron sufficient to have 
 turned the heaviest shot, instead of which 
 they were only partially covered, and owing 
 to this defect met with many mishaps. In 
 three months three of the vessels were 
 ready to receive their armament. 
 
 As the Army were now making great de- 
 mands for gun-boats. Com. Rodgers was au- 
 thorized to purchase three river steamers 
 and convert them into war-vessels without 
 plating. These were the first gun-boats that 
 fired a shot in support of the Union, and be- 
 came well known for their many encoun- 
 ters with the enemy, and for valuable ser- 
 vices throughout the war. 
 
 Flag-officer Andrew H. Foote was or- 
 dered to command the Mississippi Squadron 
 on the 6th of September, 1863, and he took 
 with him to the West a number of officers 
 whose names will appear from time to time 
 in our pages— a more gallant set of men 
 never trod the deck of a vessel-of-war. 
 
 Foote, Rodgers, Eads and their assist- 
 ants put forth all their energies to get the 
 squadron ready for service, as the enemy 
 were fortifying the banks of the rivers in 
 
 filT v\i:ic:ic:i.-vi-^ 
 
 «J Tl-.n_)-. 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 135 
 
 was 
 
 4. 
 
 Columbus barred the way against vessels 
 from above. The civilians who had charge 
 of the building of the gun-boats were not 
 skilled in the construction of war-vessels, 
 and the time of the naval oflBcers 
 therefore com- 
 pletely occupied 
 in supervising 
 the work of con- 
 struction; but 
 with their aid 
 Mr. Eads soon 
 completed an ef- 
 ficient flotilla, 
 which obtained 
 a fame in the an- 
 nals of the war 
 surpassed by no 
 other vessels. 
 
 One of Flag- 
 oflScer Foote's 
 first acts was to 
 establish a depot 
 at Cairo, Illinois, 
 where his vessels 
 couldberepaired 
 and could re- 
 plenish their 
 stores; and those 
 who remember 
 the ]N'avy Yard 
 at Mound City, 
 near Cairo, and 
 the large fleet 
 which grew 
 from the small 
 .squadron first 
 put afloat, will 
 wonder why we 
 should require 
 so many navy 
 yards atthe pres- 
 ent time when 
 we hardly fit out 
 a dozen vessels 
 in a year. 
 
 Com'r A 
 Pennock was 
 placed in com- 
 mand of the de- 
 pot at Cairo, the 
 navy yard being 
 literally afioat in 
 wharf boats, old 
 steamers, tugs, 
 flat-boats, or 
 even rafts, as 
 the government 
 owned no land 
 at that point; but 
 when the station 
 was subsequently established at Mound City, 
 just above Cairo, the Union exulted in the 
 possession of a real navy-yard of some ten 
 
 acres, "wlii/?!! al+.Tmncrli finmAtiTn<:ifi nnHAT» 
 
 M. 1= 
 
 EEAE-ADMIEAI, A. H. FOOTE, 
 
 able size, aljihough its machine shops, car- 
 penter sbops, etc., were all afloat in steam- 
 ers. Capt. Pennock had charge of the 
 naval station until the close of the war. and 
 his services called forth the unqualified 
 
 commendation 
 of the several 
 commanders-in- 
 chief of the Mis- 
 sissippi Squad- 
 ron under whom 
 he served. Capt. 
 Pennock's first 
 assistants at the 
 naval station 
 were Lieuten- 
 ants I. P. San- 
 ford and 0. H. 
 Perry, Chief 
 Engineer, Capt. 
 Geo. D. Wise, 
 U. S. A., Quar- 
 termaster, and 
 Acting Naval 
 Constructor Ro- 
 meo Friganza, 
 the latter sent 
 from New York 
 navy yard to fill 
 this important 
 position. 
 
 This, then, was 
 all the establish- 
 ment the Navy 
 Department 
 at that time 
 considered nec- 
 essary to keep 
 in repair the 
 Mississippi 
 Squadron, that 
 was expected to 
 successfully con- 
 trol an active 
 enemy occupy- 
 ing thousands of 
 miles of navig- 
 able rivers, 
 where the na- 
 ture of the coun- 
 try offered every 
 advantage to an 
 enterprising foe. 
 The difficul- 
 ties with which 
 the Navy had to 
 contend on the 
 Atlantic coast 
 were many, and 
 their duty was 
 harrassing, but 
 at least they had generally sea-room and 
 intervals of rest. An officer could retire to 
 repose without the expectation of having a 
 
 ■\rnlloT7- nf mnalro+.i-sr nrnsVl thrniicrh his state- 
 
13G 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 not risk being knocked over by some cow- 
 ardly bushwhacker, who would watch all 
 day for the chance of picking off somebody 
 on board a gun-boat — just as in peaceful 
 times he had laid in wait for a coon or a 
 wild turkey. In the West a man carried his 
 life in his hands, yet few took pains to avoid 
 the danger, although always in readiness to 
 meet and repel attacks upon their vessels. 
 Coolness and courage were at all times re- 
 quired, and a readiness for duty that inter- 
 fered with the natural rest, so essential a 
 preservative of vitality. 
 
 The three wooden gun-boats which formed 
 the advance guard of the Western Flotilla, 
 were the "Taylor," "Lexington" and "Con- 
 estoga," which had been so altered from 
 river steamers that they became efficient 
 vessels of war. The " Taylor" mounted six 
 sixty-four-pounder guns in broadside and 
 one thirty -two-pounder in the stern; the 
 " Lexington " mounted four sixty -four- 
 pounders in broadside and one thirty-two- 
 pounder astern, and the " Conestoga " car- 
 ried two thirty -two-pounders in broadside 
 and one light gun in the stern — not a very 
 formidable flotilla to encounter strong 
 earthworks, many of them mounting rifle 
 guns of great range. 
 
 The Confederates had not at first at- 
 tempted to extemporize a river navy, al- 
 though they were not long in following the 
 Federal example ; and the Navy Yard at 
 Memphis, turned over to the State of Ten- 
 nessee with all its appliances, by act of Con- 
 gress, was soon in full blast preparing ves- 
 sels to attack anything we might put upon 
 the rivers. But our light gun-boats showed 
 themselves not only fit for picket duty and 
 for clearing the banks of bushwhackers, 
 but even to take a hand in shelling heavy 
 batteries. 
 
 At this period of the war General Grant 
 had been transferred to the command of 
 the District of Southeast Missouri, and on 
 the 4th of September, 1861, he established 
 his head-quarters at Cairo, Illinois. His dis- 
 trict included Southern Illinois and so much 
 of Western Kentucky and Tennessee as 
 might fall into possession of the national 
 forces. It comprised the junction of the 
 Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumber- 
 land Rivers, and was at the time the most 
 important point of operations in the 
 West. 
 
 Kentucky, in the early part of the war, 
 endeavored to preserve a neutral position 
 between the contending sections, but the 
 Confederate General Polk soon violated this 
 neutrality, seizing Columbus, some twenty 
 miles below Cairo, and threatening Pa- 
 ducah; whereupon Grant seized this latter 
 place and garrisoned it. Thus the two armies 
 were near each other. Grant had nothing 
 but ordinary transports to operate with. 
 
 from the banks of the river by the Confed- 
 erate light artillery. 
 
 On the 14th of September Commander 
 Henry Walke, in command of the " Tay- 
 lor," under orders from Flag-officer Foote, 
 proceeded down the river towards Columbus 
 to make reconnoissance, accompanied by 
 officers of General Grant's staff. At Nor- 
 folk, six miles below Cairo, the "Taylor" 
 took on board a hundred men of the Ninth 
 Illinois Regiment, and then approached Co- 
 lumbus to ascertain the strength of the bat- 
 teries. " These batteries were built upon 
 what was called the Iron Banks, at the first 
 Chickasaw Bluff, which rose from two to 
 three hundred feet above the river, over- 
 looking its course for a distance of twenty 
 miles north and south. The Confederate 
 batteries were placed on the spurs of the 
 bluff, one of them, fifty feet above the water, 
 mounting two heavy guns, with a floating 
 battery of sixteen heavjr guns moored at 
 Columbus landing. Their heaviest rifled 
 guns were planted and pivoted on the sum- 
 mit of the river banks, where they com- 
 manded a long range up the river and to- 
 wards their rear." 
 
 When Com. Walke arrived off these 
 works, he fired eight or ten eight-inch shells 
 into them, killing and wounding several of 
 the enemy, and the reconnoissance having 
 been completed the vessel returned to 
 Cairo. 
 
 The "Taylor" and "Lexington" were 
 constantly employed on such service, and 
 their value soon became apparent to the 
 army officers, who had at first thought they 
 would be of little use. 
 
 Soon after the above mentioned recon- 
 noissance, General Grant wrote to Com- 
 mander Walke, requesting the services of 
 the gun-boats to accompany him to Bel- 
 mont landing, and on the 16th of Novem- 
 ber, 1861, the General started down the 
 river with 3.100 men in transports, convoyed 
 by the "Taylor," Com. Walke, and the 
 " Lexington," Com. R. N. Stembel. 
 
 Grant landed his troops at Hunter's 
 Point, on the Missouri side, out of range of 
 the Columbus batteries, and marched direct 
 on Belmont, three miles distant, where the 
 Confederates had posted their camp in an 
 open space protected by fallen timber. By 
 nme o'clock Grant's entire command was 
 hotly engaged, except one battalion left at 
 the landing as a reserve, and to protect 
 the transports. 
 
 General Grant had requested Com. Walke, 
 with the two gun-boats, to attack the bat- 
 teries at Columbus as a diversion, which 
 was done. As the gun-boats were under 
 fire of some twenty heavy guns having a 
 plunging fire, it was necessary to manage 
 them with great skill to prevent their being 
 disabled, and they moved around in short 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 137 
 
 possible. When their object was accom- 
 pUshed the gun-boats withdrew, as it would 
 have been madness to have continued 
 longer under the fire of such heavy guns. 
 
 In the mean time Grant had been fight- 
 ing four hours and his horse had been shot 
 under him. The officers' example stimu- 
 lated the men, who though novices in war 
 fought like veterans, driving the enemy to 
 the river, capturing all his artillery and sev- 
 eral hundred prisoners, and breaking up 
 the camp. 
 
 Instead of pursuing the enemy as they 
 huddled together under the river bank, the 
 Federal soldiers began to plunder the 
 camp. Meanwhile, Confederate transports, 
 crowded with men, were discovered com- 
 ing up the river from Columbus, and Grant 
 
 have whipped them once and can do it 
 again." As soon as the men found that 
 Grant meant to fight, not to surrender, 
 they charged the enemy, who disappeared 
 in the woods. 
 
 Grant pushed on to the landing and most 
 of his men went on board the transports. 
 A detachment was sent back to gather up 
 the wounded, and it was, for a time, undis- 
 turbed. Then Grant in person went to 
 withdraw his reserve force, which he found 
 had already returned to the transports, 
 thus leaving the General completely outside 
 his army. Ascending a knoll he discov- 
 ered the enemy advancing in line of bat- 
 tle in greatly izicreased force, with the evi- 
 dent intention of getting above the trans- 
 ports and cutting them off. The General 
 
 BATTLE OF BELMONT. 
 
 endeavored to reform his men in order to 
 get back to his own steamers before these 
 troops could land, but it was not until 
 he had ordered the camp to be set on 
 fire that his men would cease plundering. 
 The fire drew the attention of the artiller- 
 ists at Columbus, who opened on the Fed- 
 eral troops. 
 
 The march back to the transports then 
 began, but the defeated enemy, finding no 
 notice was being taken of them, reformed 
 in the woods just above Belmont, where 
 three regiments from Columbus joined them, 
 and this combined force was interposed 
 between Grant and his transports. Some 
 of the troops cried out " we are surrounded." 
 "Well," said Grant, "in that case, we must 
 cut our way out as we cut our way inj we 
 
 saw that it was impossible to save the party 
 who were out in search of the wounded, so 
 he turned and rode slowly back towards the 
 transports to avoid attracting attention. 
 
 The enemy's fire was opened on the 
 transports, which were about getting under 
 way, leaving Grant behind, but a plank was 
 hastily run out from one of the vessels and 
 he rode on board. At that moment the 
 "Taylor" and " Lexington " opened upon 
 the enemy in a corn-field about fifty yards 
 distant with grape and canister, mowing 
 them down " in swaths," as General Badeau 
 expresses it, and causing them to retreat 
 in great confusion. By five o'clock the last 
 of our transports was out of range of the 
 enemy's batteries, officers and men equally 
 pleased with having gained a victory, which 
 
138 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 but for the gun-boats would have been a 
 bloody defeat. It is true the soldiers in the 
 transports kept up a constant fire on the 
 enemy, but being raw troops they no doubt 
 aimed too high, as did the Confederates, and 
 there was T^ery little execution done; but in 
 the case of the gun-boats there was no mis- 
 take, their guns were handled by trained 
 men directed by experienced oflBcers, and 
 such was the rapidity and accuracy of their 
 fire that the enemy fled in all directions. 
 
 Thus Grant gained two victories in one 
 day, and against double his own force, for 
 the Confederates admit having 7,000 men 
 in action. Grant lost 485 in killed, 
 wounded and missing; 135 of the wounded 
 fell into the enemy's hands, but in lieu of 
 these Grant captured 175 prisoners and 
 two guns. The Confederate loss was 685 
 killed and wounded, mostly by the gun- 
 boats. 
 
 Soon after the defeat of the enemy and 
 the departure of the transports. General 
 McClernand discovered that some of his 
 soldiers had been left behind, and at his re- 
 quest Capt. Walke returned and succeeded 
 in recovering most if not all these, together 
 with forty of the enemy's wounded, who 
 had been left on the field, proof positive that 
 the Confederates had retreated in a panic. 
 
 The assistance given the army by the 
 gun-boats disposed of the question "as to 
 the utility and practicability of gun-boats 
 carrying on hostilities on the rivers, where 
 it was believed the batteries on the banks 
 could prevent their passage." It is strange 
 how an opposite idea could have been en- 
 tertained by those who ought to have 
 known better. 
 
 In Gen. Grant's official report he says : 
 " The gun-boats convoyed the expedition 
 and rendered most efficient service. Im- 
 mediately upon our landing they engaged 
 the enemy's batteries on the heights above 
 Columbus, and protected our transports 
 throughout. For a detailed account of the 
 part taken by the gun-boats I refer with 
 pleasure to the accompanying report of 
 Capt. Walke, senior officer." 
 
 This was warm commendation from Gen. 
 Grant, who was moderate in his praise of 
 men, but it scarcely gave an idea of the 
 service performed by the gun-boats that 
 day. The Confederates had to land their 
 troops that crossed from Columbus three 
 miles below, giving the men a long march. 
 The gun-boats "Taylor " and "Lexington" 
 attacked the batteries three times during 
 the day, and kept up a fire on the enemy all 
 along the banks. When our soldiers re- 
 treated to the transports the gun-boats cov- 
 ered them so with their fire that they re- 
 ceived little injury. 
 
 This battle was claimed by both sides, 
 which is apt to be the case with raw troops; 
 
 V-.,4-4-u^ i:^j. ^£ i_:n^j — j j . _i •_ 
 
 favor of the Federals, although they had 
 less than one-half the enemy's force. 
 
 The gallant conduct of Commanders 
 Walke and Stembel does not appear to have 
 secured even a passing notice from the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, which was certainly a 
 great injustice to two officers who had 
 demonstrated so plainly the efficiency of 
 gun-boats on the Western rivers. 
 
 It was a part of the Confederate plan 
 early in the civil war to seize and hold Mis- 
 souri and Kansas, thus threatening the free 
 States in the Northwest, to hold Kentucky 
 and Tennessee, cross the Ohio, and make 
 the Northern States the theatre of war, 
 thus punishing the Northern people for 
 their obstinacy in declining to yield to the 
 demands of the secessionists. This plan, 
 which had been discussed long before the 
 Southern States seceded, would doubtless 
 have been carried out had it not been for 
 the multitude of men in the North who 
 sprang to arms and frustrated the Confed- 
 erate plans. Lee had to retreat from Penn- 
 sylvania, where it was determined that the 
 Confederates should endure all the hard- 
 ships of war to teach them the folly of re- 
 bellion. 
 
 To circumvent the grand schemes of the 
 enemy in the West, it was necessary that we 
 should have a naval force on all the rivers, 
 and Attorney General Bates seems to have 
 been the first person in the government to 
 point out the necessity of such a force to 
 get possession of all the tributaries of the 
 Mississippi, and finally of the great river 
 itself to the sea. Mr. Bates' ideas were not 
 at first considered practicable; even the 
 veteran Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Welles, 
 who is credited with a vast knowledge of 
 naval matters, seemed to doubt, and stated 
 that " there was with many great incredu- 
 lity as to the utility and practicability of 
 the use of gun-boats on the Western waters, 
 where it was believed batteries on the 
 banks could prevent their passage."' The 
 Secretary might have observed that the en- 
 emy's batteries on the Potomac did not stop 
 even ordinary transports. 
 
 At first the naval forces on the Western 
 rivers were put under the direction of the 
 War Department, as it was supposed the 
 armed vessels would be a mere appendage 
 of the land forces; and there does not seem 
 to have been a man in the Cabinet at that 
 time who knew the difference between a 
 gun-boat and a transport. 
 
 In July, ]861, Quartermaster General 
 Meigs contracted with Mr. Eads to build a 
 number of iron -clad gun-boats for the West- 
 ern waters, and from the fact that Gen. 
 Meigs contracted for them it is presumed 
 the War Department paid for them, and 
 that the Navy Department had not then 
 risen to the height of the occasion. Seven 
 
OF TJdE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 139 
 
 tons, to draw six feet of water, to be plated 
 with two and a half inch iron, and steam 
 nine knots. They were to be each 175 feet 
 long and 51| wide, their sides at an angle 
 of 35 degrees from the water line, their gun 
 decks being but a foot above the surface of 
 the water. The bow and stern were at an 
 angle of 45 degrees, and the wheel for pro- 
 pelling the vessels was placed in the stern. 
 Of course these vessels had many imperfec- 
 tions, as we were new in the business of 
 building iron-clads, and seem to have had 
 very little idea what thickness of iron plat- 
 ing was necessary to turn the heavy shot of 
 the enemy. 
 
 The iron-clads carried four thirty-two 
 pounders on each side, three nine or ten- 
 inch guns in their bow ports, and two lighter 
 
 with the others to the Navy Department, 
 her name was changed to " Baron de Kalb," 
 as there was already a "St. X,ouis" in the 
 Navy. In the course of the succeeding 
 twenty days the " Carondelet," "Cincin- 
 nati," "Louisville." " Mound City," " Cairo" 
 and " Pittsburg" followed in rapid succes- 
 sion. An eighth vessel, the " Benton," 
 superior in every respect to the above, was 
 undertaken. She was originally a wreck- 
 ing boat, purchased by General Fremont 
 and sent to Mr. Eads, whose ideas develop- 
 ing as he went on building, he produced 
 from this wrecking boat an iron-clad of re- 
 markable strength. 
 
 Thus in one hundred days this energetic 
 man constructed a squadron of iron-clad 
 gun-boats, aggregating five thousand tons, 
 
 U. 8. GUN-BOATS "TAYLOR" AND "LEXINaxON." 
 
 guns in the stern. A casemate enclosed the 
 wheel at the stern, and there was a conical 
 pilot-house forward covered with iron. The 
 writer is particular in describing these ves- 
 sels, as they performed such remarkable 
 service all through the war, and notwith- 
 standing their defects and the vicissitudes 
 they experienced, no vessels in the Navy en- 
 gaged in so many successful battles or made 
 such a record for their commanding officers. 
 Within two weeks after the contract with 
 Eads was signed, four thousand men were 
 busily engaged in constructing the vessels. 
 The work was pushed night and day, and 
 on the 12th of October, 1861, the "St. 
 Louis " was launched at Carondelet, Mis- 
 souri, forty-five days after her keel was 
 laid. When this vessel was transferred 
 
 ready for their armament of one hundred 
 and seven heavy guns. Such a perform- 
 ance needs no eulogy, and even had Mr. 
 Eads done no more in the cause of the 
 Union, he would have been entitled to the 
 thanks of the nation. Since then he has gone 
 on executing great works, and his reputa- 
 tion as a civil engineer is world-wide. 
 
 A ninth powerful vessel, the. "Essex," 
 was afterward added to this formidable flo- 
 tilla. She carried nine heavy guns, and 
 though built in later fashion was not equal 
 to the "Benton." 
 
 When Flag-officer Andrew H. Foote took 
 command of the Western Flotilla in Sep- 
 tember, 1862, it consisted of these nine 
 " iron-clads " (so-called), three wooden gun 
 boats, the "Taylor" "Lexington" and 
 
140 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY OF . THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 "Conestoga," which had been purchased 
 and equipped by Commander John Eodgers, 
 and thirty-eight mortars mounted on 
 rafts. 
 
 This service was of a somewhat anoma- 
 lous character, since the gun-boats were un- 
 der control of the army, and their accounts 
 were under the supervision of the Quarter- 
 master General. There was no navy yard 
 at first where the vessels could be refitted 
 or repaired, but Flag-officer Foote, with his 
 energetic assistants, overcame the impedi- 
 ments that retarded his operations, and dis- 
 played the highest qualities as a naval com- 
 mander by establishing an efficient force 
 on the Western rivers, and by leading it to 
 victory in subsequent engagements with 
 the enemy. 
 
 Previous to the time when Foote took 
 command of the squadron, the " Taylor," 
 " Lexington " and " Conestoga" were con- 
 stantly employed by General Grant, with 
 
 the commanders mentioned, in making re- 
 connoissances, during which they came fre- 
 quently under fire of the enemy's batteries, 
 which even at that early day infested the 
 banks of the rivers. In one of these affairs 
 the " Conestoga " particularly distinguished 
 herself. 
 
 The Commander-in-Chief of a squadron 
 may be very energetic himself and possess 
 all the qualities necessary for his position, 
 but he cannot succeed unless he is assisted 
 by brave and efficient officers. The men- 
 tion of subordinate officers has been too 
 much neglected by naval historians, a fault 
 which in this account the writer would wish 
 to avoid. Nothing is more pleasing to an 
 officer than to see himself credited with 
 faithful service, though there are some offi- 
 cers so avaricious in this regard that they 
 would fain monopolize all the glory to them- 
 selves. Such men should write their own 
 histories. 
 
CH A PTER XIV 
 
 BATTLE AND CAPTURE OP FORT HENRY BY THE NAVY. 
 
 Commanding Positions op Forts Henry and Donelson. — Grant Given Permission to 
 Attempt the Capture op the Forts. — Foote's Gun-boats and the Army Under 
 Grant Leave Cairo. — Landing op the Army at Bailey's Ferry. — Defenses op 
 Fort Henry. — Fort Hieman Evacuated. — The Gun-boats open fire on Fort 
 Henry. — Description op the Battle by a Confederate Historian. — The "Essex" 
 Disabled. — Commodore William D. Porter Wounded. — Fort Henry Surrenders. 
 — Captain Walke Takes Possession op the Fort. — Losses. — Gallant Foote. — 
 Dreadful Scenes op the Engagement Described by an Opficbr op the " Essex." 
 — Vessels engaged in Attack on Fort Henry. 
 
 SHORTLY after the battle of Belmont 
 the Confederates established a 
 strong line of operations reaching 
 to the centre of Kentucky. On their 
 left was Columbus, where they had 
 collected a strong force and 140 guns. One 
 of their largest arnnies was at the junction 
 of the Louisville and Nashville, and Mem- 
 phis and Ohio Railroads (the northernmost 
 point then held by the Confederates west 
 of the Alleghany Mountains). These armies 
 threatened Northern Kentucky and pro- 
 tected Nashville and Middle Tennessee. 
 
 At the centre of this strategic line the 
 Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers formed 
 the natural avenues into all the disputed 
 territory north of the cotton States. These 
 two streams approach within twelve miles 
 of each other, at a point near the boundary 
 between Kentucky and Tennessee. Here, 
 at a bend in each river, the Confederates 
 had erected two batteries. Fort Henry, on 
 the Tennessee, and Fort Donelson, on the 
 Cumberland. These forts completely com- 
 manded the navigation of the two rivers, 
 and by forbidding any advance of the Union 
 gun-boats or transports, prevented the trans- 
 portation of our army by water, either into 
 Kentucky or Tennessee. 
 
 The reader may think it strange that the 
 Confederates, with nothing like the Federal 
 resources, should be able to throw up so 
 many formidable fortifications on coast and 
 river, and mount them with heavy guns, and 
 will naturall V ask where the e-n n s nam e f rnm 
 
 The answer to this question is that, by our 
 terrible blunder in surrendering the Norfolk 
 Navy Yard at the commencement of the 
 war, we put into the hands of the Confed- 
 ates 1,400 guns of all calibres. Our Navy 
 had already recaptured 211 of these Norfolk 
 guns, and it remains to be seen what account 
 it will render of those which now confront 
 it at Columbus, Fort Henry and Fort Don- 
 elson. 
 
 Grant knew the nature of these works 
 better than a,ny other officer, and saw that 
 Bowling Green and Columbus could both be 
 turned as soon as Henry and Donelson fell. 
 Halleck and others were making great 
 strategic movements, which amounted to 
 nothing, but Grant kept his mind steadily 
 fixed on these two forts, knowing the effect 
 their fall would have. 
 
 On the 33d of January Grant visited Hal- 
 leck at St. Louis, and urgently requested per- 
 mission to make the attempt to take Forts 
 Henry and Donelson; both of which General 
 C. F. Smith, who had made a reconnoissance, 
 reported could easily be done. 
 
 The gun-boats at that time were subject to 
 General Halleck's orders, and Flag-officer 
 Foote, who commanded them, had recom- 
 mended a united movement of Army and 
 Navy against the forts. The desired per- 
 mission was finally granted to these officers, 
 but the gallant commander of the Army 
 contingent was greatljr hampered by de- 
 tailed instructions furnished by the Com- 
 ma,nder-in-Chief. 
 
143 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Grant started from Cairo on the 2d of 
 February, 18G2, with 17,000 men in trans- 
 ports, and Foote accompanied him with 
 seven gun-boats. After reconnoitering the 
 forts the- Army landed at Bailey's Ferry, 
 just out of reacli of the enemy's fire. 
 
 The Confederates had erected their works 
 at Fort Henry on both sides of the river, 
 with a garrison of 2,800 men, under Briga- 
 dier General Tighlman. The main fortifica- 
 tion was ontheeastern bank. Itwas a strong 
 field-work with a bastioned front, defended 
 by seventeen heavy guns, twelve of which 
 bore on the river. Embrasures had also 
 been formed by placing sand-bags on the 
 parapets between the guns. On the land 
 side there was an entrenched camp, and be- 
 yond this an extended line of rifle-pits, 
 located on commanding ground. The earth- 
 works covered the Dover road, by which 
 alone communication could be held with 
 Fort Donelson. The heights on the west 
 commanded Fort Henry, but the works at 
 this point were unfinished. 
 
 Grant's plan was to land and attack the 
 enemy in the rear, while Foote was to attack 
 their batteries in front with the gun-boats. 
 When the Confederates discovered this 
 plan they prepared for a determined resist- 
 ance. New lines of infantry cover were es- 
 tablished and additions were made to the 
 fortifications on both sides of the river. 
 Tighlman at once ordered up re-enforce- 
 ments fromDanvilleand the moutli of Sandy 
 River, as well as froni Fort Donelson. 
 
 The country around Fort Henry was all 
 under water from the overflow of the Ten- 
 nessee River, which impeded the move- 
 ments of the troops on both sides. The 
 rain fell in torrents on the night of the 5th 
 of February, and Grant having an in- 
 sufficiency of transports was obliged to 
 send some of his steamers back to Cairo to 
 bring up part of his command. He did not 
 therefore succeed in getting all his men on 
 shore until 11 p. m. 
 
 The original plan was to invest Fort Hie- 
 man on the west bank simultaneously with 
 Fort Henry, in order to prevent re-enforce- 
 ments, and also the escape of the garrisons. 
 The Confederates perceiving the impossi- 
 bility of holding both works against such 
 a force, evacuated Fort Hieman, and 
 gave all their attention to defending Fort 
 Henry. 
 
 Grant was ignorant of this withdrawal, 
 and that night ordered General C. F. Smith 
 to seize the heights on the west with two 
 brigades. The rest of Grant's force, under 
 Gen. McClernand, was to move at 11 a. m. 
 on the 6th to the rear of Fort Henry, and 
 take position on the road leading to Fort 
 Donelson and I)over, where they could in- 
 tercept fugitives and hold themselves in 
 readiness to take the works by storm 
 promptly on the receipt of orders. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 143 
 
 The fleet got under way at two o'clock 
 on the day of the battle in the following 
 order : The " Essex," 9 guns, Com. Wm. 
 D. Porter, on the right; "Cincinnati" (flag 
 ship), 13 guns. Com. Stembel, on the left of 
 the "Essex;" " Carondelet," 13 guns. Com. 
 Walke, on the left of the " Cincinnati;" 
 and the "St. Louis," 13 guns, Lieut. Pauld- 
 ing, on the left of all. The " Conestoga " 
 (wooden), 3 guns, Lieut. Phelps; "Taylor" 
 (wooden), 9 guns, Lieut. Gwin; "Lexing- 
 ton" (wooden), 9 guns, Lieut. Shirk. These 
 vessels all told mounted 76 guns; but as 
 they were obliged to flght "bow on" and 
 could therefore only use their bow guns, 
 there were only twelve guns brought into 
 action by the iron-clads and five or six by 
 the wooden vessels, which were well in the 
 rear. 
 
 The position of Fort Henry had been se- 
 lected with great care. It stood at the end 
 
 the naval discipline and accuracy of fire 
 soon told on the troops in the fort. 
 
 The battle is described as follows by a 
 Confederate historian : 
 
 " A few moments before the surrender, the scene 
 in and around the fort exhibited a spectacle of fierce 
 grandeur ; many of the cabins and tents in and 
 around the fort were in flames (from the Federal 
 shells) — added to the scene were the smoke from the 
 burning timber, and the curling of the dense 
 wreaths of smoke from the guns, the constantly re- 
 curring spatter and whizzing of fragments of burst- 
 ing shells, the deafening roar of artillery, the black 
 sides of five or six gun-boats, belching nre at eyery 
 port-hole, and the army of General Grant, 10,000 
 strong, deploying around our small army, attempt- 
 ing to cut off its retreat. The gallant Tighlman, 
 exhausted and begrimed with powder and smoke, 
 stood erect at the middle battery and pointed gun 
 after gun, and remarked, ' It is vain to fight longer, 
 our gunners are disabled, our guns dismounted — 
 we can't hold out five minutes longer,' and finally 
 he ordered the white flag to be hoisted." 
 
 When the gun-boats had obtained a sta- 
 
 ATTACK ON FOKT HENKY. 
 
 of a straight reach in the river, which its 
 guns commanded for two miles. Two 64- 
 pounders were planted on an elevation above 
 the fort, which might, however, have been 
 stormed and taken by our own troops, and 
 turned against the enemy. 
 
 The gun-boats moved on up to within a 
 mile of the fort, firing an occasional shot, 
 and finally moved to within a third of a 
 mile of the batteries, when the firing com- 
 menced in earnest from both sides. 
 
 General Grant and Flag-officer Foote had 
 intended to have the Army and Navy make 
 a simultaneous attack, but it is a pretty diflS- 
 cult matter to time such events. In com- 
 bined movements something always hap- 
 pens to delay one party or the other; in this 
 mstance the roads were dreadful, and the 
 Army was so delayed that it did not reach 
 the fort until some time after its surrender 
 to the Navy. For over an hour the guns on 
 
 tionary position and were able to get their 
 range, almost every shot and shell went to 
 its mark, and the destruction caused was 
 marvelous; but with all the damage our 
 fire was doing to the enemy they fought like 
 devils, and only gave in when it was no 
 longer possible to hold out. 
 
 The gun-boats did not get off " scot free" 
 in this attack; they had their share of dam- 
 age as well as the fort, and a fair share of 
 killed and wounded. About twenty min- 
 utes before the Confederates surrendered, 
 the gun-boat "Essex" was pierced through 
 the boilers by a shot, which resulted in 
 wounding and scalding 29 officers and men, 
 including her gallant commander, William 
 D. Porter. She drifted out of the fight to- 
 tally disabled, and took no further part in 
 it. 
 
 After the "Essex" dropped out, the firing 
 from the fort continued with undiminished 
 
144 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 mained in position, and was continued 
 without intermission until the flag" was 
 hauled down, after a hotly-contested action 
 of one hour and fifteen minutes. 
 
 At the end of the battle a boat containing 
 the Adjutant General and Captain of En- 
 gineers went alongside the flagship and re- 
 ported that Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tighlman, 
 the commander of the fort, wished to com- 
 municate with the naval commanding offi- 
 cer. Lieuts. Stembel and Phelps were then 
 sent on shore to hoist the American flag on 
 Fort Henry, and a request was sent to Gen. 
 Tighlman that'he visit the flagship, which 
 he did, and surrendered himself a prisoner. 
 
 All the prisoners were received on board 
 the fleet, and thus ended the battle of Fort 
 Henry. 
 
 Besides the General and his staff there 
 were 60 or 70 prisoners, and a hospital ship 
 containing 60 invalids, all of whom were 
 treated with that kindness which naval offi- 
 cers always extend to aii enemy in distress. 
 Captain Walke of the "Carondelet" was 
 directed to go on shore and take charge of 
 the fort and all within it until the arrival of 
 the Army, which took place an hour after- 
 ward, when everything was handed over to 
 Gen. Grant. 
 
 This was a well-fought battle on both 
 sides, and the gun-boats were skillfully 
 handled by the naval commanders. The 
 gallant Foote might well feel proud to be 
 the first to remove that absurd idea that 
 " gun -boats would not prove serviceable in 
 Western waters as they could not resist the 
 fire of heavy guns in earthworks." 
 
 On taking possession of the fort Com- 
 mander Walke beheld a perfect scene of 
 destruction. Everything in and about the 
 works was either knocked to pieces or set 
 on fire; and it is remarkable that with such 
 evident effects of the naval fire so few of 
 the enemy were disabled (six killed and sev- 
 enteen wounded). 
 
 Twenty heavy guns fell into our hands as 
 well as a large amount of military stoi-es. 
 The "Essex" was the only gun-boat that 
 suffered any severe damage from the 
 enemy's fire. But the Confederate practice 
 was excellent, and the iron-clads were fre- 
 quently struck. According to Flag-officer 
 Foote's report the " Cincinnati " was struck 
 thirty-one times, the " Essex " fifteen times, 
 the " St. Louis " seven times and the " Car- 
 ondelet" six times, though Commander 
 Walke claims to have been struck much 
 oftener. 
 
 The "Essex" lost 39 men killed and 
 wounded by scalding steam, and also nine 
 soldiers who were serving on board of her. 
 The casualties on the other vessels were 
 few and unimportant, as their iron plating 
 (though only two and a half inches thick), 
 had done them good service. 
 
 tween gun-boats and shore batteries in 
 Western waters. It was an unequal con- 
 test against a fort that mounted 20 heavy 
 guns, but it was so quickly settled that it 
 gave the Confederates a great dread of the 
 iron-clads; and in building forts thereafter, 
 they were more careful not to have them 
 in accessible places. 
 
 Where all did their duty so well it would 
 be hard to discriminate. Each one received 
 his full meed of praise from Foote, and 
 their conduct on this occasion was long re- 
 membered by the people of the country, for 
 it was now clearly demonstrated that the 
 naval vessels on the Western rivers could 
 sustain the fire of the heaviest batteries, 
 notwithstanding the high authority to the 
 contrary. 
 
 To give an idea of some of the dread- 
 ful scenes to which our gun-boats were liable, 
 we insert an interesting letter written after 
 the battle of Fort Henry, by James Laning, 
 the Second Master of the "Essex," in 
 which he thus describes the engagement: 
 
 "On February 1st, 1863, the iron-elad gun-boat 
 ' Essex,' whilst lying off Fort Holt, received orders 
 from Flag-officer A. H. Foote, commanding the 
 Western flotilla, to proceed up the Tennessee River, 
 and anchor some five miles below Fort Henry, 
 blockading the river at that point. The iron- 
 clads 'Carondelet,' Commander Henry Walke; the 
 'Cincinnati,' Commander Stembel, and the 'St. 
 Louis,' Lieutenant Commanding Leonard Paulding, 
 were completed and put into commission a few days 
 previous, making, with the 'Essex,' four iron-elads, 
 besides the wooden gun-boats 'Taylor,' 'Lexington' 
 and 'Conestoga,' now ready for offensive opera- 
 tions. 
 
 "On the 5th of February, after reconnoitering 
 up the Tennessee to Fort Henry, we fired a few 
 ^hots at the fort and returned towards our anchor- 
 age. The enemy n\ade no reply, and apparently 
 took no notice of our shots, until we were well on 
 our way back. When about two, or two and a half 
 miles distant, the fort fired a rifle shot, which passed 
 over our boat to the right and cut down a number 
 of saplings on shore. In a few moments another 
 shot, fired with more precision, passed over the 
 spar-deck amongst the officers; through the officers' 
 quarters, visiting in its flight the steerage, com- 
 mander's pantry and cabin, passing through the 
 stern; doing, however, no damage except breaking 
 some of the captain's dishes, and cutting the feet 
 from a pair of his socks, which happened to be 
 hanging over the baclt of a chair in his cabin. 
 These shots reaching us at so great a distance, 
 rather astonished us, as the enemy intended they 
 should. 
 
 " After this reconnoissance it was decided to re- 
 move the torpedoes from the island cluite, and in- 
 stead of going up the main channel, to steam up 
 the chute, and forming line of battle under cover 
 of the thuber on the island, advance towards the 
 fort and open fire as we reached the head of the 
 island at the distance of a mile to a mile and a half, 
 and contmue advancing. The wooden gun-boats, 
 'Taylor' and 'Lexington,' were, therefore, ordered 
 to remove the torpedoes, which they did without 
 much difBculty. , The army, which was encamped 
 on both sides of the river, was to move at day- 
 light on the morning of the 6th, so as to make a 
 land attack, and prevent the escape of the garrison, 
 
 whilst tlie ffllTubnn.ts \Fpro ir* o+fo/it Qc l-»£»fr»i.a men- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 145 
 
 " On the afternoon of the 5th, Flag-officer Foote 
 -came on board the ' Essex,' and our crew were called 
 to quarters for drill and inspection. After putting 
 them through the evolutions he addressed the crew 
 and admonished them to be brave and courageous, 
 and above all to place their trust in Divine Provi- 
 dence. The writer, who was in command of the 
 battery, was especially charged with the impor- 
 tance of wasting no shots. ' Remember,' said he, 
 ' that your greatest efforts should be to disable the 
 enemy's guns, and be sure you do not throw any 
 ammunition away. Every charge you fire from one 
 of those guns cost the government about eight dol- 
 lars. If your shots fall short you encourage the 
 enemy. If they reach home you demoralize him, 
 and get the worth of your money.' After commend- 
 ing all to the care of Divine Providence he left us, 
 and repaired on board the ' Cincinnati,' which was 
 his fiag ship at that time. 
 
 " During the night of the 5th, or morning of the 
 
 it was conceded that one gun on land was about 
 equal to three on water. 
 
 "Upon arriving at the head of the island, the 
 flagship ' Cincinnati ' opened fire, which was the 
 signal to commence the general engagement. The 
 writer had, however,, received order.s from Capt. 
 Porter not to fire until he had particularly noted 
 the effect of the ' Cincinnati ' shots, so as to profit 
 by their mistakes, if they made any, in elevation. 
 The first three shots from the flagship fell short, so 
 there was $34 woi'th of ammunition expended. A 
 lesson, however, had been learned on board the 
 'Essex,' and orders were at once given to increase 
 elevation. At that moment the captain's aide ap- 
 peared on the gun-deck with orders to fire high, 
 and blaze away ; and before I could repeat the or- 
 der, the No. 3 port-bow gun belched forth her fiery 
 flame, and sent a nine-inch shell plump into the 
 breastworks, which, exploding handsomely, caused 
 a considerable scattering of earth, and called forth 
 
 EEAE ADMIRAL K. N. STEMBEL, COMMANDER OF THE "CINCINNATI." 
 (FROM A POETRAIT TAKEN IN 1883.) 
 
 'Bth, a heavy rain fell, which very much retarded 
 the movements of the army, and made the roads so 
 heavy that they did not succeed in reaching the 
 scene of action until after the fort had surrendered. 
 The naval forces, after waiting until 11 o'clock 
 A. M., got under way and steamed up the river. Ar- 
 riving at the island chute, the line of battle was 
 formed, the ' Essex ' on the extreme right, the ' Cin- 
 cinnati,' with Flag-officer Foote on laoard, on our 
 left, the 'Carondelet' on her left, and the 'St. 
 Louis' on the extreme left — the wooden boats tak- 
 ing position in our rear under cover of the island, 
 and firing over us at long range. 
 
 " As we could only use the bow batteries on each 
 boat, we could only bring, on the four ironclads, 
 11 guns to bear. The fort, although mounting 17 
 guns, could only bring 11 of them to bear on the isl- 
 and chute, so it was a fair and square fight, and 
 the problem was about to be solved whether iron- 
 clad gun-boats could compete with mud fortifica- 
 
 a cheer from the fleet, whilst it produced great con- 
 sternation in the fort. The ' Essex ' had therefore 
 won the honor of putting the first shot into the 
 enemy's breastworks. 
 
 "And here I must record the fact, in justice to 
 the memory of a brave man, who lost his life in 
 that engagement, that the honor of that shot be- 
 longed to Jack Matthews, captain of the No. 3 gun. 
 Jack was an ' old tar,' who had seen much service 
 on men-of-war in both the English and American 
 navies, and was always restive under the command 
 of a volunteer officer. Jack, ever on the alert to 
 put in the first licks, and feeling, no doubt, jealous 
 and insubordinate, had increased the elevation of 
 his gun, and just as I was in the act of repeating 
 the captain's order, pulled his lockstring and 
 blazed away. 
 
 " The fort seemed a blaze of fire, whilst the boom 
 of the cannon's roar was almost deafening. The 
 wind was blowing across our bows, carrying the 
 
146 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 tion to the view. Our fleet kept slowly approach- 
 ing the fort, and gradually shortening the distance. 
 Our shells, which were fused at 15 seconds, were 
 reduced to 10, and then to five seconds. The eleva- 
 tion of the guns was depressed from seven degrees 
 to six, five and four, and then three degrees, and 
 every shot went straight home, none from the 
 ' Essex ' falling short. 
 
 " Twenty or thirty minutes after the action had 
 begun, some one of the ofHeers ventured to call the 
 attention of Capt. Porter to the fact that the offi- 
 cers on the other vessels were leaving the spar- 
 decks and going below. ' Oh, yes,' says Porter. ' I 
 see ; we will go too, directly.' Just then a shot 
 struck the pilot-house, making the splinters fly 
 terribly, as no plating had as yet been put on it. 
 At this the order was given for all to go below, 
 and soon all joined us on the gun deck. Capt. 
 Porter, on coming below, addressed the officers 
 and crew, and complimented the first division 
 for their splendid execution, asking us if we did not 
 want to rest, and give three cheers, and they were 
 given with a will. 
 
 "By orders I turned over the command of the 
 battery to the third master, and ordered the first 
 division to give way to the second. Capt. Porter 
 then ordered the first division to the stern battery. 
 This was a precautionary measure, tlie importance 
 of which could scarcely be estimated at that time, 
 but became dreadfully apparent a few moments 
 after. A few of my men, however, reluctant to quit 
 the scene of action, lingered by their guns on the 
 forward gun deck ; amongst the number was Jack 
 Matthews. In the twinkling of an eye the scene 
 was changed from a blaze of glory to a carnival of 
 death and destruction. A shot from the enemy 
 pierced the casemate just above the port-hole on 
 the port side, then through the middle boiler, kill- 
 ing Acting Master's Mate S. B. Brittan, Jr., in its 
 flight, and opening a chasm for the escai)e of the 
 scalding steam and water. The scene which fol- 
 lowed was almost indescribable. The writer, who 
 had gone aft in obedience to orders only a few mo- 
 ments before (thus providentially saved), was met 
 by Fourth Master Walker, followed by a crowd of 
 men rushing aft. Walker called to me to go back ; 
 that a shot from the enemy had carried away the 
 steam pipe. I at once ran to the stern of the vessel, 
 and looking oiit of the stern port saw a number of 
 our brave fellows strugghng in the water. The 
 steam and hot water in the forward gun deck had 
 driven all who were able to get out of the ports 
 overboard, except a few who were fortunate enough 
 to cling to the casemate outside. On seeing the 
 men in the water, I ordered Mr. Walker to man 
 the boats and pick them up ; Capt. Porter, who 
 was badly scalded, being assisted through the port 
 from outside the casemate by the surgeon. Dr. 
 Thomas Rice, and one of the men. 
 
 " When the explosion took place Captain Porter 
 was standing directly in front of the boilers, with 
 his aide, Mr. Brittan, at his side. He at once rushed 
 for the port-hole on the starboard side, and threw 
 himself out, expecting to go into the river. A sea- 
 man (John Walker; seeing his danger, caught him 
 around the waist, and supporting him with one 
 hand, clung to the vessel with the other, until, with 
 the assistance of another seaman, who came to the 
 rescue, they succeeded in getting the captain on to 
 a narrow guard or projection, which ran around 
 the vessel, and thus enabled him to make his way 
 ovitside, to the after port, where 1 met him. Upon 
 speaking to him, he told me that he was badly 
 hurt ; and that I must hunt for Mr. Riley, and if he 
 was disableo I must take command of the vessel, 
 and man the battery again. Mr. Riley was un- 
 harmed, and already in the discharge of his duties 
 as Captain Porter's successor. He had been saved 
 by a sailor (John W. Eagle) from going overboard 
 
 been. This man Eagle was Captain of No. 1 gun, 
 and hke Jack Matthews, would not leave his gun 
 and although badly wounded, with his right hand 
 in a sling, he begged me, with tears in his eyes, not 
 to remove him, b ut to let him flght his gun. I report- 
 ed the case to Captain Porter, who decided to let him 
 remain ; and this brave fellow fought his gun most 
 admirably through the action, and then 'capped the 
 chmax' of his bravery and heroism by grasping the 
 casemate with his wounded hand, and clasping Ex- 
 ecutive Officer Riley with the other one as he was 
 falhng overboard, sustaining him until both regained 
 a footing on the projection before mentioned. 
 
 " In a very few minutes after the explosion our 
 gallant ship (which had, in the language of Flag- 
 otficer Foote, fought most effectually through two- 
 thirds of the engagement) was drifting slowly 
 away from the field of glory ; her commander badly 
 wounded, a number of her officers and crew dead 
 at their posts, whilst many others were writhing 
 in their last agony. As soon as the scalding steam, 
 would admit, the forward gun-deck was explored. 
 The pilots, who were both in the pilot-house, were 
 scalded to death. Marshall Ford, who was steer- 
 ing when the explosion took place, was found at 
 his post at the wheel, standing erect, his left hand 
 holding the spoke, and his right hand grasping the 
 signal bell-rope. Pilot James McBride had fallen 
 through the open hatchway to the deck below; he 
 was still living, but died soon after. The captain's 
 aide, Mr. S. B. Brittan, Jr., had fallen by the shot as 
 it passed through the gun-deck before entering the 
 boiler. A seaman named James Coffey, who was 
 shot-man to the No. 3 gun, was on his knees in the 
 act of taking a shell from the box to be passed to 
 the loader. The escaping steam and hot water had 
 struck him square in the face, and he met death in 
 that position. Jack Matthews had gone overboard 
 badly scalded. He was picked up by the boats. 
 Third Master Theo. P. Terry was severely scalded, 
 and died in a few days. H e was a brave officer. 
 
 "Our loss in killed, wounded and missing 
 amounted to 33. Of these three were killed instantly, 
 four died that night, several were drowned (the num- 
 ber not definitely known), and about one-half the 
 wounded recovered. 
 
 " The Flag-ofBcer continued approaching nearer 
 and nearer to the fort, pouring shot and shell from, 
 the boats at still shorter range . . . until 
 they showed the white flag to surrender. 
 
 " When I told Captain Porter that we were vic- 
 torious, he immediately rallied, and raising himself 
 on his elbow, called for three cheers, and gave two 
 himself, falling exhausted on the mattress in his 
 effort to maice a third. A seaman named Jasper P. 
 Breas, who was badly scalded, sprang to his feet, 
 naked to the waist, his jacket and shirt having 
 been removed to dress his wounds, exclaiming : 
 'Surrendered! I must see that with my own eyes 
 before I die.' Before anyone could interfere, he 
 clambered up two short flights of stairs to the spar- 
 deck, where he was gladdened with the sight of 
 his own flag proudly and victoriously floating in 
 the breeze. He shouted, ' Glory to God ! ' and sank 
 exhausted on the deck. Poor Jasper died that 
 niglit, that his country might live. 
 
 "The 'Essex 'fired seventy-two shots from two 
 9-inch guns during the battle. In obedience to bat- 
 tle orders, I had instructed the powder boys to keep 
 count of the number of charges served to each gun. 
 Job Phillips, a boy fourteen years old, was powder- 
 boy of No. 1 gun. After the action, I asked Job how 
 many shots his gun had fired. He referred me to a 
 memorandum on the whitewashed casemate ; where 
 with a rusty nail he had carefully and accurately 
 marked every shot his gun had fired ; and his ac- 
 count was corroborated by the gunner in the maga- 
 zine. This may be considered as a striking example 
 of coolness and bravery in a boy of fourteen, wno 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 147 
 
 secretary welles to flag-officer foote. 
 
 " Navy Department, ) 
 February 13, 1862. | 
 
 "Sib: Your letter of the 7tli inst., communica- 
 ting the details of your great success in the capture 
 of Fort Henry, is just received. I had previously 
 infonned you of the reception of your telegraphic 
 dispatch, announcing the event, which gave the 
 highest satisfaction to the country. 
 
 "We have to-day the report of Lieutenant Com- 
 manding Phelps, with the gratifying results of his 
 successful pursuit and capture and destruction of 
 the Confederate steamers, and the disposition of 
 the hostile camps as far up the Tennessee as Flor- 
 ence. I most cordially and sincerely congratulate 
 you, and the officers and men under your command, 
 on these heroic achievements, accomplished under 
 extraordinary circumstances, andaftersurmounting 
 great and almost insuperable difficulties. The labor 
 you have performed, and the services you have ren- 
 dered in creating the armed flotilla of gunboats on 
 the Western waters, and in bringing together for 
 effective operation the force which has earned such 
 renown, can never be overestimated. The Depart- 
 ment has observed, with no ordinary solicitude, the 
 armament that has so suddenly been called into ex- 
 istence, and which under your well-directed man- 
 agement has been so gloriously effective. 
 "I am, respectfully, 
 
 "Your ob't servant, 
 [Signed] " Gideon Welles. 
 
 "Flag-officer A. H. Foote, U. S. N., 
 
 " Commanding Gun-boat Flotilla, &o., Cairo, 111." 
 
 OFFICIAI. THANKS TO THE ARMY AND NAVY. 
 
 The State of Ohio deemed this battle 
 sufficiently important to merit a vote of 
 thanks, as appears from the following: 
 
 " Relative to a vote of thanks to General Grant, 
 Flag Officer Foote and others, for their courage and 
 gallantry exhibited in the bombardment of Fort 
 Henry. Resolved by the General Assembly of the 
 State of Ohio, That the thanks of the people of 
 Ohio be, and through their representatives are, 
 hereby tendered to General Grant and Flag-officer 
 Foote, and the brave men under their command, 
 for the courage, gallantry and enterprise exhibited 
 in the bombardment and capture of Fort Henry, a 
 victory no less brilhant in itself than glorious in its 
 results, giving our Army a foothold in Tennessee, 
 and opening the way for early advance to the cap- 
 ital of the State. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Governor transmit copies of 
 these resolutions to said officers, with the request 
 that the same be read to the men under their com- 
 mand. "James L. HuBBBLL, 
 
 " Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 B. Stanton, President of the Senate. 
 
 "Passed, February 14, 1863." 
 
 The following is a list of the vessels 
 and officers engaged in attack on Fort 
 Henry: 
 
 Gun-Boat "Cincinnati."— R.N. Stembel, 
 U. S. K, Commander; William R. Hoel, 
 First Master; Oscar H. Pratt, Second 
 Master; Charles G. Perkins, Third Master; 
 John Pearce, Fourth Master; R. H. Atten- 
 borough, Pilot; Isaac D. Gaugh, Pilot; John 
 Ludlow, Surgeon; Baron Proctor, Pay- 
 master; William D. McFarland, Chief En- 
 gineer; Samuel H. Love joy, First Assistant 
 Engineer; James Armstrong, Second As- 
 sistant Engineer; William J. Shannon, 
 Third Assistant Engineer; James McB. 
 Stembel, Master's Mate; Philip Shell, Mas- 
 
 ter's Mate; John R. Hall, U. S. IST., Acting 
 Gunner; Thomas B. Gregory, Carpenter; 
 Jacob Vitinger, Armorer. 
 
 Gun-Boat "Conestoga."— S. L. Phelps, 
 U. S. N., Lieutenant Commanding; John A. 
 Duble, First Master; Charles P. Noble, Sec- 
 ond Master; Benjamin Sebastian, Third 
 Master; Richard H. Cutter, Fourth Master; 
 Aaron M. Jordan, Pilot; William Attenbor- 
 ough, Pilot; William H. Wilson, Assistant 
 Surgeon; Alfred Phelps, Acting Paymaster; 
 Thomas Cook, Chief Engineer; Alexander 
 Magee, First Assistant Engineer: Charles 
 Marshall, Second Assistant Engineer; 
 Michael Norton, Third Assistant Engineer; 
 James Kearney, Master's Mate; Henry 
 Hamilton, U. S. N., Acting Gunner; An- 
 drew Woodlock, Carpenter; James O'Neil, 
 Armorer. 
 
 Gun-Boat "Essex"— William D. Porter, 
 
 IKON-CLAD GDN-BOATS "ST. LOUIS,' 
 AND "ESSEX." 
 
 "CABONDELET" 
 
 U. 8. N., Commander; Robert K. Riley,First 
 Master; James Laning, Second jJaster; 
 Theodore P. Ferry, Third Master; George 
 W. Walker, Fourth Master; James Mc- 
 Bride, Pilot; Marshall H. Ford, Pilot; 
 Thomas Rice, Surgeon; Joseph H. Lewis, 
 Paymaster; Charles M Blasdell, Chief En- 
 gineer; R. J. Stearns, First Assistant Engi- 
 neer; George D. Simms, Second Assistant 
 Engineer; Jeremiah Wetzel, Third Assis- 
 tant Engineer; S. B. Brittan, Master's Mate; 
 Matthias B. Snyder, Gunner; Thomas Steel, 
 Carpenter; —Fletcher, Armorer. 
 
 Gun-Boat " Lexington." — James W. 
 Shirk, U. S. N. , Lieutenant Commanding ; 
 Jacob S. Hurd, First Master ; Martin Dunn, 
 Second Master; James Fitzpatrick. Third 
 Master ; Sylvester Poole, Fourth Master ; 
 James McCamant, Pilot ; William Ford, 
 Pilot ; George W. Garver, Assistant Sur- 
 geon ; Augustus F. Taylor, Acting Pay- 
 master ; Samuel Vroon, Gunner; Richard 
 Carroll, Carpenter; Reuben Story, Armorer. 
 
148 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 GxiN-BoAT " Taylor." — William Gwin, 
 TJ. S. N., Lieutenant Commanding ; Edwin 
 Shaw, First Master; Jason Goudy, Second 
 Master; James Martin, Third Master; Pat- 
 rick McCarty, Fourth Master; John Sebas- 
 tian, Pilot; David Hiner, Pilot; Thomas H. 
 Kearney, Assistant Surgeon; William B. 
 Coleman, Acting Paymaster; Samuel Goble, 
 Chief Engineer; D. Edward Weaver, First 
 Assistant Engineer; Edward W. Goble, 
 Second Assistant Engineer; Oscar S. Davis. 
 Third Assistant Engineer ; Ferdinand T. 
 Coleman, Master's Mate; Herman Peters, 
 U. S. N., Acting Gunner; Thomas Russell, 
 Carpenter; Elihu Stevens, Armorer. 
 
 Gun-Boat " St. Louis." — Leonard Pauld- 
 ing, U. S. N., Lieutenant Commanding ; 
 John V. Johnson, First Master; James Y. 
 Clemson, Second Master ; Charles S. Ken- 
 drick, Third Master; Alexander Eraser, 
 Fourth Master; John B. McDill, Assistant 
 Surgeon; Llewellyn Curry. Acting Paymas- 
 ter; Frank A. Riley, Pilot; Robert G. 
 Baldwin, Pilot; William Cars well, Chief 
 Engineer ; T. F. Ackerman, First Assist- 
 ant Engineer ; James L. Smith, Second 
 Assistant Engineer ; John Wilcoxsen, 
 Third Assistant Engineer; Sydney H. Mc- 
 Adam, Master's Mate; James P. Paulding, 
 Master's Mate; John A. McDonald, U. S. 
 N., Acting Gunner; Robert H. Medill, Car- 
 penter; Sypher, Armorer. 
 
 Gun-Boat "Caeondelet. "—Henry'Walke, 
 U. S. N., Commander; Richard M. W>,de, 
 First Master; John Doherty, Second Mas- 
 ter; Charles C. Gray, Third Master; Henry 
 A. Walke, Fourth Master; William Hinton, 
 Pilot; Daniel Weaver, Pilot; James S. 
 McNeely, Assistant Surgeon; George J. W. 
 Nixsin, Acting Paymaster j William H. 
 
 Faulkner, Chief Engineer ; Charles H. 
 Caven, First Assistant Engineer; Samuel 
 S. Brooks, Second Assistant Engineer; Au- 
 gustus F. Crowell, Third Assistant Engi- 
 neer; Theodore L. Gilmore, Master's Mate; 
 Edward E. Brennand, Master's Mate ; 
 Richard Adams, Gunner; Oliver Donaldson, 
 Carpenter; H. H. Rhodes, Armorer. 
 
 By referring to the public or official dis- 
 patches of the war, the names of the com- 
 manders and officers above mentioned will 
 be found constantly referred to in bat- 
 tles with the enemy, and were very fre- 
 quently distinguished by acts of bravery 
 and heroism creditable alike to themselves 
 and the naval service. The position of the 
 ISTavy in the West at that time was an anom- 
 alous one, belonging as they did neither to 
 one or the other branches of the service ; 
 and the hands of the naval commander 
 were so tied down by the orders of General 
 Halleck, that he could make no move 
 without his permission. The same may, 
 however, be said of General Grant, who 
 was completely handicapped by his own 
 superior. 
 
 There was only one killed and eleven 
 wounded on the iron-clads in this battle at 
 Fort Henry, a small number for so long a 
 fight, but this is accounted for by the fact 
 that the accuracy of the gun-boats' fire was 
 so great, and the discharges so rapid, that the 
 enemy were constantly driven from their 
 batteries — even the great bravery of their 
 Commander (General Loyd Tighlman), and 
 the example he set in firing the guns himself, 
 could not induce the Confederates to stand 
 up to their work under such a fire, especially 
 after seven of the fort's guns had been dis- 
 mounted. 
 
CH A PTE R X V. 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON AND BATTLE OF SHILOH. 
 
 Grant's Message to Halleck. — The Army in Front op Donelson. — The Gun-boats 
 PUSH UP THE Tennessee River. — Burning op the Confederate Transports. — Fort 
 Donelson and its Strategic Position. — The Gun-boats Open Fire on the Fort. — 
 The Gun- boats are Crippled and Withdraw. — Flag-oppicer Foote Wounded.^ 
 Gallantry op Captain Walke. — Losses. — General Grant's Victory. — Results.— 
 Gun BOATS Repair to Cairo. — Grant Prepares to Advance towards Shiloh. — Bat- 
 tle AT Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh). — Services Rendered by the Gun-boats " Lex- 
 ington" AND "Taylor." — Captain Gwin's Report. — The Navy Aids Materially in 
 Saving the Army prom Destruction. — A Terrible Battle and Great Loss op 
 Life. — The Confederates as Fighters, — Extracts prom Records op the Times. — 
 Congratulatory Orders, &c. 
 
 ON the 8th of February, 1863, Gen. 
 Grant telegraphed to Gen. Halleck : 
 "Fort Henry is ours; the gun- 
 boats silenced the batteries before 
 the investment was completed. I 
 shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 
 8th, and return to Fort Henry." 
 
 The same reasons which had induced 
 Grant to undertake the capture of Fort 
 Henry still urged him to take Fort Donel- 
 son ; that is, to get the control of the Ten- 
 nessee and Cumberland Rivers and be able 
 to penetrate into the heart of Tennessee 
 with his troops and Foote's gun- boats. 
 
 On the 7th of February his cavalry pene- 
 trated to within a mile of Fort Donelson, 
 but they could obtain no information as to 
 the strength of the place or the number of 
 troops. 
 
 Foote was notified of Grant's intentions, 
 and was requested to have what gun-boats 
 he could muster ready to attack the batter- 
 ies before the army made its assault. But 
 the great rise in the Tennessee River pre- 
 vented Grant from completing his proposed 
 movement. The water overflowed the river 
 banks, and gave the army as much as it 
 could do to save its stores and tents from 
 the flood. 
 
 In the meantime three gun-boats, under 
 Lieut. Phelps, had pushed on up the Tennes- 
 see as far as Florence, Alabama, greatly 
 
 fl.la.rminiv +Iici -i-nVtoKi + ovt + c! Knf 
 
 comfort to the loyal citizens, who were glad 
 to see the old flag floating over their waters. 
 
 When about twenty-five miles above the 
 fort, Phelps found the draw at the railroad- 
 crossing closed, and the machinery for 
 working it disabled, but men were landed, 
 in an hour the draw was opened, and 
 the following gun-boats passed through : 
 " Taylor," Lieut. -Com. Gwin; "Lexington," 
 Lieut. -Com. Shirk, and the " Conestoga," 
 " Lieut.-Com. Phelps. 
 
 In a short time this flotilla caused the 
 enemy to abandon and burn three steanx 
 transports, filled with military stores, sub- 
 marine batteries, powder, cannon and pro- 
 jectiles. These vessels exploded with such 
 force as to endanger the Union gun-boats. 
 Skylights were broken, doors forced open 
 and the light upper decks raised bodily. 
 This did not stop the progress of the latter, 
 however, and they proceeded up the river, 
 doing good work in breaking up railroads 
 and destroying camp equipage wherever 
 they could find it. At a place called Cerro 
 Gordo, they came across the steamer "East- 
 port." which was being converted into a gun- 
 boat — a strong, powerful vessel, afterwards 
 used as a gun-boat and ram by the Federal 
 Government. She had been abandoned and 
 scuttled, and her suction-pipes broken, but 
 the leaks were stopped, and the vessel raised 
 and taken back to Fort Henry. 
 
 r»c» -n-mTi v» r^ 
 
 /^i-» +l-»c» G+h r\-9 TTtiK-pno-mT- +1to fl refill Q q 
 
 T>T»nri:a/- 
 
150 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 at Chickasaw, near the state line, and 
 seized two steamers. They then proceeded 
 up to Florence. Alabama, near the mussel 
 slioals, where three steamers had been set 
 on fire by the Confederates. A force was 
 landed and a large amount of stores, marked 
 " Fort Henry," were saved from the burning 
 vessels ; also a quantity that had been 
 landed and stored. 
 
 The results of this expedition were three 
 steamers and one gun-boat seized, six steain- 
 ers burned by the enemy to prevent their 
 falling into our hands, all the timber and 
 saw-mills in the neighborhood destroyed, 
 and a large quantity of stores captured. 
 From the 6th to the 10th of the month the 
 labors of this little flotilla were immense, 
 and its gallant commander inflicted damage 
 upon the enemy which was irreparable. 
 
 In the course of this raid our officers met 
 the most gratifying proofs of loyalty 
 wherever they went. Across Tennessee, and 
 in those portions of Alabama and Missis- 
 sippi which they visited, men, women and 
 children came in crowds and shouted their 
 welcome to the old flag under which they 
 had been born. A reign of terror had existed 
 all along the river, and loyal people did not 
 dare to express their thoughts openly. They 
 intimated to our officers, however, that if 
 arms were placed in their hands they would 
 not hesitate to espouse the Union cause and 
 put down rebellion in their midst. 
 
 This shows exactly what kind of a gov- 
 ernment the secession leaders intended to 
 substitute for the one under which these 
 people had lived so contentedly, in the en- 
 joyment of freedom of speech and all the 
 other rights which belong to every free 
 American. 
 
 This expedition had an excellent effect 
 wherever it appeared, and it showed the 
 necessity of further increasing our naval 
 force on the Western waters, in order to 
 have a sufficient number of gun-boats on all 
 the rivers to keep them open, to drive the 
 guerrilla army away from their banks, and 
 also to give confidence to the Union people, 
 who only needed some such support to in- 
 duce them to proclaim their sentiments 
 openly. 
 
 Grant lost no time in getting together a 
 force which he deemed sufficient for the 
 attack on Fort Donelson. Reinforcements 
 were rapidly coming in from various quar- 
 ters, and Halleck, who up to this time had 
 thrown every objection in the way of the 
 expedition, now seemed anxious to take the 
 credit of the movement to himself, and was 
 doing all he could to hurry troops, stores 
 and siege implements to the scene of action. 
 On the 10th he informed Grant that large 
 re-enforcements would be sent to him. 
 
 Grant did not, however, wait for these 
 re-enforcements, but while Halleck was 
 
 Foote that he was only waiting for the re- 
 turn of the gun-boats to attack Fort Don- 
 elson. 
 
 This fortification was the strongest mil- 
 itary work in the entire theatre of war. It 
 was situated on the west bank of the Cum- 
 berland River, north of the town of Dover, 
 on a peculiarly rugged and inaccessible se- 
 ries of hills which rose abruptly to the 
 height of one hundred feet. Every advan- 
 tage had been taken of the character of the 
 ground. The country was densely wooded, 
 but the timber had been felled far out in 
 advance of the breastworks, and the limbs, 
 cleaned and sharpened, were formed into an 
 almost impenetrable abbatis. 
 
 Two streams which emptied into the 
 Cumberland formed the right and left 
 defenses of the Confederate breastworks, 
 which extended nearly three miles, and 
 were strongly entrenched with secondary 
 lines of rifle pits and detached batteries 
 posted on commanding heights. 
 
 It- was a marvelous work and evidently a 
 difficult place to take, provided the enemy 
 had a sufficiently strong garrison to hold 
 all points of his line of defense. 
 
 The main fort was built on a precipitous 
 height, close bj^ a deep gorge open to the 
 South. It was three-quarters of a mile 
 from the breastworks, and overlooked both 
 the river and the interior. It covered a 
 hundred acres of ground and was defended 
 by fifteen heavy guns and two carronades. 
 
 There were heavy water-batteries placed 
 to control the river navigation, and the 
 whole armament of the batteries, includ- 
 ing the light artillery, was sixty-five pieces. 
 
 The garrison numbered (as well as could 
 be ascertained) 31.000 men, a great part of 
 whom had recenth' been thrown into the 
 works by the Confederates, who appreciated 
 the importance of the position as fully as 
 Grant did, and were now straining every 
 nerve to hold it. 
 
 While Grant was making his movements 
 in the rear of the fort, so as to completely 
 surround it and prevent the escape of any 
 of the garrison, the gun-boats on the water 
 side were preparing for the attack. 
 
 Foote, according to his own report, did 
 not consider himself properly prepared for 
 such an adventure, as his force was not 
 sufficientlj^ strong to make an attack on 
 the fort ; but at the earnest request of Hal- 
 leck and Grant, he felt called upon to do 
 what he could, and at 3 p.m. on the lith, 
 he moved up with liis fleet in the following 
 order: iron-clads, "St. Louis," (flag-ship), 
 Lieut. Paulding: "Carondelet," Com. 
 Walke; "Louisville," Com, Dove; "Pitts- 
 burg," Lieut. E. Thompson; gun-boats: 
 •■ Taylor," Lieut.-Com. Gwin; " Conestoga," 
 Lieut.-Com. Phelps, the two latter in the 
 
 rear. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 151 
 
 during^ part of which time the iron-clads 
 -were within 400 yards of the fort, the flag- 
 ship "St. Louis," and the iron-clad "Louis- 
 ville," had their wheels disabled and drifted 
 out of action. 
 
 The fire of the fort, which had during the 
 greater part of the engagement been very 
 rapid and accurate, was now concentrated 
 <m the remaining vessels of the fleet, and 
 soon proved too hot for them. The iron- 
 ■clads "Pittsburg" and " Carondelet " were 
 much cut up between wind and water, and 
 with the wooden gun-boats were finally 
 •compelled to drop out of action. The flag- 
 ship " St. Louis" had received fifty-nine 
 shots, four of which were between wind and 
 water, and one in the pilot-house which 
 killed the pilot and wounded the flag-officer 
 himself. 
 
 Foote says in his report: " Notwithstand- 
 ing our disadvantages, we have every rea- 
 son to believe that in fifteen minutes more, 
 •could the action have been continued, it 
 would have resulted in the capture of the 
 forts. The enemy's fire had slackened, and 
 he was running from his batteries when the 
 two gun-boats, 'St. Louis' and 'Louisville,' 
 ■dropped out of action owing to their crippled 
 condition, seeing which, the enemy re- 
 turned to his guns and again opened fire 
 from the river batteries, which had been 
 silenced." 
 
 This was evidently not a success on the 
 part of the Navy, as the gun-boats were 
 compelled to retire; the "St. Louis" and 
 ^'Louisville," in consequence of having 
 their rudders crippled, and the " Caronde- 
 let" and "Pittsburg" because they were 
 not able to withstand the concentrated fire 
 •of the enemy. 
 
 It has been asked, " If the enemy was 
 •deserting his batteries and it was thought 
 that in fifteen minutes more the gun-boats 
 would have been victorious, why were not 
 "the drifting vessels lashed alongside of the 
 "Carondelet and "Pittsburg" and thus 
 brought back into action, where they could 
 have taken part with the Army in obtain- 
 ing the victory, and have obtained more 
 than a passing notice by army historians ? " 
 As it was, the only notice they obtained 
 was the statement that '"the gun-boats were 
 so disabled as to be unfit to take any part of 
 importance in the succeeding operations." 
 This mention of the IS avy was disingenuous, 
 to say the least, and is not historJ^ The 
 "Carondelet" and "Pittsburg," though 
 struck pretty often, were still intact and fit 
 for any service, and their two commanders 
 would have been glad to have availed them- 
 selves of the opportunity to run past the bat- 
 teries and enfilade them on the side where 
 they were least protected. 
 
 There are two ways of fighting batteries 
 on river heights ; one is to engage them at 
 
 the other, to remain at long range, where the 
 enemy's fire would be uncertain, especially 
 if the vessels were kept well apart. 
 
 All these things will be considered after a 
 fight is over, but no one knows what he 
 would do unless placed in like circum- 
 stances. In this case the flag-officer had 
 received a serious wound in the foot, and in 
 addition to the physical pain which he suf- 
 fered, he was no doubt taken by surprise at 
 meeting with such a reception at Fort Don- 
 elson after having made such short work 
 with Fort Henry. 
 
 Nothing is said in official reports or gen- 
 eral orders about the gallant attack made 
 by Captain Walke in the " Carondelet." 
 
 On the morning of the 13th (before Foote 
 had arrived). General Grant requested Cap- 
 tain Walke to take a position and throw 
 shells into the fort in order to create a di- 
 version, which he hoped to be able to take 
 advantage of. 
 
 Captain Walke immediately complied 
 with this request, and threw 139 lo-second 
 and 10-second shells into the enemy's works, 
 receiving in return a fire from all the bat- 
 teries. The " Carondelet " was only struck 
 twice, however, as most of the projectiles 
 passed over her. One 128-lb. solid shot 
 passed through the front casemate, and 
 glancing over the barricades which pro- 
 tected the boiler, struck and burst a steam- 
 heater and then fell into the fireroom. 
 No other damage was done, and it is thus 
 shown how much more difficult it is to 
 strike one vessel moving about than a num- 
 ber of vessels in groups. 
 
 Foote's vessels were struck about fifty 
 times each by 128 and 32-lb. shot, and had 
 fifty-four officers and men killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 We regret that' we cannot chronicle a vic- 
 tory for the gun-boats, but it was a fair 
 stand-up fight while it lasted, and Foote did 
 not hesitate to take the bull by the horns 
 and engage the enemy at 600 yards, the 
 best distance for the forts and the worst for 
 the vessels; and, although the gun-boats 
 were forced to drop out of action, they lost 
 no credit in so doing. 
 
 There was one omission in this naval at- 
 tack, which is due to the historj' of the times, 
 and should be mentioned. Had the flag- 
 officer sent his remaining gun-boats past 
 the batteries at night, when the darkness 
 would have prevented the enemy from esti- 
 mating his distance, these vessels would 
 have been rea dy on the following day to en- 
 filade the works in their weakest point; and 
 what is more important still, thej' would have 
 cut off all hope of escape of the garrison. 
 The transports in which Floyd and Pillow 
 with 5,000 men escaped across and up 
 the river, would all have fallen into our 
 hands. 
 
152 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 interesting affair we feel obliged to say 
 that all the credit for the capture of Fort 
 Donelson belongs to the Army, as there 
 was no truth in the statement that the en- 
 emy were so demoralized by the attack of 
 the gun- boats, that they could not be brought 
 into effective use on the following day in 
 the actions which resulted in their defeat 
 and the surrender of 16,000 men, sixty-five 
 
 guns and 17,600 small-arms to General 
 rrant. (Twenty-five hundred of the Con- 
 federates were killed and wounded during 
 the siege.) 
 
 This victory belonged exclusively to Gen- 
 eral Grant and no one can take from him 
 one iota of the credit of that great military 
 feat, in which he showed his fitness to lead 
 the armies of the Union. The results of 
 this victory were that "the whole of Ken- 
 tucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
 hands of the national forces — the Tennes- 
 see and Cumberland rivers were opened to 
 national vessels for hundreds of miles. 
 Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and a 
 place of great strategic importance, fell. 
 Bowling Green had become untenable as 
 soon as Donelson was attacked, and was 
 abandoned on the 11th of February, the 
 day before the Confederate works on the 
 Cumberland were carried, while Columbus 
 and the other end of the strategic line were 
 evacuated early in March, thus leaving the 
 Mississippi river free from the Confeder- 
 ate flag from St. Louis to Arkansas. 
 
 The news of this victory was very en- 
 couraging to the Union people, especially 
 when they beheld its results. When city 
 after city fell and stronghold after strong- 
 hold was abandoned, and they saw that it 
 was all in consequence of the capture of 
 Fort Donelson, it is not strange that the na- 
 tional amazement and gratification knew 
 no bounds, and it is only to be regretted 
 that the Navy should not have had a greater 
 share in the honors. 
 
 Grant was made a Major-General, and we 
 only regret that the opportunity did not 
 serve to make Foote a Rear-Admiral and 
 give some promotion to his gallant officers. 
 
 It is always difficult to procure reliable 
 information with regard to the force of the 
 enemy, either of men or guns. In this case 
 the report of Flag-officer Foote was very 
 indefinite, and he only gives a general idea 
 of what he had to contend against. 
 
 He says, '"the enemy must have brought 
 over twenty heavy guns to bear upon our 
 vessels from the water-batteries and the 
 jnain fort on the side of the hill, while we 
 could only return the fire with twelve bow 
 guns from the four boats. 
 
 It is not the intention of the writer to 
 mention all the small affairs in which the 
 gun-boats performed splendid service, such 
 as making reconnoissances up and down the 
 
 -,!,;» 
 
 and light batteries, unless some definite^ 
 object was gained or some serious injury 
 inflicted on the enemy, as the limits of this 
 book forbid it. It is his intention, however, 
 to fully describe the work of the Navy in 
 Western waters, and when it is possible to 
 give every oflicer due credit for what he 
 accomplished, without, as a rule, going be- 
 yond official reports. 
 
 After the battle of Fort Donelson, Foote's^ 
 gun-boats had to go to Cairo for repairs, 
 which they sorely needed, and to replenish 
 their crews, for they were all very much in 
 want of men. 
 
 As fast as the vessels were made ready- 
 for service they were kept moving in the 
 work of reconnoitering down towards Col- 
 umbus, or else they were employed on the 
 Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to deter 
 the enemy from erecting batteries along 
 the banks; also to assure the inhabitants 
 that they would be protected by the Fed- 
 eral government, and that the Confeder- 
 ates would soon be driven out of the 
 State. 
 
 These, however, are mere details of duty 
 which cannot be brought out in a history 
 of this kind. The fall of Forts Henry and 
 Donelson compelled the Confederates to 
 change their plans almost immediately. 
 Their line of defense was moved farther 
 South and was now established on the fol- 
 lowing points : Island No. 10, Fort Pillow 
 and Memphis on the Mississippi, a point in 
 Tennessee near Pittsburg, and the town of 
 Chattanooga. All of these points were 
 strongly fortified and defended by large ar- 
 mies, thus closing up East Tennessee, and 
 preventing our armies from marching 
 southward. 
 
 On the 15th of Februar}^, Gen. Grant was 
 assigned to the new military district of West 
 Tennessee, with limits undefined, and 
 Gen. W. T. Sherman to the command of the 
 district of Cairo. 
 
 Grant commenced at once to concentrate 
 his forces and make his dispositions to meet 
 the new order of defense established by .the 
 Confederates. His first step was to send 
 Gens. Wright and McClernand up to Pitts- 
 burg, while he remained himself at Savan- 
 nah, superintending the organization of the 
 new troops which were arriving from Mis- 
 souri, and making preparations to advance 
 towards Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh). 
 
 The account of the famous battle which 
 soon occurred at this place must be left to 
 military writers, but the battle of Shiloh with 
 its changes of fortune from hour to hour, 
 its keen anxieties, splendid fighting on both 
 sides, and the splendid victorv which was 
 finally wrenched from the enemy after he 
 had driven our troops back upon the river, 
 will always be remembered by those who 
 have read the history of that dav. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 153 
 
 our troops, having been driven by the enemy 
 from point to point and ridge to ridge, had 
 reached the river bank and were brought to 
 bay. Here the gun-boats " Lexington" and 
 "Taylor" rendered good service, and the 
 national troops, rallying under the cover of 
 their guns, made a superb resistance, and 
 although the enemy flung himself fiercely 
 upon the Union lines he was again and again 
 driven back. 
 
 The military historians have not done 
 justice to the work of the gun-boats at this 
 important juncture. Croly disposes of the 
 subject by saying : "the gun-boats were of 
 some importance as they had been for some 
 time previous engaged in checking the ad- 
 vance of the enemy on the extreme left." 
 Badeau,the historian, also speaks of the gun- 
 boats " being employed during the night in 
 throwing shells amongst the enemy's troops, 
 which annoyed them greatly and set fire to 
 the woods, which were ablaze all around 
 them." 
 
 It is not likely that the two gun-boats 
 would be idle at Pittsburg Landing while 
 our Army was being driven back by the 
 enemy, and it is the belief of many officers 
 that without the aid of these vessels the 
 Federal army would have been annihilated. 
 But there are no reliable Arnay accounts 
 of the matter and we must be satisfied with 
 the statement that "the Federal troops with 
 their backs to the river, and no cover but 
 the gun-boats, there made an unconquer- 
 able stand." 
 
 The following account, taken in sub- 
 stance from Boynton's Naval History, seems 
 to be the most correct version of the part 
 taken by the gun-boats "Taylor" and 
 " Lexington," in the battle of Shiloh : 
 
 "From the beginning of the fight until after one 
 o'clock p. M., the wooden gun-boats 'Lexington' 
 and ' Taylor ' had been moving up and down the 
 stream, anxious to render some assistance, but re- 
 ceived no orders to do so. At that time Lieut.-Com. 
 G-win, of the 'Taylor,' having as yet received no 
 instructions from any quarter, and growing im- 
 patient as shot and shell fell around the vessels, 
 sentan officer to communicate with Gen. Hurlburt 
 and requested permission to open on the Confeder- 
 ates. Gen. Hurlburt expressed his thanks for this 
 offer of support, saying tliat without aid he could 
 not hold his position for an hour, and indicated 
 the proper line of fire. At 10 o'clock the ' Taylor ' 
 opened fire on the enemy, and with such effect that 
 in a short time the Confederate batteries at that 
 point were silenced. 
 
 "About 4 o'clock the 'Taylor' dropped down 
 to Pittsburg Landing to communicate with Gen. 
 Grant. His reply was that Lieut. Gwin must use 
 his own judgment in the case. 
 
 "Directly after the 'Taylor' and 'Lexington' 
 went up in company and took up a position only 
 three-quarters of a mile above the landing. 
 
 " In thirty-five minutes the enemy's batteries on 
 the right were again silenced, thus relieving the 
 national troops on the left, but at half-past 5 p. m. 
 our lines had been so forced in towards the river 
 that the enemy gained a position on our left only 
 
 pected, and not without cause, to crush what re- 
 mained of the organization of the national army. 
 Between our position and where the enemy had 
 prepared for this last rush, was a ravine which they 
 must cross in the assault, and here the two gun- 
 boats took up a position. At the same time Col. 
 Webster, of Gen. Grant's staff, hastUy collected 
 some scattered guns and placed them where they 
 would play on the left flank of the enemy's line 
 when they should advance. 
 
 "This was the decisive point in the battle. The 
 next half hour would settle the question whether or 
 not a victorious Confederate army should occupy and 
 lay under contribution the States north of the Ohio. 
 
 "There was a brief lull in the firing while the Con- 
 federate host was making its final preparations, and 
 our troops were being collected in a semi-circular 
 mass with the centre not half a mile from the river. 
 Our men (with the exception of the shameless 
 skulkers) had fought bravely, but were now in a 
 disorganized condition, and it seemed as if their 
 main dependence must now be upon the guns 
 which Col. Webster had collected to check the ad- 
 vance of the enemy. 
 
 " The delay was for a few moments only, and 
 they came preceded by a storm of shot from tlieir 
 batteries which swept over all the intervening space 
 and up to the very banks of the river. 
 
 •"As stated by Gen. Grant, their troops were 
 massed so as to strike the main blow at our left, so 
 that by turning it they could seize the transports 
 and stores. It did not occur to the enemy that this 
 would bring their column under the guns of the 
 gun-boats at point-blank range. 
 
 "The 'Lexington' and 'Taylor' had rounded 
 to opposite the ravine, so that their batteries could 
 be brought to bear upon the dense mass swarming 
 in across the line of fire." 
 
 So far Mr. Boynton: Capt. Gwin will tell 
 the rest : 
 
 u * » * Both vessels opened a heavy and well- 
 directed fire on them, and in a short time, in con- 
 junction with our artillery on shore, succeeded in 
 silencing their artillery, and driving them back in 
 confusion. 
 
 "At 6 p.m. the 'Taylor' opened deliberate fire 
 in the direction of the enemy's right wing, throw- 
 ing 5 and 10-second shell. * * * * 
 
 "At 9 P.M. the 'Taylor' again opened fire, 
 * * * * throwing 5, 10 and lo-second shell, and 
 an occasional shrapnel from the howitzer at inter- 
 vals of ten minutes, in the direction of the enemy's 
 right wing, until 1 a. m., when the ' Lexington' re- 
 lieved us, and continued the fire at intervals of 
 fifteen minutes until 5 A. M., when, our land forces 
 having attacked the enemy, forcing them gradually 
 back, it made it dangerous for the gun-boats to 
 fire." 
 
 In this engagement the "Taj'lor" fired 
 188 shell, and the "Lexington" about the 
 same number, and it can be imagined what 
 gaps were made in the enemy's ranks by 
 our expert gunners, when they were massed 
 at the ravine for a rush upon our disorgan- 
 ized troops, already driven nearly to the 
 river. 
 
 The military historian says, "the gun- 
 boats gave mutual support at this moment." 
 Boynton says, " thus, on the same day, the 
 Navy on the Western rivers received the 
 surrender of one of the Confederate fortifi- 
 cations on the Mississippi, and aided very 
 materially in saving from destruction our 
 Armv at Pittsburg: Landins: bv repellina: the 
 
154 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ing their army by the destructive broadsides 
 of the steamers' heavy guns, and holding 
 them back during the night until Nelson 
 and Buel were ready to attack." 
 
 The reader can take either version of the 
 story that suits him best. 
 
 There is a tn^adition in the Navy which 
 will go down to posterity, that the "Tay- 
 lor" and "Lexington" prevented part of 
 our Army on that day from being driven 
 into the river, and turned the enemy back 
 when he considered that victory was in his 
 hands. 
 
 Lieut. Gwin in writing to Foote, puts it 
 
 by both parties, but the Federals remained 
 masters of the field. 
 
 It broke up the delusion of many in the 
 North who, up to this time, had believed 
 that after a few heavy defeats the Southern 
 people would return to their allegiance. 
 For here it was seen that after the victories 
 of Donelson and Shiloh, and the capture 
 of Columbus. Nashville and Bowling Green, 
 no perceptible effect was made upon the 
 resolution of the Confederates. Their 
 energy was not in the least diminished. 
 
 Gen. Grant himself believed that the con- 
 test was to be prolonged and desperate, and 
 
 
 EEAE-ADMIEAL HENBY WALKE, (COIIMAJJDEE OF THE •■CAEONDELET.") 
 
 modestly thus : "Your ' old wooden boats,' 
 I feel confident, rendered invaluable service 
 on the Gth instant to the land forces." And 
 so will think the reader. 
 
 Why Gen. Grant did not have a large 
 number of gun-boats at Pittsburg Landing 
 is not understood, as it was a most favora- 
 ble position for their use, and the 60,000 
 Confederates spread over a large area of 
 ground would have offered many oppor- 
 tunities for them to throw in an effective 
 fire. 
 
 The battle of Shiloh was a terrible one, 
 and the losses on both sides w^rR vpw 
 
 as we go on with the history of events it will 
 be seen that his view was' the correct one. 
 The more the Confederates were beaten 
 the harder they fought, and even when 
 thev had • • robbed the cradle and the grave "' 
 to fill up their ranks, and when many of 
 them were satisfied that their cause was 
 hopeless, they fought on as if engaged in 
 some pastime in which thev took great 
 delight. ' ^ 
 
 In conclusion we would call attention to 
 the fact that the victories which perched 
 upon the banners of the Federal armv were 
 
 1 l-> r\ fvni-< 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 155 
 
 ■which were easily transported from place 
 "to place, and could deliver a tire which no 
 army could return or withstand. 
 
 Battle of Fokt Donblson. 
 
 The following extracts from the records 
 of the times are interesting, as throwing 
 light on the history of those affairs : 
 
 It is now stated by one of our most bril- 
 liant writers of history and biography that 
 Eoote sent the " Carondelet " to Fort Don- 
 elson upon a reconnoissance, and other 
 friends of the Admiral are evidently led into 
 the same error; but on the contrary, to our 
 knowledge, he never approved or disap- 
 proved of Commander Walke's co-operation 
 with General Grant, nor did he reply or al- 
 lude to the following letters upon that sub- 
 ject. And it is evident that no other oflBcer 
 would have taken the responsibility of re- 
 Toking the orders for the " Taylor," " Lex- 
 ington " and " Conestoga" to join the " Ca- 
 rondelet " upon the reconnoissance at Fort 
 Donelson, but the flag-officer himself. And 
 as he was previously informed of all the 
 circumstances, by the letters of Commander 
 Walke, there was no explanation asked for, 
 or made, when they met on the night of the 
 13th. The flag-officer, however, seemed to 
 be satisfled when Commander Walke in- 
 formed him that the " Carondelet " would 
 be ready for battle again as soon as she had 
 replenishedherammunition, early on the fol- 
 lowing morning. We may, however, be as- 
 sured by the remarks in Pollard's Southern 
 History of the War, that if four or five 
 steamers, instead of one, had menaced Fort 
 Donelson on the 11th of February, a day or 
 two before the enemy's re-enforcements had 
 arrived, the effect would have been much 
 more discouraging to the enemy. General 
 Grant, being under the impression at least 
 that Foote's flotilla could not assist him 
 immediately, instructed Commander Walke 
 to proceed without delay to commence the 
 attack on Fort Donelson in connection with 
 our Army before the enemy could receive 
 re-enforcements or could strengthen his 
 position. 
 
 The following is the letter referred to, 
 preceding the battle of Fort Donelson. 
 
 FROM COMMANDER WALKE TO PLAG-OPPICER 
 FOOTE. 
 
 " U. S. Gun-boat ' Carondelet,' \ 
 " Paducah, Feb 10th, 1863. f 
 
 " Sir: — I received instructions from General Grant 
 this evening, to proceed with this vessel to Fort 
 Donelson, on the Cumberland river, to co-operate 
 "with our Army in that vicinity. I expect to meet 
 you before I reach there. The 'Alps ' will take me in 
 tow. I will call at this place. General Grant will 
 send the 'Taylor,' 'Lexington,' and 'Conestoga' 
 after me. 
 
 " We heard that you were on your way to Fort 
 
 " The ' Taylor ' has just returned from up the 
 Tennessee River, as far as navigable. She, with 
 the 'Lexington' and 'Conestoga,' destroyed or 
 captured all the enemy's boats, broke up their 
 camps, and made a prize of their fine new gun-boat. 
 
 " I write this in anticipation of not seeing you 
 before I leave here, as I am (or the ' Carondelet ' 
 is) very slow, and General Grant desires that I 
 should be at Fort Donelson as soon as 1 can get 
 there. But 1 hope you will overtake me, or send 
 me your orders upon this occasion, as I am now 
 acting upon your general instructions repeated at 
 Fort Henry. I expected to send this letter from 
 here to-night, but am disappointed in this also. 
 " Most respectfully and truly, 
 
 "Tour ob't servant, 
 "H. Walks, 
 " Commander U. S. iV. 
 " To Flag-offlcer A. H. Foote, U. 8. N., 
 " Commander U. 8. Naval Forces, Western Waters." 
 
 This letter explains the part taken by the 
 " Carondelet " in the battle of Fort Don- 
 elson. After the capture of Fort Henry, 
 Flag-officer Foote was requested by Gene- 
 rals Halleck and Grant to co-operate with 
 the latter in an attack on Fort Donelson, 
 situated on the west bank of the Cumber- 
 land river, near the town of Dover. The 
 fort was stronger, both in natural position 
 and artificial defenses, than Fort Henry, 
 and a land attack was more difficult, as 
 there were heights above, below, and all 
 around the works. The "Carondelet" 
 had the honor of commencing the attack 
 on Fort Donelson; having arrived before 
 the fort two days in advance of the other 
 gun-boats, she fired upon the enemy's works 
 on the morning of February 12th; and also, 
 at the request of General Grant, made a 
 diversion in his favor on February 13th, as 
 narrated in the following report of Com- 
 mander Walke to Admiral Foote. 
 
 "U. S. GuN-BOAT 'Carondelet,' ) 
 
 ^^Near Fort Donelson, Cumberland River, Feb.lSth. ) 
 
 " Sir : — 1 arrived here (towed by the ' Alps ') on 
 the 13th instant, about 11:30 a. m., and seeing or 
 hearing nothing of our Ariuy, I threw a few shell 
 into Fort Donelson, to announce my arrival to Gen- 
 eral Grant, as he had previously requested. I then 
 dropped down the river a few miles, and anchored 
 for the night, awaiting General Grant's arrival. 
 
 "On the morning of the thirteenth, I weighed 
 anchor, and came again to this place, where 1 re- 
 ceived a dispatch from General Grant, informing 
 me that he had arrived the day before, and had 
 succeeded in getting in position, almost entirely 
 investing the enemy's works. 
 
 " 'Most of our batteries' (he writes) 'are estab- 
 lished, and the remainder soon will be. If you will 
 advance with your gun-boat at 10 o'clock in the 
 morning, we will be ready to take advantage of any 
 diversion in our favor.' 
 
 " I immediately complied with these instructions 
 by throwing some 139 15-second and 10-second shell 
 iiito the fort; receiving in return the enemy's fire 
 from all their batteries ; most of their shot passing 
 over us, and but two striking us, one of which was 
 a 138-pounder solid shot. It passed through our 
 port casement forward, and glancing over our barri- 
 cade at the boilers, and again over the steam-drum. 
 
 i_ — 3 1 — ^ 
 
 r.*-..^ f^ll I'^X.^ 
 
156 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 though the sphnters wounded slightly some half- 
 dozen of our crew. I then dropped down to this 
 anchorage, but the sound of distant firing being 
 heard we again attacked the fort, throwing in some 
 forty-five shell, and receiving little damage. 
 
 "I returned to this place to await further orders, 
 when I received a second dispatch from General 
 Grant, stating that you were expected on the fol- 
 lowing morning. I am, sir, most respectfully, 
 "Your ob't servant, 
 
 "H. Walke. 
 " Commander U. S. Navy. 
 "Flag-ofacer A. H. FOOTB, 
 " Commanding U. 8. N. Forces in Western Waters. 
 
 In this engagement the "Carondelet" 
 commenced firing on the fort at a distance 
 of a mile and a quarter, the enemy replying 
 immediately as the vessel advanced, the 
 attack lasting from ten o'clock in the morn- 
 
 ble naval authorities. A few particulars-- 
 are called for from those who were present 
 on that occasion to dispel the idea that Fort 
 Donelson was captured by our fleet, under 
 Admiral Foote, for in reality it was taken 
 by General Grant, with the Army. 
 
 The following are a few quotations from 
 reliable correspondence on the reconnois- 
 sance. A reliable correspondent of the 
 Army on this occasion writes: "According 
 to the admission of the rebel oflBcers the 
 casualties from the attacks by the ' Caron- 
 delet' were greater than those which re- 
 sulted from the combined attack of the 
 whole fleet the next day. The attack of 
 the next day on the water batteries was 
 neither the most brilliant nor the most suc- 
 
 TJppER Battery. Water Battery. Gen. Grant's Army Attacking the ENE^^Y. in the Dij^tance. U. S. Gunboats, 
 
 BATTLE or FORT DONELSON. 
 
 ing to meridian, and being renewed in the 
 afternoon. Three of tlie enemy's guns were 
 reported to be disabled. 
 
 Our naval history is silent on some import- 
 ant facts in its version of this event, viz. : that 
 four gun-boats were to have participated 
 therein to make it more effective, and that 
 three of them failed to obey the orders of 
 General Grant and Commander Walke to ac- 
 company the "Carondelet" on this recon- 
 noissance; but it gives an unfavorable view 
 of the "Carondelet " alone on tliis occasion, 
 especially in comparison with the brilliant 
 action, or " what was expected to be the de- 
 cisive battle, the next day ; " which is re- 
 presented as having resulted in the surren- 
 der of Fort Donelson, by our highest possi- 
 
 cessful effort of the siege. About the only 
 result was that a single gun of the enemy 
 was dismounted and the vmequaled fight- 
 ing qualities of the fleet demonstrated. The 
 gunnery was generally of a different char- 
 acter." 
 
 Query : Is it at all improbable that the 
 deliberate firing of one gun-boat by ex- 
 perienced gunners, with heavy rifled guns- 
 of long ranges, should do as much execu- 
 tion in six hours, upon a battery of twelve 
 or fifteen guns of much less range, than the 
 firing of four such gun-boats with less ex- 
 perienced crews, upon these batteries at 
 close quarters for one hour and a half, at 
 various distances, and much less delibera- 
 tion ? 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 157 
 
 f 
 
 i- 
 
 (fit 
 
 In reference to the reconnoissance and 
 ihe bombardment on the following day, 
 •Captain Morgan made the same state- 
 ment to the officers on board the "Car- 
 •ondelet" on Sunday, the morning of the 
 surrender. 
 
 NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS ON THE ACTION. 
 
 The Missouri Republican of February 
 38th, ]86-3, has this report in its correspon- 
 dence of the day before the battle: " During 
 the day much uneasiness was felt as to the 
 gun-boat fleet. It was therefore with no 
 little gratification that information was at 
 last received about noon on Thursday, that 
 the avant courier of the fleet, the ' Caron- 
 delet,' Commander Walke, had arrived be- 
 low the fort. In the afternoon the report 
 of her guns was received with cheer upon 
 cheer by the troops encircling the be- 
 leaguered fort. 
 
 "Commander Walke's operations this 
 afternoon, although partaking more of the 
 nature of a reconnoissance, were considered 
 by the rebel officers, as I have since ascer- 
 tained, as one of the most formidable at- 
 tacks they have had to encounter. Hidden 
 behind a jutting promontory of the river 
 bank, the ' Carondelet,' herself secure from 
 all heavy shot of the columbiads of the fort, 
 hurled shell upon shell into the water bat- 
 teries of the fortifications. The commander 
 ■of these batteries has recently informed me 
 that the fire of the ' Carondelet ' did more 
 -actual damage to his guns than the heavy 
 bombardment of the following day." 
 
 Another reliable army correspondent 
 Tvrites: "The rebel officers commanding 
 ■the river batteries also assure me that the 
 practice of our gunners, in the excitement 
 of the bombardment, was much inferior to 
 that displayed in reconnoissance, when mat- 
 ters were conducted with more delibera- 
 tion." And this is corroborated by the 
 official reports in the Southern press. 
 
 The Chicago Times' correspondent re- 
 ports : " The ' Carondelet's ' movements led 
 to several skirmishes, though of no serious 
 nature. They were covered by a gallant 
 cannonade of the gun-boat ' Carondelet,' 
 the only one that arrived. Thus single- 
 handed one hundred and thirty-eight 
 rounds were thrown into the enemy's 
 works, and she was finally compelled to 
 withdraw, having received a shot from the 
 enemy's 138-pounder gun in her bow, crip- 
 pling her severely, and wounding seven 
 men. She fell back but a short time, to re- 
 pair damages and put her wounded on 
 board the transport 'Alps.' At 1:15 p. m., 
 she commenced firing again upon the fort, 
 and kept up a brisk fire until she had ex- 
 pended all or nearly all of her long-range 
 
 shell, when at dusk she retired from the 
 contest, having annoyed the enemy and en- 
 couraged our Army." 
 
 The " Carondelet " anchored about three 
 miles below the fort, at about 4 in the 
 • afternoon. Admiral Foote arrived at 11 :30 
 P.M., with the partially iron-clad " St. 
 Louis" (flag steamer, Lieut. Paulding), 
 "Louisville" (Commander Dove), and 
 " Pittsburg " (Lieut. Egbt. Thompson) ; also 
 the wooden gun-boats " Conestoga " (Lieut. 
 Phelps), and "Taylor" (Lieut. Gwin), and 
 several transports with re-enforcements for 
 General Grant of 8,000 men. About mid- 
 night Captain Walke reported in person to 
 the flag-officer. 
 
 After the Battle op Fort Donelson. 
 
 Three gun boats remained until aftei* the 
 surrender of Fort Donelson, which took 
 place on Sunday, February 16th, when they 
 steamed up the river above the fort to 
 Dover. There our officers and men met in 
 good cheer. Our usual "divine service" 
 was then performed on board the "Caron- 
 delet," as the most appropriate way of giv- 
 ing thanks to God, " the only Giver of vic- 
 tory," and under such circumstances it 
 makes a very happy impression on all sin- 
 cere hearts. 
 
 The " Carondelet" had had two 33 or 43- 
 pounder shot in her bow "between wind 
 and water," and leaked badly; her hull and 
 her crew being more cut up and disabled 
 than any other gun-boat of the squadron. 
 As General Grant could then dispense with 
 her services, she returned to Cairo for re- 
 pairs. Arriving there on the morning of 
 the 17th, Commander Walke reported to 
 the fiag-oflficer the success of our arms, and 
 the surrender of Fort Donelson to General 
 Grant. Flag-officer Foote immediately is- 
 sued the following 
 
 congratulatory order 
 
 " February 17th, 1862. 
 "Flag-offlcer Foote, the Commander-in-chief of 
 the Naval Forces on the Western waters, while he 
 congratulates the survivors of the distinguished 
 gun-boat, ' Carondelet ' in the several actions so 
 bravely fought, sympathizes with the wounded 
 who have gloriously periled their lives in honor of 
 the Union and the dear old flag. He also sympa- 
 thizes with the friends of those gallant dead, who 
 could not have died in a more glorious cause. Let 
 us thank God from the heart, and say, ' Not unto 
 us alone, but unto Thy Name, O Lord, belongs the 
 glory of the triumph of our arms.' 
 
 "[Signed] "A. H. Foote, 
 
 "Flag-officer." 
 
 The above order was read to the officers 
 and crew assembled on board the "Caron- 
 delet," and then returned to the flag-officer 
 by the bearer, in compliance with his ver- 
 bal order. 
 
CH A PTER XVI. 
 
 OPERATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Operations Against Fort Columbus and Island No. 10. — Running of the Batteries 
 BY THE Gun-boats " Carondelet " and -'Pittsburg." — Evacuation of Batteries 
 Along the Tennessee Shore and Surrender of Island No. 10. — Advance on 
 Fort Pillow by the Army and Navy.— Attack on Fort Pillow. — Evacuation of 
 Fort Pillow by the Confederates. — Battle Between the Enemy's Rams and the 
 Union Gun-boats, &c., &c. 
 
 WHEN the gun-boats were obliged 
 to drop down before the fire of 
 the works at Fort Donelson, 
 Flag-officer Foote proceeded 
 to Cairo to repair some of his 
 vessels, leaving behind him the iron-clads 
 " Louisville," Commander B. M. Dove, 
 " Carondelet," Commander Henry Walke, 
 and the "St. Louis." 
 
 From all accounts the "Carondelet "seems 
 to have suffered more than any other vessel 
 in the fleet, both in killed and wounded and 
 damage to her hull. Commander Dove, the 
 senior officer present, reports on the 16th of 
 February that the condition of the " Caron- 
 delet's " wounded would not admit of their 
 being moved, or the guns to be used, and it 
 is difficult to understand why a vessel in 
 such a condition should not have been sent 
 to a dock-yard and her wounded placed in 
 the hospital; but the "Carondelet" was a 
 sturdy craft and was always found in the 
 front of battle. 
 
 Commander Dove, as senior officer, had 
 the satisfaction of receiving the surrender 
 of Fort Donelson. Hesays: "Onapproach- 
 ing near enough two white flags were seen 
 Hying from the upper fort. * * * j pj-Q. 
 ceeded in a tug, with a white flag fljing, 
 and landed at the foot of the hill below 
 the fort. I was met by a Major who handed 
 me his sword, which I declined to receive, 
 thinking it proper to consult with General 
 Grant. I took the Major on board the tug 
 and proceeded up to General Buckner's 
 headquarters, where I found General Wal- 
 lace. General Grant, arrived a.hniit half an 
 
 hour after the fort had surrendered." * * * 
 Commander Dove seemed to have the proper 
 idea on this occasion in declining to claim 
 anj'thing, as the fort properly fell to the 
 Army. 
 
 As soon as Flag-officer Foote was able he 
 proceeded with the " Conestoga," Lieut.- 
 Com. Phelps, and the "Cairo," Lieut. -Com. 
 Brjant, on an armed reconnoissance up the 
 river, taking with him Colonel Webster, 
 Chief of General Grant's staff, who, with 
 Lieut. -Com. Phelps, took possession of the 
 principal works and hoisted the Union flag. 
 
 Foote had applied to General Halleck for 
 permission to advance up the Cumberland 
 on Nashville, and just as he was about 
 moving for that point Halleck telegraphed 
 to Grant: " Don't let the gun-boats proceed 
 higher than Clarksville," an order iu keep- 
 ing with the "conservative policy" that 
 seemed to influence General Halleck on all 
 occasions. The latter seemed to wish to di- 
 rect all the battles himself by telegraph, 
 and to give as little authority as possible 
 to General Grant, who being on the ground 
 knew the exact situation of affairs. This 
 was certainly not the way to conquer such 
 ail indomitable enemy as that with which 
 the national government had to contend ; 
 but the gun-boats did finally move up to 
 Nashville, with an army force in company, 
 and took peaceful possession of the capital 
 of Tennessee. 
 
 Foote finding there was nothing further 
 to be done on the Tennessee and Cumber- 
 land Rivers, turned his attention to Fort 
 
 nrilnml"mG wliinl-i ofill l-»olrl 
 
 +U, 
 
 V.1, U-r 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 159 
 
 all the rules of Jomini it ought to have sur- 
 rendered when Donelson fell, the great 
 strategic line of the enemy having been 
 broken and most of Tennessee lying at the 
 mercy of the Federal Army. As Columbus 
 still declined to yield, Flag-officer Foote, in 
 company with General Cullom of Halleck's 
 staff, started with four iron-clads, ten mor- 
 tar-boats and three transports, containing a 
 thousand soldiers, to make a reconnoissance 
 in force. As the expedition neared Fort 
 Columbus it was met by a flag of truce, with 
 a message from General Polk to the effect 
 that he hoped the courtesies he had extended 
 to the captured Union officers would be re- 
 ciprocated should an opportunity occur. 
 
 Having accomplished the object of the 
 reconnoissance, Foote returned to Cairo, 
 February 23, with a view to complete all the 
 gun-boats and mortar-rafts and make the 
 necessary preparations for the work re- 
 quired of him. 
 
 In the meantime the gun-boats- in condi- 
 tion for service were busy assisting the 
 Army to move where it desired, and patrol- 
 ing the river and clearing the flying artillery 
 from the banks. 
 
 On the 1st of March Lieut. -Com. Gwin 
 learned that the enemy were fortifying 
 Pittsburg Landing, and proceeded up tlie 
 river in the "Taylor," followed by the " Lex- 
 ington," Lieut. -Com. James W. Shirk. 
 When within 1,200 yards of the landing the 
 gun-boats were fired on by the Confederate 
 batteries, consisting of six or eight field- 
 pieces, some of them rifled, but did not no- 
 tice the attack till they were within a thous- 
 and yards, when they opened fire and soon 
 silenced the enemy. 
 
 The gun-boats then continued on till 
 abreast of where the enemy had posted his 
 heaviest batteries, and under cover of a fire 
 of grape and canister, a force was landed in 
 two boats from each of the vessels, including 
 a portion of Co. C, Capt. Phillips, and Co. K, 
 Lieut. Eider, of the 32d Illinois Volunteers 
 (sharpshooters). The boats of the '" Taylor " 
 were commanded by Master J. Goudy, and 
 those of the " Lexington " by Master Mar- 
 tin Dunn. 
 
 It was found on landing that besides the 
 artillerists, the enemy had two regiments 
 of infantry and one of cavalrv, and this lit- 
 tle landing party held them in check until 
 their object was accomplished, viz. : to as- 
 certain the enemy's force and purpose, and 
 to destroy a building in the vicinity of 
 which the batteries had been placed. 
 
 This_ little affair was well conducted, and 
 much information was gathered in regard 
 to fortifications being erected by the enemy. 
 Lieut. -Com. Gwin, the leader of the ex- 
 pedition, was one of the most gallant offi- 
 cers in the Western Flotilla, and delighted 
 in such service, where the usefulness of 
 
 On board the "Taylor" there was one 
 killed and six wounded, including Capt. 
 Phillips, of the Army; on boai'd the " Lex- 
 ington " there were two killed and two 
 missing, small casualties considering the 
 heavy force opposed to the gun-boats. The 
 enemy's loss was said to be nine killed and 
 upwards of one hundred wounded. 
 
 On the same day that the above affair took 
 place, Flag-officer Foote sent Lieut. -Com. 
 Phelps to Columbus with a flag of truce. 
 As he drew near the fort he saw that the 
 Confederates were burning their winter 
 quarters and removing their heavy guns 
 from the bluff. Of the latter two were cast 
 in Richmond, and named respectively, 
 " Lady Davis " and " Lady Polk." 
 
 In their hurry to get away the Confeder- 
 ates had left the water batteries intact. A 
 large force of cavalry was drawn up osten- 
 tatiously on the bluff, but these were the 
 only troops in sight; while the fires burning 
 in the town of Columbus and along the 
 river showed that the enemy were deter- 
 mined to destroy everything they could not 
 carry away. 
 
 The Confederates often made a Moscow 
 of a town when forced to abandon it, which 
 certainly did not convince the wretched in- 
 habitants that the Confederates were their 
 best friends. Indeed, there was often an 
 inhumanity in their proceedings which 
 added unnecessarily to the horrors of war. 
 The writer knew General (formerly Bishop) 
 Polk before the war. He was a fine speci- 
 men of a man, a kind master to his numer- 
 ous slaves, in short, a Christian gentleman. 
 His case shows how the influence of war 
 will demoralize the best of men. 
 
 From March 4th to the 16th, the wooden 
 gun-boats, "Taylor" and "Lexington," were 
 actively employed on the Tennessee and 
 Cumberland conveying troops — for without 
 such assistance the Army could not have 
 moved — and obtaining information of the 
 enemy's movements. 
 
 This information was to the following ef- 
 fect: At Corinth, Mississippi, eighteen miles 
 from the Tennessee River, the junction of 
 the Mobile and Ohio, and Memphis and 
 Charleston railroads, there were from fifteen 
 to twenty thousand Confederate troops ; at 
 Henderson Station, eighteen miles from the 
 Tennessee River and thirty-five miles by 
 rail from Corinth, there were some ten or 
 twelve thousand more, with daily acces- 
 sions from Columbus and the South; at Bear 
 Creek Bridge, seven miles back of Eastport, 
 Mississippi, eight or ten thousand men were 
 throwing up fortifications; and at Chicka- 
 saw, Alabama, there were being erected 
 heavy batteries, supplied, no doubt, with 
 the guns taken from the Norfolk Navy 
 Yard. 
 
 It was learned from a reliable source that 
 
160 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 back from Murfreesboro on Decatur, Ala- 
 bama, the point where the Memphis and 
 ■Charleston Railroad crosses the Tennessee 
 River and joins the railroad leading to Nash- 
 ville; showing that the Confederates were 
 making every exertion to hold on to Ten- 
 nessee, which was to them the most impor- 
 tant of all the States, except, perhaps, 
 Virginia; since it was wedged in between 
 five secession States: and the Confederates, 
 while they held it, could keep the Federal 
 troops from advancing South. Should the 
 latter obtain possession they would control 
 JSTorthern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, 
 with parts of North Carolina and Virginia. 
 With the Cumberland and the Tennessee 
 Rivers, and all the railroads in the Union 
 possession, the rebellion would have been 
 
 COMMANDER JAMES W. SHIRK. 
 
 confined to the other States, and the re- 
 sources of Tennessee would have been lost 
 to the Confederate cause. It would have 
 been better to have thrown three hundred 
 thousand men at once into Tennessee and 
 crushed the rebellion there, instead of losing 
 a greater number in the end and prolonging 
 the war for four years. 
 
 On the 4th of March Flag-officer Foote 
 got under way from Cairo, and proceeded 
 down the river towards Columbus. Besides 
 the flag-ship "Benton," there were the 
 " Mound City," Commander A. H. Kilty ; 
 "Louisville," Commander B. M. Dove; 
 " Carondelet," Commander H.Walke; " Cin- 
 cinnati," Commander R. N. Stembel ; "St. 
 Louis," Lieut. -Commanding L. Paulding; 
 "Pittsburgh," Lieut. -Commanding E. 
 
 ing J. W. Shirk, with four transports, each 
 having five mortar-boats in tow ; also a 
 magazine boat and a provision boat. The 
 squadron was accompanied by troops under 
 General Buford, in four steamers, half a 
 dozen tugs, and a large number of barges 
 and lighters in tow. 
 
 As this expedition approached Columbus 
 the Union fiag was seen floating from the 
 ramparts. It had been taken possession of 
 two days before by a company of cavalry 
 scouts from Paducah, under Col. Haas. 
 
 The enemy had already fortified certain 
 positions further South on the Mississippi, 
 and had also re-inforced Island No. 10. Gen. 
 Pope, with an army of ten thousand men, 
 hastened to occupy New Madrid, on the 
 west bank of the Mississippi, below Island 
 No. ]0, and he at once detected the weak- 
 ness of the enemy's position. Pope estab- 
 lished a line of batteries from New Madrid 
 to a point fifteen miles below Island No. 
 10, thus shutting the enemy off from his 
 only source of supply along the river ; for 
 everywhere, on both sides of the river for 
 sixty miles, nothing but swamps existed, 
 through which provisions could not be 
 transported. 
 
 Having established his batteries, it was 
 Gen. Pope's intention to cross the river with 
 his army and attack the enemy's position 
 from below, and to do this the aid of gun- 
 boats was necessary. In anticipation of 
 this, the enemy had erected batteries at 
 every point where they would be likely to 
 do hai-m to the Federal squadron. 
 
 Gen. Pope, seeing that a floating force 
 was indispensable to the success of his 
 operations, requested Flag-officer Foote to 
 send down a gun-boat past the enemy's 
 batteries at night; but as the gun -boats were 
 slow-moving machines and difficult to man- 
 age in the strong current of the Mississippi, 
 the Flag-officer informed the General that 
 he would send him two tugs through a 
 bayou, and would endeavor to get two gun- 
 boats down to him in time. 
 
 On the 20th of March the squadron, with 
 the mortar vessels, were lying above 
 Island No. 10, throwing shells into the 
 enemy's batteries, occasionally dismount- 
 ing a gun, but doing no material damage; 
 but so urgent was Gen. Pope's appeal for 
 a gun-boat that Flag-officer Foote, for 
 the first time, summoned a council of his 
 commanding officers. To use Foote's own 
 words. "The officers, with one exception, 
 were decidedly opposed to running the 
 blockade, believing it would be certain 
 destruction to all the vessels that should 
 attempt it." There were six forts, with over 
 fifty guns bearing on the vessels. Foote 
 does not mention who was the exception, and 
 who in this instance was certainly a wiser 
 man than his brother oflRf ^ra Rnnn^no- t.bfi 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 161 
 
 much practiced, but as the war progressed 
 it was found not to be a very dangerous 
 thing by night, and often practicable even 
 in the daytime. 
 
 Foote on this occasion remarked: "When 
 the object of running the blockade is ade- 
 quate to the risk, I shall not hesitate to do 
 it." He had a difficult task before him in 
 assisting Gen. Pope to drive the enemy from 
 Island No. 10 and the adjacent heights 
 along the Mississippi, where they altogether 
 are stated to have mounted seventy heavy 
 guns, in addition to a "floating battery" 
 of sixteen guns ; but making every allow- 
 ance for exaggeration, there certainly were 
 mounted not less than seventy-five guns in 
 the immediate vicinity. If the Union gun- 
 boats could hold the river above, and New 
 Madrid be occupied by a large force of 
 troops, with batteries placed along the river 
 below the enemy's works and to the edge of 
 the great swamp surrounding them, the Con- 
 federate garrison would be hemmed in, and 
 must yield when its supplies gave out. 
 
 The Confederate fortifications were placed 
 at such a height above the river that the 
 fire of the gun-boats had little effect on 
 them. Foote therefore determined to open 
 on the enemy with his 13-inch mortars, from 
 which he expected much better results. 
 There is, however, a great difference in 
 using mortars against forts constructed of 
 masonry, and earth-works on high hills. 
 Now and then a gun would be dismounted, 
 but it was immediately replaced, and the 
 garrison were well protected against burst- 
 ing shells. To attack the enemy from 
 above was a matter of great difficulty and 
 responsibility. The current of the river 
 was not less than four miles an hour, and 
 the iron-clads were not able, under the most 
 favorable circumstances, to do much more 
 than stem it. In case of accident to ma- 
 chinery they would drift helplessly under 
 the enemy's guns. To fight bow on, and 
 depend upon the stern wheel to back up 
 stream while fighting would have been 
 absurd, so that in this case the commander- 
 in-chief of the squadron was in a di- 
 lemma. While much was expected of him 
 he was obliged by circumstances to observe 
 a caution which was not agreeable to his 
 enterprising spirit. 
 
 On the morning of the 16th of March the 
 mortar-boats were placed in the best possi- 
 ble position and opened fire on the enemy's 
 batteries, driving several regiments out of 
 the works. The mortars were under charge 
 of Capt. Maynardier, U. S. Army, and Lieut. 
 J. P. Sanford, U. 8. Navy. 
 
 On the morning of the 17th the gun-boats 
 commenced an attack. The "Benton," 
 "Cincinnati" and "St.. Louis" were lashed 
 together, on account of the deficient steam 
 
 noWRT nf t.Vio " Piontnn " wrliinh ■vrns ntViAr- 
 
 squadron. The fire of the gun-boats was 
 not very effective ; they were at a distance 
 of nearly two miles and the enemy's batter- 
 ies, separated from each other, presented 
 but small targets to fire at. The fire was 
 kept up from mid-day until night -fall. The 
 "Benton" was struck four times, but the 
 most serious disaster was the bursting of a 
 rifled gun on board the " St. Louis," by 
 which fifteen men were killed and wounded. 
 In the official records only three gun- 
 boats are mentioned as taking part in the 
 engagement of March 17th, whereas the 
 "Carondelet" and "Mound City" were ac- 
 tively engaged on the west side of the river. 
 Until the 26th of March these attacks 
 with gun-boats and mortars were main- 
 tained without important results, as the en- 
 emy kept but few men exposed to the fire. 
 
 At this time the squadron at Island No. 
 10 comprised six iron-clads, one wooden 
 gun-boat and sixteen mortar-rafts, while, 
 according to Flag-officer Foote, the Con- 
 federates had thirteen gun-boats, besides 
 five below New Madrid. 
 
 Foote soon saw that it was a positive ne- 
 cessity that Gen. Pope should transport his 
 troops to the opposite side of the river in 
 order to turn the enemy's flank; and the 
 idea of running the blockade having been 
 abandoned, it was proposed to open a way 
 through a bayou which traversed the 
 swamp on the west side of the Mississippi, 
 and came out to the river again at New 
 Madrid. 
 
 In this labor the Army and Navy co-oper- 
 ated, and for nineteen days and nights the 
 work of cutting a canal through the swamp 
 was prosecuted, the men undergoing every 
 hardship with the utmost cheerfulness. 
 Soldiers and sailors stood in mud and water 
 up to their waists, cutting away trees, and 
 hauling along the tugs and transports on 
 which Pope depended to cross his troops 
 over the Mississippi. 
 
 When these vessels reached New Madrid, 
 the soldiers there received them with great 
 enthusiasm. " Now," they said, "we shall 
 cj-oss over and drive the Confederates out." 
 But the work was not yet finished These 
 unarmed steamers could not be used for the 
 purpose of transporting troops in the face of 
 the enemy and the gun-boats he had impro- 
 vised, and the question was again asked : 
 " Is it possible for any of our iron clads to 
 run the gauntlet of the batteries?" But Flag- 
 officer Foote still hesitated for reasons al- 
 ready given, and, furthermore, General Hal- 
 leck had notified him that measures had 
 already been taken which would compel the 
 enemy to evacuate his works. If the gun- 
 boats were to run the batteries, Foote 
 thought it advisable to diminish the risk as 
 much as_ possible, and therefore an expedi- 
 
163 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 one ten-inch Columbiad and other guns. 
 The boats from the " Benton," " St. Louis, 
 "Cincinnati" and "Pittsburg" carried, 
 beside their crews, fifty soldiers of Co. A., 
 42d Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, making 
 in all one hundred men, exclusive of officers, 
 all under command of Col. George W. 
 Roberts of the above named regiment. 
 
 The boats surprised the sentinels, who 
 fired their muskets and fled. The garrison 
 and the crew of the Confederate gun-boat 
 " Grampus" were at once aroused, but Col. 
 Roberts lost no time in landing his men and 
 spiking the battery ; after which the party 
 re-embarked and returned to the squad- 
 ron. On this battery of eleven heavy guns 
 the enemy had depended to sink any of our 
 vessels that might attempt to run by their 
 works. 
 
 There was also a floating battery moored 
 
 way. She might have drifted down the river 
 without a shot being fired at her, yet there 
 was danger that she might run ashore and 
 be found at daylight a fair mark for the 
 enemy, or the pilot, in the intense dark- 
 ness, might mistake the channel, or the 
 plunging fire from the enemy's batteries 
 might penetrate the boilers, in which case a 
 horrible fate awaited many of her crew. It 
 was the first venture in running batteries, 
 and therefore more creditable to all con- 
 cerned, for even in after times, when such 
 feats became more common, there was 
 always an element of uncertainty in the 
 enterprise. 
 
 The "Carondelet" passed the first bat- 
 tery unobserved, but at the second a sheet 
 of flame issued from the heavy guns, and 
 the huge shot ricocheted along the water, 
 but did no harm to the Union vessel. The 
 
 THE GUN-BOAT " C AEONDELET " RUNNING THE BATTERIES AT ISLAND No. 10. 
 
 at the head of the island which it was im- 
 portant to remove ; so on the following day 
 the guns of the squadron were concentrated 
 on this latter obstruction with such effect, 
 that the crew of the battery cut the lashings 
 and drifted from under fire of the gun-boats 
 to take new position some distance below. 
 
 After these two impediments had been 
 removed the passage of the enemy's bat- 
 teries was considered practicable, and Com. 
 Walke, of the " Carondelet," volunteered to 
 perform this perilous duty. His ingenuity 
 and that of his officers was taxed to the ut- 
 most to prepare the " Carondelet " to resist 
 the enemy's shot. First-Master Hoel of the 
 "Cincinnati," one of the best pilots on the 
 Mississippi, whose gallantry finally placed 
 him in comwiand of an iron-clad, volunteered 
 to pilot the vessel. 
 
 On the night of the 4th of April, in storm 
 and darkness, the " Carondelet " got under- 
 
 " Carondelet" steamed steadily on without 
 noticing these attentions, while fort after fort 
 took up the fire, until seventy powerful guns 
 joined in the melee; doing no harm, but 
 adding to the grandeur of the storm. Now 
 and then the " Carondelet '" became visible 
 to the enemy through the vivid flashes of 
 lightning. In half an hour the vessel was 
 below Island No. 10 and soon passed beyond 
 the reach of the Confederate batteries. 
 
 Then the sound of minute guns coming 
 faintly from below assured those who were 
 waiting anxiously in the squadron that the 
 "Carondelet" was safe, and that General 
 Pope could now bid defiance to the enemy's 
 gun-boats and cross his troops to the other 
 side of the Mississippi. Upon this, cheer 
 after cheer went up from the gun-boats, and 
 made the Confederates aware that the time 
 had arrived when their position was no 
 longer tenable. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 163 
 
 That night the " Carondelet " lay un- 
 scathed just below New Madrid, and early 
 next morning steamed up to the landing, 
 where she was warmly welcomed by the 
 soldiers who had so long looked for aid of 
 this kind, without which they were hopeless 
 of turning the enemy's position. 
 
 The enemy's gun-boats, armed with long- 
 range rifles, had been harrassing Pope's 
 command from below, and from their posi- 
 tion could do a great deal of havoc to the 
 light transports on which Pope depended to 
 pass his troops over the river. The enemy 
 had thirteen gun-boats, improvised from 
 river steamers, but as soon as the " Caron- 
 delet " appeared they departed for Memphis. 
 
 Flag-officer Foote, finding that the risk of 
 running the batteries was less than he had 
 supposed, and urged by General Pope to 
 send him another iron-clad, dispatched the 
 "Pittsburg," Lieut. -Com. Egbert Thomp- 
 son, which vessel ran the batteries on a 
 stormy night under pretty much the same 
 circumstances as the "Carondelet," and 
 like her received no injury. 
 
 As soon as the " Pittsburgh " arrived be- 
 low Island No. 10 she was sent with the 
 " Carondelet " to drive away some field bat- 
 teries which the enemy had placed to pre- 
 vent the Union troops crossing the river. 
 This was accomplished, and the enemy see- 
 ing they could no longer hold their works 
 began to evacuate them, leaving all their 
 guns and munitions of war in the hands of 
 the victors. 
 
 Island No. 10 surrendered on the 7th of 
 April to Flag-officer Foote just as he was 
 preparing to attack with the gun-boats 
 above, in conjunction with the forces under 
 General Buford. Seventeen officers, three 
 hundred and sixty-eight privates, one hun- 
 dred sick, and one hundred men employed 
 on the enemy's transports, surrendered to 
 the Navy from steamers afloat. Two wharf 
 boats loaded with provisions were also cap- 
 tured. The floating battery of sixteen guns 
 and most of the gun-boats were sunk, but 
 were easily raised again. 
 
 The Confederate works consisted of 
 eleven forts mounting seventy guns, from 
 33 to 100-pounders. The magazines were 
 well supplied, and there were also large 
 quantities of provisions. The works were 
 very strong, and built with great skill. Six 
 thousand prisoners fell into General Pope's 
 hands. 
 
 Commander Walke in the " Carondelet," 
 supported by the " Pittsburgh," silenced the 
 heaviest battery below Island No. 10 and 
 spiked the guns, picking up a number of 
 fine sixty-four pounders left behind by the 
 Confederates in their flight. 
 
 The precipitancy with which the enemy re- 
 treated when the gun-boats appeared below 
 
 Jsla.nrl "Wo in -oijna nst.nnisViiTicr If, was thfi 
 
 eral Pope had looked forward from the time 
 he moved his army to New Madrid. 
 
 Foote would no doubt have sent the iron- 
 clads down past the batteries sooner than 
 he did, had not General Halleck notified him 
 of a plan which he had in view to capture 
 Island No. 10 and all the batteries on the 
 Tennessee shore. The credit, however, fell 
 where it was due, to Pope and Foote, for 
 their harmonious co-operation, and to Com- 
 mander "Walke and Lieut. -Com. Thompson, 
 who so gallantly passed the enemy's bat- 
 teries. 
 
 The victory at Island No. 10, although a 
 bloodless one, was as important as the bat- 
 tle of Shiloh. It opened a long stretch of 
 the Mississippi River, down which our 
 forces were continually working their way 
 toward the sea. By this victory and the 
 great battle at Shiloh, was broken up the 
 second line of defences which the Confeder- 
 ates had established from the Mississippi to 
 Chattanooga, and all their attempts to pene- 
 trate the Northern States in this direction 
 were foiled. It does not in the least detract 
 from the gallantry of our Army to say that 
 neither of these victories would have been 
 won without the aid of the Navy. Though 
 the latter was but an auxiliary to the Army 
 yet it was a most valuable one, and should 
 receive the credit to which it is entitled. 
 
 In concluding our account of the capture 
 of Island No. 10, we avail ourselves of the 
 opportunity to make a few remarks relative 
 to those who worked so faithfully to bring 
 about the result. We have already stated 
 that General Pope considered it essential to 
 the success of his plans that at least two of 
 the gun-boats should run the blockade and 
 join him below Island No. 10, and that Com- 
 mander Walke volunteered to perform 
 what was considered a vf^ry hazardous 
 duty, and performed it unflinchingly. 
 
 It occurs to the writer that such a service 
 was worthy a much warmer eulogium than 
 Commander Walke received for his success- 
 ful conduct of a perilous undertaking; for 
 these " iron-clad " gun-boats were really 
 a very vulnerable class of vessels, and 
 utterly inadequate to resist the plunging 
 shot from the enemy's elevated batteries. 
 A single shot going in above and coming 
 out through the bottom would have com- 
 pletely crippled a vessel. It could hardly 
 be anticipated that any boat could pass so 
 many heavy works, even at night with rain 
 and storm to help her, and yet receive no 
 damage, and it was the merest accident 
 that the " Carondelet " was not struck by 
 the enemy's shot. As to the passage of the 
 " Pittsburg," she was sent down after it was 
 ascertained that the " Carondelet " had re- 
 ceived no damage whatever, and hence her 
 commanding officer was not entitled to 
 thft sa.mft a.moimt, of (?rpHit as flnmTnanrlpr 
 
164 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 When the " Carondelet " did arrive below 
 the enemies batteries, her performances re- 
 dounded greatly to the credit of her com- 
 mander and his officers. At the request of 
 General Pope, Walke attacked and silenced 
 every battery below the point where the 
 Federal troops were to be landed, and 
 spiked the guns so that the enemy could not 
 return and use them. 
 
 It would seem in regard to these transac- 
 tions that the accuracy of official reports 
 may be called in question, and that we must 
 rely on other sources than the published 
 histories of the war. The intention of the 
 writer is to make as few digressions in his 
 account of affairs as possible, but justice 
 demands that corrections shall be made, es- 
 pecially when due credit has been hereto- 
 fore withheld. 
 
 Due credit in regard to services on the 
 Western rivers has often been withheld 
 from both Army and Navy, and this injus- 
 tice is nowhere more distinctly manifested 
 than in the capture of Island No. 10, and 
 the heavy batteries which lined the Ten- 
 nessee shore. The work of the Army was 
 a master-piece of strategy, and the part 
 played by the Navy was scarcely inferior. 
 The work performed was indeed creditable 
 to all concerned. 
 
 Farragut maintained that whatever errors 
 are made by contemporary historians, pos- 
 terity will always give honor to whom honor 
 is due; and sincerely hoping that such is the 
 case, the writer will endeavor to do justice 
 in these pages. 
 
 The surrender of Island No. 10 and the 
 adjacent works opened the Mississippi all 
 the way to Fort Pillow, another stronghold 
 which could only be conquered by a com- 
 bined army and navy force. 
 
 Gen. Pope, with twenty thousand men in 
 ti'ansports protected by gun-boats, now 
 moved towards Fort Pillow, and prepared 
 to attack the enemy's works. Five Confed- 
 erate gun-boats were descried down the 
 river, but their size and strength could not 
 be ascertained. The Confederates had im- 
 provised a river flotilla, but nothing could 
 be learned concerning it. 
 
 Pope's first idea was to reach the enemy's 
 works by landing five miles above them, 
 while the gun-boats and mortars attacked 
 them from the river; but finding this plan 
 impracticable, it was proposed to cut a 
 canal, as was done at Island No. 10. through 
 the Arkansas shore to a point opposite Fort 
 Pillow, and thus pass some of the gun-boats 
 below the fortifications. 
 
 At this time Flag-officer Foote was suf- 
 fering from the effects of his wound, so 
 that it was impossible for him to attend to 
 his manifold duties, and a few days after he 
 relinquished active service, never again to 
 resume it, and the command of the squad- 
 
 a gallant officer, well qualified for this im- 
 portant duty. 
 
 The sudden withdrawal of Gen. Pope 
 with nearly all his force from before Fort 
 Pillow, to "proceed to Pittsburg Landing 
 by order of Gen. Halleck, had quite dis- 
 appointed Foote. He saw no immediate 
 prospect of taking Fort Pillow and did 
 not care to remain, while suffering so 
 much from his wound, merely to keep up 
 a blockade. Only two regiments of sol- 
 diers under Col. Fisk remained of all Pope's 
 army. 
 
 Fort Pillow mounted forty guns and there 
 were nine gun- boats below the fort and at 
 Memphis. In addition, at this time the 
 enemy were building a number of heavy 
 gun-boats along the Mississippi; among 
 them, at New Orleans, the iron-plated 
 " Louisiana," of sixteen guns (which ves- 
 sel figured so prominently in Farragut's 
 attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip), 
 and the ram, "Arkansas." 
 
 The following letter will throw some light 
 on the siege of Island No. 10, and give 
 credit where it is justly due : 
 
 SECRETARY WELLES TO FLAG-OFFICER FOOTE. 
 
 " By telegraph from Navy Yard, Washiis^gtox, ( 
 
 April 10, 1863. ) 
 "To Flag-officer Foote, Commanding Gun-boat 
 Flotilla : 
 " A nation's thanks are due to you, and the brave 
 ofBcers and men of the flotilla on the Mississippi, 
 whose labor and gallantry at Island 10, which sur- 
 rendered to you yesterday, has been watched with 
 intense interest. Your triumph is not the less ap- 
 preciated because it was protracted and finally 
 bloodless. To that Being who has protected you 
 through so many perils, and carried you onward to 
 successive victories, be praise, for His continued 
 goodness to our country ; and especially for this 
 last great success of our arms. Let the congratula- 
 tions of yourself and your command be also ex- 
 tended to the ofBcers and soldiers who co-operated 
 with you. [Signed] 
 
 "Gideon Welles, Secretary of the jyacy." 
 
 The following is the general order issued 
 immediately after the receipt of the tele- 
 gram from the Secretai-y of the Navy, in 
 answer to that of Flag-officer Foote : 
 
 [General Order, No. 7.] 
 
 "U. S. FlAG-STEA5IER 'BEXTOIf,') 
 
 lSLA:!fD No. 10. April U, 1863. \ 
 "It is with the highest gratification that the 
 Commander-in-Chief promulgates to the oflBcers 
 and men under his command, comprising the gun 
 and mortar-boats, ordnance-boats, tugs, transports, 
 and others, as well as to General Buford, and offi- 
 cers and soldiers of the Army, who so effectually co- 
 operated in the reduction of Island No. 10, the fol- 
 lowing telegram received from the Secretary of the 
 Navy ; and he trusts that the future will be crowned 
 with the same success to our arms as the past has 
 been; and may we all, in letter and spirit, as sug 
 gested l>y the Honorable Secretary, render our 
 hearty thanks to God for His goodness in giving 
 ns the vipforv 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 165 
 
 SECRETARY WELLES TO FLAG-OFFICER FOOTE. 
 
 ' Navy Department, April 12, 1862. 
 
 " Sir: — The Department desires you to convey to 
 Commander Henry Walke, and the ofBcers and 
 men of the 'Carondelet,' also to Acting First Mas- 
 ter Hoel, of the ' Cincinnati,' who volunteered for 
 the occasion, its thanks for the gallant and success- 
 ful services rendered in running the 'Carondelet' 
 past the rebel batteries on the night of the 4th inst. 
 It was a daring and heroic act, well executed and 
 deserving a special recognition. Commendation is 
 also to be extended to the officers and crew of the 
 'Pittsburg,' who in like manner on the night of the 
 7th inst. performed a similar service. These fear- 
 less acts dismayed the enemy, enabled the army 
 under General Pope to cross the Mississippi, and 
 eventuated in the surrender to yourself of Island 
 10, and finally, to the capture by General Pope, of 
 the forts on the Tennessee shore, and the retreating 
 rebels under General Mackall. I would also, in this 
 connection, render the acknowledgements which 
 are justly due the officers and crew of the several 
 boats, who, in conjunction with a detachment of 
 the Forty-second IlUnois regiment, under Colonel 
 Roberts, captured the first rebel battery and spiked 
 the guns on Island No. 10, on the night of the 1st 
 inst.; such services are duly appreciated by the De- 
 partment, which extends its thanks to all who par- 
 ticipated in the achievement. 
 
 " I am respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 "Gideon Welles. 
 "Flag-officer A. H. Foote, 
 
 " Commanding Chm-hoat Flotilla.'''' 
 
 "Forwarded with the order that this paper, 
 which the commander-in-chief is most happy in 
 transmitting to the brave and gallant officers and 
 men to whom it refers, shall be pu blicly read on board 
 the 'Carondelet' and 'Pittsburg,' and afterwards 
 retained by Commander Walke, who commanded 
 with so much ability and gallantry (assisted by 
 First-Master Hoel, of the gun-boat 'Cincinnati'), 
 below New Madrid, which enabled the Army to 
 cross the Mississippi at that point, and to secure, 
 with the aid of the flotilla above, the possession of 
 Island No. 10, and the adjacent batteries on the 
 Tennessee shore. 
 
 "A. H. FooTB, Flag-officer. 
 Commanding Naval Forces, Western Waters 
 "Off Fort Pillow, April 22, 1862." 
 
 ENGAflEMENT OF THE "CARONDELET" AND 
 "PITTSBURG" WITH THE ENEMY IN THE VICIN 
 ITY OF NEW MADRID, APRIL 6TH, 1863. 
 
 "U. S. Flag steamer 'Benton,' ) 
 
 Island No. 10, April 11, 1862. ) 
 
 "Sir : — I have the honor to enclose a report from 
 Commander Walke, of the gun-boat ' Carondelet,' 
 detailing the services rendered by him, and the 
 'Pittsburg,' Lieutenant-Commander Thompson, in 
 the vicinity of New Madrid; from which it will be 
 seen that the boats opened upon, and effectually 
 silenced and captured several heavy batteries on 
 the Tennessee side of the river, on the 6th and 7th 
 instants, without which destruction it would have 
 been impossible for General Pope to have crossed 
 over the river, for the purpose of attacking the 
 Confederates in the rear at No. 10, while the gun 
 and mortar-boats would make the attack in front. 
 
 "There has been an effective and harmonious 
 co-operation between the land and naval forces, 
 which has, under Providence, led to the glorious 
 result of the fall of this stronghold, No. 10, with 
 the garrison and munitions of war, and I regret to 
 see in the dispatches of Major-General Halleck, 
 from St. Louis, no reference is made to the capture 
 of the forts, and the continuous shelling of the gun 
 and mortar-boats, and the Navy's receiving the sur- 
 
 contributed to the victory — a bloodless victory — 
 more creditable to humanity than if thousands liad 
 been slain. 
 
 "I also enclose reports from Lieutenants-Com- 
 manding Gwin and Shirk, of the gun-boats ' Tay- 
 lor ' and Lexington,' on the Tennessee, giving a 
 graphic account of that great battle, and the assist- 
 ance rendered by these boats near Pittsburg; stat- 
 ing that 'when the left wing of our Army was 
 being driven into the river, at short range, they 
 opened fire upon and silenced the enemy, and, as 
 I hear from many army officers on the field, totally 
 demoralizing his forces, and driving them from 
 their position in a perfect rout, in the space of ten 
 minutes.'' 
 
 "These officers and men, as well as those of Com- 
 mander Walke, and the officers and men of the 
 'Carondelet' and 'Pittsburg,' behaved with a de- 
 gree of gallantry highly creditable to themselves 
 and the Navy. 
 
 " I proceed to-day with the entire flotilla to New 
 Madrid, and leave to-morrow for Fort Pillow, or 
 the next point down the river which may attempt 
 to resist the raising the blockade. 
 
 "1 have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 [Signed] '■'■ A. Ji. Footb, Flag-officer. 
 "Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, 
 Washington, B. C." 
 
 Flag-oflficer Davis assumed command of 
 the squadron on the 9th of May, 1803, and 
 had little time for reflection before he be- 
 came engaged in active operations. The 
 heights of Fort Pillow had been repeatedly 
 shelled by the gun-boats and bombarded 
 by the mortars, vs^ith little perceptible effect 
 on the works. The Confederate gun-boats 
 occasionally showed themselves around the 
 bend in the river, but on the first movement 
 of the squadron they would scud away. 
 Exaggerated reports were rife about the 
 formidable rams that were at Memphis 
 ready to attack our fleet, among them the 
 monster "Louisiana," which the Confeder- 
 ates boasted could alone clear out all the 
 Union vessels. It was impossible to tell 
 how much truth there was in these reports, 
 but the gun-boats had orders to keep up 
 steam and be prepared at all times for 
 battle. 
 
 On the 10th of May, the Union squadron 
 lay in two divisions: the first division of 
 these iron-clads, with the flag-ship " Ben- 
 ton," moored on the Tennessee shore; the 
 second, of four gun-boats, moored on the 
 Arkansas shore, with bows down stream. 
 At a little past seven o'clock a. m., 
 eight Coi:ifederate gun-boats, four of them 
 fitted as rams, came around the point 
 above Fort Pillow and steamed up the 
 river, evidently prepared for battle. The 
 enemy's leading vessel made directly for 
 mortar-boat No. 16, which for the mo- 
 ment was unprotected. Acting-Master 
 Gregory and his crew behaved with great 
 spirit, and during the action fired the mor- 
 tar eleven times nearly point blank at the 
 enemy. The morning being hazy signals 
 could not be distinctly made out, nor could 
 
166 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Com. Stembel, the leading vessel in the line 
 of iron-clads, hastened to the support of the 
 mortar-boat, followed immediately by the 
 "Mound City," Com. Kilty; and both were 
 repeatedly struck by the Confederate rams 
 before the latter were disabled and driven 
 away. The boiler or steam-pipe of one of 
 the leading vessels of the enemy was ex- 
 ploded by a shot from the flag-ship " Ben- 
 ton," Lieut. -Com. Phelps, and three of the 
 enemy's vessels, including the one en- 
 countered by the " Cincinnati," were dis- 
 abled and drifted down the river. A fifty- 
 pound rifle shot from the "Carondelet" 
 passed through the boilers of another of 
 the enemy's vessels, rendering her helpless 
 
 ate vessels made great holes in the "Mound 
 City" and the " Cincinnati," and were con- 
 siderably damaged themselves, they all 
 succeeded in escaping. The " Cincinnati," 
 after proceeding some distance up the river, 
 sunk near the Tennessee side. The "Cairo" 
 assisted the "Mound City" to the first isl- 
 and above the scene of action, where she 
 also sunk. 
 
 The incidents of this engagement are so 
 lightly passed over by Flag-officer Davis, 
 that it is difficult to get much information 
 from the official reports. The enemy's side 
 of the affair can best be learned by the fol- 
 lowing dispatch of the Confederate Com- 
 mander-in-chief : 
 
 BIouND City. 
 
 Carondelet. 
 
 MOHTAR. 
 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 Van Dorn. 
 
 Gen. Price. 
 
 Bragg. 
 
 Sumter. 
 Little Kebel. 
 
 BATTLE OF FORT PILLOW. FIHST POSITION. 
 
 for the time being. All these disabled ves- 
 sels might have been captured had there 
 been any means at hand of towing them up 
 stream, but the motive power of the gun- 
 boats was so limited that they could scarcely 
 make any headway against the current, 
 and they had to be continually on the 
 watch to avoid drifting under the enemy's 
 batteries. 
 
 This was the first naval engagement of 
 the war, pure and simple, where the squad- 
 rons of both sides were pitted against each 
 other. Our iron-clads showed themselves 
 unsuited in respect to steam power, to cope 
 with swift river vessels that could ram them 
 
 "Flag-Boat ' Little Rebel,' \ 
 Fort Pillow, May 12, 1863. f 
 " Sir: — I have the honor to report an engagement 
 with the Federal gnn-boats at Plum Point Bend, 
 four miles above this place. Having previously ar- 
 ranged with my officers the order of attack, our 
 lioats left their moorings at 6 A. m., and proceeding 
 up the river passed around a sharp point, which 
 soon brought us in full view of the enemy's fleet, 
 numbering eight gun-boats and twelve inortars. 
 The Federal gun-boat ' Carondelet ' [• Cincinnati '1 
 was lying nearest us, guarding a mortar-boat that 
 was shelling the fort. The ' General Bragg,' Cap- 
 tain Leonard, dashed at her, she firing her heavy 
 guns and retreating towards a bar where the depth 
 of water would not be sufficient for our boats to 
 follow. The 'Bragg' continued boldly on under 
 fire of nearlv their whole flfipt ani\ afmok Tier a 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 167 
 
 rounded to down the river under a broadside fire, 
 and drifted until her tiller rope, that had got out of 
 order, could be re-adjusted. 
 
 "A few moments after the ' Bragg ' struck her 
 blow, the 'General Sterling Price,' rirst-offlcer J. 
 E. Harthorne, ran into the same boat aft, a little 
 starboard of her amidships, carrying away her 
 rudder, sternpost and a large piece of her stern. 
 This threw the 'Cincinnati's' stern towards the 
 ' Sumter,' Captain M. W. Lamb, which struck her 
 running at the utmost speed of his boat. 
 
 " The '(jeneral Earl Van Dorn,' Capt. Folkerson, 
 running according to orders in the rear of the 
 ' Price ' and ' Sumter,' directed his attention to the 
 'Mound City,' at thetime throwing broadsides into 
 the 'Price 'and 'Sumter'; and, as she proceeded, 
 by skilful shots from her 32-pounder silenced a 
 mortar-boat that "was filling the air with its terrible 
 missiles; the 'Van Dorn' still holding on to the 
 'Mound City.' In the act of striking, the ' Mound 
 City ' sheered and the ' Van Born ' struck her a 
 glancing blow, making a hole four feet deep in her 
 starboard forward quarter, evidenced by the splin- 
 ters left on the iron bow of the ' Van Dorn.' 
 
 "At this juncture, the 'Van Dorn' was above 
 four of the Federal boats, as the lemaining boats, 
 'General Jeff Thompson' and 'Colonel Lovell,' 
 Capt. Hart, were entering boldly into the contest 
 in the prescribed order. I perceived from the flag- 
 boat that the Federal vessels were taking positions 
 where the water was too shallow for our boats to 
 get at them, and as our cannon were far inferior 
 both in number and size, I signalled our boats to 
 faU back, which was accomplished with a coolness 
 which deserves the highest commendation. 
 
 " I am happy to inform you that while exposed 
 at close quarters to a most terrible fire for thirty 
 minutes, our boats, though struck repeatedly, sus- 
 tained no serious injuries. 
 
 "General Jeff Thompson was on board the ' Gen- 
 eral Bragg,' his officers and men were divided 
 among the boats. They were all at their posts 
 ready to do good service should the occasion 
 offer. 
 
 " To my officers and men I am highly indebted 
 for their courage and promptness in executing all 
 orders. 
 
 " On the 11th instant, I went in the ' Little Rebel ' 
 in full view of the enemy's fleet, and saw the ' Car- 
 ondelet ' [' Cincinnati '] sunk near the shore, and 
 the ' Mound City ' sunk on the bar. 
 
 " The position occupied by the enemy's gun- 
 boats above Fort Pillow, offers more obstacles to 
 our mode of attack than any between Cairo and 
 New Orleans, but of this you may rest assured that 
 they will never penetrate further down the Mis- 
 sissippi River. 
 " Our casualties were two killed and one wounded. 
 " [Signed.] J. E. Montgomery, 
 
 " Senior Captain Commanding, 
 
 "River Defence Fleet." 
 
 On the Federal side there were only four 
 wounded. Commander Stembel seriously, 
 Fourth-Master Reynolds and two seamen 
 slightly. This was a small list of casualties 
 for such a desperate brush, and would seem 
 to indicate rather indifferent gunnery prac- 
 tice on the part of the Federals, who, with 
 their heavy ordnance, ought to have swept 
 the enemy from the face of the water, as 
 his vessels were of wood and lightly built. 
 
 The attack on the Federal vessels was, 
 however, by a new method ; for this was 
 the first time ramming had been practiced 
 on this river during the war, and the " Cin- 
 cinnati" and "Mound City" had been put 
 }iors de combat almost at the beginning of 
 the action. 
 
 The Confederate Commander-in-chief 
 was not accustomed to command vessels en 
 masse and does not seem to have under- 
 stood the necessity of concert of action. 
 Each Confederate vessel seems to have been 
 fighting on her "own hook." There is no 
 doubt they received more damage than they 
 were willing to admit. 
 
 All their damages were, however, quickly 
 repaired at Memphis, where they had "a 
 good navy yard with all the necessary ap- 
 pliances. 
 
 It appears evident that our gun-boats did 
 not altogether act in concert, probably ow- 
 ing to their want of speed, In the case 
 of the flag-ship, her deficiency in speed 
 kept her behind the rest, but when she did 
 join the battle, her heavy guns told on the 
 enemy and everything gave way before 
 her. 
 
 It is exceedingly difficult to give a correct 
 account of this engagement, owing to the 
 many conflicting versions which were pub- 
 lished in the West at the time, but we know 
 enough to be satisfied that victory remained 
 with the Federal squadron. 
 
 The report of Flag-officer Davis was of 
 course intended to represent the true posi- 
 tion of the vessels, but he was new to the 
 command, and the iron-clads smaller than 
 the " Benton " were so much alike, tliat any 
 one was liable to mistake one for the other 
 at the distance of a mile, and give another 
 vessel credit for work done by her consort. 
 On this occasion if reports were made to 
 the Commander-in-chief, they were not 
 published in the annual report of the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy; but notwithstanding 
 the conflicting statements, it appears certain 
 that every officer and man on board the 
 Union gun-boats did their duty, and drove 
 off a fearless and enterprising enemy, who 
 had a flotilla well equipped for the purpose 
 intended. 
 
 Flag-officer Davis had the satisfaction 
 of winning the first naval squadron fight, 
 and certainly deserved the thanks of the 
 Navy Dejjartment for himself, his gallant 
 officers and crew; especially since all in the 
 squadron had shown such courage and 
 energy, ever since the day when Foote 
 first left Cairo with the gun-boats and 
 mortars. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 EVACUATION OF FORT PILLOW AND BATTLE OF MEMPHIS. 
 
 Bombardment and Evacuation of Fort Pillow— Col. Ellet's Ram Flotilla.— 
 Capture of a Confederate Transport.— The Vessels Composing the Confederate 
 Fleet.— Battle op Memphis.— Capture of the City.— Destruction of the Confed- 
 erate Fleet.— A Brilliant Victory.— Noble Action of the Commander of the 
 "Monarch."— Capture OF Forts up THE White River. — Explosion of the Steam 
 Chest of the " Mound City."— Valuable Lives Lost. — Saving the Crews op the 
 Confederate Vessels. — Confederate Accounts. 
 
 AFTER this river battle, Flag-officer 
 Davis commenced a heavy and 
 continuous bombardment of Fort 
 Pillow, which lasted up to the 4th 
 of June, and gave the enemy 
 great annoyance, although he continued to 
 reply with a constant and well-directed fire. 
 But the Confederate guns were defective, 
 and their shell often exploded before reach- 
 ing the point intended to be struck. 
 
 Davis determined to have no more sur- 
 prises, and two of the gun-boats were de- 
 tailed to guard the mortar-rafts until even- 
 ing, when they were towed to a position 
 where thej^ would be under the protection 
 of the fleet until morning. 
 
 The constant explosion of the bombs in 
 the fort or in the air, by which numbers of 
 the garrison were killed, had its effect at 
 last. The enemy saw that it was now only 
 a matter of time, and that the Union forces 
 must win in the end. The Confederate 
 troops at luka, Corinth and other places in 
 West Tennessee, were being gradually 
 driven back, and once more the base of 
 operations was to undergo a change in 
 obedience to the law of strateg3^ 
 
 Fort Pillow had to be evacuated, and 
 when the Confederates did evacuate a posi- 
 tion they generally did so with an unac- 
 countable haste. In this case they may 
 have heard that an army was marching on 
 them from the rear, or that Pope was re- 
 turning with a great force from Pittsburg 
 Landing. Whatever it was, something had 
 a very demoralizing effect upon the garri- 
 
 son, and the guns of the fort were no longer 
 well aimed or rapidly fired. 
 
 On the night of June 4th, a great many 
 explosions were heard in the fort, which 
 indicated to the officers of the fleet that the 
 enemy was preparing to evacuate. The 
 Flag-officer on receiving this intelligence, 
 gave orders for the gun-boats to get under 
 way at 4 o'clock on the morning of June 
 5th, and to move down the river in the fol- 
 lowing order: "Benton." "Mound City," 
 "Louisville," "' Carondelet." " Cairo." and 
 "St. Louis." (The " Mound City " had been 
 fished up out of the river and repaired, but 
 the "Cincinnati" was still at Cairo.) 
 
 Since the battle with the Confederate rams 
 a new organization had been added to the 
 Union fleet in the shape of a ram flotilla,com- 
 manded by a very gallant man. Col. Charles 
 EUet, of the U. S. Army. These vessels 
 were simply ordinary river steamers con- 
 verted into rams, though not in a very 
 effective manner. They had been strength- 
 ened with timber and had the boilers par- 
 tially protected from shot, but they were not 
 nearly so well designed as the Confederate 
 rams. They were named the "Monarch," 
 " Queen of the West," "Switzerland" and 
 "Lancaster," all commanded hv an EUet, 
 brother, son, or nephew, all gallant men, 
 and ready for any enterprise. 
 
 The Flag-officer assigned a proper posi- 
 tion to Col. EUet, and the combined fleet 
 proceeded dovvn the river to Fort PiUow, 
 which thev found to be abandoned. 
 
 Capt. Davis sent for Col. Fitch U. S. A. 
 
 (168) 
 
iniL i\AVAi^ iixciiuix.1 ur inn. k^i v ij-, yy rn\.. 
 
 and turned over the fort to him. This officer 
 brought a detachment of his troops over 
 in a transport without delay, and the 
 American flag was soon floating over this 
 stronghold, which at one time seemed able 
 to defy all the gun-boats and armies of the 
 Republic. 
 
 Large army spoils were captured, and 
 many heavy guns (40 at least) ; for although 
 the Confederates had set fire to the works, 
 they had neglected to make the destruction 
 
 At 8 p. M. the fleet anchored at the lower 
 end of Island No. 45, a mile and a half 
 above the City of Memphis. The mortar- 
 boats, tow-boatsj ordnance and commissary 
 vessels, anchored for the night at Island 44. 
 
 At daylight the enemy's fleet of rams 
 and gun-boats, now numbering eight ves- 
 sels, was discovered lying at the levee at 
 Memphis. They dropped below Railroad 
 Point, and returning again arranged them- 
 selves below the city. 
 
 KEAK-ADMIRAL CHAS. H. DAVIS. 
 
 complete and retired with their usual pre- 
 cipitancy. , ^ 
 
 At noon the fleet again steamed down 
 the river, leaving the '' Pittsburg" and 
 "Mound City" to co-operate with the Army. 
 
 At a bend in the river on the way down, 
 a Confederate transport came in sight of 
 the fleet, but turned and attempted to 
 escape. She was captured by a fast tug, 
 with a body of armed men. under the com- 
 mand of Lieut. Joshua Bishop: she proved 
 
 At 4.20 the Union flotilla got under way 
 in the following order : Flagship " Benton." 
 Lieut. -Com. Phelps; " Louisville," Com. B. 
 M. Dove; " Carondelet," Com. H. Walke; 
 "Cairo," Lieut. -Com. K E. Bryant; "St, 
 Louis," Lieut. -Com. Nelson McGunnegle. 
 
 They dropped down the river according 
 to signal, and prepared for battle. The 
 Confederate gun-boats opened fire upon our 
 fleet as it moved down, with the seeming 
 intention of having the city injured by the 
 
<ij [|ii]i|Y'fpi[ipipfi}|™^^ 
 
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 (170) 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 171 
 
 gard to this matter, and shot and shell were 
 sent among the Confederates with good 
 effect. 
 
 At this moment the ram fleet was several 
 miles up the river, though coming down 
 rapidly, and it was necessary for our gun- 
 boats to maneuver so as to enable it to 
 overtake them. 
 
 The Confederate vessels (still under the 
 command of Montgomery) were the rams 
 "General Van Dorn," "General Price," 
 "General Lovell," "General Beauregard" 
 and "General Jeff Thompson," mounting 
 each four heavy guns ; the ' ' General Bragg " 
 and "General Sumter," mounting three 
 guns, and the " Little Rebel," mounting two 
 guns. 
 
 When the battle had fairly commenced, 
 two of the army rams, the "Queen of the 
 West," Col. Charles Ellet, and the "Mon- 
 arch," Lieut. -Col. Ellet (a younger brother), 
 dashed fearlessly ahead of the gunboats and 
 ran for the enemy's fleet. At the first en- 
 counter they sank one and disabled another 
 of the Confederates, who were taken greatly 
 by surprise, as they did not know that we 
 had any rams, but took them for transports. 
 
 The rams were closely followed by the 
 Union gun-boats in order of battle, under 
 the lead of Flag-oflficer Davis, and opened 
 a vigorous fire which was kept up until the 
 end of the battle. 
 
 Up to the time of the attack by the Union 
 rams, the enemy had kept up a spirited and 
 rapid fire, but as the vessels closed it be- 
 came necessary for the gunners on both 
 sides to exercise more care. 
 
 The "Queen of the West" being in ad- 
 vance of the " Monarch," was now badly 
 rammed by the " Beauregard," which ves- 
 sel, in company with the "General Price," 
 then made a dash at the " Monarch " as she 
 approached them, but missed their mark 
 and crashed together, the "Beauregard" 
 cutting the "Price" down to the water line 
 and tearing off her port wheel. The " Mon- 
 arch" then rammed the " Beauregard," and 
 she quickly sank in the river opposite Mem- 
 phis, being struck at the same time in the 
 boilers by a shell from an iron-clad. 
 
 The "General Lovell " having been struck 
 by the " Queen of the West," or the " Mon- 
 arch " (as the latter claims), went to the 
 bottom so suddenly as to take a number of 
 her officers and crew down with her. The 
 "General Price," "Queen of the West" 
 and " Little Rebel" being disabled (the lat- 
 ter by a shot through her steam-chest), 
 were run ashore on the Arkansas side of the 
 river to prevent their sinking. By this 
 time the best part of the Confederate rams 
 and gun-boats had been disabled and the 
 fight now became a running one. The ram 
 " Van Dorn " escaped down the river and 
 was pursued by the "Switzerland" and 
 
 Thompson " was set on fire by the shells 
 from the iron-clads, and ran into the right 
 bank of the river, where she burnt to the 
 water's edge, and finally blew up. The 
 " Sumter " and ' Bragg " were somewhat 
 cut up, but did not sink, and thus of all the 
 Confederate fleet, the "Van Dorn" alone 
 escaped. 
 
 The commander of the " Monarch," after 
 disabling the "Beauregard" and putting 
 her in a sinking condition, towed her into 
 shoal water and saved her crew. This was 
 a noble action, as enemies in combat do not 
 often stop to save sinking ships that have 
 been firing into them. But this was not the 
 only instance where humanity was shown 
 during this battle : when it was known in 
 the fleet that some of the enemy's vessels 
 were sinking, and a cry came up for help, 
 the flagship "Benton" lowered her boats 
 and sent her officers and men to the rescue 
 of their bitter foes. So eager was the rush 
 to undertake this duty that the first boat 
 was swamped. 
 
 How glorious was this conduct when 
 compared with the treatment which the 
 sailors of the "Cumberland" and "Con- 
 gress" received at Hampton Roads, when 
 they were struggling in the water and sub- 
 jected to a murderous fire from the guns 
 of the victorious "Merrimac." At Hamp- 
 ton Roads the cry was " Death to the Fed- 
 erals !" At Memphis it was "Help for the 
 drowning Confederates !" 
 
 The battle had carried most of the Union 
 vessels ten miles below Memphis, and they 
 now found themselves to have been suc- 
 cessful beyond all hopes. The enemy was 
 completely swept away, as if his vessels had 
 been made of paper — a result which our 
 officers had hardly expected since the gal- 
 lant action at Plum Point, in which these 
 same vessels, under Montgomery, proved 
 such formidable foes. 
 
 Rear- Admiral Davis had no military au- 
 thority over the ram fieet. He could only 
 request co-operation, which the Commander, 
 Col. Ellet, was eager to give. The latter 
 fought well, but unfortunately his vessels 
 did not keep together and therefore did not 
 accomplish as much as they would have 
 done by a combined attack. Three of the 
 rams did not get into action until after the 
 " Queen of the West " and " Monarch " had 
 made their charge upon the enemy. Had 
 they made a rush at the same time, it is 
 probable that five of the enemy's vessels 
 would have been sunk, and not even the 
 "Van Dorn" would have escaped. How- 
 ever, as matters turned out, it was a bril- 
 liant victory, and the Union commander 
 had every reason to be satisfied with it. 
 
 The Confederates fought with a coolness 
 and energy that entitled them to the great- 
 est credit, and although the "Van Dorn" 
 
172 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 saw that he could be of no further use to 
 his friends. 
 
 Capt. Maynardier, who commanded the 
 mortar batteries, accompanied the fleet in 
 a tug and rendered good service. When 
 the " Beauregard " was disabled he steamed 
 alongside of her and made her crew prison- 
 ers — he also received many persons of the 
 Confederate fleet, who returned and de 
 livered themselves up after their vessels had 
 been deserted. Rear- Admiral Davis says : 
 "It is with pleasure that I call the attention 
 of the Department to his personal zeal and 
 activity, the more conspicuous because dis- 
 played while the mortar-boats under his 
 command could take no part in the action." 
 
 Two of the enemy's rams, the "Price" 
 
 slow moving and awkward iron-clads off 
 the face of the river. Who can tell what 
 they felt when they saw the Confederate 
 fleet sunk, blown up, or burnt — for it was an 
 awful sight to see a ship going down in an 
 instant with all on board, not even her 
 masts appearing above the deep waters of 
 the Mississippi. Can any one who wit- 
 nessed the battle ever forget the heart-rend- 
 ing shrieks of drowning men as the 
 waters closed over their heads, or the 
 sounds of woe that went up from relatives 
 and friends upon the river bank who wit- 
 nessed the appalling scene ! 
 
 The "Lovell"was the first vessel that 
 went to the bottom, giving the spectators 
 a fair idea of what would be the fate of all 
 
 Peice. 
 
 :^UEEN. Monarch, 
 Little Rebel, 
 
 ViN DOEN. 
 
 Jeff. Thompson. 
 
 Bbagg. 
 
 Sumter. 
 
 Louisville. Cairo. 
 
 St. Louis. Benton. Carondelet. 
 Beauregard. Lovell. 
 
 BATTLE OP MEMPHIS, ENEMY EETEEATrSG.— (DKAWN BY KEAE-ADMIEAL WALKE.) 
 
 and the "Bragg," were sea-going vessels, 
 strongly built and heavily armed, each of 
 them being superior to any in Ellet's fleet. 
 No doubt the enemy calculated a great deal 
 on them. They were saved and refitted, 
 and afterwards formed part of the Union 
 fleet in Western waters. The " Sumter"' 
 and "Little Rebel" were also sa.ved and 
 made use of, but all the rest were destroyed 
 by sinking or blowing up. 
 
 To those who stood on tlie river bank at 
 Memphis, this battle must have appeared 
 like a horrid dream, so different was the 
 result from what they had anticipated. 
 Here were assembled the relatives of those 
 who manned the powerful and swift ves- 
 sels, which were fully expected to wipe the 
 
 the rest. Many human beings were buffet- 
 ing the waves while the battle was going 
 on, and the cry for help arose above the 
 sounds of conflict. No aid could reach 
 them from the shore, and their friends 
 clasped their hands over their faces to shut 
 out the agonizing sight. 
 
 But even in the excitement of battle, hu- 
 manity was uppermost in the hearts of our 
 brave western sailors ; boats were lowered 
 with that rapidity which can only be seen 
 on board a vessel-of-war, and the sinking 
 wretches, who a moment before had given 
 up all hope, were rescued and taken to a 
 place of safety. 
 
 The " Monarch," even before the battle 
 was ended, towed the ' ' Beauregard " on to 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 173 
 
 a shoal, while Capt. Pike, of the Ordnance 
 department, went along-side and helped the 
 wounded into his tug. Bright, amid all the 
 horrors of that day, will shine these deeds 
 of humanity, and our sailors may feel a 
 more glorious pride in having saved their 
 helpless enemies than in having conquered 
 them. 
 
 The capture of Memphis was a terrible 
 blow to the South, for this city had been of 
 great use to the Confederacy as a base of 
 supplies for their armies in Tennessee, which 
 supplies we had not up to this time been able 
 to intercept. This naval success opened the 
 river all the way down to Vicksburg, and 
 three other depots of supplies were soon to 
 fall into our hands, when our fleet penetrated 
 the Yazoo River in the heart of the enemy's 
 country. 
 
 For the second time Rear Admiral Davis 
 won a strictly naval victory, and won it 
 without a single mistake. He was no doubt 
 much assisted by the two rams, " Queen of 
 the West " and " Monarch," which by their 
 gallant and unexpected attack did so much 
 to demoralize the enemy. 
 
 The Confederate account of this battle 
 differs very little from the Union one, the 
 only exception being in the case of the 
 "General Lovell," which vessel, they say, 
 was sunk by a shot from the fleet, and not 
 hy being rammed by the "Queen of the 
 West." The Confederates ought to know 
 which is the correct version. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Davis, in his report, makes 
 no distinction among his officers. He 
 simply says, "the officers and men of the 
 flotilla performed their duty." The proof 
 of the manner in which it was performed 
 was the total annihilation of the enemy's 
 forces. 
 
 Take the battle, together with its results, 
 it was one of the handsomest achievements 
 of the war, but it did not receive that gen- 
 eral notice which it deserved. 
 
 If Mr. Secretary Welles, who was lib- 
 eral with his eulogistic letters to those 
 whom he approved of, ever congratu- 
 lated Rear-Admiral Davis and his offi- 
 cers for their brilliant success, it nowhere 
 appears in the Secretary's Report for 1862. 
 But history will eventually give due credit 
 to all the brave men who served their country 
 faithfully in the time of her greatest need. 
 The prejudices and jealousies of the times 
 will have passed away, and the truthful 
 historian who takes time to examine the 
 records carefully, will give to each his 
 proper place, and render justice to those 
 who have not yet received it. The writer 
 of this work regrets that his space is so 
 limited that he can only do partial justice 
 to the scenes enacted in the war. 
 
 In the battle just described, there were 
 only three men wounded and one killed in 
 
 struck by the enemy's shot — which looks 
 like a cheap victory; yet it was none the 
 less important. The city of Memphis was 
 surrendered that day to the Army and 
 Navy, and garrisoned at once by the In- 
 diana Brigade under Colonel Fitch. 
 
 A great deal of property fell into the 
 hands of the Federal troops, who kept pos- 
 session of the place until the end of the 
 war, and soon converted it into a loyal 
 city. 
 
 The Confederates had now to seek a new 
 strategic line of defence : they established 
 their fifth Gibraltar at Vicksburg, where 
 the gunboats will catch up with them after 
 a while. 
 
 Expedition Against St. Charles, on The 
 White River. 
 
 On June 16th, 1863, Rear-Admiral Davis 
 sent an expedition up the White River to 
 destroy some batteries located at St. 
 Charles. The expedition was under the 
 charge of Com. Kilty, and was composed 
 of the gun-boats "Mound City," "St. 
 Louis," " Lexington," and " Conestoga," 
 and several transports with troops under 
 Col. Fitch, U. S. A. 
 
 The Confederates had mounted batteries 
 at this point and had obstructed the river 
 with piles and sunken vessels. 
 
 On June 17th, Com. Kilty reconnoitered 
 the place in a tug, and having gained the 
 desired information, at six o'clock next 
 morning the gun boats got under way in 
 the following order: "Mound City," "St. 
 Louis," "Lexington," "Conestoga," and 
 opened fire on the enemy's works. 
 
 The "Mound City" had advanced to 
 within 600 yards of the forts, when a well- 
 directed shell penetrated her port casemate, 
 killing three men and exploding in the 
 steam-chest. The ship was instantly filled 
 with scalding steam, and manj' of the crew 
 jumped overboard in their agony. All boats 
 were manned and sent to pick up these 
 men, and as the ship was disabled she was 
 towed out of action by the " Conestoga." 
 
 The "St. Louis," Lieut.-Com. McGun- 
 negle, moved close up to the forts and con- 
 tinued to pour in shot and shell, while the 
 enemy kept firing on the " St. Louis " and 
 also on the men who were struggling in the 
 water. A more dastardly thing never was 
 done in the history of the war, and was 
 very different from the conduct of the Fed- 
 erals at Memphis, where, as stated above, 
 boats were lowered in the heat of battle to 
 pick up the drowning enemy. 
 
 At this moment Col. Fitch made signal 
 for the gun-boats to cease firing, and hav- 
 ing gained a position he immediately 
 charged the enemy's works and carried 
 them without the loss of a single man. 
 Eight of the enemy were killed and twenty- 
 
174 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 Fry (formerly a Lieutenant in the U. S. 
 Navy), Commander of the post. All their 
 guns and ammunition fell into the hands 
 of the Federals. The batteries consisted of 
 two 12-pounder brass pieces, two 9-pounder 
 parrot guns (rifled) and two 42-pounder sea- 
 coast howitzers. 
 
 The victory was a complete one, but the 
 loss of life on board the " Mound City" was 
 frightful. To describe the scene after the 
 explosion is beyond the power of any pen. 
 Among the scalded and suffering was Com. 
 Kilty, who, a moment before the accident, 
 was seen coolly walking the deck and fight- 
 ing his ship most gallantly. All honor to 
 his name. 
 
 Out of the entire crew of the "Mound 
 City " (175 officers and men), only three offi- 
 cers and twenty-two men escaped unin- 
 jured; eighty-two died from wounds or 
 scalding, and forty-three were either 
 drowned or killed in the water. The 
 wounded men received the greatest care 
 and consideration, and were finally sent to 
 Memphis on board the " Conestoga " and an 
 army transport. 
 
 To Lieuts. McGunnegle, Shirk and Blod- 
 gett is due the highest honor, not only for 
 
 their bravery during the action, but for 
 their humanity in providing for the comfort 
 of the poor fellows who were so badly 
 scalded. Dr. George W. Garber, of the 
 "Lexington," and Dr. William H. Nelson, of 
 the "Carondelet," also deserve great credit 
 for their judicious care of the wounded. 
 
 With regard to Col. Fitch, who stormed 
 and carried the fort with his soldiers, we 
 have only to say that he exhibited that cool 
 courage and judgment which he had al- 
 ways displayed since co-operating with the 
 Navy at Island No. 10. 
 
 This victory, though a small one, was 
 very important, as it opened the White 
 River to our gun-boats and transports, and 
 showed the enemy the futility of attempt- 
 ing to bar the way against our vessels with 
 Confederate batteries. It also showed what 
 could be done by a small force of the Army 
 and Navy when working together harmo- 
 niously. 
 
 Although the Confederates congratulated 
 themselves on the great death-roll of the 
 "Mound City," they had to bear the ig- 
 nominj' of having fired upon drowning 
 men, which almost debarred them from the 
 clemency of their victors. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP, AND THE SURRENDER 
 
 OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 Naval Expedition Fitted Out. — Farragut Commands Expedition. — Farragut's and 
 Porter's Fleets. — Their Appearance in the Mississippi. ^Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip. — Confidence op Confederates in the Defense of New Orleans. — Ob- 
 structions. — Confederate Fleet. — Porter's Mortar Fleet. — Bombardment of 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip. — Terrible Work of Mortar Fleet. — The Chains Cut. 
 — Passage of Forts by War Vessels. — Order of Vessels in Passing. — Desperate 
 Naval Battle.— The Varuna Sunk After a gallant fight. — The " Hartford " At- 
 tacked BY Fire Rafts. — Brave Words of Farragut. — The Ram " Manassas" At- 
 tacks the " Hartford" and "Brooklyn." — The Little "Itasca." — Graphic Scenes. 
 —Farragut on his way to New Orleans. — The Ram " Manassas " destroyed. — The 
 Chalmette Batteries. — Forts Jackson and St. Philip Capitulate. — Flag of 
 Truce Violated. — Explosion of the " Louisiana." — Miscellaneous Incidents. — 
 Farragut Before New Orleans. — Congratulatory letters of Hon. Gideon 
 Welles. 
 
 ON the 12th of November, 1861, Presi- 
 dent Lincohi ordered that a naval 
 expedition should be fitted out for 
 the capture of New Orleans. 
 Captain David G. Farragut was 
 detailed for the command of this expedition, 
 with the title of Flag-officer, and an efficient 
 mortar flotilla was fitted out under Com. 
 David D. Porter, and attached to the force. 
 Besides the mortar vessels, there were in 
 the flotilla seven steamers to manage the 
 former in the swift current of the Missis- 
 sippi, and to aid them with their flre in case 
 of necessity. 
 
 Farragut sailed on the 20th of January, 
 1862, with the following orders from the 
 Secretary of the Navy : 
 
 " There ■will be attached to your squadron a fleet 
 of bomb-vessels, and armed steamers enough to 
 manage them, all under command of Com. D. D. 
 Porter, who will be directed to report to you. As 
 fast as these vessels are got ready they will be sent 
 to Key West to await the arrival of all, and the 
 commanding oflQcers will be permitted to organize 
 and practice with them, at that point. 
 
 " When these formidable mortars arrive, and you 
 are completely ready, you will collect such vessels 
 as can be spared from the blockade and proceed up 
 the Mississippi River and reduce the defences which 
 
 guard the approaches to New Orleans, when you 
 will appear off that city and talte possesf^ion of it 
 under the guns of your squadron, and hoist the 
 American flag therein, keeping possession until 
 troops can be sent to you. 
 
 "If the Mississippi expedition from Cairo shall 
 not have descended the river, you will take advan- 
 tage of the panic to push a strong force up the river 
 to take all their defences in the rear." 
 
 Farragut, as soon as possible, proceeded 
 to his station, and assumed command of the 
 West Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 While the foregoing plans were develop- 
 ing at the North, the Confederates had not 
 remained inactive. Acquainted, almost 
 from its incipiency, with tlie object of the 
 expedition, they had exerted themselves 
 to the utmost in strengthening the river de- 
 fenses at Forts Jackson and St. Philip; 
 which included obstructions on the river it- 
 self, besides the preparation of what might 
 well be considered a formidable naval 
 force. 
 
 Of the latter, the ram "Manassas," was 
 improved and commissioned, while the 
 " Louisiana," iron-clad, of sixteen heavy 
 guns, was rapidly nearing completion. Two 
 other powerful iron-clads, intended to clear 
 the southern coast of blockaders.were under 
 
176 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 construction at New Orleans, while fur- 
 ther inland, at Yazoo City, the iron-clad ram 
 " Arkansas " was almost ready for service. 
 Several other iron-clad vessels were, at the 
 same time, building at various points on 
 the tributaries. 
 
 time of Nelson. Not only had the North 
 failed to avail itself of its great resources 
 for the construction of powerful armor- 
 clad vessels in sufficient numbers to strike 
 at once a heavy blow, but up to the depart- 
 ure of this expedition, a commencement 
 
 ADMIRAL DAVID G. FARKAGUT. 
 
 A comparison of the work done by the 
 North and the South, up to the advance on 
 New Orleans, is largely in favor of the lat- 
 ter; for not one among all the vessels sent 
 to Farragut possessed any power of resist- 
 ance, save what had been shown from the 
 
 only had been made, by the construction 
 of the "Monitor," one small iron-clad, and 
 the new "Ironsides." The subsequent en- 
 counter of the former vessel with the "Mer- 
 rimac " seemed to show for the first time 
 the great utility of such craft. The action 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 177 
 
 of the Federal Government in this matter 
 seems inexcusable. 
 
 By the middle of March, the following 
 ships, assigned to Farragut's command, had 
 assembled at Key West, the rendezvous; 
 
 " Hartford," 25 guns, Com. Richard Wain- 
 wright; "Brooklyn," 24 guns, Capt. T. T. 
 Craven; "Richmond," 26 guns. Com. James 
 Alden; " Mississippi," 12 guns. Com. Me- 
 lancton Smith; " Pensacola," 24 guns. Capt. 
 H. W. Morris; "Cayuga," 6 guns, Lieut. 
 ■Com. N. B. Harrison; "Oneida," 9 guns, 
 Com. S. P. Lee; "Varuna," 10 guns. Com. 
 Charles S. Boggs; " Katahdin," 4 guns, 
 Lieut. Com. George H. Preble; " Kineo," 
 
 4 guns, Lieut. Com. George M. Ransom; 
 " Wissahickon," 4 guns, Lieut. Com. A. IST. 
 Smith; "Winona," 4 guns, Lieut. Com. E. 
 T. Nichols; "Itasca." 4 guns, Lieut. Com. 
 C. H. B. Caldwell; "Pinola," 4 guns, Lieut. 
 Com. Pierce Crosby; "Kennebec," 4 guns, 
 Lieut. Com. John H. Russell; " Iroquois," 
 
 5 guns, Com. John De Camp; " Sciota," 4 
 guns, Lieut. Com. Edward Donaldson. 
 Total guns, 177. 
 
 Also the following steamers belonging to 
 the mortar flotilla: "Harriet Lane," 
 "Owasco." "Clifton," "Westfield," "Mi- 
 ami," "Jackson;" besides the mortar 
 schooners, which will be named hereafter. 
 
 The frigate " Colorado," of fifty guns, is 
 not enumerated, for though present, both 
 Flag-officer Farragut and Capt. Bailey, his 
 second in command, concluded that it was 
 impossible to lighten her sufficiently to 
 cross the bar at Southwest Pass. 
 
 Towed by the " Harriet Lane," "Owasco," 
 "Westfield," and " Clifton," all the mortar 
 schooners crossed the bar at Pass a I'Outre 
 on March 18th, and were ordered by Farra- 
 gut to proceed via the junction to the South- 
 west Pass. 
 
 At this time the only vessels that had 
 •crossed the bar at the Southwest Pass, 
 after an unsuccessful attempt with the 
 "Brooklyn" at Pass a I'Outre, were the 
 "Hartford" and the "Brooklyn." The 
 ISTavy Department had been mistaken in 
 sending vessels of such draught as the 
 "Colorado," "Pensacola," and "Missis- 
 sippi," for though the two latter ships were 
 finally with great difficulty worked over, 
 the time lost amounted to at least twelve 
 days, with a corresponding delay of the 
 fleet. 
 
 Farragut's first act upon reaching the 
 Mississippi was to despatch his Chief of 
 Staff, Capt. Henry H. Bell, with the gun- 
 boats "Kennebec" and "Wissahickon" up 
 the river on a reconnoissance. After re- 
 turning from the neighborhood of the forts, 
 Capt. Bell reported that " the obstructions 
 seemed formidable. Eight hulks were 
 moored in line across the river, with heavy 
 chains extending from one to the other. 
 
 Rafts of logs were also used, and the pas- 
 sage between the forts was thus entirely 
 closed." 
 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip had been 
 much strengthened since the expedition 
 was started. Situated in a most com- 
 manding position, at a turn in the river, 
 the former on the west bank and the latter 
 on the east, they commanded the stream 
 above and below; Fort St. Philip being par- 
 ticularly well placed to rake the lower ap- 
 proach. 
 
 The works themselves were of masonry. 
 Fort Jackson was of pentagonal form, with 
 bastions, its river front being about one 
 hundred yards from the levee, above which 
 its casemates just appeared. The arma- 
 ments consisted of a total of seventy-five 
 guns, distributed as follows : Two ten inch 
 columbiads, one six-inch rifle, and thirty- 
 three thirty-two pounders on the main par- 
 apet ; two ten-inch columbiads and one 
 nine-inch mortar in the second bastion ; 
 one columbiad and two eight-inch mortars 
 in the third bastion ; eight thirty-two 
 pounders in the northwest casemate, six 
 thirty-two pounders in the northeast case- 
 mate, and ten short guns and two brass 
 field-pieces in the bastion casemates. The 
 water battery of this fort, having the com- 
 mand of the lower approach, was a power- 
 ful work, mounting seven guns, as follows: 
 One ten and one nine-inch columbiad, 
 two heavy rifle guns and three thirty-two 
 pounders. 
 
 Fort Jackson was altogether in a good 
 condition; its citadel, in the centre of the 
 works, contained large amounts of war 
 stores and provisions, while the bomb- 
 proofs had been made more secure by sand 
 bags piled upon them to a depth of some 
 six feet, and all vulnerable parts protected 
 in like manner. 
 
 The guns of Fort St. Philip were all in 
 barbette, and numbered a total of fifty-three 
 pieces of ordnance, as follows: Forty -three 
 guns, chiefly thirty-two pounders, one 
 thirteen-inch mortar, one six-inch rifle, four 
 ten-inch sea-coast mortars, one ten-inch 
 siege mortar, one eight-inch siege mortar, 
 and three pieces of light artillery. 
 
 Each of the forts was garrisoned by some 
 seven hundred men, and both, with their 
 adjuncts, were under command of Briga- 
 dier General Johnson K. Duncan, whose 
 gallantry and ability were conspicuous. 
 
 Less current and fewer eddies existed 
 close under the west bank, near Fort Jack- 
 son ; consequently the best passage up river 
 was in that channel. The Confederates 
 had obstructed this way by means of a 
 heavy raft of logs, which closed the only 
 part of the river not blockaded by the hulks 
 and their chain connections, anchored 
 across, below the forts, almost from bank 
 
178 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 to bank. The raft was fitted to act as a 
 gate, opening or closing at the pleasure of 
 the defenders. 
 
 Besides the land defenses, a fleet of war 
 vessels, of more or less power, had been or- 
 ganized by the Confederates, from such ma- 
 terial as they could procure; heavy tugs 
 and merchant vessels were converted with 
 some success, until a fleet of eighteen ves- 
 sels, including the ram "Manassas," and 
 the iron-clad "Louisiana," was gathered 
 under the command of Com. John K. 
 Mitchell, of the Confederate Navy. 
 
 This fleet was composed of two divisions, 
 one belonging to the regularly organized 
 Navy and the other forming what was 
 called the River Defense, under the imme- 
 diate command of a merchant captain 
 named Stephenson. 
 
 Of the regular Navy were the following: 
 The iron-clad "Louisiana," sixteen heavy 
 guns, crew two hundred men, a powerful 
 vessel, with armor sufficient to turn the pro- 
 jectiles of any gun in the Union fleet. Upon 
 the roof of the casemate was a gallery for 
 sharp-shooters, running around the entire 
 space. The machinery, consisting of twin 
 screw engines and central paddles, was 
 unfinished, and her inactivity at the time of 
 the fight was due to that fact. The " Louisi- 
 ana " was commanded by Com. Charles F. 
 Mcintosh, formerly of the U. S. Navy. 
 
 The " McRae," commanded by Lieut. 
 Thomas B. Huger, was a sea-going steamer, 
 mounting six thirty-two pounders and one 
 nine-inch shell gun. 
 
 The steamer "Jackson," Lieut. F. B. 
 Renshaw, commanding, mounted two 
 thirty-two pounders. 
 
 The ram " Manassas," Lieut. A. F. War- 
 ley commanding, mounted one thirty-two 
 pounder in bow. 
 
 The foregoing, with two launches armed 
 with one howitzer each, constituted the 
 regular Navy command. 
 
 Included in this division there were also 
 the following sea-steamers converted into 
 State gun-boats belonging to Louisiana. 
 These vessels were lightly protected with 
 pine and cotton barricades over the machin- 
 ery and boilers. 
 
 The "General Quitman," commanded 
 by Capt. Grant, mounting two thirty-two 
 pounders; The "Governor Moore," Com- 
 mander Beverly Kennon, mounting two 
 thirtj-two pounder rifled guns. According 
 to Commander Mitchell tlae above, "being 
 converted vessels, were too slightly built 
 for war purposes." 
 
 Attached to his command were the follow- 
 ing unarmed steamers: The "Phoenix," 
 "W. Burton," and the "Landis." 
 
 Subject to his orders, but chartered by the 
 Army, were the small tugs "Mosher," 
 "BeUe Algerine," " Star," and " Music." 
 
 The second division, the River Defense, 
 commanded as before stated, consisted of 
 the following converted tow-boats : The 
 " Warrior," " Stonewall Jackson," "Reso- 
 lute," "General Lovell," "Defiance," and 
 the " R. I. Breckenridge." 
 
 These vessels mounted from one to two 
 thirty-two pounder pivots each, some of the 
 guns being rifled. By means of iron cas- 
 ing their bows, they had been fitted for use 
 as rams. 
 
 Little assistance to the fleet resulted from 
 the employment of these boats, on account 
 of the insubordination of their division 
 commander. 
 
 As a whole, the Confederate fleet mounted 
 thirty-nine guns, all, with the exception of 
 two, being thirty-two pounders, some nine 
 of which were rifled. 
 
 From the foregoing enumeration it will 
 be seen that strongly-built works, mounting 
 one hundred and twenty-eight guns, as- 
 sisted by a partially armored fleet carrying 
 thirty-nine guns, opposed the passage of 
 Farragut's wooden vessels carrying one 
 hundred and seventy-seven guns. 
 
 Much assistance was expected by the 
 Confederates from numerous fire-rafts that 
 were placed at Commander Mitchell's dis- 
 posal for the purpose of lighting the pas- 
 sage, and confusing the order of the Union, 
 fieet. 
 
 Assuming, upon the general concession 
 of military men, that one gun in a fort was 
 equal to about three afloat, and considering 
 the disadvantage of a contrary three-and-a- 
 half knot current to the Federal vessels 
 (with the additional channel obstructions of 
 fire-rafts and chains), the odds were greatly 
 in favor of the Confederate defenses. This- 
 was thoroughly realized by the Confeder- 
 ates, who were rather impatient than 
 otherwise for Farragut's advance, believ- 
 ing him certain to meet with disaster. 
 Like vigilant foes, however, they fully- 
 improved the time afforded by the delay of 
 the fleet at the bar, and materially increased 
 the strength of their position in the interim 
 preceding the attack. 
 
 With this understanding of the defense, 
 we will return to the attacking force. 
 
 The position selected for the first and 
 third divisions of the mortar fleet, during 
 the bombardment, was on the west bank of 
 the river, at a point thoroughly screened 
 from the forts by a thick growth of wood. 
 The mast-heads of the schooners rose above 
 the trees, and afforded a capital outlook 
 from which to direct the fire, but being in- 
 geniously covered with brush, they were 
 rendered indistinguishable to the Confed- 
 erate gunners. 
 
 The mortar vessels were organized as- 
 follows : 
 
 First division, Lieut. Com. Watson Smith, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 179 
 
 consisted of the following vessels : " Nor- 
 folk Packet," Lieut. Smith; "0. H. Lee," 
 Act. Mast. Godfrey; "Para," Act. Mast. 
 Furber; " C. P. Williams," Act. Mast. Lang- 
 thorne; "Arietta," Act. Mast. Smith; "Ba- 
 con," Act. Mast. Eogers; " Sophronia," 
 Act. Mast. Bartholomew. 
 
 Second division, under Lieut. W. W. 
 Queen : " T. A. Ward," Lieut. Queen; "M. 
 J. Carlton," Act. Mast. Jack; "Matthew 
 Vassar," Act. Mast. Savage; " George Mang- 
 ham," Act. Mast. Collins; "Orvetta," Act. 
 Mast. Blanchard; "Sidney C.Jones," Act. 
 Mast. Graham; " Adolph Hugel," Act. Mast. 
 Van Buskirk. 
 
 Third division. — Lieut. K. R. Breese : 
 "John Griffiths," Act. Mast. Henry Brown; 
 "Sarah Bruen," Act. Mast. Christian; 
 " Racer," Act. Mast. Phinney; "Sea Foam," 
 Act. Mast. Williams; "Henry James," Act. 
 Mast. Pennington; " * Dan Smith," Act. 
 Mast. George W. Brown. 
 
 The leading vessels of the first division 
 were moored at a distance of 3,850 yards 
 from Fort Jackson, and 3,680 yards from 
 Fort St. Philip, the others occupying posi- 
 tions close under the bank and below the 
 first — this same order being preserved by 
 the third division. The second division 
 was placed at the opposite bank of the river, 
 with its head 3,680 yards from Fort Jack- 
 son. 
 
 The bombardment commenced on the 
 morning of April 16th, each vessel firing at 
 the rate of one shell every ten minutes. 
 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip returned 
 the mortar fire immediately, though not at 
 once effectually, owing to the secure posi- 
 tion of the vessels behind the natural ram- 
 part afforded by the bank. The Confeder- 
 ate fire becoming better upon obtaining the 
 range, Lieut. Com. Guest with the "Octo- 
 rara," was sent to the head of the line to 
 open fire with his eleven-inch gun. This 
 position was occupied for an hour and fifty 
 minutes, and only abandoned for more 
 ammunition. 
 
 The second division of mortar-boats, on 
 the east bank, did excellent work during 
 this day, but being exposed, suffered much 
 from the fire of the forts. The position was 
 retained until the cessation of the evening's 
 fire at sunset, when the division was re- 
 moved to the west bank with the others, 
 under cover. 
 
 About 5 p. M. of the first day, fire was 
 seen to break out in Fort Jackson, and the 
 garrison soon left the guns to fight the 
 flames. Some in the Federal fleet were in- 
 clined to believe the fire to be from a raft, 
 but this was disproved by Com. Porter, who 
 pulled up the river in a boat and ascertained 
 
 * The names of the vessels were those under which they were 
 known in the merchant service, and were unchanged after purchase 
 b; the Government. 
 
 that the fort itself was burning, a fact at 
 once reported to the fiag-officer, 
 
 The heavy work exhausted the men at 
 the mortars by nightfall, but the evidences 
 of accurate practice, as shown in the condi- 
 tion of the fort, increased their activity un- 
 til shells were thrown at the rate of one in 
 five minutes from each vessel, or, in all, two 
 hundred and forty shells an hour. To ad- 
 mit of rest, the fire was limited to one shell 
 each half hour during the night. In the 
 light of subsequent events this first day's 
 fire was shown to have been the most effect- 
 ive of any during the bombardment, and 
 had the fleet been ready to move at once, 
 the passage could have been effected with- 
 out serious difficulty. 
 
 The bombardment was opened afresh on 
 the following day, and continued without 
 intermission until the final attack of the 
 fleet on April 24th. 
 
 The effects of this fire are best described 
 by Colonel Edward Higgins (the com- 
 mander at Fort Jackson), dated April 4, 
 1872. 
 
 " Your mortar-boats were placed in position on 
 the afternoon of the 17th of April, 1863, and opened 
 fire at once upon Fort Jackson, where my head- 
 quarters were established. The practice was excel- 
 lent from the commencement of the fire to the end, 
 and continued, without intermission, until the 
 morning of the 24th of April, when the fleet passed 
 at about four o'clock. 
 
 Nearly every shell of the many thousand fired at 
 the fort lodged inside of the works. 
 
 On the first night of the attack, the citadel and 
 all buildings in rear of the fort were fired by burst- 
 ing shell, and also the sand-bag walls that had been 
 thrown around the magazine doors. 
 
 The flre, as you are aware, raged with great fury, 
 and no effort of ours could subdue it. At this time, 
 and nearly all this night, Fort Jackson was helpless; 
 its magazines were inaccessible, and we could have 
 offered no resistance to a passing fleet. 
 
 The next morning a terrible scene of destruction 
 presented itself. The wood-work of the citadel be- 
 ing all destroyed, and the crumbling walls being 
 knocked about the fort by the bursting shells, 
 made matters still worse for the garrison. The 
 work of destruction from now until the morning of 
 the 24th, when the fleet passed, was incessant. 
 
 I was obliged to confine the men most rigidly to 
 the casemates, or we should have lost the best part 
 of the garrison. A shell, striking the parapet over 
 one of the magazines, the wall of which was seven 
 feet thick, penetrated five feet and failed to burst. 
 If that shell had exploded, your work would have 
 ended. 
 
 Another burst near the magazine door, opening 
 the earth and burying the sentinel and another 
 man five feet in the same grave. 
 
 The parapet and interior of the fort were com- 
 pletely honey-combed, and the large number of 
 sand bags with which we were supplied, alone saved 
 us from being blown to pieces a hundred times, our 
 magazine doors being much exposed. 
 
 On the morning of the 34th, when the fleet passed, 
 the terrible precision with which your formidable 
 vessels hailed down their tons of bursting shell 
 upon the devoted fort made it impossible for us to 
 obtain either rapidity or'acouracy of flre, and thus 
 rendered the passage comparatively easy. 
 
 There was not very considerable damage done to 
 
180 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 our batteries, but few of the guns being dismounted 
 by your flre; everytliing else in and around the fort 
 was destroyed." 
 
 A deserter from the forts presented him- 
 self at the Union position on the third day, 
 a,nd excited much incredulity by the state- 
 ments he made concerning the condition of 
 affairs at Fort Jackson. He represented 
 the garrison as in a desperate and demoral- 
 ized condition from the effects of the 
 bombs, hundreds of which had struck the 
 works, crushing the bomb-proofs, cutting 
 the levees by which the fort was flooded, 
 and firing the citadel. 
 
 Farragut, to whom the deserter was 
 taken to relate his story, was prevented 
 from taking advantage of the state of 
 affairs as represented, by the supposition 
 that the obstructions in the channel were 
 as yet insurmountable, and time was re- 
 quired for a further examination. 
 
 Lieut. Crosby with the " Pinola," and 
 Lieut. CaldweUwith the "Itasca," were de- 
 tailed on April 30th for a night expedition 
 to break the chain which was supposed to 
 extend from shore to shore below the forts. 
 
 U. S. FLAG-SHIP "HAETFORD." 
 
 The charge of this expedition was given to 
 Captain Bell. Chief of Staff. The Confed- 
 erates, however, detected the manoeuvre, 
 and the fire of Fort Jackson was concen- 
 trated upon the gun-boats, but with little 
 or no effect, on account of the tremendous 
 fire from the mortar flotilla. The cables 
 were parted, and a passage-way on the left 
 bank of the river opened. 
 
 For nearly six days and nights the mor- 
 tars continued their flre — sending in about 
 2,800 shells every twenty-four hours, or a 
 total of nearly 16,800. At the end of this 
 time the men were giving out, ammunition 
 was exhausted, one schooner — the "Carlton" 
 — sunk, and the others severely racked 
 by the repeated concussion upon their 
 decks. 
 
 By the 23d instant, Farragut concluded 
 that the condition of affairs warranted an 
 attempt to pass the forts. A council of the 
 commanding officers decided upon an ad- 
 vance to be made on the early morning of 
 the 24th. 
 
 Meantime the iron-clad " Louisiana " had 
 
 been brought to the forts, and an effort was 
 made by the fort Commander, General 
 Duncan, to have her take up a position be- 
 low the works, from which her heavy guns 
 would reach the fleet. The following com- 
 munication from General Duncan to Com- 
 mander Mitchell was written on April 22d: 
 
 "It is of vital importance that the present fire of 
 the enemy should be withdrawn from us, which 
 you alone can do. This can be done in the m^an- 
 ner suggested this morning, under the cover of our 
 guns, while your work on the boat can be carried 
 on in safety and security. 
 
 Our position is a critical one, dependent entirely 
 on the powers of endurance of our casemates, many 
 of which have been completely shattered, and are 
 crumbling away by repeated shocks; and, there- 
 fore, I respectfully, but earnestly, again urge my 
 suggestion of this morning on your notice. Our 
 magazines are also in danger." 
 
 General Duncan's suggestion was un- 
 heeded, however, and the really formidable 
 obstruction to the Union fleet remained in- 
 active at the river's bank during the subse- 
 quent action. 
 
 Various other efforts were made to dis- 
 lodge the mortar flotilla, and a body of 
 riflemen were sent against them as sharp- 
 shooters, but all without success. 
 
 Having previously issued detailed orders 
 to the commanders of vessels, concerning 
 their preparation for the approaching oper- 
 ations, such as slinging chains over vital 
 part of the hulls, sending down light spars, 
 painting hulls mud color, tricing up whisk- 
 ers, etc., Farragut issued the following 
 general order : 
 
 "UxiTED States Flag-Ship, 'Hartford,' ) 
 Mississippi River, April 20, 1862. f 
 
 "The Flag-officer, having heaid all the opinions 
 expressed by the different commanders, is of the 
 opinion that whatever is to be done will nave to be 
 done quickly, or we shall be again reduced to a 
 blockading squadron, without the means of carry- 
 ing on the bombardment, as we have nearly ex- 
 pended all the shells and fuses, and material for 
 making cartridges. He has always entertained the 
 same opinions which are expressed by Com. Porter; 
 that is, there are three modes of attack, and the 
 question is, which is the one to be adopted ? 
 
 " His own opinion is, that a combination of two 
 should be made, viz. : the forts should be run, and, 
 when a force is once above the forts, to protect the 
 troops, they should be landed at quarantine from 
 the gulf side by bringing them through the l3ayou, 
 and then our forces should move up the river, "mu- 
 tually aiding each other as it can be done to advan- 
 tage. 
 
 "When, in the opinion of the Flag-officer, the pro- 
 pitious time has arrived, the signal will be made to 
 weigh and advance to the conflict. If, in his opin- 
 ion, at the time of arriving at the respective posi- 
 tions of the different divisions of the fleet, we have 
 the advantage, he will make the signal for close 
 action. No. 8, and abide the result, conquer or to 
 be conquered, drop anchor or keep under way, as 
 in his opinion is best. 
 
 "Unless the signal above mentioned is made, it will 
 be understood that the first order of sailing will be 
 formed after leaving Fort St. Philip, and we will 
 proceed up the river in accordance with the original 
 opinion expressed. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 181 
 
 "The programme of the order of sailing accom- 
 panies this general order, and the commanders will 
 hold themselves in readiness for the service as in- 
 dicated. 
 
 "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 " D. G. Parrasut, 
 " Flag oflBcer West Gulf Blockading Squadron." 
 
 The original and best plan of Farragut 
 was that the heavier vessels of the squad- 
 ron should lead the attack, as they would 
 more easily overcome any obstruction to be 
 met afloat. According to this plan he was 
 to lead in the "Hartford," being followed 
 immediately by the "Brooklyn," "Rich- 
 mond," "Pensacola," and "Mississippi." 
 The senior commanders interposed the ob- 
 jection to this that wisdom would not per- 
 mit the Commander-in-chief to receive the 
 greatest shock of the battle; and he was 
 finally induced, very relucta'ntly, to consent 
 to an arrangement whereby the fleet would 
 be separated into three divisions, with his 
 immediate position in the centre of the 
 line. Thus formed the vessels were in the 
 following order : 
 
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 Besides this arrangement of the fleet, the 
 mortar-steamers were directed to move 
 forward and be ready to engage the water- 
 battery of Fort Jackson, while the former 
 were passing the forts. The Confederates 
 placed much dependence upon this battery 
 on account of its heavy armament and 
 wide range down the river. 
 
 According to signal, on the morning of 
 April 34th, at two o'clock, the Federal fleet 
 commenced to get under way. The Con- 
 federates, ever alert, detected the move- 
 ment, probably from the noise of capstans 
 and cables. 
 
 Before following the fleet in its move- 
 ments, a word in relation to the advan- 
 tages and disadvantages of each side will 
 not be amiss. One fact was strongly in 
 favor of the fleet, the division of the Con- 
 federate defenses into three branches, viz. : 
 the land forces, the regular naval forces, 
 and the river defense — thus preventing con- 
 cert of action. The odds were against Far- 
 
 The impressions of the French Admiral, 
 and Captain Preedy, of the British Navy, 
 — obtained during a visit to the forts before 
 capture — that it would be an impossibility 
 for the fleet to pass the defenses, did not 
 tend to augment hopes of capture; but the 
 washing away of the obstructions and rafts 
 by the strong current restored confidence, 
 and the advance was made with ardor. 
 
 It was half-past two o'clock before the 
 fleet was fully under way. The strong cur- 
 rent impeded their progress to such an ex- 
 tent that it lacked but a quarter of three 
 o'clock before the leading vessel, the "Cay- 
 
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 .J-T 4.™ 
 
 COMMANDEE (NOW KEAE-ADMIHAL) CHAKLE8 F. BOGGS, 
 OF THE "VARUNA." 
 
 uga," was under fire. This commenced from 
 both forts simultaneously. 
 
 As the fleet advanced, the flve mortar- 
 steamers opened fire from their position, 
 two hundred yards from the water-battery 
 of Fort Jackson, quelling its fire by pour- 
 ing in canister, shrapnel, and grape, while 
 the mortars threw in their bombs with 
 great fury. 
 
 Captain Bailey's division, led by the 
 " Cayuga," passed the line of obstructions 
 in close order, but from this point the ves- 
 sels were somewhat damaged by the heavy 
 fire of St. Philip before it was possible for 
 them to reply. Captain Bailey kept on 
 

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THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 183 
 
 gauntlet safely, pouring in a destructive 
 fire of grape and canister as his guns 
 could be brought to bear. 
 
 Above the forts the enemy's gun-boats 
 were congregated, and several of them 
 made a dash at the " Cayuga" at once, but 
 were driven off, the " Oneida " and " Var- 
 una" coming to her assistance, and, by 
 their rapid and heavy fire, dispersing the 
 opposing vessels. The coolness and dis- 
 cipline of the Union vessels here showed 
 to great advantage, while this work was 
 more congenial than that of battling with 
 forts. 
 
 The leading division continued on up the 
 river, engaging everything that was met, 
 most of the enemy's vessels being disabled 
 by the time the centre division had passed 
 the forts, and the action decided in favor of 
 the Federal fleet. 
 
 Colonel Higgins, of Fort Jackson, admit- 
 ted this when he saw the large ships of the 
 Flag-officer's division pass, exclaiming : 
 "Better goto cover, boys; our cake is all 
 dough ! the old Navy has won!" 
 
 The " Varuna," Com. Boggs, of the first 
 division, being a fast vessel, had out-strip- 
 ped all her consorts, and chased the enemy 
 alone until she found herself surrounded 
 by them. Supposing her to be one of their 
 own vessels, in the darkness, the Confeder- 
 ates did not attack the '"Varuna " until Com. 
 Boggs apprised them of his identity by a 
 rapid fire from both sides. Three of the en- 
 emy were driven ashore in flames, and one 
 large steamer with troops on board drifted 
 ashore with an exploded boiler from this 
 encounter. At daylight the "Varuna" 
 suffered a double attack from the " Gover- 
 nor Moore " and the " Stonewall Jackson." 
 
 The former, a powerful vessel, fitted as 
 a ram, was commanded by Lieut. Beverly 
 Xennon, formerly of the U. S. Navy. This 
 vessel ranged up on the quarter of the 
 "Varuna" and raked her along the port 
 gangway with her bow-gun, killing some 
 five or six men; also ramming her. En- 
 gaging this enemy, the "Varuna" was ex- 
 posed to a blow from the ram " Stonewall 
 Jackson," which penetrated her starboard 
 side below water. A second blow was 
 planted in the same place, but the enemy 
 was exposed to a destructive fire of grape 
 and canister from the "Varuna's" eight- 
 inch guns, and finally hauled off, disabled 
 and on fire. But the "Varuna "had re- 
 ceived her death wound, was filling rapidly, 
 and to save life her gallant commander 
 headed her for shoal water where she soon 
 sank; the officers and crew being rescued 
 hy the "Oneida" and "Pensacola." 
 
 Both the attacking vessels in this spirited 
 engagement were fired by the crews, and 
 abandoned. 
 
 The conflict of vessels above the forts 
 
 was mainly between the small vessels of 
 both sides, and great skill and gallantry 
 were exhibited on either side. 
 
 Bailey's division may be said to have 
 swept the way. The gunners of Fort St. 
 Philip were driven to shelter by the heavy 
 batteries of the "Pensacola" and "Missis- 
 sippi," and the difficulties of the rear ships 
 diminished. 
 
 Most of the injuries inflicted upon the 
 fleet were from St. Philip, which had not 
 been exposed to the bombardment as had 
 Fort Jackson. 
 
 The Flag-officer, in the centre division, 
 came abreast the forts as Bailey's division 
 reached the turn in the river above. The 
 "Hartford" and "Brooklyn" kept the line, 
 but the "Richmond" had fallen out, and 
 passed up on the west or right bank. Before 
 this time the Fort Jackson garrison had 
 been nearly all driven from their guns by 
 the fire of the mortar-steamers at the water- 
 battery, and the bombs from the schooners, 
 while the river had been illuminated by two 
 fire-rafts, and the brightness as of day re- 
 vealed everything distinctly. 
 
 The difficulty of keeping a line of seven- 
 teen vessels of various degrees of speed in 
 close order, against a three-and-a-half knot 
 current in an irregular channel, can be 
 readily appreciated, and it is not singular 
 that some of Farragut's fleet "broke line" 
 under the trying circumstances of the hour. 
 The "Iroquois," under Com. De Camp, a 
 very gallant officer, diverged from the line, 
 and being very swift, passed ahead of the 
 vessels of her division. Above Fort Jack- 
 son, from which she did not receive a single 
 shot, though passing its levee within fifty 
 yards, the "Iroquois" was attacked by a 
 ram and the gun-boat " McRea," both of 
 which were driven off, and the commander 
 of the latter (Lieut. Huger), mortally 
 wounded. 
 
 The "Iroquois" suffered much loss and 
 was considerably cut up in her actions with 
 the gun-boats and Fort St. Philip. 
 
 As Farragut engaged Fort St. Philip at 
 close quarters, the Confederate gunners were 
 again driven to shelter by the fire of his 
 heavy ships, but an attack of another kind 
 was now made upon the "Hartford," his 
 flag-ship. The Confederate tug " Mosher," 
 commanded by a brave fellow named Sher- 
 man, pushed a burning raft alongside the 
 Union vessel, which vainly tried to avoid 
 the contact by porting her helm. This 
 brought her upon a shoal, and to a stand- 
 still. The fire-raft was shoved against the 
 port side, while the flames threatened the 
 entire destruction of the ship. But there 
 was no confusion, the starboard battery 
 continued to engage Fort St. Philip, while 
 the firemen fought the blaze that had 
 caught upon the side and rigging. The 
 
184 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 " Hartford " succeeded in backing off the 
 shoal, the raft was turned adrift, the flames 
 extinguished, and the advance taken up as 
 before. The situation had been one of 
 great peril, but Farragut was the great 
 commander throughout. Walking the 
 poop coolly, he allowed the fire to be fought 
 by Commander "Wain Wright and his men. 
 The fire was a sharp one; and, at times, 
 rushing through the ports would drive the 
 men back from the guns. Seeing this, Far- 
 ragut called out, "Don't flinch from that 
 fire, boys; there's a hotter fire than that for 
 those who don't do their duty ! Give that 
 rascally little tug a shot, and don't let her 
 get off with a whole coat ! " 
 
 The tug did escape from the " Hartford," 
 though by Confederate accounts she was 
 destroyed during the fight. 
 
 The loss to the "Hartford " in the passage 
 
 Much of this engagement, it must be re- 
 membered, was fought in darkness, except 
 for the light emitted by the flashes of the 
 guns through the smoke-clouded air, and 
 the ships groped their way by these uncer- 
 tain guides. 
 
 Passing the forts the " Brooklyn " was at- 
 tacked by a large steamer at a distance of 
 not more than Hfty or sixty yards. A single 
 broadside from the sloop's heavy battery, 
 drove her out of action in flames. 
 
 The "Brooklyn" received but seventeen 
 hits in the hull, during the heavy fire to 
 which she was subjected, but these did 
 much execution, nine men being killed and 
 twenty -six wounded. 
 
 The fleet's success was virtually decided 
 when the large ships had passed the forts, 
 and the head of the third division under 
 Captain Bell found but comparatively slight 
 
 CAPTAIN BAILEY'S DIVISION MEETING THE ENEMY'S FLOTILLA ABOVE THE FOBTS. 
 
 of the forts was three killedand ten wounded, 
 with thirty -two shot in hull and rigging. 
 
 The "Hartford" was followed as closely 
 as possible by the "Brooklyn," Captain 
 Thomas T. Craven; the smoke from rafts 
 and guns rendered this very difficult, but 
 the sweeping fire of the " Hartford " was 
 supplemented by hers, and she passed the 
 forts in safety, to be attacked, however, 
 immediately after, by the little ram, " Man- 
 assas," the most troublesome vessel in the 
 Confederate service, not excepting the 
 " Louisiana" — as she behaved in the action. 
 
 Commanded by Lieutenant Warley, a gal- 
 lant young officer, formerly of the U. S. 
 Navy, this craft made directly for the 
 "Brooklyn's" starboard-side, but inflicted 
 only slight damage. A second attack gave 
 the same result, for the chain protection to 
 the machinery saved the " Brooklyn," and 
 the ram glanced off into the darkness. 
 
 resistance to the passage of his leading ves- 
 sel, the " Sciota." 
 
 Farragut's first intention, to place the 
 heavy ships in the van, would probably have 
 resulted in the immediate crushing of the 
 enemy, and the rear of his line would have 
 followed a beaten path. 
 
 WitJi the exception of the " Itasca," 
 Lieutenant Caldwell; the "Winona," Lieu- 
 tenant Nichols; and the "Kennebec,"' 
 Lieutenant Russell, the fleet succeeded in 
 passing the forts 
 
 The "Itasca" was much cut up, and 
 having a shot through her boiler, was com- 
 pelled to drop down the river, out of action, 
 after which she was run ashore to prevent 
 sinking. Fourteen shot and shell had passed 
 through her hull, but the list of casualties 
 was small. 
 
 The "Kennebec" and "Winona," being 
 at the end of the line, had been left below 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 185 
 
 the forts at daylight, and were there ex- 
 posed to the fire of both works, with small 
 ability to reply. Being slow vessels, with 
 a rapid current against them, they were long 
 exposed to the deliberate practice of the en- 
 emy and were obliged to haul out of action 
 below. The demoralization of the enemy 
 was evident, however, from their escape. 
 
 No grander or more beautiful sight could 
 have been realized than the scenes of that 
 night. From silence, disturbed now and 
 then only by the slow fire of the mortars, 
 — the phantom-like movements of the ves- 
 sels giving no sound— an increased roar of 
 heavy guns began, while the mortars burst 
 forth into rapid bombardment, as the fleet 
 drew near the enemy's works. Vessel after 
 vessel added her guns to those already at 
 work, until the very earth seemed to shake 
 
 ^ LIEUT. (NOW COMMODORE) W. W. QUEEN. 
 
 (COMMANDING A DIVISION OF MOBTAR FLOTILLA.) 
 
 from their reverberations. A burning raft 
 adding its lurid glare to the scene, and the 
 fiery tracks of the mortar-shells as they 
 passed through the darkness aloft, and 
 sometimes burst in mid-air, gave the impres- 
 sion that heaven itself had joined in the 
 general strife. The succeeding silence was 
 almost as sudden. From the weighing of 
 the anchors, one hour and ten minutes saw 
 the vessels by the forts, and Farragut on 
 his way to New Orleans, the prize staked 
 upon the fierce game of war just ended. 
 
 As the fleet was approaching quarantine, 
 some distance above the forts, the " Manas- 
 sas," the most active and troublesome of 
 the Confederate fleet, was seen, in the early 
 daylight, coming up river in chase. The 
 Flag-officer directed Commander Smith to 
 leave the line with the " Mississippi," and 
 run the ram down. 
 
 The "Mississippi" turned instantly and 
 started for the enemy at full speed. The 
 "Manassas" had evidently practiced her 
 parts before, for, shifting her helm quickly 
 when but a short distance from the big ves- 
 sel's bow, she dodged the blow, but in so 
 doing ran ashore, where she was deserted 
 by her crew. 
 
 Commander Smith wished to preserve the 
 "Manassas," but was obliged to recall the 
 boats sent to secure her, on account of a 
 burning wreck approaching him. The ram 
 was therefore set on fire, and riddled with 
 shot, after which she drifted away from the 
 bank, and finally blew up below the forts. 
 
 This ended the irregular fighting with the 
 Confederate vessels; ten of them had been 
 sunk or destroyed, while the "Varuna," 
 with her two adversaries, lay at the bot- 
 tom of the river near the bank, evidence 
 of the gallantry of Boggs. 
 
 After the fleet had passed the forts, there 
 remained no necessity for the presence of 
 the mortar-flotilla steamers off the water- 
 battery. They accordingly dropped down 
 the river to the position of the mortar- 
 schooners, and the signal made the latter to 
 cease firing. 
 
 The situation of the vessels left below the 
 forts seemed far from secure. The ironclad, 
 "Louisiana," was still at her moorings, 
 uninjured, and three other vessels of war 
 could be seen moving from one side of the 
 river to the other. Their character could 
 not be ascei'tained, but presuming they 
 were gun-boats, with the assistance of their 
 huge consort they were more than a match 
 for the Union vessels if properly handled. 
 
 Commander Porter took immediate steps 
 to meet contingencies. The failure of the 
 "Itasca," "Kennebec" and " Winona" to 
 pass the batteries had added the two latter 
 to his force { the " Itasca" being disabled), 
 which now amounted to seven effective 
 gun -boats; these he at once prepared for 
 emergencies. His plan, in case of attack, 
 was to place as many as possible of the ves- 
 sels alongside the " Louisiana," have each 
 one make fast to her, let go two anchors, 
 and then " fight it out on that line." 
 
 No attack was made, however, and the 
 iron-clad lost an opportunity to strike a 
 final blow, which she could have inflicted 
 even with her machinery in a defective 
 condition. 
 
 Meanwhile Farragut had passed on up 
 the river, leaving one or two gan-boats to 
 guard the lazaretto. The right-of-way was 
 disputed at Jackson's old battle ground of 
 January 8, 1815, by the Chalmette batteries. 
 
 These works — on both sides of the river — 
 mounted twenty heavy guns, and were pre- 
 pared to receive the approaching vessels, 
 coming up in two columns at their best speed. 
 
 The vessels that had passed the forts 
 
186 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 below, gave short account of these bat- 
 teries, though the work was very sharp 
 while it lasted, especially on account of the 
 time duriiag which the slow ships were held 
 under a raking fire. 
 
 From this point resistance ceased, and 
 about noon on the 3oth of April, the fleet 
 anchored off New Orleans, which the re- 
 treat of General Lovell left defenseless and 
 in the hands of the civil authorities. 
 
 Lieut. Com. John Guest was sent at noon 
 of the 25th to Fort Jackson under a flag of 
 truce, to call upon the Confederate com- 
 mander, in view of the uselessness of fur- 
 ther bloodshed, to surrender the forts and 
 the remnants of the Confederate Navy at 
 the place, as Farragut had passed up the 
 river with little loss, and was probabh' then 
 in New Orleans. 
 
 General Duncan replied very civilly, but 
 declined to surrender before hearing from 
 the city. Immediately upon the receipt of 
 this reply by Commander Porter, a very 
 rapid mortar-fire was opened upon Fort 
 Jackson. 
 
 The effect was such as to cause a mutiny 
 among the garrison, who refused to longer 
 undergo the probability of useless slaughter, 
 and many deserted from the works and re- 
 treated up river out of range. The remain- 
 der refused to fight the guns, and reasoned 
 that as they had unflinchingly borne the 
 terrible six days' bombardment, and had 
 exposed themselves to the night ordeal of 
 the firQ of the passing fleet, it was time the 
 fort should be surrendered without further 
 loss of life. 
 
 The bombardment was continued during 
 the afternoon until the shells were ex- 
 hausted, and on the following day (the 
 26th) the schooners were got under way 
 and sent to Pilotstown to replenish their 
 ammunition. Six were ordered thereafter 
 to cross the bar at Southwest Pass and pro- 
 ceed to the rear of Fort Jackson, holding 
 themselves in readiness for any service. 
 
 At midnight of the 28th, General Duncan 
 sent an officer on board the " Harriet Lane" 
 to inform Commander Porter of his willing- 
 ness to capitulate. 
 
 On the following day Commander Porter 
 with nine gun-boats, proceeded up river to 
 Fort Jackson, under a flag of truce, and 
 upon his arrival a boat was sent for the 
 commanding officer of the river defenses, 
 and such other officers as he might desire 
 to have accompany him. These officers 
 were received on board with all the respect 
 due to brave men, and they bore themselves 
 accordingly, though there must have been 
 a mortification in surrendering to what 
 was, in many respects, an inferior force. 
 At the time of the capitulation, however, 
 the Federal officers knew nothing of the 
 internal troubles which had immediately 
 
 induced the surrender — the mutiny and 
 desertion of the men, and the final strokes 
 of the fleet above. In any case, vsrhether 
 Farragut had succeeded or failed in his 
 operations above, it was important to ob- 
 tain possession of the forts as early as 
 possible, and to that end terms of capitula- 
 tion had been already prepared, and these 
 were accepted by General Duncan and 
 Lieut. Col. Higgins. 
 
 As the terms were being signed, Porter 
 found, to his surprise, that the capitulation 
 of the defenses was not to include those 
 afloat, General Duncan asserting that he 
 had no authority whatever over the naval 
 branch. The commander of the regular 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW ADMIE.4L) DAVID D. PORTER. 
 
 naval forces (Commander Mitchell) had. in 
 fact, set the military at defiance. Porter 
 waived the point, however, being deter- 
 mined upon the course to pursue vphen pos- 
 session of the forts was secured. 
 
 All connected with the capitulation were 
 seated at the table on board the '"Harriet 
 Lane," with the articles before them. 
 Porter had signed them, as had Commander 
 Eenshaw, of the "Westfield.'" Lieut. Com. 
 Wainwright, of the "Harriet Lane," was 
 about to follow with his signature, when 
 one of his officers requested him urgently 
 to come on deck. He returned at once with 
 the report that the " Louisiana" was drifting 
 down river on fire, coming toward the Union 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 187 
 
 vessels which were anchored about thirty 
 yards apart. Being broadside to the current 
 the iron-clad would not have room to pass. 
 " This is sharp practice," Porter re- 
 marked to the Confederate officers, " but if 
 you can stand the explosion when it comes, 
 we can. We will go on, and finish the ca- 
 pitulation.' He then gave Lieutenant 
 Wainwright orders to pass the word to each 
 of the other vessels to veer to the end of 
 their chains, and to use steam in sheering 
 clear of the burning wreck if necessary, 
 but not to leave the anchorage. The pen 
 was then handed to General Duncan and 
 to Colonel Higgins, the boldness of whose 
 signatures gave no evidence of the proxim- 
 ity of a possibly fatal explosion. 
 
 COMMANDER JOHN K. MITCHELL. 
 (COMMANDER OF THE CONFEDERATE NAVAL FORCES IN THE MISSISSIPPI.) 
 
 The signatures being duly attached, all 
 awaited quietly the result, which was not 
 long delayed, the explosion taking place 
 with a shock that fairly unseated the expect- 
 ant officers, and threw the " Harriet Lane" 
 well over to port. The capitulation was 
 regularly finished, despite the interruption. 
 
 The "Louisiana" had fortunately ex- 
 ploded before reaching the line of vessels, 
 and injured nothing but Fort St. Philip, at 
 which one man was killed. 
 
 The action of the Confederate naval offi- 
 cers in destroying the " Louisiana " was se- 
 verely censured by those of the army. The 
 latter assured the Federal officers that they 
 felt in no way responsible, as the vessel was 
 entirely under Commander Mitchell's con- 
 trol. 
 
 The Federal commander was much dis- 
 appointed in the loss of the "Louisiana," 
 as he had calculated upon her usefulness 
 against her former owners in operations 
 further up the river. 
 
 Within ten minutes after the departure 
 of the Confederate officers, the colors of 
 the forts were hauled down, and both works 
 delivered over to the officers appointed to 
 receive them. The enemy's flag was still 
 shown on the river, however, for Com- 
 mander Mitchell, after setting fire to the 
 " Louisiana," transferred his crew to a river 
 steamer, and made for the opposite bank, 
 a mile or so above the forts. 
 
 As soon as General Duncan had left the 
 '■'Harriet Lane," Commander Porter, to 
 whom Mitchell's movements had been re- 
 ported, ordered Lieutenant Wainwright to 
 get under way and beat to quarters Steer- 
 ing directly for the vessel carrying Mitch- 
 ell's flag, the "Harriet Lane " sent a shot 
 at the flag-pole, but the hint was taken and 
 the colors hauled down at once. Lieuten- 
 ant Wainwright was sent aboard the 
 steamer to take possession. He was met 
 by Commander Mitchell, and requested to 
 extend the same terms as had been gi-anted 
 the officers and men of the forts. Mitchell 
 was given to understand that no terms 
 would be extended him or his officers, that 
 they would be held close prisoners to answer 
 for a violation of a flag of truce, and that 
 all would be sent to the North. 
 
 In a communication made to Commander 
 Porter, Mitchell at once removed the re- 
 sponsibility for the act from all but three 
 or four officers. The prisoners were sent 
 up river to Flag-officer Farragut for his 
 disposition, but though afterward sent to 
 the North, and held in conflnement for 
 some time, nothing was done to the guilty 
 actors, and the matter finally dropped. 
 
 After all the defenses were in Union hands 
 Commander Porter dispatched a steamer to 
 the bar, and brought up a vessel of General 
 Butler's expedition, having on board Gen- 
 eral Phelps with a number of infantry, to 
 whom the forts were turned over. 
 
 Tlie total loss in the fleet during these en- 
 gagements was 35 killed, and 138 wounded. 
 The chief sufferers were the "Pensacola," 
 37; " Brooklyn," 35; and the " Iroquois," 28. 
 
 The rising sun, the morning after the 
 flght, shone on smiling faces, even among 
 the wounded. Farragut received the con- 
 gratulations of his officers, as he had con- 
 ducted the great fight, with imperturbility. 
 He wasted no time in vain regrets over the 
 saddening features of his victory, but mak- 
 ing the signal " Push on to New Orleans," 
 seemed to forget the imperishable fame he 
 had won, while in thought he was following 
 up his great victory to the end. 
 
 The two foUowina- letters were issuer! hv 
 
188 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY. 
 
 the Hon. Gideon Welles on receiving the 
 announcement of the important victory at 
 New Orleans, and he expressed his feelings 
 and those of the Union people in terms not 
 only felicitous, but worthy to be engraved 
 in letters of gold. This victory was the 
 first great blow the enemy had received; 
 it was the step towards dividing the slave 
 territory and separating the two parts by 
 a great river, on the bosom of which the 
 Navy could advance with its gun-boats, 
 and with their heavy guns bring the peo- 
 ,ple along the banks of the Mississippi 
 to a sense of their obligations to the 
 Government. It was the wedge that had 
 been driven into the vitals of the rebellion 
 that would finally tear it asunder, and 
 it was a blow that had been dealt by the 
 Navy alone. It fact, it was a blow that 
 shortened the war one-half, and which rung 
 through Europe in unmistakable language, 
 giving the world to understand that we were 
 determined to hold the legitimate property 
 of the Government in defiance of English 
 threats or French intrigues, and that the 
 Navy,evenwithits paucity of ships and guns, 
 would again assert its power, energy and de- 
 votion to the flag which had always charac- 
 terised it since we first became a nation. 
 
 The praise bestowed on the officers and 
 sailors of the fleet by the Secretary of the 
 Navy was nothing more than their due, 
 and the votes of tlianks which were sent 
 from the halls of Congress would have been 
 more acceptable if that body had not hesi- 
 tated for so many years to do justice to the 
 fleet by voting them the prize-money they 
 were legally entitled to, and which they 
 had won by a valor never surpassed — those 
 to whom this would have been a boon died 
 before the money was appropriated, and 
 even Farragut did not live to receive all 
 that was due him. 
 
 "Navy Dbpartmeitt, ) 
 May 10, 1863. S 
 " Sir — Captain Bailey, your second in command, 
 has brought to the clepartment the official de- 
 spatches from your squadron, with the trophies 
 forwarded to the national capital. 
 
 " Our Navy, fruitful with victories, presents no 
 more signal achievements than this, nor is there an 
 exploit surpassing it recorded in the annals of naval 
 warfare. In passing, and eventually overcoming 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the batteries above 
 and below New Orleans, destroying the barriers of 
 chains, steam-rams, fire-rafts, iron-clad vessels, and 
 other obstructions, capturing from the Confederate 
 forces the great southern metropolis, and obtaining 
 possession and control of the Lower Mississippi, 
 yourself, your ofHcers, and our brave sailors and 
 marines, whose courage and daring bear historic 
 renown, have won a nation's gratitude and ap- 
 plause. I congratulate you and your command on 
 your great success in having contributed so largely 
 towards destroying the unity of the rebellion, and 
 in restoring again to the protection of the national 
 government and the national flag the important 
 city of the Mississippi valley, and so large a portion 
 of its immediate dependencies. 
 
 " Your example and its successful results, though 
 attended with some sacrifice of life and loss of ships, 
 inculcate the fact that the first duty of a com- 
 mander in war is to take great risks for the accom- 
 plishment of great ends. 
 
 "One and all, officers and men, composing your 
 command, deserve well of their country. 
 
 "I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 ">Signed) "Gidbon Welles. 
 
 " riag-offlcer D. G. Farragijt, 
 
 " Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 "Squadron, New Orleans." 
 
 " Navy Department, ( 
 May 10, 1863. \ 
 
 " Sir— Tour dispatch of April 30, inclosing the ar- 
 ticles of capitulation of Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip, which surrendered on the 28th, after a bom- 
 bardment of one hundred and forty-four consecu- 
 tive hours by the mortar flotilla, has been received. 
 I have also to acknowledge the receipt of the flags 
 taken in the two forts on that occasion, including 
 the original one hoisted on Fort St. Philip when 
 the Confederate forces declared the State of Louis- 
 iana to have seceded from the Union, which have 
 been sent forward to the Department. 
 
 "The important part which you have borne in the 
 organization of the mortar flotilla, and the move- 
 ment on New Orleans, had identified your name 
 with one of the most brilliant naval achievements 
 on record ; and to your able assistance with the 
 flotilla is Flag-officer Farragut much indebted for 
 the successful results he has accomplished. To 
 yourself and the officers and seamen of the mortar 
 flotilla the Department extends its congratula- 
 tions. "I am, respectfully, 
 
 "Gideox Welles. 
 " Commander David D. Porter, 
 
 " Commanding U. S. Mortar Flotilla, etc., etc' 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 BATTLE OF THE FORTS AND CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 Interesting Reports of Flag-officer Farragut ; Captains Bailey, Bell, Morris, 
 Craven; Commanders Wainwright, Lee, Smith, Boggs, De Camp, Alden, Nichols, 
 Caldwell, Porter, Mitchell, and others. Official Letters of Gideon Welles, 
 Mayor Monroe, and the City Council of New Orleans, Etc. 
 
 IT is desirable in some respects to make 
 this a book of reference, especially 
 in regard to official letters, which 
 seldom or ever are seen by the public, 
 the several reports of Admiral Farra- 
 gut, also those of his officers, contain details 
 of the battle at the forts, and of the cap- 
 ture of New Orleans, which can best be 
 told by those who were participators in 
 those stirring scenes, and they are appended 
 to the general account of the battle. In the 
 course of a few years these letters will be- 
 come inaccessible, except from the files of 
 the Navy Department, and they should be 
 treasured as the ground-work of the his- 
 tory of the most important naval battle of 
 modern times, — we do not think any excuse 
 is needed for inserting them here. 
 
 * 
 commencement and progress op the bom- 
 bardment OF FORT JACKSON. 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford," ) 
 Mississippi River, April 3, 1862. \ 
 
 Sir — We commenced the bombardment 
 of Fort Jackson on the 16th, which was the 
 earliest day possible after the arrival of 
 coal. On the first day the citadel was set 
 on fire, and burnt until two o'clock the next 
 morning. On the 17th we made but little 
 apparent impression on the fort. 
 
 On the 18th we dismounted one of their 
 heavy Columbiads and otherwise appeared 
 to damage them, and drove the men from 
 the parapet guns, so that they only ap- 
 peared occasionally when the gun -boats 
 took part in the bombardment to draw the 
 fire from the bomb vessels. On the 19th a 
 
 deserter came to us from the fort, and gave 
 the information that I have stated above, 
 and nauch other information in relation to 
 the armament of the forts and their gen- 
 eral condition. 
 
 The wind was blowing from the north- 
 west, and chilly, the current running with 
 great strength, so that the ships, when un- 
 der way, could scarcely stem it, so that I 
 shall await a change of wind and a conse- 
 quent less violent current before I attack 
 the forts, as I find great difficulty in avoid- 
 ing collisions among the vessels. Two of 
 the gun-boats, "Katahdin" and " Sciota," 
 have been seriously damaged by getting 
 across-hawse of the ships and running into 
 each other. We lose a great many anchors 
 and cables, and those articles are verj^ 
 much wanted in the squadron. The "Hart- 
 ford " is almost the only ship that has not 
 lost both. 
 
 On the first day's fire of the enemy they 
 put a shot through one of the mortar ves- 
 sels and killed one man but did not destroy 
 her efficiency. The second day they sunk 
 one with a rifle shot, but hurt no one ma- 
 terially. They have sent down five fire- 
 rafts; none produced any effect on the fleet 
 except the last, which only caused the col- 
 lision of the " Sciota" and '■ Kineo," both 
 of which vessels dragged across the bows 
 of the " Mississippi," and carried away the 
 mainmast of the first, and damaged them 
 both very much otherwise; the raft was 
 turned clear of all the vessels of the fieet, 
 but as the wind and strong current were 
 peculiarly favorable, it gave us more trouble 
 than on any former occasion. 
 
190 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 I sent up Commander Bell last evening 
 to destroy the chain and raft across the 
 river, but the current was so strong that 
 he could accomplish but little, in conse- 
 quence of one of his gun -boats getting on 
 shore, and she was only saved by great ex- 
 ertion, as the enemy was firing on them all 
 the time. 
 
 Commander Porter, however, kept up 
 such a tremendous fire on them from the 
 mortars that the enemy's shot did the gun- 
 boats no injury, and the cable was separ- 
 ated and their connection broken suffici- 
 ently to pass through on the left bank of 
 the river. The petard operator failed to 
 fire his petards, owing to the breaking of 
 his wires, which prevented the full destruc- 
 tion of the chain and the vessels; but great 
 allowance is to be made for the violence of 
 the current, which exceeds anything we 
 have had to contend with since our arival 
 in the river. 
 
 In conclusion, I regret to say that the 
 fleet is in want of all the essentials to carry 
 on our work — shells, fuses (15" and 20",) 
 serge and yarn, to make cartridge-bags, 
 grape and canister shot — for all of which I 
 made large requisitions, and the articles 
 may be on their way out. 
 
 The medical department is miserably sup- 
 plied for the care of the wounded. General 
 Butler has offered to share with us, in fact, 
 everything he has, which will supply many 
 of our wants; but justice to myself requires 
 me to say that I required all these supplies 
 some time before I left Hampton Roads, 
 and others immediately on my arrival at 
 Key West or Ship Island, and I suppose ac- 
 cidental causes have stopped them on their 
 way out here.* 
 
 My coal arrived just in time. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted by 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 attack on forts jackson and st. philip. 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford," 
 AT Anchor off New Orleans, 
 April 25, 1862. 
 Sir — I have the honor to inform the de- 
 partment that on the 2-4th instant, at about 
 half-past 3 A. M., I attacked Fort St. Philip 
 and Fort Jackson with my little fleet, while 
 Commander Porter most gallantly bom- 
 barded them, and, besides, took them in the 
 flank with his steamers, aided by the 
 
 * The ordnance and hospUal stores were shipped on the United 
 States Btearaer " Kensington." which was prevented by bad weather, 
 brealiing of machinery, and other causes, from reaching her destina- 
 tion as early as designed. She arrived, however, in season. 
 
 "Portsmouth." Such a fire I imagine, the 
 world has rarely seen, but, thank God, we 
 got past the forts with a loss of only 
 twenty-four killed and eighty-six wounded; 
 but as I have not heard what became of the 
 three gun-boats, "Kennebec," "Itasca," 
 and "Winona," I fear they were lost in 
 passing, and the "Varuna" was run into 
 by two of the Confederate steamers, and 
 finally sunk : I took (and burnt) eleven 
 steam gun-boats, and two hundred troops 
 or upwards. I then pushed up for the city 
 of New Orleans, leaving two gun-boats to 
 aid General Butler in landing at the quar- 
 antine, and sent him a communication by 
 Commander Boggs, requesting him to come 
 up at once. I came up to within six or 
 seven miles of the city, when two forts 
 opened on us, but we silenced them in fifteen 
 or twenty minutes, although it was warm 
 work while it lasted. I have not yet heard 
 of the killed and wounded. We only lost 
 one man and none wounded, although Cap- 
 tain Bailey, in the " Cayuga," with Lieut. 
 Com. Harrison, and this ship, stood the first 
 brunt of the action, before the other ves- 
 sels could get up. We drove them from 
 their guns, and passed up to the city in fine 
 style, and I now send this notice of our 
 having taken possession of the city at meri- 
 dian or a few minutes p. m. 
 
 But I must say I never witnessed such 
 vandalism in my life as the destruction of 
 property; all the shipping, steamboats, etc., 
 were set on fire and consumed. The new 
 iron-clad ram, just finished, but without 
 her machinery, went fioating by us. While 
 I am finishing this report. Captain Bailey 
 has been sent to demand the surrender of 
 the city to me in the name of the United 
 States. 
 
 I shall now send down with this letter 
 Commander Smith, in the "Mississippi," to 
 look after General Butler, and a ram, which 
 it appears we left behind at Fort Jackson, 
 as it might be more than a match for the 
 two gun-boats I left behind. 
 
 In conclusion, I hope I have done all I 
 proposed to do, which was, to take the city 
 of New Orleans ; and I will now, in con- 
 junction with the Army, General Butler, re- 
 duce the forts, and take care of the outlet 
 from the west, and purpose immediately to 
 ascend to meet Flag-officer Foote. 
 
 The conduct of the officers and men has 
 been such as to command my highest ad- 
 miration, and shall hereafter be a subject 
 of more special commendation. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Xavy, Washington, D. C. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 191 
 
 announcement op the capture of ports 
 
 jackson and st. philip and surrender 
 
 of new orleans. 
 
 United States Flag-Ship " Hartford," ) 
 At Anchor off New Orleans, \ 
 April 29, 1862. ) 
 Sir — I am happy to announce to you that 
 our flag waves over both Forts Jackson and 
 St. Philip, and at New Orleans over the 
 custom-house. I am taking every means 
 to secure the occupation by General Butler 
 of all the forts along the coast. Berwick's 
 Bay and Fort Pike have been abandoned; 
 in fact, there is a general stampede, and I 
 shall endeavor to follow it up. * * 
 
 I am bringing up the troops as fast as 
 possible. We have destroyed all the forts 
 above the city, four in number; which are 
 understood to be all the impediments be- 
 tween this and Memphis. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 flag-officer farragut's detailed report 
 of the battles of the mississippl 
 
 United States Flag-Ship "Hartford," ) 
 
 At Anchor off New Orleans, \ 
 
 May 6, 1863. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor herewith to for- 
 ward my report, in detail, of the battle of 
 Kew Orleans. On the 23d of March I made 
 all my arrangements for the attack on, and 
 passage of, Forts Jackson and St. Philip. 
 
 Every vessel was as well prepared as the 
 ingenuity of her commander and officers 
 could suggest, both for the preservation of 
 life and of the vessel, and, perhaps, there 
 is not on record such a display of ingenuity 
 as has been evinced in this little squadron. 
 The first was by the engineer of the " Rich- 
 mond," Mr. Moore, by suggesting that the 
 sheet cables be stopped up and down on the 
 sides in the line of the engines, which was 
 immediately adopted by all the vessels. 
 Then each commander made his own ar- 
 rangements for stopping the shot from pen- 
 etrating the boilers and machinery that 
 might come in forward or abaft, by ham- 
 mocks, coal, bags of ashes, bags of sand, 
 clothes bags, and, in fact, every device im- 
 aginable. The bulwarks were lined with 
 hammocks by some, by splinter nettings 
 made with ropes by others. Some rubbed 
 their vessels over with mud to make their 
 ships less visible, and some whitewashed 
 their decks, to make things more visible by 
 night during the fight, all of which you 
 will find mentioned in the reports of the 
 commanders. In the afternoon I visited 
 
 each ship, in order to know positively that 
 each commander understood my orders for 
 the attack, and see that all was in readi- 
 ness. I had looked to their efficiency be- 
 fore. Every one appeared to understand 
 their orders well, and looked forward to the 
 conflict with firmness, but with anxiety, as 
 it was to be in the night, or at 2 o'clock a. m. 
 
 I had previously sent Capt. Bell, with the 
 petard man, with Lieut. Com. Crosby, in 
 the •' Pinola," and Lieut. Com. Caldwell, in 
 the " Itasca," to break the chain which 
 crossed the river, and was supported by 
 eight hulks, which were strongly moored. 
 This duty was not thoroughly performed, 
 in consequence of the failure to ignite 
 the petards with the galvanic battery 
 and the great strength of the current. Still, 
 it was a success, and under the circum- 
 stances, a highly meritorious one. 
 
 The vessel boarded by Lieut. Com. Cald- 
 well appears to have had her chains so se- 
 cured that they could be cast loose, which 
 was done by that officer, and thereby mak- 
 ing an opening sufficiently large for the 
 ships to pass through. It was all done un- 
 der a heavy fire and at a great hazard to 
 the vessel, for the particulars of which I 
 refer you to Captain Bell's report (marked 
 A). Upon the night preceding the attack, 
 however, I despatched Lieut. Com. Cald- 
 well to make an examination, and to see 
 that the passage was still clear, and to 
 make me a signal to that effect, which he 
 did at an early hour. The enemy com- 
 menced sending down fire-rafts and light- 
 ing their fires on the shore opposite the 
 chain about the same time, which drew 
 their fire on Lieut. Com. Caldwell, but with- 
 out injury. At about five minutes to two 
 o'clock A. M., April 24:, signal was made to 
 get under way (two ordinary red lights, so 
 as not to attract the attention of the en- 
 emy), but owing to the great difficulty in 
 purchasing their anchors, the " Pensacola " 
 and some of the other vessels were not un- 
 der way until half -past three. We then 
 advanced in two columns, Captain Bailey 
 leading the right in the gun-boat "Cayuga," 
 Lieut. Com. Harrison, he having been as- 
 signed to the first division of gun-boats, 
 which was to attack Fort St. Philip in con- 
 junction with the second division of ships, 
 and the "Hartford," the left; Fleet Captain 
 Bell leading the second division of gun- 
 boats in the "Sciota;" Lieut. Com. Donald- 
 son to assist the first division of ships to 
 attack Fort Jackson, as will be shown by 
 the general order and diagram sent here- 
 with. The enemy's lights, while they dis- 
 covered us to them, were, at the same time, 
 guides to us. We soon passed the barrier 
 chains, the right column taking Fort St. 
 Philip, and the left Fort Jackson. The fire 
 became general, the smoke dense, and we 
 
193 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 had nothing to aim at but the flash of their 
 guns; it was very difficult to distinguish 
 friends from foes. Captain Porter had, by 
 arrangement, moved up to a certain point 
 on the Fort Jackson side with his gun- 
 boats, and I had assigned the same post to 
 Captain Swartwout, in the "Portsmouth," 
 to engage the water batteries to the south- 
 ward and eastward of Fort Jackson, while 
 his mortar- vessels poured a terrific fire of 
 shells into it. I discovered a fire-raft com- 
 ing down upon us, and in attempting to 
 avoid it ran the ship on shore, and the ram 
 "Manassas," which I had not seen, lay on 
 the opposite of it, and pushed it down upon 
 us. Our ship was soon on fire half-way up to 
 her tops, but we backed off, and through the 
 good organization of our fire department, 
 and the great exertions of Captain Wain- 
 wright and his first lieutenant, officers and 
 crew, the fire was extinguished. In the 
 meantime our battery was never silent, but 
 poured in its missiles of death into Fort St. 
 Philip, opposite to which he had got by this 
 time, and it was silenced, with the excep- 
 tion of a gun now and then. By this time 
 the enemy's gun-boats, some thirteen in 
 number, besides two iron-clad rams, the 
 " Manassas " and " Louisiana," had become 
 more visible. We took them in hand, and, 
 in the course of time destroyed eleven of 
 them. We were now fairly past the forts 
 and the victory was ours, but still here and 
 there a gun-boat making resistance. Two 
 of them had attacked the " Varuna," which 
 vessel, by her greater speed, was much in 
 advance of us; they ran into her and caused 
 her to sink, but not before she had destroyed 
 her adversaries, and their wrecks now lie 
 side by side, a monument to the gallantry 
 of Captain Boggs, his officers and crew. It 
 was a kind of guerrilla warfare; they were 
 fighting in all directions. Captains Bailey 
 and Bell, who were in command of the first 
 and second divisions of gun-boats, were as 
 active in rendering assistance in every 
 direction as lay in their power. Just as the 
 scene appeared to be closing, the ram " Man- 
 assas " was seen coming up under full speed 
 to attack us. I directed Captain Smith, in 
 the "Mississippi," to turn and run her 
 down; the order was instantly obeyed by the 
 "Mississippi" turning and going at her at 
 full speed. Just as we expected to see the 
 ram annihilated, when within fifty yards of 
 each other, she put her helm hard a-port, 
 dodged the " Mississippi," and ran ashore. 
 The " Mississippi" poured two broadsides 
 into her, and sent her drifting down the 
 river a total wreck. This closed our morn- 
 ing's fight. 
 
 The department will perceive that after 
 the organization and arrangements had been 
 made, and we had fairly entered into the 
 fight, the density of the smoke from guns 
 
 and fire-rafts, the scenes passing on board 
 our own ship and around us (for it was as 
 if the artillery of heaven were playing upon 
 the earth), that it was impossible for the 
 Flag-officer to see how each vessel was con- 
 ducting itself, and can only judge by the 
 final results and their special reports, which 
 are herewith enclosed; but I feel that I can 
 say with truth that it has rarely been the 
 lot pf a commander to be supported by offi- 
 cers of more indomitable courage or higher 
 professional merit. 
 
 Captain Bailey, who had preceded me up 
 the quarantine station, had captured the 
 Chalmette regiment, Colonel Szymanski; 
 and not knowing what to do with them, as 
 every moment was a great loss to me, I 
 paroled both officers and men, and took 
 away all their arms, munitions of war and 
 public property, and ordered them to re- 
 main where they were until the next day. 
 I sent some of the gun-boats to precede me 
 up the river, to cut the telegraph wires in 
 different places. 
 
 It now became me to look around for my 
 little fleet, and to my regret I found that 
 three were missing— the "Itasca," "Win- 
 ona," and "Kennebec." Various were the 
 speculations as to their fate, whether they 
 had been sunk on the passage or had put 
 back. I therefore determined immediately 
 to send Captain Boggs, whose vessel was 
 now sunk, through the quarantine bayou, 
 around to Commander Porter, telling him 
 of our safe arrival, and to demand the sur- 
 render of the forts, and to endeavor to get 
 some tidings of the missing vessels. I also 
 sent a despatch by him to General Butler, 
 informing him that the way was clear for 
 him to land his forces through the quaran- 
 tine bayou, in accordance with previous ar- 
 rangements, and that I should leave gun- 
 boats there to protect him against the 
 enemy, who I now perceived had three or 
 four gun-boats left at the forts — the " Louisi- 
 ana," an iron-clad battery of 16 guns; the 
 " McCrea," very similar in appearance to 
 one of our gunboats, and armed very much 
 in the same way; the " Defiance," and a 
 river steamer transport. 
 
 We then proceeded up to New Orleans, 
 leaving the " Wissahicon " and "Kineo"to 
 protect the landing of the General's troops. 
 Owing to the slowness of some of the ves- 
 sels, and our want of knowledge of the 
 river, we did not reach the English Turn 
 until about 10:30 A. M. on the 25th; but all 
 the morning I had seen abundant evidence 
 of the panic which had seized the people in 
 New Orleans. Cotton-loaded ships on fire 
 came floating down, and working imple- 
 ments of every kind, such as are used in 
 ship-yards. The destruction of property was 
 awful. We soon descried the new earth- 
 work forts on the old lines on both shores. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 193 
 
 "We now formed and advanced in the same 
 •order, two lines, each line taking its re- 
 spective work. Captain Bailey was still far 
 in advance, not having noticed my signal 
 for close order, which was to enable the slow 
 vessels to come up. They opened on him a 
 galling fire, which caused us to run up to 
 his rescue; this gave them the advantage 
 ■of a raking fire on us for upwards of a mile, 
 with some twenty guns, while we had but 
 two 9-inch guns on our forecastle to reply 
 to them. It was not long, however, before 
 we were enabled to bear away and give the 
 forts a broadside of shell, shrapnel and 
 grape, the " Pensacola " at the same time 
 passing up and giving a tremendous broad- 
 side of the same kind to the starboard fort; 
 and by the time we could reload, the 
 "Brooklyn," Captain Craven, passed hand- 
 somely between us and the battery and de- 
 livered her broadside and shut us out. By 
 this time the other vessels had gotten up, 
 and ranged in one after another, delivering 
 their broadsides in spiteful revenge for the 
 ill-treatment of the little "Cayuga." The 
 forts were silenced, and those who could 
 run were running in every direction. We 
 now passed up to the city and anchored im- 
 mediately in front of it, and I sent Captain 
 Bailey on shore to demand the surrender of 
 it from the -authorities, to which the Mayor 
 replied that the city was under martial law, 
 and that he had no authority. General 
 Lovell, who was present, stated that he 
 should deliver up nothing, but in order to 
 free the city from embarrassment he would 
 restore the city authorities, and retire with 
 his troops, which he did. The correspond- 
 •ence with the city authorities and myself is 
 herewith annexed. I then seized all the 
 steamboats and sent them down to quaran- 
 tine for General Butler's forces. Among 
 the number of these boats is the famous 
 " Tennessee," which our blockaders have 
 been so long watching, but which, you will 
 perceive, never got out. 
 
 The levee of New Orleans was one scene 
 of desolation. Ships, steamers, cotton, coal, 
 etc., were all in one common blaze, and our 
 ingenuity was much taxed to avoid the 
 floating conflagration. 
 
 I neglected to mention my having good 
 information respecting the iron-clad rams 
 which they were building. I sent Captain 
 Lee up to seize the principal one, the "Mis- 
 sissippi," which was to be the terror of these 
 seas, and; no doubt would have been to a 
 great extent; but she came floating by us 
 all in flames, and passed down the river. 
 Another was sunk immediately in front of 
 the custom house; others were building in 
 Algiers, just begun. 
 
 I next went above the city eight miles, to 
 Carrolton, where I learned there were two 
 other forts, but the panic had gone before 
 
 me. I found the guns spiked, and the gun- 
 carriages in flames. The first work, on the 
 right reaches from the Mississippi nearly 
 over to Pontchartrain, and has 29 guns: the 
 one on the left had six guns, from which 
 Commander Lee took some fifty barrels of 
 powder, and completed the destruction of 
 the gun-carriages, etc. A mile higher up 
 there were two other earthworks, but not 
 yet armed. 
 
 We discovered here, fastened to the right 
 bank of the river, one of the most herculean 
 labors I have ever seen — a raft and chain to 
 extend across the river to prevent Foote's 
 gun-boats from descending. It is formed by 
 placing three immense logs of not less 
 than three or four feet in diameter and 
 some thirty feet long; to the centre one a 
 two-inch chain is attached, running length- 
 wise the raft, and the three logs and chain 
 are then frapped together by chains from 
 one-half to one inch, three or four layers, 
 and there are 96 of these lengths composing 
 the raft; it is at least three-quarters of a 
 mile long. 
 
 On the evening of the 29th Captain Bailey 
 arrived from below, with the gratifying in- 
 telligence that the forts had surrendered to 
 Commander Porter, and had delivered up 
 all public property, and were being paroled, 
 and that the Navy had been made to sur- 
 render unconditionally, as they had con- 
 ducted themselves with bad faith, burning 
 and sinking their vessels while a fiag of 
 truce was fiying, and the forts negotiating 
 for their surrender, and the "Louisiana," 
 their great iron-clad battery, blown up 
 almost alongside of the vessel where they 
 were negotiating; hence their officers were 
 not paroled, but sent home to be treated ac- 
 cording to the judgment of the Government. 
 
 General Butler came up the same day, 
 and arrangements were made for bringing 
 up his troops. 
 
 I sent on shore and hoisted the American 
 fiag on the custom-house, and hauled down 
 the Louisiana State fiag from the city hall, 
 as the mayor had avowed that there was no 
 man in New Orleans who dared to haul it 
 down ; and my own convictions are that if 
 such an individual could have been found 
 he would have been assassinated. 
 
 Thus, sir, I have endeavored to give jom 
 an account of my attack upon New Orleans 
 from our first movement to the surrender 
 of the city to General Butler, whose troops 
 are now in full occupation, protected, how- 
 ever, by the "Pensacola," "Portsmouth," 
 and one gunboat, while I have sent a force 
 of seven vessels, under command of Cap- 
 tain Craven, up the river, to keep up the 
 panic as far as possible. The large ships, I 
 fear, will not be able to go higher than 
 Baton Rouge, while I have sent the smaller 
 vessels, under Commander Lee, as high as 
 
194 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Vicksburg, in the rear of Jackson, to cut 
 off their supplies from the west. 
 
 I trust, therefore, that it will be found by 
 the government that I have carried out my 
 instructions to the letter and to the best of 
 mj^ abilities, so far as this city is concerned, 
 which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 FLEET-SURGEON J. "W. EOLTZ. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE SUR- 
 RENDER OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 No. 1. 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford." ) 
 At anchor off New Orleans, [ 
 April 26, 1802. ) 
 Sir : Upon my arrival before your city I 
 had the honor to send to your honor. Captain 
 Bailey, United States navy, second in com- 
 mand of the expedition, to demand of you 
 the surrender of New Orleans to me, as the 
 representative of the government of the 
 United States. Captain Bailey reported to 
 me the result of an interview with yourself 
 and the military authorities. It must oc- 
 
 cur to your honor that it is not within the 
 province of a naval officer to assume th& 
 duties of a military commandant. I came 
 here to reduce New Orleans to obedience to 
 the laws of, and to vindicate the offended 
 majesty of the United States. The rights 
 of persons and property shall be secure. I 
 therefore demand of you, as its representa- 
 tive, the unqualified surrender of the city, 
 and that the emblem of sovereignty of the 
 United States be hoisted over the city hall, 
 mint, and custom-house by meridian this 
 day, and that all flags and other emblems 
 of sovereignty other than those of the 
 United States shall be removed from all the 
 public buildings by that hour. I particu- 
 larly request that you shall exercise your 
 authority to quell disturbances, restore 
 order, and call upon all the good people of 
 New Orleans to return at once to their voca- 
 tions ; and I particularly demand that no 
 person shall be molested in person or prop- 
 erty for professing sentiments of loyalty to 
 their government. I shall speedily and 
 severely punish any person or persons who 
 shall commit such outrages as were wit- 
 nessed yesterday, armed men firing upon 
 helpless women and children for giving ex 
 pression to their pleasure at witnessing the 
 old flag. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient- 
 servant, jy ^ Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 His Excellency the Mayor of the City of 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 No. 2. 
 United States Flag-Ship "Hartford," ) 
 At anchor off the City of New Or- >■ 
 LEANS, April 26, 1862. ) 
 Your honor will please give directions- 
 that no flag but that of the United States 
 will be permitted to fly in the presence of 
 this fleet so long as" it has the power ta 
 prevent it ; and as all displays of that kind 
 may be the cause of bloodshed, I have ta 
 request that you will give this communica- 
 tion as general a circulation as possible. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.. 
 His Honor the Mayor of New Orleans. 
 
 No. 3. 
 General Order. 
 
 United States Flag-Ship " Hartford," ) 
 Off the City of New Orleans, V 
 April 26, 1862. ) 
 Eleven o'clock this morning is the hour ap- 
 pointed for all the officers and crews of the 
 fleet to return thanks to Almighty God for 
 His great goodness and mercv in nermittinsr 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 195 
 
 us to pass through the events of the last two 
 days with so little loss of life and blood 
 
 At that hour the church pennant will be 
 hoisted on every vessel of the fleet, and their 
 crews assembled will, in humiliation and 
 prayer, make their acknowledgments 
 therefor to the Great Dispenser of all human 
 events. 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 Mayoralty of New Orleans, ) 
 City Hall. April 26, 1862. j 
 
 Sir : In pursuance of the resolution which 
 he thought proper to take, out of regard for 
 the lives of the women and children who 
 still crowd this great metropolis, General 
 Lovell has evacuated it with his troops, and 
 restored back to me the administration of 
 its government and the custody of its honor. 
 
 X have, in concert with the city fathers, 
 considered the demand you made of me on 
 yesterday of an unconditional surrender of 
 the city, coupled with a requisition to hoist 
 up the flag of the United States on the pub- 
 lic edifices, and to haul down that which 
 still floated to the breeze from the dome of 
 this hall ; and it becomes my duty to trans- 
 mit to you the answer which the universal 
 sentiment of my constituency, no less than 
 the promptings of my own heart, dictate 
 to me on this sad and solemn occasion. 
 
 The city is without means of defence, and 
 utterly destitute of the force and material 
 that might enable it to resist the overpower- 
 ing armament displayed in sight of it. 
 
 I am no military man, and possess no 
 authority beyond that of executing the mu- 
 nicipal laws of the city of New Orleans. It 
 would be presumptuous in me to attempt to 
 lead an army to the field, if I had one at 
 my command, and I know still less how to 
 surrender an undefended place, held as this 
 is at the mercy of your gunners, and mouths 
 of your mortars. To surrender such a place 
 were an idle and unmeaning ceremony. 
 The city is yours by the power of brutal 
 force, and not by any choice or consent of 
 its inhabitants. It is for you to determine 
 what shall be the fate that awaits her. 
 
 As to the hoisting of any flag than the 
 flag of our adoption and allegiance, let me 
 say to you, sir, that the man lives not in 
 our midst whose hand and heart would not 
 be palsied at the mere thought of such an 
 act, nor could I find in my entire constitu- 
 ency so wretched and desperate a renegade 
 as would dare to profane with his hand the 
 sacred emblem of our aspirations. 
 
 Sir, you have manifested sentiments 
 which would become one engaged in a bet- 
 ter cause than that to which you have 
 devoted your sword. I doubt not but that 
 
 nature, and I know how to appreciate the 
 emotions which inspire them: You will 
 have a gallant people to administer during 
 your occupation of this city ; a people sen- 
 sitive of all that can in the least affect its 
 dignity and self-respect. Pray, sir, do not 
 allow them to be insulted by the interfer- 
 ence of such as have rendered themselves 
 odious and contemptible by the dastardly 
 desertion of the mighty struggle in which 
 we are engaged, nor of such as might re- 
 mind them too painfully that they are the 
 conquered and you the conquerors. Peace 
 and order may be preserved without a re- 
 sort to measures which could not fail to 
 wound their susceptibilities and fire up their 
 passions. 
 
 The obligations which I shall assume in 
 their name shall be religiously complied 
 with. You may trust their honor, though 
 you might not count on their submission to 
 unmerited wrong. 
 
 In conclusion, I beg you to understand 
 that the people of New Orleans, while una- 
 ble at this moment to prevent you from 
 occupying this city, do not transfer their 
 allegiance from the government of their 
 choice to one which they have deliberately 
 repudiated, and that they yield simply that 
 obedience which the conqueror is enabled 
 to extort from the conquered. 
 
 Since writing the above, which is an 
 answer to your verbal communication of 
 yesterday, I have received a written com- 
 munication, to which I shall reply before 
 12 o'clock M., if possible to prepare an 
 answer in that time. Respectfully, 
 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 United States Flag-Ship ''Hartford." 
 
 fV. 
 
 filT- (M-l-V-M 
 
 -»i^l-ili^ 4-l-» y 
 
 vVi rlzilnrlc»r1 
 
 City Hall, April 25, 1862. 
 Honorable Common Council: 
 
 Gentlemen : At half-past one o'clock 
 to-day I was waited upon by Captain Bailey, 
 second in command of the Federal fleet now 
 lying in front of the city, bearing a demand 
 from Flag officer Farragut for the uncon- 
 ditional surrender of the city of New 
 Orleans and hoisting of the United States 
 flag on the custom-house, post-office, and 
 mint. He also demanded that the Louisiana 
 flag should be hauled down from the city 
 hall. I replied that General Lovell was in 
 command here, and that I was without 
 authority to act in military matters. Gen- 
 eral Lovell was then sent for, and to him, 
 after stating that his mission was to the 
 mayor and council. Captain Bailey ad- 
 dressed his demands. 
 
 General Lovell refused to surrenderthecity 
 or his forces, or any portion of them but ac- 
 companied his refusal with the statement 
 
 +>>Q+. Via fthnnlfl p.vnAna.tf> t.ha o.itv \^\thr\r^\Kr 
 
196 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 his troops, and then leave the civil authori- 
 ties to act as they might deem proper. 
 
 It is proper here to state that, in reply to 
 the demand to haul down the flag from the 
 city hall, I returned an unqualified refusal. 
 
 I am now in momentary expectation of 
 receiving a second peremptory demand for 
 the surrender of the city. I solicit your ad- 
 vice in the emergency. My own opinion is, 
 that, as a civil magistrate, possessed of no 
 military power, I am incompetent to per- 
 form a military act such as the surrender 
 of the city to a hostile force; that it would 
 be proper to say, in reply to a demand of 
 that character, that we are without military 
 protection; that the troops have withdrawn 
 from the city; that we are consequently in- 
 capable of making any resistance, and 
 therefore we can offer no obstruction to the 
 occupation of the place by the enemy; that 
 the custom-house, post-office, and mint are 
 the property of the Confederate Govern- 
 ment, and that we have no control over 
 them; and that all acts involving a transfer 
 of authority be performed by the invading 
 forces themselves; that we yield to physical 
 force alone, and that we maintain our alle- 
 giance to the Government of the Confeder- 
 ate States. Beyond this a due respect for 
 our dignity, our rights, and the flag of our 
 country does not, I think, permit us to go. 
 Eespectfully, 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 
 The above message, which want of time 
 prevented me from having copied, I enclose 
 for information. Eespectfully, 
 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 Per Marion N. Baker, Secretary. 
 
 Mayoralty of New Orleans, ) 
 City Hall, April 26, 1862. f 
 
 COMMON council OF THE CITY OF NEW 
 ORLEANS — NO. 6002. 
 
 The common council of the city of New 
 Orleans, having been advised by the mili- 
 tary authorities that the city is indefensi- 
 ble, declare that no resistance will be made 
 to the forces of the United States. 
 
 Resolved, That the sentiments expressed 
 in the message of his honor the Mayor of 
 the common council are in perfect accord- 
 ance with the sentiments entertained by 
 these councils and by the entire population 
 of this metropolis, and that the Mayor be 
 respectfully requested to act in the spirit 
 manifested by the message. 
 
 S. P. De Labarre, 
 Pres. pro tern of Board of Aldermen. 
 J. Magioni, 
 Pres. of Board of Assistant Aldermen. 
 Approved, April 26, 1862. 
 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 A true copy, Marion N. Baker, 
 
 Secretary to Mayor. 
 
 United States Flag-Ship " Hartford," ) 
 
 At Anchor off the City of New >• 
 
 Orleans, April 28,1863. ) 
 
 Sir — Your communication of the !;:6th in- 
 stant has been received, together with that 
 of the city councils. 
 
 I deeply regret to see, both by their con- 
 tents and the continued display of the flag 
 of Louisiana on the court-house, a determin- 
 ation on the part of the city authorities not 
 to haul it down. Moreover, when my offic- 
 ers and men were sent on shore to commu- 
 nicate with the authorities and to hoist the 
 United States flag on the custom-house, 
 with the strictest orders not to use their 
 arms unless assailed, they were insulted in 
 the grossest manner, and the flag which 
 had been hoisted by my orders on the mint 
 was pulled down and dragged through the 
 streets. All of which go to show that the 
 fire of this fleet may be drawn upon the city 
 at any moment, and in such an event the 
 levee would, in all probability, be cut by the 
 shells, and an amount of distress ensue to 
 the innocent population which I have here- 
 tofore endeavored to assure you that I de- 
 sired by all means to avoid. The election is 
 therefore with you; but it becomes my duty 
 to notify you to remove the women and 
 children from the city within forty-eight 
 hours, if I have rightly understood your 
 determination. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 His Honor the Mayor and City Council 
 of the City of New Orleans. 
 
 Mayoralty of New Orleans, ) 
 City Hall, April 28, 1862. j 
 To the Common Council : 
 
 Gentlemen— I herewith transmit to vou 
 a communication from Flag-ofiicer Farra- 
 gut, commanding the United States fleet 
 now lying in front of the city. I have in- 
 formed the officer bearing tbe communica- 
 tion that I would lay it before you, and re- 
 turn such answer as the city authorities 
 might think proper to be made. 
 
 In the meantime permit me to suggest 
 that Flag-officer Farragut appears to have 
 misunderstood the position of the city of 
 New Orleans. He had been distinctly in- 
 formed that at this moment the city has no 
 power to impede the -exercise of such acts 
 of forcible authority as the commander of 
 the United States naval forces may choose 
 to exercise, and that therefore no resistance 
 would be offered to the occupation of the 
 city by the United States forces. 
 
 If it is deemed necessary to remove the 
 flag now floating from this building, or to 
 raise United States flaa's on othprss t,h« 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 197 
 
 power which threatened the destruction of 
 our city is certainly capable of performing 
 those acts. New Orleans is not now a mili- 
 tary post; there is no military commander 
 within its limits; it is like an unoccupied 
 fortress, of which an assailant may at any 
 moment take possession. But I do not believe 
 that the constituency represented by you or 
 by me embraces one loyal citizen who 
 would be willing to incur the odium of tear- 
 ing down the symbol representing the State 
 authority to which New Orleans owes her 
 municipal existence. I am deeply sensible 
 of the distress which would be brought 
 upon our community by a consummation 
 of the inhuman threat of the United States 
 commander; but I cannot conceive that 
 those who so recently declared themselves 
 to be animated by a Christian spirit, and 
 by a regard for the rights of private 
 property, would venture to incur for 
 themselves and the government they repre- 
 sent the universal execration of the civil- 
 ized world by attempting to achieve, 
 through a wanton destruction of life and 
 property, that which they can accomplish 
 without bloodshed, and without a resort to 
 those hostile measures which the law of na- 
 tions condemns and execrates, when em- 
 ployed upon the defenceless women and 
 children of an unresisting city. 
 Eespectfully, 
 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 
 Mayoralty of New Orleans, ) 
 City Hall, April 28, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — Your communication of this morn- 
 ing is the first intimation I ever had that 
 it was by " your strict orders " that the 
 United States flag was attempted to be 
 hoisted upon certain of our public edifices 
 by officers sent on shore to communicate 
 with the authorities. The officers who 
 approached me in your name disclosed no 
 such orders, and intimated no such designs 
 on your part ; nor could I have for a mo- 
 ment entertained the remotest suspicion 
 that they could have been invested with 
 powers to enter on such an errand while 
 the negotiations for a surrender between 
 you and the city authorities were still pend- 
 ing. The interference of any force under 
 your command, as long as these negotiations 
 were not brought to a close, could not be 
 viewed by me otherwise than as a flagrant 
 violation of those courtesies, if not of the 
 absolute rights, which prevail between bel- 
 ligerents under such circumstances. My 
 views and my sentiments in reference to 
 such conduct remain unchanged. 
 
 You now renew the demands made in 
 your last communication, and you insist 
 on their being complied with, uncondition- 
 ally, under a threat of bombardment within 
 
 forty-eight hours ; and you notify me to re- 
 move the women and children from the city, 
 that they may be protected from your shells. 
 
 Sir, you cannot but know that there is no 
 possible exit from this city for a population 
 which still exceeds in number 140,01)0, and 
 you must therefore be aware of the utter 
 inanity of such a notification. Our women 
 and children cannot escape from j^our shells, 
 if it be your pleasure to murder them on a 
 question of mere etiquette. But if they 
 could, there are but few among them who 
 would consent to desert their families and 
 their homes, and the graves of their rela- 
 tives, in so awful a moment. They will 
 bravely stand the sight of your shells roll- 
 ing over the bones of those who were once 
 dear to them, and would deem that they 
 died not ingloriously by the side of the 
 tombs erected by their piety to the memory 
 of departed relatives. 
 
 You are not satisfied with the peaceable pos- 
 session of an undefended city, opposing no 
 resistance to your guns, because of its bear- 
 ing its doom with somethingof manliness and 
 dignity, and you wish to humble and disgrace 
 us by the performance of an act against 
 which our nature rebels. This satisfaction 
 you cannot expect to obtain at our hands. 
 
 We will stand your bombardment, un- 
 armed and undefended as we are. The 
 civilized world will consign to indelible in- 
 famy the heart that will conceive the deed 
 and the hand that will dare to consummate 
 it. Respectfully, 
 
 John T. Monroe, Mayor. 
 
 Mr. Farragut, 
 
 Flag-officer of the United States fleet 
 in front of the City of New Orleans. 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford." \ 
 
 AT ANCHOR OFF THE CiTY OF NeW OR- \ 
 
 LEANS, April 28, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — Hereafter, when I desire to commu- 
 nicate with the authorities, I will hoist a 
 square flag with a diagonal red cross, when, 
 if your honor will send your secretary, or 
 any other person, to receive my communi- 
 cation to the shore opposite to the ship 
 bearing that flag, a boat will be sent with 
 an officer to deliver the document. 
 
 When the city authorities desire to com- 
 municate with me. by the messenger hold- 
 ing his handkerchief by two corners oppo- 
 site the ship, a boat will be sent for him or 
 his communication. 
 
 As my duties call me away from before 
 the city for a short time, I request that you 
 will send your reply to any other vessel that 
 may be present. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 D. G. Farragtjt, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 His Honor the Mayor of New Orleans. 
 
19S 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford, ' | 
 
 AT ANCHOR OFF THE CiTY OF NeW OR- \ 
 
 LEANS, April 29, 18G2. ) 
 SiR—The forts St. Philip and Jackson 
 having surrendered, and all the military 
 defences of the city being captured or aban- 
 doned, you are required, as the sole repre- 
 sentative of any supposed authority m the 
 citv, to haul down and suppress every en- 
 sign and symbol of government, v^^hether 
 State or Confederate, except that of the 
 United States. I am now about to raise the 
 flag of the United States upon the custom- 
 house, and you will see that it is respected 
 with all the civil power of the city. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 His Honor the Mayor of the City of New 
 Orleans. 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford," 
 at anchor off the city of 'swn or- 
 LEANS, April 30, 1862. 
 Gentlemen — I informed you. in my com- 
 munication of the 28th of April, that your 
 determination, as I understood it, was not 
 to haul down the flag of Louisiana on the 
 city hall, and that my officers and men 
 were treated with insult and rudeness when 
 they landed, even with a flag of truce, to 
 communicate with the authorities, etc., and 
 if such was to be the determined course of 
 the people, the fire of the vessel might at 
 any moment be drawn upon the city. This 
 you have thought proper to construe into a 
 determination on my part to murder your 
 women and children, and made your letter 
 so offensive that it will terminate our inter- 
 course ; and so soon as General Butler 
 arrives with his forces, I shall turn over the 
 charge of the city to him and assume my 
 naval duties. 
 
 Very respectfully, etc.. 
 
 D. G. Farragut, Flag-officer, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 His Honor the Mayor and City Council 
 of New Orleans. 
 
 reports op captain t. bailey, second in 
 command. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Cayuga," | 
 AT Sea, May 7. 1803. \ 
 Sir — Having found it impossible to get 
 the "Colorado" over the bars of the Mis- 
 sissippi, I sent a large portion of lier guns 
 and crew, filling up deficiencies of both in 
 the different vessels, and, with my aid. 
 Act. Midshipman Higginson, steward, and 
 boat's crew, followed up myself, hoisting, 
 by authority of the flag-officer, my red, 
 distinguishing flag as second in command, 
 
 first on the "Oneida," Commander Lee, 
 and afterwards on the "Cayuga." 
 
 That brave, resolute, and indefatigable 
 officer. Commander D. D. Porter, was at 
 work with his mortar fleet, throwing shells 
 at and into Fort Jackson, while General 
 Butler, with a division of his army, in 
 transports, was waiting a favorable mo- 
 ment to land. After the mortar-fleet had 
 been playing upon the forts for six days 
 and nights (without perceptibly diminish- 
 ing their fire), and one or two changes of 
 programme. Flag-officer Farragut formed 
 the' ships into two columns. " line ahead;" 
 the column of the red. under my orders, 
 being formed on the right, and consisting 
 of the "Cayuga," Lieut. Com. Harrison, 
 bearing flag, and leading the " Pensacola." 
 Capt. Morris; the " Mississippi," Com. M. 
 Smith; "Oneida," Com. S. P. Lee; "Var 
 una," Com. C. S. Boggs; " Katahdin." Lieut. 
 Com. Preble; " Kineo," Lieut. Com. Ean- 
 som; and the " Wissahickon," Lieut. Com. 
 A. N. Smith. The column of the blue was 
 formed on the left, heading up the river, 
 and consisted of the flag-ship "Hartford," 
 Com. E. Wainwright and bearing the flag 
 of the Commander-in-chief, Farragut; the 
 " Brooklyn," Capt. T. T. Craven; the " Rich- 
 mond," Com. Alden; the " Sciota," bear- 
 ing the divisional flag of Fleet-Capt. H. H. 
 Bell; followed by the "Iroquois," " Itasca," 
 •• Winona," and " Kennebec." 
 
 At 2 A. M. on the morning of the 24th. the 
 signal "to advance" was thrown out from 
 the flag-ship. The " Cayuga " immediately 
 weighed anchor and led on the column. 
 We were discovered at the boom, and, a lit- 
 tle beyond, both forts opened their fire. 
 When close up with St. Philip we opened 
 with grape and canister, still steering on. 
 After passing this line of fire, we encount- 
 ered the "Montgomery flotilla," consisting 
 of eighteen gun-boats, including the ram 
 " Manassas " and iron battery "Louisiana," 
 of twenty guns. 
 
 This was a moment of anxiety, as no 
 supporting ship was in sight. By skillful 
 steering, however, we avoided their at- 
 tempts to butt and board, and had suc- 
 ceeded in forcing the surrender of three, 
 when tlie " Varuna," Capt. Boggs, and 
 "Oneida," Capt. Lee, were discovered near 
 at hand. The gallant exploits of these 
 ships will be made known by their com 
 manders. At early dawn discovered a Con- 
 federate camp on the right bank of the 
 river Ordering Lieut. Com. N. B, Har- 
 rison to anchor close alongside, I hailed and 
 ordered the colonel to pile up his arms on 
 the river bank and come on board. This 
 proved to be the Chalmette regiment, com- 
 manded by Colonel Szymanski. The regi- 
 mental flags, tents, and camp equipage 
 were captured. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 19» 
 
 On the morning of the 35th, still leading, 
 «,nd considerably ahead of the line, the 
 Chalmette batteries, situated three miles 
 Ijelow the city, opened a cross fire on the 
 •' Cayuga." To this we responded with our 
 two guns. At the end of twenty minutes 
 the flag-ship ranged up ahead and silenced 
 "the enemy's guns. 
 
 From this point no other obstacles were 
 encountered, except burning steamers, cot- 
 ton ships, fire-rafts, and the like. Immedi- 
 ately after anchoring in front of the city I 
 was ordered on shore by the flag-officer to 
 ■demand the surrender of the city, and that 
 the flag should be hoisted on the post-office, 
 custom-house, and mint. What passed at 
 this interview will be better stated in the 
 flag-officer's report. 
 
 On the 26th I went with the flag-officer 
 some seven miles above the city, where we 
 found the defences abandoned, the guns 
 spiked, and gun carriages burning These 
 •defences were erected to prevent the down- 
 ward passage of Captain Foote. On the 
 ^7th a large boom, situated above these de- 
 fences, was destroyed by Captain S. Philip 
 Lee. On the 28th General Butler landed 
 above Fort St. Philip, under the guns of the 
 "Mississippi " and " Kineo." This landing 
 of the army above, together with the pas- 
 sage of the fleet, appears to have put the 
 finishing touch to the demoralization of 
 their garrisons (300 having mutinied in 
 Fort Jackson). Both forts surrendered to 
 ■Commander Porter, who was near at hand 
 with the vessels of his flotilla. 
 
 As I left the river General Butler had gar- 
 risoned Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and 
 liis transports, with troops, were on their 
 way to occupy New Orleans. 
 
 I cannot too strongly express my admir- 
 ation of the cool and able management of 
 all the vessels of my line by their respect- 
 ive captains. After we passed the forts it 
 was a contest between iron hearts in 
 wooden vessels and iron-clads with iron 
 beaks, and the " iron hearts " won. 
 
 On the 29th the " Cayuga." Lieut. -Com. 
 Harrison, was selected to bring me home 
 a bearer of despatches to the govern- 
 ment. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 Theodorus Bailey, 
 
 Caiptain. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 United States Gun-boat, "Cayuga,' 
 OFF New Orleans, April 25, 1862. 
 Flag - officer — Your boldly - conceived 
 and splendidly-executed plan of battle hav- 
 ing resulted in complete success, leaves me 
 lime to make up the report of my division. 
 
 You will find in Lieut.-Com. Harrison's 
 report an accurate outline of the noble part 
 taken by the "Cayuga," under his com- 
 mand, and bearing my divisional flag. We 
 led oi¥ at 2 A. m., in accordance with your 
 signal, and steered directly up stream, edg- 
 ing a little to starboard, in order to give 
 room for your division. 
 
 I was followed by the "Pensacola" in 
 fine style, the remainder of my division fol- 
 lowing in regular and compact order. We 
 were scarcely above the boom when we 
 were discovered, and Jackson and St. Philip 
 opened upon us. We could bring no gun 
 to bear, but steered directly on. We were 
 struck from stem to stern At length we 
 were close up with St. Philip, when we 
 opened with grape and canister. Scarcely 
 were we above the line of fire when we 
 found ourselves attacked by the Confeder- 
 ate fleet of gun-boats. This was hot but 
 more congenial work. Two large steamers 
 now attempted to board, one on our star- 
 board bow, the other astern; a third on our 
 starboard beam. The 11-inch Dahlgren be- 
 ing trained on this fellow, we fired at a 
 range of thirty yards. The effect was very 
 destructive; he immediately steered in 
 shore, ran aground aftd burnt himself up. 
 
 The Parrott gun on the forecastle drove 
 off one on the bow, while we prepared to 
 repel boarders, so close was our remaining 
 enemy. About this time Boggs and Lee 
 came dashing in, and made a finish of the 
 Confederate boats — eleven in all. 
 
 In the gray of the morning discovered a 
 camp with Confederate flags flying; opened 
 with canister, and at 5 a. m. received the 
 sword and flag of Colonel Szymanski and 
 his command of five companies, arms and 
 camp equipage. While engaged at this 
 point, observed the " Varuna "in conflict 
 with a number of gun-boats. She had been 
 butted by one of them and sunk; but, with 
 his forward guns still above water, her com- 
 mander was bravely maintaining the fight, 
 driving off his enemies and saving his 
 crew. Informing Captain Lee, of the 
 " Oneida," who had also been engaged with 
 the enemy, of the "Varuna's" situation, 
 he instantly steamed up and made a finish 
 of the Confederate boats. The remainder 
 of the fleet now came up. The "Missis- 
 sippi" had been detained below with the 
 " Manassas" and another iron-clad. After 
 this everything passed under your observa- 
 tion. 
 
 The pleasant duty now remains of speak- 
 ing of the "Cayuga" and her brave offic- 
 ers and crew. From first to last, Lieut. 
 Com. N. B. Harrison displayed a masterly 
 ability in steering his vessel past the forts 
 under a hurricane of shot and shell, and af- 
 terwards in maneuvering and fighting her 
 among the gun-boats. . I cannot say too 
 
300 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 much for him. He was gallantly sus- 
 tained by Lieutenant George H. Perkins 
 and Acting Master Thomas H. Morton. 
 These officers have my unbounded admira- 
 tion 
 
 I must, in conclusion, express the pleas- 
 ure which I experienced in witnessing the 
 seamanlike manner in which all the ships 
 were handled. The reports of the divisional 
 captains will inform you of the particular 
 part borne by each ship. 
 
 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 T. Bailey, 
 Captain Commanding Division of the Red. 
 Flag-officer D. G Farragut. 
 Commander-in-Chief, etc., Neiv Orleans. 
 
 report of fleet-captain h. h. bell. 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford," ) 
 
 OFF the City of New Orleans, \ 
 
 April 26, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — On the night of the 23d instant, I 
 went on board of the United States gun- 
 boat " Sciota," Lieutenant-Commanding E. 
 Donaldson, the leading vessel of the second 
 division of gun-boats, which you did me the 
 honor to assign to my command for the as- 
 cent of the river. At 4 a. m. of the 24th 
 instant, the " Sciota," accompanied by the 
 division, followed in the wake of the 
 "Richmond," for passing Forts Jackson 
 and St. Philip. 
 
 Having run safely through the batteries 
 of the forts and rebel steamers. Captain 
 Donaldson set fire to and burned two 
 steamboats (one loaded with gun-carriages, 
 the other with rosin and combustible mater- 
 ials). He also sent a boat's crew to take 
 possession of an armed steamer which sur- 
 rendered to him, to bring her up the river; 
 but finding her hard and fast ashore, and 
 under the guns of the fort, the boat returned 
 without her. This delayed the movements 
 of the " Sciota," and brought her within 
 half a mile of the ram" Manassas," whence 
 I witnessed the decided manner in which 
 the noble old steamship "Mississippi," Com- 
 mander Melancton Smith, met that pigmy 
 monster. The " Mississippi" made at her, 
 but the " Manassas " sheered off to avoid 
 the collision, and landed on the shore, when 
 her crew escaped over her roof into the 
 swamp. The "Mississippi" pelted her 
 meanwhile with her heavy guns. After a 
 while she slipped off the bank, and was last 
 seen by some of the officers floating down 
 the stream, passing the " Mississippi " with- 
 out smoke-stack. I counted nine of the 
 enemy's steamers of all kinds destroyed ; 
 all but two being well armed on the bow 
 and stern. 
 
 Upon the assembling of the fleet at quar- 
 antine, I observed, for the first time, that 
 
 the gun-boats "Itasca," Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding C. H. B. Caldwell; "Winona,"" 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Ed. T. Nichols, 
 and " Kennebec," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 John Russell, belonging to the second 
 gun-boat division, were missing. As they 
 were the three rearmost vessels of the 
 fleet, it was apprehended that the fire of 
 the forts and of the enemy's steamers 
 had been concentrated upon them after the 
 passage of the larger vessels, which had 
 attracted and divided the fire of the en- 
 emy while they were in sight. I am happy 
 to report none killed and only two slight- 
 ly wounded in this brilliant dash of the 
 fleet. 
 
 The "Sciota," next preceded the fleet 
 up to English Turn, and was the fourth 
 vessel ahead in the attack on and cap- 
 ture of the forts at the city of New Orleans, 
 on the 35th. and the third in passing up 
 in front of the city. She has shared in all 
 the active operations of the fleet to this 
 date. 
 
 The immediate object of this expedition 
 having been gained, I hauled down my 
 pennant at one p. M. to-day, to resume 
 my duties as fleet-captain on board the 
 "Hartford," having no further casualties 
 to report. 
 
 Throughout the tryingscenes of this dash- 
 ing exhibition, which is second to none on 
 record. Captain Donaldson, his officers and 
 crew, were conspicuous for their coolness, 
 intrepidity and good conduct. Her guns 
 were well and skillfully handled by their 
 crews, under the direction and careful in- 
 struction of Lieutenant H. A. Adams ; 
 Midshipman Woodward gallantly working 
 the rifle on the top-gallant forecastle, and 
 Act. -Master Foster the 11-inch pivot gun. 
 Act. -Master McFarland was always at 
 the con, and acquitted himself zealously 
 and handsomely in the discharge of that 
 duty. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, H. H. Bell, 
 
 Captain of the Fleet, 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, 
 
 off the City of New Orleans, 
 
 REPORT OF COMMANDER RICHARD WAIN- 
 WRIGHT, united STATES FLAG-SHIP 
 
 " hartford." 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Hartford," ) 
 OFF City of New Orleans, \ 
 April 30, 1862. ) 
 Sir — I have the honor to submit the fol- 
 lowing report of the part taken by this ship 
 in the actions of the mornings of April 34tn. 
 and 35th instant, off Forts Jackson and St. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 201 
 
 Philip, and below the city of New Or- 
 leans. 
 
 At 3:30 A. M., on the morning of the 24th, 
 got under way, and at 3:55 the "Hartford" 
 opened fire from bow guns, engaging Fort 
 Jackson, and receiving a galling fire from 
 both forts. At 4.15 grounded on shoal near 
 Fort St. Philip in the endeavor to clear a 
 fire raft, which was propelled by a ram on 
 our port quarter, setting fire to the ship, 
 the flames bursting through the ports and 
 running up the rigging, endangering the 
 ship as much frofti fire, if not more, than 
 from the guns of the enemy. Went to " fire 
 quarters," extinguished flames, and backed 
 off — a heavy flre being kept up by both 
 forts upon us all the time, and we continu- 
 ing to fire in return upon them until out of 
 
 COMMANDER RICHABD WAINWEIGHT, OF THE "HARTFORD." 
 
 range. Passed and fired into several Con- 
 federate steamers on our way up the river. 
 
 On the a5th instant, steaming up the 
 river, cleared ship for action at 9 :30 a. m. , 
 at 11:30 discovered two batteries, one on 
 each bank of the river, which commenced 
 firing. We then opened fire with bow guns, 
 and shortly were in position to use both 
 batteries, and at first fire of the port battery 
 drove the enemy on the right bank from 
 his guns. After passing were fired on by 
 riflemen, but without injury. The ship 
 was much riddled, having received 32 shots, 
 some of them of a serious nature. There were 
 also two guns disabled by the enemy's fire. 
 
 I herewith enclose the reports of the heads 
 of the different departments. We have to 
 mourn the loss of three of our brave crew, 
 and also had ten wounded. The guns were 
 ■nToii ixTr>T-irorl nnH sfirvftH. and wheu officers 
 
 and men behave with such courage and cool- 
 ness, I consider it a credit to the ship to say 
 that it is impossible for me to individualize. 
 
 On April 26th, at 3.25 p. m., proceeded up 
 the river to attack some batteries ; at 5 went 
 to quarters, and at 5.35 discovered two bat- 
 teries, both of which, however, had been 
 evacuated, and gun-carriages set on fire. 
 Sent a boat to battery on left bank and 
 spiked twenty-nine guns. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 R. Wainwright, 
 
 Commander United States Ship "Hart- 
 ford." 
 
 Flag-officer Faeragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 report of captain henry w. morris, united 
 states steam-sloop "pensacola." 
 
 United States Sloop " Pensacola," 
 AT anchor off New Orleans, 
 April 28, 1862. 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report the fol 
 lowing incidents and occurrences of the 
 confiict of the 24th and 25th of April in pass- 
 ing Forts Jackson and St. Philip and their 
 adjacent- batteries ; also the engagement 
 with the rebel gun-boats and the " ram," 
 which were stationed above those forts ; 
 also, the action with the batteries located a 
 few miles below this city, and which latter 
 took place on the 25th instant. 
 
 Your order to me was that this ship 
 should, after passing the barricade below 
 the forts, proceed to the attack of Fort St. 
 Philip, in. order to divert its fire from your 
 division, so that you should not be exposed 
 to the fire of both of these forts at the same 
 time. On our arrival at the opening of the 
 barricade the enemy opened his fire on us. 
 We proceeded slowly through it, firing only 
 our bow guns, until we reached a position 
 where our broadside guns could be used; 
 we then continued slowly on, frequently 
 stopping and returning his fire, and sustain- 
 ing that of the rebel gun-boats at the same 
 time, until we had reached a point above 
 that fort where its fire could no longer reach 
 us. The ram, after having struck the " Va- 
 runa" gun-boat, and forced her to run on 
 shore to prevent sinking, advanced to attack 
 this ship, coming down on us right ahead. 
 She was perceived by Lieutenant F. A. Roe 
 just in time to avoid her by sheering the 
 ship, and she passed close on our starboard 
 side, receiving, as she went by, a broadside 
 from us. The gun-boats of the enemy now 
 fled up the river, and some of theni were 
 run on shore and set fire to by their own 
 crews. We were under the fire of the ene- 
 my about two hours. We then steamed up 
 the river to render assistance to the " Varu- 
 na." We sent our boats to her to assist in 
 
SOS 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "taking off her officers and crew, and have 
 seven of the former and about sixty of the 
 latter now on board. 
 
 The conduct of the officers and crew of 
 this ship was in every respect praiseworthy, 
 evincing coolness and courage of the high- 
 est order. The fire of the guns was kept 
 up with all the rapidity wliich the circum- 
 stances of the action demanded, to insure 
 injury to the enemy without the wasting of 
 ammunition. The amount of damage in- 
 flicted by us on him cannot be ascertained, 
 but I believe that it must have been very 
 considerable. It is impossible in a night at- 
 tack to do 'justice to each officer's merits by 
 specifying his particular conduct in the 
 battle, but the result of the conflict is the 
 hest evidence of the great good behaviour 
 of them all. 
 
 I must speak of the coolness and ability 
 displayed by Lieutenant F. A. Roe, the ex- 
 ecutive officer of this ship. His station be- 
 ing on the bridge next to me enabled me to 
 witness it. My eyesight is quite defective, 
 especially at night, and I am compelled to 
 rely on that of others. I was, therefore, 
 obliged to give to Lieutenant Roe the duty 
 of directing the ship's course through the 
 opening of the barricade, as well as the as- 
 cending of the river during the whole ac- 
 tion. The judgment and skill shown by 
 him in the performance of this duty can- 
 not be surpassed. We liad no pilot on 
 hoard, and he performed that duty with the 
 most remarkable abihty and success. I re- 
 commend and most strongly urge upon the 
 Navy Department the propriety and justice 
 of promoting him to the rank of com- 
 mander, as a reward for the highly import- 
 ant services which he has rendered in this 
 battle. In my opinion he has fairly earned 
 it and ought to receive it. 
 
 In the action of the 25th instant with the 
 batteries just below the city tlie ship re- 
 ceived but little injury in her hull or rig- 
 ging, and none of the officers or crew were 
 killed or wounded, I enclose herewith a 
 report of the surgeon of the killed and 
 wounded; also, one of the injury sustained 
 hy the ship in hull and rigging. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Henry W. Morris, Captain. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 report op captain t. t. craven, tjnited 
 steam-sloop "brooklyn. 
 
 United States Steam-sloop "Brooklyn," ) 
 Mississippi River, off New Orleans, [• 
 April 2(j, 18G2. ) 
 Sir — Herewith I have the honor to en- 
 close reports from the executive officer, sur- 
 geon, gunner, carpenter and boatswain, 
 
 relative to the occurrences, casualties, ex- 
 penditure of ammunition, and damages on 
 board this ship on the mornings of the 24th 
 and 25th instant. 
 
 II; becomes my duty to add that, on the 
 morning of the 24th, soon after the action 
 between our fleet and the forts, St. Philip 
 and Jackson, commenced, in consequence 
 of the darkness of the night and the blind- 
 ing smoke, I lost sight of your ship, and 
 when following in the line of what I sup- 
 posed to be your fire, I suddenly found the 
 " Brooklyn" running over one of the hulks 
 and rafts which sustained the chain barri- 
 cade of the river. For a few moments I was 
 entangled and fell athwart the stream, our 
 bow grazing the shore on the left bank of 
 the river. While in this situation I received 
 a pretty severe fire from Fort St. Philip. 
 Immediately after extricating my ship from 
 the rafts, her head was turned up stream, 
 and a few minutes thereafter she was feebly 
 butted by the celebrated ram " Manassas." 
 She came butting into our starboard gang- 
 way, first firing from her trap-door, when 
 within about ten feet of the ship, directly 
 toward our smoke-stack, her shot entering 
 about iive feet above the water-line and 
 lodging in the sand-bags which protected 
 our steam-drum. I had discovered this 
 queer looking gentleman, while forcing my 
 way over the barricade, lying close into 
 the bank, and when he made his appearance 
 the second time I was so close to him that 
 he had not an opportunity to get up his full 
 speed, and his efforts to damage me were 
 completely frustrated, our chain armor 
 proving a perfect protection to our sides. 
 He soon slid off and disappeared in the 
 darkness. A few moments thereafter, being 
 all the time under a raking fire from Fort 
 Jackson, I was attacked by a large Confed- 
 erate steamer. Our port broadside, at the 
 short distance of only fifty or sixty yards, 
 completely finished him, setting him on fire 
 almost instantaneously. 
 
 Still groping my way in the dark, or under 
 the black cloud ot smoke from the fire-raft. I 
 suddenly found myself abreast of St. Philip, 
 and so close that the leadsman in the star- 
 board chains gave the soundings, ''thirteen 
 feet, sir." As we could bring all our guns 
 to bear, for a few brief moments we poured 
 in grape and canister, and I had the satis- 
 faction of completely silencing that work 
 before I left it — mj- men in the tops witness- 
 ing, in the flashes of their bursting shrap- 
 nels, the enemy running like sheep for 
 more comfortable quarters. 
 
 After passing the forts we engaged several 
 of the enemy's gun-boats ; and being at 
 short range — generally from sixty to a 
 hundred yards — the effects of our" broad- 
 sides must have been terriflc. This ship 
 was under fire about one hour and a half. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 203 
 
 "We lost eight men killed, and had twenty- 
 six wounded, and our damages from the 
 enemy's shot and shell are severe. I should 
 not have been so particular, sir, in record- 
 ing so many of the incidents of the morn- 
 ing of the 24th, had I not been out of my 
 proper station; but justice to my officers 
 and crew demand that I should show that 
 the " Brooklyn " was neither idle nor use- 
 less on that never-to-be-forgotten occasion. 
 
 In conclusion, I must here beg leave to 
 add that my officers and crew, all, without a 
 ■single exception, behaved in a most heroic 
 manner ; indeed, I was surprised to witness 
 their perfect coolness and self-possession, 
 as they stood at their guns while the rebels 
 were hailing shot and shell upon us for 
 nearly half an hour before I gave the order 
 to " open fire." I have to congratulate 
 myself on being so ably assisted by my exec - 
 utive officer. Lieutenant R. B. Lowry. He 
 was everywhere, inspiring both officers and 
 crew with his own zeal and gallantry in 
 the performance of their duty. Lieutenant 
 James O'Kane, who had charge of the 1st 
 division, was severely wounded soon after 
 we commenced the action ; but not until he 
 had himself primed, sighted and fired two 
 guns, and from loss of blood fallen to the 
 deck, would he consent to be carried below. 
 Lieutenant James Forney, commanding the 
 marines, had two guns assigned him, and, 
 with his men, fought most gallantly. 
 
 I was early deprived of the services of my 
 signal officer and aid. Acting Midshipman 
 John Anderson, by a shot, which cut him 
 and the signal quartermaster, Barney Sands, 
 nearly in two. Young Anderson was a most 
 promising and gallant young gentleman, 
 and had, only a few days previously, volun- 
 teered from another vessel, which had been 
 detailed for other duty, to join this ship ; he 
 was knocked overboard and killed instantly. 
 Immediately afterward, my young clerk, 
 Mr. J. G. Swift, (who had been meanwhile 
 taking notes,) asked me to let him act as my 
 aid ; and the prompt, self-possessed manner 
 in which he performed his duty in conveying 
 my orders elicited my highest admiration. 
 
 The conduct of Quartermaster James 
 Buck, stationed at the wheel, merits partic- 
 ular mention. Early in the fight he received 
 a severe and painful contusion by a heavy 
 splinter ; but for seven hours afterwards he 
 stood bravely at his post and performed his 
 duty, refusing to go below until positively 
 ordered to do so ; and on the morning of 
 the 25th, without my knowledge, he again 
 stole to his station and steered the ship from 
 early daylight until 1.30 p. m., over eight 
 hours. I beg particularly that you will 
 bring this man's conduct to the especial 
 notice of the Navy Department. 
 
 On the morning of the 25th of April, as the 
 fleet was proceeding up the river, at about 
 
 a quarter-past 11 o'clock, two batteries were 
 discovered, one on our starboard bow, and 
 the other almost directly ahead. Signal 
 was made from your ship to prepare for 
 action. At this time the flag-ship was the 
 leading vessel, the " Brooklyn " was the 
 second in the line, and the "Iroquois" 
 third ; tlie others were astern, and some- 
 what scattered. A few minutes after your 
 signal the "Cayuga" passed the "Brook- 
 lyn." and so close as to compel me to hail 
 and request her commander not to force me 
 out of my station. She pushed on, and 
 even passed the flag-ship. 
 
 About noon, being then one and a quarter 
 miles distant from them, the batteries 
 opened a raking fire upon us. The fire of 
 starboard battery was immediately respon- 
 ded to by this ship, then about half a cable's 
 length astern of the " Hartford," and twenty- 
 one shots from our 80-pounder rifled gun 
 were rapidly, and with remarkable precis- 
 ion, thrown into it, only two of these shots 
 failing to take effect. A few minutes after- 
 ward the "Brooklyn," then steaming at the 
 rate of ten knots, by the sudden sheering 
 off and slowing down of the " Hartford." 
 for the purpose of engaging the enem}', 
 necessarily sheered in shore, which brought 
 her up within one hundred and fifty or two 
 hundred yards of the port-hand battery, 
 and so as to obstruct the fire of the " Hart- 
 ford." The "Brooklyn" then opened fire 
 with grape and canister, stopped her en- 
 gines, and, lying within less than one hun- 
 dred yards of the river bank, delivered two 
 other broadsides, which completely drove 
 the enemy pell-mell from their guns and 
 from the field. 
 
 In conclusion, sir, permit me to congratu- 
 late you upon this most brilliant success. 
 The attack by our squadron upon two strong 
 and garrisoned forts, steaming within grape 
 and canister range, and partially silencing 
 them, and the pursuit and destruction of 
 almost their entire fieet of gun-boats, have 
 not been surpassed, if equaled, by any navy 
 in the world. Under the providence of 
 Almighty God we have achieved a most 
 glorious victory. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Thos. T. Craven, Captain. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Fakragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 report op commander s. phillips lee, 
 commanding united states steam- 
 sloop " oneida." 
 
 United States Steam-sloop " Oneida," ) 
 New Orleans, April 26, 1862. f 
 
 I report the part born by the "Oneida" 
 during the actions on the morning of the 
 21:th, between 3 and 6 a. m., with Fort Jack- 
 
304 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 son and Fort St. Philip and the Confederate 
 gun-boats, and in the battle of New Orleans, 
 at noon on the ;ioth. 
 
 ACTION WITH FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 
 
 The "Oneida" was, under your order, the 
 fourth in line in the leading division, which 
 was instructed by you to pass on the Fort 
 St. Philip side and not to fire the port bat- 
 tery. Hence the port 32s were shifted to, 
 and our pivot guns trained on the star- 
 board side. 
 
 The enemy's fire was very heavy, and 
 began from both forts as soon as we got 
 within long range of their guns, which was 
 on opening the point a mile and a half be- 
 low Fort Jackson. 
 
 I found it necessary, until past the forts, 
 to pilot and to direct all operations from the 
 forecastle after nearing the opening in the 
 barrier, where the "Mississippi" (our next 
 ahead) seemed at a stand as if aground, on 
 the Fort St. Philip side, when she com- 
 menced firing her port battery. 
 
 This obstruction to our passage was re- 
 moved, as, caught by the current on the 
 starboard bow, the " Mississippi" shot over 
 to and rather down on the Fort Jackson 
 side. Then the " Varuna" (our next astern) 
 appeared on our port side and showed black 
 smoke. The "Oneida" was steered infer 
 the Fort St. Philip side, passed up quickly 
 in the strong eddy, and close under the guns 
 of that fort, (so that the sparks from its im- 
 mense battery seemed to reach us,) fired 
 rapidly bolts from two rifled guns, (we had 
 no shell for them,) grape and canister from 
 the forward 32s, and shrapnel from the two 
 11-inch pivot guns, whilst passing this long 
 line of works. (It was, perhaps, the burn- 
 ing of the sulphur in our 11-inch shrapnel 
 which occasioned the officers in Fort St. 
 Philip to inquire after the surrender, if our 
 shells were not filled with Greek fire. 
 
 The terrific fire from the heavy batteries 
 of Fort St. Philip passed over us, their guns 
 seeming to be too much elevated for our 
 close position. 
 
 ACTION "WITH THE GUN-BOATS. 
 
 When just above the forts we encountered 
 the gun-boats and transports of the enemy. 
 The former, it seems from the subsequent 
 reports of our prisoners, were tied to trees 
 along the steep bank above Fort St. Philip ; 
 thence passing over to the Fort Jackson 
 side, these gun-boats came down to meet 
 us. It was very thick from darkness and 
 smoke. We had now got on the Fort Jack- 
 son side. A flash revealed the ram "Man- 
 assas," gliding down our port side below 
 our guns, and passing too close and swiftly 
 aided by steam and the current, to enable 
 us to bring our heavy guns to bear on her. 
 Next came a gun-boat quite near, and pass- 
 ing from the Fort Jackson to Fort St. Philip 
 
 side, across our bow. Kan into it with a 
 full head of steam, and cut it down with a 
 loud crash on its starboard quarter. Clear 
 of our guns in a moment, it drifted down 
 stream in the darkness. We now slowed 
 down, and afterwards used the steam as 
 necessary to get or keep position in fighting 
 the gunboats, firing right and left into them 
 as we could ascertain (from other indica- 
 tions than black smoke, on account of the 
 " Varuna ") that we were not firing into one 
 of our own steamers ; forbore to fire into 
 those steamers that appeared to be river 
 transports, and ceased firing into others 
 when they made no return. 
 
 In this manner we fired into and passed 
 several Confederate boats on the right 
 bank, leaving it for those who came after 
 to pick up the prizes. A black gun-boat 
 with two masts — a converted sea steamer — 
 ran ahead after a brief contest. At or near 
 daybreak we found the "Cayuga" on our 
 port side. After consultation with Captain 
 Bailey, we concluded to wait for the fleet 
 to come up and form in order. Captain 
 Bailey afterwards hailed that the "Varuna" 
 might be ahead. Looked for her but could 
 not make her out, and received reports 
 from the first lieutenant and the officer on 
 the forecastle that she was not in sight. 
 We had steamed a mile or more ahead of 
 the "Cayuga," saw her general signal No. 
 80, but as there was nothing in sight of us 
 needing assistance, supposed the signal to 
 refer to some vessel astern of the "Cay- 
 uga." Moving ahead, reconnoitering, came 
 up with what in the gray of the morning 
 appeared to be a fort, but which, on nearer 
 approach, proved to be a Confederate camp 
 on the right bank, with a large Confeder- 
 ate fiag flying over it. Fired into it, but 
 no reply was made, no one was seen mov- 
 ing, and the camp seemed deserted. Passed 
 on, leaving the trophy flag flying, and soon 
 received a report that the "Varuna" was 
 ahead, and that the enemy was trying to 
 board her. Went ahead with all speed to her 
 assistance. Approaching rapidly, saw the 
 " Varuna " ashore on the left bank of the 
 river, where she had been driven by two 
 rebel gun -boats. At 5.30 a. m., fired on one 
 of them, the black gun-boat, our previous 
 acquaintance, with the forcastle rifle gun. 
 He had hoisted his jib (his wheel-ropes being 
 gone) and was trying to escape up river, but 
 both rebel gun-boats, finding they could not 
 get away, ran on shore — the black one, 
 which proved to be the " Governor Moore," 
 Commander Kennon, on the left bank, above 
 
 the "Varuna," and the , (name yet 
 
 unknown,) on the right bank, opposite the 
 " Varuna," with her head up stream. After 
 we had driven them ashore their crews de- 
 serted, but not before setting fire to their 
 vessels. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 205 
 
 With our boats captured Commander 
 Kennon, (formerly of our navy,) one first 
 lieutenant of artillery, one chief engineer, 
 and fourteen of the crew of the "Governor 
 Moore " ; also, a rebel signal-book and some 
 official papers, showing that the rebel gun- 
 boats were ordered to ram our vessels and 
 to distinguish themselves by showing lights, 
 which they must soon have found prudent 
 to haul down. Seeing that the "Varuna" 
 was sinking, sent our boats and went to her 
 assistance. Brought on board " Oneida " the 
 first lieutenant, two acting masters, two 
 mates, and forty petty officers and seamen 
 of the "Varuna," and sent ten others, seven 
 of whom were wounded, to the "Pensa- 
 cola." 
 
 The "Varuna" had been rammed and 
 badly stove by both of these rebel gun-boats, 
 which had kept with or after her up river, 
 and she was filling, with her magazine 
 flooded, when the " Oneida" drove off her 
 assailants, prevented her officers and crew 
 from being captured, and was received by 
 them with loud and hearty cheers. 
 
 The "Cayuga," (Captain Bailey's flag,) 
 also cheered the " Oneida" heartily for op- 
 portunely coming to his support that morn- 
 ing. 
 
 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 In the action of the 25th, the "Oneida," 
 being next to the "Pensacola," shared in 
 the actual engagement with Fort Chalmette, 
 on the famous old battle-ground. The 
 entire action lasted but 10 minutes. 
 
 The enclosed report of the surgeon shows 
 the extent of our loss to be but three per- 
 sons slightly wounded in these three actions. 
 
 Fort Jackson sent a heavy shell through 
 our port side and coal bunker, (which was 
 full of coal) the shell falling, and fortu- 
 nately without exploding, on our berth- 
 deck. 
 
 The gun -boats gave us one glancing shot 
 on the starboard bow and a quantity of 
 grape, mostly on the starboard side. 
 
 The officers and men of my command dis- 
 played courage, coolness and skill. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, very respect- 
 fully yours, 
 
 S. Phillips Lee, Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G Farragut, U. S. N., 
 
 Com,manding Western Blockading Squad- 
 ron. 
 
 beport of commander samuel swartwotjt, 
 
 united states sloop-of-vtar 
 
 " portsmouth." 
 
 United States Sloop-of-War "Ports- ) 
 MOUTH," OFF Pilot Town, Mississippi [ 
 EiVER, April 28, 18(52. ) 
 Sir — In compliance with your orders, I 
 .got under way at 3.30 a. m. on the 24th in- 
 stant, and proceeded toward Fort Jackson, 
 
 in tow of the steamer "JacksOn," for the 
 purpose of enfilading that fort, to draw their 
 fire from your squadron whilst passing by. 
 Upon arriving at the position designated by 
 you in your directions to Lieutenant John- 
 son. I ordered the ship to be anchored, and 
 had a spring run out, to breast her broadside 
 to. I had scarcely accomplished this when 
 a very brisk and galling fire, with shell and 
 solid shot, was opened upon the ship from a 
 masked water battery only a few hundred 
 yards distant, and so completely concealed 
 from our view that we could only judge of 
 its location by the flashes from the Confeder- 
 ate guns. We returned their fire with as much 
 precision as we could under the circumstan- 
 ces, but with what effect Ihave been unable 
 to ascertain. After firing one round from 
 my port battery and four rounds from my 
 Parrot gun, the spring was shot away, and 
 the ship swung around, so that I was unable 
 to bring any of my guns to bear upon Fort 
 Jackson or the water battery. By this time 
 the rebels had got their range, and were 
 dropping their shell and shot with great 
 rapidity all around and close to the ship, 
 many of them cutting away the rigging 
 just above our heads. A 68-pounder solid 
 shot was thrown on board, falling upon the 
 spar deck, just under the top-gallant fore- 
 castle, tearing away the plank about ten 
 feet, splitting one of the beams, and in its 
 passage striking John Hancock, seaman, in 
 the left leg, shattering it so much as to render 
 amputation necessary. He has since died 
 of his wound. Finding that the ship was 
 a target for the enemy's batteries, without 
 being able to bring ray guns to bear, and, 
 as the squadron had passed the forts, the 
 object of my visit was accomplished, I reluc- 
 tantly gave the order to slip the cable, and 
 was soon drifted out of range of the rebel 
 guns by the wind and tide. I cannot speak 
 in too high praise of the bravery, coolness, 
 and subordination of the officers and crew 
 upon this trying occasion. 
 
 Commander Porter called to see me on the 
 afternoon of the 24th instant, and, upon con- 
 sultation, we decided that the most judicious 
 course woiild be for all the vessels, with the 
 exception of a few of his most powerful 
 steamers, to drop down to this anchorage, 
 under my protection, so that in case any 
 of the rams and fire-rafts should escape his 
 steamers this ship could arrest their progress 
 here. 
 
 Having received the glorious tidings to- 
 day that Forts Jackson and Philip have sur- 
 rendered to Commander Porter, I have con- 
 cluded to proceed up the river again, in 
 order to recover, if possible, the cable and 
 anchor which I slipped on the 24th instant, 
 and also to render all the assistance in my 
 power. I have just received intelligence 
 from Ship island that Lieutenant-Command- 
 
206 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ing Abner Read, pf the steamer " New Lon- 
 don," is in a critical situation, as tliere are 
 five rebel steamers preparing to attack him. 
 I will therefore order one of our gun-boats 
 to proceed with all dispatch to his assist- 
 ance. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 S. SwARTWOUT, Commander. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding United States Naval Forces, 
 Western Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 
 ery, and a burning steamer that was drift- 
 ing down upon us, did not allow me to take 
 the " Manassas" in tow after her surrender, 
 therebv preserving her intact for our own 
 use, as" the engines were still in operation 
 when my boats, with an engineer and crew, 
 boarded her. At this time it became neces- 
 sary to recall my boats, when I directed 
 her to be set on fire, and then so riddled her 
 with shot that she was dislodged from the 
 bank and drifted below the forts, when she 
 blew up and sank. 
 
 I respectfully refer you to the accompany- 
 ing report of Surgeon R. F. Maccoun for the 
 casualties that occurred among the crew, 
 and to the enclosed statements of the car- 
 penter and gunner of the damages done to 
 the vessels and the expenditure of ammuni- 
 tion. . . 
 
 I have much pleasure in mentioning the 
 efficient service rendered by Executive 
 Officer Geo. Dewey, who kept the vessel in 
 her station during the engagement, a task 
 exceedingly difficult from the darkness and 
 thick smoke that enveloped us from the fire 
 of our vessel and the burning gun-boats. 
 
 I would also refer, in terms of praise, to 
 the conduct of all the officers and men 
 under my command. As I consider that all 
 the vessels under fire did their utmost to 
 subdue the enemy and destroy his defences, 
 I deem it unnecessary to enter into any 
 further detail of the exploits performed by 
 the '■ Mississippi," as we all must share alike 
 in the honor of your victory. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant^ 
 
 Melancton Smith, 
 Commander United States Navy. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Division Gulf 
 Blockading Squadron. 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW EEAK-ADMIR.tL) MELANCTON SMITH, 
 OF THE "MISSISSIPPI." 
 
 • Mississippi," ) 
 
 United States Steamer 
 
 Mississippi River, April 26, 1862. 
 
 Sir — I have to report that the injuries sus- 
 tained by this ship in the engagements of 
 the 24th and 25th instant, with Forts Jack- 
 son and St. Philip, the rebel gun-boats, the 
 ram "Manassas," and the batteries below 
 the city of New Orleans, are not of a very 
 serious nature. 
 
 Ten shots were received, eight of which 
 passed entirely tlirough the ship. The ram 
 " Manassas" likewise inflicted an extensive 
 wound on the port quarters, below the 
 water line. All these injuries can be tem- 
 porarily remedied, with the exception of the 
 latter, and the severe damage done to the 
 outer shaft-bearing and mizzen-mast. I 
 regret exceedingly that my disabled machin- 
 
 REPORT of commander CHARLES S. BOGGS,. 
 UNITED STATES STEAMER " VARUNA." 
 
 United States Steam Gun-boat "Cay 
 
 l\ 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to enclose here- 
 with a duplicate of the report of Comman- 
 der Boggs, late of the "Varuna," and at- 
 tached to my division of the attacking 
 force. This gallant officer came up to my 
 support when I had more of the enemy's 
 steamers attacking me than I could weli 
 attend to. I afterwards saw him in conflict 
 with three of the enemy's steamers, and 
 directed Commander Lee, of the "Oneida," 
 to go to liis support, which he did in the 
 most dashing manner. 
 
 Commander Bogg's description of the loss 
 of his vessel I believe to be accurate. I saw 
 him bravely fighting, his guns level with 
 the water, as his vessel gradually sank 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 2or 
 
 underneath, leaving her bow resting on the 
 shore and above water. 
 
 I have the honor to be your obedient 
 servant, T. Bailey, Captain. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Cayuga," ) 
 
 May 6, 1862. [ 
 Sir — I have the honor to enclose a copy 
 (with slight verbal alteration) of the very 
 hasty report drawn up at the last moment 
 and sent to the flag-officer. My absence on 
 special duty immediately after the action, 
 and the necessity of forwarding it immedi- 
 ately, before the sailing of this vessel, must 
 be my excuse for not forwarding it through 
 you, my immediate commander, who so 
 gallantly led the van of the division to 
 which the " Varuna " was attached. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Charles S. Boggs, 
 Commander United States Navy. 
 Captain T. Bailey. 
 Commanding First Division of Gun-boats. 
 
 United States Steamer "Brooklyn," } 
 OFF New Orleans, April 39, 1863. j 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, after 
 passing the batteries with the steamer " Va- 
 runa," under my command, on the morning 
 of the 34:th, finding my vessel amid a nest 
 of rebel steamers, I started ahead, deliver- 
 ing her fire, both starboard and port, at 
 every one that she passed. The first on her 
 starboard beam that received her fire 
 appeared to be crowded with troops. Her 
 boiler was exploded, and she drifted to the 
 shore. In like manner three other vessels, 
 one of them a gun-boat, were driven ashore 
 in flames, and afterwards blew up. 
 
 At 6 A. M. the "Varuna" was attacked 
 by the " Morgan," iron-clad about the bow, 
 commanded by Beverly Kennon, an ex- 
 naval officer, "This vessel raked us along 
 the port gangway, killing four and wound- 
 ing nine of the crew, butting the "Varuna" 
 on the quarter and again on the starboard 
 side. I managed to get three eight-inch 
 shells into her abaft her armor, as also sev- 
 eral shots from the after rifled gun, when 
 she dropped out of action partially disabled. 
 
 While still engaged with her, another 
 rebel steamer, iron-clad, with a prow under 
 water, struck us in the port gangway, doing 
 considerable damage. Our shot glanced 
 from her bow. She backed off for another 
 blow, and struck again in the same place, 
 crushing in the side ; but by going ahead 
 fast, the concussion drew her bow around, 
 and I was able, with the port guns, to give 
 her, while close alongside, five eight-inch 
 shells abaft her armor. This settled her. 
 
 and drove her ashore in flames. Finding 
 the "Varuna" sinking, I ran her into the 
 bank, let go the anchor, and tied up to the 
 trees. 
 
 During all this time the guns were actively 
 at work crippling the " Morgan," which was 
 making feeble efforts to get up steam. The 
 fire was kept up until the water was over 
 the gun-trucks, when I turned my attention 
 to getting the wounded and crew out of the 
 vessel. The " Oneida," Captain Lee. seeing 
 the condition of the "Varuna," had rushed 
 to her assistance, but I waived her on, and 
 the "Morgan" surrendered to her, the ves- 
 sel in fiames. I have since learned that 
 over fifty of her crew were killed and 
 wounded, and she was set on fire by her 
 commander, who burned his wounded with 
 his vessel. 
 
 I cannot award too much praise to the 
 officers and crew of the " Varuna" for the 
 noble manner in which they supported me 
 and their coolness under such exciting cir- 
 cumstances, particularly when extinguish- 
 ing fire, having been set on fire twice during- 
 the action by shells. 
 
 In fifteen minutes from the time the 
 " Varuna" was struck she was on the bot- 
 tom, with only her top-gallant forecastle 
 out of water. The officers and crew lost 
 everything they possessed, no one thinking 
 of leaving his station until driven thence by 
 the water. I trust the attention of the 
 department will be called to their loss, and 
 compensation made to those who have lost 
 their all. 
 
 The crew were taken off by the different 
 vessels of the fleet as fast as they arrived, 
 and are now distributed through the squad- 
 ron. The wounded have been sent to the 
 "Pensacola." 
 
 I would particularly commend to the 
 notice of the department Oscar Peck, second 
 class boy, and powder boy of the after rifle, 
 whose coolness and intrepidity attracted 
 the attention of all hands. A fit reward for 
 such services would be an appointment at 
 the naval school. 
 
 The marines, although new recruits, more 
 than maintained the reputation of that corps. 
 Their galling fire cleared the "Morgan's" 
 rifled gun, and prevented a repetition of her 
 murderous fire. Four of the marines were 
 wounded, one I fear mortally. 
 
 So soon as the crew were saved I reported 
 to you in person, and within an hour left 
 in the only remaining boat belonging to the 
 "Varuna," with your despatches for Gen- 
 eral l->utler, returning with him yesterday 
 afternoon. Very respectfully, 
 
 Charles S. Boggs, 
 Commander United States Navy. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
308 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 report of commander john de camp, 
 united states steamer "iroquois." 
 
 United States Steamer " Iroquois," ) 
 OFF New Orleans, May 3, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — I beg to submit the following report 
 respecting our engagement with Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip, and a fleet of Con- 
 federate steamers and rams in this river, 
 April 24th and 25th. 
 
 The " Iroquois," being on picket duty dur- 
 ing the night of the 24th, and being about 
 one mile in advance of the squadron, we 
 observed the signal for action made on 
 board the flagship at about 3 a. m. Soon 
 after, the ship of the first division having 
 passed ahead, we fell into our place, astern 
 of the " Sciota,"and stood towards the forts. 
 At 4 A. M. we were hotly engaged with the 
 forts, and shortly after a ram and the Con- 
 federate gun-boat '• McCrea" came upon our 
 quarter and astern of us and poured into the 
 ' ' Iroquois " a most destructive fire of grape- 
 shot and langrage, part of which was cop- 
 per slugs ; a great many of them were found 
 on our decks after the action. We succeeded 
 in getting one 11-inch shell into the 
 "McCrea," and one stand of canister, 
 which drove her away from us. We suf- 
 fered severely from the raking cross-fire of 
 Fort St. Philip, but Fort Jackson inflicted 
 no injury, although we passed within fifty 
 yards of its guns. 
 
 Passing the forts, we were beset by five 
 or six Confederate steamers. We gave 
 each a broadside of shell as we passed, and 
 the most of them were entirely destroyed. 
 Four miles above the forts we captured the 
 enemy's gun-boat " No. 3," armed with one 
 24-pound brass howitzer, and well supplied 
 with small arms, fixed ammunition, sails, 
 etc. At this point we also captured about 
 forty soldiers, including Lieutenant Hender- 
 son, of the Confederate army. These men 
 were paroled and landed at New Orleans. 
 Some of them were so badly wounded 
 that I sent them to the hospital without 
 parole ; they will not trouble us again 
 very soon, I think. Anchoring, by order, 
 at 9 p. M. , we were again under way at day- 
 light on the 25th, and, in company with the 
 squadron, stood up the river. At Chalmette 
 we encountered two Confederate batteries, 
 but their attempt to annoy us scarcely de- 
 serves the name of a battle. Some people 
 on shore fired a few musket shots at us, but 
 our marines soon dispersed them, and thus 
 ended the battle of New Orleans. 
 
 The greatest praise I can bestow upon the 
 officers of the " Iroquois " is to say that 
 they all did their duty, and each one of them 
 always expressed his determination to con- 
 quer. The crew and marines behaved with 
 spirit and gallantry, which we may always 
 expect in well drilled Americans. 
 
 Our loss in killed and wounded, I am 
 sorry to say, is large. One master's mate 
 and five seamen and two marines are killed, 
 and twenty-four wounded. Mr. George W. 
 Cole, master's mate, was killed by a can- 
 non shot, and he died bravely, shouting to 
 the men not to mind him, but go on with 
 their guns. 
 
 The "Iroquois" is badly injured in her 
 hull, but her masts and spars are sound, 
 except the bowsprit and jibboom. These 
 are hit with large shot ; all our boats are 
 smashed, and most of them are not worth 
 repairs. 
 
 I am, most respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 John De Camp, 
 Commander United States Navy. 
 Flag-officer D G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron, Neio Orleans, La. 
 
 report op commander JAMES ALDEN, 
 united states steamer "RICHMOND." 
 
 United States Steamer "Richmond," ) 
 OFF New Orleans, April 27, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — In accordance with your instruc- 
 tions, I herewith enclose copies of the boat- 
 swain's and carpenter's reports of the dam- 
 age done to this vessel by the enemy's shot 
 during the engagement of Forts Jackson 
 and St. Philip on the morning of the 24th 
 instant. The list of casualties I have 
 already forwarded to you ; it is very small, 
 there bein g but two killed and four wounded. 
 Much injury to the men, I am sure, Avas 
 saved by a carefully prepared " splinter 
 netting." At one point between the guns 
 the netting was forced out to its utmost 
 tension ; indeed, large pieces of plank were 
 thus prevented from sweeping the deck, 
 and perhaps destroying the men at the 
 guns. I would therefore recoinmend that 
 in our future operations, these simple " pain- 
 savers "'or "life-preservers" be adopted in 
 the other ships of the fleet. 
 
 I must beg leave to call your attention to 
 another simple and ver}- effective expedient 
 which was resorted to on board this vessel 
 to obtain light — an element so essential in 
 a night attack on board ship. The deck and 
 gun-carriages were ivhiteivashed fore and 
 aft, and it was truly wonderful to note 
 the difference ; where before all was dark- 
 ness, now side-tackle, falls, liandspikes, 
 ammunition, and indeed everything of the 
 kind about our decks, was plainly visible 
 by the contrast. The idea being so novel, 
 and, at the same time, effective, I trust it 
 will receive, through you, the notice it de- 
 serves, so that when others are driven to 
 the dire necessity of a night attack they may 
 have all the advantages the discovery 
 insures. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 209 
 
 We had much difficulty in groping our 
 way through that " fiery channel," our ship 
 being so slow, and the enemy was met in 
 the "worst form for our profession," but the 
 hand of a kind Providence gave us the vic- 
 tory. No men could behave better through- 
 out that terrible ordeal than the crew of 
 this vessel did. My thanks for support are 
 •due to them and the officers generally. I am 
 especially indebted to Mr. Terry, our second 
 lieutenant, for his ready and intelligent aid 
 in the management of the ship during the 
 .action ; but to Mr. Cummings, our first lieu- 
 tenant, are mainly due, as far as this ship 
 is concerned, the handsome results of that 
 morning. By his cool and intrepid conduct 
 the batteries were made to do their whole 
 duty, and not a gun was pointed nor a shot 
 sent without its mark. My thanks are due 
 to Mr. Bogart, my clerk, who took the place 
 of Mr. John B. Bradley, master's mate, who 
 was shot down at my side while gallantly 
 performing his duty as my aid. 
 
 I am, sir, respectfully, etc., 
 
 James Alden, Commander, 
 Elag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western G-ulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 keport op lieutenant-commanding ed- 
 ward t. nichols, united states 
 gun-boat "winona." 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Winona, 
 New Orleans, April 30, 1863. 
 
 Sir — I beg leave respectfully to present 
 the following report of the operations of this 
 vessel in the engagement with Forts Jack- 
 son and St. Philip on the morning of the 
 24th inst. 
 
 After getting under way, I took my sta- 
 tion as soon as possible in the line, astern 
 of the " Itasca," and followed her red light, 
 but suddenly found myself involved in a 
 mass of logs and drift stuff, held by the 
 ■chain and moorings of the hulks. Whilst 
 trying to back clear the " Itasca " backed 
 and fouled me on the starboard bow. After 
 a, delay of from twenty minutes to half an 
 hour, I proceeded on my way, though I felt 
 pretty sure that the bulk of the fleet had 
 passed. Day was breaking fast, and my ves- 
 sel was brought out in bold relief against 
 the bright sky, presenting a fair mark for 
 the gunners of the fort. Fort Jackson fired 
 at me as I approached, and the first gun 
 killed one man and wounded another ; the 
 third or fourth gun killed or wounded every 
 man at the rifle gun except one. Judging 
 that the burning raft was on the Fort Jack- 
 son side, I steered to pass it on the port hand, 
 and did not discover my error until the whole 
 lower battery of Fort St. Philip opened on 
 me at less than point blank range. Steer- 
 ing off with starboard helm, I shot across to 
 
 the Fort Jackson side, but, owing to the 
 obscurity caused by the smoke, got so close 
 to the shore that I had no room to turn 
 head up stream, and was forced to head 
 down. At this time both forts were firing 
 nearly their entire batteries at me. It 
 would have been madness to attempt turn- 
 ing again in such a fire ; three of my men 
 were killed, four severely wounded, and 
 one slightly so, the vessel hulled several 
 times, and the deck wet fore and aft from 
 the spray of falling shot. 
 
 It was with reluctance that I gave the 
 order to head down stream and run out of 
 the fire, first ordering the officers and crew 
 to lie down on deck. I cannot, sir, speak 
 too highly of the conduct of all on board. 
 My orders were obeyed with alacrity, and 
 (considering the suddenness of the fire 
 opened on us, from Fort St. Philip, and the 
 naturally depressing effect produced by the 
 fatality of the first few shots,) with but 
 little confusion. Mr. Walker, the first lieu- 
 tenant, was very active and vigilant, and 
 gave his personal attention in every part of 
 the vessel — he was slightly wounded in the 
 ear. Permit me, sir, to call your attention 
 to the conduct of acting-master's mate 
 William F. Hunt, in charge of the rifie gun 
 — it was admirable. He assisted in working 
 his gun, as his crew was weakened, and 
 remained at it after none were left, until 
 ordered from the forecastle by me. Four 
 of my wounded men are in the hospital at 
 Pilot Town ; the dead I buried on the left 
 bank of the river, a short distance below 
 our late anchorage. 
 
 Since the 24th I have been acting under 
 the orders of Commander Porter, and on 
 the 28th I had the satisfaction of receiving 
 the surrender of Fort St. Philip and hoist- 
 ing in its proper place once more the fiag of 
 our country. I was unfortunate, sir, in not 
 passing the forts, but, I trust, not censur- 
 able. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, etc., 
 Edward T. Nichols, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Blockading Squad- 
 ron, Netv Orleans. 
 
 report op lieutenant-commanding GEO.. 
 H. PREBLE, UNITED STATES GUN- 
 BOAT "KATAHDIN." 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Katahdin," ) 
 AT anchor opp New Orleans, >■ 
 April 30, 1802. ) 
 Sir — It gives me pleasure to report that, 
 in the passage of the forts on the morning 
 of the 24th. and the engagement with the 
 defences of New Orleans on the 25th, as 
 well as on previous occasions when on ad- 
 vanced guard dutv, and exposed to the de- 
 
210 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 liberate fire from the rifled cannon of the 
 enemy, the officers and crew of this vessel 
 have shown a bravery and cool determina- 
 tion worthy of all praise. While exposed 
 to the iron hail rained over us from both 
 forts, and the simultaneous fire of the ene- 
 my's gun-boats on the Sith, not a man 
 flinched from his gun or hesitated in the 
 cool performance of his duty. Where all 
 performed so well it is, perhaps, inviduous 
 to particularize. I may mention, however, 
 as coming under my immediate notice, the 
 deliberate way in which the First Lieuten- 
 ant, Mr. Green, gave his general superinten- 
 dence to the serving and supplying the guns, 
 and the other duties assigned him, and the 
 cool, collected manner in which Acting 
 Master W. H. PoUeys conned the ship 
 between the forts and throughout, giving 
 his orders to the helm as promptly, decid- 
 edly, and coolly as when piloting the ves- 
 sel to a usual anchorage. Acting Master 
 George Harris, in charge of the pivot gun, 
 and Acting Master's mate, J. H. Hartshorn, 
 in charge of the Parrott rifle gun, did their 
 best to annoy the enemy. 
 
 At the most critical moment of the pas- 
 sage, and when exposed to the fire of both 
 forts, the fire of our pivot gun was embar- 
 rassed and delayed by the shells jamming 
 in the gun, their sabots being too large to 
 fit the bore. As many as five shells were 
 passed up before one could be found to fit 
 the gun. Two became so jammed that the 
 shells were torn from the sabots before they 
 could be extracted, and the sabot of one had 
 to be blown out and the gun reloaded. Mr. 
 Harris, the master in charge of the pivot- 
 gun, attributes this serious fault, first, to 
 the swelling of the light wood of the too 
 nicely fitted sabot in the damp climate of 
 this Gulf ; and, second, to the shells being 
 packed in bags instead of boxes, which 
 allowed of the sabots getting bruised, even 
 with the most careful handling. 
 
 The station assigned this vessel, close 
 under the stern of the "Varuna,"! main- 
 tained until the dense canopy of smoke 
 from the cannonade, aided by the night, hid 
 everything from our view. I ordered full 
 speed, however, to maintain my station ; 
 and seeing, by the flash from her broadside, 
 that we were passing the "Mississippi,"! 
 gave orders to cease firing for a time until 
 we had passed her, when I became engaged 
 with the enemy's gun-boats. Above the 
 forts we passed along the broadside and 
 within fifty yards of the iron-plated battery 
 " Louisiana," lying at anchor. To our sur- 
 prise she did not fire at us, though she 
 could have blown us out of water. After 
 passing her, I directed to keep the vessel 
 off, and give her a shot from the 11-inch 
 pivot and Parrott, which was done, and, as 
 I have since learned from one on board of 
 
 her, with good effect, tearing a hole the 
 size of the shell through and through the 
 iron plating of her bow. 
 
 Until beyond the fire of the forts, acting- 
 assistant paymaster Ladd attended in the 
 wardroom to give his assistance to the sur- 
 geon, but later volunteered his services in 
 boats, and brought off to the ship refugees 
 from the burning gun-boats and the shore ; 
 he assisted, also, in disarming that portion 
 of the Chalmette regiment which surren- 
 dered, and was encamped opposite the quar- 
 antine. 
 
 I am happy to have no casualties to re- 
 port, and that the surgeon, though ready, 
 had no opportunity to testify his skill on 
 board. Several of the men had their cloth- 
 ing torn by shot or fragments of shell, but 
 not a man was even scratched. At the re- 
 quest of Captain Bailey, Dr. Robinson went 
 onboard the "Cayuga" after the action, 
 where he rendered efficient service to her 
 wounded. The vessel, also, escaped with- 
 out serious injury. One shell passed 
 through the smokestack and steam escape- 
 pipe and burst, making a dozen small holes 
 from the inside outward, and another has 
 cut about four to six inches into the fore- 
 mast, while the same, or another, cut the 
 foresail and some of the running rigging 
 about the foremast, which is all the dam- 
 age sustained. I attribute our escaping 
 with so little injury to our being near the 
 head of the line, to the rapid manner in 
 which we passed the forts, and to our pass- 
 ing so close under the forts that all their 
 shot went over our heads. I believe, also, 
 that for a time the fire of Fort St. Philip 
 was silenced. The two shots we received, 
 however, were from that fort. 
 
 On the arrival of the fleet at New Or- 
 leans, seeing the schooner "John Gilpin" 
 lying at the levee on the Algiers side, 
 loaded with cotton and surrounded by" 
 burning vessels and sunken docks, and 
 fearing she might be fired, I boarded her 
 and hoisted the American flag at her 
 masthead, and brought her captain, Arch- 
 ibald Forsaith, (whom you afterwards- 
 released on parole.) on board as a host- 
 age for her safety and future delivery, 
 not deeming it prudent or safe to pufc 
 a small prize crew in possession. Cap- 
 tain Forsaith claimed that his vessel was 
 British property, and that his papers were 
 in the English consulate, but acknowledged 
 that she was intended to run the blockade. 
 In passing down the river since, I have 
 noticed that a portion, if not all, of her deck 
 load of cotton, and perhaps her remaining- 
 cargo, has been removed. Captain F. stated 
 to me that she had 265 bales of cotton on 
 board. 
 
 In conclusion, flag-officer, allow me to 
 congratulate you upon the success which. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 211 
 
 has attended this "runningf of the forts," 
 beyond a doubt the most brilliant and daring 
 achievement of the war. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Geo. Henry Preble, 
 
 Lieutenant- Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OF LIBUTEXANT-COMMANDING c. H. B. 
 
 CALDWELL, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT 
 
 " ITASCA." 
 
 United States Steam Gun-boat "Itasca,") 
 Pilot Town, Mississippi River, [ 
 
 April 5i4, 1863. ) 
 Sir — Agreeably to your instructions, I proceeded 
 up the river, in the boat furnished from the " Hart- 
 ford," to make a final reconnoissance of the schoon- 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING (ATTERWAEDS COMMODOEE) 
 CHAS. H. B. CALDWELL, OP THE - ITASCA." 
 
 ers on the west bank of the river, and a careful 
 examination as to the chains that were originally 
 stretched from them to the schooners on the star- 
 board side, one of which we ran on shore on the 
 night of the 20th. I succeeded in reaching them 
 after a long, fatiguing pull against the current, 
 without opposition or discovery, although we were 
 directly in range between the forts and a fire 
 lighted on the opposite shore to illuminate the 
 reach across the river, and I could distinctly hear 
 the voices of the rebels at Fort Jackson as they 
 were busily engaged in some outside work. I found 
 two of the three schooners on shore, and the outside 
 one riding head to the current, with a number of 
 chains hanging from her bow. I passed ahead, 
 leaving her fifty yards on the port hand, and 
 dropped over a deep-sea lead, veering to twelve 
 fathoms of hne. We then lay on our oars, and 
 drifted down the stream, without feeling any ob- 
 structions. We found all the booms attached to the 
 
 1 /^/^i-» *:i*>c« on/^ 
 
 
 Ta I »-i ei H 
 
 of them, aground; the outside schooner was en- 
 tirely clear. Returning, I stopped alongside of the 
 east bank, and dropped the lead over, with fifteen 
 fathoms of line, floating by within twenty yards 
 of her. 
 
 Having satisfied myself fully, by these and other 
 observations, that no obstructions whatever existed, 
 and that the chains we slipped on the night of the 
 30th had disarranged and almost destroyed the 
 whole apparatus for preventing our passage up the 
 river, and that the condition of things was precisely 
 as I had previously rei)orted, and that the whole 
 fleet could safely pass, I made with confidence and 
 inexpressible satisfaction, on my return, our pre- 
 concerted signal that the channel was clear and 
 everything propitious for the advance of the 
 fleet. 
 
 I regret to be obliged to state that my progress 
 afterwards with the fleet was attended with serious 
 misfortune and disappointment. On arriving 
 abreast of Fort Jackson a storm of iron hail fell 
 over and around us from both forts, which was 
 continued without intermission while we were un- 
 der their guns. A number of shots took effect, 
 several passing through us. One, a 43-pound shot, 
 passed through the port side, a coal-bunker full of 
 coal, iron-plate bulkhead, and entered the boiler, 
 making a large hole, and breaking the dry-pipe 
 therein; from this hole the steam rushed in a dense 
 cloud, filling the fire and engine room, and driving 
 every one from below, and almost suffocating those 
 on the quarter-deck. 
 
 The loss of our motive power having destroyed 
 our efficiency and left us almost helpless, I ordered 
 every man to throw himself fiat on the deck, the 
 helm put hard a-starboard, and, turning, floated 
 down the river. When out of range of the forts, I 
 ordered the pumps manned fore and aft, and our 
 deck was soon several inches deep with water, which 
 was pouring also out of every scupper. Sup- 
 posing the ship to be in a sinking condition, I ran 
 her on shore below the mortar fleet, where I re- 
 mained until I satisfied myself that the leak was not 
 as bad as I had at first supposed, and then haiiled 
 off and anchored. 
 
 I am happy to state that but three men were in- 
 jured during the engagement — two firemen, scalded 
 by the steam, and the captain of the hold, wounded 
 in the head by a splinter. I have received fourteen 
 hits, as follows : three shot holes through the ves- 
 sel below the deck, the plank-shear badly shattered, 
 and four slight hits on the port side; one through 
 the vessel below decks, and one through the bul- 
 warks on the starboard side; one through the cut- 
 water, grazing the bowsprit; one cutting away a 
 davit span and shivering the jury mainmast (the 
 main gaff), and one 8-inch shell exploded over the 
 quarter-deck, driving a large piece through the 
 port signal locker and bulwarks. One shot took 
 out of the port side a piece of plank three feet long, 
 shivered five feet of the next plank, crushed all of 
 the timbers in its passage, and split one knee ; an- 
 other shot hole in the starboard side is nearly as 
 bad. 
 
 Allow me, flag-offlcer, respectfully and sincerely, 
 to congratulate you upon the glorious passage of 
 the fleet, and to express to you the heartfelt sorrow 
 and disappointment 1 felt that my disabled condi- 
 tion prevented my being a participant in its com- 
 plete success; and to assure you it was owing to 
 circumstances that Providence alone could con- 
 trol. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 C. H. B. Caldwell, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-ofBcer David G. Farragut, 
 
 Commander-in-Chief of Western Qtdf Blockading 
 
212 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 REPORT OF LIEUTENANT -COMMANDIS& N. B. HAR- 
 RISON, UNITED STATES aUN-BOAT " CAYUGA." 
 
 United States GrUN-BOAT, "Catuga," Mis) 
 
 sissippi River, \ 
 
 April 24, 1863. ) 
 
 giB_The following extract from the log will pre- 
 sent to you, in the briefest form, the part home by 
 this ship in the conflict of this morning with Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip, and the rebel gun-boats : 
 
 " At 2 A. M., in obedience to the flag-offlcer's sig- 
 nal, weighed anchor, and led the advance column 
 toward the barrier, and stood up stream close to 
 Fort St. Philip. At 3.45 both forts opened their Are. 
 At 3.50 opened on Fort St. Philip with grape and 
 canister. At 4 passed the line of fire of Fort St. 
 Philip, and encountered some eleven gun-boats, no 
 supporting ships in sight. At 4.25 one steamer 
 surrendered, and two more were driven on shore. 
 At this moment discovered the 'Varuna' and 
 'Oneida' dash gallantly into the fight. At 5 
 anchored in front of Camp Lovell, and received the 
 submission of Colonel Szymanski and his com- 
 mand." 
 
 We were struck forty -two times. Both masts arfe 
 so hadly hurt as to "be unfit for further service. 
 Our 11-inoh Dahlgren carriage struck, but still fit 
 for duty; the smokestack perforated, but not mate- 
 rially injured; all other damages have been repaired. 
 I regret to add that six of our crew have been 
 wounded, but so far the surgeon has made but one 
 amputation. 
 
 It is needless for me to inform you, who had us 
 under your eye, that all did their duty fearlessly 
 and well; but I must commend to your special 
 notice my executive officer. Lieutenant George R. 
 Perkins. The remarkable coolness and precision of 
 this young officer, while aiding me in steering the 
 vessel through the barrier and past the forts, under 
 their long and heavy fire, must have attracted your 
 attention. Of volunteer Acting-master Thomas H. 
 Morton I must speak in terms of high praise. He 
 fought the Parrott gun, and his daring example had 
 a most happy effect on the crew. 
 
 I am indebted to Assistant Surgeon Edward S. 
 Bogert, not only for his rapid and skillful attention 
 to the wounded, but for his general officer-like bear- 
 ing. My clerk, Mr. Charles M. Burns, Jr., was of 
 material assistance in communicating my orders. 
 Our engines, although generally unreliable, were, 
 on this occasion, worked successfully by Second- 
 assistant George W. Rogers and his assistants. In 
 conclusion, I must mention with praise the conduct 
 of the following men : Charles Florence, captain 
 of 11-inch, guri; William Young, captain of Parrott 
 gun; William Parker, at the wheel;Edward Wright, 
 at the lead. 
 
 April 25. — I continue this report through the bat- 
 tles of to-day. At 11 A. M., being at that moment 
 some half a mile in advance of the flag-ship, the 
 batteries on either hand opened on us at short 
 range. Being pivoted to port, I edged off with the 
 port helm and responded- with our 11-inch and Par- 
 rott, slowly but with great precision of aim. This 
 unequal contest lasted just fifteen minutes, when 
 the ilag-ship ranged up in splendid style, diverting 
 their fire and silencing the battery on the right bank. 
 
 We were again repeatedly hulled, and much cut 
 up in spars and rigging, and the iron stock of the 
 port anchor cut away. I lost no men; this I attri- 
 bute to an order which I gave for the men to lie 
 down flat during the time Ave could bring no gun to 
 bear. To speak again of the constancy and devo- 
 tion of my brave officers and crew would be to re- 
 peat an old story, Respectfully, 
 
 N. B. Harrison, 
 Lieuteiiant-Commanding. 
 Capt. T. Bailey, 
 
 Commanding the Leading Division of Gun- 
 tbats, off New Orleans, Louisiana. 
 
 report op lieutenant pierce crosby, com- 
 manding united states gun-boat "pinola." 
 
 United States Steam Gun-boat "Pinola," ) 
 OFF New Orleans, April 26, 1863, [ 
 
 Sib— I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to your signal on the morning of the 24th in- 
 stant, after having passed your orders to the " Pen- 
 sacola " and other vessels of the squadron, I took 
 rriy position at 3.30 A. M. in line of battle next after 
 the "Iroquois," thinking the vessel which was to 
 have preceded me had taken her's in advance, which 
 I could not ascertain at that time, and followed on 
 in line, passing so close to one of the enemy's hulks 
 which had been used to hold the chain-rafts, that 
 one starboard quarter-boat was crushed against her 
 sides; continued on our course, and as soon as Fort 
 Jackson bore abeam of us, about four hundred 
 yards distant, commenced firing with the 11-inch 
 Dahlgren pivot and Parrott rifles at the flashes of 
 the enemy's guns, that being the only guide by 
 which to distinguish their position, which the fort 
 answered promptly and rapidly, but, owing to our 
 proximity, their shot passed over, with the exception 
 of two, one of which killed Thomas Kelly, captain 
 of the forecastle, slightly wounding Acting-master 
 J. G. Lloyd, the other cutting away the launch's 
 after-davit. I then ran over within one hundred 
 and fifty yards of Fort St. Philip, from which we 
 received a terrific volley of shot, canister, grape, 
 and musketry, nearly all of which passed over us. 
 The fire-rafts, which were burning very brightly, 
 exposed us to the full view of the enemy, and en- 
 abled them to fire at us with great precision, while 
 we were only able to answer their forty guns with 
 the twenty-pound rifles, the 11-inch pivot being en- 
 gaged with Fort Jackson. Of those shot that 
 struck us from Fort St. Philip, one entered our star- 
 board quarter, cut away part of the wheel, and se- 
 verely wounded William Acworth, quartermaster, 
 who returned to his station as soon as his wounds 
 were dressed. Acting-master's mate Wilham H. 
 Thompson, promptly took the wheel at the time of 
 the disaster. The second entered the hull at the 
 water-line on the starboard side, eight inches for- 
 ward of the boilers, passed through the coal bunker, 
 and lodged in the pump-well and cut the sounding- 
 well in two. The third cut away the top of the 
 steam escape pipe. The fourth cut away the star- 
 board chain cable from the anchor, passed through 
 the bow and yeomans' storeroom, and lodged in the 
 port side, starting off the outside planking. The 
 fifth struck the topgallant forecastle and carried 
 away part of the rail. The sixth passed through 
 the plankshear, abreast of the 11-inch pivot gun. 
 The seventh sti-uck a barricade of hammocks for- 
 ward of the forehatch. The eighth cut away one 
 of the dead-eyes of the starboard fore rigging. The 
 ninth cut a bucket from the hands of Acting- 
 master William P. Gibbs, in charge of the pivot- 
 gun. The Tenth knocked the rammet from the 
 hands of Harrington, loader, who soon, with the 
 assistance of the gun's crew, made a temporary one, 
 the spare rammer having been lost overboard at the 
 commencement of the action. The eleventh passed 
 entirely through the hull, immediately over the 
 magazine, demolishing completely in its course the 
 dispensary and its contents. The twelfth passed 
 through the starboard and lodged in the port side 
 of the berth-deck. These two last mentioned shot 
 killed John Nolta and Robert H. Johnson, lands- 
 men, and dangerously wounded Thomas Jones, 
 wardroom steward; Thomas Ford, landsman; Henry 
 Stokely, wardroom cook, and Thomas L. Smith, 
 coalheaver, slightly; also, Thomas Foster, captain 
 of the hold, who received dangerous and painful 
 wounds from splinters while zealously performing 
 his duty, completely disabling the powder division, 
 there being but one man left to pass ammunition, 
 with the exception of Acting-master's mate C. V. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 213 
 
 Rummell, in charge of his division, who immedi- 
 ately gave his personal assistance, although he had 
 been knocked down a few moments previous by 
 splinters; and James A. Bashford, was slightly 
 wounded by splinters. A number of other missiles 
 grazed our sides, doing, however, but slight dam- 
 age. Immediately following the disaster on the 
 berth-declc, it was reported to be on fire, whereupon 
 the Gunner's-mate, 8. B. Frisbee, instantly closed 
 the magazine, he remaining inside. All traces of 
 fire having been quickly extinguished by the fire- 
 man, re-enforcements to the powder division were 
 quickly supplied, and the guns continued their fire. 
 After passing the forts, and out of range of their 
 heavy cross fire, we came suddenly in view of our 
 squadron, which had been hidden from us by the 
 dense smoke, and noticed at the same time a steamer 
 on the starboard hand, which at first sight I sup- 
 posed to be the "Iroquois,'' but as day dawned and 
 we approached nearer I soon discovered my mis- 
 take and gave her a shot from the 11-inch and Par- 
 rott rifles, both of which took effect in her huU 
 near the water-line. At this moment the iron ram 
 " Manassas " was seen following close astern of us, 
 and being in range of our howitzers we opened fire on 
 her with them, aiming at her smokestack. The 
 " Mississippi " being near, now turned upon her and 
 soon succeeded in driving her ashore and destroy- 
 ing her. In obedience to signal, I then ran up and 
 anchored with the squadron off Quarantine Land- 
 ing and sent ashore to destroy the telegraph wire, 
 which I afterwards learned was on the opposite 
 bank. At 9 A. M. got under way and steamed up 
 the river, in obedience to order, in company with 
 the "Sciota." At 3 P. M. sent the dead on shore 
 and buried them; then continued on our course in 
 
 company with the squadron and anchored at . 
 
 At 3.30 we got under way and steamed up the river 
 in company with the squadron. At 4 p. m. we 
 opened fire with the squadron on the batteries be- 
 low New Orleans, and as soon as the batteries were 
 silenced we proceeded with the squadron up to the 
 city, and, in obedience to orders, ran up the river 
 to look after the iron floating-battery, which I dis- 
 covered off the upper part of the city, in flames, 
 floating down with the current. Returned to the 
 flag-ship and received orders to destroy the batter- 
 ies below the city; ran down in company with the 
 "Oneida," Captain S. P. Lee commanding, and by 
 his directions I destroyed the battery on the port 
 hand while he took charge of that on the opposite 
 side. Pound a large supply of ammunition, to- 
 gether with twelve 33 and 24-pound guns, also a 10- 
 inch mortar, all of which we spiked, burned the 
 carriages, threw the shot into the river, and de- 
 stroyed everything belonging to the fort. After 
 accomplishing this work, set fire to and burned a 
 schooner loaded with combustible material lying 
 alongside the battery, and then returned to the 
 anchorage off New Orleans at 9.30, thus ending our 
 operations of the 34th and 35th of April. 
 
 Our total loss was three killed and eight wounded. 
 It gives me great pleasure and gratification to be 
 able to bear testimony to the zeal and intrepid con- 
 duct of the officers and crew of this vessel, durmg 
 the desperate conflict and terrific fire through which 
 they passed on the morning of the 34th mstant. 
 Amid that storm of iron hail perfect order reigned ; 
 officers and men did their duty faithfully, and nobly 
 sustained the well-earned reputation of the Navy 
 and our glorious old flag, for which they fought so 
 manfully. ^ , , , . , 
 
 The conduct of Thomas Gehegan, boatswains 
 mate and captain of the 11-inch gun, is worthy of 
 mention, as well for the brave example he set his 
 crew as by the faithful manner with which he 
 served his gun, bringing up his own ammunition as 
 soon as the men composing the powder division 
 had been nearly all killed or wounded. 
 Actina'-Davmaster C. Stewart Warren acted as 
 
 signal officer. "William H. Byrn, captain's clerk, 
 attended to passing my orders. 
 
 Dr. L. M. Lyon, assistant surgeon, displayed 
 great zeal and promptness in his attentions to the 
 wounded during the heat of the battle. 
 
 Senior-assistant engineer John Johnson, with his 
 junior assistants, managed his department with 
 skill and ability. 
 
 To A. P. Cook, first lieutenant and executive offi- 
 cer, I was greatly indebted for his able assistance. 
 Throughout the entire action he was ready and 
 prompt in the performance of his duties, displaying 
 a coolness and gallantry which won the admiration 
 of all. 
 
 With my earnest congratulations upon the bril- 
 liant success which has crowned your efforts and 
 attended the forces under your command, I remain, 
 very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Pierce Crosby, 
 
 Lieutenant- Commanding. 
 Flag-Officer D. G. Farragut, U. S. Navy, 
 
 Commanding United States Western Qulf Squad- 
 ron, Gut f of Mexico. 
 
 REPORT OF LIBUTElfANT-COMMANDTNG GBORdE 
 
 M. RANSOM, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT 
 
 "KINEO." 
 
 United States Gdn-boat "Kineo," Missis-) 
 
 sippi River, above the Forts, \ 
 
 April 35, 1863. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, on arriving 
 close under the guns of Fort St. Philip, on the morn- 
 ing of the 34th instant, the firing was commenced 
 from this vessel, and kept up briskly and effectively 
 until we had passed entirely beyond the range of 
 the enemy's guns from either forts or gun-boats. 
 
 Soon after the signal of the flag-ship to discon- 
 tinue action, I was hailed by Commander Smith 
 of the "Mississippi,'' who invited me to accompany 
 him in the pursuit of the ram. It turned immedi- 
 ately on the shore and was abandoned, its people 
 escaping under a brisk fire of musketry from both 
 vessels. I made preparations for taking it in tow 
 by a hawser, when, the "Mississippi" coming 
 between the "Kineo" and the ram. Commander 
 Smith hailed, and informing me that two vessels un- 
 der a point below had struck, requested me to take 
 possession of them. I was met there by the rebel 
 gun-boat "McRea," which opened a sharp fire, 
 backed by two other gun-boats, all within range of 
 the guns of either fort. The " Kineo ' returned the 
 fire of the "McRae," but was obliged to put her 
 head up stream. Having had the slide of the pivot 
 carriage shattered by a shot from Fort St. Philip, 
 the gun was temporarily disabled; and not being 
 able, with her head up stream, to bring anything 
 to bear effectually, I was obliged, very reluctantly, 
 to withdraw. 
 
 I have the pleasure to state, sir, that the con- 
 duct of officers and men of this vessel throughout 
 the action was specially, admirable for its steadi- 
 ness, without an exception. I enclose herewith a 
 report of Assistant-surgeon A. S. Oberly, of killed 
 and wounded. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c., 
 
 George M. Ransom, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragct, 
 
 Commanding Western (hilf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 report of lieutenant-commanding a. n. smith 
 
 UNITED states GUN-BOAT " WISSAHICKON." 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Wissahickon," 
 OFF Quarantine Station, Mississippi 
 River. April 36, 1863. , 
 
 Sir — I have to report that at 2 A. M. on the 34th 
 instant, in obedience to general signal, got under 
 
214 
 
 THE NAVAL HIS TOR F 
 
 way and proceeded up tne river, keeping our posi- 
 tion in the prescribed order of sailing till a deten- 
 tion, by running on shore and the dense smoke of 
 the battle, already some time commenced, rendered 
 it impossible to keep it longer. Using our battery 
 vigorously and to the best advantage possible, we 
 succeeded in passing the forts and water batteries 
 under a storm of shot, shell and volleys of musketry, 
 without loss of life or serious damage to the gun- 
 boat, which can only be attributed to the lowness 
 of the vessel on the water. 
 
 At daylight, above the forts, we were unavoidably 
 crowded on the west bank of the river, the ram 
 "Manassas" being a short distance astern and 
 heading for us, but unable to make much progress 
 against the current. Before it reached us, we 
 had fortunately gotten off, and witnessed, with 
 great satisfaction, shortly after, its destruction by 
 the United States steamer " Mississippi." 
 
 I have to report but two of the crew slightly 
 wounded; four round shot through the hull of the 
 vessel, and one through the mainmast. Officers and 
 men performed their duty nobly, and with admir- 
 able coolness. In this feeble tribute to their worth 
 and services I desire to include Third-assistant- 
 engineer G. M. White, a volunteer from the United 
 States steamer " Colorado." 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 A. N. Smith. 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 report of lieutenaift-commasfdixg john h. 
 russell, united states gun-boat " kennebec." 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Ken^nebec," | 
 Mississippi River, April 29, 1862. i 
 
 Sir — On the morning of the 24th instant, during 
 the engagement, this vessel became entangled with 
 the rafts, and struck one of the schooners (which 
 afterwards sunk), at the same time parting the 
 chain. I then made several attempts, in the midst 
 of a heavy fire, to pass the batteries; but, it being 
 daylight, and the squadron having passed above 
 the forts, I deemed it prudent to withdraw, and re- 
 ported to the senior officer. Commander Porter, 
 who attached me temporarily to his fleet, and 
 placed me on picket duty. 
 
 Yesterday morning, by order of Commander Por- 
 ter, I proceeded up the river, in company with the 
 United States steamers "Harriet Lane" and " West- 
 field," and gun-boat " Winona," to witness the sur- 
 render of the forts, after which, by order of Com- 
 mander Porter, I received on board this vessel the 
 prisoners from Fort Jackson — 29 officers and 90 
 men. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant 
 John H. Russell, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Q.ulf Blockading Sguadron 
 
 papers relating to the surrender OF FORTS 
 JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 
 
 No. 69.] 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford, off 
 THE City of New Orleans, 
 
 May 1, 1862. 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to forward herewith to 
 the department all the papers relating to the sur- 
 render of Forts Jackson and St. Philip to the 
 forces under my command. 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 i). G. Farragut, 
 Flag-officer, Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Nai-ij, Washington, D. C. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lanb," ) 
 
 April 39, 1862. j 
 
 Sir— The morning after the ships passed the 
 forts I sent a demand to Colonel Higgins for a sur- 
 render of the forts, which was declined. On the 
 27th I sent Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins a eommuni- 
 cation, herewith enclosed, asking again for the sur 
 render. His answer is enclosed. 
 
 On the 28th I received a communication from 
 him, stating that he would surrender the forts, and 
 1 came up and took possession, drew up articles of 
 capitulation, and hoisted the American flag over 
 the forts. These men have defended these forts 
 with a bravery worthy of a better cause. I treated 
 them with all the consideration that circumstances 
 would admit of. 
 
 The three steamers remaining were under the com- 
 mand of Commander J. K. Mitchell. The officer of 
 the fort acknowledged no connection with them, 
 and wished in no way to be considered responsible 
 for their acts. While I had a flag of truce up they 
 were employed in towing the iron floating battery 
 of sixteen guns (a most formidable affair) to a place 
 above the forts, and, while drawing up the articles 
 of recapitulation in the cabin of the "Harriet 
 Lane," it was reported to me that they had set fire 
 to the battery and turned it adrift upon us. I asked 
 the general if it had powder on board, or guns 
 loaded. He replied that he would not undertake 
 to say what the navy officers would do. He seemed 
 to have a great contempt for them. I told him " we 
 could stand the fire and blow up if he could," and 
 went on with the conference, after directing the 
 officers to look out for their ships. While drifting 
 down on us, the guns, getting heated, exploded 
 with a terrific noise, throwing the shot about the 
 river. A few moments after the battery exploded 
 with a terrific noise throwing fragments all over 
 the river, and wounding one of their own men in 
 Fort St. Philip, and immediately disappeared under 
 water. Had she blown up near the vessels, she 
 would have destroyed the whole of them. 
 
 When I had finished taking possession of the 
 forts, I got under waj- in the " Harriet Lane," and 
 started for the steamers, one of which was still fly- 
 ing the Confederate flag. I fired a shot over her, 
 and they surrendered. There were on board of 
 them a number of naval officers and two companies 
 of marine artillery. I made them surrender uncon- 
 ditionally, and, for trying to blow us up while under 
 a flag of truce, I conveyed them to close confine- 
 ment as prisoners of war, and think they should be 
 sent to the North, and kept in close confinement 
 there until the war is over, or they should be tried 
 for their infamous conduct. I have a great deal to 
 do here, and will send you all papers when I am 
 able to arrange them. 
 
 I turned over the forces to General Phelps. Fort 
 Jackson is a perfect ruin. I am told that over 1,800 
 shells fell in and burst over the centre of the fort. 
 The practice was beautiful. The next fort we go 
 at we wiU settle sooner, as this has been hard to get 
 at. The naval officers sank one gun-boat while the 
 capitulation was going on, but I have one of the 
 other steamers at work, and hope soon to have the 
 other. I find that we are to be the hewers of wood 
 and drawers of water; but as the soldiers have noth- 
 ing here in the shape of motive power, we will do 
 all we can. 
 
 I should have demanded an unconditional sur- 
 render, but with such a force in your rear it was 
 desirable to get possession of these forts as soon as 
 possible. The officers turned over everything in 
 good order, except the walls and buildings, which 
 are terribly shattered by the mortars. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 215 
 
 Hbadquartbrs Forts Jackson and St. ) 
 Philip, April 27, 1862. j 
 Sir — Your letter of the 26th instant, demanding 
 the surrender of these forts, has heen received. In 
 Teply thereto, I have to state that no official inform- 
 -ation has been received by me from our own 
 authorities that New Orleans has been surrendered 
 "to the forces of Flag-offleer Farragut, and until 
 such information is received no proposition for a 
 surrender can be for a moment entertained here. 
 KespectfuUy, your obedient servant, 
 
 Edward Higgins, 
 Lieutenant-Cnlonel-Commanding. 
 •Commodore David D. Porter, 
 
 United States Navy, Commanding Mortar Fleet. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," 
 Mississippi River, April 37, 1862. 
 
 Sir— When I last demanded the surrender of 
 Torts Jackson and St. Philip, I had no positive as- 
 csurance of the success of our vessels in passing 
 «afely the batteries on the river; since then I have 
 received communications from Flag-ofBcer Farra- 
 .gut, who is now in possession of New Orleans. Our 
 troops are, or will be, in possession of the promi- 
 nent points on the river, and a sufficient force has 
 heen posted on the ouside of the bayous to cut off 
 sM communication and prevent supplies. 
 
 No man could consider it dishonorable to sur- 
 Tender under these circumstances, especially when 
 no advantage can arise by longer holding out, and 
 by yielding gracefully he can save the further effu- 
 sion of blood. 
 
 You have defended the forts gallantly, and no 
 more can he asked of you. 1 feel authorized to offer 
 you terms sufficiently honorable to reUeve you from 
 any feeling of humiliation. 
 
 The officers will be permitted to retire on parole 
 "with their side arms, not to serve again until regu- 
 larly exchanged. All private property will be re- 
 spected, only the arms and munitions of war will be 
 surrendered to the United States government, and 
 the vessels lying at or near the forts. No damage 
 must be done to the defences. The soldiers will 
 also be paroled and be permitted to return to their 
 homes, giving up their arms. I am aware that you 
 <3an hold out some Uttle time longer, and am also 
 Aware of your exact condition as reported to us by 
 .a deserter, which convinces me that you will only 
 be inflicting on yourself and those under your com- 
 mand unnecessary discomforts without any good 
 xesults arising from so doing. 
 
 Your port has long been closed to the world, by 
 ■which serious injury has been experienced by many 
 loyal citizens. I trust that you will not lend your- 
 self to the further injury of their interests, when 
 it can only entail calamity and bloodshed without 
 any possible hope of success or relief to your forts. 
 Your surrender is a mere question of time, which 
 you know is not of any extent, and I therefore urge 
 you to meet my present proposition. By doing so 
 you can put an end to a state of affairs which will 
 only inflict injury upon all those under you, who 
 iave strong claims upon your consideration. 
 I remain, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 D. D. Porter, 
 Commanding Mortar Fleet. 
 ■Colonel Edward Higgins, 
 
 Commanding Confederate forces in Forts JaUison 
 and St. Philip. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," } 
 
 Mississippi River, April 30, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — I enclose herewith the capitulation of Forts 
 
 Jackson and St. Philip, which surrendered to the 
 
 mortar flotilla on the 28th day of April, 1862. I also 
 enclose in a box (forwarded on this occasion) all the 
 flags taken in the two forts, with the original flag 
 hoisted on Fort St. Philip when the State of Louis- 
 iana seceded. Fort Jackson is a perfect wreck; 
 everything in the shape of a building in and about 
 it was burned up by the mortar shells, and over 
 1,800 shells fell in the work proper, to say nothing 
 of those which burst over and around. I devoted 
 but little attention to Fort St. Philip, knowing that 
 when Jackson fell, Fort St. Philip would follow. 
 
 The mortar flotilla is still fresh and ready for 
 service. Truly, the backbone of the rebellion is 
 broken. 
 
 On the 26th of the month I sent six of the mortar 
 schooners to the back of Fort Jackson, to look up 
 the bayous and prevent supplies getting in. Three 
 of them drifted over to Fort Livingston, and when 
 they anchored the fort hung out a white flag and 
 surrendered. The " Kittatinny," which had been 
 blockading these for some time, sent a boat in ad- 
 vance of the mortar vessels, and reaching the shore 
 first, deprived them of the pleasure of hoisting our 
 flag over what had surrendered to the mortar flo- 
 tilla. Still, the tort is ours, and we are satisfied. I 
 am happy to state that officers and crew are all 
 well and full of spirits. 
 
 I liave the honor to remain. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," ) 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Missis- J- 
 SiPPi River, April 28, 1862. ) 
 
 By articles of capitulation entered into this 
 twenty-eighth day of April, one thousand eight 
 hundred and sixty-two, between David D. Porter, 
 commander United States Navy, commanding the 
 United States mortar flotilla, of the one part, and 
 Brigadier-General J. K. Duncan, commanding the 
 coast defences, and Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, 
 commanding Forts Jackson and St. PhiUp, of the 
 other part, it is mutually agreed : 
 
 1st. That Brigadier-General Duncan and Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Higgins shall surrender to the mor- 
 tar flotilla Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the arms, 
 munitions of war, and all the appurtenances here- 
 unto belonging, together with all pubUc property 
 that may be under their charge. 
 
 2d. It is agreed by Commander David D. Porter, 
 commanding the mortar flotilla, that Brigadier- 
 General Duncan and Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, 
 together with the officers under their command, 
 shall be permitted to retain their side arms, and that 
 all private property shall be respected; furthermore, 
 that they shall give their parole of honor not to 
 serve in arms against the government of the United 
 States until they are regularly exchanged. 
 
 3d. It is furthermore agreed by Commander 
 David D. Porter, commanding the mortar flotilla, 
 on the part of the United States Government, that 
 the non-commissioned officers, privates, and musi- 
 cians shall be permitted to retire on parole, their 
 commanding and other officers becoming responsi- 
 ble for them; and that they shall deliver up their 
 arms and accoutrements in their present condition, 
 provided that no expenses of the transportation of 
 the men shall be defrayed by the government of the 
 United States. 
 
 4th. On the signing of these articles by the con- 
 tracting parties, the forts shall be formally taken 
 possession of by the United States naval forces com- 
 posing the mortar flotilla; the Confederate flag 
 shall be lowered, and the flag of the United States 
 hoisted on the flagstaffs of Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip. 
 
216 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 In agreement of the above, we, the undersigned, 
 do hereunto set our hands and seals. 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 
 W. B. Renshaw, 
 
 Commander United States Navy, 
 J. M. VVainwright, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding '^Harriet Lane.'''' 
 
 J. K. Duncan, 
 
 Brigadier-General, Commanding Coast Defences. 
 
 Edward Hi&gins, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. A., Commanding Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip. 
 Witnessed by — 
 Edward T. Nichols, 
 
 Lieutenant- Commanding " Winona." 
 J. H. Russell, 
 Lieutenant-Co7nmanding " Kanawha.''^ 
 
 Walter S. Jones, second-lieutenant twenty-third 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 Robert Maurer, second lieutenant twenty-third. 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 Minor T. Gardy, seeond-heutenant St. Mary's^ 
 cannoniers. 
 
 Official list : 
 
 Charles N. Morse, 
 Lieutenant and Post-Adjutant. 
 April 28, 1863. 
 
 The company of St. Mary's cannoniers. eighty- 
 eight strong, also came up on the United States 
 gunboat " Kennebec." 
 
 Corporal Murray, of company E, Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 One private from company D, Louisiana regiment 
 artillery. 
 
 Official : Charles N. Morse, 
 
 Liexitenant and Post Adjutant. 
 
 LIST op officers AT FORT JACKSON, LOUISIANA. 
 
 Headquarters Forts Jackson and St. / 
 Philip, April 28, 1862. f 
 
 Brigadier-General J. K. Duncan, P.C.S.A. 
 
 Lieutenant Wm. M. Bridge, aid and inspector 
 general. 
 
 Captain W. J. Seymour, aide-de-camp, volun- 
 teers. 
 
 Captain J. R. Smith, volunteer aide-de-camp, 
 
 Somerville Burke, assistant-surgeon, P.C.S.A. 
 
 Dr. Bradbury, volunteer- surgeon. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Higgins, P.C.S.A., 
 commanding Forts Jackson and St. Philip. 
 
 Charles N. Morse, lieutenant Louisiana artillery 
 regiment, and post-adjutant. 
 
 Wm. B. Robertson, captain Louisiana regiment 
 artillery. 
 
 J. B. Anderson, captain Louisiana regiment ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 R, J. Bruce, first-lieutenant Louisiana regiment 
 artillery, commanding company D. 
 
 E. W. Baylor, first-lieutenant Louisiana regiment 
 artillery, commanding company H . 
 
 T. Peters, captain company I, twenty-second regi- 
 ment Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 James Ryan, captain company H, twenty-second 
 regiment Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 S. Jones, captain company I, twenty-third regi- 
 ment Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 F. C Comars, captain company St. Mary's can- 
 noniers. 
 
 Beverly C. Kennedy, first-lieutenant Louisiana 
 regiment artillery. 
 
 Abner N. Ogden, first-lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 James W. Gaines, first-lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 D. Simon, first-lieutenant twenty -second Louisiana 
 volunteers. 
 
 George Nongesser, first-lieutenant twenty -second 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 George O. Foote, first-lieutenant St. Mary's can- 
 noniers. 
 
 Wm. T. Mumford, first-lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 Edw. D. Woodlief, second-lieutenant Louisiana 
 regiment artillery. 
 
 Charles Dermers, second-lieutenant twenty -second 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 Christian Jacobs, second-lieutenant twenty -second 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 George Menn, second-lieutenant twenty-second 
 Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 Thomas J. Royster, second-lieutenant twenty- 
 second Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 LIST OP OFFICERS AT PORT ST. PHILIP, LOUISIANA, 
 INCLUDED IN CAPITULATION OF FORTS JACK- 
 SON AND ST. PHILIP, APRIL 28, 1862. 
 
 M. T. Squires, captain Louisiana regiment artil- 
 lery, senior officer. 
 
 Richard C. Bond, captain Louisiana regiment 
 artillery. 
 
 J. H. Lamon, captain Louisiana regiment artil- 
 lery. 
 
 Charles Assenheimer, captain Louisiana volun- 
 teers. 
 
 Armand Laityell (absent at date of capitulation), 
 captain Bienville Guards, recruited in the parish. 
 
 J. K. Dixon, second -lieutenant C. S. A., command- 
 ing company. 
 
 Charles D. Lewis, assistant-surgeon, P. C. S. A. 
 
 Charlton Hunt, first-lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 Henry W. Fowler, first lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery. 
 
 Lewis B. Taylor, first-lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery, and acting-assistant quartermaster. 
 
 W. C Ellis, first-lieutenant reguuent Louisiana 
 artillery. 
 
 P. Ruhl, first-lieutenant Louisiana volunteers. 
 
 Andrew J. Quigly, seeond-heutenant Louisiana 
 regiment artillery. 
 
 Wm. B. Jones, second lieutenant Louisiana regi- 
 ment artillery, 
 
 H. L. Blow, second-lieutenant C. S. A. 
 
 George House, acting-second-lieutenant C. S. A. 
 
 J. Dressell, second-lieutenant Louisiana volun- 
 teers. 
 
 J. A. Guershet, second-lieutenant Louisiana vol- 
 unteers. 
 
 S. Martin, second-lieutenant Bienville Guards, 
 recruited in the parish. 
 
 A. Chaussier, second-lieutenant Bienville Guards, 
 recruited in the parish. 
 
 Official: 
 
 Charles N. Morse, 
 Lieutenant and Post- Adjutant. 
 
 DISPOSITION OF PRISONERS CAPTURED. 
 
 No. 70.] 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford," at 
 
 ANCHOR off the CITX OP NeW ORLEANS, 
 
 May 1, 1863. 
 
 Sir — I have to inform the department that in 
 consequence of my not having any suitable place to 
 put the crews of the rebel gun-boats captured by 
 this fleet, I have released them on parole. But hav- 
 ing been informed by Commander Porter and others- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 217 
 
 that the conduct of the offlcers has been such as to 
 deprive them of any claim for indulgence on our 
 part— they having sunk two of the vessels while un- 
 der a flag of truce — I have determined to send them 
 to the North as prisoners of war, to be dealt with as 
 the department may think proper. They will be sent 
 In the " Rhode Island." 
 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Wlag-officer, Western Chdf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Wellbs, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 PAYMASTER GEO. F. CUTTER (NOW PAY DIRECTOR), U. S. N. 
 
 COMMANDER POBTBB'S DETAILED REPORT. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 
 
 April 30, 1863. 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to lay before you a report 
 of the proceedings of the mortar flotilla under my 
 command since the day the vessels entered the Mis- 
 sissippi River. 
 
 On the 18th of March, all the mortar fleet 
 crossed "Pass a I'Outre" bar, towed by the " Har- 
 riet Lane," "Owasco," "Westfield," and "Clif- 
 ton," the two latter having arrived that morning. 
 I was ordered by Flag-oflflcer Farragut to proceed 
 to Southwest Pass, which I accordingly did; there 
 we awaited orders, being at any moment ready to 
 go to work on the forts. 
 
 Asyet only the "Brooklyn" and " Hartford"had 
 crossed the bar, a short time after the " Richmond " 
 passed over, and the " Mississippi " and the " Pen- 
 sacola " came from Ship Island to try their hand at 
 getting through; there was not at the time a great 
 depth of water, and their pilots were not at all skill- 
 ful or acquainted with the bar. I voltmteered my 
 services with the steamers belonging to the mortar 
 flotilla, and, after eight days' laborious work, 
 succeeded in getting the ships through and an- 
 chored them at Pilot Town. I do not hesitate to 
 say, but for the exertions of Commander Renshaw, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Baldwin, and Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Wainwright, that the two latter ships 
 ■nrnnlrl TiAvpr hnvA p-nt inside: the " Miami." Lieuten- 
 
 ant-Commanding Harrell, also rendered assistance, 
 but as his vessel was an unmanageable one, he could 
 do no more than act as a steam anchor to heave 
 the ships ahead by. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be awarded to the com- 
 manders of the "Westfield" and "Clifton" (Ren- 
 shaw and Baldwin), for the exertions they displayed 
 on this occasion; they knew that the success of the 
 expedition depended on getting these ships over, 
 and they never once faltered in their duty, working 
 against adverse circumstances, and impeded by a 
 fog of eight days' duration, which obscured a ves- 
 sel at the distance of fifty yards; the "Harriet 
 Lane " also did all she could with her small power, 
 and in the end the united power of these vessels suc- 
 ceeded in getting over the bar the heaviest vessels 
 that ever entered the Mississippi River. 
 
 When the ships were all ready to move up, I di- 
 rected Mr. Gerdes (assistant in the Coast Survey) 
 to proceed in the "Sachem" and make a minute 
 survey from Wiley's Jump up to the forts. He 
 detached Mr. Oltmanns and Mr. Harris, the first an 
 assistant in the Coast Survey, the latter sent out by 
 the superintendent (Mr. Archibald Campbell) of the 
 northwestern boundary, to perform what might bo 
 required of him; the work was performed by boats; 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Guest, in the "Owasco," 
 being detailed by me for the purpose of protecting 
 them. These two gentlemen, Messrs. Harris and 
 Oltmanns, performed their duty most admirably: in 
 three days they had surveyed and triangulated over 
 seven miles of the river, their observations taking 
 in Forts Jackson and St. Philip; much of this time 
 they were under fire from shot and shell at a dis- 
 tance of 3,600 yards, and were exposed to concealed 
 riflemen in the bushes. On one occasion Mr. Olt- 
 manns was fired upon from the bushes while sur- 
 veying in one of the "Owasco's" boats, one of the 
 balls striking an oar, but the boat's crew drove the 
 enemy off with their rifles, and Mr. Oltmanns pro- 
 ceeded with his work, establishing the positions the 
 mortar vessels were to occupy with great coolness 
 and precision. I deem it due to these gentlemen to 
 mention their names honorably, as a tribute to the 
 Coast Survey — the utility of which is not properly 
 appreciated — and as a mark of high satisfaction, 
 with them for their invaluable services. 
 
 The survey being completed, and marked posi- 
 tions being assigned to the vessels where their dis- 
 tance from the fort could be known to a yard, I 
 brought up three of the schooners to try their 
 range and durability at a distance of three thou- 
 sand yards. I found ithe range satisfactory, and had 
 no reason to doubt the durabihty of the mortar 
 beds and foundation. I received but little encour- 
 agement from any one about the success of the 
 mortars, it having been confidently predicted that 
 " the bottoms of the schooners would drop out at 
 the tenth fire." I had no doubts myself about the 
 matter, having perfect confidence in the schooners. 
 Lieutenant-Commanding John Guest guarded the 
 Coast Survey party while they were employed, 
 returning the enemy's fire whenever he thought he 
 could do so with effect. 
 
 On the 16th, Flag-oflBcer Farragut moved up the 
 fleet, and I was told to commence operations as 
 soon as I was ready. The schooners sailed up 
 partly or were towed by the steamers, and on the 
 morning of the 18th, they had all reached their po- 
 sitions ready to open fire. Previous to taking their 
 places I had directed the masts to be dressed off 
 with bushes, to make them invisible to the enemy 
 and intermingle with the thick forest of trees and 
 matted vines behind which they were placed ; this 
 arrangement proved to be an admirable one, for 
 never once during the bombardment was one of the 
 vessels seen from the forts, though their approxi- 
 mate position was known. As the bushes were 
 blown away during the bombardment they were re- 
 newed, and the masts and ropes kept covered from 
 
218 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 view. The place I selected for the mortar ves- 
 sels was under the lee of a thick wood closely inter- 
 woven with vines, and presenting in the direction 
 of Forts Jackson and St. Philip an impenetrable 
 mass for three hundred yards, through which shot 
 could scarcely pass. From our mast-heads the forts 
 could be plainly seen, though observers there could 
 not see us in return. The head vessel of the first 
 division, Lieutenant-Commanding Watson Smith, 
 was placed at this point, 2,850 yards from Fort 
 .Tackson, 3,680 from St. Phihp ; the vessels were then 
 dropped in a line close to each other, their positions 
 having been marked by the Coast Survey party, and 
 Messrs. Oltmanns and Harris superintending per- 
 sonally that each one was acquainted with proper 
 distance. Next to Lieutenant-Commanding Smith's 
 division of seven vessels ("Norfolk Packet," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commanding Watson Smith ; "Oliver H. Lee,' 
 Acting-Master Washington Godfrey ; "Para," Act- 
 ing-Master Edward G. Furber ; " C. P. Williams," 
 Acting-Master Amos R. Langthorne; "Arietta," Act- 
 ing-Master Thomas E. Smith; "William Bacon, "Act- 
 ing-Master WiUiam P. Rogers; "Sophronia," Act- 
 ing-Master Lyman Bartholomew) was placed the 
 six vessels of the third divison, under Lieutenant- 
 Commanding K. R. Breese ("John Griffith," Acting- 
 Master Henry Brown; "Sarah Bruen," Acting- 
 Master Abraham Christian; "Racer," Acting- 
 Master Alvin Phinney; " Sea Foam," Acting-Master 
 Henry E. Williams ; "Henry James," Acting-Master 
 Lewis W. Pennington ; "Dan Smith," Acting-Master 
 George W. Brown), and one vessel, the "Orvetta," 
 Acting-Master Blanchard, all lying in line close 
 together. 
 
 All the vessels mentioned were anchored and se- 
 cured to spring their broadsides, as occasion might 
 require. In the meantime, Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing John Guest was sent ahead in the " Owasco " to 
 clear the bushes of riflemen which had been found 
 to lurk there, and cover the vessels from the fire of 
 the forts, when it should open; the "Westfield," 
 " Clifton," and " Miami '' being engaged in towing 
 the vessels to their posts. 
 
 I placed six vessels of the second division, tinder 
 command of Lieutenant W. W. Queen, on the north- 
 east shore of the river, the headmost one 3,680 yards 
 from Fort Jackson, to which the division was 
 directed to turn its attention. The following ves- 
 sels composed this division : 
 
 "T. A. Ward,' W.W. Queen, commanding second 
 division. 
 
 "M. J. Carlton," Charles E. Jack, acting-master. 
 
 " Matthew Vasser," Hugh H. Savage, acting- 
 master. 
 
 "George Manghain," John Collins, acting master. 
 
 "Orvetta," Francis E. Blanchard, acting master. 
 
 " Sydney C. Jones," J. D. <iraham, acting-master. 
 
 When the divisions were all placed, signal was 
 made to " commence action," and they opened in 
 order, each one firing every ten minutes. The mo- 
 ment the mortars oi)ened. Forts Jack.son and St. 
 Philip responded with all their guns that could 
 bear, but for some time did not appear to get the 
 right range ; the hulls of the vessels on the north- 
 east shore, being covered with reeds and willows, 
 deceived them somewhat, though their shot and 
 shell went over. The fire of the enemy was rapid, 
 and, as the shell and shot began to grow rather hot, 
 I sent to the flag-officer, asking that some of the 
 gun-boats should be sent to draw their fire. For 
 one hour and fifty minutes Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing Guest had, at the head of the mortar fleet, 
 borne the Are of the forts uninjured, and only left 
 there to get a supply of ammunition. After I went 
 on board his vessel and ordered him to retire, the 
 mortar vessels having been re-enforced by the gun- 
 boats sent up by the flag-officer, by midday the fire 
 on the vessels on the northeast shore (Lieutenant- 
 Connnanding Queen's division) became so rapid, 
 and the shot and shell fell so close, that I went on 
 
 board to remove them. One large 120-pound shell 
 had passed through the cabin and damaged the 
 magazine of Lieutenant-Commanding Queen's ves- 
 sel, the "T. A. Ward," coming out near the water- 
 line, her rigging was cut, and shot flying over her 
 fast. The ' ' George Mangham , " Acting-Master John 
 Collins, had received a 10-inch shot near her water- 
 line, so I moved them both (contrary to the wishes 
 of the officers) two hundred yards further astern, 
 throwing the enemy out of his range, which he did 
 not discover for two or three hours. At five o'clock 
 in the evening the fort was discovered to be in 
 flames, and the firing from the enemy ceased. We 
 afterwards learned that the citadel had been fired 
 by our bombshells, and all the clothing of the 
 troops and commissary stores had been burnt up, 
 while great distress was experienced by the enemy, 
 owing to the heat and danger to the magazine. 
 Had I known the extent of the fire, I should have 
 proceeded all night with the bombardment ; but 
 the crew had had nothing to eat or drink since day- 
 light. I knew not how much the mortar beds and 
 vessels might have suffered. Night firing was un- 
 certain, as the wind had set in fresh, and not know- 
 ing how long a bombardment I might have to go 
 through with, I deemed it best to be prudent. A 
 little after sunset I ordered the firing to cease, and 
 made the only mistake that occurred during the 
 bombardment. The fire in the fort blazed up again 
 at night, but I thought it one of the fire-rafts they 
 lighted up every night at the fort. 
 
 The first and "third divisions, under Lieutenants- 
 Commanding Smith and Breese, acquitted them- 
 selves manfully that day, and though the shot and 
 shell fell thick'about them, behaved like veterans. 
 We fired on this day over 1 ,400 shells, many of which 
 were lost in the air, owing to bad fuses. No acci- 
 dent of any kind occurred from careless firing, and 
 after a careful examination the vessels and mortar- 
 beds were found to be uninjured. On that night, 
 at two o'clock, I ordered Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Queen to drop out of the line of fire, and I placed 
 him on the south shore in a safer and closer position, 
 though not one where he could work to such good 
 advantage, the fort being plainly visible from his 
 late position, and the effect of the shells could be 
 more plainly noted. On the south shore, the point- 
 ing of the niortars could only be done from sights 
 fixed to the mastheads, and many curious expedi- 
 ents were resorted to to obtain correct firing, expedi- 
 ents very creditable to the intelligence of the com- 
 manders of the vessels. We heard afterwards that 
 our first day's tiring had been more accurate than 
 that of any other day, though it was all good. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th, we opened fire on the 
 enemy again, when he tried his best to dislodge us 
 from behind our forest protection, without effect ; 
 our fire was kept up as rapidly as the men could care- 
 fully and properly load, the enemy i-eturning it 
 with what hea^^y guns he could bring to bear on 
 us, most of his shot going over us amongst the ship- 
 ping and gun-boats, which were on guard and em- 
 ployed drawing the fire away from us. About nine 
 o'clock on the second morning the schooner "Maria 
 J. Carleton," Charles Jack, master, was sunk by 
 a rifle-shell passing down through her deck, maga- 
 zine, and bottom. I happened to be alongside at 
 the time and had nearly all her stores saved, also 
 the arms. As she went down, the mortar was fired 
 at the enemy for the last time, and that was the 
 last of the "Carleton " We hauled her on to the 
 bank when we found that she was sinking, and 
 were thus enabled to save many of her stores ; but 
 she finally slipped off the bank into deeper water, 
 and nothing was left visible but her upper rail. 
 Two men were wounded in the " Carleton.'' Acting- 
 Master Charles Jack came out in this vessel from 
 New York ; he lost his mainmast in a gale off Cape 
 Hatteras, but persevered until he arrived at Key 
 West, and sailed with the flotilla to Ship Island 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 219 
 
 He went through another gale, but got into port 
 safe. He was almost always up with the rest in 
 working up the river under sail with his one mast ; 
 and when his vessel sunk he volunteered his services 
 on board the vessel of Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Queen, to whose division he belonged. On the 
 second day the firing from the forts was rather 
 severe on the masts and rigging of the first 
 division. I wanted to remove them a little further 
 down, but was prevented from doing so at the 
 request of Lieutenant-Commanding Smith, who 
 seemed determined not to withdraw until something 
 was sunk. He had one man killed in the "Arietta," 
 Acting-Master Smith, by a ten-inch shot striking 
 between the stop of the mortar bed and the mortar, 
 which disabled it for a time only ; it was repaired 
 in two or three hours, the men meanwhile under 
 fire, without any occupation to keep up their inter- 
 est. One or two men were wounded this day. We 
 had another conflagration in the fort, the shells 
 having set fire to some quarters put up for officers 
 on the northwest angle of the works ; they were all 
 consumed. The firing seemed to be good this day, 
 though some said the shells went over, and others 
 said they fell short. The proof of accuracy was 
 that the batteries were silenced every time the 
 shells were concentrated on any one point. The 
 fuses being so bad, I gave up the plan of timing 
 them, and put in full-length fuses, to burst after 
 they had entered the ground. In some respects 
 this was disadvantageous, but we lost but few by 
 bursting before time in the air. The ground being 
 wet and soft, the shells descended 18 or 30 feet into 
 the ground, exploding after some time, lifted the 
 earth up, and let it fall back into its place again, 
 not doing a great deal of harm, but demoralizing 
 the men, who knew not what the consequences 
 might be. The effect, 1 am told, was like that 
 of an earthquake. When the shells hit the ram- 
 parts they did their work effectually, knocking off 
 large pieces of the parapet and shattering the case- 
 mates. On the third and fourth day the ammuni- 
 tion on board began to grow short, and the steam- 
 ers had to be sent down to bring it up, the boats of 
 the squadron also assisting all they could, in the 
 strong current, to supply the vessels. The steam- 
 ers lay close to the mortar vessels while the shot 
 and shell were flying all about ; but strange to say, 
 not a vessel was struck, though I expected to see 
 some of them injured. The employment of them in 
 that way could not be avoided. "Everything was 
 conducted with the greatest coolness, and the offi- 
 cers and men sat down to their meals as if nothing 
 was going on — shells bursting in the air and falling 
 alongside, and shot and rifle-shell crashing through 
 the woods and tearing up trees by the roots. On 
 the fifth day, the fire from the forts on the head of 
 the first division was very rapid and troublesome. 
 One hundred and twenty-five shots fell close to the 
 vessels in one hour and thirty minutes, without, 
 however, doing them any damage beyond hitting 
 the "Para," the headmost vessel, and cutting up 
 the rigging and masts. The fire of the enemy had 
 been attracted to the mastheads of one of the large 
 ships which had been moved up, and which they 
 could see over the woods. I deemed it prudent to 
 mbve three of them two or three lengths, much to 
 the annoyance of the officers, who seemed indis- 
 posed to yield an inch. Still, my duty was to look 
 out for the vessels and not have them destroyed. 
 The ' ' Norfolk Packet " got a piece of a shell through 
 her decks, and had her rigging and crosstrees cut 
 away, and one man wounded. For three days and 
 nights the officers and men had had but little repose 
 and but few comfortable meals, so I divided the divis- 
 ion into three watches of four hours each, firing from 
 one division about 168 times a watch, or altogether, 
 during 24 hours, 1,500 shells. This I found rested 
 the crews and produced more accurate firing. Over- 
 
 o.ivme^ Avitb faticniA. T hfl.rl sppn tVip pmniiiflnHprK n.nrl 
 
 crews lying fast asleep on deck, with a mortar on 
 board the vessel next to them, thundering away 
 and shaking everything around them like an earth- 
 quake. The windows were broken at the BaUse, 
 thirty miles distant. It would be an interminable 
 undertaking, sir, if I were to attempt to give a 
 minute account of all the hard work performed in 
 the fiotilla, or mention separately all the meritorious 
 acts and patient endurance of the commanders and 
 crews of the mortar vessels. A 11 stuck to their duty 
 Uke men and Americans ; and though some may 
 have exhibited more ingenuity and intelligence 
 than others, yet the performance of all commanded 
 my highest admiration. I cannot say too much in 
 favor of the three commanders of divisions. Lieuten- 
 ants Watson Smith, W. W. Queen, and K. R. Breese. 
 I can only say I would like always to have them at 
 my side in times of danger and difBeulty. They 
 were untiring in their devotion to their duties, 
 directing their officers, who could not be supposed 
 to know as much about their duties as they did. I 
 left the entire control of these divisions to them- 
 selves, trusting implicitly that they would faith- 
 fully carry out the orders which I had given them 
 previous to the bombardment, and knowing that 
 no powder or shell would be thrown away if they 
 could help it. The end justified my confidence in 
 them. During a bombardment of six days they 
 were constantly exposed to a sharp fire from heavy 
 guns. If they sustained no serious damage to their 
 vessels it was no fault of the enemy, who tried his 
 best to destroy them, and who, after I had with- 
 drawn the vessels of Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Queen from a very exposed position, reported that 
 he had sunk them. 
 
 After bombarding the fort for three days, I tjegan 
 to despair of taking it, and. indeed, began to lose 
 my confidence in mortars, but a deserter presented 
 himself from Fort Jackson, and gave me such an 
 account of the havoc made by our mortar practice 
 that I had many doubts at first of his truth; he 
 represented hundreds of shells falling into the fort, 
 casemates broken in, citadel and out-buildings 
 burnt, men demoralized and dispirited, magazine 
 endangered, and the levee cut; we went to work 
 with renewed vigor, and never flagged to the last. 
 On the night of the 20th, an expedition was 
 fitted out, under Commander Bell, for the purpose 
 of lireaking the chain; it was composed of the gun- 
 boats "Pinola" and "Itasca"; it was ai-ranged 
 that all the mortars should play upon the fort 
 while the operation was going on, which they did 
 as fast as they could safely load and fire, nine shells 
 being in the air frequently at one time. The vessels 
 were discovered, and the forts opened fire on them 
 at a distance of three and eischt hundred yards. 
 Lieutenant Crosby informed me that but for the 
 rapid and accurate fire of the mortars the gun-boats 
 would have been destroyed. The mortars silenced 
 the batteries effectually, and Colonel Higgins or- 
 dered the men into the casemates, where they were 
 in no way loath to go. These facts have been ob- 
 tained from prisoners. The " Itasca," Lieutenant 
 Caldwell, slipped the chain of one vessel, and was 
 swept ashore by the current, *\vhen the "Pinola," 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Crosby, got her off, both 
 remaining in that position over thirty minutes, 
 though seen by the enemy and seldom fired at. 
 
 On the 23d, I urged Flag-officer Farragut to com- 
 mence the attack with the ships at night, as I 
 feared the mortars would not hold out, the men 
 were almost overcome with fatigue, and our supply 
 ships laid a good way off. The enemy had brought 
 over two heavy rifle guns to bear on the head of 
 our line, and I was aware that he was daily adding 
 to his defenses and strengthening his naval forces 
 with ironclad batteries. The 2od was appointed, 
 but the attack did not come off. I had fortunately 
 dismounted with a shell, on that day, the heaviest 
 
 riflp o-nn thpv llfld on St Phlh'n. bTpakinp- it. in t-wn 
 
230 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 and it annoyed us no more. I did not linow it at 
 tlie time, but thought the ammunition had given 
 out. On the 33d, the order was given to move at 
 2 o'cloelj, in the order which the flag officer will 
 mention in his report. The steamers belonging to 
 the liiortar flotilla were assigned the duty of enfil- 
 ading a heavy water battery of six guns and the 
 barbette of guns which commanded the approach 
 to the forts; and the mortars having obtained good 
 range during the day, were to try and drive the men 
 from the guns by their rapid fire, and bursting shell 
 over the parapets. The flotilla steamers, composed 
 of the "Harriet Lane," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Wainwright, leading; "Westfield," Commander 
 Renshaw; "Owasco,'' Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Guest; "Clifton," Lieutenant-Commanding Bald- 
 win, and "Miami," Lieutenant-Commanding Har- 
 rell, moved up (when the flag-officer lifted his 
 anchor), 70 fathoms apart, and took position under 
 the batteries; the leading vessel 500 yards off, the 
 others closing up as the fire commenced. Then, as 
 soon as the "Hartford," "Brooklyn" and "Rich- 
 mond " passed, they opened with shrapnel on the 
 forts, having received the fire ten or fifteen minutes 
 before replying to it. As the fire was high, and they 
 were close in shore, nearer the forts than the enemy 
 supposed, they occupied, as it turned out, a safer 
 position than the vessels further out, there being 
 only one killed and one wounded on board the 
 " Harriet Lane,'' while the other steamers remained 
 untouched. The commanders of all the vessels on 
 this occasion did their duty, coolly kept their ves- 
 sels close up, fired rapidly and accurately, and the 
 signal was not made to retire until the last vessel of 
 our gallant squadron passed through the flames, 
 which seemed to be literally eating them up; every 
 man, spar or rope was plainly seen amid the light, 
 and every movement of the ships noted; that last 
 vessel, the gallant "Iroquois," would provokingly 
 linger and slow her engines opposite the forts to 
 give the rebels a taste of her formidable battery. 
 When she also disappeared in the smoke, our signal 
 was hung out to retire, our duty having been ac- 
 complished, and the fort turning "its entire attention 
 to our little force. It could not, however, do us 
 much harm, as the rain of mortar shells almost com- 
 pletely silenced them; never in my life did I witness 
 such a scene, and never did rebels get such a casti- 
 gation. Colonel Higgins ordered the men from the 
 batteries into the casemates to avoid the mortar 
 shells, which fell with particular effect on that 
 night, while grapeshot and shrapnel from the ships 
 gave them but few opportunities to fire from their 
 casemates. The ships had gone by, the backbone 
 of the rebellion was broken, the mortars ceased 
 their fire, and nothing was heard for a time but 
 the booming of guns as our fleet went flying up the 
 river, scattering the enemy's gun-boats and sinking 
 them as they passed. We all sat down to rest and 
 speculate on the chances of seeing our old friends 
 and brother officers again. 
 
 I was very hopeful myself, for I knew that the en- 
 emy had been too much demoralized during the last 
 week by mortar practice to be able to stand against 
 the fire of our ships. I gave the ships, when they 
 started, forty-five minutes to pass the forts : they 
 were only seventy from the tune they lifted their 
 anchors. I lost the services of a well armed and use- 
 ful vessel, the " Jackson," for the attack on the bat- 
 teries. Her commander, Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Woodworth, during the affair was appointed to tow 
 the " Portsmouth '' ahead of fhe mortar steamers, 
 but was carried down the stream. He persisted, 
 however, in taking her into her berth after the bat- 
 tle was over and the steamers had retired, and an- 
 chored her, I believe, within nine hundred yards of 
 the fort. His reception and that of the "Ports- 
 mouth" was a warm one, for the east batteries 
 opened fire upon them ; and, after escaping mirac- 
 ulously, the "Portsmouth," with some shots in 
 
 her hull and rigging, and one or two killed and 
 wounded, coolly drifted out from under the guns 
 and took her old position. Had the rebels not been 
 overcome with despair she would have fared badly. 
 Immediately on the piassage of the ships I sent 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Gruest up with a flag of 
 truce, demanding the surrender of the forts. The 
 flag of truce was fired on, but apologized for after- 
 wards. The answer was, " The demand is inadmis- 
 sible." Giving the men that day to rest, I prepared 
 to fill up the vessels with ammunition and com- 
 mence the bombardment again. Having in the 
 meantime heard fromiFlag-oificer Farragut that he 
 had safely passed the batteries, I determined to 
 make another attempt on these deluded people in 
 the forts to make them surrender, and save the fur- 
 
 CAPTAIN J. L. BEOOME (NOW LIEUT. COL.), MARINE CORPS. 
 
 ther effusion of blood. Flag-officer Farragut had 
 unknowmgly left a troublesome force in his rear, 
 consisting of four steamers and a powerful steam 
 battery of four thousand tons and sixteen guns, all 
 protected by the forts. I did not know m what 
 condition the battery was, only we had learned 
 that she had come down the night before, ready pre- 
 pared to wipe out our whole fleet. If the enemy 
 counted so surely on destroying our whole fleet with 
 her. It behooved me to be prudent, and not let the 
 mortar vessels be sacrificed like the vessels at Nor- 
 folk. I commenced, then, a bombardment on the 
 ironclad battery, supposing it lay close under Fort 
 Jackson, and also set the vessels to work throwing 
 shells into Fort Jackson again, to let them know that 
 we were still taking care of them ; but there was no 
 response : the fight had all been taken out of them. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 231 
 
 I sent the mortar vessels below to reflt and prepare 
 for sea, as also to prevent them from being driven 
 from their position in case the iron battery came 
 out to attack them. I felt sure that the steamers 
 alone could manage the battery. Six of the schoon- 
 ers I ordered to proceed immediately to the rear of 
 Fort Jackson and blockade all the bayous, so that 
 the garrison could not escape or obtain supplies. I 
 sent the "Miami" and "Sachem" to the rear of 
 Port St. Philip, to assist in landing troops. These 
 vessels all appeared at their destination at the same 
 time, and, when morning broke, the enemy found 
 himself hemmed in on all sides. It was a military 
 necessity that we should have the forts. Our squad- 
 ron was cut off from coal, provisions, and ammuni- 
 tion ; our soldiers had but little chance to get to 
 New Orleans through shallow bayous ; the enemy 
 in the city would hesitate to surrender while the 
 forts held out ; communication was cut off between 
 them, and neither party knew what the other was 
 willing to do. So I demanded a surrender again, 
 through Lieutenant-Commanding Guest, offering to 
 let them retain their side-arms and engage not to 
 serve against the United States during the rebellion 
 until regularly exchanged, provided they would 
 honorably deliver up, undamaged, the forts, guns, 
 muskets, provisions, and all munitions of war, the 
 vessels under the guns of the fort, and all other 
 public property. The answer was civil, and hopes 
 were held out that, after being instructed by the 
 authorities of New Orleans, they would surrender. 
 In the meantime their men became dissatisfied at 
 being so surrounded ; they had no hope of longer 
 holding out with any chance of success, and gave 
 signs of insubordination. On the 28th, a flag of 
 truce came on board the "Harriet Lane," propos- 
 ing to surrender Jackson and St. Philip on the 
 terms proposed, and I immediately proceeded to 
 the forts, with the steamers " Westfield," "Win- 
 ona," and "Kennebec " in company, and sent a boat 
 for General Duncan and Lieutenant-Colonel Hig- 
 gins, and such persons as they might see fit to bring 
 with them. These persons came on board, and, 
 proceeding to the cabin of the "Harriet Lane," 
 the capitulation was drawn up and signed, the 
 original of which I have had the honor of forward- 
 ing to the department by Captain Bailey, no op- 
 portunity occurring to send it through Flag-officer 
 Farragut, without loss of time. The ofHcers late 
 commanding the forts informed me that the vessels 
 would not be included in the capitulation, as they 
 (the military) had nothing to do with the naval 
 officers, and were in no way responsible for their 
 acts. There was evidently a want of unanimity be- 
 tween the different branches of the rebel service. I 
 afterwards found out that great ill feeling existed, 
 the naval commander having failed, in the opinion 
 of the military, to co-operate with the forts ; the 
 true state of the case being that they were both 
 sadly beaten, and each laid the blame on the other. 
 AVhile engaged in the capitulation, an officer came 
 below and informed me that the iron floating bat- 
 tery (the " Louisiana") had been set on fire by two 
 steamers which had been lying alongside of her. 
 This was a magnificent iron steam floating battery 
 of four thousand tons and mounting sixteen heavy 
 guns, and perfectly shot-proof. She had been 
 brought down from New Orleans the day before, 
 and on it the hopes of their salvation seemed to de- 
 pend, as will appear by the following letter from 
 General Duncan, taken in the fort : 
 
 Fort Jackson, Louisiana, 
 April 22, 1862. 
 Captain— Tour note of this date relative to the 
 steamer "Louisiana," the forwardness of her prep- 
 arations for attack, the disposition to be made of 
 her, etc., has been received. 
 It is of vital importance that the present fire of 
 
 +.l-iii £iTi£i,n-\7- cVir»nlrl Via Tuit.ViHm.Axrn frnm ns "wblp.b von 
 
 alone can do. This can be done in the manner siig- 
 gested this morning, under the cover of our guns, 
 while your work on the boat can still be carried on 
 in safety and security. Our position is a critical 
 one, dependent entirely on the powers of endurance 
 of our casemates, many of which have been com 
 pletely shattered, and are crumbling away by re- 
 peated shocks, and therefore I respectfully, but 
 earnestly, again urge my suggestions of this morn- 
 ing upon your notice. Our magazines are also in 
 danger. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 J. K. Duncan, 
 
 Brigadier- Qeneral. 
 Captain J. K. Mitchell, 
 
 Commanding Naval Forces, Lower Mississippi 
 River. 
 
 I was in hopes of saving this vessel as a prize, for 
 she would have been so materially useful to us in all 
 future operations on the coast, her batteries and 
 strength being sufflcient to silence any fort here, 
 aided by the other vessels. Seeing her lying so 
 quiet, with colors down and the two steamers un- 
 der our guns, I never dreamed for a moment that 
 they had not surrendered. The forts and ourselves 
 had flags of truce flying, and I could not make any 
 movement without violating the honor of the 
 United States and interrupting the capitulation 
 which was being drawn up. The burning of the 
 vessels was done so quietly that no one suspected 
 it until the battery was in a blaze. I merely re- 
 marked to the commanders of the forts that the act 
 was in no way creditable to the rebel commander. 
 The reply was, " We are not responsible for the acts 
 of these naval officers." We proceeded with the 
 conference, and while so engaged an officer came to 
 inform me that the ironclad battery was all in 
 flames and drifting down on us, having burnt the 
 ropes that had fastened her to the bank. I inquired 
 of the late commanders of the forts if they knew if 
 the guns were loaded, or if she had much powder 
 on board. The answer was, "I presume so, but we 
 know nothing about the naval matters here." At 
 this moment the guns, being heated, commenced 
 going off, with a probability of throwing shot and 
 shell amidst friend and foe. I did not deign to 
 notice it further than to say to the military officers, 
 "If you don't mind the effects of the explosion 
 which is soon to come, we can stand it." If the ever 
 memorable Commander Mitchell calculated to make 
 a stampede in the United States vessels by his in- 
 famous act, he was mistaken ; none of them moved 
 or intended to move, and the conference was car- 
 ried on as calmly as if nothing else was going on, 
 though proper larecautions were taken to keep them 
 clear of the burning battery. A good Providence, 
 which directs the most unimportant events, sent 
 the battery off towards Fort St. Philip, and as it 
 got abreast of that formidable fort it blew up with 
 a force which scattered the fragments in all direc- 
 tions, killing one of their own men in Port St. 
 Philip, and when the smoke cleared off it was no- 
 where to be seen, having sunk immediately in the 
 deep water of the Mississippi. The explosion was ter- 
 rific, and was seen and heard for many miles up and 
 down the ri.ver. Had it occurred near the vessels it 
 would have destroyed every one of them. This, no 
 doubt, was the object of the arch-traitor who was the 
 instigator of the act. He failed to co-operate, like a 
 man, with his military confederates, who looked to 
 the means he had at his disposal to save them from 
 destruction, and who scorned alilce his want of 
 courage in not assisting them, as well as the un- 
 heard of and perfidious act which might, in a meas- 
 ure, have reflected on them. 
 
 How different was the course of the military com- 
 manders, who, though engaged in so bad a cause, 
 behaved honorably to the end. Every article in 
 thfi fort wra.s delivered un unda.maa'ed. Nothine' 
 
222 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 was destroyed, either before the capitulation or 
 ■while the capitulation was going on, or afterwards. 
 The most scrupulous regard was paid to their 
 promises. They defended their works like men, 
 and had they been fighting for the flag under 
 which they were born instead of against it, it would 
 have been honor enough for any man to have said 
 he had fought by their side. 
 
 After the capitulation was signed, I sent Com- 
 mander W. B. Renshaw to Fort Jackson, and Lieu- 
 tenant-Commanding Ed. Nichols to Fort St. Philip 
 to receive the surrender of the forts. The rebel 
 flag was hauled down and the stars and stripes once 
 more floated over the property of the United States. 
 The sun never shone on a more contented and 
 happy looking set of faces than those of the prison- 
 ers in and about the forts. Many of them had not 
 seen their families for months, and a large portion 
 had been pressed into a service distasteful to them, 
 subject to the rigor of a discipline severe beyond 
 measure. They were frequently exposed to punish- 
 ments, for slight causes, which the human frame 
 could scarcely endure, and the men who underwent 
 some of the tortures mentioned on a list of punish- 
 ments I have in my possession, must have been un- 
 able afterwards to do any duty for months to come. 
 Instead of the downcast countenances of conquered 
 people, they emerged from the fort (going home on 
 their parole) like a parcel of happy school-boys in 
 holiday times, and no doubt they felt hke them 
 also. 
 
 When the flags had been exchanged, I devoted my 
 attention to Commander Mitchell, who was lying 
 a half mile above us with three steamers, one of 
 which he had scuttled. Approaching him in the 
 "Harriet Lane," I directed Lieutenant-Command- 
 ign Wainwright to fire a gun over him, when he 
 lowered his flag. I then sent Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Wainwright on board to take possession 
 and receive the unconditional surrender of the 
 party, consisting of fourteen naval ofBcers and 
 seven engineers, temporarUy appointed ; the crew 
 of the ironclad battery consisted of three hundred 
 men and two companies of marine artillery, nearly 
 all from civil life, and serving much against their 
 will, so they said. Commander Mitchell and the 
 other naval officers were transferred to the '' West- 
 field" as prisoners of war, and as soon as time 
 would allow, the marines and sailors were sent in 
 one of the captured vessels to Flag-oflBoer Farragut, 
 at New Orleans. The captured military officers 
 were sent up to New Orleans on their parole, and 
 thus ended the day on which the great Mississippi 
 rejoiced once more in having its portals opened to the 
 commerce of the world. From the appearance and 
 talk of the soldiers, we might soon hope to see the 
 people united again under the folds of the flag of 
 the Union. While the capitulation was going on 
 I sent the steamer "Clifton'' down to bring up 
 troops, and when General Phelps came up I turned 
 the forts, guns, and munitions of war over to his 
 keeping. My next step was to visit Forts Jackson 
 and St. Phihp. Never in my life did I witness such 
 a scene of desolation and wreck as the former pre- 
 sented. It was plowed up by the thirteen-inch 
 mortars, the bombs had set fire to and burnt out 
 all the buildings in and around the forts ; casemates 
 were crushed and were crumbling in, and the only 
 thing that saved them were the sandbags that had 
 been sent from New Orleans during the bombard- 
 ment, and when they began to feel the effects of 
 the mortars. When the communication was cut off 
 between them and the city, this resource of sand- 
 bags could avail them no longer. It was useless for 
 them to hold out ; a day's bombardment would 
 have finished them ; they had no means of repair- 
 ing damages ; the levee had been cut by the thir- 
 teen-inch bombs in over a hundred places ; and the 
 water had entered the casemates, making it very 
 uncomfortable, if not impossible to live there any 
 
 longer. It was the only place the men had to fly to 
 out of reach of the bombs. The drawbridge over 
 the moat had been broken all to pieces, and aU the 
 causeways leading from the fort were cut and 
 blown up with bombshells, so that it must have 
 been impossible to walk there or carry on any oper- 
 ations with any degree of safety. The magazine 
 seems to have been much endangered, explosions 
 having taken place at the door itself, all the cotton 
 bags and protections having been blown away from 
 before the magazine door. Eleven guns were 
 dismounted during the bombardment, some of 
 which were remounted again and used upon us. 
 The walls were cracked and broken in many places, 
 and we could scarcely step without treading into a 
 hole made by a bomb-shell ; the accuracy of the fire 
 is, perhaps, the best ever seen in mortar practice ; 
 it seems to have entirely demoralized the men and 
 astonished the ofHcers. A water battery, contain- 
 ing six very heavy guns, and which annoj'ed us at 
 times very much, was filled with the marks of the 
 bombs, no less than 170 having fallen into it, smash- 
 ing in the magazine, and driving the people out of it. 
 On the night of the passage of the ships this battery 
 was completely silenced, so many bombs fell into it 
 and burst over it. It had one gun in it, the largest I 
 have ever seen, made at the Tredegar works. I would 
 not pretend to say how many bombs fell in the 
 ditches around the works, but soldiers in the forts 
 say about three thousand ; many burst over the 
 works, scattering the pieces of shell all around. 
 The enemy admit but fourteen killed and thirty- 
 nine wounded by the bombardment, which is hkely 
 the case, as we found but fourteen fresh graves, and 
 the men mostly staid in the casemates, which 
 were three inches deep with water and very un- 
 comfortable. Many remarkable escapes and inci- 
 dents were related to us as having happened dur- 
 ing the bombardment. Colonel Higgins stated an 
 instance where a man was buried deep in the earth 
 by a bomb striking him between the shoulders, and 
 directly afterwards another bomb exploded in the 
 same place, and threw the corpse high in the air. 
 All the boats and scows around the ditches and 
 near the landing were sunk by bombs ; and when 
 we took possession the only way they had to get in 
 and out of the fort to the landing was by one small 
 boat to ferry them across. All the lumber, shingles, 
 and bricks used in building or repairs were scat- 
 tered about in confusion and burnt up, and every 
 amount of discomfort that men could bear seemed 
 to have been showered upon those poor deluded 
 wretches. 
 
 I was so much struck with the deserted appear- 
 ance of what was once a most beautiful spot, that I 
 ordered Mr. Gerdes and his assistants on the Coast 
 Survey to make me an accurate plan of all the 
 works, denoting every bomb that fell, and (as near 
 as possible) the injury the fort had sustained, every 
 distance being accurately measured by tape-line 
 and compass, and the comparative size of fractures 
 noted. The work has been executed with great 
 zeal and accuracy, though it will only give a faint 
 idea of the bombs that fell about the fort ; many 
 are lost sight of in the water which has been let in 
 by the cut levees ; many burst over the fort ; but 
 enough have been marked to indicate the wonder 
 ful precision of fire and the endurance of the forts. 
 Had the ground been hard instead of being soft 
 mud, the first day's bombardment would have 
 blown Fort Jackson into atoms ; as it is, it is very 
 much injured, and will require thorough repair be- 
 fore it can be made habitable. 
 
 Fort St. Philip received very little damage from 
 our bombs, having fired at it with only one mortar, 
 and that for the purpose of silencing a heavy rifled 
 gun which annoyed us very much ; we were fortun- 
 ate enough to strike it in the middle, and break it 
 in two, and had not much more annoyance from 
 that fort ; two guns were capsized by a bomb at 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 m 
 
 one time, but without injuring them; they were 
 soon replaced ; some trifling damage was done to 
 the works, though nothing to aflfect the efficiency 
 of the batteries ; it was from Fort St. Phihp that 
 our ships suffered most, the men and officers there, 
 having had, comparatively, an easy time of it. I 
 felt sure that St. Philip would surrender the mo- 
 ment Jackson hauled down the secession flag, and 
 consequently directed all the attention of the 
 mortar schooners to the latter fort. The final re- 
 sult justified me in coming to this conclusion. 
 
 I trast that you will excuse me, sir, for dwelling 
 so minutely on matters relating to this important 
 victory, though I have endeavored to make my re- 
 port as short as possible. 
 
 Every little incident in this ever to be remem- 
 bered drama will be interesting to the true lovers of 
 our Union, who will rejoice over the fact that the 
 great river which is the main artery of our country 
 is once more in our possession, and that we may 
 soon hope to see the stars and stripes floating over 
 every hut and hamlet along its banks. It only 
 remains for me, sir, to do justice to the officers 
 who have been under my command during this ar- 
 duous and sometimes unpleasant service. Com- 
 mander Renshaw, Lieutenant-Commanding Guest, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Wainwright, Lieutenant- 
 Commanding H arrell. Lieutenant - Commanding 
 Baldwin, Lieutenant-Commanding Woodworth, are 
 the officers commanding steamers connected with 
 the flotilla. Their duties were various and ardu- 
 ous—towing, supplying, and getting under the guns 
 of the fort when opportunities offered, or they were 
 permitted to expose their vessels. In the attack on 
 the water batteries Lieutenant-Commanding Wain- 
 wright commanded the "Harriet Lane" (as I 
 noticed) coolly and bravely ; and his officers and 
 crew did their duty, all the vessels lying quietly 
 under the heavy fire for fifteen minutes, until it 
 was time to open their batteries, which they did 
 with effect, until the time came to retire. Com- 
 mander Renshaw made his rifle gun tell with effect, 
 keeping his vessel in close order. Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Guest, with his zealous crew, who had 
 fired over 200 shell at the forts at different times, 
 kept his shell flying as fast as usual, bursting (as I 
 witnessed) with good effect in the midst of the 
 batteries. Lieutenant-Commanding Baldwin, whom 
 I have always found ready for any duty, no mat- 
 ter how arduous or thankless, was in no way be- 
 hind any one ; his heavy battery of nine-inch and 
 thirty-two-pounders rattled through the outer 
 works of the fort, helping to keep Jackson quiet 
 while our heavy ships were forcing their way 
 through logs chained together, flre-rafts, rams, to 
 say nothing of the enemy's gun-boats, iron batter- 
 ies, and forts built to dispute the passage of any 
 fleet which might be sent against them. The 
 steamer "Jackson," Lieutenant - Commanding 
 Woodworth, towed the "Portsmouth" gallantly 
 into flre, though his position was more gallantly 
 than wisely taken ; he was fortunate that his ves- 
 sel and the " Portsmouth " were not cut to pieces. 
 I have been so struck with the energy and zeal of 
 Lieutenants- Commanding Woodworth and Bald- 
 win, that I hope the Navy Department will reward 
 them by re-appointing them as permanent officers 
 in the service (if they will accept it), for while the 
 Navy is composed of such men it will never be de- 
 feated in equal contests. Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Harrell, of the " Miami," has had under his com- 
 mand a most wretched and unmanageable vessel, 
 and has not had an opportunity to do himself full 
 justice ; he was always ready to do any service re- 
 quired of him, and on the night of the attack, with 
 the rest, worked his battery with effect. As soon as 
 the forts had been passed, on account of his light 
 draught, I sent him to co-operate with General 
 Butler in landing troops outside, which duty he 
 
 If the efforts of the mortar flotilla have not met 
 your expectations in reducing the forts in a shorter 
 time, it must be remembered that great diffleulties 
 existed, first in the soil, which allowed the bombs 
 to sink at least twenty feet, by measurement, 
 before exploding, the diflBculty of seeing the fort, 
 as it is not much above the surrounding bushes, 
 and the endurance of the casemates, which were 
 deeply covered with earth, and better constructed 
 than supposed ; but I am firmly of opinion that the 
 moral effect of this bombardment will go far to- 
 wards clearing all forts of rebels, and I draw atten- 
 tion to the casie of Fort Livingston, which held out 
 a flag of truce the moment three mortar vessels ap- 
 peared before it. Flag-officer Farragut has ordered 
 me to repair to Ship Island to await the arrival of 
 the larger vessels, but not to commence any oper- 
 ations until he arrives. 
 
 I herewith enclose the reports of the commanders 
 of steamers in relation to the conduct of those un- 
 der their command. 
 
 I have the honor to remain, 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 report op commaxder w. b. renshaw, united 
 states steamer " westfield." 
 
 United States Steamer " Westpield," / 
 Mississippi River, May 5, 1802. ( 
 
 Sir — Agreeably to your order, I have the honor 
 to submit the following report of the operations of 
 the United States steamer "Westfield," under my 
 command, since her arrival in the Mississippi 
 River. 
 
 Upon our reaching Pass k TOutre, on the morning 
 of the iBth of March, I had the honor of reporting 
 my arrival to you in person, and by your order at 
 once proceeded to tow the mortar schooners inside 
 the bar. From that date until the 13th day of 
 April, we were constantly engaged towing and as- 
 sisting in getting the United States ships " Missis- 
 sippi " and "Pensaoola" over the bar at Southwest 
 Pass. 
 
 On the 13th, while engaged covering the Coast 
 Survey party, who were triangulating the river, 
 you joined us with the " Harriet Lane" and other 
 vessels of the squadron, and ordered me to start 
 ahead and endeavor to reach with our rifle-shot two 
 of the rebel gun-boats that were below the point 
 watching our motions. Two discharges of the rifle 
 caused them to retire and join some six or eight of 
 their squadron lying under the guns at Fort Jack- 
 son. We continued our advance, and soon brought 
 the whole squadron within range of our 100- 
 pounder rifle, when we again opened flre, and so 
 successfully that (as I have since learned from pris- 
 oners) we broke the shaft of the gun-boat "Defi- 
 ance," and otherwise so much crippled her that she 
 was subsequently sunk by her crew. The forts 
 having opened upon us, our signal of recall was 
 made, and we returned to our station. 
 
 On the morning of the 17th, our boats, together 
 with those of the mortar flotilla, extinguished the 
 fire, and towed on shore a large fire-raft; and on the 
 night of the 17th, we ran alongside to windward of 
 another large fire-raft. We threw water from our 
 force-pumps upon it, and materially assisted in sub- 
 duing the flames. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 18th, after assisting in 
 towing the mortar schooners to their positions, I 
 was directed by you to proceed up the river and 
 drive off a steamer that menaced the head of our 
 
 rta /-vf itir»i'+QT» ^TACColc T'Vio crQamot. flarl 
 
 n r\*-vTi *-m « 
 
224 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 approach, but having reached a position that 
 brought the forts in easy range of our rifle, we fired 
 deliberately ten shots with that gun, many of 
 which, I have reason to believe, took effect upon 
 Port St. Philip, the enemy at the same time throw- 
 ing their rifle and 10 inch shot and shell thickly 
 around us. 
 
 At 3.30 A. M., on the morning of the 21st, we dis- 
 covered another large fire-raft, which we ran along- 
 side of and assisted in extinguishing. Prom the 
 19th to the 34th instant, we were engaged with the 
 rest of the flotilla steamers in supplying the mortar 
 schooners with ammunition. 
 
 On the morning of the 24th, we got under way, in 
 company with the flotilla steamers, led by yourself 
 in tlie " Harriet Lane," together with all the vessels 
 of the squadron, for the attack on Forts Jackson 
 and St. Philip. At 3.45 we opened fire with all our 
 guns upon Port Jackson at an estimated distance of 
 600 yards, and remained in this position until your 
 signal was made to cease firing and retire from ac 
 tion. 
 
 I am happy to inform you that during this heavy 
 cannonade this ship was not injured or a man hurt 
 on board, owing to the fire of the enemy, from the 
 face of the fort we engaged, having passed over us. 
 
 It also affords me the highest gratification to ex- 
 press my unqualified approbation and high appre- 
 ciation of the bravery and zealous attention to duty 
 of the officers and crew of the ship, whether en- 
 gaged in our unremitting duties or when under fire 
 of the enemy's guns. 
 
 During our operations against the forts we have 
 expended thirty-five rifle-shot and shell, eleven 9- 
 inch shell, and seventeen 8-inch shell. Here let me 
 state, sir, that upon the several occasions this ship 
 has been under the flre of the forts, I have been 
 constrained from using my very efficient rifled gun 
 as frequently as I could have desired, in conse- 
 quence of there being no more projectiles (than 
 those we had on board) upon the station. I will 
 also state that it was in accordance with your 
 wishes that I was thus careful of the few shot and 
 shell we had. 
 
 Permit me, in conclusion, to call your attention 
 to the fact, in explanation of the seemingly small 
 amount of ammunition we have expended, that 
 upon all the occasions this ship has been engaged 
 (save the action of the 24th ultimo) it was advan- 
 tageous to fight her " head on," which prevented the 
 use of all the guns except the rifle. 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 W. B. Rbnshaw, 
 Commanded' United States Navy. 
 Commander D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla, Mississippi River. 
 
 report of lieutbnant-commandina a. d. har- 
 rell, united states steamer "miami." 
 
 United States Steamer "Miami," ) 
 Mississippi River, April 24, 1862. \ 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to your order, 1 weighed anchor at half-past 
 two o'clock on the morning of the 24th instant, and 
 took my assigned position in the line. At the 
 proper time oi)ened and continued fire upon Fort 
 Jackson until ordered to discontinue. 
 
 I have pleasure in adding that oifleers and men 
 did their whole duty, and although shot and shell 
 passed over and fell thickly around us, we sustained 
 no injury. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 A. D. Hakrell, 
 Lirutenant-Commanding. 
 Commander D. D. Pouter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla, Mississippi River. 
 
 United States Steamer " Miami," ) 
 Mississippi River, May 3, 1863. j 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to your order of the 24th ultimo, which I re- 
 ceived immediately after the action of that morn- 
 ing, I received General Butler and staff on board, 
 and proceeded to Pilot Town for the boats which I 
 was ordered to procure. 
 
 After obtaining them, I immediately started to 
 Isle au Breton Bay, and there received on board 
 one regiment of troops, which I landed at Quaran- 
 tine Station, above and in the rear of Fort St. Philip. 
 I continued conveying and landing troops until the 
 forts surrendered. I then proceeded and landed 
 seven hundred and fifty troops at New Orleans on 
 the first instant. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. D. Harrell, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Commander D. D. Porter. 
 
 Co7nmanding Mortar Flotilla, Mississippi River. 
 
 REPORT OF lieutenant J. M WAIXWRIGHT. 
 
 commanding united states steamer "har- 
 riet lane." 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane." \ 
 Mississippi River, April 35, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — In obedience to your order, I beg leave to sub 
 mit the following report of the part taken by this ves- 
 sel in the action on the morning of the 24th instant, 
 between the United States naval forces and the bat- 
 teries of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. 
 
 At 1.30 A. M., all hands were called, in anticipation 
 of the signal from the flag-ship to prepare to get un- 
 der way, which was made at two A. M. Every prep- 
 aration for a move being completed, we impatiently 
 waited the moment when our turn would come. 
 
 In the meantime the vessels of the fleet were get- 
 ting under way, and forming in their respective 
 lines, the starboard under Captain Bailey, in the 
 gun-boat "Cayuga, "leading. At 3.28 a. m., the fleet 
 being aU under way, and steaming up the river, 
 signal was made to the steamers of the mortar flo- 
 tilla to weigh anchor, and we stood up towards the 
 forts, our duty being to take an enfilading position 
 below the water battery of Fort Jackson. 
 
 At 3.45 A. M., the forts opened on the leading ships, 
 and immediately thereafter the mortar vessels com- 
 menced, and at 3.50, were raining a rapid and 
 continuous fire on the enemy such as has rarely 
 before been witnessed. 
 
 The crew were now called to quarters, and we 
 steamed rapidly up the river to take our appointed 
 position. Shortly after we passed the head of the 
 line of mortar vessels, we found ourselves under the 
 flre of the enemy, which was very hot, but most 
 fortunately, too high. It was not till 4.30 A. m., that 
 our guns could be brought to bear, when we opened 
 on them with shell and shrapnel. 
 
 At 4.30 A. M., a shot carried away one of the stan- 
 chions and a portion of the railing of the bridge 
 between the wheel-houses, the fragments of which 
 killed one man, and seriously wounded another 
 stationed at the 9inch gun on the quarterdeck. 
 
 We retained our position within five hundred 
 yards of Port Jackson, firing as rapidly as possible, 
 till 4.50 A. M., when the last vessel was seen to pass 
 between the forts. The signal was then made to 
 retire from action, and we stood down the river to 
 our former anchorage, followed by the steamers of 
 the mortar flotilla. At 4.55 a. m., four rockets were 
 sent up, as a signal to the mortar vessels to cease 
 firing, and shortly after we came to an anchor astern 
 of them. 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to say that one and all 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 225 
 
 the officers and erew of this vessel did their duty 
 like men, and displayed commendable coolness 
 under a heavy fire, -which they were obliged to en- 
 dure for some minutes before it could be returned. 
 My especial thanks are due to the executive officer, 
 Lieutenant Edward Lea, who had the general super- 
 intendence of the battery ; Acting-Masters Willis F. 
 Munroe and Charles H . Hamilton, commanding the 
 gun divisions, and Acting-Master J. A. Hannum, in 
 charge of the powder division, which was well and 
 rapidly served ; also to Acting-Master George W. 
 Sumner, an eleve of the Naval Academy attached to 
 the " Horace Beales,' who volunteered for service, 
 and gave me his valuable assistance in superintend- 
 ing the cutting of shrapnel, etc 
 
 In conclusion, you must permit me to render the 
 humble tribute of my admiration to the coolness, 
 ability, and untiring zeal you have displayed during 
 the arduous and perilous duty so gallantly per- 
 formed for the last six days by the mortar flotOla. 
 Such an example could not fail to inspire the confi- 
 dence of those under your command in the glorious 
 success which has attended their exertions, and 
 which the result has proved to be so well founded. 
 
 I herewith enclose the report of the medical officer 
 of the casualties which occurred on board this vessel. 
 I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Tour most obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. Wainwright, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Commander David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 
 REPORT OP LIEUTENANT-COMMANDING JOHN 
 GUEST, UNITED STATES GUN-BOAT " OWASCO." 
 
 United States Steam Gun-boat " Owasco,'' I 
 Mississippi River, April 28, 1863. ( 
 
 Sir — In obedience to your instructions I submit 
 this report : 
 
 At meridian on the 12th of April, the " Owasco " 
 being at the head of the passes, by your order I got 
 under way to protect the steamer "Sachem," having 
 on board the Coast Survey party, under Mr. P. H. 
 Gerdes, while making a reconnoissance of the river. 
 On reaching our advanced squadron of gun-boats. 
 Commander S. P. Lee, senior officer, I reported to 
 him that I was about to pass ahead for the purpose 
 above indicated. 
 
 Captain Lee said the enemy were in large force, 
 and that he would follow with all the gun-boats. 
 As it was too late, when the " Sachem '" got up to us, 
 to work, we deferred proceeding till morning. In 
 the meantime I advised you, sir, of the state of 
 affairs, and next morning, shortly after 1 com- 
 menced work, I had the satisfaction to see you pass 
 me with all the steamers of the mortar flotilla, which 
 doubtless prevented much annoyance from the 
 enemy. 
 
 Clearing the bushes with canister from our how- 
 itzers, the surveyors, Messrs. Oltmanns and Bowie, 
 landed in one of our boats and prosecuted their 
 work without molestation. 
 
 On the 14th, we resumed the work, and carried 
 the triangulation well up to the forts on the right 
 bank of the river, supported by the " Westfield," 
 Commander Renshaw. The surveyors were landed 
 at the point desired, in the "Owasco's" gig, under 
 charge of Master's Mate Thomas D. Babb. As the 
 boat shoved off I observed three of the rebel steam- 
 ers within gunshot, and fearing they might lire 
 upon our boat, I opened upon them. After firing 
 four shells from the 11 -inch gun and three from the 
 rifled gun, the steamers moved up to the forts. At 
 this moment some riflemen in the bushes fired at 
 the gig-boat, without hurting any one, although an 
 oar was struck. Mr. Babb, with perfect composure, 
 returned the fire from his boat. The surveying 
 
 ni-n Dij-i'i-io I C! o n i~l 
 
 took three angles, one hundred yards from the spot 
 where they were fired at. 
 
 On the 15th, as the worK had not been carried 
 sufficiently high up on the left bank of the river, by 
 your order I took the party up that side, followed 
 by the '' Miami " as a support. 
 
 After the surveyors had finished, finding myself 
 within easy range of the forts, just before leaving I 
 fired an 11-inch shell into Fort Jackson, to try their 
 range. They fired twice in return, one of the shots 
 passing over us and falling a quarter of a mile astern, 
 the other just ahead of us. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be awarded Messrs. Olt- 
 manns and Bowie for the intrepid and skillful man- 
 ner in which they performed this service. 
 
 On the 16th, the "Owasco" accompanied you in 
 your experimental trial with three of the mortar 
 schooners in trying the ranges on the forts from the 
 left bank of tlie river. This day the enemy fired 
 about twenty shots, but without effect. 
 
 On the 17th, our boats, in charge of Mr. Babb, 
 were employed in towing fire ships clear of the fieet. 
 
 On the 18th, at 6 A. M., we got under way, and 
 soon received orders from you to proceed ahead of 
 the bomb schooners, on the right bank, to clear 
 the bushes of riflemen near the designated position 
 of the mortar schooners. In obedience thereto, we 
 steamed close along the bank of the river until we 
 arrived at a smoke pipe of a sunken steamer, when 
 the forts, at five minutes past nine, fired two shots 
 at us, which I immediately returned from my 
 11-inch gun. This was followed by sharp firing 
 from both forts. 
 
 Being within easy range of Fort Jackson, I di- 
 rected my fire upon it and continued the action ; 
 twenty minutes alter that the first mortar schooner 
 opened, and after that at intervals, as fast as they 
 could be got into position. 
 
 At 10 o'clock, I was glad to see the "Iroquois," 
 Captain De Camp, come to my support, and after 
 her the gun-boats, one by one. The fire of the forts 
 was dispersed among them, and was not so severe 
 around us, although still quite sharp. 
 
 Previous to the appearance of the " Iroquois," in 
 the thickest of the firing, all on board the ' ' Owasco " 
 were much gratified at a visit from you, sir, when 
 you came to tell us that you had asked that the 
 gun-boats of the fieet might be sent to our suj^port. 
 
 We maintained our position for two hours and 
 three-quarters, until we had expended our last shell, 
 when we retired from action by your order, having 
 fired one hundred 11-inch shells and thirty-seven 
 shells from our rifled gun. 
 
 We went down immediately to the ordnance ship 
 "Sportsman"; filled up with ammunition; found 
 there were no cartridges made ; but my men cheer- 
 fully worked all night, cutting out and sewing up 
 cylinders, and by next morning (the 19th) we were 
 ready for action again. 
 
 Coming up with the bomb fieet, and hearing you 
 were on board the flag-ship, steamed up to our old 
 position, and opened fire again on Fort Jackson. 
 Fired fifty-five 11-inch shells, and twelve from the 
 rifled gun. 
 
 The firing from the forts was very sharp. At 
 this time I had another welcome visit from you, and 
 retired, at your order, as it was thought 11 -inch 
 ammunition was running short, and it was desirable 
 to keep it for closer distance. 
 
 By your permission I crossed the river to look for 
 an anchor I had slipped the night before ; but not 
 finding it, 1 returned to my old position, near the 
 smoke pipe of the sunken steamer, and finding the 
 three leading mortar schooners in great danger of 
 being sunk by the enemy's fire, I delivered ten 
 11-inch shells to Fort Jackson, and then sought you 
 to inform you of the fact. Having received orders 
 to withdraw them for a time, 1 returned and deliv- 
 ered your order to Lieutenant-Commanding Watson 
 
22G 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 On the 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d, we were engaged 
 in supplying the mortar schooners witli ammuni- 
 tion — very often tinder fire. 
 
 On the 34th, at 3.15 A. M., in the general attack, 
 the " Owasco '' took her position — the third in your 
 line, by order — and followed your motions. 
 
 Opened with shrapnel at 4 a. m., and continued a 
 deliberate fire until 4.45, taking care not to fire in 
 the direction of our ships which were passing the 
 forts. 
 
 At 4.45, observed your signal "Retire from action," 
 which we did. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 John Guest, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-ofBcer D. G. Farra&ut, 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 
 report of acting lieutestaxt-commandixg c.h. 
 baldwin, united states steamer " clifton." 
 
 United States Steamer, "Clifton," ( 
 New Orleans, May 1, 1863. f 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, since my 
 arrival at Pass d TOutre, on the 18th of March, I 
 have been employed, with little intermission, as 
 follows : Towing the mortar vessels attached to the 
 flotilla to the Southwest Pass, and for the succeed- 
 ing two weeks was constantly engaged in assisting 
 the larger vessels belonging to the flag-ofificer's 
 squadron, viz : the " Pensacola," and " Mississippi," 
 over the bar on which they had grounded, and in 
 aiding the gun-boats attached to same squadron 
 when agrouiid in the river. 
 
 After this we were employed in making recon- 
 noissances of Forts Jackson and St. Phihp, and in 
 protecting the officers of the Coast Survey service 
 while they were engaged in obtaining their dis- 
 tances, and in driving iSack the enemy's gun-boats, 
 which occasionally made their appearance outside 
 the chain. 
 
 On the 17th of April, we were assisting in towing 
 mortar schooners into their positions, and, during 
 the six days of the bombardment by these vessels, 
 we were unremittingly employed in supplying them 
 with powder and shell and in guard duty — our 
 nights being passed in looking after the fire-rafts 
 which the enemy sent down against the fleet, and 
 in towing them ashore. In this duty, I believe I 
 may say, we were quite successful. 
 
 These various duties during the six days of the 
 bombardment carried our vessels pretty constantly 
 under the fire of the enemy. We have, however, 
 been so fortunate as to escape any injury from their 
 shot. 
 
 On the morning of the 24th, in obedience to your 
 order, we got under way, taking our appointed sta- 
 tion in the line of steamers under your personal 
 command, and proceeded to within short range of 
 the guns of Fort Jackson, and opened fire on the 
 enemy from our two forward nine-inch guns, aided 
 at times by our nine-inch after-pivot gun and 32- 
 pounder forward broadside gun, using five-second 
 shell and shrapnel. This we continued until the 
 flag-offlcer's squadron had passed both forts, when, 
 in obedience to your signal, we drifted out of range. 
 I am happy to state that we escaped without 
 injury. 
 
 The duties now entailed upon us were to keep a 
 strict lookout upon the gun-boats and floating bat- 
 tery of the enemy, which were lying close under 
 the guns of Fort Jackson. Until the morning of 
 the 28th, when Forts Jackson and St. Philip hav- 
 ing surrendered to you, we were dispatched some 
 sixteen miles down the river to bring up a portion 
 of the force under General Butler's command, then 
 lying there. On the afternoon of that day this 
 was accomplished, and we arrived in sight of the 
 
 forts just as our own flags were hoisted in place of 
 the rebel ensigns. 
 
 I towed up a large transport ship with 1,300 
 troops on board, under Brigadier-General Phelps, 
 and taking flve companies of them on board the 
 " Clifton," landed them at both forts — they receiv- 
 ing their possession of them from the naval officers 
 of your squadron, then in charge of the work. 
 
 I also, under your order, placed crews aboard the 
 two rebel steamers, then in your possession, and 
 transferred some 250 prisoners taken from the rebel 
 gun-boats and floating battery to the officer in 
 charge at Fort St. Philip. 
 
 We have just arrived here, having towed a trans- 
 port up the river with a large number of General 
 Butler's troops on board, intended to garrison the 
 city of New Orleans, now held by our squadron. 
 
 Permit me here respectfully to state that officers 
 and crew, whether employed in the harassing du 
 ties which so constantly devolved upon ns of tow- 
 ing and getting large vessels over the bar, or while 
 engaged with the enemy, have behaved so uni- 
 formly well that I hesitate to particularize any one 
 individual. During the time above referred to, 
 neither the ship, engines, nor boilers have been for 
 a moment out of order in any resi^ect. 
 I have the honor to be, sir. 
 
 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 C. H. Baldwin, 
 A cling Lieute na nt-Co mmanding. 
 Commander D. T). Porter, 
 
 Com,7nanding Flotilla 
 
 REPORT OP lieutenant-commanding WATSON 
 
 smith, first division mortar flotilla. 
 
 United States Mortar Schooner "Nor- 1 
 FOLK Packet," Mississippi River, J- 
 
 May 8, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — On the 18th ultimo, in obedience to your 
 order, the first division of the flotilla moved up the 
 right bank of the river to the flag indicated by 
 you as distant from Fort Jackson 2,950 yards, and 
 from Fort St. Philip 4,260 yards ; the head vessel 
 securing at that point with an anchor a little off 
 shore, and light lines from the port bow and quar- 
 ter to trees. The other vessels of the division, ex- 
 tending in close order to the distance of 3,620 yards 
 from Fort Jackson, were secured in the same man- 
 ner. 
 
 At 10 A. M., commenced firing upon Fort Jackson, 
 discharging each mortar at intervals of ten min- 
 utes. The forts responded, their shot and shell 
 falling aroxxnd the vessels, and one, a 68 pound 
 shot, killing a man on board the " Arietta,'' and 
 lodging under the mortar, but not disabling it. At 
 6.80 p. m., ceased firing, by signal from "Harriet 
 Lane." 
 
 April 19, at 7.30 A. m., the " Harriet Lane" made 
 signal to commence firing. Discharged each 
 mortar, at intervals of twenty minutes, upon Fort 
 Jackson, until 8.45 A. M., when the interval was 
 shortened to ten minutes. A shell bursting near 
 the main masthead disabled one man who was 
 aloft, destroyed a halliard block, and cut two main 
 shrouds. At 4 P. M., ceased firing, the bombard- 
 ment being continued by the divisions in watches. 
 
 On the 20th, 21st, 32d. and 28d, the firing was 
 continued by the divisions in watches, excepting 
 during the watch from 8 to midnight of the 20th, 
 when the whole flotilla flred rapidly, while an ex- 
 pedition from the squadron cut the barrier chain 
 near the forts. 
 
 No further injuries were sustained by persons in 
 the first division, and but little damage to hulls, 
 rigging, or spars, besides the occasional cutting by 
 fragments of shells. 
 
 From the 21st, the firing from Fort St. Philip 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 227 
 
 was at times annoying, and by your direction two 
 vessels at thie head of the line directed their fire 
 upon it. On the 23d, the enemjr did not reply. 
 
 April 24, at 3.30 A. m., the firing commencing be- 
 tween the forts and the squadron passing up the 
 river, the whole flotilla commenced firing rapidly 
 upon Fort Jackson. At 4.45 a. m., the squadron, 
 with few exceptions, had passed the forts. Ceased 
 firing by signal from " Harriet Lane." During this 
 one hour and fifteen minutes this vessel fired 
 twenty-eight shells, being at the rate of one in two 
 and two-thirds minutes. The other vessels fired as 
 rapidly. After the bombardment, on examining 
 the vessels, all were found in condition to continue 
 the fire or perform other service. 
 
 The heaviest charges used were twenty-three 
 pounds, to reach Fort St. PhiliiD, distant 4,710 
 yards, against a fresh wind. 
 
 Slight damage was done to the light bulwarks by 
 the shock from the mortars but the mortar supports 
 and the hulls below the plank sheer were un- 
 affected. 
 
 On the same afternoon, six of the mortar vessels 
 were sent to sea upon blockading service, and three 
 of them, the "Arietta," " C. P. Williams," and "O. 
 H. Lee," belonged to this division. Their quick 
 departure and continued absence prevents my giv- 
 ing you the aggregate number of shells fired by the 
 first division during the bombardment. The four 
 remaining vessels fired 1,512 shells, using 30,994 
 pounds of powder. 
 
 It was not always possible to mark and register 
 the course of each shell, because of our not having 
 a distinct view of the enemy and the mingling of 
 so many shells as they converged in the direction 
 of the forts. The accompanying reports of the 
 acting-masters commanding the mortar vessels are 
 in a comprehensive form furnished by them, and 
 are as full as accuracy will permit. 
 
 The following is from the surgeon's report : 
 
 Killed : James Laver, ordinary seaman, on board 
 the " Arietta," native of Isle of Jersey ; struck by 
 an eight -inch solid shot on April 18. 
 
 Slightly wounded, disabled : Michael Brady, 
 carpenter's mate of this vessel, aged 32, native of 
 New York ; struck by a fragment of a shell on 
 April 19. 
 
 Although the enemy's fire was so well directed at 
 times as to threaten the destruction of the vessels, 
 the duties at quarters were performed, and the in- 
 tervals of rest between watches enjoyed, with com- 
 mendable coolness and composure throughout the 
 division. Respectfully yours, 
 
 Watson Smith, 
 Lieutenant Commanding First Bivision. 
 Commander D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding U. 8. Mortar Flotilla, 
 Mississippi River. 
 
 report op LIEUTEXANT-COMMAXDIjSra WALTER 
 W. QUEEN, SECOND DIVISION MORTAR FLOTILLA. 
 
 United States Schooner "T. A. Ward," } 
 Mississippi River, May 3, 1863. f 
 
 Sir — I beg leave to submit to you the following 
 report of the second division of the mortar flotilla: 
 
 On the morning of the 18th of April, 1862, my 
 vessel was towed into position by the United States 
 steamer "Miami" at 8.30 A. m. I anchored 3,900 
 yards below Fort Jackson, on the eastern bank of 
 the river. The schooners of my division anchored 
 astern of me in the following order, viz : " Mat- 
 thew Vassar," "George Mangham," "Adolph 
 Hugel," "Maria J. Carlton," and ''Sydney C. 
 Jones," the "Orvetta" having previously taken a 
 position on the western bank of the river, and thus 
 bein^ separated from the division. 
 
 rapidly. At 8.45, we commenced firing on Fort 
 Jackson, the shot from the fort falling in every di- 
 rection around us, one of which struck so close to 
 our quarter as to throw down some barrels of 
 powder in the magazine by the concussion, but do- 
 ing no damage. Shortly afterwards, another 
 struck us, cuttiiig away the forward shroud of port 
 main rigging, passing through the wardroom, bulk- 
 head pantry, stateroom, deck, storeroom, and extra 
 magazine, escaping through the starboard quarter 
 six inches above water line, doing considerable dam- 
 age. I at once directed Mr. Hatch to drop the vessel 
 down some 300 yards, which he did, followed by the 
 three vessels lying immediately astern of me. I then 
 went to the "Sydney C. Jones." After taking their 
 new positions the vessels which had dropped astern 
 recommenced firing. While lying in her former 
 position, the "Mangham" received a shot in her 
 port bow, which passed through her galley and 
 lodged in the mortar bed, doing no further injury. 
 
 The vessels were now actively engaged in throw- 
 ing shells into the forts, and as no intervening ob- 
 ject obstructed our sight, we could see the effect of 
 our shells as each one lodged in or near the forts. 
 We continued firing all day, not even ceasing for 
 the men to eat their meals. About 5.30 p. m., we 
 could see heavy smoke rising from a building out- 
 side the fort, caused by the bursting of a shell, and 
 soon after the fort was seen to be on fire in three 
 separate places, which soon formed into one mass 
 of flames, since discovered to have been the citadel. 
 At 6 P. M. , we ceased firing, in obedience to signal 
 from the "Harriet Lane." At this time, we could 
 distinguish men upon the ramparts trying to ex- 
 tinguish the flames. 
 
 At 9 o'clock, I received an order from you to drop 
 down 800 yards and be in readiness to move across 
 the river early in the morning, as you thought it 
 likely the enemy would move his guns down the 
 river and open on us in the morning. This we did, 
 and nothing more of any importance occurred dur- 
 ing the night. It is strange to say that, although 
 the shot came around us in immense numbers, yet 
 not one man was even wounded during the first 
 day's engagement. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th instant, we were taken 
 in tow by the " Clifton," and took our position in 
 line with the rest of the flotilla, on the west bank 
 of the river, and at 8.30 A. M., were all engaged in 
 throwing shells into the fort. The "Hartford" 
 moved up and anchored off her beam, but finding 
 she was drawing the enemy's fire on the flotilla (as 
 they fell short of her,) she moved down again. The 
 shot and shells from the forts fell thick around us, 
 but did not do us any injury, with one exception, 
 viz : about 10 o'clock A. M., the " Maria J. Carlton," 
 of this division, was struck by a shot which passed 
 through her magazine floor and out at her bottom. 
 She immediately began to sink, and the crew, with 
 the assistance of others, soon got most of the move- 
 ables out of her. The mortar and shells they left, 
 as they could not remove them. 
 
 We ceased firing at 12 M., and from this time con- 
 tinued firing by watches, each division taking a 
 watch. Nothing particularly important occurred 
 during the next day, until 10.35 p. m., when the 
 gun-boats "Pinola" and "Itasca" went up the 
 river to out the chain. As soon as they started, the 
 mortar flotilla commenced firing very rapidly, and 
 continued until 12.85 A. M., when the gun-boats re- 
 turned. We continued, as usual, firing by watches 
 until the morning of the 24th of AprU, when we 
 commenced at 2.30 A. M. to fire as rapidly as possi- 
 ble, while the steamers passed up the river to at- 
 tack the forts. We did not cease until signaled to 
 do so by you at 5.30 A. M. 
 
 Both officers and men behaved gallantly ; and 
 where everyone did his duty so well,it is almost im- 
 possible to award praise to any single individual. 
 
228 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the bombardment, the men suffered some inconven- 
 ience in getting cooked the rations that were 
 served out to them, and their sleep was also much 
 interrupted ; but I am glad to say that not a mur- 
 mur of dissatisfaction was to be heard among them. 
 I may also mention that Acting-Master J. Duncan 
 Graham, my executive officer, was in command of 
 the United States schooner "Sydney C. Jones'' 
 during the wliole of the bombardment, and acted 
 to my entire satisfaction. The conduct of William 
 Hatch and John Richards, masters' mates, during 
 the bombardment, has also met my warmest ap- 
 proval—the former having sighted the mortar every 
 time it was fired during the action ; the latter hav- 
 ing charge of the powder division, and making 
 himself generally useful about the vessel. The 
 only wounded in "this division were two of the crew 
 of the " Carlton," one severely, the other slightly. 
 Very respectfiilly your obedient servant, 
 
 W. W. QUBEN, 
 
 Lieut.-Coiri'crg, in Command of 
 2d Div. Mortar Flotilla. 
 Commander D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Moi'tar Flotilla. 
 
 REPORT OF LIBTJTENAJfT-COMMANDING K. RAN- 
 DOLPH BRBBSE, THIRD DIVISION MORTAR 
 FLOTILLA. 
 
 U. S. Barkantine, "Horace Bb ALES,'" ) 
 Mississippi River, April 30, 1862. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to submit the following re- 
 port of the part taken by the third division mortar 
 flotilla, under my command, in the bombardment 
 of Fort Jackson. At 9.30 A. m., of the 18th instant, 
 the "John Griffiths," (on board of which vessel I 
 hoisted my divisional flag, ) "Racer," and "Sarah 
 Bruen," were taken in tow by the "Clifton," and 
 towed into position assigned, astern of the first di- 
 vision, on the right bank of the river, at the follow- 
 ing distances from the centre of Fort Jackson : 
 "John Griffiths," 8,900 yards; "Racer," 3,940 yards, 
 and the " Sarah Bruen," 3,980 yards. About 10 A. M., 
 the "John Griffiths" opened fire from her mortar, 
 and was soon followed by the " Racer" and "Sarah 
 Bruen.'' At 2 P. m., the rear vessels of the first di- 
 vision having been advanced, the "Henry James," 
 "Dan Smith," and "Sea Foam" came up under 
 sail and took their positions ahead of the ' ' Griffiths," 
 at the following distances from the fort: "Henry 
 James," 8,630 yards ; the "Dan Smith, "3, 730 yards; 
 and the "Sea Foam," 3,850 yards. At about 2.15 
 p. M., they opened fire from their mortars. A con- 
 stant fire was kept up by each vessel from the time 
 of taking position until 6.37 P. M., when signal to 
 "cease firing" was made. During the day the 
 " John Griffiths" threw 69 shells ; the "Racer," 50 ; 
 the "Sarah Bruen," 61: the "Henry James," 24; 
 the " Dan Smith,'' 31 ; and the "Sea Foam," 43. 
 
 Second day. — At 6.25 A. M., April 19, recommenced 
 fire upon Fort Jackson from the whole division, 
 which was kept up, each vessel firing at intervalsof 
 about ten minutes, until 8 p. M., when ceasedflring. 
 During the day, the "Griffiths" threw 93 shells; 
 the "Racer," 88; the "Sarah Bruen," 88; the 
 "James," 97 ; the "Dan Smith," 92 ; and the "Sea 
 Foam," 88. 
 
 Third day. — At 4 a. m., April 20, opened fire upon 
 the fort from the division, each vessel firing at in- 
 tervals of aVjout ten minutes. At 8 A. M., ceased 
 firing, and at 10.13 a. m., reopened from the whole 
 division as before. From 4 P. m. to 10.10 p. M.^ach 
 vessel firing at intervals of twenty minutes. From 
 10.10 P. M. to 3.03 A. M., (21st,) as rapidly as possible, 
 supporting the gun-boats cutting the chain. From 
 8.03 A. M. to 4 A. M., at intervals of fifteen minutes. 
 During the dav, ending at 4 A. M., the " Griffiths" 
 threw 119 shells; the "Racer," 117; the "Sarah 
 
 Bruen," 117; the "Henry James," 113; the "Dan 
 Smith," 119 ; the " Seam Foam," 111. 
 
 Fourth day.— At noon the division again com- 
 menced fire, each vessel firing at intervals of about 
 ten minutes, ceasing at 4 P. M. At 8 P. M. reopened 
 as before, keeping up the Are until midnight. 
 During this day the " Griffiths " threw 50 shells; 
 the "Racer," 50; the "Sarah Bruen," 56; the 
 "Henry James," 55; the "Dan Smith," 55; the 
 "Sea Foam," 47. 
 
 Fifth day.— At 8 A. M., April 22, each vessel of the 
 division commenced fire, firing at intervals of about 
 ten minutes. Ceased fire at noon ; reopened at 6 
 P. M. and fired until 8 P. M., firing as before. During 
 the day the "Griffiths "threw 56 shells; the "Racer," 
 46; the "Sarah Bruen," 49; the "Henrv James," 
 40 ; the " Dan Smith," 67 ; and the " Sea Foam," 53. 
 
 Sixth day.— At 4 A. M., April 23, the division re- 
 opened fire, each vessel firing at intervals of about 
 ten minutes, ceasing at 8 A. M. At 4 P. M., again 
 opened fire from each vessel of the division at in- 
 tervals of about twelve minutes, keeping it up until 
 6 P. M. During the day the "Griffiths" threw 38 
 shells ; the " Racer," 38 ; the "Sarah Bruen," 36; 
 the "Henry James," 34; the "Dan Smith," 63; the 
 " Sea Foam," 51. 
 
 Seventh day. — At midnight, April 24, the division 
 opened fire, each vessel firing at intervals of ten 
 minutes. At 3.40 A. M,, the guns of the fort having 
 opened on the fleet passing up the river, the divi- 
 sion commenced firing as rapidly as possible, ceas- 
 ing at 4.52 A. M., by signal, the fleet having passed 
 the fort. At 5.30 A. M., opened fire upon the enemy's 
 steamers near the fort ; ceased at 5.48 A. M. At 
 3.55 P. M., commenced again upon the fort ; ceasing 
 at 5.04 P. M. At 5.20 p. m., the division got under 
 way and dropped down the river. During the day 
 the " Griffiths " threw 54 shells ; the " Racer," 81 ; 
 the "Sarah Bruen," 67 ; the "Henry James," 53 ; 
 the "Dan Smith," 66; and "Sea Foam," 60. The 
 " Horace Beales," with ordnance stores, temporarily 
 under the command of Acting-Master George W. 
 Sumner, executive officer, was towed up to within 
 600 yards of the rear of the mortar vessels, and dis- 
 charged her ordnance stores, as was required, with 
 great promptness. During the bombardment she re- 
 ceived many of the articles saved from the "Maria J. 
 Carlton," and a ten-mch gun carriage and ammuni- 
 tion from the "Jackson." She also received the sick 
 and wounded of the flotilla and several of the wound- 
 ed of the squadi'on. Ten of the men of the " Beales," 
 with Acting-Master Sumner, served on board the 
 "Harriet Lane" during the engagement with the 
 forts. The enemy's shot and fragments of shell, at 
 times, fiew about the division in all directions. Sev- 
 eral pieces of the latter, of the size of an egg, and 
 many smaller pieces, were picked up on board of 
 tlie different vessels, but, through God's mercy, not 
 a person was struck, nor have I a casualty of any 
 kind to report during the whole bombardment. 
 The "Sarah Bruen" has a hole through her fore- 
 mast, which 1 am at a loss to account for, unless a 
 fragment of the enemy's shell, which struck the 
 face of the mortar at the edge of the bore, as it was 
 about to be fired, fell into the mortar, and, bemg 
 discharged, went through the mast. A little rigging 
 cut here and there is all the damage I have to re- 
 port done by the enemy. 
 
 The general effect of firing the mortars upon the 
 vessels was to knock out the round houses forward 
 and the light pine board bulwarks in the line of 
 fire. The " John Griffiths'' leaked more than usual 
 during the bombardment, but has since tight- 
 ened up ; she has always been considered a weak 
 vessel. The " Racer's " deck, on port side abreast 
 of fore hatch, started from the carlines giving 
 way, they not having been (originally) properly 
 strengthened. The mortars show no kind of injury. 
 The mortar carriages worked remarkably well. 
 The only damage being (in some instances) the loss 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 239 
 
 of the feather to the eccentric axle, and the break- 
 ing of the screws that confine the socket to eccen- 
 tric. These very sUght injuries did not hinder the 
 working of the mortar in the least. The screws 
 were promptly replaced, a number of spare ones 
 having been made. The turn-table on some of the 
 vessels was found to have recoiled in the line of fire 
 from an inch to an inch and a half ; it was easily 
 pressed into position and kept so by breeching. 
 Twenty-two and a half pounds of powder were 
 fired from the " Griffiths " at the rebel iron -clad gun- 
 boat with no visible strain in vessel or carriage be- 
 yond that already experienced. The mortars were 
 served equally well by the mortar crew and gun's 
 crew, watch and watch, during the bombardment. 
 Not a mistake or an accident occurred in loading 
 the mortars or in filling and fuzing the, shell, evin- 
 cing the care and pains taken by the officers of the 
 division in training their crews, as well as the at- 
 tention, in time of action, by the latter to their du- 
 ties. Notwithstanding the loss of sleep and regu- 
 lar meals and cooked food, the officers and men 
 were ever ready to volunteer for any expedition or 
 service against the enemy. And I must remark 
 upon the cheerfulness and alacrity with which, 
 when much exhausted, they manned their boats to 
 keep up a proper supply of powder and shell. The 
 acting-masters commanding the different vessels of 
 the division gave the direction of fire from the main- 
 mast head (from which place only was Fort Jack- 
 son to be seen) regulating the charges used as re- 
 quired. They kept their posts while engaged with 
 scarce any relief, subject not only to the shock of 
 their own mortars, but also from the one in the rear. 
 
 The conduct of the officers and the men during the 
 bombardment is worthy of all praise. The different 
 missiles of the enemy, flying about the division in 
 all directions, did not distract them in the least in 
 the discharge of their duties, nor, I may say, from 
 their well-earned rest at the close of their watch. 
 
 Accompanying me to the "John Griffiths'' from 
 the " Horace Beales " was Assistant- Surgeon Edes, 
 Mr. Bacon, (my clerk,) and my boat's crew. Dr. 
 Edes had every preparation made for the care of 
 wounded men, he remaining on board the "Grif- 
 fiths " during the bombardment, ready to give his 
 services wherever needed. Mr. Bacon acted as sig- 
 nal officer, and was engaged in taking notes. 
 
 I visited each vessel of the division frequently, 
 night and day, while in action, finding the same 
 good order in each. The minute directions given 
 by you were strictly carried out. 
 
 I have only to add that, as the vessels and mor- 
 tars are now fitted, the prepai-ations for action and 
 the service of the mortars made beforehand were 
 ample, and did not require to be altered in the least 
 during the bombardment, nor has any suggestion 
 from the seven days' actual service been made in 
 the way of improvement, except as a precaution, 
 the breeching around the turn-table. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 K. R. Breese, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Third Division Mortar 
 
 Flotilla. 
 Commander David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 
 report relative to prisoners in the confed- 
 erate naval service capt0red after 
 the surrender of the forts. 
 
 "United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," ) 
 Forts Jackson and St. Philip, May 3, 1862. j 
 Sir — Enclosed is a list of prisoners of war captured 
 by me, after the capitulation of the forts, on board 
 of the steamers "Burton," "Landes," and "Defi- 
 ance,'' the latter of which was sunk by order of 
 John K. Mitchell, late commander in the United 
 Sfataa "Mniru- "Rv nrc\f^v nf 'Pln.p'-nffif^pr Farrfl.fifut T 
 
 send them home in the "Rhode Island," subject to 
 the order of the department, on account of their 
 infamous and perfidious conduct in setting fire to 
 and blowing up the floating battery "Louisiana" 
 and sending her adrift upon the vessels of ours 
 that were at anchor, while they had a flag of truce 
 flying and were engaged in drawing up the capitu- 
 lation of the fort, the vessels under the command of 
 J. K. Mitchell, with the exception of one, having no 
 colors up at the time. These prisoners have forfeited 
 all claim to any consideration, having committed an 
 infamous act, unknown in any transaction of this 
 kind. Had the " Louisiana'' blown up in the midst 
 of our vessels she would have destroyed every one 
 of them. As it was, good fortune directed her 
 towards Fort St. Philip, where she exploded with 
 great force, scattering fragments all over the work, 
 killing one of their own men in the fort, and land- 
 ing a large beam e],ose to the tent of Commander 
 Mcintosh, who was lying with one arm blown off 
 and another broken, his knee-cap shot away and a 
 leg broken. The surgeon in attendance pronounced 
 it the most perfidious act he had ever heard of. 
 The explosion was seen and heard for many miles, 
 and it was supposed that the forts were blown up. 
 
 Enclosed is a letter from J. K. Mitchell stating 
 that the persons mentioned therein had nothing to 
 do with the transaction. I shall, however, carry 
 out the orders of the flag-officer, and send them 
 home in the "Rhode Island," subject to the con- 
 sideration of the department. 
 
 I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 Hon. Gideon 'Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 LIST OF confederate officers : 
 
 Captain J. K. Mitchell, Ist-Lieutenant J. N. "Wilk- 
 inson, 2d-Lieutenant W. H. "Ward, 3d-Lieutenant 
 W. C. 'Whittle, jr.. Lieutenant A. F. "Warley, Sur- 
 geon John D. Grafton, Lieutenant F. M. Harris, 
 ex-naval officers of the 'United States; Purser L. E. 
 Brooks, Gunner "Wilson, Boatswain Jones, Carpen- 
 ter Cherry, Captain's Clerk George Taylor, Cap- 
 tain's Clerk "W. Clark, Chief Engineer "W. "^oung- 
 blood, 3d Assistant Engineer James Harris, 2d Assis- 
 tant Engineer M. Parsons, 3d Assistant Engineer 
 Theo. Hart, 3d Assistant Engineer James Elliott, 
 3d Assistant Engineer James "\Vaters. 
 
 Engineers from the "Manassas.'' — Menzis, 3d 
 assistant engineer; Weaver, 2d assistant engineer; 
 Culver, 3d assistant engineer; Newman, 3d assist- 
 ant engineer. 
 
 United States Steamer "Cliptost." \ 
 NEAR Fort St. Philip, May 2, 1862. \ 
 Sir — The following officers of the Confederate 
 States navy now held on board this vessel as prison- 
 ers of war, had no voice in the council which deter- 
 mined upon the destruction of the Confederate 
 States steamer "Louisiana," on the 28th ultimo, viz: 
 Surgeon James D. Grafton, Assistant Paymaster 
 L. E. Brooks, Captain's Clerk George Taylor, Cap- 
 tain's Clerk 'William Clark, 1st Engineer "W. "Young- 
 blood, 2d Assistant Engineer James Harris, 2d 
 Assistant Engineer M. Parsons, 3d Assistant Engi- 
 neer Theo. Hart, 3d Assistant Engineer James 
 Elliott, 3d Assistant Engineer James Waters, 2d 
 Assistant Engineer Orvel Culver, 2d Assistant En- 
 
 fineer George W. Weaver, 3d Assistant Engineer 
 '. A. Menzis, 3d Assistant Engineer William New- 
 man, Engineer Henry Fagin, Engineer J. H. 
 Toombs, Engineer J. H. Dent, Gunner James Wil- 
 son, Boatswain Samuel Jones, Carpenter Virginius 
 Cherry, Paymaster's Steward D. Porter. 
 
 I make the above statement in consequence of 
 ha.vine* learnpd informflllv tha.t a.Il snp.b nffipprs 
 
230 
 
 THE KA VAL HISTORY 
 
 ■would be paroled on a representation of the fact to 
 you. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 John K. Mitchell, Commander, 
 Late in command of the States Naval Forces 
 near Fort Jackson. 
 Com. David D. Porter, 
 Commanding United States Naval Forces near 
 Fort St. Philip. 
 
 SPECIAL REPORT OF COMMANDER PORTER, COM- 
 MENDING THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS 
 OF THE MORTAR FLOTILLA. 
 
 TJifiTED States Steamer "Harriet Lane," \ 
 Southwest Pass, May 3, 1863. \ 
 
 Sir — In my general report to the department, I 
 made honorable mention of the officers command- 
 ing vessels and divisions in this flotilla, but I think 
 there is something more due to these officers than 
 a general notice, in which manner most every offi- 
 cer comes in for a share of approval, without its 
 being specified what particular qualities entitle 
 them to it. 
 
 To the commanders of divisions of mortar flotilla, 
 the country is mainly indebted to the fall of Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip, for the latter is consequent 
 on that of the former. I cannot express to you in 
 sufficient terms the zeal and ability displayed by 
 Lieutenants-Commanding Watson Smith, \V. W. 
 Queen, and K. R. Breese. They have l>een inde- 
 fatigable in drilling their men, infusing a proper 
 spirit into them, and carrying out uiy orders during 
 the bombardment, which lasted without intermis- 
 sion for six days and nights. They gave themselves 
 but little rest. I could draw no distinction between 
 them. Neither flagged for a moment in their duty, 
 and though they lost but few men in killed and 
 wounded, they have been exposed to as hot a Are as 
 the enemy were capable of showering upon them. 
 They are the kind of men to lead our ships into 
 battle, and I hope that the department will take 
 such notice of their conduct as this great occasion 
 merits. 
 
 To Commander Renshaw, Lieutenants-Command- 
 ing Guest, Baldwin, Wainwright, and Woodworth, 
 my thanks are particularly due for the zeal they 
 manifested on all occasions to serve, no matter in 
 what capacity, and the condition of their vessel for 
 service. If I have not detailed in my general report 
 the various acts of these officers, it is not because I 
 did not appreciate them, but because it would 
 lengthen my report, already voluminous, intending 
 to do them full justice on this occasion. Lieuten- 
 ant-Commanding Harrell has not had the oppor- 
 tunity to give the same evidence of ability, though 
 I have ever found him ready to carry out my 
 wishes, as he says his vessel is unmanageable. He 
 has, however, done good service, and is a zealous 
 officer. 
 
 I have to remain, very respectfully, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles. 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 LETTER OF COMMANDER D. D. PORTER, ENCLOSING 
 paroles OF OFFICERS TAKEN AT FORTS 
 
 jackson and st. philip. 
 
 United States Steamer "Harriet Lane," } 
 Ship Island, May 16, 1862. i 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to enclose the paroles of 
 the officers captured in Fort Jackson, with the list 
 of men remaining at the time of the surrender. The 
 Ust of officers and men in Fort St. Philip must have 
 been sent to the flag-officer, together with the list 
 
 of persons captured by the "Harriet Lane" in the 
 steamers "Burton," "Landes," and "Defiance," 
 under late Commander J. K. Mitchell, consisting of 
 two hundred and fifty of the crew of the iron steam 
 battery "Louisiana," and the Crescent artillery, 
 composed of over a hundred officers and men. The 
 number of men in the two forts during the bombard- 
 ment was eleven hundred, but about two hundred 
 left before the flag of truce was sent down. The 
 rolls of the fort were handed in to the officers tak- 
 ing charge, but our troops taking possession a 
 short time after everything was thrown into dis- 
 order, and it was not possible to obtain them. 
 
 ^'ery respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Flotilla. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 [Parole omitted.] 
 
 CONGRATULATORY LETTER OP THE SECRETARY OF 
 THE NAVY. 
 
 Navy Department, May 10, 1862. 
 
 Sir — Your dispatch of April 30, enclosing the ar- 
 ticles of capitulation of Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip, which surrendered on the 28th ultimo, after 
 a bombardment of 144 consecutive hours by the 
 mortar flotilla, has been received. I have also to 
 acknowledge the receipt of the flags taken in the 
 two forts on that occasion, including the original 
 one hoisted on Fort St. Philip when the rebel forces 
 declared the State of Louisiana to have seceded 
 from the Union, which have been sent forward to 
 the Department. 
 
 The important part which you have borne in the 
 organization of the mortar flotilla, and the move- 
 ment on New Orleans, has identified your name 
 with one of the m^ost brilliant naval achievements 
 on record, and to your able assistance with the 
 flotilla is Flag-officer Farragut much indebted for 
 the successful results he has accomplished. 
 
 To yourself and the officers and seamen of the 
 mortar flotilla, the department extends its con- 
 gratulations. 
 
 I am, respectfully, &c., 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 Commander David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding United States Mortar Flotilla, Ghiilf 
 of Mexico. 
 
 COAST SURVEY reports. 
 
 Treasury Department, May 22, 1863. 
 Sir — At the instance of the Superintendent of the 
 Coast Survey, I have the honor to transmit here- 
 with a copy of the journal of Assistant F. H. 
 Gerdes, United States Coast Survey, showing the 
 services rendered to the fleet under command of 
 Flag-officer Farragut, United States Navy, and to 
 the mortar fleet under command of Captain D. D. 
 Porter, United States Nax-y. 
 
 I am, verv respectfullv, 
 
 S. P. Chase, 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles. 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 extracts from a report OF ASSISTANT F. H. 
 
 GERDES, COMMANDING SURVEYING STEAMER 
 
 " SACHEM," TO PROFESSOR A. D. BACHE, 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COAST 
 
 SURVEY. 
 
 April 13.— At daylight of the 13th of April, I again 
 got under way and took the lead, the gun-boats of 
 the flotilla and the naval vessels in the vicinitv fol- 
 lowing the " Sachem." 
 
 The following disposition was made of mv party; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 aai 
 
 1. Sub-Assistant J. G. Oltmanns and Mr. T. C. 
 Bowie repaired on board the "Owasco,"and used 
 during the day a boat and armed crew from that 
 vessel ; they ascended the river on the west bank. 
 
 3. Myself and Assistant Jos. Harris, after leaving 
 the " Sachem" off the Salt Works at anchor, took 
 our own boat, with an armed crew, and ascended 
 the river on the east bank. 
 
 3. Sub-Assistant R. E. Halter went with another 
 of our boats and an armed crew to the Salt Works, 
 to occupy with a theodolite the top of the chimney 
 of the old engine building, which had been trigono- 
 metrically determined by the Coast Survey. 
 
 We succeeded in the operations, and came within 
 three miles of the fort before night set in. The last 
 lines of this day were observed on Tort St. Philip 
 flagstaff. 
 
 On our return on board the "Sachem," we mapped 
 the work and brought it up as far as we had pro- 
 gressed during the day. 
 
 April 14. — On the 14th of April, at sunrise, I con- 
 sulted with Captain Porter, and we concluded to 
 continue the work and to ascend the river until 
 the positions of the hulks, which support the chain 
 across the Mississippi could be properly deter- 
 mined. 
 
 A large portion of the fleet went up to the con- 
 spicuous point (which I have named Porter's Point), 
 jast two miles below Fort Jackson, and engaged the 
 enemy to draw their attention from our boats. 
 This, however, was only partially effected; they 
 had probably found out the day previous that en- 
 gineering operations were in progress, and now un- 
 dertook to stop them. When Mr. Oltmanns passed 
 Porter's Point, he was fired on with eight or nine 
 rifled shot, but fortunately the whole damage con- 
 sisted in breaking the blade of an oar. The fire was 
 promptly returned, and the operations were con- 
 tinued. The observations were successfully con- 
 tinued during this day, and the mapping was 
 completed during the evening and part of the 
 night. 
 
 April 15.— In the morning, Captain Porter came 
 on board, and we consulted as to the continuance. 
 I sent Mr. Oltmanns and Mr. Bowie again up the 
 river in the " Owasco." They ascended within one 
 mile and a half of the lower fort, and were quite 
 successful in getting intersections on the hulks and 
 on the two flagstaffs of the fortifications. 
 
 They found that during the previous night all 
 the signals which we had put up during the day 
 before had been removed; besides, it was ascer- 
 tained that a number of men were hidden in the 
 bushes. There was hardly anywhere on the shore 
 a footing to be got, and we had to resort to all kinds 
 of observations, instruments and positions, some 
 stations consisting of flags in overhanging branches, 
 and the angles were measured below the same with 
 a sextant, in a boat; others were chimney-tops of 
 deserted houses, on which we mounted smaU. 
 theodolites, having to work our way through the 
 roof. A few only were on terra flrma. 
 
 April 17.— I saw and consulted with Captain Por- 
 ter and the flag-offlcer. To the latter, I gave a copy 
 of the map and a memorandum of distances, for 
 which he expressed much gratification. He spoke 
 with the highest regard of the Coast Survey, and 
 said many kind things of the intrepidity, determin 
 ation, system and dispatch of the party under my 
 charge, and considered our services of great value 
 to the fleet. 
 
 Captain Porter desired me to furnish him with 
 points along the shore every 100 or 150 metres apart, 
 on both banks of the river, for the purpose of plac- 
 ing the mortar vessels at given distances from the 
 forts. This was accomplished to-day, Mr. Oltmanns 
 and Mr. Bowie taking the west side, and Mr. Harris 
 the east side of the river. Meantime, three more 
 copies of the map and memorandum were finished 
 cin hoard and distributed to the fleet. 
 
 Several of the enemy's gun -boats came out, and 
 both our boats were fired at repeatedly. 
 
 April 18. — Before daylight on the 18th of April, 
 Mr. Oltmanns went on board the "Harriet Lane." 
 and Mr. Harris on some other gun-boat, both with 
 directions to assist in placing the mortar vessels 
 exactly in such positions as were marked out by 
 Captain Porter the day before, and which had been 
 determined by the same gentlemen. Tow after tow, 
 consisting of one of the former ferry-boats, " West- 
 field " and "Clifton," each with three or four mortar 
 boats, came up, and the latter were in a short time 
 stationed at given distances from the forts. As soon 
 as all were in position the enemy commenced firing, 
 and from our side the bombardment fairly com- 
 menced . 
 
 Mr. Oltmanns and Mr. Harris both carried out 
 my instructions to the letter, and ijlaced the mor- 
 tars in the exact spot as designated by Captain 
 Porter, at accurately known distances. They were 
 during the whole day under fire. General Butler 
 made his appearance in the river with 7,000 men, 
 which he offered to the flag-oiflcer. 
 
 April 19. — Early in the morning, I had a confer- 
 ence with the commander, who desired me again to 
 send two officers to the flotilla for the purpose of 
 moving some of the mortars to other places, and 
 furnish them with the distances and bearings. 
 This was done accordingly. One of the vessels on 
 which Mr. Harris was engaged was struck by a 
 round shot, and another vessel where Mr. Oltmanns 
 was in a boat alongside was sunk while he was speak- 
 ing with the captain. During the day, we furnished 
 also two more charts for the fleet. In the evening, 
 Captain Porter sent me word again to dispatch early 
 next morning two officers for giving data. You see 
 they kept us pretty busy. 
 
 April 20. — Early in the morning, Messrs. Oltmanns 
 and Halter made the rounds of the mortar vessels at 
 the request of the commander of the flotilla, and 
 changed the position of a few, giving them again 
 bearings and distances. 
 
 I went on board the " Harriet Lane" in the fore- 
 noon, but did not see Captain Porter, who was in 
 his gig among the fleet. The mortar firing during 
 the day was kept up vigorously, and I presume that 
 1,500 shots were sent towards the forts. 
 
 In the evening, an officer from the "Pensacola" 
 came on board to get some information about the 
 depth of the river in the immediate locality of the 
 forts, and Mr. Oltmanns and mj'self gave him all 
 the details that had come under our observation. 
 
 April 23. — At daylight, Captain Porter sent me a 
 note requesting me to drop down to the Jump, 
 and to wait for a boat which had been sent on an 
 expedition in the rear of Fort Jackson, and to bring 
 her up the river directly on her arrival in the Missis- 
 sippi. I went down with the steamer and anchored 
 off the upper point of the Jump, and took the op- 
 portunity to reconnoitre that passage more speci- 
 ally. At sundown, I sent Mr. Halter to the com- 
 mander of the flotilla to report that we did not see 
 anything of his boat, but that I would wait during 
 the night. I received a letter from him in return, 
 stating his fears that the boat's crew would be lost, 
 and begging me to go in search of them, as he had 
 his hands full of the attack that in all probability 
 was to come off dui-ing the night. This, of course, 
 was resolved on, and to-morrow, by sunrise, a boat 
 will be sent for the purpose. 
 
 April 23. — At daylight, I dispatched Mr. Oltmanns, 
 the first mate, and a crew of six men, all doubly 
 armed and well provisioned with food and water, in 
 the second cutter in search of the missing boat ex- 
 pedition, direating him to leave written notices at 
 the mouth of the multifarious bayous, naming the 
 route to be pursued, to hoist in his boat the Ameri- 
 can ensign, and to do anything in his power to find 
 out the crew which must have lost their way in the 
 labyrinth of marsh streams. Mr. Harris returned 
 
233 
 
 THE NAVAL HIS TDK r 
 
 from the fleet and brought me a message from Capt. 
 Porter to come up and run alongside. I fired two 
 33-pounders as a signal for Mr. Oltmanns to return, 
 and set also a blue signal at the fore. Calling on 
 the flag-officer, he said he had no vessel to spare 
 from the engagement, and would consider it a favor 
 if I would carry some of his wounded men in the 
 " Sachem " to the hospital at the mouth of the 
 Southwest Pass. He further added that, as he was 
 preparing a severe night attack with the fleet, it 
 would seem too hard to carry those poor crippled 
 fellows with him in the fight. 
 
 Of course I at once consented very cheerfully, and 
 repeated that, whenever he could make use of me, 
 I would be at his service. Meanwhile, Mr. Olt- 
 manns had not returned from^his search for the boat 
 expedition, but I had to let him shift for himself, 
 knowing that he would bring up somewhere safely. 
 
 At four in the afternoon, the wounded men were 
 sent on board, two of whom had suffered amputa- 
 tion, and all of them in a dangerous state. At a 
 quarter to 5, I was steaming down, having made the 
 poor men as comfortable as I could. Mr. Harris 
 brought the hospital physician on board, who took 
 charge of the patients, and we sent them in our 
 double-bvmked boat on shore. 
 
 April 34. — The gun-boat " Miami ' anchored along- 
 side the " Sachem," bringing me a verbal request 
 from Captain Porter to accompany General Butler's 
 expedition to the rear of Fort St. Philip. I had 
 previously sent Mr. H arris up to the fleet to see the 
 commander and report the derangement of our en- 
 gine. At 5 p. M., General Butler arrived in the 
 "Saxon " and called on me in person, bringing me 
 a letter at the same time from Captain Porter. I 
 arranged with him to meet him as soon as my re- 
 pairs had been made at Isle au Breton, and to send 
 an officer with him in the '' Saxon '' to pilot his ves- 
 sel through Pass a I'Outre. Mr. Oltmanns also came 
 back from his boat expedition in the rear of Fort 
 Jackson, having been within one mile and a half of 
 the fort. 
 
 April 26. — In the morning. Captain Boggs, of the 
 "Varuna'' steam gun-boat, came on board to go 
 with me to General Butler's ship ; he had lost his 
 vessel during the passage of the fleet past the forts 
 on the 24th, being run into from two different quar- 
 ters by iron-clad steamers of the enemy. This was 
 a most brilliant exploit. Ijiis ship sunk with her 
 colors flying, but not before she had crippled, burned 
 and sunk six of the opposing steamers. 
 
 In the afternoon, I got under waj', the machinery 
 ■working well forward. We dropped anchor along- 
 side the "Harriet Lane,'" and I had a conference 
 with the commander. He sent his and other engi- 
 neers to examine the "Sachem's " machinery, when 
 all appeared right. 
 
 April 27. — We got under way after sunrise and 
 Btood off Pass a I'Outre, and brought over the bar 
 15 feet. At noon, we arrived off Sable Island, where 
 we found General Butler in the steam transxjort 
 " Mississippi." I called on him and had a long con- 
 versation respecting the coast. At 2 o'clock, he 
 came on board the "Sachem" and I took him to 
 the rear of Fort Jackson ; from thence he took a 
 boat up to the Quarantine, using one of the smaller 
 bayous for his passage. I dispatched Mr. Harris 
 at once to stake out a four-foot Une along the coast, 
 as the general intends to make an experiment with 
 his rifled guns on the forts from here. We also 
 ascertained the distance by bearings on Forts St. 
 Philip and Jackson. Mr. Halter reported again to 
 me, and was sent out at 8 o'clock in the evening to 
 stake out the boat channel to the Quarantine with 
 lamps, so that troops might be conveyed there dur- 
 ing the night. He returned at 3 o'clock, having 
 successfully performed the task. Four hundred 
 men were sent in safety during the night, and the 
 garrison at the camp of the Quarantine now consists 
 of one full regiment. In the morning, the captain 
 
 of the gun-boat " Miami," which was aground close 
 by the "Sachem," sent on board requesting assist- 
 ance. I ran ahead of him, sent him a nine-inch 
 hawser, and got him afloat by 8 o'clock in the morn- 
 ing. In the afternoon, I sent Messrs. Oltmanns and 
 Harris to Fort Bayou to put up a signal— Mr. Hal- 
 ter having found out in the mornirig that both sig- 
 nals at this place and at Raccoon Point were lost. 
 While tlae boat was away, at 3.30 P. M., both seces- 
 sion flags at Forts Jackson and St. Philip were 
 hauled down. The most intense excitement fol- 
 lowed. I saw the " Harriet Lane " and three other 
 steamers, with a flag of truce on the fore, steaming 
 up to the forts, and directly afterwards saw a large 
 steamer of the enemy enveloped in flames. This 
 proved to be the new iron-cfad battery "Louisi- 
 ana ;" she burned entirely down. At about quar- 
 ter before 3, her magazine exploded with a crash and 
 shock the like of which I never witnessed. The 
 cloud of smoke rose to an estimated height of at 
 least six hundred feet, and pieces of the wreck could 
 be seen flying in the air very distinctly. At 3 o'clock, 
 the " Harriet Lane" came up, and, after the firing 
 of one gun, I had the inexpressible delight of seeing 
 the stars and stripes waving once more over Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip. I flred a salute directly, 
 and gave the information to other vessels near. I 
 sent a recall for my party, there being no further 
 use to prosecute the work here, and Captain Por- 
 ter had expressed a desire that I should join him 
 at the forts as soon as they were ours. In the even- 
 ing. General Wilhams came in the " Miami," and 
 when I communicated the news, the cheering, 
 " Yankee Doodle " and "Hail Columbia" it seemed 
 would never end. At 11 o'clock p.m., we got under 
 way and steamed towards Pass k I'Outre. 
 
 April 29. — We crossed the bar at 6 A. M. with fif- 
 teen feet, half -tide, running the north side of the 
 "middle ground" again as before. We passed the 
 forts early in the afternoon. At 4 o'clock, I took 
 the commander of the flotilla over to Fort Jackson, 
 my officers having also arrived in a separate boat. 
 We inspected closely for a couple of hours the dam- 
 age done by the mortars, and I cannot understand 
 to this minute how the garrison could have possi- 
 bly lived so long in the enclosures. The destruction 
 goes beyond all description ; the ground is torn by 
 the shells as if a thousand antediluvian hogs had 
 rooted it up ; the holes are from three to eight feet 
 deep, and are very close together, sometimes within 
 a couple of feet ; all that was wood in the fort is 
 completely consumed by fire ; the brick-work is 
 knocked down ; the arches stove ; guns are dis- 
 mounted ; gun carriages broken, and the whole pre- 
 sents a dreadful scene of destruction. 
 
 April 30. — Early in the morning I received a com- 
 munication from the commander requesting me to 
 await here his return from New Orleans, where he 
 goes to-day in the "Harriet Lane.'' 
 
 I also hear that a gun-boat is going north, and I 
 conclude therefore this report, to send by the same. 
 Allow me to add a few words to express the high 
 gratification which the gallant and able deport- 
 ment of my officers has given, not only to myself, 
 but, I have reason to believe, to everybody in the 
 fleet, and to the general of the land forces. I hope 
 you will say that we have done our duty. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 F. H. Gerdes, 
 Assistant United States Coast Sztrvey, 
 
 report of JOSEPH HARRIS, UNITED STATES 
 
 coast survey, op some of the incidents 
 
 that camb under his notice and of 
 
 his observations at the forts, etc. 
 
 Southwest Pass, Mississippi { 
 River, May 4, 1863. \ 
 
 Sir— While engaged in the survey of the injuries 
 received by Fort Jackson during the bombardment 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 233 
 
 and the passage of the fleet, several incidents came 
 under my notice, which, at your request, I have 
 now the honor to submit to you in writing. 
 
 While waiting for the boat to take us off, on the 
 last day on which we were engaged on the survey, 
 Mr. Oltmanns and I fell into conversation with 
 some men who had been in the fort as part of the 
 
 farrison. One of them, who said he was a New 
 orker, particularly informed us — a reliable, intel- 
 ligent mauj from the moderation of his statements 
 — and I think his information well worthy of note. 
 
 I shall merely record his statements, as the con- 
 versation on our part, whiob drew forth informa- 
 tion on the points where we especially desired, is 
 not necessary to the understanding of them, and 
 this communication is likely to be very long with- 
 out the introduction of any irrelevant matter. 
 
 General J. K. Duncan had command of both 
 forts, and Colonel Higgins, who some years ago was 
 an officer of the United States navy, had the im- 
 mediate command of Fort Jackson. Colonel H ig- 
 gins has the credit of being a most brave and vigi- 
 lant officer. 
 
 For forty-eight hours my informant thought Colo- 
 nel Higgins had not left the ramparts, and never 
 seemed in the least disconcerted when the bombs 
 were falling thickest around him. 
 
 A large proportion of the forces infeide the fort were 
 northern men; and there were also many foreigners. 
 The party that seized the fort early in 1861, was a 
 companj' of German Yagers, and there were a num- 
 ber of Irish also. In all there were some 600 or 700 
 men in the fort at the time of the bombardment. 
 The northern men were mostlj' sent down at an 
 early stage of the proceedings, and I Imagine most 
 of them volunteered, hoping in that way to avoid 
 suspicion, and perhaps not have to fight against the 
 government after all. 
 
 (Colonel H iggins had no expectation of being at- 
 tacked ; that is, he thought no fleet could be 
 brought against him sufficiently strong to risk an 
 attack.) 
 
 There was a company of sharpshooters attached 
 to the forces, under the command of Captain Mul- 
 len. They numbered about two hundred, and were 
 largely recruited from the "riffraff" of New Or- 
 leans. They scouted so far down as eight or nine 
 miles below the forts, and brought nightly reports 
 to Fort Jackson, traveling by the bayous or passes 
 on the southwest side of the river. The main body, 
 however, lay in the edge of the woods below Fort 
 Jackson, about a mile and a half from it. From 
 here they flred on the boat that pulled up under 
 that shore on the 14th. The grape and canister 
 shot that the "Owasco" threw into the bushes 
 made their berth uncomfortable, and they broke 
 up their camp, came into the fort all wet and drag- 
 gled, having thrown many of their arms away, and 
 swore that they would go to New Orleans ; and 
 they went. 
 
 My informant voluntarily gave the credit of re- 
 ducing the fort to the " bomb fleet." The fort was 
 so much shaken by this firing that it was feared the 
 casemates would come down about their ears. The 
 loss of life by the bombs was not great, as they 
 could see them coming plainly and get out of the 
 way ; but the effect of their fall and explosion no 
 skill could avert. 
 
 About one shell in twenty failed to explode, even 
 those that fell in the water going off as well as the 
 others. It is well worth noting that the bombs 
 that fell in the ditch close to the walls of the fort, 
 and exploded there, shook the fort much more se- 
 verely than any of those that buried themselves in 
 the solid ground. 
 
 The firing was most destructive the first day, and 
 the vessels lying on the northeast side of the river, 
 which were in plain view of the forts, made much 
 the most effective shots. The bomb vessels lying 
 /-vv. i\\a r.fhor airlo nf the river were at all times 
 
 totally invisible, the best glasses failing to distin- 
 guish their bush tops from the trees around them. 
 
 During the bombardment the only guns that were 
 much used were the rifled guns, of which there 
 were three, and the four 10-inch columbiads and 
 Dahlgren 8-inch guns, eight in number. The mor- 
 tars (in the fort) fired occasionally. One of the 
 rifled guns, mounted on the fort proper before the 
 bombardment, was sent two days before the fire 
 opened to Island No. 10. 
 
 One of the rifles in the water battery was origin- 
 ally one of the barbette guns, a 33-pounder. It was 
 sent to New Orleans to be rifled, and a week after 
 the second one was sent ; but the first, on trial, 
 proving a failure, the second was not changed. 
 
 'The large columbiad in the water battery was 
 made somewhere in Secessia, but exactly where my 
 informant did not know. 
 
 The fort was in perfect order when the bombard- 
 ment commenced, it having always been very 
 strictly policed, and the dirt, which now disfigures 
 everything, is the accumulation of a few days. 
 
 The water did not enter the fort until the levee 
 had been broken with bombs, and during the sum- 
 mer of 1861, when the Mississippi was even higher, 
 the parade ground was entirely dry. There was 
 very little sickness in the fort, the water probably 
 not having stood long enough to create miasma. 
 
 The disciplme in the fort was very strict ; but 
 what seemed to be felt more than the strictness 
 was the bringing in of very young and entirely in- 
 experienced officers, who were placed in command 
 of others much their superiors in knowledge. 
 
 Suspected men were closely watched, and the 
 punishment for improper talk among them was to 
 tie a rope around the offenders and let them float 
 in the stinking ditch. 
 
 The impression we derived from this part of the 
 conversation, however, was that the fort was very 
 well governed, and that the man who was speaking 
 had not often come under the displeasure of the 
 authorities, for he was not eloquent on the subject 
 of his wrongs. 
 
 The chain, as first stretched across the river, was 
 quite a formidable obstacle. The chain was brought 
 from Pensacola, and was a very heavy one. It was 
 supported by heavy logs, 30 feet long, only a few 
 feet apart, to the under side of each of which the 
 chain was pinned near the up stream end. The 
 chain was kept from sagging down too far by seven 
 heavy anchors, from which small chains ran to the 
 main chain. 
 
 These anchors were buoyed with can-buoys taken 
 from Pilot Town. In a few months a raft formed 
 on the upper side of this chain which reached up 
 to the forts, and its weight swept away the whole 
 obstruction, and went to sea, carrying the buoys 
 with it. 
 
 It was then replaced by the lighter chain, buoyed 
 by hulks there, three weeks ago. Two of the large 
 can-buoys were placed in the magazine in the water 
 battery. The night that Flag-officer Farragut's 
 fleet passed up. Colonel Higgins was so sure of de- 
 stroying it that he allowed the flrst vessel to come 
 up with the fort before opening fire, fearing that 
 they would be driven back prematurely and escape 
 him. When they succeeded in passing, he remarked: 
 " Our cake is all dough ; we may as well give it 
 up." 
 
 During this engagement a Captain Jones, from 
 the back country, had charge of those casemate 
 guns which were firing hot shot. He depressed the 
 muzzles of his guns very considerably, fearing to 
 fire too high, and being desirous of working his 
 guns vigorously had them run out with a jerk, the 
 consequence of which was that the balls rolled 
 harmlessly into the moat, and the guns blazed away 
 powder and hay-wads at a most destructive rate. 
 
 This continued until some of the officers on the 
 ramnarts. ohservina- how innch his shot fpll ahnrt 
 
234 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY. 
 
 told him of it. He then commenced operations on 
 on^ particular vessel, which he liept at until some 
 one informed him that he was devotinf< himself to 
 one of their own chain hulks. 
 
 The enemy's gun-boats did not come up to the 
 expectations that were formed of them. The 
 "Louisiana" especially, was very much relied on, 
 but her crew of 200 men were drunk at the time 
 that they should have done their duty best. I 
 could not find out anything about her from this 
 man, as he had never been aboard of her, and did 
 not believe the exaggerated stories that were told 
 here about her. 
 
 The small loss of life in the fort is due, to a great 
 extent, to the fact that the men have been carefully 
 kept below, only the guns' crew being allowed out 
 of shelter. The " New Yorker " was a powder-passer 
 for the battery in which the rifled gun and the 
 large columbiads of the main fort were, and, there- 
 fore, had a good opportunity of seeing what went 
 on, they being in pretty constant use. 
 
 One bomb broke into the officers' mess-room 
 while they were at dinner, and rolled on the floor; 
 as it lay between them and the door they could 
 not escape, but all gathered in a corner and re- 
 mained there in terrible suspense until it became 
 evident that the fuse had gone out, and they were 
 safe. 
 
 On the first night of the firing, when the citadel 
 and outhouses were all in flames, the magazine was 
 in very great danger for some time, and a profuse 
 supply of wet blankets was all that saved it ; there 
 was great consternation that night, but afterwards 
 the garrison got used to it, and were very cool. A 
 bomb broke into the secret passage cut in the fort. 
 One of the soldiers went into it some distance when 
 he was discovered by General Duncan and ordered 
 out. The passage was then filled up and a guard 
 placed over the entrance to keep every one away 
 from it. This was told me by Major Santelle, com- 
 mandant of the fort. 
 
 Fort Jackson mounted 33 32-pounders on main 
 parapet, 2 columbiads on main parapet, 1 rifle gun 
 on main parapet, 2 columbiads in 2d bastion, 1 9- 
 inch mortar in 2d bastion, 1 oolumbiad in 3d bastion, 
 2 8-inoh mortars in 3d bastion, 8 32-pounders in 
 northwest casemates, 6 32-pounder guns in north- 
 east casemates, 10 short guns in bastion casemates, 
 2 brass field pieces, 2 rifled guns in water battery, 1 
 10-inch oolumbiad in water laattery, 1 9-inch colum- 
 biad in water battery, 3 32-pounder guns on outer 
 curtain — 75 guns in all. 
 
 I am not positive about the calibre of the guns. 
 Those that I called 32-pounders had a calibre of 
 6.4 inches, and I am not quite positive that there 
 are 10 short 32-pounder guns in the bastion case- 
 mates, though such is my recollection. Of these 
 guns four were dismounted, but I could not see that 
 the gun proper was injured in any case; of the gun 
 
 carriages eleven were struck, several of them being 
 entirely destroyed; and of the traverses no less than 
 thirty were injured. A large proportion of the 
 last injured were on the western side of the outer 
 curtain (where only these guns were mounted), 
 twenty out of thirty-nine being more or less in- 
 jured. 
 
 The ramparts of the fort proper were very severely 
 damaged on every side; but particularly on the two 
 northern ones ; there has been great patching with 
 sand bags needed ; several of the entrances from the 
 parade ground under the ramparts are masses of 
 ruins, some of them being one-third choked up with 
 debris. 
 
 The casemates are cracked from end to end ; one 
 of the bastion casemates has the roof broken 
 through in three places; another in one place, and 
 its walls are so badly cracked that daylight shines 
 through very plainly, the cracks being about four 
 inches wide. 
 
 The entrances to the casemates are nearly all 
 damaged, the roofs cracked and masses of brick 
 thrown down or loosened. All the buildings were 
 destroyed by Are or bomb-shells, the two western 
 bastions and the citadel being completely burned 
 out. The walls of the citadel are cracked in many 
 places very badly. 
 
 Eighty-six shot and splinters of shell struck its 
 faces. The amount of damage here reported would 
 hardly be credited by any one who had taken a casual 
 survey of the premises, and I myself should have 
 considered it exaggerated if I had read it after 
 passing through hastily the first time. After care- 
 ful examination, however, the impression left on my 
 mind is of a place far gone on the road to ruin, 
 which will stand but little more before it will come 
 down about its defenders' ears. Everything about 
 the fort appears to have started from its place, some 
 hardly preceptible, others so much that it would be 
 hard to find where the proper place is. 
 
 I do not profess an acquaintance with such mat- 
 ters, but it looks to me as if the whole structure 
 would have to be demolished and rebuilt, if the 
 government ever intend to fortify the site again. 
 
 I have thus, sir, hastily thrown together the more 
 important part of the information I was able to 
 collect; had my time been more extended I might 
 have been able to gather more of the incidents of 
 the siege; and had I supposed it desirable to reduce 
 it to writing I might have obtained a fuller ac- 
 count from those I did question; but my conversa- 
 tion was merely to gratify my own curiositv 
 and pass away an unoccupied hour. Hoping that 
 you may find this communication of some value, I 
 remain. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Joseph Harris. 
 F. H. Gerdes, Esq., 
 
 Assistant United States Coast Survey. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A Brave Officer's Mortification. — History Set Right. 
 
 ADMIRAL FARRAGUT says in a 
 communication made in April, 
 1869: "Historians are not always 
 correct ; for my own part, I main- 
 tain the conviction that whatever 
 errors may be made by the hands of liistori- 
 ans and others, posterity will always give 
 justice to whom justice is due." 
 
 This is true, and in no case has it been 
 more clearly demonstrated than in that of 
 Admiral Farragut himself, who reaped the 
 highest honors that could be won in the 
 Navy, without a dissenting voice ; and who, 
 as time passes, will only gather more laurels 
 to surround his monument and be handed 
 down to posterity as the most famous Ad- 
 miral of the American Navy. 
 
 Farragut received so many honors him- 
 self that he could well afford to spare to 
 those who served under him, any that may 
 have been withheld from them by accidental 
 omission or otherwise. He leaves it to pos- 
 terity to do justice where justice has not 
 been awarded, and therefore we give a piece 
 of history not generally known, and which 
 should be published in authentic form. 
 
 There was no braver officer in Farragut's 
 fleet than Captain Theodoras Bailey, who 
 led the first division at the passage of Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip. Bailey had that 
 dashing courage which ought to delight the 
 eye of any commander-in-chief, and no man 
 was ever more pleased with the conduct of 
 a subordinate than was Farragut with Bai- 
 ley all through the several battles, even up 
 to the levee of New Orleans. There, again, 
 Bailey showed the great courage he 
 possessed by volunteering to face a howling 
 mob, and carry Farragut's demands to the 
 mayor of the city for its unconditional sur- 
 render. This was more than brave conduct, 
 it was sublime, for he and his companion, 
 Lieutenant Perkins, had to force their way, 
 iina,rmed and unaruarded. throuarh a fierce 
 
 crowd that might at any moment tear them 
 to pieces. 
 
 Farragut had been so much pleased with 
 Bailey's coolness and daring during the 
 rapid and successful events that had taken 
 place within a few days, that he determined 
 to make him the bearer of dispatches to the 
 seat of government, and when the reports 
 were all ready Bailey embarked in the 
 "Cayuga," (the vessel he had so gallantly 
 led through heavy fire and smoke), and 
 started on his way down the Mississippi 
 bound for Washington City. Stopping to 
 communicate with the fleet at Forts Jack- 
 son and St. Philip, he received the rebel 
 flags that had flown over those works and 
 took them on with him as trophies. 
 
 Farragut had written his report of the 
 affairs at the forts in full at New Orleans, 
 and this Bailey aimed to deliver as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 He went on his way home perfectly 
 posted, as he supposed, in all that had oc- 
 curred, and ready to give the Department a 
 clear outline of the battles before the Secre- 
 tary could have time to wade through the 
 mass of reports that were sent on together. 
 
 On Bailey's arrival at the Navy Depart- 
 ment he was received with great enthusi- 
 asm by the Secretary of the Navy and every 
 officer and man connected with the service, 
 all of whom listened with bated breath to 
 his vivid recital of scenes fraught with dan- 
 ger and romance, until nothing more was 
 left to tell. 
 
 While he was stating the history of events. 
 Senator James W. Grimes (the eminent 
 statesman, and friend of the Navy), entered 
 the Secretary's room, and listened with the 
 others. When Bailey had finished, the Sen- 
 ator said " Come with me, and some one 
 bring the trophies," pointing to the Confed- 
 erate flags. ' ' The account of this great bat- 
 tle must be told on the floor of the Senate." 
 
236 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 and they started for the Senate Chamber, 
 the Secretary of the Navy being left to over- 
 haul the despatches. 
 
 On the arrival of Senator Grimes with 
 Captain Bailey, on the floor of the Senate, 
 the latter was received by Senators with the 
 wildest enthusiasm. Members of the House 
 rushed into the Senate Chamber as soon as 
 they heard the news, and the floor was 
 packed. Bailey was the hero of the hour, 
 and was congratulated by all who could get 
 near him. He told the story of the capture 
 of the forts and city in his own simple way, 
 and it carried conviction to every listener. 
 
 occurred it is impossible to conceive, and it 
 can only be surmised that Farragut, in the 
 excitement and hurry of the moment, sent 
 the first order of battle to the Secretary of 
 the Navy, instead of the one which was last 
 issued to the fleet. 
 
 Secretary Welles and those about him at 
 once detected the difference between Farra- 
 gut's report and Bailey's recital of the pas- 
 sage of the fleet, and the impression was 
 left on the minds of all, that Bailey was dis- 
 posed to obtain more credit than was due 
 him. They could not have known him 
 well, for he was truthful as he was brave, 
 
 
 CAPTAIN THEODORUS BAILEY (AFTERWARDS KEAE-.ADJIIRAL). 
 
 Congress is an impulsive body, and some 
 of the members of the House of Represen- 
 tatives went back to the House to prepare 
 a resolution giving Farragut and Bailey a 
 vote of thanks on the spot, while the Senate, 
 in the enthusiasm of the moment, was about 
 to do the same thing. An hour or more had 
 passed away while the Senators were listen- 
 ing to Bailey's account, during which time 
 Secretary Welles was employed in reading 
 Farragut's repoi't. It was not a long 
 one, but did not clearly mention the fact 
 that Bailey had led the fleet, or at least 
 show it on the plan. Why the omission 
 
 and although naturally somewhat exalted 
 at the important position he filled at the 
 passage of the forts, nevertheless he related 
 it all in the simplest and most unpretending 
 language. 
 
 Secretary Welles, on reading Farragut's 
 report, lost no time in writing a note to 
 Senator Grimes, and sending it off with all 
 dispatch. It read, "Don't take any steps 
 resulting from Captain Bailey's account of 
 the passage of the fleet by the forts. There 
 is a discrepancy between his report of the 
 affair and that of Fla^-oflBcer Farragut, 
 which must be inquired into." 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 237 
 
 Senator Grimes had just taken the floor, 
 and was eulogizing the brilliant victory that 
 had been reported, when Secretary Welles' 
 note was put into his hand. He was taken 
 all aback on reading it, and after finishing 
 its perusal, he held up his hand. "Stop," 
 he said, "we are going too fast," and he 
 handed the note around the Senate. Sena- 
 tors, after reading it, returned to their seats 
 and took up some matter quite foreign to 
 the one before them, and the proposed reso- 
 lutions were so completely killed that noth- 
 ing on earth could have resurrected them ; 
 no one in that Senate seemed to take the 
 least interest in the New Orleans matter, 
 and Bailey sat on a reserved seat in the rear 
 of the Chamber, wondering what it all 
 meant. 
 
 In ten minutes more he would have been 
 the recipient of a vote of thanks in connec- 
 tion with the flag-officer — the highest honor 
 he could have hoped for — and he likely 
 would have been made the next Rear- Admi- 
 ral on the list. 
 
 Senator Grimes, in the kindness of his 
 heart, went to him and showed him Mr. 
 Welles' letter, and told him that he had 
 better go to the Department at once and set 
 the matter right, that it was useless to re- 
 main in the Senate, that nothing more 
 would be done, and Bailey went out crushed 
 to the earth with mortification. How he 
 ever got to his lodgings he never knew ; he 
 was a proud man, and his heart almost 
 broke at the idea that he was suspected of 
 making a false report. 
 
 The truth came to the Department a 
 month or two afterwards, but Bailey only 
 benefitted by it so far that his story was 
 believed. 
 
 Farragut received a vote of thanks, but 
 Bailey was left out except on the general 
 vote which included all the officers and men. 
 
 This event was not generally known in 
 the service ; or, if known, not fully under- 
 stood, and it was not until 1869, seven years 
 after the action, that the whole matter was 
 rectified. 
 
 Then the correspondence which took place 
 between Farragut and Bailey became part 
 of the records of the Navy Department, and 
 as it is due to both those officers that this 
 correspondence should be fully known, and 
 as it is a part of the history of the war, it 
 should appear in this narrative. The reader 
 will see at a glance that Captain Bailey was 
 a clear-headed writer as he was a clear- 
 headed fighter, and places himself clear on 
 the record. Why he should have remained 
 silent so many years under an injustice he 
 should have corrected at once, no one can 
 tell, but likely it arose from a disappoint- 
 ment which led him to believe there was no 
 disposition on the part of the Secretary to 
 do him iustice. It was not until he was im- 
 
 portuned by his friends to have the matter 
 set right, that he consented to draw Ad- 
 miral Farragut's attention to the subject. 
 
 Farragut himself had most likely forgot- 
 ten all about his report, and as Bailey had 
 failed to notice the discrepancy therein just 
 after the affair occurred, he regarded it as 
 out of place to open up a discussion at so 
 late a date, and when his first report had 
 become a matter of history. As soon, how- 
 ever, as convinced by Bailey of his mistake, 
 Farragut rectified it, and placed the (then) 
 Rear- Admiral's request on the records of 
 the Navy. This every officer is justified in 
 claiming when he has performed a gallant 
 act without recognition. 
 
 It is not only due to history that this 
 should be done, but also to the familj^ and 
 friends of those who served so faithfully 
 through the war of the rebellion. Bailey's 
 misfortune in this niistake was that the 
 error stood recorded so long without correc- 
 tion. He should have had it rectified at 
 once, for his position in the Navy was 
 materially affected by it. 
 
 HISTORY SET EIGHT. 
 
 The following correspondence is repro- 
 duced from the files of the Navy Depai't- 
 ment. We publish it in justice both to the 
 truth of history and to the reputation of 
 those gallant officers whom it most con- 
 cerns. 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL BAILEY TO ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 1, 1869. 
 
 Mt Dear Admiral— I feel compelled to call 
 your attention to an oversight of "which I spoke to 
 you some time since, and which has afforded me 
 and other ofQcers the keenest annoyance, by his- 
 torical statements growing out of the omission to 
 make the desired correction. 
 
 You recollect that when the "Colorado," under 
 my command, was found (after lightening her) to 
 draw too much water to be got over the bar into the 
 Mississippi River, I applied to you for the command 
 of a division of gun-boats, and coveted the honor 
 of leading, under your orders, the attack on New 
 Orleans and its defences. Having been assigned by 
 you to the command of a division of your fleet, 
 with your concurrence, and at the request of Com- 
 mander S. P. Lee, I hoisted my divisional flag on 
 board the steam sloop-of-war "Oneida," commanded 
 by him. On the 20th of April, 1863, you issued a 
 General Order, with a programme directmg the 
 fleet to pass the forts and ascend the river in two 
 columns abreast. You, in your flag-ship, the "Hart- 
 ford," at the head of one column, and I at the head 
 of the other. About this time Commander Lee ex- 
 pressed a regret that he had invited me to lead my 
 division in his vessel, the "Oneida," alleging as a 
 reason that I would get the credit for what might 
 be achieved by his vessel. Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing Harrison immediately begged me to hoist my 
 divisional flag on board of his little gun-boat the 
 "Cayuga," and give him a chance to lead the divis- 
 ion, which, on going on board of your flag-ship and 
 stating the facts, you kindly consented to my do- 
 ing ; and on giving the gallant Harrison the oppor- 
 tunity he sought, the "Oneida," Commander Lee, 
 was assigned a nosition further astern. After the 
 
338 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 chain and booms, constituting the enemy's obstruc- 
 tions, were cut by Captain Bell and Lieutenant 
 Caldwell, it became apparent that if the fleet went 
 up in two columns abreast, according to your writ- 
 ten order and programme of the 20th of April, the 
 parallel columns of vessels would likely get foul of 
 the obstructions on either side, and the whole fleet be 
 thrown into confusion under the fire of the enemy's 
 forts, especially as you had determined to make a 
 night attack (two o'clock in the morning). There- 
 fore, with your proverbial foresight and sagacity, 
 you ordered me to get my division of eight vessels 
 under way as soon as the dusk of the evening 
 should obscure the movement from the enemy, and 
 anchor them, line ahead, near the east bank, and 
 gave me a further verbal order, directing me that 
 when the signal should be made (two red lights) 
 from the "Hartford," to lead up with my division 
 and to receive but not answer the fire of Fort Jack- 
 son (which I was directed to leave for you to take 
 care of when you should come up, as you ex- 
 pressed it, " I will take care of Fort Jackson "). I 
 was then to open on Fort St. Philip and pass it ; 
 but you directed that in case at any time you should 
 come up in the " Hartford," we should leave room 
 for you on the port or west side, I accordingly 
 passed up at the head of my division (in the 
 " Cayuga " receiving but not returning the fire of 
 Fort Jackson. After passing the obstructions I 
 ordered the helm put a-port and led close to the 
 levee, and under the guns of Fort St. Philip, 
 thinking that the guns of that fort would be 
 trained and sighted for mid-river, and that they 
 would consequently overshoot me (which they did, 
 their shot and shell riddling our masts, spars, sails 
 and rigging, with comparatively little damage to 
 the hulls). At this time something occurred to the 
 " Pensaeola's" machinery, which caused a detention 
 of the vessels of my division astern of her. Losing 
 sight of them, we in the "Cayuga," alone en- 
 countered the rebel iron-clads "Louisiana" and 
 "Manassas" and their flotilla of gun-boats, and 
 maintained unaided a conflict with them, until 
 Boggs in the " Varuna " came up, and after deliver- 
 ing a broadside, which came into the "Cayuga" as 
 well as into the enemy in conflict with us, he passed 
 up the river out of sight. The "Oneida," Com- 
 mander Lee, came up soon after and fired into a 
 steamer that had already surrendered to the "Cay- 
 uga " (being her third pi'ize). I then ordered Lee 
 to go to the assistance of Boggs of the "Varuna," 
 then engaged with two of the enemy's steamers up 
 the river, which had been drawn off from their at- 
 tack on us of the "Cayuga," to follow and head off 
 Boggs in the "Varuna." After seeing our (" Cay- 
 uga's") thu'd prize in flames, we steamed up the 
 river and captured the Chalmette regiment, en- 
 camped on the west bank of the river opposite the 
 quarantine hospital. This rebel regiment of in- 
 fantry I had the honor to hand over to you for 
 your disposition when you came up the river after 
 your severe contest with the forts and fire-ships 
 below. 
 
 To give a history of all the incidents of the bat- 
 tle Avithin my observation or the part of which each 
 vessel of my division took, would make this com- 
 munication too long. 
 
 The great object of this letter is to call your 
 attention to the fact that in the hurry of making 
 up your dispatches after the battle, you sent home 
 the written order of the 30th of April, which has 
 been published and has passed into history, instead 
 of your verbal order of the 23d, which was the one 
 in accordance with which the fleet passed up the 
 river, and the battle was fought. 
 
 This error has resulted in an inextricable histo- 
 rical muddle, as the history of the battle has been 
 written on the basis of the published programme of 
 April 20th, never carried out; the formation and 
 position of the attacking force being therefore en- 
 
 tirely misunderstood by the historians. One (Rev. 
 Mr. Boynton's) history not even mentioning me, 
 although it did those of officers commanding vessels 
 under me. My name was merely inserted (as com- 
 manding a division) at the instance of a friend, who 
 discovered the omission too late to make a further 
 correction. The resolution of the United States 
 Senate of June 6, 1863, and accompanying docu- 
 ments, of which two thousand were printed, perpet- 
 uates the error of our passing the forts in two col- 
 umns abreast. Mr. Greeley in his "American Con- 
 flict," and other authors, are led into the same mis- 
 statements. "Lossing's Pictorial History " errone- 
 ously describes the "Cayuga" as retiring from the 
 fight on account of her damages, whereas she was 
 continually in action notwithstanding she was much 
 out up with forty -two shot holes. The " Varuna," 
 which had passed us while heavily engaged, went 
 up the river and drew off three of the "Cayuga's" 
 assailants. The fight of the "Varuna" with two of 
 which is treated as the great event of the battle, 
 while the leading up and heavy single-hand fighting 
 of the "Cayuga" (Harrison's gun-boat), her taking 
 the surrender of three enemy's steamers, the Chal- 
 mette regiment of infantry, and cutting the tele- 
 graphic communication between the forts and New 
 Orleans, and other circumstances are not mentioned. 
 Now, as I do not wish to be compelled, even in jus- 
 tice to myself, or the officers of my division, to go 
 into the mode of correcting history by pamphleteer- 
 ing or newspaper articles, now so common, I must 
 ask of you to correct this error, which I know you 
 will not hesitate to do, seeing how much annoyance it 
 is giving your friends and followers; or, if you still 
 have any delicacy in doing this as you appeared to 
 have when I spoke to you before, in consequence of 
 a regulation of the Department that you seemed to 
 consider in the way, may I ask if you see any im- 
 jjropriety in my requesting a Board of Inquiry, in 
 order to get the facts on record, since the truth of 
 history, my duty to my officers, and to my family, 
 requires that I should see it done while I am here 
 to do it. 
 
 I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedi- 
 ent servant, 
 
 Theodorus Bailey, 
 
 Rear- Admiral TJ. 8. Navy. 
 To Admiral D. G. Farragut, U. 8. Navy. 
 
 ADMIRAIi FARRAGUT'S REPLT. 
 
 New York, April 3, 1869. 
 
 Mt Dear Admiral — I have received your let- 
 ter of the 1st, and am really at a loss to understand 
 how you, or even historians can take the views you 
 express in relation to the part in the memorable 
 fight in the Mississippi in 1863. 
 
 I have just re-read my report of May 6th, and 
 your two reports following, and cannot conceive 
 how you could be more prominently mentioned to 
 the Department. 
 
 In the former, you are reported as " leading the 
 right column in the gun-boat " Cayuga," as having 
 "preceded me up to the quarantine station," and as 
 having "captured the Chalmette regiment, " and 
 every possible credit is given you for the manner in 
 which you conducted your line, and preceding us to 
 attack the Chalmette forts. 
 
 As to historians, I can, of course, do nothing. I 
 have read but one account to which you allude (Dr. 
 Boynton's), and that in reference to Mobile Bay, in 
 which several mistakes occur, going to prove that 
 historians are not always correct. 
 
 I do not see how it is possible for me to give 
 you greater credit for your services than is embod- 
 ied in that report where your name is always prom- 
 inent; but if you think that full credit has not been, 
 done you, which I confess, I regret to learn, you 
 
OF TEE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 239 
 
 have, of course, a perfect right to make your appeal 
 to the Department; for my own part, I always 
 maintain the conviction that whatever errors may 
 be made in the records of historians and others, 
 posterity will always give justice to whom, justice is 
 due. 
 
 Very truly, yours, 
 
 D. Gr. Farbagut, Admiral. 
 Rear-Ad miral T. Bailby, JJ. S. Navy. 
 
 P. S.— By referring to pages 334 and 335--337, of 
 Draper's history, you will find that he gives vou all 
 the credit claimed by your own report, as well as 
 that given you by mine. D. G. F. 
 
 RESPONSE OF REAR-ADMIRAL BAILEY. 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 37, 1869. 
 
 My Dear Admiral— I have received and care- 
 fully read your letter of the 3rd, in reply to 
 mine of the 1st instant, and admit all you say 
 about prominently mentioning my name to the 
 Department. But your remark: " As to historians, 
 I can do nothing." This is so : but the difficulty 
 is, that the historians derived their erroneous ac- 
 coimt of the battle from your report of the 
 6th of May, 1863, and from the diagram which you 
 sent to the Department, as the true order of sailing 
 into the battle with the forts. Those who have 
 written on the subject are not to be blamed for 
 using the official reports of the occurrences; but in 
 seeking for the correction of that report, I hope to 
 prevent similar error and confusion in the future. 
 I do so with the greatest reluctance, as a duty to 
 the officers under my immediate command, and to 
 myself, and 1 appeal to your sense of justice whether 
 I could do less. 
 
 You state, " I have just re-read my (your) report 
 of May 6th, and your (my) two reports following, 
 and cannot conceive how you could be more 
 prominently mentioned to the Department." In 
 the former, you are reported as leading the right 
 column in the gun-boat " Cayuga," and as having 
 preceded me to the qua ran tine station." 
 
 How could there have been a "right" and left 
 column practically, when I led my division to the 
 attack and passage of the forts an hour before you 
 lifted anchors in the " Hartford," and your center 
 division ? What I did was done by your orders and 
 inspiration, and to you the world has given the 
 credit of the attack and its success, as fully as it 
 gave to Lord Nelson the credit of the battle of the 
 Nile ; but did it detract from his glory that the re- 
 port of the battle described how it was fought, and 
 the exact position of his own vessel, and those of 
 his subordinates ? 
 
 This matter has been the subject of much dis- 
 cussion among officers then commanding vessels in 
 my division \ all say that no vessel of your center 
 division came up abreast of, or lapped their vessels. 
 Practically, the effect of your verbal order was, to 
 divide the fleet into four divisions, viz : 
 
 1st. The mortar fleet. Commander Porter. 
 
 2d. The flrst division of the gun-boats, under 
 my command, to which was added the two sloops- 
 of-war, " Pensacola " and " Mississippi," of which the 
 gun-boat "Cayuga" (with my division flag) was 
 the leading vessel. 
 
 3d. The center division, with your flag on the 
 "Hartford, "and 
 
 4th. The rear division, bearing the flag of Captain 
 H. H. Bell. 
 
 The flrst, center, and rear divisions went up to 
 the attack in single file, or line ahead. I went up 
 at the head of my division at 3 P. M., or as soon 
 thereafter as it took the " Pensacola" (the next ves- 
 sel astern of the " Cayuga"), to purchase her anchors 
 — supposed to be about twenty minutes. You fol- 
 
 division, and the division of gun-boats commanded 
 by Captain Bell followed in the wake of your 
 division. The fact practically was that the flrst 
 division, the mortar fleet, covered the advance, the 
 second was the vanguard, the third the main body 
 of the fleet, and the fourth the rear, and that the 
 advance being made up a river and line ahead, the 
 diagram does not give any idea of the action other 
 than to produce confusion and error. How could 
 it be otherwise when no vessel of the third division 
 lapped any one of the second 1 
 
 I enclose a copy of this (to us) unfortunate 
 diagram, as attached to your report of the battle, 
 which you will notice places the "Cayuga" (my flag 
 gun-boat) third in line of my division, whereas, ac- 
 cording to your own statement (of two columns 
 abreast), that gun-boat should have been recorded 
 as first in line, leading. I would ask of your 
 friendship and your fairness whether this diagram 
 gives the faintest idea of the action, and whether 
 if the names of the vessels were altered, it would 
 not apply equally well or better to many other 
 battles. 
 
 As an evidence how far the " Cayuga " was ahead 
 of the rest of the fleet the first news received at the 
 North is announced in the New York Times of Sun- 
 day, April 37, 1863, thus : "An important report 
 from the rebels. — One of our gun-boats above Fort 
 Jackson and San Philip. Washington, Saturday 
 April 36th. The Richmond Examiner of the 35th, 
 announces that one of our gun-boats passed Fort 
 San Philip, sixty miles below New Orleans on the 
 34th. The report was telegraphed to Norfolk, and 
 brought to Fortress Monroe under a flag of truce, 
 and received from there to-day by the Navy De- 
 partment." 
 
 The next rebel telegram announced the arrival 
 of the fleet before the city. The " Cayuga " in the 
 interval had captured the Chalmette regiment, five 
 miles above the forts, and cut the telegraphic com- 
 munication, so that the fleet were not again re- 
 ported until they arrived opposite the city. 
 
 Now, my dear admiral, you have entirely mis- 
 conceived the object of my addressing you. It is 
 not to complain that you have not mentioned me 
 prominently in your dispatch, but it is because in 
 your report of the battle, dated May 6th, and the 
 accompanying diagram, you do not give the cir- 
 cumstances of the fight as they occurred, but 
 those which would apply to your former plan 
 which was abandoned. From that report, the 
 reader would infer that the fleet went to the at- 
 tack of the forts in two columns abreast, when it 
 was done in single column (line ahead) — that the 
 " Hartford" was the leading vessel, when in reaUty 
 it was ninth in line astern of the "Cayuga," in a 
 single line or line ahead, and there was no left or 
 right of line, but single file. 
 
 That you should for a moment leave so errone- 
 ous a report or record uncorrected, is a matter of 
 surprise to your officers, and that you should not 
 have made the correction as soon as your attention 
 was called to it is still more embarrassing to us. 
 
 They know that under your orders, I led the 
 vanguard of your fleet, not as represented on the 
 diagram you have filed, but in an entirely differ- 
 ent order, and received forty-two certificates in the 
 way of rebel shots striking my vessel, in corrobor- 
 ation of what is known to every one of our gallant 
 companions in that engagement. 
 
 I have delayed my reply, both because I have 
 been occupied, and since have heard you were ill, 
 which I deeply regretted, and because I wished to 
 be certain that I said nothing in haste that would 
 be annoying to you, or improper in me to say, and 
 I hope you will now see the matter as I and others 
 do, and make the correction so necessary to jus- 
 tice in your report dated May 6, 1863, and substi- 
 tute a diagram of the actual positions your ves- 
 
 -.A n«Rnn»c 
 
 ..-1 i„ J.U., i,'^« ^e ^4. 
 
240 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 Fort St. Philip. 
 
 THE CORRECTED DIAGRAM. 
 
 Copied from tlie amended Diagram ou file iu the Navy 
 Department, and certified to be a true copy. 
 June 2, 1869. 
 
 [signed] HOLME.S E. OFFLEY, Chief Clerk. 
 
 With additional outlines. 
 
 Obder of the Fleet in passikg up to the Attack of Fobts 
 Jackson and St. Philip, Apeil 24, 1862. 
 
 First Division 
 
 Leading under command 
 
 Capt. Theodoms Bailey. 
 
 Center Division, 
 AiTl Farragut. 
 
 Hartford, 
 
 Com. Waimvrighi. 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 Capt. T. T. Craven. 
 Richmond, 
 
 Com. J. Alden. 
 
 Third Diitsion, 
 
 Capt. H. H. Belt. 
 Sciota, 
 
 Lt.-Com. Donaldson. 
 Iroquois, 
 
 Com. De Camp. 
 Kennebec. 
 
 Lt.-Com. Russell. 
 Pinola, 
 
 Lt.-Com. P. Crosby. 
 Itaska, 
 
 Ll.-Com. Caldwell. 
 "Winona, 
 
 Lt.-Com. Xichots. 
 
 ^ ** Mortar Fleet, 
 
 #^ Capt. D. D. Porte 
 
 \ * ■^ First Division. 
 
 4. Cayuga, Flag Gun-boat, 
 ' Lt.-Com. Harrison. 
 
 i Pensacnla, 
 
 ' Capt. H. W. Morris, 
 
 i Mississippi, 
 I Capt M. Smith. 
 
 A Oneida, 
 
 ' Com. S. P. Lee. 
 
 i Varan a, 
 
 ' Com. C. S. Boggs. 
 
 i Katahdin, 
 ' Lt.-Com. Q .H. Preble. 
 
 i Kineo, 
 i Wissahickon, 
 
 Lt.-Com. Ransom. 
 
 hickon, 
 
 Lt.-Com. A. X. Smith. 
 
 0.i« 
 
 Oo 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 [signed] D. G. FAKEAGUT. 
 
 P 3 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 241 
 
 place of those now on the files of the Navy De- 
 partment. 
 
 I have the honor to be, respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 Thboborus Bailey, 
 
 Hear- A dniiral. 
 Admiral D. G. Fabragut, U. 8. Navy. 
 
 CORRECTION BY ADMIRAL FABRAGUT. 
 
 New York, May 19, 1869. 
 
 My Dear Admiral — I have received your two 
 letters, the first one of which was not given to me 
 until to-day, as my physician has advised a total 
 suspension of business until I should become 
 fully convalescent, which I am happy to say, is now 
 the case. It affords me pleasure to make the cor- 
 rection you desire, in the diagram of the Missis- 
 sippi battle, as I now fully comprehend what you 
 wish in this matter. In fact, I cannot understand 
 how this sketch of the first proposed order of bat- 
 tle—wherein you are placed third instead of at the 
 head of the column — should have been attached to 
 the report in lieu of the one which was afterwards 
 adopted. 
 
 By referring to this report, you will observe 
 that the diagram accompanies a general order, is- 
 sued four days before the action, as a preparatory 
 plan of attack, which was subsequently changed. 
 But, still, I cannot understand why, even in this 
 sketch, you should not have been placed at the 
 head of the starboard column. 
 
 This diagram, as you are aware, was the orig- 
 inal plan, to be changed, as a matter of course, 
 as circumstances might justify, and the vessels were 
 placed according to the rank of the officers respect- 
 ively commanding them ; but should not have been 
 made part of the report of the final action, as, on 
 Teflection, I decided that when the chains were 
 parted the plan of "line ahead " should be adopted, 
 as the best calculated for the preservation of the 
 vessels and for avoiding all chances of fouling. 
 Therefore, when the time arrived, and the signal 
 given, the order of sailing was changed to line of 
 battle, the verbal instructions to which you allude 
 carried out, and you led at the head of your divis- 
 ion, and it has always afforded me the greatest 
 pleasure to say that you performed your duties 
 most fearlessly and gallantly. 
 
 For this reason I was, at the outset, a little sur- 
 prised that you should have apparently complained 
 of my report, but my examination of the printed 
 diagram has fully satisfied me of the justice of your 
 appeal. 
 
 I shall, therefore, forward to the Department a 
 correct sketch of the final attack as we passed up 
 the river. 
 
 I am, very truly, your friend and obedient ser- 
 vant, 
 
 D. Gr. Farragut, 
 
 Admiral U. 8. N. 
 Eear-Admiral T. Bailey, Washington. 
 
 LETTERS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 
 
 New York, May 24, 1869. 
 
 Sir — My attention having been called by Rear- 
 Admiral Bailey to an incorrect sketch which ac- 
 companied my report of May 6, 1863, upon the 
 passage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, I have the 
 honor to forward herewith a corrected diagram, 
 showing the position of the vessels at the time they 
 passed through the obstructions after the chains had 
 been separated. This will demonstrate that Rear- 
 Admiral (then Captain) Bailey led the fleet in the 
 "Cayuga," up to the attack on the forts, as had 
 been previously ordered, he taking St. Philip with 
 his division, while I reserved Jackson for the re- 
 mainder of the squadron under my command. 
 
 The skeleton lines show how the vessels moved 
 up from their origmal position of two Unes into the 
 line ahead. 
 
 This correction has not been made before, be- 
 cause I was not aware of the existence of the mis- 
 take — the diagram being evidently a clerical error 
 — and in opposition to the text, in which I distinctly 
 state that Rear-Admiral Bailey not only led, but 
 performed his duty with great gallantry, to which I 
 call the attention of the Department. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Hon. A. E. BoBiE, Admiral U. 8. N. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 
 
 Washington, D. C. May 25, 1869. 
 Hon. A. E. BoRlE, Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Sib — I have the honor to enclose herewith, 
 original and certified copies of a correspondence 
 which I have had with Admiral D. G. Farragut, 
 relating to the battle below New Orleans, and to 
 request that the letters marked from A to E, be 
 placed on the files of the Navy Department, as fur- 
 nishing a correction of that officer's report, with an 
 accompanying diagram heretofore made to the De- 
 partment. 
 
 The object of my addressing Admiral Farragut 
 is now gained by the admission on his part of the 
 correctness of my statements, that the fleet under 
 his command went up the Mississippi River to at- 
 tack and pass Forts Jackson and St. Philip, in order 
 of battle, "line ahead," or single file; that I led the 
 fleet into the battle at the head of, and in command 
 of the vanguard division; and that the " Hartford," 
 flag-ship, with Admiral Farragut on board, followed 
 my division, he being thus ninth in line, and at the 
 head of the rest of the fleet in the order represented 
 by the list of vessels which I hereto annex. After 
 this frank admission by my distinguished com- 
 mander, I have only the regret remaining, that the 
 error into which he* was led was not discovered and 
 corrected at an earlier date, thereby possibly af- 
 fecting my position in the service. 
 
 I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedi- 
 ent servant, 
 
 Theodorus Bailey, 
 
 Rear-Admiral, U. 8. Navy. 
 
242 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 VESSELS AND OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE CAPTURE 
 
 OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 Flag-officer David G. Farragut, Commander-in-chief. 
 
 Captain T. Bailey, Commanding First Division. 
 
 Captain H. H. Bell, Commanding Second Division. 
 
 Commander David D. Porter, Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 
 steamer "BROOKLYN." 
 
 Captain, Thomas T. Craven; Lieutenants, R. B. 
 Lowry andjaiues O'Kane; Acting Masters, George 
 Dewhurst, W. C. Gibbs, J. C. Spoflford and Ly- 
 man Wells; Midshipmen, John R. Bartlett and H. 
 T. Grafton; Surgeon, Samuel Jackson; Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. S. Knight; Paymaster, C. W. Abbott ; 
 First-Lieutenant, James Forney, U. 8. M. C; First- 
 Assistant Engineer, Benj. E. Chassaing; Second-As- 
 sistant-Engineers, James Atkins and A. V. Eraser, 
 Jr.; Third- Assistant Engineers, C. F. Mayer, B. D. 
 Clemens, J. L. Bright and Jos. Morgan; Acting-Mas- 
 ters' Mates, R. Beardsley, H. Bartlett, James Buck 
 and H. C. Leslie; Boatswain, J. A. Selmer; Gunner, 
 William Yates; Carpenter, W. D. Toy; Sailmaker, J. 
 Stevens. 
 
 STEAMER " CAYUGA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, N. B. Harrison; Lieu- 
 tenant, George H. Perliins; Acting-Masters, John 
 Hanson and E. D. Percy; Assistant Surgeon, Edw. 
 S. Bogert; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G.W.Whif- 
 fln; Second- Assistant Engineer, J. M. Harris; Third- 
 Assistant Engineers, J. W. Sydney, J. C. Chaflfee 
 and Ralph Aston ; Acting-Masters' Mate, W. W. 
 Patten. 
 
 STEAMER " CLIFTON." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, C. H. Baldwin; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, E. A. Howell, Robert Rhodes and P. 8. Weeks; 
 Midshipmen, H. T. French and H. B. Ramsey; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, D. D. T. Nestell; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Carels; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, James A. Fox ; Acting-Third 
 Assistant Engineer, Samuel Vallum; Acting- Mas- 
 ters' Mate, Charles Albert, L. Cannon, David Har- 
 vey and W. W. Wells. 
 
 STEAMER "HARTFORD " (FLAG-SHIP). 
 
 Commander, Richard Wainwright; Lieutenants, 
 J. 8. Thornton, Albert Kautz, J. C. Watson and D. 
 S. Murphy; Acting-Master, T. L. Petersen; Acting- 
 Ensign, E. J. Alien; Midshipmen, H. B. Tyson, J. 
 H. Read, E. C. Hazeltine and H. J. Blake; Fleet 
 Surgeon, J. M. Foltz; Assistant Surgeon, Joseph 
 Hugg; Paymaster, George Plunkett; Captain of 
 Marines, J. L. Broome ; Chief Engineer, J. B. 
 Kimball ; Second- Assistant Engineers, E. B. Latch, 
 W. W. Hopper and F. A. Wilson; Third-Assistant 
 
 Engineers, Isaac De Graff, C. M. Burohard, A. K. 
 Fulton, H. H. Pilkington and W. H. Gamble; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, H. H. Judson, C. H. Lounds- 
 berry, T. Mason and J. M. Smalley; Boatswain, 
 James Walker; Gunner, John Duncan ; Carpenter, 
 J. H. Conley; Sailujaker, J. A. Holbrook. 
 
 STEAMER " HARRIET LANE." 
 
 Commander, J. M. Wainwright; Lieutenant, Ed- 
 ward Lea; Acting- Masters, J. A. Hannum, C. H. 
 Hamilton and W. F. Monroe; Assistant Surgeon, 
 T. N. Penrose; Assistant Paymaster, J. J. Richard- 
 son; Second-Assistant Engineers. W. H. Plunkett 
 and C H. Stone; Third-Assistant Engineers, J. E. 
 Cooper, R. N. Ellis and A. T. E. Mullen; Acting- 
 Masters' Mate, C. M. Davis. 
 
 STEAMER "IROQUOIS." 
 
 Commander, John De Camp; Lieutenants, D. B. 
 Harmony and Fred. V. McNair, Acting-Ensign, 
 C. F. WiUard; Midshipman, John McFarland; Sur- 
 geon, Benj. Vreeland ; Paymaster, R. H. Clark; 
 First- Assistant Engineers, John H. Long and B. C. 
 Bampton; Second-Assistant Engineers, E. S. Boyn- 
 ton and F. K. Haine; Third-Assistant Engineer, J. 
 H. Hunt; Gimner, J. L. Staples; Carpenter, John 
 A. Dixon. 
 
 STEAMER "ITASCA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, C. H. B. Caldwell; Act- 
 ting-Masters, Edward Jones, Amos Johnson and 8. 
 Nickerson; Assistant Surgeon, Heber Smith; As- 
 sistant Paymaster, A. J. Pritchard: Second -Assist- 
 ant Engineer, J. H. Morrison ; Third-Assistant 
 Engineers, T. M. Jones, John Borthwick and E. A. 
 Magee; Acting-Masters' Mates, N. Alexander and 
 W. E. Bridges. 
 
 STEAMER "JOHN P. JACKSON." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant-Commanding, 8. E. Wood- 
 worth; Acting-Masters, M. B. Crowell, J. F. Dear- 
 born, Wm. Hedger and James Scannell; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon. T. S. Yard; Acting-Seeond- 
 Assistant Engineer, J. B. Morgan ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant Engineers, James Barnes, J. D. Caldwell 
 and Samuel Strade; Acting-Masters' Mates, W. H. 
 Howard, W. J. B. Lawrence and J. Murphy. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 243 
 
 STEAMER "KENNEBEC." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding:, John H. Russell; Lieu- 
 tenant, F. B. Blake; Acting-Masters, Wm. Brooks 
 and H. C. Wade- Assistant- Surgeon, C. H. Perry ; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. L. Burnett; Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, H. W. Pitch; Third- Assistant 
 Engineers, B. G. Gowing, E. B. Roberts and L. W. 
 Robinson; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. D. Ellis, 
 J. W. Merriman, J. W. Page and H. E. Tinkham. 
 
 STEAMER "KINEO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, Geo. M. Ransom; Act- 
 ing-Masters, OUver Colbourn and John Whitmore ; 
 Assistant Surgeon, O. S. Oberly; Second-Assistant 
 Engineer, S. W. Cragg- Third- Assistant Engineers, 
 C. P. HoUingsworth, C. J. MeConnell and James 
 Manghlin; Acting-Masters' Mates, John Bartol, W. 
 H. Davis, G. A. Faunce and W. S. Keen. 
 
 STEAMER "KATAHDIN." 
 
 Commander, George H. Preble; Lieutenant, 
 Nathaniel Green ; Acting- Masters, George Harris 
 and W. H. Pollup; Assistant Surgeon, S. Robinson; 
 Second- Assistant Engineer, T. M. Dukehart; Third- 
 Assistant Engineers, Wm. J. Reid, W. W. Heaton 
 and John Mclntyre ; Acting-Masters' Mates, A. 
 Hartshorn, Geo. Leonard, J. W. Thode and A. 
 Whiting. 
 
 STEAMER "MISSISSIPPI.'' 
 
 Commander, Melancton Smith ; Lieutenants, 
 Thos. McK. Buchanan and George Dewey; Acting- 
 Masters, C. T. Chase, P. E. Ellis, P. T. King and 
 George Monday; Midshipmen, Albert S. Barker 
 and E. T. Woodward ; Surgeon, R. T. Maccoun; 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Shively; Paymaster, T, 
 M. Taylor; Chief Engineer, E. Lawton: Captain of 
 Marines, P. H..W. Pontane; Pirst-Assistant Engi- 
 neer, Wm. H. Hunt; Second- Assistant Engineer, J. 
 Cox Hull; Third-Assistant Engineer, P. G. McKean; 
 Acting-Masters' Mates, R. C. Bostwick, H. B. 
 Francis and M. Porter ; Boatswain, Jos. Lewis ; 
 Gunner, Wm. Cope; Carpenter^ John Green. 
 
 STEAMER "MIAMI." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, A. D. Harrell; Acting- 
 Masters, John Lear, M. Rodgers and W. N. Wells; 
 Assistant Surgeon, Wm. B. Mann; Chief Engineer, 
 J. P. Lambdm ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. 
 H. Sells; Acting-Second- Assistant Engineer, L. W. 
 Simmonds; Third-Assistant Engineers, H. D. Hei- 
 ser, C. C. Davis and Guy Sampson; Acting-Masters' 
 Mates, Robert Roundtree and R. E. Stevens. 
 
 STEAMER "ONEIDA.' 
 
 Commander, S. P. Lee; Lieutenant, S. F. Brown ; 
 Acting-Masters, Thomas Edwards, Pierre Giraud 
 and Elijah Ross ; Midshipmen, G. W. Wood and 
 P. J. Naile; Surgeon, John Y. Taylor; Paymaster, 
 C. W. Hassler; Chief Engineer, F. C. Dade; Second- 
 Assistant Engineers, H. McMurtrie and R. H. 
 Pitch; Third- Assistant Engineers, W. D. Mcll- 
 vaine, A. S. Brower, G. W. Stivers and R. M. Hodg- 
 son; Acting-Masters' Mates, Edw. Bird and Daniel 
 Clark ; Boatswain, James Herold; Gunner, Wm. 
 Parker. 
 
 STEAMER "OWASCO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, John Guest ; Lieuten- 
 ant, Chester Hatfield; Acting-Masters, T. D. Dabb 
 and D. P. Heath ; Assistant Surgeon, W. M. 
 
 Leavitt ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Richard 
 Beardsley ; Second - Assistant Engineer, W. K. 
 Purse; Third-Assistant Engineers, J. A. Scott, C. 
 H. Greenleaf and D. B. Egbert; Acting-Masters' 
 Mates, W. M. Tomlinson and John Utter. 
 
 STEAMER " PENSACOLA." 
 
 Captain, Henry W. Morris; Lieutenants, P. A, 
 Roe, Jas. Stillwell andC. E. McKay; Acting-Masters, 
 Edw. Herrick, G. C. Shultze and E. C. Weeks; 
 Acting - Ensign, A. H. Reynolds; Surgeon, J. W. 
 Taylor; Assistant-Surgeon, W. B. Dick; Paymas- 
 ter, G. L. Davis; Chief Engineer, S. D. Hibbert; 
 Second- Assistant Engineers, S. L. P. Ayres and C. 
 H. Ball ; Third-Assistant Engineers, J. L. Van- 
 clain, G.W. Magee, J. T. Hawkins, P. G. Smith, Jr., 
 and J.C. Huntly; First-Lieutenant of Marines, J. C. 
 Harris ; Acting-Masters' Mates, Chas. Gainsford, 
 Jos. Kent, L. Richards and G. A. Storm; Boat- 
 swain, N. Goodrich; Gunner, D. A. Roe; Carpenter, 
 J. E. Cox; Sailmaker, Charles Lawrence. 
 
 SLOOP-OP-'WAR " PORTSMOUTH." 
 
 Commander, Samuel Swartwout; Lieutenant, P. 
 O. Davenport; Acting-Masters, W. G. Mitchell, E. 
 A. Terrill and A. A. Ward; Midshipman, Walter 
 Abbott; Surgeon, J. S. Dungan; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, fl. M. Wells; Assistant Paymaster, Casper 
 Schenck ; First-Lieutenant of Marines, Wm. H. 
 Hale ; Gunner, T. S. Cassidy ; Carpenter, John 
 Shannon; Sailmaker, N. J. Hayden; Acting- Masters' 
 Mate, S. S. Beck. 
 
 STEAMER "PINOLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, Pierce Crosby; Lieu- 
 tenant, A. P. Cooke; Acting-Masters, W. P. Gibbs 
 and J. G. Lloyd; Assistant Surgeon, L. M. Lyon; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Warren; First- 
 Assistant Engineer, John Johnson; Third-Assistant 
 Engineers, P. A. Sassse, Wm. P. Law and J. Ever- 
 ding; Acting-Masters' Mates, C.V. Rummelland W. 
 E. White. 
 
 STEAMER "RICHMOND." 
 
 Commander, James Alden; Lieutenants, A. B. 
 Cummings and Edward Terry; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant, T. P. Wade; Acting-Masters, C. J. 
 Gibbs and P. S. Hill; Acting-Ensign, H. F. Mofifatt; 
 Surgeon, A. A. Henderson ; Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. D. Murphy; Paymaster, George P. Cutter; Cap- 
 tain of Marines, Alan- Ramsey ; Chief Engineer, 
 J. W. Moore; First-Assistant Engineer, Eben Hoyt; 
 Second-Assistant Engineer, J. L. Butler ; Third- 
 Assistant Engineers, A. W. Morley, G. W. W. Dove, 
 R. B. Plotts and C. E. Emery ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, J. R. Howell; Boatswain, J. L. Choate; Gun- 
 ner, James Thayer; Carpenter, H. L. Dixon; Sail- 
 maker, H. T. Stocker. 
 
 STEAMER "SCIOTA." 
 
 Lieutenant Commanding, Edw. Donaldson; Act- 
 ing-Masters, G. P. Poster and A. McParland; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, G. H. E. Baumgarten; Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, C. E. De Valin; Third- Assistant 
 Engineers, H. M. Quig, A. H. Price and Edward 
 Curtis; Acting-Masters' Mates, John Staples and 
 G. O. Taylor. 
 
 STEAMER "SACHEM." 
 
 Acting-Masters, L. G. Crane and Robert Tarr; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. H. Van Deusen; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistant Engineer, P. P. Staat; Acting- 
 Masters' Mate, W. L. Pavy. 
 
244 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 STEAMEB " VARUNA." 
 
 Commander, Chas. S. Bog^; Lieutenant, C. H. 
 Swasey; Acting- Masters, J. D. Childs and Ezra 
 Leonard; Acting-Masters' Mates, S. H. Bevins and 
 H. D. Foster; Gunner, T. H. Fortune. 
 
 STEAMBR "WINONA." 
 
 Commander, Edward T. Nichols ; Lieutenant, 
 Jolin Gr. Walker; Acting-Masters, Chas. Hallett 
 and Felix McCurley; Acting-Ensign, Wm. F. Hunt; 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. Mathewson' Paymaster, H. 
 M. Denniston; Second-Assistant Engineers, John 
 Purdy, Jr., and Joseph Watters; Third-Assistant 
 Engineers, Edward Gray and R. L. Wamaling ; 
 Acting-Masters' Mates, F. H. Beers and H. T, Bur- 
 dett. 
 
 STEAMER "WESTFIELD." 
 
 Commander, Wm. B. Renshaw; Acting-Masters, 
 W. L. Babcock, F. C. Miller, L. D. Smalley and 
 Gustav Vasallo; Midshipman C. W. Zimmerman; 
 Acting -Assistant Surgeon, E. H. Allis ; Acting - 
 Assistant Paymaster, C. C. Walden; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, Wm. R. Green; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant Engineers, G. S. Baker, Chas. W. Smith 
 and John Van Hogan ; Acting-Masters' Mate, J, P. 
 Arnett. 
 
 STEAMER " WISSAHICKON." 
 
 Lieutenant Commanding, A. N. Smith. 
 
 MORTAR FLOTILLA. 
 
 First Division. 
 
 Lieutenant Watson Smith, Commanding 
 Division. 
 
 Schooner " Norfolk Packet."— Lieutenant Watson 
 
 Smith. 
 Schooner " Oliver H. Lee."— Acting- Master Wash. 
 
 Godfrey. 
 
 Schooner "Para."— Acting-Master Edward G. Fur- 
 
 ber. 
 Schooner "C. P. Williams."— Acting Master A. R. 
 
 Langthorne. 
 Schooner "Arietta."— Acting-Master Thomas E. 
 
 Smith. 
 Schooner " WiUiam Bacon."— Acting-Master Wm. 
 
 R. Rogers. 
 Schooner " Sophronia." — Acting- Master Lyman 
 
 Bartholomew. 
 
 Second Division. 
 
 Lieutenant W. W. Queen, Commanding 
 Division. 
 
 Schooner " T. A.Ward."— Lieutenant W. W. Queen. 
 Schooner "M. T. Carlton."— Acting-Master Chas. E. 
 
 Schooner "Matthew Vassar."— Acting-Master Hugh 
 
 H. Savage. 
 Schooner "George Mangham."— Acting -Master 
 
 John Collins. 
 Schooner " Orvetta."— Acting-Master FrsCncis E. 
 
 Blanchard. 
 Schooner " Sydney C. Jones."— Acting- Master J. D. 
 
 Graham. 
 Schooner " Adolpti Hugel."— Acting-Master J. Van 
 
 Bus kirk. 
 
 Third Division. 
 
 Lieutenant K. R. Bbbese, Commanding 
 Division. 
 
 Barkentine "Horace Beals.'' — Lieutenant K. R. 
 
 Breese. 
 Schooner "John Griflath."— Acting-Master Henry 
 
 Brown. 
 Schooner "Sarah Bruen." — Acting-Master Abraham 
 
 Christian. 
 Schooner "Racer." — Acting- Master Alvin Phinney. 
 Brig "Sea Foam." — Acting ■ Master Henry E. 
 
 Williams. 
 Schooner "Henry James." — Acting-Master L. W. 
 
 Pennington. 
 Schooner " Dan Smith." — Acting-Master George W. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 LIST OF OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE MORTAR FLOTILLA AND WEST GULF 
 
 SQUADRON, THE NAMES OF WHOSE VESSELS DO NOT 
 
 APPEAR IN THE NAVY REGISTER. 
 
 MORTAR FLOTILLA. 
 
 Acting-Master, A. M. Gould. 
 " " Newell Graham. 
 
 J. H. Johnstone. 
 H. B. Jenks. 
 " " E. C. Merriman. 
 
 Midshipman, N. W. Thomas. 
 
 " George W. Sumner. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Judson. 
 " " Robert T. Edes. 
 
 A. A. HoehUng. 
 Assistant Paymaster, Clifton Hellen. 
 " " H. M. Hanna. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, August Adler. 
 " E. O. Adams. 
 " T. H. Baker. 
 " James Baker. 
 " J. H. Butler. 
 " John Bath. 
 " J. W. Cortelyou. 
 " R. M. Clark. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, D. B. Corey. 
 
 " Wm. Collins. 
 
 " J. A. Chadwick. 
 
 " G. R. Clifton. 
 
 " J. W. Comer. 
 
 " William Dade. 
 
 " Peter Decker. 
 
 " " " George Drain. 
 
 " L. E. Daggett. 
 "A. FeUx. 
 
 " E. Gabrielson. 
 
 " D. H. Griswold. 
 
 " William Hatch. 
 
 " J. S. Hyde. 
 
 " T. G. Hall. 
 
 " J. B. Johnson. 
 
 " G. W. Lane. 
 
 " " Anthony Loper. 
 
 " Thomas Levindsell. 
 
 " Thomas McEllmeU. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 246 
 
 WEST GULF SQUADRON. 
 
 Acting-Master, L. A. Brown. 
 
 W. H. Churchill. 
 D. H. Hayden. 
 R. L. Kelley. 
 W. M. Stannard. 
 George Wiggin. 
 O B. Warren. 
 Assistant Surgeon, John H. Clark. 
 
 Wm. B. Gibson. 
 
 W. F. Terry. 
 
 C. /. S. Wells. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, C. S. Giberson. 
 Third-Assistant Engineer, John D. Ford. 
 
 J. E. Speights. 
 " J.F.Walton. 
 
 Acting-First-Assistant Engineer, David Fraser. 
 Acting-Second-Assistant Engineer, George L.Harris. 
 Acting-Third- Assistant Engineer, Samuel Robinson. 
 Acting-Master's Mate, F. G. Lowe. 
 
 S. H. Johnson. 
 Oscar Peck. 
 " " " George Taylor. 
 
CH A PTER XXI. 
 
 CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.— FIRST ATTACK ON VICKSBURG BY FARRA- 
 
 GUT'S FLEET AND MORTAR FLOTILLA.— JUNCTION OF FLAG-OFFICERS 
 
 FARRAGUT AND DAVIS ABOVE VICKSBURG.— RAM "ARKANSAS." 
 
 Farragut approaches New Orleans. — Defences of New Orleans. — Two Brave Men 
 (Capt. Bailey and Lieut. Perkins) face a Mob. — The Army under General 
 Butler placed in Possession of New Orleans. — Farragut's Ships push up the 
 Mississippi and pass Vicksburg. — Shelling the Batteries. — Farragut and Davis 
 join hands. — The Ram "Arkansas" makes her Appearance. — A Vigorous Pursuit. 
 — Engagement between the "Arkansas" and " Carondelet." — The "Caronde- 
 LBT " DRIFTS Ashore. — The "Arkansas" slips by the Fleet, to Vicksburg. — The 
 Attack on Vicksburg Abandoned. — Flag-officer Davis Relieved. — Reports 
 OF Flag-officer Farragut, Captain Craven, Commanders Alden, Wainwright, 
 Palmer, De Camp, Porter, and Fleet Surgeon Foltz, Lieut. -Commanders Bald- 
 win, Preble, Russell, Lee, Donaldson, Nichols, Crosby, Woodworth and Lowry. 
 — Commodore W. D. Porter's Report of Engagement at Port Hudson. — Report 
 of Commander Riley. 
 
 WHEN Farragut passed the 
 Chalmette batteries, and the 
 vessel approached New Or- 
 leans, the city levee presented 
 a scene of desolation. Ships, 
 cotton, steamers and coal, were in a blaze 
 and it looked as if the whole city was on fire. 
 It required all the ingenuity of the com- 
 manding officers to avoid coming in con- 
 tact with the floating conflagration, and 
 when the ships dropped anchor before the 
 conquered city, thousands of people crowded 
 the shore, shouting and bidding defiance to 
 the victorious invaders. 
 
 There was no insulting epithet these mani- 
 acs did not heap upon the heads of those on 
 board the ships ; it was as if bedlam had 
 broken loose and all its inmates were 
 assembled on the levee at New Orleans. 
 
 Farragut at once ordered the seizure of a 
 large ram which was intended to be a very 
 formidable vessel, but was still unfinished. 
 Before the officer who had been sent to take 
 possession could reach the ram she came 
 fioating down the river enveloped in flames. 
 Another was sunk right opposite the Cus- 
 tom House. Others, which were just begun 
 
 at Algiers, on the opposite side of the river 
 from New Orleans, were burning. 
 
 Truly, the Queen city of the South was 
 doing her share in building rams to annihi- 
 late our Navy and Commerce, but where 
 were our rams that should have been built 
 by the North which boasted of its great 
 skill and resources? These should have 
 been ready to sally out within three months 
 after the war began, to drive the "Louis- 
 iana," "Manassas," "Mississippi," "Ten- 
 nessee," "Arkansas,"" Albemarle," and 
 others, back to their holes or crush them 
 like so many egg shells. Our formidable 
 vessels were not even begun — the little 
 " Monitor " even was due to the energy and 
 public spirit of a private citizen, John Erics- 
 son, who furnished his vessel just in time 
 to save the honor of the nation. 
 
 The nondescript, wooden Navy, with 
 scarcely a rifled gun, was called upon to 
 attack these monster iron-clad rams shel- 
 tered by forts and floating obstructions and 
 protected by torpedoes and fire-rafts; and 
 was expected in all cases to win, notwith- 
 standing the difficulties to be encountered. 
 
 The American people do not know, and 
 
 216) 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 347 
 
 probably never will appreciate, the value of 
 the capture of New Orleans. Had the city 
 been left three months longer, to perfect its 
 defences and finish its works of offence, 
 our wooden fleet would have been driven 
 North and the entire Southern coast would 
 have been sealed against us. The blockade 
 would have been raised, and the independ- 
 ence of the South recognized by the powers 
 of Europe. All this was prevented by the 
 Navy without the assistance of the Army 
 -^that same Navy which is to-day a mere 
 shadow owing to the neglect of Congress to 
 foster and uphold it. 
 
 What were the intentions of the Confed- 
 erates at New Orleans can be easily under- 
 stood by reading Flag-officer Farragut's 
 report. When he went up the river to 
 Baton Rouge, he found the banks bristling 
 with cannon, including many of the guns 
 the government had so ignominiously de- 
 serted at Norfolk. These were intended to 
 bar the way against any invading squadron 
 approaching New Orleans from the North ; 
 but the panic had spread even to that point, 
 and all the guns were spiked and their 
 carriages destroyed. 
 
 One work eight miles above New Orleans, 
 reached from the Mississippi nearly across 
 to Lake Ponchartrain, and was partly 
 mounted with twenty-six heavy guns, 
 intended to bid defiance to our Navy 
 a-nd Army. A mile above this were two 
 other works waiting only for more of the 
 Norfolk guns, or for some of the heavy 
 Brooke rifles which the Tredegar works in 
 Eichmond were turning out by wholesale. 
 
 Still further up the river the Confederates 
 had constructed one of the most herculean 
 works of the kind ever beheld. It was an 
 immense raft of logs bolted and chained 
 together with much ingenuity ; and was 
 intended to be thrown across the Missis- 
 sippi on the approach of the Federal iron- 
 clads should they descend the river so far. 
 
 Had New Orleans not been attacked from 
 the sea at the time it was the Confederates 
 would have laughed at our old "turtles," 
 and would have had rams and iron-clads 
 enough to have easily crushed them. They 
 would not have needed the great raft to 
 keep out the Federal gun-boats. Nay, 
 more, these great iron-clads would have 
 made their way up the river and our towns 
 on the Mississippi and its tributaries would 
 have been at their mercy. All this disgrace 
 and mortification was saved the country by 
 the energy, zeal, and bravery of the Navy, 
 in wooden ships armed with smooth-bore 
 guns. St. Vincent, the Nile, Trafalgar, 
 were all great victories, but they were no 
 more important to England than was Far- 
 ragut's achievement to the United States. 
 ; One of Farragut's first acts on reaching 
 New Orleans was to send Captain Bailey 
 
 on shore, accompanied by Lieutenant 
 George H. Perkins, to demand from the 
 mayor the surrender of the city. These 
 two officers went on their perilous service 
 without an escort and passed right 
 through the crowd of maniacs who 
 were making all sorts of threats from the 
 levee at any one who should dare come on 
 shore from the ships. At this time the 
 whole city was in an uproar, such as was 
 perhaps never before seen in this country. 
 All the vagabonds of the town, thieves, 
 ragpickers, abandoned women, the inhabi- 
 tants of the slums, all were abroad, their 
 faces distorted by passion, the riffraff, hob- 
 nobbing with the well-to-do, and all ani- 
 mated by a common hatred of the detested 
 Yankees. 
 
 LIEUTENANT (NOW CAPTAIN) GEOKGE H. PEEKINS. 
 
 (FROM A PORTRAIT TAKEN 1884.) 
 
 It looked as if law and order could 
 never be re-established. The steamers that 
 had been left unburned were lying at the 
 levee, with crowds of raaniacs rushing over 
 their decks, the men smashing in the rice 
 tierces, the women scraping up all that could 
 be gathered. Such portions as could not 
 be carried off were thrown into the river — 
 "the damned Yankees shan't have it!" 
 they cried. There was no way of testify- 
 ing their rage to which the mob did not re- 
 sort. 
 
 All at once a boat was seen pulling for the 
 shore with two officers sitting in the stern- 
 sheets. These officers landed, faced the 
 crowd, and walked as steadily as if they 
 had a thousand men at their backs. 
 
 " I want to see the mayor," said Captain 
 Bailey, "show me where he lives"; and 
 now the crowd woke again from the brief 
 silence that had fallen upon it. Again they 
 
248 
 
 THE JNAVAL MliiTUKr 
 
 roared and shouted, " Down with the 
 Yankees!" " shoot them !" "hang them to 
 a lamp post !" and they crowded around 
 the two officers who walked fearlessly on. 
 In a few moments the officers were lost 
 sight of in the crowd, and no one in the 
 squadron knew what might be their fate, 
 but Bailey and Perkins walked coolly on in 
 defiance of the rabble until their determined 
 courage won respect even from that howl- 
 ing mob. 
 
 The guns of the " Hartford " were loaded 
 with grape and canister, and as Bailey and 
 Perkins were shut in by the crowd, the men 
 stood to their guns ready for the first sign 
 from the tops, that harm had come to the 
 officers, to open the battery on the mob. 
 
 However, no harm came to those two 
 brave men. It would seem that, in an 
 American mob, there is always some little 
 spark of chivalry, especially where men 
 show pluck. So it was in this case; the two 
 officers reached the mayor's house, and were 
 shown into the presence of the mayor, Mr. 
 Monroe, a cool, brave gentleman, to be sure, 
 but one ruled by the rabble, which has al- 
 ways had undue influence in New Orleans. 
 
 " We have come," said Captain Bailey to 
 the mayor, "to demand the surrender of 
 New Orleans, and that the State flag be 
 hauled down from the public buildings, and\ 
 that only the United States flag be hoisted 
 there." 
 
 "You have the power in your own 
 hands," replied the mayor, "and can do as 
 you please, but I doubt if thei-e is a man in 
 New Orleans who would haul down that flag 
 without being assassinated on the spot." 
 
 The officers having performed their mis- 
 sion, took their leave. The crowd had re- 
 ceived some intimation of their demand, 
 and on their appearance again howled, if 
 possible, louder than before, but Bailey and 
 Perkins waved them aside, and strode back 
 to the levee. It was a brave action, and 
 should not be forgotten by those who have 
 lived to read the events of the civil war. 
 
 Soon after the return of Captain Bailey 
 and Lieutenant Perkins, Captain Charles 
 H. Bell landed with a guard of marines and 
 two boat howitzers loaded with grape and 
 canister. The same howling mob met Cap- 
 tain Bell at the levee, but gave way before 
 the marines, who marched steadily tov/ards 
 the State House. Arriving there the marines 
 were drawn up in line, with the howitzers 
 pointed at the mob, ready to mow them 
 down if it became necessary to do so. Bell 
 ascended to the roof of the building, down 
 came the Confederate flag and up went the 
 stars and stripes. The crowd was hushed 
 into silence, they realized that the howitzers 
 would decimate their ranks if the order was 
 given to fire, and that was something they 
 did not fancy. 
 
 At the Custom House the same scene was 
 enacted while cheer after cheer came from 
 the ships, the signal that the majesty of 
 the law had been upheld and the integrity 
 of the Union vindicated. 
 
 A few days afterwards the steamers of 
 the mortar flotilla towed the transports 
 containing Major-General Butler's army to 
 New Orleans, and under the guns of Far- 
 ragut's squadron the troops landed, and or- 
 der was re-established in the city. 
 
 Then Flag-officer Farragut pushed on to- 
 wards Vicksburg, whose heights had been 
 heavily fortified. The flag-officer did not 
 feel justified in attacking the stronghold 
 without the mortar flotilla, which he 
 " deemed indispensable to shell out the 
 heights," but the mortars were then at Pen- 
 sacola and it took them some twenty days 
 to reach the scene of action. 
 
 Sixteen mortars being then placed in po- 
 sition they proceeded to shell the batteries 
 on the hills, with such good effect that Far- 
 ragut's ships passed Vicksburg with very 
 little loss. But the soldiers in the hill forts 
 refused to stay shelled out, and when the 
 mortars stopped playing on them they 
 would come back from the fields and again 
 open flre. It was not here as at Fort Jack- 
 son, where the beseiged were cooped up in 
 casemates with bricks and mortar all 
 around, where a shell in falling would dis- 
 place huge masses of masonry, dealing 
 death and destruction to the garrison. The 
 fortifications of Vicksburg were scattered 
 over the hills in groups, the guns fifty 
 yards apart, and concealed from view. The 
 heavy shells would whistle over the ships, 
 throwing up the water in spouts and oc- 
 casionally crashing through the vessels' 
 timbers, to let the invaders know how well 
 Vicksburg was fortified, and what improve- 
 ments had taken place in this respect 
 within a month. 
 
 The whole power of the Confederacy had 
 been set to work to save this Gibraltar of 
 the Mississippi, the railroads poured in 
 troops and guns without stint, enabling it 
 to bid defiance to Farragut's ships and the 
 mortar flotilla. 
 
 There was an area of twenty -eight square 
 miles within which the Federals might 
 throw all the shot and shells they pleased. 
 The Confederates did not mind it much, 
 even when the shots fell in the city. This 
 was their last ditch, so far as the Missis- 
 sippi was concerned, and here they were de- 
 termined to make a final stand. 
 
 Farragut could only obey his orders and 
 effect a junction with Flag-officer Davis 
 above the city, and they pummelled away 
 to their hearts' content with shells and 
 mortars for many days, with little effect. 
 
 Our combined fleet lay there and gazed 
 in wonder at the new forts that were con- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 249 
 
 stantly springing up on the hill tops, two 
 hundred and fifty feet above the river, and 
 a mile and a half back from the shore, 
 while water batteries seemed to grow on 
 every salient point It was evident enough 
 that Vicksburg could only be taken after a 
 long siege by the combined operations of a 
 large military and naval force. 
 
 Flag-officers Farragut and Davis here 
 learned that a large ram was building at 
 Yazoo City, but they did not believe the 
 Confederates had sufficient resources to 
 build a powerful vessel in such an out-of- 
 the-way place, so they let their vessels' 
 steam go down to save coal, which was 
 very hard to get at Vicksburg, and con- 
 tented themselves with sending the "Car- 
 ondelet " and " Taylor " up the Yazoo River 
 in company with the EUet ram, " Queen of 
 the West." 
 
 On their way up the Yazoo River, and six 
 miles above its mouth, the two gun-boats 
 met the iron-clad ram " Arkansas " advanc- 
 ing boldly to attack them. She was com- 
 manded by Lieutenant Brown, late of the 
 U. S. Navy, whose name will go down in 
 history as one who performed a most gal- 
 lant and desperate undertaking. 
 
 The iron plating of the "Arkansas" ren- 
 dered her impervious to the shot and shells 
 of our fleet, her formidable iron prow could 
 pierce any ship's side, and she had a formid- 
 able battery of rifled guns. 
 
 The two gun-boats and the " Queen of the 
 West," turned to retreat down the river fir- 
 ing upon the "Arkansas" as they did so. The 
 Confederate ram pursued the three vessels, 
 keeping up a vigorous fire with her bow 
 guns, and had greatly the advantage, being 
 thoroughly protected from their shot, and 
 having a much heavier battery. 
 
 This running fight went on for an hour 
 until the "Arkansas" came up with the 
 " Carondelet," the slowest of the three ves- 
 sels, and tried to run her down. The " Car- 
 ondelet" avoided her prow, and as the 
 " Arkansas " came abreast, exchanged 
 broadsides with the enemy. The ' ' Arkan- 
 sas" then passed ahead, and the "Caron- 
 delet " opened on her with the bow guns, 
 the shot from which seemed to glance harm- 
 lessly from her stern. 
 
 At this moment, the " Carondelet's " wheel 
 ropes were shot away for the third time, 
 and she sheered into the shore, while two 
 shot holes were observed in the "Arkansas," 
 and her crew were seen pumping and 
 bailing. 
 
 The "Carondelet" was much damaged 
 in hull and machinery, and had thirteen 
 shot holes in her hull, steam gauge, three 
 escape pipes and two water pipes cut away. 
 Nineteen beams and thirty timbers were cut 
 away, three boats destroyed, deck pumps 
 shot away and many other injuries. Thirty 
 
 men were killed, wounded and missing. All 
 through the fight, the "Taylor," Lieut.-Com. 
 Gwinn, gallantly sustained Commander 
 Walke in the " Carondelet." 
 
 There can be no comparison drawn 
 between the " Arkansas " and her antago- 
 nists, for with but one gun she would have 
 been superior to all the " Carondelet " class 
 of gun-boats put together and would have 
 been more than a match for the " Benton ;" 
 yet, notwithstanding her inferiority, the 
 " Carondelet " hung on to the last, inflict- 
 ing all the damage on the ram that she pos- 
 sibly could until her wheel ropes were shot 
 away and she drifted ashore. 
 
 It was the object of the commanding offi- 
 cer of the "Arkansas" to reach Vicksburg 
 undiscovered, and she would have done so 
 but for the three vessels she encountered in 
 the Yazoo. When the "Carondelet" 
 parted her wheel ropes the "Arkansas" 
 never stopped, but made the best of her 
 way in pursuit of the ' ' Taylor " and ' ' Queen 
 of the West," both of which were carrying 
 on all steam to notify the squadron that the 
 " Arkansas" was coming. 
 
 The sound of the guns was heard in the 
 fleet but it was taken as an indication of 
 some conflict with "bushwhackers." The 
 ram " General Bragg," was the only vessel 
 that had steam up and her captain unfortu- 
 nately waited for orders instead of slipping 
 her chain and attacking the "Arkansas," 
 when she came up with the fleet. Had 
 the "' Bragg" done this she would doubtless 
 have disabled the " Arkansas " by ramming 
 her as the latter vessel was already dam- 
 aged in her motive power. 
 
 Flag-officer Farragut says : " We were 
 all lying with low fires — none of us had 
 steam up or could get it up in time to pursue 
 her (the 'Arkansas') but she took the 
 broadsides of the whole fleet. It was a bold 
 thing, and she was only saved by our feel- 
 ing of security. She was very much in- 
 jured, and was only able to drift down at 
 the lowest speed and with the current she 
 got down to the forts at Vicksburg before 
 any of us had steam up." 
 
 The " Arkansas" was undoubtedly much 
 damaged by the fire of the fleet ; her smoke- 
 stack was riddled, and although she was 
 built to be invulnerable, several eleven-inch 
 shots penetrated her, cutting her up inside 
 and killing and wounding twenty of her 
 crew. Among the killed was the first 
 pilot, and among the wounded were the 
 commanding officer, Lieutenant Isaac N. 
 Brown, and another pilot. 
 
 The vessels of the fleet suffered from the 
 " Arkansas" as she passed down, each of 
 the wooden ships receiving one or two shots. 
 Commander William D. Porter, of the gun- 
 boat " Essex," volunteered to go down with 
 his vessel and destroy the ram, but his gal- 
 
aou 
 
 TUJi lyAVAL Hli>TUKy 
 
 lant attempt was unsuccessful, and the 
 " Essex " was much cut up by the batteries. 
 
 The morning after this affair, Parragut 
 got under way with his ships and proceeded 
 down the river to protect the mortars and 
 transports below, each vessel firing into the 
 "Arkansas" as they passed her under the 
 guns of Vicksburg. The morning was 
 misty and the forts were firing into the 
 ships, so that the "Arkansas" was not ma- 
 terially damaged. 
 
 Flag officers Farragut and Davis, finding 
 it a loss of time to attempt the reduction 
 of Vicksburg without tlie co-operation of 
 a large Army, determined to abandon 
 the idea for the present and return to their 
 stations — Davis up river and Farragut to 
 New Orleans, where he could inaugurate 
 fresh expeditions against the enemy. So 
 Vicksburg was left alone in her glory to 
 strengthen her fortifications and for a time 
 bid defiance to the Federal Government. 
 
 The original plan of sending an Army of 
 ten thousand men to take possession of 
 Vicksburg, under cover of Farragut's 
 squadron, was never carried out. Three 
 thousand troops only (under command of 
 General Williams) were landed opposite 
 Vicksburg, but, as they attempted nothing 
 important, their presence was perfectly use- 
 less. The ten thousand men who should 
 have been sent to Vicksburg were retained 
 by General Butler at New Orleans. Had 
 this Army been pushed up the river directly 
 after the fall of New Orleans, Vicksburg 
 would have fallen into the hands of the 
 Federal forces. This failure to act promptly 
 cost the Government many lives and mil- 
 lions of money. 
 
 Flag-officer Davis at first determined to 
 occupy the Yazoo River, and from thence 
 carry on operations against the enemy, but 
 he found that nothing could be done in the 
 Yazoo at low water, and besides, the en- 
 emy had constructed formidable barricades, 
 well defended by heavy batteries, at Haines' 
 Bluff, some miles above the mouth of the 
 river ; and with these he had not sufficient 
 force to contend. 
 
 His line of operations was entirely too ex- 
 tended for the force he had in hand, and all 
 his vessels needed repairs. Flag-officer 
 Davis, therefore, returned to Cairo, where, 
 in October, 1862, he was relieved from the 
 command of the Mississippi Squadron by 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral David D. Porter. 
 
 The following reports will give a pretty 
 full account of what was done in the first 
 naval attack on Vicksburg. 
 
 flag-officer farbagtut reports the neces- 
 sity of 13,000 to 15,000 army forces to co- 
 operate in the takin& of vicksburg. 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford," ) 
 ABOVE Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. ) 
 Sir — I passed up the river this morning, but to 
 no purpose ; the enemy leave their guns for the mo- 
 
 ment, but return to them as soon as we have 
 passed, and ralie us. Our loss, as far as ascertained, 
 is not very great. Commander Porter shelled them 
 two days to get his ranges, and all his vessels en- 
 tered into the attack with great spirit, and did ex- 
 cellent service. The fire of the ships was tremen- 
 dous. The " Brooklyn," " Kennebec," and " Katah- 
 din " did not get past the batteries. I do not know 
 why. 
 
 I am satisfied it is not possible for us to take 
 Vicksburg without an army force of 13,000 or 15,000 
 men. General Van Dorn's division is here, and lies 
 safely behind the hills. The water is too low for 
 me to go over twelve or fifteen miles above Vicks- 
 burg. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Commanding Western Ghilf Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. O. 
 
 ■"I 
 
 3.) 
 
 flag-officer farragut's report of the ac- 
 tion of JUNE 28, 1862, AT vicksburg. 
 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford," J 
 ABOVE Vicksburg, Mississippi, 
 
 July 3, 1863. 
 
 Sir — In obedience to the orders of the depart- 
 ment and the command of the President, I pro- 
 ceeded back to Vicksburg with the "Brooklyn," 
 " Richmond," and " Hartford," with the determin- 
 ation to carry out my instructions to the best of my 
 ability. 
 
 My diflBculties and expenses in getting coal and 
 provisions up the river have been very great, and 
 it has only been accomplished by great exertions 
 on the part of Captain H. W. Morris, aided by the 
 Army. Captain D. D. Porter's mortar flotilla, 
 which was deemed indispensable to shell out the 
 heights, had also to be towed up. All this caused 
 great delay, but by the steady exertions of that 
 officer, and the assistance of all in whose power it 
 was to help, we succeeded in getting up sixteen 
 mortar vessels, and arrangements were soon made 
 to bombard the forts on the heights of Vicksburg. 
 Owing, however, to some imperfection in the fuzes 
 (which Captain Porter will explain), he was two 
 days getting his ranges. On the evening of the 
 37th, he reported to me that he was ready, and I 
 issued my general order (a copy of which is hereto 
 appended) for the attack on the 38th, at 4 A. M. 
 
 At 2 a. m., on the 28th June, the signal was made 
 to weigh, and we proceeded up to the attack in the 
 order of steaming prescribed in the diagram ac- 
 companying the general order. At 4 o'clock pre- 
 cisely, the mortars opened fire, and at almost the 
 same moment the enemy fired his first gun, which 
 was returned by the leading vessels -"Iroquois," 
 Commander J. S. Palmer; "Oneida," Commander 
 S. P. Lee ; and " Richmond," Commander James 
 Alden. The other vessels — " Wissahickon," Com- 
 mander John DeCamp ; "Sciota," Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Edward Donaldson ; (this ship, Com- 
 mander R. Wain Wright ;) "Winona," Lieutenant- 
 Commanding E. T. Nichols; and "Pinola," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commanding Pierce Crosby— next came up, 
 and poured in their fire successively. At almost the 
 same mstant, Commander D. D. Porter came up on 
 our starboard quarter with the " Octorora," "West- 
 field," "Clifton," "Jackson," "Harriet Lane," and 
 " Owasco," and opened in fine stvle upon the en- 
 emy. The "Hartford" fired slowly and deliber- 
 ately and with fine effect — far surpassing my ex- 
 pectations in reaching the summit batteries. The 
 rebels were soon silenced by the combined efforts 
 of the fleet and of the flotilla, and at times did not 
 reply at all for several minutes, and then again at 
 times replied with but a single gun. 
 
 I passed up at the lowest speed (we had but 
 eight pounds of steam), and even stopped once, in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 351 
 
 order that the " Brooklyn " and sternmost vessels 
 miffht close up. 
 
 The "Hartford" received but very little injury 
 from the batteries in or below the town, but several 
 raking shots from the battery above the town did 
 us considerable damage ; they were 50-pounder rifle 
 and 8-ineh sohd shot. The first passed through the 
 shell-room in the starboard forward passage, and 
 lodged in the hold , but did no other harm. The 8-inch 
 struck the break of the poop and passed through 
 the cabin, but hurt no one ; the rigging was much 
 cut, and the port main-topsail yard was cut in two. 
 
 If the ships had kept in close order, in all proba- 
 bility they would have suffered less, as the fire of 
 the whole fleet would have kept the enemy from 
 his guns a longer space of time, and, when at his 
 guns, his fire would have been more distracted. 
 
 Wnen we reached the upper battery we soon 
 silenced it, and it was reported to me that its flag 
 was strucli. We therefore gave three cheers ; but 
 when we had passed about three-quarters of a mile 
 above they reopened fire with two heavy guns. I 
 was unable to reply to this raking flre, being out of 
 range. Although their shots were well directed, 
 they either had too much or too little elevation, and 
 only cut our rigging to pieces, without injuring any 
 one seriously, which was strange, as the "Iroquois," 
 " Winona," and " Pinola " were on our quarter. 
 
 At 6 A.,M., meeting with Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Ellet, of the ram fleet, who offered to forward my 
 communications to Plag-oflficer Davis and General 
 Halleck, at Memphis, I anchored the fleet and went 
 to breakfast, while I prepared my hasty dispatch 
 (No. 120) and telegram for the department. I also 
 sent across the peninsula to see what was the cause 
 of Captain Craven and the vessels astern of him in 
 the line not passing up. I also desired a list of 
 the casualties, which appears by their letters to 
 have been ''mowe." The casualties in the fleet, as 
 far as heard from, in the passing vessels, were seven 
 killed and thirty wounded. Commander Porter re- 
 ports eight killed and ten or twelve wounded ; but 
 that was not his-ofiioial report, probably, but refer- 
 red more particularly to the two steamers, " Clifton " 
 and " Jackson," each of which had an accidental 
 shot — the "Jackson" in the wheel-house, killing 
 the helmsman, and the "Clifton" a shot through 
 her boiler, killing (by scalding) the men in her 
 magazine, sii in number, and one man was drowned 
 by jumping overboard. I herewith forward the 
 report Of Acting Lieutenant-Commanding C. H. 
 Baldwin, of the ^' Clifton." 
 
 The department will perceive from this (my) re- 
 port, that the forts can be passed, and we have done 
 it, and can do it again as often as may he required 
 of us. It will not, however, be an easy matter for 
 us to do more than silence the batteries for a time, 
 as long as the enemy has a large force behind the 
 hUls to prevent our landing and holding the place. 
 
 General Williams has with him about three 
 thousand men, and, On the occasion of our attack 
 and passing, placed a battery of artillery nearly 
 opposite the upper forts, for the purpose of dis- 
 tracting the raking flre from us while running up ; 
 but the fort, having a plunging flre upon them, dis- 
 mounted one of the guns, and killed a man and a 
 horse. 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to say that General 
 Wilhams, Colonel Ellet, and the army officers of 
 this division generally, have uniformly shown a 
 great anxiety to do everything in their power to 
 assist us ; but their force is too small to attack the 
 town, or for any other purpose than a momentary 
 assault to spike guns, should such an opportmiity 
 offer. 
 
 It gives me great pleasure also to report that the 
 officers and men of the ships which accompanied 
 me up the river behaved with the same abiUty and 
 steadiness on this occasion as in passing Forts Jack- 
 son and St. Philip. No one behaved better than 
 
 Commander J. S. Palmer, of the " Iroquois," who 
 was not with me on the former occasion. It pains 
 me much to limit my praise, but I cannot speak of 
 those who did not come up. It was their duty to 
 have followed me, with or without signal, particu- 
 larly as it was too early and too smoky to distin- 
 guish signals. I enclose their explanations here- 
 with. 
 
 As to Commander R. Wainwright and the officers 
 and crew of this ship, I cannot speak too highly of 
 their steadiness and coolness, and the energy with 
 which they performed their duties. This ship was 
 conducted as coolly and quietly as at an ordinary 
 drill at general quarters. There was no confu- 
 sion of any kind throughout the whole action, and, 
 as far as I could observe the other vessels, the same 
 feeling actuated all the officers and crews engaged. 
 
 The captain of the fleet, Commander H. H. Bell, 
 was on the poop by my side, and, not being able, 
 as I before stated, to do much in the management of 
 the fleet, owing to the darkness and the smoke, 
 gave his attention to looking up the batteries and 
 pointing them out to the officers in charge of the 
 guns, and assisting them with his judgment on all 
 occasions. 
 
 My secretary, Mr E. C. Gabaudan, noted the 
 time of passing events, and acted as my aid when 
 required, which duty he performed with coolness 
 and steadiness. 
 
 I must not fail to mention the coolness of our 
 pilot, John J. Lane, who, although this was the 
 first time he had ever been under fire, did not for a 
 moment quit his post, but steadily guided the ship 
 in her course. He is not a professional pilot, as 
 they can only be obtained by force in New Orleans. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted by your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Flag-officer Commanding Western Ghilf Blockading 
 
 Squadron. 
 Hoij. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, J), O. 
 
 official list of killed and wounded in the 
 affair op june 28, at vicksbub&. 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford," above) 
 ViCKSBURG, Mississippi, June 28, 1862. J 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report the following 
 Ust of killed and wounded in that portion of the 
 fleet which passed above Vicksburg in the engage- 
 ment of this morning, viz : 
 
 KILLED— 15. 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford." — Edward E. Jennings, 
 seaman, from Massachusetts. 
 
 "Richmond." — George Allstrum, ordinary sea- 
 man ; Thomas Flarity, seaman. 
 
 "Oneida." — Stephen H. Randall, seaman. 
 
 "Pinola." — William H. Thomas, quarter-gunner ; 
 Thomas Graham, landsman. 
 
 "Sciota," — Augustine Ellsworth, ordinary sea- 
 man. 
 
 Mortar flotilla. — 6 scalded, 1 killed, 1 drowned. 
 WOUNDED— 30. 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford." — Charles Allen, seaman, 
 sUghtly ; Alexander Capron, landsman, slightly ; 
 Lawrence Fay, boy, slightly ; Patrick Roach, coal- 
 heaver, head ; Philip Roberts, seaman, severely ; 
 Sylvester Becket, landsman, slightly ; Alfred Stone, 
 landsman, slightly ; John H. Knowles, quarter- 
 master, slightly, John Hardgan, landsman, slightly; 
 
 Joseph , ordinary seaman, slightly ; Nathan 
 
 Salter, ordinary seaman, contusion ; Captain John 
 L. Broome, marine corps, contusion ; Flag-officer D. 
 G. Farragut, slight contusion. 
 
 "Richmond." — Howard F. Moffat, master's mate, 
 amputated arm ; James Noonan, ordinary seaman, 
 contusion ; Thomas Nolan, marine, contusion ; 
 George W. Harris, marine, contusion; James Reddy, 
 
252 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 seaman, severely ; James Mohegan, landsman, se- 
 verely ; George MiUard, seaman/severely ; William 
 Nicholas, landsman, slightly ; Charles Howard, 
 ordinary seaman, severely. 
 
 "Oneida.'"— Richard M. Hodgson, assistant engi- 
 neer, severely ; William Co well, seaman, severely ; 
 Henry Clark, boatswain's mate, slightly. 
 
 " Pinola." — John Brown, ordinary seaman, se- 
 verely; William H. Shucks, landsman, slightly. 
 
 "Sciota." — Edward Hathaway, seaman, ampu- 
 tated arm; WilUam Orne, landsman, slightly; Clar- 
 ence Miller, ship steward, severely. 
 
 Returns have not yet been received from Captain 
 Porter's mortar flotilla, and that portion of the 
 fleet below Vieksburg. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. FOLTZ, 
 Fleet Surgeon. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragct, 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 general orders. 
 
 United States Flag-ship, "Hartford,") 
 BELOW ViCKSBURG, June 25, 1862. j 
 
 The mortar boats and gun-boats of the mortar 
 flotilla having been placed by Commander D. D.Por- 
 ter, according to his judgment, to the best advan- 
 tage to act upon the batteries on the heights and 
 the fort below the hospital : at 4 A. M., to-morrow 
 they -wiU open fire upon the same and on the city 
 of Vicksburg. 
 
 At the display of the signal for the ships and gun- 
 boats to weigh, they will form in a double line of 
 sailing, the "Richmond," Commander James Alden 
 commanding, leading; the ships "Hartford," Com- 
 mander R. Wainwright commanding, next; 
 "Brooklyn," Captain T. T. Craven, third. The 
 gun-boats will form another line, so as to fire 
 between the ships, in the following order: "Iro- 
 quois," Commander James S. Palmer, and 
 " Oneida," Commander S. Phillips Lee command- 
 ing, ahead, but ontheport bow of the "Richmond," 
 so as to fire into the forts at the upper end of the 
 town, without interfering with the fire of the 
 "Richmond;" next in order, the " Wissahickon," 
 Commander Jno. DeCamp, and the " Sciota," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commanding Ed. Donaldson, in the line 
 with the " Iroquois " and " Oneida," but on the port 
 bow of the fiag-ship, so as to fire between the 
 "Richmond" and flag-ship; next the "Winona," 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Ed. T. Nichols, and 
 "Pinola," Lieutenant-Commanding Pierce Crosby, 
 on the port bow of the " Brooklyn." 
 
 The " Hartford " will, as often as occasion offers, 
 flre her bow guns on the forts at the upper end of 
 the town; but the broadside batteries of aU the 
 ships will be particularly directed to the guns in 
 the forts below and on the heights. The free use 
 of the shrapnel is considered the best projectile, but 
 care must be taken in cutting the fuzes, so as always 
 to be sure that they burst short of their destina- 
 tion. When close enough give them grape. The 
 enclosed diagram will show the position of the re- 
 spective vessels in the order of attack.— [For dia- 
 gram see original.] 
 
 When the vessels reach the bend in the river, the 
 "Wissahickon," "Sciota," "Winona ."and "Pinola," 
 will continue on ; but, should the enemy con- 
 tinue the action, the ships and "Iroquois" and 
 " Oneida " will stop their engines and drop down 
 the river again, keeping up their fire until directed 
 otherwise. 
 
 D. Ct. Parragut, 
 Flag-offl,cer Commanding Western Qulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 The "Kennebec," Lieutenant-Commanding Jno. 
 Russell, will take position in the rear of, and in a 
 
 line with, the "Pinola," so as to fire astern of the 
 "Brooklyn." 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Flag-offlcer. 
 
 United States Steamer " Clifton," ) 
 TWO miles below Vicksburg, June 38, 1863. f 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that this morn- 
 ing, at 3.45 A. M., in obedience to orders, we got un- 
 der way and proceeded in our station just astern of 
 the " Westfleld," in the Une headed by your own 
 ship, to engage the batteries on the heights around 
 Vicksburg. When within range, we opened our fire 
 on the upper batteries on the hill from our rifled gun, 
 and forward 9-inch and forward 32-pounder, using 15- 
 second shells. On receiving your orders, we directed 
 our flre at the batterer known as the "water bat- 
 tery," advancing to within about 1,300 yards, where 
 we kept our station, using shrapnel from the 9-inch 
 guns. At times, as opportunity offered, we used 
 
 ACTING LIEUT. (NOW REAR ADMIRAL) CHARLES H. BALDWIN. 
 
 our after 9-inch guns. This we continued for some 
 half to three-quarters of an hour, with, I think, 
 good effect, until we were hailed by the " Jackson," 
 asking our assistance to tow them out of fire that 
 ship being temporarily disabled. 
 
 While in the act of taking her Une, we received a 
 shot under the guard, just forward of the wheel, 
 which going through the ship's side, made its way 
 mto the end of the starboard boiler, and, partially 
 coming out on the other side, caused such a rush of 
 steam as to blow off at once the cover to the forward 
 hatch, fllllng the forward berth deck (under which 
 IS the forward magazine) with steam, and killing 
 instantly Thomas Collins, gunner's mate ; Robert 
 Sargent, ship's cook ; Wm. Morris, captain's cook ; 
 John Burke, ordinary seaman; John B. Carter 
 landsman, and Peter Hall, landsman, of the forward 
 powder division; and severely scalding George B 
 Derwent (colored), wardroom steward, who died a 
 few hours afterwards of ttie effects of his injuries 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 253 
 
 and John Hudson, master at arms, who is doing 
 well, his wounds, though severe, not being thought 
 dangerous. But one man from this division es- 
 caped, he being at the head of the ladder at the 
 time. Some eight men from the forward pivot gun 
 jumped overboard to escape the steam. With the 
 aid of the "Jackson's'' boats we were fortunate 
 enough to recover all these, except John Connor, 
 second-class fireman, who was drowned. 
 
 This shot, which proved to be a fifty -poimd rifled 
 shot, prevented any further movement of our 
 wheels for the time. We, however, continued our 
 Are from the forward and after thirty-twos, and 
 after nine-inch guns, until you noticed bur mishap, 
 and came alongside to tow us out of action. At 
 this period the signal to retire was given. 
 
 I have great satisfaction in stating that officers 
 and crew generally behaved well. Mr. Weld, acting- 
 master's mate, in charge of the nine-inch and rifled 
 Parrott gun forward, is entitled to credit for the ad- 
 mirable manner in which those guns were served, 
 and his coolness and self-possession at the time of 
 the accident. 
 
 On examination of the injured boiler by the chief 
 engineer of this ship, it is his opinion that the re- 
 pairs to it will require at least ten days to complete 
 and will need the aid of a shop and experienced 
 workmen. In the meantime, the ship is ready for 
 such service as she may be called upon to perform, 
 which will not entail a greater speed than six knots 
 an hour. This rate, I think we shall be able to 
 maintain. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedi- 
 ent servant, 
 
 Chas. H. Baldwin, 
 Acting Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Commander D. D. Porter, 
 
 Com,m,anding Bomb Flotilla. 
 
 TJuriTED States Steam-sloop "Brookltn," I 
 BELOW VlCKSBURG, June 30, 1862. f 
 
 Sir— In compliance with your order of yester- 
 day's date, to make my ofiQcial report of my attack 
 on Vicksburg, on the 28th instant, and to give my 
 reason for not following the flag-ship up the river, 
 etc., I submit the following : 
 
 At 3.15 A. M., June 28, got under way, took posi- 
 tion in the prescribed line of battle, and followed 
 the flag-ship ; at 4.05 A. M., the enemy opened fire 
 upon the advanced vessels. When this ship arrived 
 abreast of the lower batteries the steamers of the 
 mortar flotilla, which seemed to be without any 
 form of order, obstructed our passage in such a 
 manner as to oblige us to stop our engines, and thus 
 delayed our progress. At 4.45 A. M., as the 80- 
 pounder rifle was the only gun bearing upon the 
 hill, and able to reach, we opened with that vigor- 
 ously, keeping well inside their line of fire. At 5.15, 
 the gun-boats, and a few minutes after, the bomb 
 vessels of the mortar flotiUa, having ceased firing, 
 all the batteries which had previously been partially 
 silenced, immediately renewed the action, hailing a 
 cross fire on this ship and the two gun-boats. At 
 this time the smoke cleared away ahead of us, and, 
 to my surprise, I could see nothing of the flag or 
 other ships in the line. Whilst we were hotly en- 
 gaged, trying with our two rifles to silence their 
 most annoying battery, fire was opened upon us by 
 a battery of five pieces of flying artillery, from a 
 position about two-thirds of the way down the hUl, 
 and in front of the southernmost battery. Being 
 within easy range, we opened our starboard broad- 
 side with shells and shrapnel, and drove them from 
 their position. Finding myself entirely unsup 
 ported, except by the "Kennebec" and "Katah- 
 din," which two vessels gallantly performed their 
 part in the engagement, and knowing that it was 
 impossible to reduce a single one of those hill-top 
 
 'Kai-4-Ai*izia Q+. 7 9.R A iw n.f+.Ar Riistfl.ininfi^ their fire 
 
 for two hours and forty minutes, I discontinued the 
 action, and at 8.25 A. M., came to anchor about two 
 and a half miles below Vioksburg. 
 
 My reason for not following the flag-ship up the 
 river, that is, above and beyond the fire of the forts, 
 is simply because, in your general order of the 
 25th instant, you say ' ' Should the action be con- 
 tinued by the enemy, the ships and the ' Iroquois ' 
 and 'Oneida' will stop their engines and drop 
 down the river again ;" and, on the evening of the 
 27th, twice (when in the cabin and on the quarter- 
 deck of your flag-ship) I asked you if it was your 
 wish or desire for me to leave any batteries behind 
 me that had not been silenced, you answered " No, 
 sir ; not on any account." 
 
 It affords me great pleasure to bear witness to the 
 excellent deportment of my officers and men ; a more 
 cool, or a braver set of men, was never on board of 
 any vessel. 
 
 We were hulled but twice, one shot taking effect 
 below water, on our starboard bow ; and we re- 
 ceived some damage to our rigging. We have no 
 casualties on board. We expended, in the action, 
 28 nine-inch shells, 41 nine-inch shrapnel, 62 Hotch- 
 kiss eighty-pound rifle shells, 3 Dahlgren eighty- 
 pound rifle shells, 14 Parrott thirty-pound rifle 
 shells. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Thos. T. Craven, 
 
 Captain. 
 riag-offlcer D. G. Parragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Oulf Blockading Squadron, 
 United States Ship '^Hartford,'''' above Vioks- 
 burg. 
 
 ^\ 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Katahdin," 
 
 BELOW VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI RiVER, 
 
 June 29, 1862. 
 
 Sir — Agreeably to your order of this date, I have 
 to report that I received no orders " to follow the 
 flag-ship up the river," nor any written order what- 
 ever, and was entirely ignorant of your plan of at- 
 tack. 
 
 Agreeably to your verbal instructions, which 
 were "to take the rear of the line, and to follow 
 the ' Kennebec,' and fire at anything and every- 
 thing I saw fit, or could see," I got this vessel un- 
 der way at 8.30, yesterday morning, took position 
 as the rearmost vessel, and followed the Kenne- 
 bec" to attack the batteries at Vicksburg. After 
 the squadron, with the exception of the " Brook- 
 lyn," "Kennebec," and "Katahdin," had passed the 
 batteries, the mortar flotilla ceased firing, and the 
 enemy opened their batteries anew. We continued 
 under their fire until 8 A. m., when we dropped down, 
 in company with the "Brooklyn" and "Kennebec"' 
 and at 8.20 came to anchor out of range. I have no 
 casualties to report, and the vessel was not hit, 
 though the enemy's shot flew around and over us. 
 The oflflcers and men behaved with their usual cool 
 and determined bravery under fire. We expended 
 in the action eleven shells from the eleven-inch 
 pivot gun, and thirteen from the Parrott rifle on 
 the forecastle. Every shot was deliberately aimed 
 at one or the other of the batteries. In conse- 
 quence of the position assigned us, and the number 
 of vessels engaged, it was impossible to fire rapidly 
 without firing into or over, and endangering other 
 vessels of the squadron and the steamers and 
 schooners of the mortar flotilla. The vessel had to 
 be manoeuvred to fire every shot. We were three 
 hours under the flre of the batteries. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Geo. H. Preble, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-ofQcer D. G. Parragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, 
 United States Flag-ship "■Hartford,'''' above 
 Vinksburn. 
 
254 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 United States Gun-boat, " Kennebec," ) 
 
 below vicksburg, mississippi, >■ 
 
 June 29, 1862. ) 
 
 Sib — In obedience to your order of the 29th, I 
 have the honor to make my report of the attack on 
 Vicksburg and my reason for not following you up 
 the river ; also the casualties that have occurred on 
 board this vessel. 
 
 My position was in the rear of the " Pinola " and 
 on the port quarter of the " Brooklyn," which I 
 held. On the batteries opening fire, I found, from 
 the position of the .steamers under the command of 
 Commander Porter, that I could not bring my guns 
 to bear on the batteries without serious injury to 
 them. Immediately on their dropping astern I 
 opened fire on the bluff battery, which had not yet 
 been silenced. When the dense smoke which pre- 
 viously obscured the vessels had passed away, I 
 found that you, with the rest of the fleet, with the 
 exception of the "Brooklyn," " Katahdin," and 
 this vessel, had passed up, and that the mortar ves- 
 sels had discontinued their Are. Placed in this po- 
 sition, I again referred to your orders, which were : 
 "But if the action should be continued, the ships 
 and the "Iroquois" and the " Oneida ' will stop 
 their engines and drop down the river again, keep- 
 ing up their fire until directed otherwise." Retain- 
 ing my position astern of the "Brooklyn," I con- 
 tinued firing upon the batteries until my supply of 
 ammunition was so reduced that I deemed it advis- 
 able to desist. The hospital and other batteries, 
 which had been silenced for a while, had at this 
 time opened again. The battery on the bluff was 
 firing with vigor, and was assisted bysome artillery 
 in the woods. With shot and shell falling around 
 us, I am happy to report no casualties or injury to 
 this vessel. The officers and men performed their 
 duty with the greatest alacrity and coolness. I can- 
 not refrain from mentioning my executive officer, 
 Lieutenant F. B. Blake, who personally attended to 
 the tiring of every gun. The following is the expendi- 
 ture of ammunition, viz : 14 eleven-inch shells, 10m. 
 fuze ; 3 eleven-inch shells, 15m. fuze ; 16 Parrott 
 shells, percussion ; 5 Parrott shells, time fuze, 5m. ; 
 5 Parrott shells, time fuze, 10m. 
 
 Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 John H. Russell, 
 Lieutenant- Co m manding. 
 Plag-ofacer D. G. Parbagut, 
 
 Commanding Western ChUf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Steam-sloop "Oneida," ( 
 above Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. ( 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report the part borne 
 by the "Oneida " in the engagement with the rebel 
 batteries at Vicksburg this morning. 
 
 At 2.10 A.M., the flag-ship made private signal to 
 the fleet to get under way. Stopped coaling, cast 
 off from the coal bark, called all hands and got un- 
 der way, lashed the hammocks along the starboard 
 side to hold splinters, beat to quarters and cleared 
 ship for action, and stood up the river, the "Iro- 
 quois" in line ahead, the "Richmond" astern of 
 us, and the rest of the fleet following. At 3.55, the 
 enemy opened fire on us from his numerous batter- 
 ies below, over, and above the town. At 4. 15, opened 
 on the enemy's batteries in succession, firing for 
 fifteen minutes or more at the flash or smoke of the 
 batteries below and over the town, viz.: the marine 
 hospital battery and the batteries on the ridge over 
 that hospital, it being too dark to see distinctly the 
 batteries on the shady side of the hills. 
 
 As it grew light, orders were given to fire as soon 
 as the smoke cleared off, and with good aim. We 
 used shells '5m. fuzes\ shrapnel and grape, accord- 
 ing to distance, steaming so as to keep between the 
 "Iroquois" and "Richmond," and going ahead 
 when the enemy got our range well. 
 
 Having reached the bend in the river (the " Iro- 
 
 quois " ahead and the " Richmond " astern of us), 
 and none of our starboard guns now bearing on the 
 batteries, pivoted guns and lashed hammocks on 
 the port side, and prepared for enfilading the bat- 
 teries above the town, when the flag-ship came up 
 in the proposed line of flre. At 6.30 the " Oneida," 
 anchored near the "Hartford." 
 
 This ship was struck four times. One 6-inch rifle 
 shell came through the starboard after-pivot port, 
 killing S. H. Randall, seaman, at the after-pivot 
 gun; severely wounding Richard Hodgson, third 
 assistant engineer, at the engine bell, and passing 
 through the combings of the engine-room hatch, 
 picked up three loaded muskets (each lying flat on 
 the deck, on the port side of that hatch), and burst 
 in the bulwarks, over the first cutter, which was 
 lowered to near the water's edge, drove the mus- 
 kets through the open port there, and severely 
 wounded William Cowell, seaman, who was in the 
 boat sounding, and slightly wounding Henry 
 Clark, chief boatswain's mate. One 8-inch solid 
 shot struck on our starboard quarter, near the cop- 
 per, and cut the mixzen mast half in two between 
 decks. One 32-pounder shot passed through the 
 rail. A second 8-inch solid shot carried away, 
 amidships, the keel of the launch which was partly 
 lowered, and, entering on the starboard side, struck 
 the steam drum, and, glancing, fell into the fire- 
 room. 
 
 We expended 19 eleven-inch shells, 5m. fuzes; 16 
 eleven-inch shrapnel; 3 eleven-inch grape, from the 
 two pivot guns; 12 six-inch shells; 6 32-pounder 
 grape, from the two thirty -twos; and 28 thirty- 
 pounder bolts, from two rifle guns — most of these 
 from the forecastle pivot-gun. 
 
 The officers and men did their duty well. The 
 enemy's fire was heavy. I enclose the siu-geon's re- 
 port. We have no carpenter. 
 
 Respectfully yours, S. Phillips Lee, 
 
 Commander. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Fabragut, 
 
 CoTTitnanding Western Gfu If Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Steamer " Richmond," ) 
 above Vicksburg, Mississippi, June, 28, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — In accordance with your instructions, I have 
 the honor to enclose herewith the surgeon's report 
 of the casualties on board this vessel during the 
 engagement with the batteries at Vicksburg this 
 morning. I also send, for your "information, 
 the reports of the carpenter and boatswain, show- 
 ing the injury done to the "Richmond" by the 
 enemy's shot. 
 
 Where all behaved so well I find it impossible to 
 designate any particular indi%'idual, either among 
 the officers or men, as meriting especial notice for 
 gallantry and good conduct during the spirited 
 fight which lasted nearly an hour, and was, for the 
 most part, at short range. Still, I feel that I should 
 be doing great injustice to the officer to whom the 
 careful training and consequent steadiness of the 
 crew is due, if I were to fail to give him the credit 
 he has so fairly won ; I refer to Lieutenant Cum- 
 mings, the executive officer of this ship, and I trust 
 that a grateful country will soon reward him in 
 some way for his untiring zeal and devotion to his 
 profession and her cause. 
 
 With great respect, I am, sir, your obedient 
 servant, James Alden, 
 
 Commander. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western &ulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford," ) 
 ABOVE Vicksburg, June 29, 1862. j 
 Sir— I have the honor to report the part taken 
 by this ship in the battle of yesterday, in passing 
 the forts at Vicksburg. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 255 
 
 We were under way before daylight, and reached 
 the scene of action as day was breaking, when the 
 enemy opened fire upon us from his scattered bat- 
 teries on shore. We returned it as they came in 
 range, going at slow speed, our guns being worked 
 with admirable coolness and deliberation, which 
 was absolutely requisite, as we labored under the 
 great disadvantage of not knowing the situation 
 of the batteries, which were only discovered by the 
 flash and the smoke of their guns ; some, also, 
 were on high bluffs, rendering it difBoult to elevate 
 our guns to reach them. 
 
 We were under fire about one hour and a half, 
 receiving it on the broadside, and being raked 
 ahead and astern. The enemy fired with great 
 precision, and, although we silenced solue of their 
 batteries, they returned to them when we had 
 passed and our guns would no longer bear, and re- 
 commenced firing. We stopped opposite one of the 
 lower batteries more effectually to silence it. It 
 would have been easy to have passed by the bat- 
 teries under full steam and speed, with much less 
 risk from the enemy's fire ; but then our object 
 would not have been gained in driving them away 
 from their guns. 
 
 We are much cut up, both in huU and rigging, 
 which the enclosed reports of boatswain and car- 
 penter will show. The rigging was soon tempo- 
 rarily secured, under the direction of our indefatig- 
 able boatswain, James Walker. The enemy used — 
 as was shown by our finding them on board after 
 the action — 80-pounder rifle, 32-pounders and 8-inch 
 shot ; also, rifle and musket balls — one of our men 
 being wounded by the latter while working a how- 
 itzer in the top. 
 
 The executive ofQeer, James 8. Thornton, de- 
 serves much credit for his excellent distribution of 
 the crew, at the gun and other divisions, and his 
 efficient distribution of them during the action. 
 The commanding officers of divisions also deserve 
 mention — doing their duty with spirit and ability. 
 They were : Lieutenant Albert Kautz, first division; 
 Master John C. Watson, second division ; Acting- 
 Master Daniel C. Murphy, third division ; Acting- 
 Master Ezra L. Groodwin, powder division. 
 
 The marine guard, under charge of Captain John 
 L. Broome, had charge of two broadside guns, and 
 fought them well, thus sustaining the reputation 
 of that distinguished corps. In making this report 
 it gives me an opportunity to supply an omission 
 inadvertently made in my last report of the battle 
 of the 24th and 25th of April ; it is in speaking of 
 the medical department, which, under its head, 
 rieet Surgeon Foltz, was administered admirably, 
 both in this and the former battles. The engineer 
 department, under Chief Engineer James B. Kim- 
 ball, won much praise for his prompt and efficient 
 working, both in passing the forts and batteries at 
 New Orleans and also in this fight ; a faOure 
 promptly to obey the bells or the giving out of the 
 engines might have led to much disaster. Acting- 
 Midshipman Herbert B. Tyson, doing the duty of 
 acting-master, besides carrying on those duties with 
 credit, also had charge of a broadside gun manned 
 by his division. In fact, all — officers and men — 
 were a credit to the ship and to the country for 
 which they have so gallantly fought. 
 
 We have much to be thankful for, in only having 
 to mourn the loss of one man — Edward E. Jennings, 
 seaman — and having a few only slightly wounded, 
 under such a heavy Are. I enclose the fleet surgeon's 
 report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 R. WA-INWRight, 
 Commander United States Navy. 
 Flag-offlcer D. G. Parragdt, 
 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 PiiAG-SHiP "Hartford," ) 
 ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 28, 1862. j 
 
 of killed and wounded on board this ship during 
 the engagement with the batteries at Vicksburg, 
 viz : 
 
 Killed. — Edward E. Jennings, seaman. 
 
 Wounded. — Charles Allen, seaman, head ; Alex'r 
 Capron, landsman, head ; Lawrence Fay, boy ; 
 Patrick Roach, coal-heaver ; Sylvester Beoket, Al- 
 fred Stone and John Hardigan, landsmen ; Jno. H. 
 Knowles, quartermaster and Nathan J. Salter, 
 ordinary seaman ; all slightly. Philip Roberts, 
 seaman, severely ; Joseph Guido, ordinary seaman, 
 thigh ; Flag-officer D. G. Farragut and Jno. L. 
 Broome, captain of marines, slight contusions. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. Foltz, 
 Fleet Surgeon. 
 Commander Richard Wainwright, 
 
 Commanding United States Flag-ship '■^Hartford.'''' 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Sciota," / 
 ABOVE Vicksburg, June 28, 1863. \ 
 
 Sir— I have to report that, in passing the bat- 
 teries this A. M., Aug. Ellsworth, ordinary seaman, 
 was killed ; E. W. Hathaway, seaman, lost his left 
 arm above the elbow ; Wm. Orme, landsman, was 
 slightly woiuided ; and Clarence Miller, landsman, 
 slightly wounded in the head. The vessel was 
 struck on the starboard quarter, demohshing the 
 quarter-boat and driving in the spirketing. An- 
 other shot came through the starboard bulwarks, 
 under the top-gallant forecastle, shattering and 
 carrying away one of the knees and round houses ; 
 another shot went through the centre of the fore- 
 mast, half way up. 
 
 Herewith, I beg leave to enclose the surgeon's re- 
 port of the casualties. 
 
 I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Edw'd Donaldson, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-offlcer D. G. Farbagut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Winona," / 
 above Vicksburg, June 28, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — I am happy to be able to report no casual- 
 ties to life or limb in the action of this morning 
 with the batteries in or about the city of Vicksburg. 
 Two small shots, either grape or small field-piece, 
 passed through our forward starboard bulwark, 
 cutting away one stanchion and slightly splitting 
 the spirketing. The damage is easily repaired. 
 The vessels of the fleet, while passing the city, 
 were first exposedto a heavy plunging iire from the 
 batteries on the top of the bluffs, cross-fires from 
 batteries (five in number, I think', in various places, 
 then to raking fires above and below ; and, while 
 passing the last battery at the upper end of the 
 city, to heavy fire of musketry from concealed 
 marksmen, and, lastly, to the raking fire of heavy 
 guns for nearly two miles above the last battery. 
 
 When I came abreast of the upper battery it was 
 entirely clear of men, having been cleared by the 
 guns of the flag-ship ; but, as soon as I passed, 
 they returned and opened a very spiteful fire upon 
 the flag-ship, "Iroquois," " Pinola," and this ship, 
 until beyond range. Taking all things into con- 
 sideration, it seems miraculous that no more dam- 
 age was sustained by the fleet. 
 
 From the experience of this morning I am satis- 
 fied that ships can clear batteries when placed on a 
 level with them, or nearly so, though the men re- 
 turn to them as soon as the ships' guns cease to bear; 
 but as to batteries placed on hills and bluffs, ships 
 are almost useless against them. 
 
 I conclude, sir, by commending to your notice the 
 good conduct of all on board. Where all were 
 alike conspicuous it would be unjust to particu- 
 larize. 
 
256 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 gangway during the whole action, and assisted in 
 conning the ship. Mr. Sanborn is not a reguiar 
 river pilot, but a raftsman, partly pressed into the 
 service, and I think a good Union man. Some 
 notice from you, sir, I think would be appreciated 
 by him, and others like him in the fleet. 
 
 Herewith I transmit the return of ammunition ex- 
 pended in the engagement of this morning. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser- 
 vant, Ed. T. Nichols, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farra»ut, 
 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Steamer "Iroquois," ) 
 ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 30, 1863. f 
 
 Sir — Agreeably to your order, I submit the fol- 
 lowing report: 
 
 At two in the morning of the 28th, the signal be- 
 ing made from the flag-ship, I got under way and 
 steamed slowly up (the programme being that the 
 " Iroquois " was to lead the attack upon vicksburg), 
 and was up close into the lower battery before we 
 were discovered, when they opened fire, which was 
 immediately returned. We so fought our way up, 
 running close into the town, having a raking fire 
 from the fort above and a plunging fire from the 
 batteries on the hill, together with broadsides from 
 the cannon planted in the streets, and, what is most 
 strange, through all this heavy concentrated fire, 
 with the exception of cutting away both our main- 
 stays, and some other immaterial damage to the 
 rigging, we escaped without injury. One shell burst 
 on board of us, scattering its fragments around, and 
 yet no casualty occurred. 
 
 We remained off the upper battery until joined by 
 the flag-ship, when, following your motions, we 
 anchored out of range. My men and officers be- 
 haved with the same coolness which I learn so dis- 
 tinguished them in the attack on the forts below 
 New Orleans. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, J. S. Palmer, 
 
 Commander. 
 Plag-officer D. Gr. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Wissahickon," ) 
 OFF THE Yazoo River, June 29, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to submit the following re- 
 port of our engagement with the rebel batteries on 
 the heights of Vicksburg. Yesterday morning, at 
 about two o'clock, observing the signal from the 
 flag-ship for the fleet to weigh anchor and proceed 
 to the attack, as arranged by general order, we were 
 soon under way and steaming slowly up the river. 
 By four o'clock we were in our station, astern of 
 the "Iroquois," and on the port quarter of the 
 "Richmond," the " Oneida" ahead and close to us, 
 the remainder of the vessels of the squadron not in 
 sight. 
 
 At 4.15, the batteries opened a heavy fire upon us, 
 which we immediately returned with our Parrott 
 rifle and eleven-inch gun. Arriving opposite the 
 city, and within four hundred yards of the lower 
 batteries, our two 24-pounder howitzers, charged 
 with shrapnel, were brought into operation, and did 
 good service in clearing the batteries of their crews. 
 The action continued for one hour, during which 
 the " Wissahickon " received four shots. Our port 
 main rigging was shot away, and an eight-inch 
 shell struck the vessel at the water line, entering 
 the berth-deck, where it killed one man and 
 wounded all the men stationed to pass shot and 
 powder on that deck. Our loss in the battle, though 
 not heavy, is still severe. Master's Mate Charles M. 
 Bird, received a compound fracture of the left arm; 
 ward-room cook killed, and five of the crew 
 
 wounded. A severe attack of fever had confined me 
 to bed for several days previous to the action, and I 
 could do but little during its continuance except to 
 encourage, by my presence on deck, the crew to do 
 their duty faithfully. 
 
 To Lieutenant E. E. Potter, the executive officer, 
 belongs the credit of our success, and it affords me 
 pleasure to inform you that the officers and crew of 
 the "Wissahickon" did their duty faithfully, and 
 to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 After passing the batteries, I proceeded, accord- 
 ing to my orders, to the mouth of the Yazoo River, 
 but the gun boats named in your order, which were 
 to join me, not having come up, I deemed it im- 
 prudent to attempt the ascent of the river alone. I 
 shall, therefore, await your further orders. 
 
 I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 John DeCamp, 
 Coinmanding. 
 riag-offlcer D. G. Farbagut, U. S. iV. 
 
 Commanding Western Chilf Squadron, near Vicks- 
 burg, Miss. 
 
 flag-officer farragut's report of affairs 
 above vicksburg, july 6, 1862. 
 United States Flag-ship, "Hartford,") 
 ABOVE Vicksburg, July 6, 1863. j 
 
 Sir — I have to inform you that we are still at this 
 place, bombarding it by the mortars from both 
 sides of the peninsula. Flag-officer Davis has four 
 mortars, and Commander Porter sixteen. Com- 
 mander Porter has hard work to keep them from 
 attacking him with riflemen; thus far, however, 
 he has always got the best of them, and forced 
 them to retreat. He reported yesterday that he 
 had found five dead bodies in the swamp near him, 
 and large quantities of shoes, knapsacks, muskets, 
 etc., showing that he had driven them precipitately 
 from the woods. 
 
 I received a telegram yesterday from General Hal- 
 leck, a copy of it is herewith enclosed, by which it 
 appears that he will not be able to co-operate with 
 us for some weeks yet. 
 
 Flag-officer Davis received a letter from General 
 Grant at the same time, at Memphis, stating that it 
 was reported that Richmond was taken. Should 
 this be true, no doubt but what Vicksburg will soon 
 fall, but it must be by troops coming down in the 
 rear. The city is sacrificed by the soldiers ; it has 
 been abandoned by the inhabitants. The ditch 
 across the peninsula will soon be deep enough for 
 the water to run through, unless the river should 
 fall very fast. We are now in hopes of a little rise, 
 a foot or so will accomplish the object. 
 
 I have the gun-boats looking to the bluflfs below, 
 and giving convoy to our supply vessels. 
 
 I hear nothing of the " Cayuga" or " Kearsage." 
 
 I hope the department wiU not supersede Com- 
 mander Bell in the command of the "Brooklyn," 
 for you may depend upon it the Navy has not a 
 braver man or better officer. ****»«* 
 
 I hear by a deserter to General Williams that 
 General Breckinridge is in command at Vicksburg, 
 and they are seizing every one for the army. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obd't serv't. 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 ,„ Mag-officer. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of Navy, Washington. 
 
 United States Military Telegraph, ) 
 Memphis, July 3, 1862. f 
 The scattered and weakened condition of my 
 forces renders it impossible for me, at the present, 
 to detach any troops to co-operate with you on 
 Vicksburg. Probably I shall be able to do so as 
 soon as I can get my troops more concentrated ; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 257 
 
 this may delay the clearing of the river, but its ac- 
 complishment will be certain in a few weeks. 
 
 Allow me to congratulate you on your great suc- 
 cess. 
 
 H. W. Halleck, 
 
 Major General. 
 riag-offlcer Farragut, 
 
 Commanding United States flotilla in the Missis- 
 sippi. 
 
 COMMANDER D. D. PORTER'S REPORT OF THE 
 
 OPERATIOK^S OP THE MORTAR FLEET AT 
 
 VICKSBURG. 
 
 United States FLAa-SHip " Hartford," ) 
 
 ABOVE ViCKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, J- 
 
 July 7, 1863. ) 
 
 Sir — I herewith forward the report of Com- 
 mander D. D. Porter of his operations since the re- 
 ceipt of his orders to join me at Vicksburg up to 
 date, and it gives me great pleasure to say that 
 nothing could exceed that officer's perseverance in 
 getting to the scene of his labors, or the steadiness 
 with which his officers and men have carried on his 
 work of demoUtion and annoyance to the enemy, 
 while I deeply regret the chance shots which 
 caused the death of his brave men. But, as I stated 
 in my last communication, Commander Porter's 
 service has been hard upon his officers and crew, 
 though they have performed it well, willingly and 
 unflinchingly. 
 
 We hope soon to have the pleasure of recording 
 the combined attack by Army and Navy, for which 
 we all so ardently long. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. (t. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Chdf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 United States Steamer "Octorora,' 
 Vicksburg, July 3, 1862. 
 
 Sir — Agreeably to the orders received from you 
 I sailed from Pensacola on the 3d of June, and on 
 the 9th had all the mortar vessels in New Orleans. 
 On the 13th, sixteen vessels, in tow of the steamers, 
 had left for Vicksburg, on half rations, the officers 
 and men being desirous to arrive at the scene of ac- 
 tion in good time. On the 20th, we were before 
 Vicksburg, ready for service, having met with no 
 delay or accidents on the passage. On one occasion 
 the flotilla was attacked with field-pieces at Ellis 
 Bluffs, but the rebels were handsomely repulsed by 
 the "Owasco" and "Jackson,'' Lieutenants Com- 
 manding Guest and Wood worth. The mortar 
 schooners "George Mangham" and "Arietta," 
 Acting -Masters John Collins and Thomas E. Smith, 
 and the "Horace Beales '' and "Sarah Bruin," 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Breese and Acting-Master 
 A. Christian, were also attacked at different times, 
 but they whipped off the rebels, and pursued their 
 voyage in peace. The latter schooner had two 
 men seriously hurt, having each lost an arm by a 
 13-pound shot. Lieutenant-Commanding Breese 
 gives his officers full credit for behaving hand- 
 somely under a troublesome fire from field-pieces 
 and concealed riflemen. 
 
 On the 31st, with a mortar schooner alongside, I 
 proceeded up toward the city of Vicksburg, to ob- 
 tain ranges and draw the fire of the enemy's forts, 
 about which we had no information. The rebels 
 allowed us to get within good range, when they 
 opened on us with all their batteries, without, 
 however, doing any harm, and enabled us to get 
 the desired information. I gave them four bombs, 
 to let them see they were in range, and some 100- 
 pound rifle shots, and returned to the anchorage, 
 after satisfying myself about the proper position 
 
 On June 26, I was employed all night getting the 
 mortars in position. Nine on the right-hand side 
 going up, under command of Lieutenant-Com 
 manding Smith, and eight on the left side, under 
 command of Lieutenant-Commanding Queen. 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Breese was left at New 
 Orleans to bring up the last vessels. He was de- 
 tained, also, getting the "Sea Foam '' afloat, which 
 vessel had grounded badly on a sand-bar, where 
 she will most likely remain for the rest of the sea- 
 son. The position selected here for the mortars 
 was a beautiful one on the starboard side of the 
 river, at 2,500 yards from the main battery, and 
 2,200 from the water battery. The vessels on the 
 port side about 700 yards, further off, were rather 
 exposed to the enemy's fire, but were so covered up 
 with bushes that it was not easy to see them at 
 that distance, much less to fire accurately at them. 
 
 When the mortars were all in position they 
 opened their fire deliberately for the purpose mainly 
 of getting ranges, which they succeeded in doing 
 after a few fires. The enemy opened on them from 
 all their batteries in range, but, though they fired 
 all around and over them, none were struck. A 
 kind Providence seems to look out for this little 
 fleet. They soon silenced the batteries, and were 
 enabled to pursue their experiments unmolested. 
 
 On June 37, the mortars opened again on the 
 forts at 5.45 A. M., firing rapidly. The rebels at- 
 tempted to respond, but were driven away from 
 their' guns, after we had fired a little less than an 
 hour. The steamers were also employed, throwing 
 in an effective fire with their rifle-guns. The prac- 
 tice was kept up during the day with good effect, 
 many of the bomb shells going into the forts or 
 bursting over them. Only one vessel, the " C. P. 
 Williams," was struck on this day, a 7-inch shell 
 lodging in her bow and sticking there, showing that 
 the enemy's powder was bad. At sunset we ceased 
 firing, and at 8 o'clock opened again with all the 
 mortars, on the town, doing much damage. At 8.30, 
 I sent the "Owasco," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Guest, up abreast of the town to throw some incen- 
 diary shells, which proved to be failures, as they 
 did not explode. 
 
 June 28, at 3 o'clock a, m., the squadron made a 
 move to pass the batterieSj and the flotilla steamers 
 got under way to take their position, which was to 
 enfilade the water batteries as the ships passed. 
 The headmost vessels of the squadron passed along 
 a little before time, unsupported, and our vessels 
 could not get near enough to them to be of any 
 service. Five of the above mentioned vessels went 
 gallantly on, despite the fire of the batteries, throw- 
 ing in their grape and canister, favored much by 
 the heavy atmosphere and early morning hght. At 
 4 o'clock, the flag-ship came along, with two gun- 
 boats. By that time the mortar steamers had got 
 nearly into position, and moved up toward the bat- 
 teries, throwing in a quick fire. Nearly all the 
 mortars had commenced as the " Richmond" 
 passed, and the shells were falling very well and 
 rapidly, the "Hartford" and gun-boats opening 
 their batteries with grape, canister and shrapnel. 
 The air seemed to be filled with projectiles. The 
 lower batteries were silenced for the time, though I 
 saw that the rebels would manage to get a shot or 
 so at the ships after they had passed along. The bat- 
 teries out of range of the mortars were very severe, 
 and I am sorry to say that some ships lost, in killed 
 and wounded, as many as they did at Forts Jack- 
 son and St. Philip. I regret that the mortars were 
 not able to reach these batteries. 
 
 About the time the "Hartford" passed, the 
 "Octorora's" wheel-ropes got jammed below, and 
 there was a fair prospect of drifting out of action, 
 or into some of the vessels astern. As I went drift- 
 ing by the " Miami," I hailed her commander, and 
 ordered him up within six hundred yards of the 
 
 » X.J- 
 
 n _ ,T XI IL 
 
258 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the " Westfleld" and " Clifton" to go ahead of me 
 until I could relieve myself from my unpleasant 
 position. The "Owasco," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Guest, and "Harriet Lane," Lieutenant Command- 
 ing Waiawright, had been ordered to act at discre- 
 tion, and throw on their lire to the best advantage, 
 which they did effectually. The river being narrow, 
 and the current very strong, it was impossible to 
 manoeuvre so many vessels to advantage, and leave 
 room for the squadron of ships to pass. 
 
 I had cleared my wheel-ropes, and succeeded in 
 getting again to my place ahead, and was in fine 
 position I with all the steamers firing very rapidly 
 and effectually 1 to cover the "Brooklyn," "Katah- 
 din," and " Kennebec " as they came along, presum- 
 ing that they were going to follow the " Hartford." 
 That vessel was now two miles ahead, and appeared 
 to be under a heavy fire from a battery of six guns 
 at the upper end of the city, out of mortar range. 
 The "Brooklyn'' came up a little ahead of the 
 mortar vessels and opened fire, as did the gun-boats 
 astern of her, but did not jjass through. 
 
 Not a shot had, up to this time, struck one of the 
 mortar steamers; when, finding it necessary to slow 
 the engines, to get out of the line of the " Brook- 
 lyn's " fire, the vessel became stationary, and a fair 
 target for what guns the enemy were able to fire. 
 The "Jackson," Lieutenant-Commanding Wood- 
 worth, was struck badly with rifle shells, one of 
 which exploded in her wheel-house, disabling the 
 man at the wheel by cutting off his leg, and knock- 
 ing her steering apparatus to pieces which disabled 
 her. The other struck the pillar block support, al- 
 most cutting it in two. This steamer being dis- 
 abled, the "Clifton,'' Lieutenant-Commanding 
 Baldwin, went to her assistance (by signal), and, 
 while in the act of taking her in tow, a 7-incli shot 
 passed in on the "Clifton's" port bow, going 
 through her boiler. By this catastrophe, six of the 
 men in and about the magazine were scalded to 
 death, and others were scalded severely. The steam 
 drove eight or ten men overboard, one of whom was 
 drowned. The "Jackson,"' Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing Woodworth, now became the helping ship, and 
 picked up out of the water the "Clifton's" men, 
 that steamer being completely disabled. The 
 " Westfleld," on approaching to assist her, was 
 struck on the frame of her engine by a heavy rifle 
 shot, which, fortunately, did not go through, hav- 
 ing struck butt-end foremost, and consequently 
 caused but short delay. In the meantime, the 
 " Octorora " dropped out of fire, took the " Clifton" 
 in tow, and removed her to a place of safety. The 
 "Jackson " drifted out clear. No further necessity 
 existing for the flotilla steamers remaining under fire 
 (the "Brooklyn" and those astern of her having 
 slowed their engines, and proceeding no further), 
 the signal was made to retire under cover of the 
 woods, having been sixty-flve minutes under flre. 
 Although the steamers disabled were in a strong 
 current, and narrow, crowded river, they were 
 handled and taken out of action without confusion 
 of any kind, beyond that occasioned by the escap- 
 ing steam on board the "Clifton." Such a calamity 
 is always appalling to those unused to the effects of 
 such a terrible enemy on board their own vessel. 
 The conduct of the officers and men on board the 
 " Clifton '' was creditable in the highest degree, and 
 I regret to say thatthose scalded to death were some 
 of the leading men of the vessel. 
 
 No further casualties occurred of any conse- 
 quence. The "Jackson" and "Clifton" are tem- 
 porarily repaired, the latter working under one 
 boiler. All the steamers took good positions, and 
 their commanders did their duty properly. It is to 
 be regretted that a combined attack of Army and 
 Navy had not been made,by which something more 
 substantial might have been accomplished. Such 
 an attack, I think, would have resulted in the cap- 
 ture of the city. Ships and mortar vessels can keep 
 
 full possession of the river, and places near the 
 water's edge, but they cannot crawl up hills three 
 hundred feet high, and it is that part of Vicksburg 
 which must be taken by the Army. If it was in- 
 tended merely to pass the batteries at Vicksburg, 
 and make a junction with the fleet of Flag-officer 
 Davis, the Navy did it most gallantly and fearlessly. 
 
 It was as handsome a thing as had beendonedur- 
 ing the war; for the batteries to be passed extended 
 full three miles, with a three-knot current, against 
 ships that could not make eight knots under the 
 most favorable circumstances. Again, sir, I have 
 to mention favorably the divisional officers, and 
 the acting-masters commanding mortar vessels. 
 Anchored at all times in a position selected by my- 
 self, more with regard to the object to be accom- 
 plished than to any one's comfort or safety: know- 
 ing that they will have to stay there without a 
 chance of getting away till I think proper to remove 
 them (no matter how thick the shot and shells may 
 fly I, there has always existed a rivalry as to who 
 shall have the post of honor (the leading vessel i, al- 
 most certain to be struck, if not destroyed. 
 
 They know no weariness, and they really seem to 
 take a delight in mortar firing, which is painful 
 even to those accustomed to it. It requires more 
 than ordinary zeal to stand the ordeal. Though I 
 may have at times been exacting and fault-finding 
 with them for not conforming with the rules of the 
 service iwhich requires the educAtion of a life-time 
 to learn), yet I cannot withhold my applause 
 when I see these men working with such earnest 
 and untiring devotion to their duties while under 
 fire. 
 
 The officers and crew of the " Octorora " behaved 
 like veterans; and I ain much indebted to that ex- 
 cellent officer. Lieutenant George Brown, for the 
 drill of the crew, and the perfect arrangements 
 made for going into action. On the day the squad- 
 ron passed up, the mortars were engaged in divis- 
 ions in firing on the enemy and keeping his guns 
 quiet, and so on up to the 1st of July. 
 
 Two or three deserters came in, one of them as- 
 serting a marvelous story that the ships and mor- 
 tars had killed and wounded seven hundred per- 
 sons. No doubt some were killed, but very likely 
 fewer than stated, and only in and about the forts. 
 Only two schooners were struck. One, the "C. P. 
 Williams," Acting-Master Amos R. Langthorne, in 
 the bow; the other, the " Orvetta," Acting-Master 
 Blanchard, through the foremast. Nobody has 
 been hurt, so far, in the mortar vessels. 
 
 On the first of July, our pickets (which were 
 thrown out about a hundred yards) were surprised 
 by a large body of rebels close to them, evidently 
 intending to surprise the mortar schooners. They 
 immediately came in to report, the enemy firing on 
 them as they retreated. In a moment all the guns 
 of the mortar vessels and fiotiUa steamers opened on 
 the woods with grape, shrapnel, canister, shells, 
 and round shot (the mortars throwing in bombs 
 with small charges), and we knew if an enemy was 
 there he could not face a fire Uke ours, from fifty 
 guns, spread out along the levee for about a mile. 
 After the woods were well shelled, the pickets went 
 in and captured three rebel soldiers, who were help- 
 lessly stuck in the mud, from which they had much 
 difficulty in extricating themselves, and cried out 
 lustily that they had surrendered. They were 
 brought in, with their arms and accoutrements. 
 These men state that two regiments, one from Ten- 
 nessee, the other from Mississippi, were put under 
 arms, and made to believe that they were going to 
 attack some United States troops. Finding the 
 head of our schooners guarded, the rebels attempted 
 to pass through the middle of the wood and enfilade 
 us, but got helplessly stuck in the middle of the 
 swamp, or the thick mud which exists here. While 
 in this condition, our guns commenced shelling the 
 woods, and the two regiments were panic stricken. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 259 
 
 They threw away their knapsacks, cartridge boxes, 
 and everything that would impede their progress. 
 In going over the ground afterwards, our men found 
 evidences of a general stampede throughout the 
 woods; amongst other things they picked up from 
 the mud the heavy boots of a general officer, with 
 silver spurs on. There was evidence in the marks 
 that the enemy had been completely " bogged," or 
 sunk in the mud, and our prisoners informed us 
 that, had we gone into the woods at that moment 
 with two hundred men, we could have captured 
 the two regiments, as they were for a time per- 
 fectly helpless, having thrown away many of their 
 arms, etc. It was on this marsh I depended for 
 safety when I placed the schooners in position; for, 
 without such a natural defence, we should have been 
 at the mercy of the concealed riflemen. 
 
 Not wishing to have any mishaps, I landed five 
 howitzers, threw up works, posted fifty marines as 
 pickets, and had a large beU slung up in the woods 
 with lines leading to it from different points, so 
 that the pickets might give immediate alarm. After 
 which the mortar flotilla went to their repose with 
 great confidence. We have held the position we 
 first took. We have advanced, indeed, 300 yards 
 with the mortars. We are within 2,100 yards of the 
 enemy's batteries, and in short distance of an Army 
 (which they say consists) of thirty thousand men — 
 a very doubtful estimate, as it will not amount to 
 a half or a third of that number. From what I can 
 learn from pretty reliable sources, the regiments are 
 small, and do not average 500 men each. I do not 
 think there are 6,000 men in this town and the sur- 
 rounding country, and many of them are sick. 
 
 I respectfully submit a list of the killed and 
 wounded on board the steamers " Clifton" and "J. 
 P. .lackson." On the "Clifton" there were eight 
 killedand one wounded : Thomas Collins, gunner's 
 mate ; Robert Sargeant, ship's cook ; John Burke, 
 ordinary seaman ; William Morris, captain's cook ; 
 John B. Carlton, landsman, and George B. Der- 
 went (colored), wardroom steward, killed ; and 
 John Hudson, master-at-arms, severely wounded ; 
 John Connor. 2d-class fireman, was drowned. On 
 the "Jackson," Alexander Greenwall, seaman, was 
 severely, if not mortally, wounded. 
 
 On the 2d of July the enemy made another at 
 tack on our pickets and drove them in, wound- 
 ing two of them, and succeeded in getting so close 
 as to fire on our decks ; but they soon met with the 
 fire of five field-pieces which I had placed near the 
 edge of the woods, and which must have inflicted 
 severe punishment. Five dead bodies have since 
 been found and evidences of some wounded, fi-om 
 the muskets and other arms thrown away, I sup- 
 pose, in the retreat. Since then we have fortified 
 ourselves so that they cannot annoy us without 
 getting the worst of it. They have shelled our po- 
 sition, fired hot shot and rifled shot in abundance ; 
 and though they have made some holes in the mor- 
 tar vessels, we have held our own, and shell them 
 out whenever we open on them with mortars. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 DA.VID D. PORTBR, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 Flag-oflieer D. G. Farbagut, 
 Commanding Western &ulf Squadron. 
 
 reports of lileutenant-commanding crosby, 
 of the "pinola," and lieutenant-com- 
 manding woodworth, op the " j. p. 
 jackson," of the attack on vicks- 
 
 burg, june 28, 1862. 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford," ) 
 ABOVE ViCKSBURG, July 8, 1862. j 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to forward the report of 
 Lieutenant-Commanding P. Crosby, of the attack 
 on Vicksburg, June 28, 1862 ; also the report of 
 
 commanding the gan-boat "J. P. Jackson," of the 
 same aflair. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 I). G. Fabragut, 
 Flag-officer, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading 
 
 Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 United States Gun boat " Pd^ola," ) 
 ABOVE ViCKSBURG, June 80, 1863. ) 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that I took my 
 position in line of battle on the 28th instant at 3.10 
 A. M., in obedience to signals, and stood up the 
 river in company with the squadron. At 4 A. M., 
 opened fire on the enemy s batteries, which we con- 
 tinued until 6.10 A. M., when we had passed Vicks- 
 burg and were beyond the range of our stern guns 
 (24-pound howitzers', but within range of the en- 
 emy's heavy rifled guns for some twenty minutes 
 after we had ceased firing. At 6.40 A. M., anchored 
 above Vicksburg ; fired from the 11-inch gun 20 
 shells, 3 grape and 1 shrapnel ; from the Parrott 
 rifle 29 shells, from the howitzers 13 shells, and 
 20 shrapnel — total 86. Owing to the smoke 
 and remarkably scattered positon of the enemy's 
 guns, we labored under great disadvantage in 
 
 LIEUT.-COMMANDING (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) PIERCE CROSBY. 
 
 aiming, which hindered us from firing more 
 rapidly. The fire from the enemy upon us was 
 very severe, owing in a great measure, I think, to 
 our being the last vessel that passed their batteries. 
 But, I am thankful to say, only a few shots struck 
 us, one of which, a heavy shot, struck John Brown, 
 ordinary seaman, at the 11-inch gun, seriously 
 wounding him ; another, a 50 pound rifle shot, cut 
 away the timber-head of the starboard after port : 
 struck the howitzer and carriage, slightly defacing 
 the former and sUghtly injuring the latter ; it also 
 struck the cabin hatch, destroyed the barometer 
 and thermometer, and landed in the port water- 
 ways ; and, I regret to say, it killed WilUam H . 
 Thomas, quarter-gunner and captain of the gun, 
 while sighting the piece, and mortally wounded 
 Thomas Graham, landsman, who died in a few 
 minutes after ; it also slightly wounded William H. 
 Shucks, landsman. Daniel Colleran, landsman, 
 was wounded by a musket ball, volleys of which 
 were fired at us from hills and bushes. We re- 
 ceived some four or flve large grape shot in the hull 
 just below the water-ways. I am happy to say that 
 neither the vessel nor guns were disabled. The 
 howitzer continued firing after the accident, under 
 
 „* A „J.,** 
 
 ■iir_x_ ixriii: 
 
260 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Thompson, who, by his brave example, restored 
 confidence to his crew, and did great service in the 
 action. 
 
 I have again the pleasant duty of bearing testi- 
 mony to the gallant conduct of the officers and 
 crew of this vessel, and the spirit and zeal exhibited 
 in the performance of their duties on this occasion. 
 John E. Tennant, quartermaster, gave the sound- 
 ings with as much coolness as though he had been 
 making an ordinary survey. Mr. John McHugh, 
 our pilot, behaved in a remarkably cool and self- 
 possessed manner, and gave me great assistance. 
 Great credit is due Lieutenant A. P. Cooke for the 
 efficient manner in which the guns were worked, 
 and for the good training of the ship's company. 
 Accompanying this report I send Assistant^Surgeon 
 L. M. Lyon's report of casualties. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser- 
 vant, PiERCB Crosby, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Fabbagut, 
 
 v. Si. iV., Commanding Western Division of United 
 States Blockading Squadron. 
 
 Unitbd States Steamer "J. P. Jackson," ) 
 OFF VICKSBUR&, July 30, 1862. f 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report the following 
 casualties onboard the United States steamer "J. 
 P. Jackson " during the engagement on the morn- 
 ing of the 28th ultimo, before Vicksburg. In en- 
 deavoring to obtain the position assigned me, by 
 your order, in front of the lower "water battery," 
 my vessel was struck by a 7-ineh rifle projectile, 
 which, entering on the starboard side of the forward 
 bulkhead, passed obliquely through the forward 
 wheel-house, destroying the wheel, and passed 
 out through the hurricane deck, taking off the 
 right foot of one of the steersmen, and wounding 
 the left foot. 
 
 The vessel was for awhile rendered unmanage- 
 able, but, by the aid of a .jury tiller, we were en- 
 abled to steer down the river out of the action, 
 when the signal to retire was made. We received 
 another 7-inch rifle projectile in our starboard 
 wheel, cutting away one-half of the bridge piece 
 supporting the other end of the shaft immediately 
 under the pillar block. We were struck slightly by 
 two grape, or other shot, doing no damage. We 
 fired from our guns during the engagement 117 shot, 
 shells, grape and shrapnel. I take pleasure in stat- 
 ing that the gallant conduct of my men and offi- 
 cers during the action met with my highest com- 
 mendations. 
 
 Enclosed I send you the report of Surgeon Thomas 
 Yard, containing list of wounded. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 Selim E. Woodworth, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, United States Navy. 
 Commander D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mortar Flotilla. 
 
 ENGAGEMENT 
 
 WITH THE RAM 
 
 JULY 15, 1862. 
 
 ' ARKANSAS,' 
 
 United States Flag-ship "Hartford," | 
 BELOW Vicksburg, July 17, 1863. \ 
 
 Sir — It is with deep mortification that I an- 
 nounce to the department that, notwithstanding 
 my prediction to the contrary, the iron-clad ram 
 "Arkansas" has at length made her appearance 
 and taken us all by surprise. We had heard that 
 she was up at Liverpool, in the Yazoo River, and 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Ellet informed me that the 
 river was too narrow for our gun-boats to turn, 
 and was also shallow in places, but suggested that 
 Flag-officer Davis might send up some of his iron- 
 clad boats, which draw only six or seven feet of 
 water. 
 
 When this was ]3roposed to Flag-officer Davis he 
 consented immediately, and General Williams of- 
 
 fered to send up a few sharpshooters. The next 
 morning they went ofif at daylight, and by six in 
 the morning we heard firing up the river, but sup- 
 posed it to be the gun-boats firing at the flying ar- 
 tillery, said to be lining the river. In a short time, 
 however, the gun-boats appeared, and the ram in 
 pursuit. Although we were lying with low fires, 
 none of us had steam, or could we get it up in time 
 to pursue her j but she took the broadside of the 
 whole fleet. It was a bold thing, and she was only 
 saved by our feeling of security. She was very 
 much injured, and was only able to drift or go at 
 the slowest speed — say, one knot, and with the cur- 
 rent she got down to the forts of Vicksburg before 
 any of us had steam up. 
 
 I had a consultation with Flag-officer Davis, and 
 we thought it best to take the evening, when he 
 dropped down to take the fire of the upper battery, 
 and mv squadron passed down with the determin- 
 ation of destroying the ram, if possible ; but, by 
 delays of getting into position, etc., it was so dark 
 by the time we reached the town that nothing 
 could be seen except the flashes of the guns, so that, 
 to my great mortification, I was obliged to go down 
 and anchor, with the rest of my fleet, to protect the 
 transports, mortar boats, etc. 
 
 The ram is now repairing damages — for we put 
 many holes through her — though we do not know 
 the extent of damage done to her. Be assured, sir, 
 however, that I shall leave no stone unturned to 
 destroy her. I regret to report that the loss from 
 this vessel was one officer and two men killed, and 
 five wounded. The total loss in the fleet was five 
 killed and sixteen wounded. I enclose herewith 
 the fleet surgeon's report of casualties. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Flag-officer, Commanding Western Grulf Blockading 
 
 Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford," ) 
 BELOW Vicksburg, July 16, 1862. f 
 Sir — I respectfully report the following list of 
 killed and wounded in the fleet during the engage- 
 ments on the 15th instant, \-iz : 
 
 Flag-ship "Hartford." 
 Killed. — George H. Loundsberry, master's mate ; 
 Charles Jackson, officers' cook, and John Cameron, 
 seaman, by cannon shot. 
 
 Wounded. — Captain John L. Broome, marine 
 corps, and Thomas Hoffman, paymaster's steward, 
 severe contusions ; John D. Barnes, fireman, and 
 Michael Martin, landsman, contusions ; George 
 Royer, marine, and Henry Downs, boy, slightly. 
 
 " WiSSAHICKON." 
 
 Killed. — John Garrett, ordinary seaman, by a 
 cannon shot. 
 
 Wounded. — Edward York, fireman, and Daniel 
 Hayes, ordinary seaman, and Joseph Ranahan, 
 landsman, severely ; James Revell, ordinary sea- 
 man, slightly. 
 
 "Winona." 
 Killed.— John H. Harway, landsman, bv a sheU. 
 Wounded.— John Jones, captain afterguard, se- 
 verely ; William Malley, landsman, shghtly. 
 "Sciota." 
 Wounded. — James H. Mathist, landsman, and 
 Peter Lasher, ordinary seaman, severely. 
 "Richmond." 
 Wounded.— William Somes and Wilham Nelson, 
 seamen, slightlv. 
 Total— 5 killed ; 16 wounded. 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. Foltz, 
 Fleet Surgeon. 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farragut, 
 Commanding We.itern Division GKilf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 261 
 
 TJnithd States Steam-sloop "Oneida," ) 
 BELOW ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863. J 
 
 Sib — I make the following report of the action 
 with the batteries and with the rebel iron-clad ram 
 "Arkansas," last evening, in passing Vicksburg. 
 
 At 6. 40 p. M., flag-ship made general signal 1,318 ; 
 got under way, steaming as necessary, whilst the 
 fleet was formed according to the plan for the 
 morning of the 38th ultimo. Renshaw's mortars 
 were now firing at the batteries. At 6.55, the army 
 mortars commenced firing; at 7, the "Benton" 
 opened fire on the new upper battery ; at 7.30, 
 passed two of the army gun-boats — now holding 
 their flre to allow us to pass — our fleet having 
 formed and closed up ; at 7.30, we opened flre on 
 the new upper battery ; fired, in passing, at the up- 
 per batteries and rifle-pits with our battery and 
 small arms, whilst under like fire from the rebels. 
 
 We passed near the left (east) bank, stopped the 
 engine, and drifted by the town ; saw the wharf 
 boat ; fired bolts from two rifled guns and solid 
 shot from the two 11-inch pivot guns at the "Ar- 
 kansas," which lying under the bank, exposed her 
 position by firing. Stopped firing at 7.50, having 
 expended the following projectiles : 6 shells, 11- 
 ineh, 5m. fuze; 9 grape, 11 -inch; 3 solid shot, 11- 
 inch (at the ram ; 10 shells, 33-pounders, 5m. 
 fuze ; 1 stajid 33-pounder grape ; 3 solid 33-pounder 
 shot ; 16 bolts and 1 shell from the 30-pounder 
 Dahlgren rifle gun. No casualties occurred on 
 board. The officers and men on the sick list who 
 were able to go to their guns did so. Anchored 
 with the fleet. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 8. Phillips Lbb, 
 
 Flag-ofHcer D. Gr. Fabbacjut, 
 
 Commanding^ etc., etc. 
 
 Commander. 
 
 Flag-ship "Habtfoed," ) 
 BELOW ViCKSBUBG, July 32, 1863. f 
 Sib — I herewith enclose the reports of these ves- 
 sels, the "Iroquois," "Richmond," " Sciota," and 
 "Winona," of their passage down the river from 
 above this place, and the encounter with the ram 
 " Arkansas." 
 I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. G. Fabbagut, 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Ifavy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Flag ship "Habtfobd," } 
 BELOW ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863. > 
 
 Sib — The following officers and crew of this ship 
 were killed and wounded in the engagement last 
 night, viz : 
 
 Killed. — George H. Loundsberry, master's mate, 
 killed by a cannon ball ; Charles Jackson, officers' 
 cook, killed by a cannon ball ; John Cameron, sea- 
 man, killed by a cannon ball. 
 
 Wounded. — Thomas Hoffman, paymaster's stew- 
 ard, struck in head and chest with splinters ; 
 John D. Barnes, fireman, contusion of shoulder ; 
 Michael Martin, landsman, contusion of arm, 
 slightly ; George Royer, marine, contusion of arm, 
 slightly ; Henry Downs, boy (colored), contusion 
 of arm, slightly ; Captain John Broome, marine, 
 contusion of head and shoulder. 
 
 Total.— Killed, 3 ; wounded, 6. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. FOLTZ, 
 
 Fleet Surgeon, 
 Commander R. Wainwbight, 
 ■ Commanding United States Steamer '■^Hartford.'' 
 
 weigh and form the line ahead (the "Iroquois" 
 being ordered to lead), I was immediately under 
 way, and stood down the river toward the newly 
 erected battery, having been preceded about half 
 an hour by Flag-officer Davis and the "Benton," 
 with two other iron-clad gun-boats, whose instruc- 
 tions were to keep in play the upper battery, whilst 
 we passed on to the attack. 
 
 At seven we passed the head of their line, and were 
 immediately under fire, which we returned at once ; 
 and very soon after the hill battery, in the upper 
 part of the town, commenced its raking fire, the 
 shot and shells flying over us, their guns not being 
 sufficiently depressed. In a short time we were 
 abreast of the town, from which we received vol- 
 leys of musketry and artDlery, which we returned 
 with shrapnel and grape. Wow the lower hill bat- 
 teries comm.enced their plunging flre and at this 
 critical moment our worn-out engines suddenly 
 stopped, and we drifted for twenty minutes under 
 flre which, as night was now setting in, was ill-di- 
 rected, and very soon gave me no concern. 
 
 As we dropped down, the lower water battery, 
 and what I supposed might be the iron-clad ram, 
 opened upon us. This we returned with solid shot. 
 But with all this fire of heavy shot and shells from 
 the batteries, of musketry and fleld-pieces with 
 which the town was crowded, with the exception of 
 a 6-pound shell, fired from a field-piece, left stick- 
 ing in our side between wind and water, we escaped 
 without damage. 
 
 By the indefatigable exertions of our chief engi- 
 neer the engine was set going again, and when be- 
 low their line of flre, I turned and stood ujj again 
 for the batteries, thinking the flag-ship was stiU 
 above. But afterwards, finding that in the dark- 
 ness she had passed below unobserved by us, I 
 dropped down and anchored beside her. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 Jambs S. Palmbb, 
 
 Commander. 
 Flag-offlcer David G. Fabbagut, 
 
 Commanding Western Gulf Squadron. 
 
 United States Steameb "Richmond," ( 
 
 NBAB ViCKSBUBG, July 16, 1863. s 
 
 Sib — I have the honor herewith to enclose the 
 
 surgeon's report of casualties, and also those of the 
 
 boatswain and carpenter, showing the injury done 
 
 to this vessel by the enemy's shot during the action 
 
 of last evening. Every one on board behaved well. 
 
 A careful lookout was kept for the ram as we 
 
 passed, but owing to the obscurity of the night we 
 
 could not make her out. 
 
 Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 James Alden, 
 
 Commander. 
 Flag-offlcer D. G. Fabbagut, 
 Commanding Western &ulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Steameb " Iboquois," ) 
 
 below ViCKSBUBG, July 17, 1863. ) 
 
 Sib— At twenty minutes after six in the afternoon 
 
 r\t i-\\a i R^*.li eicynQl Hoino* rv^Qrlti fi»/^TYi t.^io floOF.oHir* f.rY 
 
 United States Gun boat " Sciota," \ 
 ABOVE ViCKSBUBG, July 15, 1863. \ 
 Sib — This morning, about 6.10 o'clock, heavy 
 firing was heard on board this vessel apparently from 
 the direction of the Yazoo River, the cause of which 
 soon manifested itself in the appearance of the gun- 
 boat "Taylor," Lieutenant-Commanding Gwinn, 
 running before, and closely followed by an iron-clad 
 rebel ram — since ascertained to be the Arkansas " — 
 escaped out of the Yazoo River. This vessel— of a simi- 
 lar construction to the "Louisiana" and "Mississippi" 
 destroyed at New Orleans; that is, with a screw pro- 
 peller and incUned iron sides, armed with nine 
 guns — seemed, from her movements, to trust entirely 
 to her invulnerability for a safe run to the cover of 
 the Vicksburg batteries. The ' ' Taylor '' made a run- 
 ning fight until within our Unes, when the vessels 
 opened as their guns bore, the rebel's speed diminish- 
 
 ino* vArv visihlv ThiH o'nn-'hnnf TWflG QnoVir^Torl f/-knv+K 
 
263 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 in line from up river, witlaout steam, and engines 
 under repairs; but as soon as I heard the firing I 
 ordered fire started and steam to be raised with all 
 dispatch. My eleven-inch gun being loaded with a 
 ten-second shell, which I had endeavored in vain to 
 draw, as the rebel came within my train I fired, 
 striking him fair, but the shell glanced off almost 
 perpendicularly into the air and exploded. At the 
 same time I opened a brisk fire with all my small 
 arms against his ports, which, I am confident, pre- 
 vented them from manning her port guns till after 
 she had passed us, I observed one man in the act 
 of sponging, tumble out of the port, sponge and all, 
 evidently shot by a rifle ball. 
 
 I found my officers and men ready, but such was 
 the suddenness of the appearance and passing of 
 this formidable vessel of the enemy that but little 
 time was afforded for any continued attack upon 
 her with the unwieldy gun carried by this vessel. 
 After passing down stream out of my line of fire, 
 which he did in from four to six minutes, I was un- 
 fortunately only a spectator of the final result of 
 this event. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 R. B. LowRY, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, U. S. Qun-boat " Sciota.'''' 
 Flag-offlcer D. G. Farragot, 
 
 Commanding Western &ulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Gun-boat "Sciota," ) 
 
 BELOW ViCKSBURG, July 16, 1862. ) 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to general signal, made yesterday at 7 P. M., I 
 got under way and took position fifth in line and 
 steamed down the river. On nearing the point 
 opposite the ciiy, found an active bombardment 
 kept up from the iron-clad vessels of Flag-officer 
 Davis's fleet, while the rebels were replying with 
 great spirit from all the hill and water batteries, 
 strengthened by large bodies of sharpshooters posted 
 in rifle-pits and in the woods. As we turned 
 the point the bullets began to fly over us very 
 thickly. We opened on the riflemen with small 
 arms, in the hands of our sick and disabled officers 
 and men, who, too feeble to work the heavy guns, 
 still zealously used their little strength to annoy the 
 enemy by a return fire of musketry. Our two 24- 
 pounder howitzers were worked rapidly and efficient- 
 ly, throwing shrapnel into the enemy's troops, which 
 were seen to burst with good range and effect. 1 
 proceeded under this fire and the cross fire of the 
 batteries tiU beyond range, when I rounded to and 
 anchored at 8.10 p. m. 
 
 On passing Vicksburg could see nothing distinctly 
 of the ram, though I received a fire, as from a bat- 
 tery, at or near the level with the water. A shell 
 from this battery passed horizontally through this 
 vessel, tearing the metallic boat, cutting bulwarks 
 on port side, starting wood-ends and bolts on deck, 
 and finally bursting in the starboard spirketing, 
 tearing water-ways,covering-board,futtockends and 
 timbers, and breaking boat davit on starboard side. 
 Several grape and other shots passed through the 
 ship, and one heavy shot struck under port bow — a 
 plunging, grazing shot from the hill forts. 
 
 I have to report, and thankfully so, but two casu- 
 alties — two men wounded, as per surgeon's report. 
 My officers and men behaved well and bravely. 
 ******** 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 R. B. LOWRY, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding " Sciota/' 
 Flag-officer D. G. Farbagut, 
 Commanding Western Qulf Blockading Squadron. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Winona," ) 
 
 BELOW Vicksburg, July 16, 1862. f 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to report that this vessel 
 
 got under way last evening, and passed, in company 
 
 with the rest of your fleet, from the anchorage above 
 
 Vicksburg to that below. All the vessels were sub- 
 jected to a heavy fire from the numerous batteries, 
 as also to a heavy fire of musketry. We were 
 enabled to fire our 11-inch gun but three tirnes, 
 owing to having received a shot on our port side, 
 which started a heavy leak. Started our deck 
 pumps immediately, but finding the water gaining, 
 ran in and pivoted the 1 1-inch gun to starboard to 
 raise the leak out of water ; water stiU gaining, pivoted 
 rifle gun to starboard ; shifted port howitzer over, 
 and shifted shot and shells to starboard. My orders 
 being to anchor at the old anchorage below Vicks- 
 burg, I ran down to the lower end of the island and 
 rounded to, with the intention of anchoring, but 
 finding the leak still gaining fast on the pumps, the 
 water up to the top of the ash-pit doors, and being 
 ignorant of the position and nature of the damage 
 causing the leak, I deemed it the safest plan to run 
 the vessel on shore, which was done at the foot of 
 the island, her bow in eight and stern in eleven feet 
 water. Upon examination, we found that a shot 
 had entered, just above water line, and close to 
 opening of outboard delivery, breaking valve and 
 cast iron valve-chest. I enclose herewith the report 
 of Mr. Purdy, senior engineer in charge. Our other 
 shot struck the spirketing in wake of long port, but 
 did not penetrate. One shell burst among the crew of 
 11-inch gun, killing one man and very slightly 
 wounding two others. The fragments of this shell 
 tore up the deck water-ways, hatch-combings, and 
 gun-carriage, but the injuries are not serious. In 
 the engagement with the iron-clad gun-boat our side 
 was perforated in several places by fragments of a 
 shell which exploded near the vessel, wounding two 
 men. 
 
 I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of all on 
 board. I enclose herewith reports of Assistant 
 Surgeon Matthewson, of the casualties of yesterday; 
 also report of ammunition expended. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Ed. T. Nichols, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-offlcer D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding Western Division Qulf Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 commodore w. d. porter's report of recon- 
 
 noissance, with account of engagement 
 
 of the "anglo-american," on the 28th 
 
 of august, at port hudson, la. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Essex," ( 
 OFF New Orleans, Sept. 9, 1862. ( 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to report that, on the 33d 
 ultimo, having remained off the citv of Baton Rouge 
 two days after its evacuation by our troops, I pro- 
 ceeded up the river to reconnoitre reported batteries 
 in progress at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and also 
 coal my vessel at Bayou Sara, the only place I could 
 obtain any, save New Orleans. ArfiN-ing there, I 
 found the town entirely deserted, and the coal burn- 
 ing. Sending a boat's crew on shore, they were 
 fired at by guerillas from the houses in heavy force. 
 My men drove them out, and burnt the buildings in 
 the lower part of the town to prevent such being 
 used to protect the enemy. These guerillas had a 
 few days previously fired at and wounded several of 
 the crew of theUnited States gun-boat "Sumter."' On 
 the 24th, I was necessitated to send the wooden gun- 
 boat "Anglo American," which I had fitted out and 
 armed, to New Orleans for coal, and I again dropped 
 down the river and awaited her return off Port 
 Hudson. I could discover no guns at this place 
 but earthworks were in progress, and whilst destroy- 
 ing these I had the misfortune to burst my heavy 
 10-inch gun. The " Anglo-American " not arriving, 
 I returned to Bayou Sara, where we were again 
 fired at from buildings left, on which I ordered those 
 remaining to be destroyed. 
 
 The "Anglo-American" joined me on the 29th, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 263 
 
 and reported three batteries as having opened on 
 her whilst passing Port Hudson. She received 
 seventy -three shots in her enpassant. 1 had received 
 information that the rebel gun-boat "Webb" was 
 at Natchez, to which city she had convoyed trans- 
 ports with supplies from Red Eiver. I followed to 
 that city, but found they had sought the protection 
 of the Vicksburg guns. At Natchez, a boat's crew 
 from the ' ' Essex " were sent on shore to procure some 
 ice for my sick, when they were wantonly attacked 
 by over two hundred armed citizens, wounding the 
 officer in command, and killing one and wounding 
 five seamen. I immediately opened tire on the 
 lower town, and set a considerable number of the 
 houses from whence they were firing on us on fire. 
 After bombarding the place for an hour, the mayor 
 unconditionally surrendered the city. 
 
 I followed the rebel gunboat " Webb " to the 
 "batteries at Vicksburg, under the guns of which she, 
 with two transports, lay. Heavy ordnance bat- 
 teries, extending three miles further down the river 
 than during the siege in July, prevented my nearer 
 approach to these boats. Having exchanged some 
 shots, and ascertained that the upper fleet was not 
 in the vicinity of the town, being short of provisions, 
 my battery weakened by the loss of two guns burst, 
 and also short of ammunition, I determined to steam 
 down the river to New Orleans for supplies, and, if 
 possible ascertain the strength of Port Hudson bat- 
 teries. On the 7th instant, at 4.15, A. M., we were 
 off that place, and, on coming within range, the 
 •enemy opened on us a vigorous flre with heavy siege 
 guns. The "Essex" was struck with heavy shot 
 fourteen times. As nearly as I can judge, the enemy 
 had in position from thirty-five to forty guns of 10- 
 inch, 9-inch, and 8-inch calibre, in three batteries 
 oommanding the river to the extent of five miles. 
 A 68-pound, 32-pound, and also a 10-inch shot, lodged 
 in the " Essex," but without material damage. We 
 were under flre an hour and three-quarters, during 
 "which time the guns were worked well and inces- 
 santly, and I have reason to believe the enemy was 
 considerably damaged. Mr. J. Harry Wyatt, acting 
 fourth master, and my secretary, had command of 
 the forward battei'y, and his conduct met my entire 
 approbation. 
 
 A land force will be necessary to complete the des- 
 truction of this fort, which, if allowed to again be 
 restored, would seriously interrupt the free naviga- 
 tion of the Lower Mississippi. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 W. D. Porter, 
 Commodore, United States Navy. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 P. S. — In the various encounters I have had since 
 leaving St. Louis on the last cruise (July 6), the 
 "Essex " has been struck by heavy shot perceptibly 
 one hundred and twenty -eight times — glancing shot 
 have left no record ; three have broken the iron, and 
 but one through, and that at a distance of a few 
 feet from the battery delivering it. W. D. P. 
 
 "United States Gun-boat "Anglo-American," > 
 OFF Batou Sara, Louisiana, Aug. 39, 1862. \ 
 Sir — In pursuance of your order, I proceeded 
 down stream on the 24th instant, for New Orleans, 
 arriving there on the morning of the 25th. We 
 loaded up with coal, and left that city at 3.15 p. m., 
 on Thursday, the 28th instant. Nothing of import- 
 ance occurred until I reached Port Hudson. I 
 noticed earthworks had been thrown up on the 
 bluffs as well as the water line, but no guns being 
 in sight, I kept on for about a mile, when another 
 line of earthworks was discovered, as well as indi- 
 cations of rifle-pits. I immediately ordered my rifle 
 50-pounder to be flred. At this moment the enemy 
 ooened on the boat. My rifle gun unfortunately 
 
 could not be used, as the cartridge had been made 
 wet by a just passed heavy rain. Our howitzer was 
 useless, as no ammunition could be obtained for it 
 at New Orleans. "We were now just abreast of the 
 last mentioned earthworks, the enemy's guns play- 
 ing on us with great rapidity. I could see two 
 33pounder cannons and eighteen field-pieces, 6 and 
 12-pounders. The fire was so heavy on my frail 
 wooden boat, that had it not been a matter of 
 urgent necessity to reach you, I should have 
 dropped back, as I had no protection for the 
 machinery, and the flre was so heavy that the 
 flremen were driven from their post. I determined, 
 from the importance of the case, to push on and 
 rejoin vou, if possible. I am happy to report we 
 succeeded. 
 
 The following casualties occurred : Mr. Parker, 
 pilot, severely wounded in the back from a burst- 
 ing shell, and James Banes, seaman, slightly 
 wounded by splinter over the eye. We received 
 seventy-three shots — fifteen heavy shots, the bal- 
 ance 12-pounder and grape. One 32-pounder struck 
 the upright brace of the walking beam, breaking 
 it in two. 
 
 It is with pleasure, I here state the gallant con- 
 duct of Mr. H. Glasford, executive officer, and Mr. 
 B. S. Williams, pilot, who never left their post of 
 danger, and, by their energy and coolness, con- 
 tributed to the saving of the boat. Mr. Miller, 
 chief engineer, Mr. Parker, third master, and Mr. 
 Jacobi, of the " Essex," all did their duty nobly. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 R. K. Riley, 
 Commanding Gun-boat ^'Anglo-American.^'' 
 Commodore W. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Naval Forces below Vicksburg. 
 
 DESTRUCTION OF the RAM "ARKANSAS." 
 
 Flag-ship " Hartford," / 
 Baton Rouge, Aug. 7, 1862. J 
 
 Sir — It is one of the happiest moments of my 
 life that I am enabled to inform the department of 
 the destruction of the ram "Arkansas;" not be- 
 cause I held the iron-clad in such terror, but be- 
 cause the community did. 
 
 On the 4th instant I sent the " Tennessee " up to 
 Baton Rouge with provisions for Co*nmander Por- 
 ter and the gun-boats stationed at that place. On 
 the night of the 5th, she returned with the infor- 
 mation that the enemy had made a combined at- 
 tack upon Baton Rouge by the ram and two gun- 
 boats, the "Webb "and "Music," and calling for 
 assistance. At daylight, the "Hartford" was un- 
 der way for this place, with orders for the other 
 vessels to follow me as fast as ready. 
 
 I arrived here to-day at 12 m., in company with 
 the "Brooklyn," "Westfield," "CUfton," "Jack- 
 son," and " Seiota." I had sent the "Cayuga" up 
 before me, agreeably to a request of General But- 
 ler, in consequence of some of the guerillas firing 
 into some of his transports. On my arrival I was 
 informed by Commodore W. D. Porter that yester- 
 day morning at 2 o'clock the enemy's forces, under 
 General Breckinridge, attacked General Williams, 
 drove in his pickets, etc. General Williams, having 
 had ample warning, we all prepared for him. The 
 fight was continued with great energy on both 
 sides until 10 A. M., by which time the enemy 
 had been driven back two or three miles, but, un- 
 fortunately, the gallant General Williams, while 
 cheering on his men, received a Minie ball through 
 his heart. 
 
 General Williams had informed Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Ransom the evening before of his plans, 
 and requested him not to fire a gun until he noti- 
 fied him ; and when he did so, our gun-boats — 
 the "Kineo" and "Katahdin" — opened with flne 
 effect, throwing their shells directly in the midst 
 
j.riJL i\ji y ^JL, nioiuis.1 ly-r inji, oi vi^ vv^n.. 
 
 of the enemy, producing great dismay and con- 
 fusion among them. Lieutenant Ransom had an 
 ofilcer on the State house, which overlooks the 
 adjacent country, and could direct the fire of every 
 shell. 
 
 As soon as the enemy was repulsed. Commander 
 Porter, with the gun-boats, went up stream after 
 the ram " Arkansas," which was lying about five 
 miles above, apparently afraid to take her share in 
 the conflict, according to the preconcerted plan. 
 As he cauie within gunshot he opened on her, 
 and probably soon disabled some of her machinery 
 or steering apparatus for she became unmanage- 
 able, continuing, however, to fire her guns at the 
 "Essex." 
 
 Commander Porter says he took advantage of her 
 presenting a weak point towards him, and loaded 
 with incendiary shells. After his first discharge of 
 this projectile, a gush of fire came out of her side, 
 and from that moment it was discovered that she 
 was on fire, which he continued his exertions to 
 prevent from being extinguished. They backed her 
 ashore and made a line fast, which soon burnt, and 
 she swung off into the river, where she continued 
 to burn until she blew up with a tremendous ex- 
 plosion, thus ending the career of the last iron-clad 
 ram of the Mississippi. There were many persons 
 on the banks of the river witnessing the fight, 
 in which they anticipated a triumph for Secessia ; 
 but on the return of the " Essex " not a soul was 
 to be seen. 
 
 I wiU leave a sufficient force of gun-boats here to 
 support the Army, and will return to-morrow to 
 New Orleans, and depart immediately for Ship 
 Island, with a light heart that I have left no bug- 
 
 bear to torment the communities of the Missis- 
 sippi in my absence. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 D. Gf. Fabbagct, 
 Flag-officer, Commanding Western tiulf Blockading 
 
 Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 On Gun-boat "Essex," / 
 
 OFF Baton Rouge, August 6, 1862. ) 
 Sib— This morning at 8 o'clock, I steamed up the 
 river, and at 10 o'clock attacked the rebel ram 
 "Arkansas," and blew her up. There is not now a 
 fragment of her left. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. D. POBTER, 
 
 Cominanding Division of Flotilla inWesternWaters. 
 Rear-admiral D. G. Fabbagut. 
 
 When New Orleans fell, the towns all 
 along the river were ablaze with defiance, 
 and did all they could to delay Union ves- 
 sels by firing on them on their way up river; 
 all of which will be better understood by 
 reading the dispatches of the times. Thus 
 ended the first attack on Vicksburg. It 
 failed from the fact that the combined 
 forces of the Army and Navy delayed too 
 long in New Orleans. The opportunity 
 slipped away, and one of the best planned 
 expeditions of the war was not fully 
 carried out. 
 
CH A PTER XXII 
 
 The Potomac Flotilla. — Naval Operations in the Potomac. — Destruction of 
 Confederate Batteries. — Confederate Rams. — Condition of the Navy, and 
 List of Vessels in December, 1863. — Losses by Shipwreck, in Battle, Etc., Etc. 
 
 
 
 N the Potomac, the flotilla seems to 
 have been actively employed from 
 December, 1861, to May 2d, 1863. 
 
 Although no important event 
 occurred on this water highway to 
 Washington, early in the war the Confed- 
 erates left nothing undone to stop the pas- 
 sage of transports, and even men-of-war, 
 but they were not very successful. Cockpit 
 Point was one of the places made quite 
 strong by the enemy, and for a time it was 
 considered quite a dangerous place to pass. 
 
 No persistent attack was made upon it un- 
 til March, 1863, and as our Army was ad- 
 vancing into Virginia at the same time, 
 the Confederates were now compelled to 
 abandon this troublesome battery and blow 
 up the magazine. 
 
 Before retreating, they destroyed all the 
 guns and carriages, munitions of war, 
 stores and provisions, having no means of 
 transportation by which they could be taken 
 away. The guns were of heavy calibre, 
 having been mostly obtained from the Nor- 
 folk Navy Yard, where they had been 
 abandoned by our forces early in the war. 
 But for that affair, we would not have 
 encountered so naany forts in the South and 
 West, and would have escaped the disgrace 
 of having the public river way to Washing- 
 ton obstructed for so long a time. 
 
 An expedition under Lieutenant Wyman 
 penetrated the Rappahannock as far as 
 Fredericksburg after this place had sur- 
 rendered to the Army, and captured twenty 
 small vessels and a quantity of stores. 
 
 Some of his command also penetrated the 
 Severn, Pianketank and North Rivers, and 
 captured some small vessels that had, no 
 doubt, been used in transporting goods and 
 information from the Maryland shore. 
 
 The Union vessels were frequently at- 
 tacked by field-pieces and riflemen, but they 
 
 always managed to give a good account of 
 themselves, while they demoralized the 
 enemy by their persistent pursuit of him 
 — but these adventures were not very ex- 
 citing. 
 
 The Potomac may be said to have been 
 opened with the fall of the forts at Cockpit 
 Point, for though the flotilla was main- 
 tained, and there were skirmishes with the 
 enemy from time to time, there was nothing 
 to hinder the passage of vessels up and 
 down the river. 
 
 About the end of the year 1861, the 
 United States Government began to real- 
 ize the necessity of building vessels that 
 would be able to contend with the heavy 
 iron-clads which had been constructed by 
 the Confederates. 
 
 By May, 1863, the latter had finished the 
 powerful " Merrimac," together with the 
 "Louisiana" and "Arkansas," both 
 equally powerful with the "Merrimac," 
 and had nearly completed the " Missis- 
 sippi "at New Orleans, the "Albemarle," 
 the " Atlanta," the " Tennessee," at Mobile, 
 and several other iron-clads on the tribu- 
 taries of the Mississippi. 
 
 Up to this time the United States Gov- 
 ernment had only Ericsson's little "Moni- 
 tor " to show, but the success of that fam- 
 ous vessel stirred the Navy Department up 
 to building iron-clads able to cope with 
 anything in the way of ships or forts 
 that the Confederates could devise. Previ- 
 ous to the memorable encounter between 
 the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" the 
 Department had exhibited neither zeal nor 
 intelligence in dealing with this important 
 problem. 
 
 The following is a list of vessels of our 
 Navy, published by the Navy Department 
 in December, 1863 ; an enumeration which 
 is calculated to mislead, for if any one 
 
266 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 supposes that the vessels therein described 
 as "iron-clads" bore any comparison to 
 those built by the Confederates, he is 
 mistaken. The Northern States, with all 
 their resources, all their vessels which 
 could have been cut down and made im- 
 pervious to shot and shells, had not an iron- 
 clad stronger than those hastily built on the 
 Mississippi River. Naval commanders had 
 to take whatever would carry a gun, no mat- 
 ter how frail or vulnerable, and attempt 
 impossible things with, at times, deplorable 
 consequences to themselves, their officers 
 and crews, from bursting steam pipes and 
 boilers, which added new horrors to the 
 ordinary havoc of war. 
 
 The work performed by Foote and Davis 
 and their officers and men on the Western 
 rivers, with the so-called "iron-clads," was 
 herculean from the time the first gun-boats 
 got afloat in January, until July 1863. They 
 had captured, or assisted to capture, seven 
 heavy forts armed with one hundred and 
 ninety-eight guns, and manned or sup- 
 ported by over fifty thousand men, besides 
 destroying thirteen or more of the enemy's 
 vessels armed with forty guns and a float- 
 ing battery of sixteen guns; and all this with- 
 out the enemy's capturing a single vessel. 
 
 In the Navy Department list, the Western 
 "iron-clads" are put down as twenty-six 
 armed vessels, a formidable force on paper, 
 but in this number are included at least fif- 
 teen "tin-clads" — small stern wheel mer- 
 chant steamers, covered with quarter-inch 
 iron to turn musket balls, but easily pene- 
 trated by a twelve pound shot or shell. 
 
 The list may be interesting as showing 
 the "historical account "of our naval forces 
 in December, 1862, but it conveys no idea 
 of the frail barks in which the officers and 
 men of the Navy had to fight the heaviest 
 kind of earthworks, often perched at a great 
 height above the water where their plung- 
 ing fire could perforate the vessels' decks 
 and boilers, or even pass down through their 
 bottoms. 
 
 NAVAL FORCE AT DATE OF THE LAST ANNUAL EEPOBT. 
 
 LOSSES BY SHIPWRECK AND IN BATTLE. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Old Navv 
 
 76 
 136 
 
 62 
 
 1,783 
 618 
 
 266 
 
 105 271 
 
 Purchased vessela 
 
 71,297 
 
 New vesselM, completed aud uuder con- 
 struction 
 
 41,448 
 
 Total 
 
 264 
 
 2,557 
 
 218,016 
 
 PRESENT NAVAL FORCE. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Number. 
 
 74 
 180 
 
 50 
 
 123 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Old Navv 
 
 1,691 
 688 
 
 230 
 
 659 
 
 100 008 
 
 Purchased vessels 
 
 Transferred from War and Treasury De- 
 partments 
 
 New vessels, completed and under con- 
 struction 
 
 86,910 
 32,828 
 120,290 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 427 
 
 3,268 
 
 340,036 
 
 
 
 Increase since last reported 
 
 163 
 
 711 
 
 122,020 
 
 R. B. Forbea . 
 
 Cougress 
 
 Cumberland . 
 Whitehall .... 
 
 M. J. Carlton . 
 
 Varuna 
 
 Sidney C. Jones. 
 
 Lsland Belle. 
 
 Adirondack.. 
 Henry Andrew.. 
 Sumter . . . 
 
 Class. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tonnage 
 
 Steamer. 
 
 3 
 
 329 
 
 Frigate. 
 
 60 
 
 1,867 
 
 Sloop. 
 Steamer 
 
 24 
 4 
 
 1,726 
 323 
 
 Mortar 
 schooner 
 
 3 
 
 178 
 
 Steamer. 
 
 9 
 
 1,300 
 
 Mortar 
 schooner 
 
 3 
 
 246 
 
 Steamer. 
 
 2 
 
 123 
 
 Screw 
 sloop. 
 
 9 
 
 1,240 
 
 Steamer 
 
 3 
 
 177 
 
 Steam 
 Earn. 
 
 2 
 
 400 
 
 112 
 
 7,908 
 
 Remabkb. 
 
 Wrecked Feb.. 1862. coast 
 of North Carolina. 
 
 In action with Merrimac, 
 March 8, 1862. 
 do. 
 
 At Old Point, March 9, 
 1862, by fire. 
 
 Attack on Forts Jackson 
 and St. Philip, April 19, 
 1862. 
 
 In action with confederate 
 gun-boats below New Or- 
 leans, April 24, 1862. 
 
 Grounded below Vicke- 
 burg and burned to pre- 
 vent falling into the 
 hands of the enemy. 
 
 Grounded in Appomattox 
 river June, 1862, aud 
 burned to prevent fall- 
 ing into the hands of the 
 enemy. 
 
 Wrecked near Abaco, Aug. 
 23, 1862. 
 
 Wrecked in a gale near 
 Cape Henry Aug. 24, 1862. 
 
 Grounded in Mississippi 
 river and abandoned. 
 
 VESSELS ADDED SINCE FOURTH OF MARCH, EIGHTEEN 
 HUNDRED AND SIXTY-ONE. (Exclusive of those Lost.) 
 
 
 No. of 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 By purchase. 
 
 180 
 50 
 123 
 
 688 
 230 
 659 
 
 86,910 
 
 By transfer 
 
 By construction 
 
 32,828 
 120,290 
 
 
 
 
 353 
 
 1,577 
 
 240,028 
 
 ADDED BY CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 Desckiption. 
 
 Sectmd-class screw sloopa-of-war. . 
 
 Screw gun-boats 
 
 Side wheel guu-boats 
 
 Armored wooden vessels 
 
 Armored iron 
 
 No. OF 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 13 
 
 116 
 
 16,396 
 
 27 
 
 108 
 
 14,033 
 
 39 
 
 296 
 
 36,337 
 
 12 
 
 65 
 
 20,893 
 
 32 
 
 74 
 
 32,631 
 
 123 
 
 669 
 
 120,290 
 
 lEON-CLAD N.WY. 
 
 Description. 
 
 No. OF 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Siahoard. 
 
 Armored wooden vessels 
 
 Armored iron vessels 
 
 Wmiern Rivers. 
 
 Armored wooden vessels 
 
 8 
 20 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 66 
 42 
 
 9 
 
 122 
 32 
 
 19.005 
 22,611 
 
 1,883 
 
 6.284 
 10.020 
 
 Armored wooden vessels {transferred troni 
 
 War Department) 
 
 Armored iron vessels 
 
 
 
 64 
 
 261 
 
 69,808 
 
 NAVY ON WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 Description. 
 
 No. OF 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Armored vessels 
 
 26 
 18 
 10 
 5 
 13 
 
 261 
 79 
 
 i 
 
 13 
 
 69,808 
 6.380 
 9,000 
 
 11,200 
 650 
 
 Wooden gun-boats 
 
 Transports and ordnance steamers 
 
 Rams , . . . . . . 
 
 Armed tugs 
 
 
 
 72 
 
 379 
 
 87,038 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 267 
 
 When the vessels now under construction are 
 completed, the Navy will consist of 
 
 SAILING VESSELS. 
 
 STEAM VESSELS. 
 
 Desceiption. 
 
 Number. 
 
 6 
 6 
 16 
 
 23 
 29 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 Guns, 
 
 Tons. 
 
 8hip8-of-the-line 
 
 604 
 aoo 
 289 
 20 
 
 139 
 
 69 
 
 92 
 
 2 
 
 16,094 
 
 Frigates 
 
 10.237 
 
 Sloops-of-war 
 
 14,305 
 
 Brigs 
 
 Ships, including store and receiving 
 vessels , 
 
 999 
 18 087 
 
 Schooners 
 
 Barks .. • .... 
 
 6,821 
 8 432 
 
 Yachts 
 
 200 
 
 Total 
 
 lOi 
 
 1,415 
 
 74,176 
 
 Description. 
 
 Screw frigates 
 
 Screw sloops, Ist class 
 
 Screw sloops, 2d class . 
 
 Screw gun-boats (new) 
 
 Irou-clad vessels 
 
 Side wbeel frij^ates 
 
 Side wheel gnn-boats (new) 
 
 Side wbeel gim-boats (old Navy) 
 
 Screw steamers (purchased) 
 
 Side wheel steamers (purchased) 
 
 Screw steamers (old Navy).. 
 
 Gun-boats, transports, etc., transferred 
 from other departments 
 
 Total 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Sailing vessels 
 Steam vessels 
 
 Total , 
 
 NUMBEB. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 104 
 323 
 
 1,415 
 1,853 
 
 427 
 
 3,268 
 
 Tons. 
 
 74,176 
 265,861 
 
 340,036 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Remarks on letting the Mississippi River below Vicksburg fall into the hands op 
 THE Confederates again. — Destruction of the Ram "Arkansas."— Capture of 
 Galveston by a portion of Farragut's Squadron — Recapture of Galveston by 
 the Confederates. — Destruction of the " Westfield. " — Commander Renshaw 
 and a Portion of his Crew blown up. — The Steamer " Harriet Lane" Captured 
 BY the Confederates.— The Blockade Abandoned. — Appearance of the " Ala- 
 bama." — Sinking op the "Hatteras"by the "Alabama." — Hardships Endured 
 by Officers and Crew of the " Hatteras " — Attempt to Pass Port Hudson by 
 Farragut's Squadron and Loss of the Frigate "Mississippi." — Casualties. — 
 The effect of the return of Farragut's Fleet before Vicksburg. — Capture of 
 Baton Rouge, La. — Effect of the Destruction of the Ram "Arkansas." — Con- 
 federates Attack Baton Rouge and are Repulsed. — Honor to whom Honor is 
 DUE. — Attack on Donaldsonville. — Fight with the Confederate Iron-clad 
 "Cotton." — Capture of the "A. B. Seger." — Ascending the Louisiana Bayous. — 
 Miscellaneous Engagements of the Gun-boats. — Death of Commander Buchanan. 
 — Vessels and Officers of the West Gulf Squadron, January 1, 1863. 
 
 UP to the time of the escapade of the 
 ram " Arkansas," a general idea 
 has been given of the performances 
 of Farragut's fleet. 
 After leaving Rear - Admiral 
 Davis and running the Vicksburg batteries, 
 he proceeded down the river to New Orleans 
 with the " Hartford," " Richmond," " Brook- 
 lyn," "Pinola" and "Kennebec." The old 
 mortar fleet, which under Commander 
 Porter had done such good service at Forts 
 Jackson and St. Philip, and at Vicksburg, 
 had been divided up and withdrawn from 
 the upper Mississippi, and the river from 
 Baton Rouge to Vicksburg was now virtually 
 left to the Confederates, who deliberately 
 went to work and lined the banks with guns, 
 making, besides Vicksburg, another Gibral- 
 tar at Port Hudson, which caused much 
 trouble to the Union commanders before 
 they were able to retake it. 
 
 The Mississippi had been so easily opened, 
 all the way from New Orleans to Vicksburg, 
 that it ought never to have been closed 
 again, even if it required the whole power 
 of the Federal government to keep it open. 
 The importance of this river to the Confed- 
 erates was too great for them not to strain 
 every nerve to keep possession of its banks ; 
 but the reader will naturally wonder that 
 the Federal government should have al- 
 lowed such important positions to fall back 
 into their hands. 
 
 l268) 
 
 It is certain that great ignorance or indif- 
 ference was shown with regard to the im- 
 portance of Vicksburg and the part it was 
 to play in the war, and this ignorance or 
 indifference, or whatever it may be called, 
 cost the United States many millions of 
 dollars to remedj''. 
 
 The several historians of the war have 
 managed to glide by this subject with only 
 a passing notice, but it is worthy of careful 
 investigation. 
 
 The great importance of the Mississippi 
 to both parties had been manifest from the 
 beginning, but its importance was much 
 greater to the Confederates than to the Fed- 
 erals. It washed the shores of ten different 
 states, northern and southern, and received 
 the waters of flfty or sixty navigable rivers. 
 It was the great connecting link between 
 the two sections, and was in fact the back- 
 bone of the rebellion. We had provided 
 the Confederates with guns enough at Nor- 
 folk to fortify it in all its length, and they 
 had not failed to make the most of all their 
 means of defence. 
 
 The possession of the great river was 
 equally sought by both parties ; for it was 
 evident from the first that whichever side 
 obtained control of it and its tributaries 
 would possess an immense advantage. 
 
 If the Confederates lost it they would be 
 cut off from their great source of supplies 
 and be compelled to obtain everything from 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 269 
 
 Europe through blockade runners. This 
 consideration alone would have been suffi- 
 cient to account for all the blood and treasure 
 which was expended in its defence, and the 
 strength of the fortifications upon its banks 
 show that the importance of the Mississippi 
 had been well estimated by the Confeder- 
 ate generals at the very beginning of the 
 war. 
 
 All of the strongholds to the north of 
 Vicksburg had fallen into the hands of the 
 Federals as early as the spring of 1862, and 
 they were now brought face to face with 
 the great Gibraltar of the West, which still 
 barred the way down the river, although 
 all that portion below it had been opened 
 after the capture of New Orleans. But it 
 now seems that we were about to give up 
 all the advantages we had gained, and 
 allow the Confederates to obtain fresh 
 strength by again yielding t6 them the 
 most important part of the river, after we 
 had so firmly 
 secured it. 
 
 While the 
 river was held 
 by our g u n - 
 boats, the Con- 
 federates were 
 prevented from 
 obtaining cattle 
 and supplies 
 from Texas. A 
 report of Lieut. - 
 Commanding 
 Eansom,U. S. N. , 
 shows that at 
 one blow he cap- 
 tured 1500 head 
 of cattle which 
 theConfederates 
 were trying to 
 pass across the 
 river, and succeeded in getting them down 
 to New Orleans, where they became the 
 property of the Federal Army. 
 
 Had the original plan been carried out 
 (to push on to Vicksburg after the fall of 
 New Orleans, and hold it with ten thousand 
 men) the Mississippi would never again 
 have been closed against us. We sent a 
 few soldiers up to Vicksburg, it is true, but 
 scarcely enough to form a corporal's guard, 
 and instead of landing at Vicksburg they 
 took the opposite bank of the river and com- 
 menced digging a ditch, but soon they all 
 became sick and returned to Baton Eouge. 
 
 The building of the forts at Port Hudson 
 had so far emboldened the Confederates 
 that they refitted the " Arkansas " and sent 
 her down to Baton Rouge to co-operate 
 with their Army against that port; but both 
 the ram and the Army came to grief. 
 
 The fire of the Union gun-boats '' Keneo " 
 and " Katahdin" repulsed the Confederates 
 
 destedction of the ram ' • arkansas " by the u. s. gdn-boat ' 
 com:\iandee wm. d. porter. 
 
 {FROM A SKETCH BY REAK-ADMIEAL WALKE.) 
 
 when they attacked our Army with a supe- 
 rior force, and the ram "Arkansas" was 
 engaged by the "Essex," Captain W. D. 
 Porter, accompanied by the " Cayuga " and 
 "Sumter." She was soon set on fire and 
 totally destroyed — whether from the shells 
 of the "Essex" or by the Confederates to 
 escape capture is not known. The Confed- 
 erates claim that one of her engines was 
 disabled, and that she was destroyed by 
 them ; but, be that as it may, her destruc- 
 tion was due to the presence of the " Essex " 
 and her two consorts. 
 
 It was a great relief to Farragut and his 
 officers to get rid of the ram "Arkansas," 
 as she had been a regular hi,ie noir to 
 them, and no one could sleep comfortably 
 while she was about. Farragut could now 
 go to the Gulf and arrange for blockading 
 the coast off Galveston. 
 
 The mortar fiotilla steamers were, in 
 October 1862, placed under the command of 
 
 Commander W. 
 B. Renshaw. 
 These vessels 
 were the " Har- 
 riet Lane," Com- 
 mander Wain- 
 wright, "Owas- 
 co," Commander 
 Guest,"Clifton," 
 Lieut. -Com- 
 mander Richard 
 L . Law and 
 the schooner 
 " Henry Janes." 
 The mortar 
 vessels which 
 had been left 
 at New Orleans 
 were aftpr- 
 wards employed 
 at the siege 
 of Port Hudson with good effect. 
 
 On October 6th, Commander Renshaw re- 
 ported to Rear- Admiral Farragut that with 
 the above named vessels he had captured the 
 city of Galveston after a feeble resistance, 
 and nowheld it ready for a garrison. This 
 was an important capture as it closed up 
 effectually one of the favorite resorts of 
 blockade runners. It was at once garrisoned 
 by the Army, and Renshaw's vessels took 
 positions in the several eiitrances of the 
 harbor to prevent the exit or entrance of the 
 enemy. 
 
 We did not hold this place long. On 
 January 1st, 1863, General Magruder at- 
 tacked our vessels with three steamers, 
 fitted with cotton-bale defences, and 
 manned by sharpshooters. At 11.30 a. m., 
 these steamers were discovered coming 
 down the bay towards our fleet. The " Har- 
 riet Lane " was above the city and she was 
 first attacked. At 4 a. m. , two of the ene- 
 
 ESSEX," 
 
370 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 my's steamers ran alongside of her and 
 swept her decks with a fire from hundreds 
 of rifles. Commander Wainwright was 
 killed while gallantly leading his men; 
 Lieutenant-Commander Lea, the Executive, 
 fell mortally wounded, the next officer was 
 severely wounded and half the people on 
 deck shot down. It was a case of complete 
 slaughter, and in ten minutes the " Harriet 
 Lane" was in the enemy's possession. The 
 other Union vessels opened their batteries 
 but were not able to do much execution while 
 the enemy's steamers were alongside the 
 "Harriet Lane." 
 At the same time that he attacked the 
 
 would be allowed to take any one vessel, 
 put his people on board of her, and leave 
 the harbor. This proposition was indig- 
 nantly rejected by the Union commander, 
 who seeing that his steamer was immove- 
 able, resolved to destroy her and transfer 
 his crew to the Army steamer "Saxon," at 
 the same time giving orders to Lieutenant- 
 Commander Richard L. Law to go outside 
 of the harbor with all the vessels that could 
 move. 
 
 In the meantime the Confederates had 
 posted their steamers and batteries for a 
 renewed attack. Commander Renshaw got 
 all his men into the boats and sent them 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE D. S. STEAMEE "HAEEIET LANE" BY THE CONFEDEEATES, UNDEE GENX MAGEUDEE, m GALVESTON 
 
 HAEBOE ON THE NIGHT OF JANUAEY 1st, 1863. 
 
 Union fleet. General Magruder filled the 
 streets of Galveston with a superior force 
 of troops, captured all our soldiers and 
 stationed heavy batteries of artillery at 
 prominent points to prevent our other ves- 
 sels (which were mostly aground at low 
 tide) from escaping. 
 
 It was a well conceived plan and carried 
 out with great gallantry. 
 
 The "Westfield" was at this moment 
 hard and fast aground, and could not 
 be moved. The Confederates seeing her 
 helpless condition sent a flag of truce to 
 Commander Renshaw, to inform him that 
 if he would surrender his command he 
 
 off, remaining with his own boat and a few 
 officers to set the " Westfield " on fire. This 
 they did, but the flames spread so rapidlv 
 that they reached the magazine just as 
 Renshaw entered his boat, and he, with 
 Lieutenant Zimmerman, Chief Engineer 
 Green, and a dozen men, were blown up. 
 
 A flag of truce had been flying during the 
 negotiations but it was soon hauled down 
 on our side and our remaining vessels suc- 
 ceeded in leaving the harbor, after some of 
 them had made a gallant resistance. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Law, (now senior 
 officer), seeing that he had only one vessel 
 (the "Owasco"), that was in any condition 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 271 
 
 to meet the "Harriet Lane " in case she was 
 refitted by the enemy, decided to abandon 
 the blockade, and return to New Orleans ! 
 This he did, and reported to Admiral Far- 
 ragut the sad disaster. 
 
 The "Harriet Lane" and two coal vessels 
 were left in the hands of the Confederates, 
 and they naturally exulted a great deal over 
 their victory. They had good reason to do 
 so for the force opposed to them was greatly 
 superior, and many officers consider the 
 retreat from before the harbor a disgrace- 
 ful affair. Had the gallant Renshaw lived, 
 it would have been different. 
 
 In January, 1863, another disaster befell 
 Farragut's fleet. As soon as he heard of 
 the capture of Galveston, he sent Captain 
 Bell with the " Brooklyn " and six gun-boats 
 to retake the place. They had not all 
 arrived on the llth of January, 1863, when 
 in the evening of that day a sail, which 
 afterwards proved to be the Confederate 
 steamer "Alabama," appeared in the offing 
 and Captain Bell sent the "Hatteras" in 
 pursuit of her. On approaching the stranger. 
 Captain Blake of the "Hatteras" hailed 
 her and asked for her name. The reply was, 
 " Her majesty's steamer ' Vixen.' " The 
 Union commander then said that he would 
 send a boat, and one was immediately low- 
 ered and shoved off from the ship's side. 
 At this moment the stranger opened his 
 broadside upon the " Hatteras" from a dis- 
 tance of only one hundred yards with terri- 
 ble effect. The " Hatteras." though taken 
 by surprise, returned the fire with spirit, 
 and both vessels steamed ahead leaving the 
 boat behind. The action was a short one 
 and ended disastrously for the Federal ves- 
 sel, as her inferior guns were no match for 
 the armament of the "Alabama," (sixrifies 
 in broadside and two pivot guns), and the 
 " Hatteras " soon went to the bottom ; her 
 crew was picked up by the enemy, and the 
 latter steamed away. 
 
 The appearance of the " Alabama " on 
 the coast created much excitement. No 
 doubt she came with the intention of cap- 
 turing the small blockading force on the 
 Southern coast, where no very large vessels 
 were maintained. 
 
 As soon as the flashes of the guns were seen 
 from the "Brooklyn" she got underway 
 and steamed in that direction, but did not 
 discover anything until the next morning 
 when the masts of the "Hatteras" were 
 seen above the water with the pennant 
 gaily flying. She had gone down in nine 
 fathoms of water, twenty miles south of 
 Galveston light. 
 
 This action offers a good moral, "never 
 send a boy on a man's errand." Had Com- 
 modore Bell sent two gun-boats instead of 
 one. the "No. 390" or "Alabama," would 
 probably have fallen into our hands, and 
 
 her wild career would have ended then and 
 there. As it was she gained great prestige 
 abroad by sinking a United States vessel of 
 war, for people never stopped to inquire 
 whether the conquered vessel had one gun 
 or twenty. 
 
 " When put on shore the condition of officers and 
 men was pitiable, no one saved an article of extra, 
 clothing, and many had not sufficient to protect 
 their bodies from the inclemency of the weather — 
 landed on an unfriendly shore in a state of abject 
 destitution that should have commanded the sym- 
 pathy of even avowed enemies. The officers and 
 men of the " Hatteras " were made to feel keenly 
 the unkind criticisms of those who professed no 
 unkind feeling towards the United States or its 
 people." 
 
 From January, 1863, Farragut was em- 
 ployed in conjunction with General Banks 
 
 COMMANDER WILLIAM D. POETEE, 
 (APTEEWAEDS COMMODOEE V. S. NAVY.) 
 
 in forcing his way into the interior of 
 Louisiana, and bringing all of the country 
 that could be secured under subjection. 
 This was a difficult task, for the Confeder- 
 ates opposed our forces at every step, with 
 a courage and determination very difficult 
 to overcome. The lives of some valuable 
 officers were sacrificed, among them that of 
 Lieutenant -Commander Thomas McKean 
 Buchanan, who had been, while living, the 
 leading spirit of the fleet. 
 
 In the enterprises which were undertaken 
 to possess the enemy's inlets and harbors 
 some reverses were met with and some 
 small vessels lost. These were mostly sail- 
 ing vessels which were captured pretty 
 
272 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 much as the " Harriet Lane " had been, by 
 river steamers protected by cotton-bales 
 and manned by large numbers of sharp- 
 shooters. 
 
 The fact of our government using sailing 
 vessels for blockade duty was simply absurd. 
 Only steamers make a blockade effective, 
 and they should have speed enough to 
 escape from a superior foe or capture an 
 inferior one. 
 
 On the 14th of March, 1863, it was decided 
 by Rear -Admiral Farragut and General 
 Banks that the former should move with 
 his fleet past Port Hudson, which was at 
 that time well fortified with nineteen heavy 
 guns bearing on the water approaches. 
 General Banks was to make a diversion 
 with his Army against the forts, and what 
 was left of the mortar flotilla was to open 
 on the batteries prior to and during the 
 passage of the fleet. 
 
 Farragut seldom undertook to make a 
 passage by a fort unless he had the mortar 
 boats stationed where they could back him, 
 notwithstanding would-be historians have 
 stated that he did not desire their services. 
 On every occasion he spoke of them in the 
 highest terms, and the statements which 
 have been made in a "Life of Farragut. ' 
 written after his death, and in an article on 
 the subject by a gwasi-statesman, which 
 pretend to give his opinions, are fabrications 
 and unworthy of any one who undertakes 
 to write history. 
 
 It would be difficult to find out why Gen- 
 eral Banks allowed these formidable works 
 to be built within striking distance of his 
 Army, and at a place which effectually 
 blocked the way against our forces and 
 secured the Red River to the Confederates 
 as a great highway for their supplies. They 
 had for the time being completely turned 
 the tables on us, and although it was their 
 last stand in this part of the country, it was 
 a stubborn one and a great expenditure of 
 force was necessary to overcome it. 
 
 When General Banks reported his Army 
 ready to move on the enemy's works, and 
 the mortar boats were in position, Farragut 
 made his final preparations and at about 
 11 P. M. got underway with the following 
 vessels : " Hartford," "Mississippi," "Rich- 
 mond." "Genesee," " Kineo" and "Alba- 
 tross." Each of the larger vessels, except 
 the '• Mississippi," had a gun-boat lashed to 
 her port quarter. 
 
 The " Hartford" attended by the "Alba- 
 tross " led the attack, and was well fought 
 and skillfully handled by her commander 
 Captain James S. Palmer, who passed 
 close to the enemy's works and delivered 
 an effective fire. The Confederates were 
 at first taken by surprise, but soon rushed 
 to their guns and opened a rapid fire 
 upon the fleet, which was passing within 
 
 one hundred yards of the muzzles of their 
 guns. 
 
 The " Richmond," Captain James Alden, 
 came next to the " Hartford," with the 
 " Genesee " as her consort. These vessels 
 were admirably handled, but their com- 
 manders and pilots were greatly bothered 
 by the smoke from the " Hartford's " guns 
 which hung over the river obscuring their 
 view of the enemj-'s works and the other 
 vessels in line. It required great vigilance 
 to prevent getting out of line or running 
 ashore, but the "Richmond" had reached 
 the turn of the river in safety and was about 
 passing the last battery when a plunging 
 shot carried away the safety valves of her 
 boilers and allowed so much steam to escape 
 into her fire-room, that the pressure was 
 reduced to nine pounds. The " Richmond " 
 being thus deprived of her motive force, 
 it was found that the "Genesee" was not 
 able to drag both vessels up against the 
 strong current then running, and under 
 these circumstances there was nothing left 
 to do but to drop down the stream again 
 and anchor below the forts. 
 
 The "' Monongahela" and " Kineo " came 
 next in line, and these vessels also met with 
 bad luck. The firing from the " Hartford" 
 and " Richmond " had by this time so filled 
 the air with smoke that it was found impos- 
 sible to distinguish objects near by, and the 
 pilots were completel}^ at sea. At 11.30. the 
 " Monongahela " grounded on the west shore 
 and the " Kineo," not touching, broke away 
 from her, and ranging ahead a short distance 
 grounded also. The enemy soon got the 
 range of these vessels and disabled their 
 principal guns. A heavy shot carried away 
 the supports of the bridge on which Com- 
 mander McKinstry was standing and pre- 
 cipitated him to the deck, by which he was 
 seriously injured and incapacitated for 
 further duty. The command of the " Mon- 
 ongahela " then devolved upon Lieut. -Com- 
 mander N. W. Thomas, the executive offi- 
 cer, who with great coolness and judgment 
 backed the vessel off and continued on his 
 way up the river. As he was nearing the 
 bend, however, the engines suddenly ceased 
 to move, owing to a hot crank-pin, and the 
 ship being unmanageable, she drifted down 
 and was obliged to anchor below the bat- 
 teries. 
 
 The steamship " Mississippi." Captain 
 Melancton Smith, followed up in the wake 
 of the " Monongahela, ■■ firing whenever her 
 guns could be brought to bear. At 11.30. 
 she had reached the turn which seemed to 
 give our vessels so much trouble, and Cap- 
 tain Smith was congratulating himself on 
 the prospect of soon catching up with the 
 flag-officer, when his ship grounded and 
 heeled over three streaks to port. The 
 engine was instantly reversed and the port 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 273 
 
 guns run in in order to bring her on an 
 even keel, while the fire from her starboard 
 battery was reopened upon the forts. The 
 engines were backed with all the steam 
 that could be put upon them and the back- 
 ing was continued for thirty minutes but 
 without avail : it was now seen that it 
 would be impossible to get the ship afloat. 
 Captain Smith gave the order to spike the 
 port battery and throw the guns overboard, 
 but it was not done, for the enemy's fire 
 was becoming so rapid and severe that the 
 Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the 
 ship at once in order to save the lives of 
 his men. While preparations were being 
 made to destroy the ship, the sick and 
 wounded were lowered into the boats and 
 conveyed ashore, while the men at the star- 
 board battery continued to fight in splendid 
 style, firing at every flash of the enemy's 
 guns. The small arms were thrown over- 
 board, and all possible damage was done to 
 the engines and everything else that might 
 prove of use to the enemy. The ship was 
 first set on fire in the foreward storeroom, 
 but three shots came through below the 
 water line and the water rushed in and put 
 out the flames. She was then set fire to in 
 four places aft, between decks, and when 
 the flames were well underway so as to 
 make her destruction certain, Captain Smith 
 and his first- lieutenant left the ship, (all the 
 officers and crew having been landed). 
 
 The "Mississippi" was soon in a blaze, 
 fore-and-aft, and as she was now relieved 
 of a great deal of weight, (by the removal 
 of her crew and the destruction of her upper 
 works) she floated off the bank, and drifted 
 down the river much to the danger of the 
 Union vessels below; but she passed without 
 doing them any injury and at 5.30, blew up 
 and went to the bottom. The detonation 
 was heard for miles around, and exceedingly 
 rejoiced the hearts of the Confederates 
 along the river banks. 
 
 Thus ended the career of this old ship, 
 which had been dear to many a naval officer 
 and sailor. Many pleasant memories clus- 
 tered about her, and no ship ever performed 
 more faithful service, or came to a more 
 glorious end. Her commander, officers and 
 men lost no credit by the manner in which 
 they performed their duty on this occasion; 
 on the contrary everyone who knows any- 
 thing about the matter is aware that every 
 possible exertion was made to get the ship 
 afloat, and that when she was finally aban- 
 doned it was done in a cool and orderly man- 
 ner. It is in such trying moments that men 
 show of what metal they are made, and in 
 this instance the metal was of the very best. 
 
 Farragut in the " Hartford," with the 
 " Albatross " alongside, reached the mouth 
 of Red River, and Port Hudson was as com- 
 
 boats had been there. But this affair was a 
 great triumph to the enemy and equally 
 depressing to the Federals for the time 
 being. It was soon seen however that the 
 object aimed at had been gained — the works 
 at Port Hudson were cut off from supplies 
 and the fate of the garrison sealed. 
 
 Farragut was much disappointed at the 
 loss of the "Mississippi" and the failure of 
 the other vessels to get up, but he bore it 
 with his usual equanimity and looked upon 
 it as the fortune of war. 
 
 He was satisfied that his commanders had 
 all done their duty and was well aware of 
 the fact that the " Hartford " had fewer dif- 
 ficulties to contend with than the vessels in 
 her rear. Her pilot could see everything 
 ahead, while those astern were blinded by 
 the smoke of her guns. 
 
 The list of killed and wounded is as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "Hartford," 3 killed, 6 wounded; "Rich- 
 mond," 3 killed, 12 wounded ; Missis- 
 sippi," 64 missing, of which 25 were believed 
 to have been killed; " Monongahela," 6 
 killed, 21 wounded: — Total 114 killed, wound- 
 ed and missing, nearly as heavy a loss as 
 was sustained by the whole fleet at the pas- 
 sage of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Farragut steamed on up to 
 the mouth of the Red River which he closely 
 blockaded, and remained there until relieved 
 by Rear-Admiral Porter in the "Benton" 
 on May 2d, 1863, when he returned over- 
 land to his fleet below Port Hudson. 
 
 The effect of the return of Farragut's 
 squadron from before Vicksburg was bad 
 for the people living along the river. The 
 population of the towns that had abstained 
 from hostile acts, and in fact had assumed 
 a very humble attitude, now became quite 
 defiant — the mayors of the little municipal- 
 ities putting on the airs of autocrats, their 
 importance being doubtless stimulated by 
 the fact that Farragut and his officers di& 
 not seem disposed to molest them or even 
 question their loyalty to the United States. 
 
 When the news of Farragut's victory was 
 carried up the river by escaping steamers, 
 there was a panic all through the region, 
 and for the moment every one seemed dis- 
 posed to submit to the Federal authority. 
 Many persons were in their hearts glad to 
 see the Union flag once more triumphant, 
 and looked forward with pleasure at the 
 idea that the old order of things would soon 
 be restored. But when the mayor of Vicks- 
 burg at first mildly then defiantly treated 
 Farragut's demand for the surrender of the 
 city, and the other towns learned of the un- 
 successful attempt of the fleet to obtain 
 possession of Vicksburg, either by per- 
 suasion or force, their ardor in the Cop- 
 federate cause was suddenly stimulateu. 
 
274 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the glory that enveloped Vicksburg and 
 not only to forswear allegiance to the United 
 States but fire upon the Union flag when- 
 ever it appeared in their neighborhood. 
 
 This may have been heroic, but it was 
 far from wise, as the Confederates had at 
 that period few troops along the river and 
 no guns except field-pieces, which although 
 they might annoy would hardly arrest the 
 progress of vessels of war. Baton Rouge, 
 Natchez, and in fact every town along the 
 river, seemed to have entered into a league 
 against the Federal vessels, putting it out 
 of the power of the Union officers to exer- 
 cise that forbearance they desired to show 
 both from motives of policy and humanity. 
 
 It was desirable to satisfy the people 
 living along the Mississippi, that the mis- 
 sion of the Navy was simply to restore the 
 authority of the Federal government, not 
 to destroy property or do harm to non-com- 
 batants ; but this course, instead of con- 
 
 vessels, well knowing that they could inflict 
 no serious damage on their hulls although 
 they might kill or wound some of their 
 crews. Such acts were bound to lead to 
 retaliation, and create a bitter feeling on 
 the Federal side. Military and naval men 
 do not stop long to think when a battery is 
 opened upon them and the shot are falling 
 in their midst. They naturally fire back 
 without much considering whom they may 
 hurt. This is one of the results of war. 
 It is not intended to excuse the retaliatory 
 measures of the Federal officers but merely 
 to give their reasons. 
 
 Baton Rouge was one of those defiant 
 towns, notwithstanding its proximity to 
 New Orleans and the large Federal Army 
 stationed at the latter place. When sum- 
 moned to surrender by Captain Palmer of 
 the " Iroquois," the mayor replied that 
 "Baton Rouge will not be voluntarily sur- 
 rendered to any power on earth ! " Upon 
 
 BATON ROUGE, THE CAPITAL OF LOUISIANA, CAPTUEED BY CAPTAIN PALMER OF THE 
 
 WARDS OCCUPIED BY GENERAL WILLIAMS. 
 
 ■IROQUOIS," AND AFTEB- 
 
 ciliating the populace, only inflamed their 
 dislike to the "invaders," as they were 
 pleased to call the Union forces. The mild 
 propositions of the naval commander were 
 considered as proof of the weakness of the 
 Federal government, and finally the mili- 
 tary, which had but little to lose in the way 
 of property, became so harassing that 
 retaliation had to be resorted to in self- 
 defence and the innocent often suffered in 
 consequence. 
 
 Never in the course of any war was there 
 so great a desire on the part of the Navy 
 to abstain from harsh measures, and if the 
 Confederate troops had confined themselves 
 to firing upon naval vessels at places away 
 from towns, our officers would have been 
 satisfied to try consequences with them on 
 their own terras. Such, however, was not 
 the case, the Confederate artillery gen- 
 erally selected points in the immediate 
 vicinity of towns and sometimes in the 
 towns themselves to fire upon the passing 
 
 receiving this reply Captain Palmer in- 
 formed the mayor that he would stand no 
 nonsense and forthwith landed his men, 
 hoisted the Union flag, and took possession 
 of the public property. Fortunately this 
 capture was accomplished without blood- 
 shed, although that might easily have fol- 
 lowed owing to tlie contumacy of the 
 municipal authorities. 
 
 In this case the rights and property of 
 all citizens were respected, and only the 
 property claimed by the Confederate gov- 
 ernment was taken possession of. These 
 were easj^ terms for people who had sturdily 
 defied the Federal authority and refused to 
 listen to any terms. 
 
 Natchez offered fewer impediments to the 
 Union commander. The mayor was a 
 sensible man, compared with the one at 
 Baton Rouge, and on receiving a communi- 
 cation from Captain Palmer to the effect 
 that the city must surrender, he replied : 
 "Coming as a conquerer, you will need not 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 375 
 
 the interposition of the city authorities to 
 possess the place. An unfortified city, an 
 entirely defenceless people, have no alterna- 
 tive but to yield to an irresistible force, 
 or uselessly to imperil innocent blood. 
 Formalities are absurd in the face of such 
 reality. So far as the authorities are con- 
 cerned there will be no opposition to your 
 possession of the city. They cannot how- 
 ever guarantee that your flag shall be 
 unmolested in the sight of an excited 
 people," etc., etc. As if the people who for 
 a lifetime had existed under the protection 
 of that flag were now unable to endure the 
 sight of it. 
 
 The mayors of these little cities used high 
 sounding words, which seemed rather 
 ridiculous coming from people who had 
 neither guns nor soldiers. It would have 
 been more to their credit to have accepted 
 the situation without trying to delude the 
 more ignorant part of the population with 
 the idea that the Union fleet sought the 
 destruction of their lives and property. 
 The course taken by these municipal 
 authorities led to very bad results and its 
 evil influence was felt by the inhabitants 
 all along the river. 
 
 The same summons was given at Vicks- 
 burg, where the mayor in the first instance 
 bade defiance to the Army and Navy under 
 Butler and Farragut. The result of the 
 negotiations with the authorities of Vicks- 
 burg is best told in the account of the attack 
 by Farragut' s squadron, where, owing to 
 the long drawn out negotiations, all the 
 energies of the Confederates had time to 
 concentrate on the defences of the city, 
 which in a month was rendered impreg- 
 nable against a purely naval attack. 
 
 Grand Gulf, at that moment a place of 
 no importance, following in the footsteps 
 of its illustrious neighbor Vicksburg, set to 
 work to erect batteries and opened fire on 
 the gun-boats. In consequence of this, Cap- 
 tain Palmer, in the "Iroquois," with the 
 other vessels under his command, dropped 
 down the river and shelled the town, the 
 first instance of such a proceeding on the 
 part of our Navy. The little town was set 
 on fire and destroyed. This was considered 
 a great outrage by the Confederates, and 
 was taken advantage of to infiame the 
 minds of the people against the Union 
 forces. 
 
 From this time forth the Confederate 
 artillery began to assemble at command- 
 ing positions along the river banks, and the 
 once peaceful scene was marred by burn- 
 ing plantations, from whence the enemy 
 attacked the gun-boats. There was no 
 longer a hope of peace for the inhabitants 
 of the river region. 
 
 It was a great relief to Admiral Farra- 
 eut to know that the ram "Arkansas" 
 
 was disposed of, and that thus terminated 
 the existence of one of the most troublesome 
 vessels the Confederates had built. She was 
 at that time the last Confederate ram on the 
 Mississippi River. At the moment of her de- 
 struction there was considerable excitement 
 along the river on hearing of her approach 
 towards Baton Rouge, where General "Wil- 
 liams was in command of the Federal mili- 
 tary forces, and expecting an attack from 
 the Confederate troops under General Breck- 
 enridge, to be supported by the ram " Ark- 
 ansas " and the gun-boats "Webb" and 
 " Music." _ 
 
 The Union vessels that were on the spot 
 to meet the enemy and co-operate with the 
 Army, were the " Katahdin," Lieut. -Com- 
 mander Roe, and the "Kineo," Lieut.-Com- 
 mander Ransom. The report that the enemy 
 were approaching Baton Rouge for the pur- 
 pose of attacking that place, was not an idle 
 one, for on the morning of the 5th of April, 
 at one o'clock. General Breckenridge at- 
 tacked General Williams' position with 
 great vigor. The Union troops withstood 
 the attack bravely, while the "Kineo" and 
 " Katahdin" poured in a heavy fire on the 
 enemy's lines. This battle was kept up 
 fiercely until one o'clock, a. m., and the 
 enemy would no doubt have succeeded but 
 for the accurate firing of the gun-boats, which 
 threw their shells right into the midst of the 
 Confederate lines, causing great dismay. 
 
 Lieut.-Commander Ransom, commanding 
 the " Kineo," had an officer stationed on the 
 State-house, who directed the firing by signal 
 so successfully that the enemy was obliged 
 to retreat. 
 
 Unfortunately the gallant General Wil- 
 liams fell in this engagement, and the Gov- 
 ernment lost the services of a most valuable 
 ofiicer. 
 
 The ram "Arkansas" and her consorts 
 did not appear upon the scene of battle, or it 
 might have been still more hotly contested, 
 or even ended disastrously for the Federal 
 cause, for if the attention of the gun-boats 
 could have been diverted by the Confederate 
 vessels, the Army would not have received 
 that aid which contributed so much toward 
 the repulse of the enemy; and there is no 
 knowing how deplorable a defeat the Fed- 
 eral forces would have met with or what the 
 consequences might have been. 
 
 Soon after this affair was ended the smoke 
 of a steamer (supposed to be the "Arkan- 
 sas") was seen coming down the river with 
 rapidity, to act apparently in concert with 
 the land forces. She stopped about a mile 
 above the bend of the river, moving up and 
 down as if uncertain how to act. Later, she 
 was passed by her two consorts, the " Webb " 
 and "Music." 
 
 The "Essex," Commander Porter, ac- 
 companied by the "Cayuga" and "Sum- 
 
276 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ter," then moved up towards the bend to 
 meet the Confederate squadron, which was 
 apparently afraid to take its share in the 
 conflict according to the preconcerted plan; 
 a general signal was made for the ' ' Katah- 
 din" and "Kineo" to follow the other 
 vessels. 
 
 As the " Essex" came within gunshot of 
 the "Arkansas," Commander Porter opened 
 fire on her, and in a short time the ram ap- 
 peared to be disabled, though she still con- 
 tinued her fire on the "Essex." Some in- 
 cendiary shells were now fired from the 
 latter; directly after, there was seen a gush 
 of flame from the "Arkansas'" side, and 
 she was soon enveloped in fire. Her crew 
 attempted to make her fast to the bank with 
 a hawser, and then escaped to the shore, 
 the "Essex" still keeping up her fire to 
 prevent the fiames from being extinguished. 
 The lines which had held the "Arkansas " 
 to the bank soon burned away, and the Con- 
 federate ram swung off into the river, where 
 she blew up with a terrible explosion, 
 and went to the bottom. Thus ended the 
 career of one of the most formidable rams 
 the Confederates had ever built. 
 
 Up to the time the " Essex " attacked the 
 " Arkansas," the machinery of the latter 
 was in perfect order, and she went into ac- 
 tion, no doubt, certain of vanquishing her 
 clumsy foe, which could not do much more 
 than stem the current of the river. But the 
 "Arkansas" was driven ashore and des- 
 troyed after a short engagement. 
 
 An attempt was made to take from Com- 
 mander W. D. Porter, his officers and 
 crew, the credit of destroying this vessel, 
 because some of her crew that were picked 
 up, stated that one of the engines was out 
 of order, and that the captain tied up to the 
 shore to keep his vessel from drifting down 
 the river, and that the Confederates set fire 
 to her themselves. This is a very unlikely 
 story. It is not credible that a vessel, 
 which had run the gauntlet of the two 
 fleets, under Farragut and Davis, at Vicks- 
 burg, inflicting great injury upon them and 
 receiving no vital injury in return, would 
 avoid a conflict with the " Essex " (a vessel 
 of weaker hull and very much less speed), 
 unless she had been first so crippled by the 
 "Essex's" guns that her commander saw no 
 hope of success. Certain it is that the com- 
 mander of the "Essex " did not hesitate to 
 attack a Confederate ram that had defied 
 the whole Union fleet, and she sunk while 
 under his fire. 
 
 The two Confederate gun-boats escaped 
 up the river when they witnessed the fate 
 of their powerful companion which was to 
 have driven all the Union naval forces 
 from before Baton Rouge. 
 
 There is no doubt but what the enemy 
 depended on the ram " Arkansas " and her 
 
 two consorts for his success at Baton Rouge, 
 as General Williams depended upon, the 
 Union gun-boats for success over any force 
 that could be brought against him. It 
 shows what important factors in war the 
 so-called gun-boats were (on either side). 
 They could move about with their heavy 
 guns, take positions which the enemy could 
 not outfiank and pour in a destructive fire, 
 directed by the best drilled gunners in the 
 world, dealing death and destruction on any 
 enemy that might venture to face them. 
 
 The result of this battle was a complete 
 victorv for the Union forces by land and 
 by water, and there would have been cause 
 for great rejoicing on the Federal side but 
 for the untimely fate of the gallant General 
 Williams, who fell with a Minie-ball 
 through his heart while cheering on his 
 men, who chased the Confederates three 
 or four miles away from the scene of 
 battle and then returned to their entrench- 
 ments. 
 
 When Admiral Farragut, who was at 
 New Orleans, heard of the attack on Baton 
 Rouge, he proceeded to that point without 
 delay with the " Hartford," and on learning 
 of tirie happy result, and the destruction 
 of the Confederate ram, he was de- 
 lighted; for although the admiral, on the 
 whole, "did not attach much importance to 
 Confederate rams," he had seen enough of 
 the performances of the "Arkansas" to 
 know, that if properly managed, she was 
 the most formidable vessel on the Missis- 
 sippi River, and that there would be no se- 
 curity against her while she fioated. 
 
 To render everything secure at Baton 
 Rouge, Farragut left a sufficient force there 
 to guard against all contingencies, and re- 
 turned to New Orleans, satisfied that for the 
 present he would hear no more of Confed- 
 erate rams. He was not aware at the time, 
 that the enemy had been so well satisfied 
 with the performances of the "Arkansas" 
 that they had commenced to build at Yazoo 
 City two more rams, more powerful than 
 any they had yet planned. 
 
 Great credit was due the officers and 
 men of the little flotilla, which co-operated 
 so handsomely with General Williams in 
 defeating General Breckenridge. particu- 
 larly to Lieutenant Roe of the "Katahdin" 
 and Lieutenant Ransom of the "Kineo," 
 who threw the enemy's ranks into confu- 
 sion by the remarkable accuracy of their 
 flre. 
 
 The commander of the " Arkansas," on 
 this occasion, was Lieutenant H. K. Stev- 
 ens of the Confederate Navy, her former 
 fearless commander. Lieutenant Brown, 
 having been taken sick at Vicksburg. The 
 events that took place on board the ram, 
 except through vague reports, have never 
 come to light. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 277 
 
 Notwithstanding: the want of success of 
 the Confederates in their attacks on the 
 approaches or outposts to New Orleans, 
 they still kept up a guerilla warfare on the 
 vessels moving up and down the river— a 
 mode of warfare of no avail whatever, and 
 calculated only to bring distress upon the 
 small towns where these roving bands held 
 their headquarters. 
 
 For a long time this practice of firing on 
 armed and unarmed vessels had been prac- 
 ticed with impunity, and Farragut deter- 
 mined to repress it if possible. He had sent 
 messengers several times to the town of 
 Donaldson ville, to inform the authorities 
 that, unless steps were taken to stop this 
 useless and inhuman practice, the town 
 would be held responsible. 
 
 When passing up the river to the support 
 of Baton Rouge, he anchored the "Hart- 
 ford " two miles above Donaldsonville and 
 heard them firing on vessels ascending the 
 river (the transport, " Sallie Robinson " and 
 the steamer "Brooklyn"), in the latter case, 
 the enemy getting more than they bar- 
 gained for and being driven to cover. The 
 next night they fired upon the transport 
 "St. Charles." 
 
 Farragut, in consequence of these wanton 
 and useless attacks, notified the authorities 
 to send their women and children out of 
 the town as he intended to destroy it on 
 his way down the river, and he fulfilled his 
 threat to a certain extent. He burned the 
 hotels and wharf buildings, also all build- 
 ings belonging to one Phillippe Landry, 
 who was said to be a captain of the 
 guerilla band. Landry attacked the firing 
 party but the sailors gave chase to him 
 and he fled. Some twenty negroes were 
 taken from this place and a number of 
 cattle and sheep for the use of the squad- 
 ron. 
 
 Thus Farragut, while inflicting necessary 
 punishment, endeavored to make it fall as 
 lightly as possible on the innocent, and 
 only those suffered who invited it by setting 
 at defiance their conquerors, who were dis- 
 posed to extend the greatest liberality to 
 all those residing within reach of the Fed- 
 eral guns — all that was required of them 
 being to abstain from hostile proceedings 
 against Federal vessels. 
 
 This punishment of towns may smack 
 somewhat of barbarity, and should not, 
 in fact, be practiced but for very grave 
 offenses, as an indiscriminate burning in- 
 flicts severe punishment upon innocent 
 people. But in this instance the punish- 
 ment fell on the guilty ones, who took 
 advantage of the security the town 
 gave them to commit their hostile acts 
 against Federal vessels, supposing that 
 the Federal authorities would respect the 
 tnwns wbfire these acts were committed. 
 
 They did so until forbearance ceased to be 
 a virtue. 
 
 One of the most gallant officers under 
 the command of Rear- Admiral Farragut, 
 was Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Mc- 
 Kean Buchanan, commanding the steamer 
 "Calhoun." He had been employed on 
 Lake Pontchartrain, where he performed 
 good service, and on October 25th, he pro- 
 ceeded to Southwest Pass, expecting to be 
 met by the gun-boats "Estrella" and "St. 
 Mary's," and intending to co-operate with 
 General Weitzel in the waters of Atchafal- 
 aya. He had on board the 21st Indiana 
 regiment. With a great deal of difficulty 
 he succeeded in getting the " Estrella," " St. 
 Mary's," " Kinsman " and " Calhoun" into 
 Atchafalaya Bay, from the channels of 
 which the enemy had removed all the 
 stakes and buoys. Entering the Atchafal- 
 aya River the little flotilla met the Confed- 
 erate iron-clad " Cotton," which after a 
 sharp engagement made her escape up the 
 river. (The guns of this vessel were in 
 iron casemates and she was very fast.) 
 That same night, Lieutenant -Commander 
 Buchanan captured the steamer "A. B. 
 Seger," belonging to the Confederate Navy. 
 
 Notwithstanding the shoals and low tides, 
 Buchanan brought up the "St. Mary's" 
 and anchored her off Brashear city, show- 
 ing the enemy that there was no point the 
 Union gun-boats would not reach when 
 commanded by an energetic officer. No 
 one who had not tried it could estimate the 
 difficulties of ascending these Louisiana 
 bayous and rivers. It was on these occa- 
 sions (where men held their lives in their 
 hands), that the most daring deeds of the 
 war were performed. 
 
 It cannot be said that these expeditions 
 were always of advantage to the Union 
 cause, for a great deal of energy was often 
 wasted, and frequently valuable lives were 
 lost. But at Army .headquarters these 
 operations were called for under the pre- 
 text that they were important strategic 
 movements, and our naval officers were 
 too glad of the opportunity to face danger 
 and aid the cause, to interpose any objec- 
 tions to them. 
 
 Buchanan's expedition having forced its 
 way through the narrow and shallow chan- 
 nels with great difficulty, reached Brashear 
 City only to find that a large force of the 
 enemy had crossed over and was making- 
 its way up to Franklin. They were im- 
 mediately followed by the fiotilla up the 
 Atchafalaya River, through Bayou Teche 
 to a point five miles above Pattersonville, 
 and three from the mouth of the Teche — 
 where the enemy was found posted in 
 force. The gun-boats opened fire, and the 
 enemy retreated to a point two miles fur- 
 ther ud the river, where thev had obstructed 
 
378 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the approaches with piles, and where they 
 were also supported by the gun-boat "Cot 
 ton," which vessel was posted above a 
 bridge. 
 
 The " Calhoun's " Parrott gun became dis- 
 abled almost at the first fire, and Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Cooke was sent ahead with 
 the other two vessels to open the way. The 
 second shot from the Confederate gun-boat 
 struck the " Estrella " in her port bow, kill- 
 ing two soldiers and wounding another, 
 and also carrying away the vessel's wheel- 
 ropes, which caused her to run into the 
 bank. The "Diana," having her gun 
 mounted on an iron carriage, got it disar- 
 ranged and had to stop, while the " Kins- 
 man " (Acting -Master George Wiggins) 
 pushed on right up to the batteries (which 
 contained eleven field-pieces), and to within 
 1,000 yards of the iron-clad "Cotton," as 
 close as he could get. 
 
 This courageous attack seemed to demor- 
 alize the enemy on shore, for they retreated 
 immediately with their field-pieces. The 
 " Kinsman " then opened her guns on the 
 "Cotton," and kept up the unequal contest 
 until relieved by the "Calhoun," which 
 vessel backed up to the bridge and brought 
 her guns to bear upon the enemy. After en- 
 during a hot fire for about twenty minutes, 
 the " Cotton" escaped up the river. 
 
 While the " Kinsman " was under fire of 
 the enemy's guns she received fifty-four shot 
 through her hull and upper works, and three 
 through the fiag, which still waved. One 
 round shot passed through the magazine 
 and shell-room, demolishing shell-boxes but 
 doing no other damage. One man was killed 
 and five wounded — among the latter being 
 the pilot, who died next day. 
 
 By the time the "Cotton" withdrew, the 
 "Estrella" and "Diana" succeeded in get- 
 ting up, and Buchanan landed his men and 
 tried to remove the obstructions and haul 
 the "Diana" over the shoals to pursue the 
 enemy, but without effect Not deeming it 
 prudent to lie in the Teche all night (where 
 the enemy could surround him and open fire 
 from concealed places), he dropped down to 
 Brashear City to repair damages and bury 
 the dead. 
 
 The Confederate gun-boat " Cotton " was 
 no trifiing enemy; she was heavily armed 
 and gallantly fought, and besides the fifty- 
 four shot she put in the " Kinsman" she put 
 eight into the "Calhoun," three into the 
 "Diana," and three into the "Estrella." 
 Fortunately their machinery was not 
 touched. 
 
 The enemy had exhibited a great deal of 
 intelligence in blocking the river. The ob- 
 structions consisted of the steamer " Fly- 
 catcher," thrown across the river and sunk, 
 backed by a schooner, with heavy oak logs 
 thrown in between and around the two ves- 
 
 sels in such quantities that it was found im- 
 possible to remove them without the aid of 
 a stronger land force than Buchanan had at 
 his command; for the men of the expedition 
 could not have worked under such a fire as 
 the enemy would have brought to bear upon 
 them from the rifles and field artillery, to say 
 nothing of the guns of the iron-clad which 
 were still intact. 
 
 The Confederate force was under the 
 command of General Monson, and num- 
 bered from three to four thousand men. 
 They were badly cut up, and finally moved 
 their camp to Centreville, three miles above 
 the obstructions, keepingonly their cavalry 
 and artillery below. 
 
 All that day the gun-boats were busy re- 
 pairing damages. l-iuchanan, no way dis- 
 heartened at the superiority of the enemy's 
 force, started up the river, on the 5th, 
 with the "Estrella," leaving the other 
 vessels to continue their repairs. The 
 enemy was driven off as before, but the ves- 
 sel did not fare so well as formerly, a shot 
 from the indomitable "Cotton" disabled 
 the Parrott gun, killing two men instantly, 
 and finding that he could do no more, Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Buchanan withdrew 
 down the river. 
 
 The encounter with this heavy work, and 
 the greatly superior force defending it, 
 showed the character of this brave officer 
 who had forced a well-equipped and well- 
 posted enemy from a strong position, and 
 only ceased his exertions when the Confed- 
 erates had reached a defence from which 
 it was impossible to dislodge them without 
 the assistance of a large body of troops. 
 
 Buchanan was ably seconded by his ofii- 
 cers and men. and although he was unsuc- 
 cessful in forcing the barricades and cap- 
 turing the Confederate gun-boat, yet he 
 compelled her to retreat up the river to 
 a point where she was unable to do any 
 damage. 
 
 The next day, the gallant Acting-Master 
 Wiggins, commanding the "Kinsman," 
 started with that vessel and the captured 
 steamer "Seger," in pursuit of two 
 steamers said to to be concealed in some of 
 the bayous. The latter were eventually 
 captured in Bayou Cheval, nine miles from 
 Grand Lake. As the vessels were aground 
 and it was impossible to move them, they 
 were set on fire and destroyed. The result 
 of this expedition was the evacuation of the 
 district by the enemy for the time, but be- 
 fore leaving they burned over a hundred 
 railroad cars and destroyed many planta- 
 tions, which compelled the planters to de- 
 sert their homes, carrying their negroes 
 off with them. These constant attacks re- 
 sulted in driving the enemy from that part 
 of the country, and gave our officers a 
 knowledge of the topography and hydro- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 279 
 
 graphy of the region, which was of much 
 benefit later in the war. 
 
 In the management of these small expedi- 
 tions our younger officers showed the metal 
 of which they were made, and Lieutenant- 
 Commander Buchanan became particularly 
 conspicuous. This gallant officer lost his 
 life January 14, 1863, being killed by a Minie- 
 ball fired from a rifle-pit. He died regretted 
 by all who knew him, and by none more 
 sincerely than Admiral Farragut. 
 
 Buchanan had long been operating in the 
 waters of the Atchafalaya. In October, 
 1863, he attacked the enemy as before men- 
 tioned, in the Teche, drove him from a 
 strongly fortified position and blockaded the 
 Confederate iron-clad above the obstruc- 
 tions near Pattersonville. In January, 1 863, 
 he was again on the Teche chasing the Con- 
 federate forces and was this time accom- 
 panied by a brigade of infantry and cavalry 
 under General Weitzel. The enemy were 
 strongly posted and covered by the Confed- 
 erate iron-clad " Cotton." Buchanan was 
 advancing on the river, side by side with the 
 troops who were marching along the banks, 
 when they came in sight of the enemy's po- 
 sition. 
 
 The "Cotton" at once opened fire while 
 the Federal troops were deployed as skir- 
 mishers to pick off the gunners of the Con- 
 federate vessel, a task they speedily ac- 
 complished. At the same time the enemy's 
 field-pieces were driven back and the only 
 part of his forces remaining were the rifle- 
 
 men, who from their pits kept up a galling 
 fire. Buchanan was not the man to let any 
 one get ahead of him, especially the sol- 
 diers whom it was his duty to cover with 
 his guns; he pushed on in the "Calhoun" 
 to the attack and was soon in advance of 
 the troops, but he paid with his life the pen- 
 alty of his gallantry and was shot through 
 the head by a concealed rifleman while 
 standing on deck directing affairs. A num- 
 ber of his men fell, killed or wounded at 
 the same time. Had Buchanan lived five 
 minutes longer he would have had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the enemy fleeing in every 
 direction. 
 
 At the same time the gallant Acting- 
 Master Wiggins was severely wounded by 
 a Minie-ball through the shoulder, and Act- 
 ing-Ensign Foster through the cheek. On 
 board the " Calhoun " on this occasion three 
 were killed and six wounded, and on board 
 the " Kinsman " one was wounded. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Buchanan was 
 a great loss to the Union cause, but the ob- 
 ject for which he had labored many months, 
 — the opening of the Teche — had been ac- 
 complished. This would have happened 
 earlier if a sufficient number of troops had 
 been sent to accompany the gun-boats in 
 the first instance, but it seems seldom to 
 have been realized that these expeditions 
 would be comparatively fruitless unless 
 conducted as combined military and naval 
 operations, when they were generally suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 WEST GULF SQUADRON, JANUARY 1st, 1863 
 
 REAK-ADMIKAL DAVID G. FARRAGUT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 
 
 STEAMER "HARTFORD," FLAG-SHIP. 
 Captain, James 8. Palmer^ commanding ; Fleet 
 Captain, Thornton A. Jenkins; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Lewis A. Kimberly; Lieutenants, J. C. 
 Watson and H. B. Tyson ; Fleet Surgeon, J. M. 
 Foltz; Surgeon, W. M. King; Assistant Surgeon, 
 Joseph Hugg; Paymaster, W. T. Meredith; Chief 
 Engineer, J. B. Kimball; Marine Officers: Captain, 
 J. L. Broome; 1st Lieutenant, J. H. Higbee; Ensigns, 
 J. H. Read, J. J. Read, D. D.Wempleand C. D. Jones; 
 Midshipman. H. J. Blake; Assistant Engineers, E. 
 B. Latch, F. A. Wilson, Isaac de Graaf, C. M. Bur- 
 chard, A. K. Fulton, H. H. Pilkington and J. E. 
 Speights; Boatswain, James Walker; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, J. L. Staples; Carpenter, O. T. Stimson; Sail- 
 maker, J. A. Holbrook; Acting Master, T. L. Peter- 
 son ; Acting-Master's Mates, H. H. Judson and Henry 
 Western, Jr. 
 
 STEAMER " PENSACOLA." 
 
 Commodore, Henry W. Morris; Lieutenants, Geo. 
 H. Perkins and C. E. McKay; Surgeon, J. W. Tay- 
 lor; Assistant Surgeons, W. B. Dick and Chas. Gib- 
 erson; Paymaster, G. L. Davis; Chief Engineer, D. 
 D. Hibbert; 2d Lieutenant Marines, J. C. Harris; 
 Assistant Engineers, S. L. P. Ayres, C. H. Ball, P. 
 G. Smith, J. L. Vauclain, J. T. Hawkins, J. C. 
 Huntley and E. A. Magee; Boatswain, Nelson Good- 
 rich; Gunner, D. A. Roe; Carpenter, J. E. Cox; Sail- 
 maker, Charles Lawrence ; Acting-Masters, G. C. 
 sS/iViiiIro F TT Grove fl.nd Edw. Herriek : Actinsr- 
 
 Masters' Mates, G. A. Storm, Joseph Kent and Chas. 
 Gainsford. 
 
 STEAMER "BROOKLYJf." 
 
 Commodore, H. H. Bell; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 Chester Hatfield; Lieutenant, A. N.Mitchell; Sur- 
 geon, Samuel Jackson; Assistant Surgeon, C. J. S. 
 Wells; Paymaster, C. W. Abbot; Chief Engineer, 
 W. B. Brooks; 1st Lieutenant Marines, James For- 
 ney; Ensign, M. W. Saunders; Midshipmen, John 
 R. Bartlettand H. T. Grafton; Assistant Engineers, 
 
 B. E. Chassaing, James Atkins, A. V. Eraser, Jr., 
 
 C. F Mayer, Jr., J. L. Bright, James Morgan and 
 J. F. Walton; Boatswain, J. A. Selmer; Gunner, T. 
 H. Fortune; Carpenter, W. T. Toy; Sailmaker, 
 Jacob Stevens; Acting-Masters, T. L. Pickering, J. 
 C. Stafford, Lyman Wells and W. C. Gibbs; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, E. S. Lowe, H. C. Leslie, Robert 
 Beardsley, H. S. BoUes and James Buck. 
 
 STEAMER "SUSQUEHAXXA." 
 
 Commodore, R. B. Hitchcock; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Montgomery Sicard; Lieutenant, Louis 
 Kempft; Sui-geon, Joseph Beals; Assistant Surgeon, 
 H. C. Nelson; Chief Engineer, George Sewell; Cap- 
 tain of Marines, P. R. Fendall, Jr. ; Ensign, Walter 
 Abbott; Assistant Engineers, J. M. Hobby, James 
 Butterworth, B. R. Arnold, Nelson Ross, R. H. 
 Buel and F. T. H. Ramsden; Boatswain, Charles 
 Miller; Gunner, E. J. Waugh; Carpenter, G. M. 
 Doughty; Sailmaker, J. C. Herbert; Acting-Masters, 
 G. B. Tiivins'stnne A 1, Ti ZprAo-n nnrl W T, 
 
zou 
 
 inn. i\A-i.y^j^ £j.ik3£\jivx 
 
 Churchill; Acting-Masters' Mates, F. G. Adams and 
 E. B. Pratt. 
 
 STEAMER "ONEIDA." 
 
 Captain, Samuel F. Hazard; Lieutenants, W. N. 
 Allen and F. S. Brown; Surgeon, John Y. Taylor; 
 Paymaster, C. W. Hassler; Chief Engineer, F. C. 
 Dade; Assistant Engineers, Horace MoMurtrie, J. H. 
 Morrison, R. H. Fitch, W. D. McHvaine and A. S, 
 Brower ; Boatswain, James Herold; Gunner, Wm. 
 Parlier; Acting-Masters, F. M. Green, Thos. Ed- 
 wards and Elijah Ross; Acting-Masters' Mates, Ed- 
 ward Bird and D. H. Clark. 
 
 STBAMBB "MONON&AHELA." 
 
 Captain, James P. McKinstry; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Jos. Watters ; Lieutenant, N. W. Thomas; 
 Surgeon, David Kindleberger; Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Forbes Parker; Acting- Ensigns, C. R. Pomeroy, 
 H. W. Grinnell and Robert Barlow; Acting-Masters' 
 Mates, H. B. Rowe, W. S. Arnaud, Fredericli Beldon 
 and C. H. Blount; Engineers: Chief, Geo. F. Kutz; 
 Joseph Frilley, N. B. Clark, P. G. Eastwick, Edw. 
 Cheney, G. J. Bissett and P. J. Langer; Boatswain, 
 WilHam Green; Gunner, J. D. Fletcher. 
 
 STEAMER " MISSISSIPPI." 
 
 Captain, Melancton Smith; Lieutenant, George 
 Dewey; Surgeon, R. T. Maccoun; Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. W. Shively; Paymaster, T. M. Taylor; Chief En- 
 gineer, W. H. Rutherford; Captain of Marines, P. H. 
 W. Fontane; Ensigns, A. S. Barker, O. A. Batchel- 
 ler and E. M. Shepard; Assistant Engineers, G. B. 
 N. Tower, J. Cox Hull, F. G. MoKean, S. R. Brooks, 
 J. J. Noble and H. W. Phillips; Boatswain, Joseph 
 Lewis; Gunner, Wm. Cope; Carpenter, John Green; 
 Acting-Masters, F. T. King, George Munday, C. F. 
 Chase, B. L. Kelly and F. E. ElUs; Acting-Masters' 
 Mate, H. B. Francis. 
 
 STEAMER "COLORADO." 
 
 Captain, John R. Goldsborough; Lieutenant- 
 Commander, Edw. W. Henry ; Lieutenant, H. W. 
 Miller; Assistant Surgeons, T. H.Whitney and Mat- 
 thew Chalmers; Paymasters, J. O. Bradford and 
 W. H. H. Williams; Chaplain, D. X. Junkin; Mar- 
 ine officers : Captain, George R. Graham; 1st Lieu- 
 tenant, S. C. Adams; Acting-Masters^ Thomas Han- 
 rahan and C. G. Folsom; Ensign, G. K. Haswell; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Henry Arev and J. J. Butler; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, J. S. Russ, A. O. Child, C H 
 Littlefield, W. G. Perry and J. L. Vennard ; Engineers : 
 Chief, Richard M. Bartleman; Acting-Assistants, C. 
 W. Pennington, G. L. Perkins, C. G. Stevens, T. J. 
 Lavery, A. E. McConnell, Robert Wallace and H. 
 B. Green; Boatswain, A. W Pomeroy; Gunner, Rob- 
 ert H. Cross; Carpenter, John A. Dixon; Sailmaker, 
 William MauU. 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAR "PORTSMOUTH," 
 
 Commander, Samuel Swartwout; Surgeon, J. 8. 
 Dungan; Assistant Surgeon, G. Baumgarten; As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Caspar Schenck; 1st Lieutenant 
 Marines, Wm. H. Hale; Boatswain, John Ross; Gun- 
 ner, T S. Cassidy; Carpenter, John Shannon; Sail- 
 nialier, H. T. Hayden ; Acting-Masters, Gilbert 
 Redmond, W. G. Mitchell and E. A. Terrell; Acting 
 Masters' Mates, T. P. Jones and T. B. Gannon. 
 
 FRIGATE "POTOMAC"— STORESHIP. 
 
 Commander, Alex. Gibson; Lieutenant, A.V. Reed; 
 Surgeon, J. D. Miller; Assistant Surgeon, N. H. Ad- 
 ams and G. R. Brush; 1st Lieutenant Marines, Geo. 
 W. Collier; Boatswain, C. A. Bragdon; Gunner, Wm. 
 H. French- Carpenter, J. C. Hoffman; Acting-Mast- 
 ers, W. H. Wood and G. D. Upham; Acting- Masters' 
 Mates, S. H. Johnson and Wm. Baker; Acting-As- 
 sistant-Paymaster, W. W. Bassett. 
 
 STEAMER "RICHMOND." 
 
 Commander, James Alden ; Lieut. -Commander, 
 A. B. Cummings ; Lieutenant, Edward Terry ; Sur- 
 
 geon, A. A. Henderson ■ Assistant Surgeon, J. D. 
 Murphy; Paymaster, Edwin Stewart; Chief Engi- 
 neer, John W. Moore: Captain of Marines, Alan 
 Ramsay; Ensign, Benj. F. Haskin; Assistant Engi- 
 neers, Eben Hoyt, Jr., A. W. Morley, G. W. W. 
 Dove, R. B. Plotts, C. E. Emery, John D. Ford 
 and Robert Weir; Boatswain, Isaac T. Choate; 
 Gunner, James Thayer; Carpenter, H. L. Dixon; 
 Sailmaker, H. T. Stocker; Acting-Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant, Fredk. S. Hill; Acting-Master, Chas. Gibbs; 
 Acting-Ensign, R. P. Swan; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 W. R. Cox, J. R Howell and T. S. Russell. 
 
 STEAMER "R. R. cutler." 
 
 Commander, Geo. F. Emmons; Lieutenant, James 
 O'Kane; Acting-Masters. P. C. Gibbs and J. F. Al- 
 corn; Acting-Ensigns, W. Collins, C. C. Gill and J. 
 O. Morse; Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, Henry Shaw; 
 Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Emory Wright; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, N. M. Dyer and N. R. Davis; Act- 
 ing-Engineers Henry Waite, W. D. Adair, Wm. 
 Morris, T. D. Hulse and T. W. Bolman. 
 
 STEAMER " WESTFIELD." 
 
 Commander, W. B. Renshaw; Lieutenant, C. W. 
 Zimmerman; Acting- Masters, F. C. Miller, L. D. 
 Smalley and J. H. Warren; Acting- Masters' Mates, J. 
 P. Arnett and J. B. Johnson; Acting- Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, E. H. AUis; Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, C. C. 
 Walden; Acting-Engineers, Wm. K. Greene, G. S. 
 Baker and C. W. Smith. 
 
 STEAMER "HARRIET LANE." 
 
 Commander, J. M. Wainwright; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Edward Lea; Paymaster, J. J. Richardson; 
 Assistant Surgeon T. N. Penrose. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " ESSEX." 
 
 Commander,C. H. B.Caldwell; Assistant Surgeon, 
 Wm. F. Terry; Acting- Vol. -Lieutenant, H. A. Glass- 
 ford; Acting-Masters, J. C. Parker and M. B. Sny- 
 der; Acting-Masters' Mate, J. H. Mammen; Acting- 
 Gunner, R. M. Long; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, 
 C. W. Slamm; Acting-Engineers, J. K- Heap and 
 W. H. Manning. 
 
 STEAMER "MONTGOMERY." 
 
 Commander, Charles Hunter ; Acting-Masters, 
 Geo. H. Pendleton and C. G. Arthur ; Acting-En- 
 signs, Robert Wiley and W. O. Putnam ; Acting- 
 Masters' Mates, H. M. Mather, C. H. Walker and 
 Henry Harare; Aeting-Assistant-Surgeon, D. F. Lin- 
 coln; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Joseph Watson; 
 Acting-Engineers, G. H. Wade, James Pollard, John 
 Mulliolland, F.W. H. Whitaker and John McEwan. 
 
 STEAMER "KANAWHA." 
 
 Commander, John C. Febiger ; Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. H. Tinkham ; Assistant Engineers, Edward 
 Farmer, F. S. Barlow, Hiram Parker and W. S. 
 Cherry; Acting-Master, T. C. Dunn; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, E. L. Hubbell, R, P. Boss and R. B. Smith; 
 Acting- Assistant -Paymaster, L. L. Penniman. 
 
 STEAMER "new LONDON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Abner Read ; Lieuten- 
 ant, Benj. F. Day ; Acting-Master, W. D. Roath ; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Peter Faunce; Aoting-Assist- 
 ant-Surgeon, L. H. Kindall ; Acting- Assistant-Pay- 
 master, F. H. Thompson- Acting-Engineers, H. P. 
 Powers, D. M. Howell, John Brooks and Henry 
 Farmer. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "KINEO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George M. Ransom ; 
 Lieutenant, Frederick Rodgers; Assistant Surgeon, 
 A. S. Oberly ; Assistant Engineers, S. W. Cragg, 
 James Maughlin, C. P. Hollingsworth and C. J. 
 McConnell; Acting-Masters, Oliver Colburn and L. 
 A. Brown; Acting-Masters' Mates, W.8. Keen, John 
 Bartol, Jr., W. H. Davis and G. A. Faunce; Acting- 
 Assistant-Paymaster, S. P. N. Warner. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 281 
 
 €tDN-BOAT " PEMBINA." 
 
 Lieutenant'Commander, Win. G. Temple; Lieu- 
 tenant, Roderick Prentiss; Assistant Surgeon, A. 
 W. H. Hawkins; Assistant Paymaster, H. L. Wait; 
 Assistant Engineers, Jeflferson Young, Jolin Van 
 Vovenberg, Absalom Kirby and J. F. Bingham; 
 Acting-Masters, Wm. Rogers and J. A. Jackaway; 
 Acting-Ensigiis, Wm. Sydden and B. M. Chester; 
 Acting-Masters' Mate, H. C. Cochrane. 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAR "VINCBNNES." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John Madigan, Jr.; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, D. M. Skinner; Second-Lieutenant 
 Marines, N. L. Nokes; Acting-Boatswain, John 
 Smith; Acting-Gunner, Wm. Wilson; Acting-Car- 
 penter, A. O. Goodsoe; Acting-Sailmaker, Nicholas 
 Lynch; Acting-Masters, W. H. Churchill, J. T. 
 Seaver, J. R. Hamilton and O. B. Warren; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. J. A. Kissam. 
 STEAMER "HATTERAS." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Homer C. Blake; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, E. S. Matthews; Acting-Masters, H. O. 
 Porter, Enoch Brooks and G. D. Hoffner; Acting- 
 Masters' Mates, J. W. Hazlitt, A. H. Berry and T. G. 
 McGrath; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. A. Conk- 
 ling; Acting-Engineers, A. M. Covert, J. C. Cree, 
 Jacob Colp and B. C. Bourne. 
 
 GUNBOAT " SCIOTA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Reigart B. Lowry; Lieu- 
 tenant F. O. Davenport; Assistant Surgeon, J. H. 
 Clark; Assistant Engineers, C. B. De Valin, H. M. 
 Quig, A. H. Price and Edw. Curtis; Acting-Master, 
 A. MeFarlane; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Field and S. S. 
 Beck; Acting-Master's Mate, 8. H. Bemis; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. H. Lockwood. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "CAYUGA." 
 Lieutenant-Commander, D. A. McDermot; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, Edw. Bogart; Assistant Engineers, 
 J. M. Harris, W. W. Sydney, J. C. Chaffee and Ralph 
 Aston; Acting-Masters, E. D. Percy and John Han- 
 son; Acting-Masters' Mates, James Gillin, W. W. 
 Patten, F. P. Stevens, and R. O. Lanfere; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Whiffen. 
 
 STEAMER "CLIFTON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Richard L. Law; Midship- 
 man, H. T. French; Acting-Masters, Robert Rhodes 
 and B. S. Weeks; Acting-Ensign, W. W. Weld; 
 Acting-Masters' Mate, Loring Cannon; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, D. D. T. Nestell; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. S, Carels; Acting-Engineers, James 
 A. Fox, S. S. Vollum, F. J. Bradley and G. W. Spies. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "AROOSTOOK." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Samuel R. Franklin; 
 Lieutenant, T. S. Spencer; Assistant Surgeon, C. J. 
 Cleborne; Assistant Engineers, W. J. Buehler, 
 George R. Holt, James Entwistle and Samuel Gragg; 
 Acting-Masters, Eben Hoyt and W. A. Maine; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, Louis R. Hammersly, C. F. 
 Palmer, Edw. Culbert and J. C. Henry; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. L. Pynchon. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "KATAHDIN." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Francis A. Roe; Lieu- 
 tenant, Nathaniel Green; Assistant Surgeon, Som- 
 erset Robinson; Assistant Engineers, T. M. Duke- 
 hart, W. J. Reid, W. W. Heaton and John Mclntyre; 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Hartshorn and J. G. Green; 
 Acting-Masters' Mates, Geo. Leonard, John Leeds 
 and Frank Kemble; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 H. LeRoy Jones. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "ALBATROSS." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John E. Hart; 3d Assist- 
 ant Engineei;, C. H. Ball; Acting-Masters, T. B. 
 Dubois and C. S. Washburne; Acting-Ensign, J. H. 
 Harris; Acting-Masters' Mate, Win. Harcourt; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, W. J. Burge; Acting Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, G. R. Martin, Acting Engineers, J. 
 W. Smyth, L. J. M. Boyd and C. H. Slack. 
 
 STEAMER " POCAHONTAS." 
 Lieutenant-Commander, W. M. Gamble; Lieuten- 
 ant, J. P. McGlensey; Assistant Surgeon, A. C. 
 Rhoades; Assistant Engineers, Caleb E. Lee, W. F. 
 Fort and G. C. Julan; Acting-Masters, Edw. Baker 
 and Thomas Symmes; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. M. 
 Braisted, O. S. Willey and Caleb Fellowes; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Theo. Kitchen; Acting-Engi- 
 neer, John Jordan. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "KENNEBECK." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Russell; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Chas. H. Perry; Assistant Engineers, 
 Henry W. Fitch, B. C. Gowing, E. E. Roberts and 
 L. W. Robinson; Acting-Masters, H. C. Wade and 
 Wm. Brooks; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. W. Merry- 
 man, H. E. Tinkhaiu and J. D. Ellis; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, C. L. Burnett. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "ITASCA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, R. F. R. Lewis; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Heber Smith; Assistant Paymaster, A. J. 
 Pritchard; Assistant Engineers, T. Jones and John 
 Borthwick; Acting-Masters, Edmund Jones and 
 Sylvanus Nickerson; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. B. 
 Crane, W. E. Bridges, George Spencer and Henry 
 Miron; Acting-Engineers, David Frazier, H. C. Hen- 
 shaw and M. Gerry. 
 
 STEAMER "TENNESSEE." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, P. C. Johnson; Assistant 
 Surgeon, H. M. Wells; Acting-Masters, J. D. Childs, 
 Ezra Leonard, G. E. Nelson and S. V. Bennis; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, M. W. McEntee, A. P. Sampson 
 and Oscar Peck; Acting-Gunner, Nathaniel Hobbs; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, B. F. D. Pitch; Acting- 
 Engineers, J. E. Schultz, G. L. Harris, Samuel Rob- 
 inson, E. C. Mayloy and Thomas Fitzgerald. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "OWASCO." 
 
 Lietenant-Commander, Henry Wilson; Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. W. Leavitt: Assistant Engineers. W. 
 K. Purse. J. A. Scott, C. H. Greenleaf and D. M. 
 Egbert; Acting- Masters, 8. A. Swimmerton and T. 
 D. Babb; Acting- Masters' Mates, John Ulter and J. 
 G. Arbona; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Richard 
 Beardsley. 
 
 GON-BOAT "WINONA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Aaron W. Weaver; Lieu- 
 tenant, W. 8. Schley; Assistant Surgeon, Arthur 
 Mathewson; Assistant Engineers, E. 8. Boynton, 
 Edward Gay and R. L. Wamaling; Acting-Master, 
 Charles Hallet; Acting Ensign, F. H. Beers; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, H. D. Burdett and Alfred Staigg; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 8. F. Train; Acting- 
 Assistant Engineer, J. W. MUestead. 
 
 GUN-BOAT "PINOLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James Stillwell; Lieu- 
 tenant, G. Watson Sumner; Assistant Surgeon, L. 
 M. Lyon; Assistant Engineers, John Johnson, B. B. 
 Clemens, W. F. Law, John Everding and W. F. 
 Pratt; Acting-Masters, W. P. Gibbs and J. G. Loyd; 
 Acting-Masters' Mates, W. H. Thompson, C. V. 
 Rummell and J. G. Rosling; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. Stewart Warren. 
 
 STEAMER "j. p. JACKSON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Henry A. Adams; Acting- 
 Masters, M. B. Crowell, J. F. Dearborn and Wm. 
 Hedger; Acting-Masters' Mates, Wm. H. Howard, 
 Jeremiah Murphy and W. J. B. Laurence; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, T. 8. Yard; Assistant Paymaster, 
 H. Melville Hanna; Acting-Engineers, J. B. Morgan 
 and J. D. Caldwell. 
 
 STEAMER " CALHOUN." 
 Lieutenant-Commander, T. McK. Buchanan; Act- 
 ing-Master, M. Jordan; Acting-Ensign, H. D. Foster; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, R. C. Bostwick and J. L. 
 Blauvelt; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Ira C. White- 
 head; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. M. 'VVat- 
 mough; Acting-Engineers, W. D. Brown, R. W. 
 Mars, G. W. Baird and P. H. Pales. 
 
282 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 STBAMER "ESTRELLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. P. Cooke; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, L. Richards; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geon, B. F. Wilson; Acting-Engineer, Robert Stott. 
 STORE-SHIP "relief." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, B. D. Manton; Act- 
 ing-Master, N. 8. Morgan; Acting-Master's Mates^ 
 \Vm. Jennevand M. J. Nicholson; Acting-Assistani 
 Surgeon, Celso Pierucci; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, E. K. Gibson. 
 
 STEAMER "kinsman." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Geo. Wiggins; Act- 
 ing-Master, A. 8. Wiggins. 
 
 STEAMER "KENSINGTON." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Fred. Crocker; Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant, N. W. Hammond; Act- 
 ing-Masters, Geo. Taylor, C. M. Tinker and C. W. 
 Wilson- Acting-Masters' Mates, Robert Finney and 
 F. A. Leach; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John E. 
 Cobb; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, John F. Tar- 
 bell; Acting-Engineers, Alex. Auchinbeck, T. W. O. 
 Conner, W. S. Harden, S. B. Runnels, A. B. Besse 
 and J. C. Mockabee. 
 
 BiRK "ARTHUR." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Thomas F. Wade 
 Acting- Masters, W. O. Lunt and Albert Cook; Act- 
 ing Masters' Mates, Wm. Barker, J. C. Constant 
 and C. 8. Bellows; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, O. D. 
 Root; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, M. B. Osborn. 
 
 SCHOONER "RACHEL SEAMAN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Quincy A. Hooper; 
 Acting-Ensign, Edwin Janorin; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Wm. H. Metz. 
 
 SCHOONER "HENRY JANES." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Lewis W. Penning- 
 ton. 
 
 SCHOONER "ORVETTA." (BOMB.) 
 
 Acting-Master, F. E. Blanchard; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, E. O. Adams and W. H. Monroe. 
 
 BRIG "BOHIO." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Geo. W. Browne and W. M. Stan- 
 nard; Acting-Masters' Mates, James Sheppard and 
 S. C. Heath; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. M. 
 Skillman. 
 
 SCHOONER "JOHN GRIFFITHS." (BOMB.) 
 
 Acting- Master, Henry Brown; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Asa Hawes and John McAllister. 
 
 SCHOONER "CHARLOTTE." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. D. Bruner. 
 
 SCHOONER "SARAH BRUEN." (BOMB.) 
 
 Acting - Master, A. Christian; Acting -Master's 
 Mates, Sylvester Rowland, B. G. Cahoon and J. M. 
 Chad wick. 
 
 SCHOONER "MARIA A. WOOD." 
 
 Acting-Master, Samuel C. Cruse; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, F. C. Way and Charles Port. 
 
 SHIP "MORNING LIGHT." 
 
 Acting-Masters, John Dillingham, H. W. AVash- 
 burn, W. W. Fowler and L. H. Partridge; Acting- 
 Masters' Mates, Geo. H. Riee and J. L. Chambers; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John W. Shrify; Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, W. S. Blunt. 
 
 BARK "W. G. ANDERSON." 
 
 Acting-Masters, N. D'Oyly and Wm. Eailey; Act- 
 ing-Masters' Mates, Roswell Davis and R. H. Carey; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Winthrop Butler; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Louis L. Scovel. 
 
 STEAMER "DIANA." 
 
 Acting- Master, Ezra S. Goodwin- Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John D. Trott. 
 
 BARK "HORACE BEALES." 
 
 Acting-Master, D. P. Heath; Assistant Surgeon, 
 R. T. Edes; Acting-Ensign, J. F. Perkins; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, James West and Eugene Biondi. 
 
 STORE-SHIP "NIGHTINGALE." 
 
 Acting-Masters, D. B. Home and Edwin E. Drake; 
 Acting-Masters' Mates, Thomas Stevens and Alonzo 
 Gowdy; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Arthur Ricket- 
 son; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. D. Kimberly. 
 
 COAL-SHIP "PAMPERO." 
 
 Acting-Master, Charles Huggins; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Charles Bostwick; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. H. Langsley; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. A. 
 Pancoast. 
 
 STEAMER "SACHEM." 
 
 Acting-Master, Amos Johnson; Acting-Ensign, A. 
 H. Reynolds; Acting- Master's Mates, G. C. J)olliver 
 and L. C. Grainger; Acting-Engineers, John Eraser, 
 J. R. Wall and G. C M. Wolfe. 
 
 SCHOONER " KITTATINNY." 
 
 Acting-Masters, G. W. Lamson and A. H. Atkin- 
 son; Acting-Masters' Mate, J. G. Crocker; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. C. Bowman. 
 
 BARK "kuhn." 
 Acting-Masters, R. G. Lee, J. T. Harden and W- 
 
 F. Hunt; Acting-Masters' Mate, AVm. Edgar; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J B. Hazelton. 
 
 STORE-SHIP "FEARNOT." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Daniel S. Murphy and T. W. Wil- 
 liams; Acting-Masters' Mates, Fred. Furbish and G. 
 H. Benson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Augustus 
 Esenwein. 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAB "PREBLE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. F. Shankland; Acting-En- 
 sign.s, B. B. Knowlton, L. B. King and J. S. Clark; 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. 8. Knight; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, F. P. Parks; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. 
 J. Hoodless; Boatswain, John Bates; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, J. A. Cummins; Carpenter, J. McParlane; Sail- 
 maker, G. W. Giet. 
 
 YACHT "CORYPHEUS." 
 
 Acting-Master, A. T. Spear. 
 
 SCHOONER "OLIVER H. LEE.'' (BOMB.) 
 
 Acting-Master, Washington Godfrey; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, A. T. Parsons, J. A. Chadwiek and T. 
 
 G. Hall. 
 
 SCHOONER " SAM HOUSTON." 
 
 Acting-Master, Geo. W. Ward; Acting Ensign, J. 
 J. Kane. 
 
 BRIG "sea FOAM." 
 
 Acting-Ensign. Thomas H. Baker; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, D. F. O'Brien and Joseph Moss. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SECOND ATTACK ON VICKSBURG, ETC. 
 
 Eear- Admiral Porter takes Command of the Mississippi Squadron. — Guerilla War- 
 fare. — General Grant's Plans. — The Army and Navy Co-operate. — Expedition 
 UP the Yazoo. — The "Cairo" Sunk by Torpedoes. — Difficulties Surmounted by 
 THE Army. — Operations op Earl Van Dorn and Forrest. — Repulse of General 
 Sherman near Chickasaw Bayou. — Attack on Haines' Bluff by the United States 
 Steamer "Benton," etc., and Death of Lieut.-Com. Gwinn. — Arrival op General 
 McClernand to Relieve Sherman. — Expedition to Arkansas Post. — Last Act of 
 the Navy in the Yazoo. — Vessels that took part in the Yazoo Expedition. 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL PORTER took 
 command of the Mississippi 
 Squadron in October, 1863. 
 Rear-Admiral Davis liad or- 
 dered all the vessels except the 
 " Benton "and the " Carondelet " up to Cairo 
 for repairs, for what with being rammed 
 and shaken up by constant firing of the 
 guns, they required a thorough overhaul- 
 ing. 
 
 There being at this moment no actual op- 
 erations in progress. Rear- Admiral Porter 
 devoted his attention to putting the vessels 
 in thorough order, changing their batteries 
 to Dahlgren guns, and adding a number of 
 small stern-wheel vessels, covered with 
 light iron (called "tin-clads"), to the squad- 
 ron. 
 
 Up to this time the gun-boats had, strictly 
 speaking, been under the control of the 
 Army, but now all this was changed, and 
 the Mississippi Squadron, like all the other 
 naval forces, was brought directly under the 
 supervision of the Secretary of the Navy. 
 The Commander-in-Chief of the squadron 
 had no longer to receive orders from Gen- 
 eral Halleck or Army headquarters, but was 
 left to manage his command to the best of 
 his ability, and to co-operate with the Army 
 whenever he could do so. This was a much 
 better arrangement, as it allowed the naval 
 commander-in-chief to exercise his judg- 
 ment, instead of being handicapped, as 
 Foote and Davis were. 
 It may be remembered when Donelson 
 
 fell, and Foote suggested to Halleck the im- 
 portance of pushing on with the gun-boats 
 to Nashville, General Halleck forbade his 
 doing so. The new arrangement left the 
 commander of the squadron at liberty to 
 undertake any expedition he thought 
 proper, and he was not in the least ham- 
 
 Eered by any instructions from the Navy 
 department regarding his movements ; so 
 that when the Army was operating in the 
 interior of Tennessee, which seemed at that 
 time the great battleground, the Navy 
 could take advantage of the opportunity 
 and make raids on the enemy along the 
 Mississippi and its tributaries, keeping down 
 guerillas, and enabling army transports to 
 go and come without hindrance. 
 
 In October, 1862, the guerillas were ex- 
 ceedingly troublesome all along the rivers, 
 firing at every unarmed steamer which 
 passed. Large quantities of goods were 
 shipped from St. Louis to points along the 
 river professedly Union, which ultimately 
 reached the Confederates. All this was 
 stopped, and the guerillas, when captured, 
 were summarily dealt with, and the houses 
 where they were harbored laid in ashes. 
 No commerce was allowed on the Missis- 
 sippi except with Memphis, and the river 
 looked almost as deserted as in the early- 
 days of its discovery, its silence being sel- 
 dom disturbed except by gun -boats and army 
 transports, and the sharp report of the how- 
 itzers as they sent the shrapnel shells into 
 the dense woods or over the hiarh banks 
 
284 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 where it might be supposed guerillas were 
 lying in wait to fire on the transports. 
 
 This was slow work compared to the ac- 
 tive warfare the iron-clads had been engaged 
 in under Foote and Davis, but they were 
 merely getting ready for the hard work be- 
 fore them and will be heard from ere long 
 again. 
 
 Before Admiral Porter left Washington 
 he was informed by the President that Gen- 
 eral McClernand had been ordered to raise 
 an Army at Springfield, 111., to prosecute the 
 siege of Vicksburg. The President ex- 
 pressed the hope that the rear-admiral 
 would co-operate heartily with General Mc- 
 Clernand in the operations to be carried on. 
 But as Vicksburg never would have been 
 taken if it had depended on General Mc- 
 Clernand's raising an Army sufficient for the 
 purpose, the admiral, immediately on his 
 arrival at Cairo, sent a message to General 
 Grant, at Holly Springs, Miss., informing 
 him of McClernand's intention, that he. 
 Porter, had assumed command of the Mis- 
 sissippi Squadron, and was ready to co- 
 operate with the Army on every occasion 
 where the services of the Navy could be 
 useful. 
 
 A few daj^s afterwards General Grant 
 arrived at Cairo and proposed an expedition 
 against Vicksburg, and asking the rear- 
 admiral if he could furnish a sufficient 
 force of gun-boats to accompany it. Grant's 
 plan was to embark Sherman from Mem- 
 phis, where he then was, with thirty thou- 
 sand soldiers, to be joined at Helena, Ar- 
 kansas, by ten thousand more. Grant him- 
 self would march from Holly Springs with 
 some sixty thousand men upon Granada. 
 General Pemberton would naturally march 
 from Vicksburg to stop Grant at Granada 
 until reinforcements could be thrown into 
 Vicksburg fi-om the south, and while Pem- 
 berton was thus absent with the greater 
 part of his Army Sherman and Porter could 
 get possession of the defences of Vicksburg. 
 
 General Grant having been informed that 
 the gun-boats would be ready to move at 
 short notice, and having sent orders to 
 Sherman to put his troops aboard the trans- 
 ports as soon as the gun-boats arrived in 
 Memphis, returned immediately to Holly 
 Springs to carry out his part of the pro- 
 gramme. 
 
 This interview between Grant and Porter 
 lasted just half an hour, and thus was 
 started the expedition against Vicksburg, 
 which, after a long and arduous siege and 
 a great expenditure of men and money, re- 
 sulted in the capture of the strongest point 
 of defence occupied by the enemy during 
 the war. 
 
 The expedition from Memphis got away 
 early in December, 1863, Commander 
 Walke, in the " Carondelet," being sent 
 
 ahead with the " Cairo," "Baron DeKalb," 
 and "Pittsburg," (iron-clads,) and the 
 " Signal " and " Marmora " (" tin-clads "), to 
 clear the Yazoo River of torpedoes and cover 
 the landing of Sherman's Army when it 
 should arrive. This arduous and perilous 
 service was well performed. On the 11th 
 of December,Commander Walke dispatched 
 the two " tin-clads " on a reconnoisance up 
 the Yazoo. They ascended some twenty 
 miles, when they were apprized of the pres- 
 ence of torpedoes by a great number of small 
 boats along the channel of the river and an 
 explosion near the " Signal." Another tor- 
 pedo was exploded from the " Marmora" by 
 firing into it with a musket as it appeared 
 just below the surface. The commanding 
 
 LIEUT.-COMMANDER T. O. SELFEIDGE, 
 (NOW CAPTAIN U. S. NAVY.) 
 
 officers of these two vessels reported that 
 with the assistance of two iron-clads to keep 
 down the sharpshooters, they could clear 
 the river of torpedoes, but nototherwise, as 
 there were rifle-pits all along the left bank 
 of the Yazoo, and the enemy were supplied 
 with light artillery. At Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Selfridge's request he was sent on 
 this duty in the " Cairo," with the " Pitts- 
 burg," Lieut. -Commanding Hoel, and the 
 ram " Queen of the West." Colonel Charles 
 EUet, Jr., commanding. These officers were 
 cautioned to be particularly careful and run 
 no risks. 
 
 On the 12th of December the vessels pro- 
 ceeded on the duty assigned them under a 
 shower of bullets from the rifle-pits, which 
 was only checked by the gun-boats dropping 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 285 
 
 close into the left bank and enfilading the 
 rifle-pits with shrapnel. This cleared the 
 enemy out, and the boats from the vessels 
 were enabled to drag for the infernal ma- 
 chines and haul them to the shore, where 
 they were destroyed by firing volleys of 
 musketry into them. 
 
 After this work had been prosecuted for 
 sometime Lieut. -Comr. Self ridge proceeded 
 ahead in the "Cairo"' to cover the "Mar- 
 mora," which was thought to be sorely be- 
 set by the enemy's sharpshooters. The 
 " Cairo " encountered a floating torpedo. 
 Two explosions in quick succession occur- 
 red, which seemed almost to lift the vessel 
 out of the water. Everything was done to 
 keep the "Cairo" afloat, but without avail, 
 and she sank in twelve minutes after the 
 explosion, in six fathoms of water, with 
 nothing but the tops of her chimneys show- 
 ing above the surface. All the crew were 
 saved. No fault was imputed to the com- 
 manding officer of the " Cairo." It was an 
 accident liable to 
 occur to any gal- 
 lant officer whose 
 zeal carries him 
 to the post of 
 danger, and who 
 is loath to let 
 others do wh at he 
 thinks he ought 
 to do himself. 
 
 This was a bad 
 day's work for a 
 beginning, but 
 the admiral 
 looked upon it 
 simply as an 
 accident of war, 
 and Selfridge 
 was immediately 
 given command of the "Conestoga." The 
 loss of the " Cairo " was the more regretted 
 as she had lately been made "shot proof," 
 by covering her weakest points with rail- 
 road iron. It appeared on examination of 
 the river banks that the torpedo wires were 
 connected with galvanic batteries, and that 
 the enemy was prepared with a system of 
 torpedo defence that would require the 
 utmost caution in ascending the Yazoo and 
 seizing a point at which to land an Army. 
 
 Eear- Admiral Porter arrived in the Yazoo 
 a day or two after the loss of the "Cairo," 
 and the whole squadron was set to work to 
 clear the river of torpedoes. The gun-boats 
 ascended to within range of the forts on 
 Haines' Bluff and brought on an engage- 
 ment with the enemy's batteries, during 
 which the boats of the squadron pushed 
 ahead, and succeeded in destroying num- 
 bers of torpedoes. 
 
 General Sherman moved his transports to 
 a point on the river called Chickasaw Bayou 
 
 U. S. lEON-CLAD "CAIRO" SUNK BY A TORPEDO. 
 (FEOM A SKETCH BT REAK-ADMIBAL WALKE.) 
 
 without the loss of a man from torpedoes or 
 sharpshooters, his landing being covered in 
 every direction by the gun-boats. 
 
 Sherman first made a feint on Haines' 
 Bluff as if to attack the works and then 
 landed at Chickasaw Bayou. Owing to the 
 late heavy rains he found the roads to Vicks- 
 burg heights almost impassable, and when 
 he attempted to advance with his Army he 
 was headed off by innumerable bayous, 
 which had to be bridged or corduroy roads 
 built around them. It was killing work. 
 
 Even at this time Vicksburg had been 
 fortified at every point, and its only ap- 
 proaches by land led through dense swamps 
 or over boggy open ground, where heavy 
 guns were placed, so as to mow down an ad- 
 vancing Army. A general has seldom had 
 so difficult a task assigned him, and there 
 was little chance of Sherman's succeeding 
 unless Pemberton had drawn off nearly all 
 his forces to oppose Grant's advance on 
 Granada, thus leaving Vicksburg without 
 
 a garrison ; for 
 even a small 
 force could hold 
 the place against 
 a vastly superior 
 attacking one. 
 
 There was only 
 one point where 
 the Confederates 
 had possibly left 
 a loophole open 
 for an enemy to 
 get in ; if they 
 neglected that 
 point it would 
 be because they 
 never supposed 
 any one would 
 attempt to pene- 
 trate swamps where men had to wade up to 
 their middle in mud and water, and the 
 passage of artillery was almost an impossi- 
 bility. 
 
 At the time of which we are writing the 
 rain had fallen in such torrents that the low 
 lands in the vicinity of Vicksburg were sub- 
 merged, the water extending nearly to the 
 base of the frowning hills covered with 
 earthworks and rifie-pits, against which an 
 Army would have made little impression. 
 There was, then, no other course but to at- 
 tack the enemy's works by the road leading 
 from Chickasaw Bayou and attempt to reach 
 the landing at the foot of the high hills 
 overlooking river and plain, where nature 
 had placed obstacles nearly as formidable 
 as the enemy's guns at other places. 
 
 Sherman gained that point and established 
 himself under the high hills it was neces- 
 sary to assault before he could see the inside 
 of Vicksburg ; but what was encountered 
 in reaching that point no one but the brave 
 
386 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 officers and men of that Army will ever 
 know. An Army of thirty thousand men 
 can accomplish a great deal when well 
 directed but it cannot convert swamps into 
 dry land. 
 
 But the enemy had not neglected the 
 swamps around Chickasaw Bayou or the 
 approaches to Vicksburg on that side. On 
 the contrary they seemed to have exercised 
 their ingenuity to make that route impass- 
 able. Acres of wood had been felled, the 
 trees overlapping one another and form- 
 ing a chevaux de /rise which extended 
 through the swamp for several miles. 
 
 The difficulties seem great enough in the 
 description, but this falls far short of the 
 reality. However Sherman and his Army 
 overcame everything and at last reached 
 terra firma. 
 
 In the meanwhile the Navy was doing 
 what it could to help the Army, but its work 
 was necessarily confined to the water, shell- 
 ing the edges of the woods all around the 
 peninsula where Sherman and his Army 
 were struggling, and keeping the enemy 
 from bringing their artillery to bear. 
 
 Sherman was of course aware of the 
 perilous character of his undertaking, and 
 the probability of his being driven back, but 
 he had one strong motive to induce him to 
 extra exertions and that was his loyalty to 
 General Grant. The latter had run consid- 
 erable risk in leaving his base at Holly 
 Springs to draw Pemberton from Vicks- 
 burg. Time was precious and Sherman had 
 to act with promptness, and he felt that it 
 was due to his chief that he should leave 
 nothing untried that would help Grant to 
 carry out his plans. Those plans were well 
 conceived but the best calculations in the 
 world were liable to be upset in the face of 
 such elements as prevailed at Chickasaw 
 Bayou, when Sherman found himself in the 
 swamp beneath the heights of Vicksburg. 
 
 Grant had left Holly Springs with a large 
 Army at the time he had appointed, merely 
 with the design of drawing Pemberton from 
 Vicksburg and thus helping Sherman in his 
 attack on that place. This was all Grant 
 proposed to do, although it was suggested 
 that in case Pemberton retreated before 
 him, Grant would follow him up. 
 
 Grant moved towards Granada and every- 
 thing looked well, but the Confederate 
 general. Earl Van Dorn, dashed into Holly 
 Springs twenty-eight miles in the rear of 
 the Union Army, capturing the garrison and 
 all their stores. At the same time General 
 Forrest pushed his cavalry into West Ten- 
 nessee, cutting the railroad to Columbus at 
 several points between that place and Jack- 
 son. This completely cut Grant off from 
 his only line of communication with the 
 North and also from his several commands. 
 Due precautions had been taken to prevent 
 
 this mishap by leaving a strong force be- 
 hind at Holly Springs, out the commanding 
 officer was not on the alert and his cajjture 
 was a complete surprise. In this raid of 
 the Confederates a million dollars' worth of 
 stores were destroyed. 
 
 Under the circumstances it was impossi- 
 ble for Grant to continue his march on 
 Granada, which Pemberton perceiving, the 
 latter returned to Vicksburg in time to 
 assist in Sherman's repulse. 
 
 Had Grant been satisfied that he could 
 subsist his Army in the enemy's country, he 
 would have doubtless pushed on to Vicksburg 
 at all hazards and the place would have 
 fallen at that time, but such was not to be. 
 "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, 
 rough hew them as we may." Had Vicks- 
 burg been taken at that moment, one of the 
 best opportunities of displaying the strength 
 and resources of the North would have been 
 lost. 
 
 Sherman made all his arrangements to 
 attack the enemy's works on the 39th of 
 December, 1863, and the assault took place 
 early on that day. One division succeeded 
 in occupying the batteries on the heights 
 and hoped shortly to reach those command- 
 ing the city of Vicksburg, but the division 
 that was to follow the advance was behind 
 time and the opportunity was lost. A por- 
 tion of Pemberton's Army had returned from 
 Granada, just in time to overwhelm and 
 drive back the small force that had gained 
 the hills. The latter were outnumbered 
 four to one and were driven back. The 
 enemy did not follow, being satisfied with 
 driving our troops from the heights and 
 there was nothing left for Sherman to do 
 but to get his Army safely back to the trans- 
 ports. 
 
 Throughout these operations the Navy 
 did everything that could be done to ensure 
 the success of General Sherman's move- 
 ment. As the soldiers pushed their way 
 through the swamps the "Benton " and two 
 other iron-clads with the "Marmora" and 
 ram "Queen of the West," moved up to 
 within easy range of Haines' Bluff. The 
 " Benton " opened on the Confederate bat- 
 teries and also shelled the road leading to 
 Vicksburg to prevent the enemy from send- 
 ing reinforcements to Vicksburg and also 
 to make them believe that Haines' Bluff 
 was the intended point of attack. 
 
 Boats were sent towards the forts to drag 
 for torpedoes with the intention if the latter 
 could be removed to advance the gun-boats 
 to close quarters. When the small boats 
 approached the enemy's works a rapid fire 
 was opened on them, but they did not retire 
 until it was supposed that the torpedoes 
 were removed and the way was clear. Then 
 the " Benton " advanced to the point where 
 the boats had ceased work, some twelve 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 287 
 
 hundred yards from the fort, or as near 
 as the' boats could operate against such 
 a fire. 
 
 At this point the Yazoo River was very- 
 narrow and only one iron-clad could pass up 
 at a time. There was no room for two ves- 
 sels to fight abreast, consequently the " Ben- 
 ton " had to bear the brunt of the battle, 
 which lasted two hours. During this time 
 the "Benton" received many heavy blows 
 from the enemy's shot and shells, while her 
 consorts had to lie idle, for if they threw 
 shells over the "Benton "they might en- 
 danger those on board. Although the " Ben- 
 ton " was much cut up her efficiency was 
 not impaired. She was hit on her bow case- 
 mates, which were "shot-proof," thirty 
 times without damage, but plunging shots 
 passed through her decks. Lieut. -Com- 
 manding Gwinn, stood on the upper deck , 
 
 LIEUT.-COMMANDER WILLIAM GWINN, U. S. NAVY. 
 
 during the whole action, as he was of opin- 
 ion that a pilot-house or casemate was no 
 place for the commander of a ship of war 
 m battle. This idea cost him his life, for 
 he was struck with a fifty-pound rifle shell 
 which tore away the muscles of his right 
 arm and breast. His executive officer, Act- 
 ing Lieutenant George P. Lord, was severely 
 wounded, and ten of the crew were killed 
 and wounded. 
 
 It was impossible for gun-boats alone to 
 capture the works at Haines' Bluff, as but 
 one vessel at a time could operate against 
 them. Their reduction required a combined 
 Army and Navy attack. The Confederates 
 proved themselves good artillerists but had 
 two of their guns dismounted by the " Ben- 
 ton's " fire. The gallant commander of the 
 "Benton" notwithstanding his dreadful 
 wounds, lingered two days and died in the 
 admiral's cabin deeply regretted by every 
 
 officer and man in the squadron. The gun- 
 boats withdrew from before Haines' Bluff 
 for it appeared evident that Vicksburg could 
 not be taken from that direction. 
 
 General Sherman came to the same con- 
 clusion with regard to attacking it from 
 the Chickasaw Bayou. He met with no 
 loss in withdrawing his troops to the trans- 
 ports, but in the assault he lost in killed, 
 wounded, and missing, seventeen hundred 
 men, a large number considering the short 
 time his Army was actually engaged. The 
 soldiers had to work their way back to the 
 Yazoo through heavy rains, and the hard- 
 ships they encountered in the march can 
 hardly be realized by those who did not 
 share them. That evening the sun came 
 out again as if to let the soldiers dry them- 
 selves and all the signs promised fair 
 weather. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Porter being still hopeful, 
 proposed to run the iron-clads at night close 
 up under the forts and attack at close quar- 
 ters with grape and canister, while a divis- 
 ion of the Army disembarked and assaulted 
 Haines' Bluff in the rear. General Sherman 
 approved the plan and General Steele and 
 his division were assigned to co-operate 
 with the Navy on the following night, but 
 the good weather indications proved a delu- 
 sion and a snare, and on the afternoon of the 
 day when the attack was to have been made 
 on Haines' Bluff, a fog set in that shut out 
 all objects at a distance of fifty feet, and 
 this continued until the next day. 
 
 The proposed expedition could do nothing 
 on such a foggy night. At noon the follow- 
 ing day it began to rain again heavier than 
 ever and the land almost disappeared from 
 sight. There was no longer any chance for 
 a successful attack on Haines' Bluff and 
 nothing was left but for the Army and 
 Navy to retire from the scene where they 
 had been so unsuccessful. 
 
 General Sherman, on visiting the rear- 
 admiral on board his flag-ship, opposed 
 further operations and at once proposed 
 that Vicksburg should be given up for the 
 present,^and as his troops were somewhat 
 demoralized he must go with them to attack 
 Arkansas Post and secure a success which 
 would impart new confidence to them. 
 He desired the admiral to go along with 
 the gun-boats, and this being agreed to, 
 preparations were made to start next day 
 on the new expedition. 
 
 The following morning General Sherman 
 learned that Major-General McClernandhad 
 arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo to take 
 cominand of Sherman' s Army. This was a 
 surprise to every one, for although it was 
 known that McClernand had received orders 
 to proceed to Illinois and raise troops for 
 the purpose of undertaking the siege of 
 Vicksburg, yet it never was supposed 
 
288 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 that he would take command of forty- 
 thousand men of Grant's Army, without 
 even paying the latter, his superior oflfi- 
 cer, the compliment of informing him of 
 his intention. However, General McCler- 
 nand came with such orders from Wash- 
 ington that Sherman unhesitatingly agreed 
 to turn over the command to him. 
 
 As Admiral Porter did not come under 
 Army rule and knew exactly the terms on 
 which General McClernand had received 
 his orders, he declined to have anything to 
 do with the proposed expedition to Arkansas 
 Post, unless General Sherman should go in 
 command of the troops. To this McCler- 
 nand agreed, only stipulating that he should 
 accompany the expedition. So the matter 
 was arranged, and the expedition started. 
 
 The last act of the Navy in the Yazoo was 
 one to be remembered by the Confederates 
 who, finding that our troops were re-embark- 
 ed and ready to depart, determined to 
 pounce on the rear transports and give them 
 a parting remembrance. 
 
 Two regiments made an attack with field- 
 pieces which were hauled along the road 
 made by Sherman's soldiers, but unfortun- 
 ately for the enemy they mistook the " Lex- 
 ington," " Marmora," "Queen of the West" 
 and '"Monarch" — the two latter Colonel 
 EUet's rams — for transports. Before the 
 Confederates could fire a second round, 
 these vessels opened on them with shrapnel, 
 
 grape and canister, cutting them up and 
 sending them flying in all directions without 
 the loss of a man on our side. 
 
 In the meantime the transports steamed 
 down the river in good order leaving noth- 
 ing behind that could be of any use to the 
 enemy. 
 
 The following named vessels took part in 
 the Yazoo expedition : " Black Hawk,"(flag- 
 ship) Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, 
 "Benton," Lieutenant-Commander Wm. 
 Gwinn, ' ' Baron DeKalb, ' ' Lieutenant- 
 Commander Jno. G. Walker, "Carondelet," 
 Commander Henry Walke, " Louisville," 
 Lieutenant-Commander E. K. Owen, "Cin- 
 cinnati," Lieutenant-Commanding G. M. 
 Bache, "Lexington," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander James W. Shirk, "Signal," Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant John Scott, " Romeo," 
 Acting-Ensign R. B. Smith, " Juliet," Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant Edward Shaw, 
 "Forest Rose," Acting-Master Geo. W. 
 Brown, " Rattler," Lieutenant-Commander 
 Watson Smith, " Marmora," Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant Robert Getty, "Monarch," 
 (ram) "Queen of the West," (ram) Colonel 
 Chas. EUet, Jr. 
 
 The second attack on Vicksburg termin- 
 ated quite as unsatisfactorily as the first, 
 and every one came to the conclusion that 
 Vicksburg could only be conquered by a 
 long and troublesome siege which would 
 severely test the endurance of both parties. 
 
CH A PTER XXV. 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORT HINDMAN OR ARKANSAS POST. 
 
 Arrival of the Expedition. — The Army in the Rear op Arkansas Post. — Plan of 
 THE Fort. — The Gun-boats in Position. — The Fort opens Fire. — The Guns op the 
 Fort silenced by the Gun-boats. — Sad Havoc. — The "Rattler's" hot Reception. 
 — The Battle renewed at Daylight. — The Guns op the Fort again Silenced.^ 
 Sherman storms the Fort in the Rear. — The Army meets with an Unexpected 
 Reception. — The Fort Surrenders. — The Honor of the Defenders op the Fokt 
 Dimmed. — Harrowing Scenes. — Terrible Loss of Life. — McClernand on Hand. — 
 Expedition up the White River. — St. Charles Deserted. — Munitions of War 
 Captured. — Grant assumes Command op all the Forces. 
 
 THE expedition against Arkansas 
 Post arrived at a point four miles 
 below the enemy's works, January 
 10th, 1863. 
 The Army landed without delay 
 at 10 a. m., and proceeded on their march 
 to get in the rear of the enemy's works; but 
 they had bad roads on which to travel and 
 thick undergrowth to make their way 
 through. Fifteen miles had to be marched 
 over before the back of Arkansas Post could 
 be reached, and the major part of the night 
 was occupied in achieving their purpose. 
 There were some extensive rifle-pits and 
 works thrown up from which to operate 
 with field pieces. These, as the Army started 
 on their march, were manned and prepared 
 to contest the advance, but the flag-ship 
 " Black Hawk," Lieutenant-Commander 
 Breese, and the " Rattler," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Watson Smith, closed up on the 
 enemy's works and drove them into the 
 woods, so that the Army had no impedi- 
 ment in its way. 
 
 General McClernand had accompanied 
 the expedition, it was supposed merely as a 
 spectator, but about 3 o'clock, he rode up to 
 the bank near which the gun-boats laid and 
 informed Admiral Porter that Sherman was 
 in position in the rear of the work, and 
 waiting for the gun-boats to begin the 
 attack on the fort. This could not very well 
 be the case, but the gun-boats " Louisville," 
 Lieutenant-Commander Owen, the " De 
 
 Kalb," Lieutenant - Commander Walker, 
 and the "Cincinnati," Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding George Bache, were ordered to go 
 up within 400 yards, while the smaller ves- 
 sels were to follow and use their howitzers 
 as circumstances would admit. 
 
 Arkansas Post was a large, well con- 
 structed fort built with the best engineering 
 skill. It mounted thirteen guns : two ten- 
 inch Columbiads, one nine-inch Dahlgren, 
 and ten rifled guns of various calibres. The 
 Columbiads were mounted in casemates 
 covered in with four layers of heavy rail- 
 road iron, neatly fitted together to offer a 
 smooth surface, and slanting iron roof to 
 make the shot glance off. These were 
 simply after the plan of the iron-clads afioat 
 and were formidable structures. 
 
 The nine-inch gun was mounted in an em- 
 brasure protected by sand-bags, as were 
 the ten rifled guns. All the guns except 
 one bore down the river and on the vessels 
 coming abreast of the forts. The fort itself 
 was built close to the river; the front not 
 being more than twenty yards from the 
 bank. 
 
 There was nothing known to the military 
 art that had been neglected in constructing 
 these works, and to look at them one would 
 suppose they could defy a naval force three 
 times as strong as that now about to be 
 brought against them. 
 
 As was afterwards learned, the Confeder- 
 ates supposed the gun-boats would attack 
 
390 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 the works from a distance of 1200 yards, and 
 range buoj^s had been placed at that dis- 
 tance by which to regulate the enemy's fire, 
 and they had been practicing at that dis- 
 tance on targets so that the gunners would 
 become expert. But all these calculations 
 were upset by the " DeKalb " leading, and 
 the "Cincinnati" and Louisville" close 
 behind her, running up and taking position 
 close to the fort where the current was slack 
 
 LIEUT.-COMIIANDER JOHN G. WALKEB (NOW CAPTAIN) 
 U. S. NAVY. 
 
 and the vessels could maintain their places 
 without any difficulty; while the other ves- 
 sels could take such positions in the river 
 as best suited and throw in shrapnel from 
 their small shell guns. 
 
 The fort opened on the iron-clads as soon 
 as they reached the range buoys — made 
 some good shots, and then lost their range, 
 during which time the gun-boats were 
 within 150 yards of them and firing accu- 
 rately and steadily through their iron case- 
 mates, and committing sad havoc in the 
 rear amongst the soldiers. It was evident 
 from the first that this fort was doomed to 
 fall, under the fire of the gun-boats. The 
 superiority of their fire over that of the 
 guns in the fort was such that the latter 
 were silenced in the space of an hour, and 
 the gun-boats ceased firing. As darkness 
 was coming on and the smoke hung densely 
 over the river, the gun-boats dropped down 
 and tied up to the bank. 
 
 Just before the gun boats dropped down 
 the tin-clad "Rattler" was ordered to run 
 past the fort and try to reach a point seven 
 miles up the river, and cut off the enemy's 
 troops in case they should attempt to es- 
 
 cape by that way, the only road open to 
 retreat by. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Smith performed 
 this duty handsomely as far as he could, but 
 after passing the fort he became entangled in 
 some piles the enemy had driven down, and 
 which were just awash, the enemy opened on 
 him while in this condition, and raked him 
 very eifectually fore and aft, knocking his 
 cabins to pieces and doing a good deal of 
 damage to his hull, but as the iron-clads 
 opened their batteries again the firing from 
 the forts ceased, and the " Rattler " drifted 
 back out of the enemy's range. 
 
 In this attack, all the gun-boats were beau- 
 tifully handled and not much injured; the 
 success of the afternoon gave good promise 
 for the morrow. The "Lexington," Lieu- 
 tenant Commander Shirk, held a position 
 400 yards below the forts, and although 
 pretty well cut up had no casualties. 
 
 General McClernand's report that General 
 Sherman had arrived in the rear of the 
 works with his troops, might have led to ill 
 results, for the enemy might have escaped 
 that night with all his forces across the 
 ferry; but fortunately General Churchill, 
 the Confederate commander-in-chief, was 
 
 PLAN or FORT HINDM.AN OR AEKANSAS POST. 
 
 five miles away from the fort, waiting to 
 anticipate Sherman and attack him at a 
 disadvantage, and knew not how roughly 
 the forts were being handled by the gun- 
 boats ; and Colonel Dunnington, the com- 
 mander of the fort, (who had formerly been 
 a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy) being a brave 
 man and having a brave set of naval offi- 
 cers with him, did not consider himself as 
 worsted by a great deal. 
 
 For many hours the garrison worked with 
 great zeal to repair damages, and the heavy 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 291 
 
 strokes of their hammers on the iron 
 covering could be heard all through the 
 night. 
 
 At daylight, the enemy seemed prepared 
 for action again, and this time General 
 Sherman having sent a messenger to inform 
 the admiral that he was in position and 
 was gradually encircling the Confederate 
 Army, the gun-boats were ordered to take 
 position again not further than 50 yards 
 from the fort and begin to fire as soon as 
 they pleased. 
 
 The battle commenced and soon became 
 very hot; when the tin-clads "Glide," Lieu- 
 tenant-CommandingWoodworth, and "Rat- 
 tler," Lieutenant-Commander Smith, and 
 the ram " Monarch," Colonel EUet, were 
 ordered by the admiral to force their way 
 through the obstructions above the forts, 
 reach the ferry and cut off the enemy's 
 retreat. 
 
 In a short time all the guns in the works 
 were silenced and the flag-ship " Black 
 Hawk" was run to the bank alongside the 
 fort to board it with her crew; at the same 
 
 APPEARANCE OF IX-IXCH GUN SILENCED BY THE 
 "CINCINNATI." 
 
 time a messenger was sent to General Sher- 
 man informing him of the condition of 
 affairs, and that if he would send a storm- 
 ing party from the rear, the Navy would 
 board from the water side. 
 
 While waiting for Sherman's troops the 
 " Black Hawk " laid alongside the fort, her 
 high upper works on a level with the em- 
 brasures, while three boat-guns on wheels, 
 on the upper deck, completely commanded 
 the inside of the works, which presented a 
 dreadful scene of killed and wounded. A 
 large number of artillery horses had been 
 kept in the fort for some reason, and the 
 shells and shrapnel had made sad havoc 
 with the dead and dying men, mixed up 
 with the killed and wounded animals. It 
 was a scene ever to be remembered. 
 
 In the meantime, while waiting for Sher- 
 man's assaulting party, all firing had 
 ceased on both sides and the victorious 
 sailors were quietly looking on at the dread- 
 ful havoc that had been made inside the 
 works, not anticipating that the enemy 
 would make anv more resistance. Their 
 
 colors had been shot away and had not 
 been hoisted again. 
 
 At one time the admiral determined to 
 assault without waiting for the Army, but 
 courtesy to the general required that the 
 Navy should wait until the Army assault- 
 ing party should appear, which they did in 
 a few minutes, then there was a simultan- 
 eous movement from all parts of the fort 
 by the Confederates (who had been con- 
 cealed behind or underneath the buildings 
 that had been knocked down), and with 
 muskets in their hands they rushed to the 
 rear parapet and crouched down behind the 
 works. 
 
 It was not known what this movement 
 signified, the boat-guns on the flag-ship's 
 upper deck (the flag-ship was a large river 
 steamer unaltered), could have cut them to 
 pieces, but there had been so much 
 slaughter, the admiral would not fire on 
 them, thinking they would throw down 
 their arms as soon as Sherman's men got 
 within twenty yards of them; but not so, 
 for when our troops got within thirty or 
 forty yards the Confederates 'rose together 
 and poured in a withering volley from 
 about 450 muskets, and nearly every bullet 
 told. 
 
 Our soldiers staggered at this unexpected 
 reception, stopped, and then retreated, 
 while at the same moment there appeared 
 a white handkerchief or white cloth held up 
 by every one of the Confederate shooters. 
 
 The officers and men from the "Black 
 Hawk" boarded the fort as the enemy fired 
 their volley, when the latter all laid down 
 their arms and surrendered ; the com- 
 mander and officers handing their swords 
 to the admiral. 
 
 It was an embarrassing moment when 
 the Federal troops were moving to the 
 assault, and the enemy were waiting to re- 
 ceive them with bullets. The Navy could 
 not fire without hitting the Federal troops, ' 
 and the whole thing was so sudden and un- 
 expected that the guns were not fired from 
 the "Black Hawk." 
 
 It seems that the garrison of the fort be- 
 longed to the Confederate ^avy and deter- 
 mined to surrender only to the U. S. Navy; 
 yet they wanted to have a last blow at the 
 soldiers, which they did ; but it dimmed the 
 honor they had won in so gallantly defend- 
 ing the fort ; for there could be nothing 
 gained by this act, their capture was too 
 certain. They could not run away from 
 the forts, for Sherman's army surrounded 
 the entire Confederate force on the outside, 
 including General Churchill and 6,000 
 troops, and the ferry was blockaded by the 
 light gun-boats above — but these were some 
 of the things the Confederates did which 
 might properly have prevented them from 
 receiving anv quarter. 
 
293 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Besides the 6,000 men that surrendered to 
 General Sherman, tliere were 500 left alive 
 in the forts, and it was curious in looking 
 over the list of prisoners to see added to 
 the names, " Seaman," " Ordinary Sea- 
 man," "Coal-heaver," "Fireman," etc. 
 These men were part of the crew and offi- 
 cers of the Confederate ram " Ponchartrain," 
 built at Little Rock, Ark., and the guns 
 in the fort had been intended to form the 
 battery of that vessel, which was destroyed 
 by the enemy on hearing of the capture of 
 Fort Hindman (Arkansas Post). 
 
 General McClernand assumed all the di- 
 rection of affairs on the surrender of the 
 fort and the Confederate troops, and wrote 
 the report of this affair, in which he gave 
 fair credit to the Navy ; but he actually 
 
 at Little Rock, which could have caused 
 the Federal Navy in the West a great deal 
 of trouble, was ensured. 
 
 In the battle, everything went on so 
 smoothly, there were no mistakes made, 
 and the officers and seamen gained confi- 
 dence in the gun-boats which they lacked 
 before. But these had been much strength- 
 ened and improved since the battles of 
 Forts Donelson and Henry, and had entire 
 new guns on them instead of the inferior 
 batteries they started out with ; moreover, 
 the officers had learned that the way to 
 fight these batteries was at close quarters. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanders Walker, Owen, 
 Bache, Shirk, Watson, Smith, Woodworth, 
 Breese, and the commander of the " Mon- 
 arch " were all handsomely mentioned by 
 
 CASEMATE NO. 1 DESTROYED BY THE U. S. GUN-BOAT 
 •'BAEON DE KALB." 
 
 CASEMATE NO. 2 DESTROYED BY THE U. 8. GDN-BOAT 
 • LOUISVILLE." 
 
 APPEAEANCE OF CASEMATES BEFORE THE ATTACK 
 (COVERED WITH RAILROAD IRON). 
 
 had nothing to do with the management of 
 the Army, and was down four miles below 
 the forts during all the operations. Sher- 
 man was virtually the military commander. 
 But from this time the Army was under 
 McClernand's command, and after the pris- 
 oners were received and sent off in trans- 
 ports and the forts and guns demolished as 
 far as could be done by the Army, the fleet 
 and transports retraced their steps towards 
 Vicksburg. and landed at Milliken's Bend or 
 Young's Point about seven miles above 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 The fight at Fort Hindman was one of 
 the prettiest little affairs of the war, not 
 so little either, for a very important post 
 fell into our hands with 6,500 prisoners, 
 and the destruction of a powerful ram 
 
 REAR VIEW OF CASEMATE NO. 2. 
 
 the admiral in his report to the Navy De- 
 partment. 
 
 This battle gave general satisfaction to 
 the public. It was unexpected and few 
 knew where Fort Hindman was situated. 
 
 Directly after the capture of Fort Hind- 
 man, Lieutenant -Commander Walker in 
 the " De Kalb," and Lieutenant- Commander 
 George Bache in the "Cincinnati." were 
 sent up the White River to capture the 
 forts erected tliere by the Confederates, 
 and General Gorman, U. S. A., accompan- 
 ied the expedition with troops in the trans- 
 ports. 
 
 On the arrival of the expedition at St. 
 Charles, the fort under construction was 
 evacuated and the guns carried off in the 
 steamer " Blue Wing," but these were re- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 293 
 
 captured at Duvall's Bluff, shipped in cars 
 ready to be transported to Little Rock, the 
 Confederates deserting the place. The 
 railroad depot was destroyed by fire, all the 
 rolling stock burned, and all the munitions 
 of war placed on board the transports. 
 
 This was the last expedition necessary to 
 send up the White River for some time. It 
 remained open during the war excepting 
 on several occasions when guerillas in- 
 fested its banks. The Arkansas River also 
 remained open ; its difficult navigation of- 
 fered no inducement for any one to seek 
 adventures in its treacherous waters. 
 
 To show how carelessly the history of the 
 war of the Rebellion has been written as 
 regards the Navy, the following quotation 
 from a military historian is inserted here : 
 
 "McClernand immediately acquiesced in Sher- 
 man's proposition and moved his force up the Ar- 
 kansas, the fleet under Porter accompanying. A 
 naval bombardment lasting several days occurred, 
 and on the 11th the troops assaulted the works, 
 when the Post surrendered after a fight of three 
 hours, in which the squadron bore a conspicious 
 part. McClernand [Sherman it should be] lost 
 about 1,000 men in killed, wounded and missing. 
 The guns of the fort were silenced by the fleet, and 
 Admiral Porter received the sword of its com- 
 mander. 
 
 General Grant did not approve of this 
 movement on Arkansas Post when he first 
 heard of it, as he thought it improper to di- 
 vert the army from the original design to 
 capture Vicksburg. He supposed the idea 
 
 originated with General McClernand ; but 
 when he knew all the circumstances con- 
 nected with the movement, and that the 
 Army left Vicksburg because no longer 
 able to operate owing to the floods, and 
 that the troops wanted a success after their 
 late discouraging defeat, he became recon- 
 ciled to the attack on Arkansas Post, though 
 it was a side movement and could in no 
 way contribute to the final overthrow of 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 Certain it is, the success at Arkansas 
 Post had a most exhilarating effect on the 
 troops, and they were a different set of men 
 when they arrived at Milliken's Bend than 
 they were when they left the Yazoo River. 
 
 After the troops were settled in their 
 tents opposite Vicksburg, it became appar- 
 ent that there could be no harmonious co- 
 operation while McClernand remained in 
 command of all the military forces. His 
 peculiarities unfitted him for such a com- 
 mand, and these peculiarities became so 
 offensive to Generals Sherman and Mc- 
 Pherson, and to Admiral Porter, that they 
 urged General Grant to take command 
 himself as the only chance for the success 
 of the enterprise, and in consequence, the 
 latter hastened to Milliken's Bend or 
 Young's Point and assumed the command 
 of all the forces, which he was entitled to 
 do, being military commander of the depart- 
 ment. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, JANUARY 1, 1863. 
 
 (Excepting some of the vessels engaged at Vicksburg.) 
 ACTING REAR-ADMIRAL DAVID D. PORTER, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 
 
 BECBIVING-SHIP " CLARA DOLSON." (CAIBO.) 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Thomas Pattison, Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Emile Gavarret; Paymas- 
 ter, Edward May; Acting-Master, John C. Bunner; 
 Acting-Ensigns, E. C. Van Pelt and D. W. Tainter; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, H. G. Masters and John D. 
 Holmes; Acting-Engineer, Geo. W. Pulton; Acting- 
 Carpenter, G. W. Armstrong. 
 
 STEAMER "EASTPORT." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, S. L. 't'helps; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Adrian Hudson; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, W. H. Gilman; Acting-Master, J. L. Avery; 
 Acting-Ensign, R. M. Williams: Acting- Master's 
 Mates, J. W. Litherbury and E. A. Decamp; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, Henry Hartwig; Acting- Assist- 
 ants, T. F. Ackerman, James Vanzant, G. W. Heisel 
 and G. W. Aiken; Acting-Gunner, Reuben Apple- 
 gate; Acting-Carpenter, James Kirkland. 
 
 STEAMER "LEXINGTON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James W. Shirk; Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, Martin Dunn; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, L. M. Reese; Assistant Paymaster, 
 Geo. A. Lyon; Acting-Master, James Pitzpatriok; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Sylvester Pooland James Marshall; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. G. Magler, W. E. Ander- 
 son, F. O. Blake and S. S. Willett; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Chief, Wm. H. Meredith; Acting- Assistants, 
 Michael KeUy, J. H. Hilliard, Wm. Bishop and Job 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " BARON-DE-KALB." 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Walker; Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. V. Johnston; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, John Wise; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, Wm. A. Mann; Acting-Masters, Chas. Ken- 
 drick and R. H. MediU; Acting-Ensign, Charles 
 Hunter; Acting-Masters' Mates, H. H. Gorringe, E. 
 D. Breed, F. E. Davis and J. M. Meacham; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, Thomas Hebron- Acting-Assist- 
 ants, J. L. Smith, J. S. Wilcoxen and Geo. Britton. 
 
 STEAMER '•CONESTOGA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Thomas O. Selfridge; 
 Assistant-Surgeon, J. Otis Burt; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, E. D. Ellsley; Acting-Master, George 
 Hentig; Acting-Ensigns, Benj. Sebastian, James 
 Kearney, Charles Pease and John Swaney; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, S. J. Dewight, Henry Haskins, 
 Thomas Devine and J. C. Petterson; Engineers: 
 Acting-Cliief, Thomas Cook, Alex. McGee, Michael 
 Norton, James O'Neil and Andrew Lusk; Acting- 
 Gunner, Gilbert Morton; Acting-Carpenter, J. J. 
 Hays. 
 
 STEAMER " FAIRPLAY." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Le Roy Fitch; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, S. D. Bolton; Acting-Master, 
 Geo. J. Groves; Acting- En signs, J. C. Coyle and 
 Thad. Conant; Acting-Master's Mates, W. C. Coul- 
 son, John Reville and Isaac Summons; Acting-Engi- 
 neers, Robert Mahatha, G. S. Collins, Chas. Egster 
 
294 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 STEAMER "TAYLOR." 
 Lieutenant, James M. Prichett; ActinR-Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. W. Ballentine; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. A. Gardiner; Acting-Master, W. H. Minor; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Eliphalet Loring, C. T. Stanton, J. 
 
 F. Holmes and S. E. Brown ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Charles Acklev, H. S. Wetmore and Ira Athearn; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, James Fleming; Acting 
 Assistants, J R. Ramsey, Wm. Furch and E. M. 
 Bumpus; Acting-Carpenter, A. B. Chapman. 
 
 STEAMER "ROBB." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Jason Goudy; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, Rob't Wilkinson, W. Stoneall and E. 
 C. Roe; Acting- Master's Mates, Lloyd Thomas and 
 E. F. Rowe; Acting-Engineers, Benj. Emerson and 
 John Miller. 
 
 STEAMER "ST. CLAIR." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Hurd ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, D. D. Winslow; Acting-Master, 
 
 G. W. Fontly; Acting- Ensign, Jos. Watson; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, H. A. Proctor, Jos. Hurd and E. C. 
 Williams; Acting-Engineers, Wm. McLain, Edward 
 Lozier and C. C. Hamilton. 
 
 STEAMER "BRILLIANT." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Chas. G. Perkins; 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Howard; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Horace Talcott; Acting-En- 
 signs, J. B. Dales, George Munday and G. D. Little; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, J. J. Perkins; Acting-Engi- 
 neers, W. A. Willey , Samuel Bcoff and James Cutter. 
 
 RAM "little rebel." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thomas B. Gregory ; 
 Acting-Ensign, N. T. Rennell; Acting- Master's Mate, 
 J. S. Flint; Acting-Engineers, A. E. Giles, A. M. 
 Smith and Robert Russell. 
 
 STEAMER "GREAT WESTERN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. F. Hamilton; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Harvey; Acting 
 Master, J. C. Little; Acting-Ensign, Richard Ellis; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, L. F. Knapp and Richard 
 Mitchell: Acting-Chief Engineer, Chas. Christopher; 
 Engineers, Jos. Goodwin, B. A. Farmer and G. S. 
 Baker; Acting-Gunner, Robert Sherman; Acting- 
 Carpenter, Jos. Morton. 
 
 STEAMER "judge TORRENCB." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. F. Richardson; 
 Acting-Ensign, Jeremiah Irwin; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, James Boss; Acting Chief Engineer, P. R. 
 Hartwig; Engineers, J. Stough, J. C. Barr and W. 
 Y. Sedman. 
 
 STEAMER "new era." 
 
 Acting-Master, F. W. Flammer; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Wm. B. Purdy: Acting-Ensigns, Wm. 
 C. Hanford and Geo. L. Smith; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, G. E. Cheever, W. C. Renner, W. B. Shillits 
 and Wm. Wharry; Acting-Engineers, Israel Marsh, 
 John Darragh and Richard Fengler; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, Louis Fredericks. 
 
 receiving ship "new national." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Alex. M. Grant and O. H. Pratt; 
 Acting-Ensign, John Hill; Acting- Master's Mate, 
 Wm. C. Herron; Acting- Engineers, W. H. Price, 
 James Wilkins and C. C. Rensford. 
 
 STORESHIP "sovereign." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Baldwin; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster. Geo. L. Meade; Acting-Ensign, A. 
 M. Rowland; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Gulick, 
 T. J. Sheets and G. V. Meade; Acting-Engineers, T. 
 W. Blair, A. L. Mann, Patrick Scaiilon and Benj. 
 Cainda. 
 
 medical staff. 
 
 Fleet Surgeon, Ninian Pinkney; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeons, G. H. Bixby and Geo. Hopkins. 
 
 STEAMER "general PILLOW." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Joseph Moyer; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. H. Rives and E. M. Woods; Acting-Engi- 
 neers, Peter Wagner and Jos. J. Wagner. 
 
 INSPECTION SHIP "ABRAHAM." 
 
 Acting-Ensign Wm. Wagner; 1st Assistant-Engi- 
 neer, E. Hozier, 
 
 STEAM-TUG " PANSY." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Amos Bolander; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Anthony McCarthy: Acting-Engineers, John 
 Gilliss and A. P. Gardiner. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "FERN." 
 
 Acting-Ensign Alpheus Semms; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John M. Kelly; Acting-Engineer, John Reed. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "MISTLETOE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, W. H. H. Ford; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Hamilton Bateman; Acting-Engineers, W. F. 
 Sandford and Silas Hasky. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "SAMSON." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, James D. Buckley; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, WUmot Duley; Acting-Engineers, Geo. 
 Kimber and C. F. Yager. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "LILLY." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Richard H. Smith; Acting Engi- 
 neers, James Miller and J. C. Jones. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "MYRTLE." 
 
 Acting-Engineer, Thomas Guernsey. 
 
 NAVAL STATION AT CAIRO, ILL. 
 
 Commander, Alex. M. Pennock, Fleet -Captain; 
 Paymaster, A. E. Watson, Inspector-in-charge; W. 
 Brenton Boifgs, Purchasing Payumster and Navy 
 Agent; E. W. Dunn, Paymaster attached to Squad- 
 ron; A. H. Gilman, Paymaster attached to Station; 
 Acting-Lieutenant, J. P. Sandford. Ordnance Offi- 
 cer; Aoling-Chief-Engineer, W. D. Faulkner, Super- 
 intendent; Acting-Chief-Engineer, Samuel Bicker- 
 staff, Superintendent of light draughts; Acting- 
 Master John W. Atkinson, Superintendent of tugs; 
 Acting-Ensign, Peter O'Kell, Executive-Officer; Act- 
 ing-Ensign, A. H. Edson, and Gunner, John T. 
 Ritter on Ordnance Duty. 
 
 MARINE OFFICERS. 
 
 Captain, Mathew R. Kintzing; 1st Lieutenants, 
 Frank Munroe and S. H. Mathews; 2nd Lieuten- 
 ant, Frank L. C?aurch. 
 
 OFFICER AT NAVAL RENDEZVOUS, CINCINNATI. 
 
 Acting-Master, A. S. Brown. 
 
 OFFICERS AT NAVAL STATION, MEMPHIS. 
 
 Acting-Master, John R. Neild; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. H. Benton 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 
 
 Loss OP THE "Queen of the West," after Running the Vicksbueg Batteries and 
 Destroying a Great Deal op the Enemy's Property. — Running op the Batteries 
 BY the Iron-clad "Indianola." — Combat between the "Indianola" and Con- 
 federate Flotilla, consisting op the " Webb," " Queen of the West " and two 
 armed Transports, — Capture of the "Indianola" by the Confederates. — An 
 Account Written by her Commanding Officer Lieut. -Commander George Brown. 
 — Attempt to cut a Canal to Lake Providence. — Yazoo Pass Expedition by Gun- 
 boats and Transports. — Engagement with Fort Pemberton on the Tallahatchie 
 River, etc. 
 
 THE siege of Vicksburg may be said 
 to have commenced January 36th, 
 1862, on which day the Army was 
 landed at Young's Point, seven 
 miles above Vickburg, and at Mil- 
 liken's Bend, two or three miles above 
 Young's Point. 
 
 This was rather a desperate movement, 
 but there was no other alternative. When 
 Sherman first came down with the gun- 
 boats in company, he did not start out with 
 the idea that he was to undertake a siege, 
 but that Vicksburg was to be taken by an 
 unexpected attack. Time was an important 
 factor in this expedition, and that could not 
 be lost by delaying for the purpose of col- 
 lecting siege tools, etc. Therefore, when 
 the Union Army landed above Vicksburg, 
 it was deficient in all the many appliances 
 for undertaking a siege. They had but 
 four siege guns, and three were supplied by 
 the Navy. 
 
 Their position opposite Vicksburg was 
 such a poor one that a sudden rise of water 
 would have drowned them out; and, worst 
 of all, they had a leader in whom not an 
 officer of the expedition could put any con- 
 fidence. McClernand had come to super- 
 sede Sherman in the Yazoo River just after 
 the troops had fallen back to the transports, 
 and he had accompanied the Army to Ar- 
 kansas Post, but with the express under- 
 standing with Admiral Porter that he would 
 not interfere with General Sherman. This 
 
 he refrained from doing until the enemy 
 was beaten, and at that moment he as- 
 sumed command and made all the reports 
 himself. 
 
 There were splendid general s in that Army, 
 all men of the higliest military acquire- 
 ments, such as Sherman, McPherson, Steele 
 and Smith, who now saw placed attheir head 
 an officer who had not only no qualifica- 
 tions for managing an Army of such a size, 
 but had not the necessary knowledge to be 
 the leader of anything more than a division 
 under another general. These and many 
 other considerations induced General Grant 
 to take the command of the Army at Vicks- 
 burg himself. He had become convinced 
 that the siege would be a long one. and 
 made his preparations accordingly. He ar- 
 rived in person at Young's Poiiit on the 
 29th of January, 1863. and assumed com- 
 mand of the Army on the 30th. McClernand 
 at once protested against this arrangement, 
 but in vain, and thereafter was simply a 
 divisional commander. 
 
 At this time the naval force at Vicksburg 
 consisted of the following vessels : " Ben- 
 ton," "Cincinnati," " De Kalb," "Louis- 
 ville," " Mound City," "Carondelet." " Pitts- 
 burg," and " Chillicothe, " iron-clads; 
 "Rattler," "Glide," "Linden," "Signal," 
 "Romeo," "Juliet." "Forest Rose," and 
 "Marmora," light-draughts; the "Taylor" 
 and " Black Hawk," wooden armed steam- 
 ers; "Queen of the West," "Monarch," 
 
296 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "Switzerland," and "Lioness," rams; 
 During the following month the "Lafay- 
 ette" and "Indianola," iron-clads, joined 
 the fleet. The carpenter shops, machine 
 shops, provision boats, ordnance depart- 
 ment, hospital, etc., (all on large steamers) 
 were ordered to the mouth of the Yazoo ; 
 also ten of the mortar boats which had been 
 used by Foote and Davis at Island No. 10 
 and Fort Pillow. 
 
 Besides these, there were a number of 
 "tin-clads" with light batteries stationed 
 all along the river from Cairo to Vicksburg, 
 each vessel having its beat. 
 
 In this manner the Army transports were 
 conveyed from one station to another, and 
 the gun-boats performed this duty so effi- 
 ciently that during the whole siege of seven 
 months, the transportation of troops and 
 stores was not interrupted. The guerillas 
 along the bank were so handled by these 
 small vessels, and so summarily dealt with, 
 that they soon withdrew to other parts. 
 
 General Grant soon saw that Vicksburg 
 could not be taken by the Army sitting 
 down and looking at it from Young's Point. 
 The wide and swift running Mississippi was 
 between them. No force could land in 
 front of the city with its long line of heavy 
 batteries on the hills and at the water front, 
 with 42,000 men in garrison under a very 
 clever general (Pemberton), and Gen. J. E. 
 Johnston with 40,000 more troops at Jack- 
 son (the capital of Mississippi), within 
 easy distance of the besieged — if those 
 may be so called who had ten times 
 as much freedom and a hundred times 
 more dry land to travel about on, than the 
 besiegers. 
 
 There was no use attempting to attack 
 the place on either flank. The attempt had 
 been made by Sherman at Chickasaw 
 Bayou without effect, and since then that 
 point had been made doubly secure against 
 invasion. The Federal Army could not cross 
 the river below the town, for there were no 
 transports on that side of the batteries, and 
 it was then thought impossible to pass 
 them. 
 
 General Banks at one time received or- 
 ders to march up to Vicksburg and as- 
 sist Grant, and so envelop the city, but for 
 some reason this movement was delayed 
 from time to time, and the latter had to de- 
 pend upon his own resources. 
 
 Vicksburg and Port Hudson were both 
 receiving large supplies via the Red River, 
 and the first step necessary to betaken was 
 to send a vessel (or vessels) to establish a 
 blockade. This, it was thought, would 
 liasten the evacuation of Port Hudson, and 
 thus leave Banks at liberty to ascend the 
 Mississippi in steamers. 
 
 On the 3d of February, 1863, the ram, 
 "Queen of the West," Colonel Charles R. 
 
 Ellet, was selected to perform the perilous 
 duty of running the batteries and carrying 
 out Admiral Porter's orders. Ellet was a 
 gallant young fellow, full of dash and en- 
 terprise, and was delighted with this oppor- 
 tunity to distinguish himself; and, although 
 his vessel was a very frail one for such 
 an enterprise, he did not hesitate to accept 
 the risk when this duty was proposed to 
 him. 
 
 The admiral depended a great deal on 
 the darkness of the night to shield the ves- 
 sel during the passage, and gave his orders 
 accordingly. The "Queen of the West" 
 started on her mission after midnight, but 
 owing to the bad position of the wheel for 
 manoeuvering, Ellet stopped on his way to 
 shift it to a point from which bethought he 
 could manoeuvre his vessel better, and lost 
 so much time by the operation that the ad- 
 vantages of the darkness were lost. It was 
 nearly daylight when he reached the first 
 
 ELLET'S STERN WHEEL ■•RAM." 
 
 battery, which he passed at full speed. 
 The alarm gun was fired from the fort and 
 in an instant the gunners of the lower bat- 
 teries were at their posts, and when the 
 "Queen" arrived abreast of the city battery 
 after battery opened upon her. As it was 
 supposed that Colonel Ellet would pass dur- 
 ing the night-time, he had been ordered to 
 ram a large steamer (the " Vicksburg") 
 lying at the levee, and also to throw lighted 
 tow balls on board of her to set her on fire. 
 This could have been easily done at night, 
 but it was almost certain destruction to at- 
 tempt it in the day-time, but the gallant 
 young fellow determined to carry out his or- 
 ders at all hazards, rammed the Vessel as di- 
 rected and endeavored to set her on fire, but 
 by this time the enemy's shot were rattling 
 about him, and the current carrying him 
 past the steamer, he was obliged to speed 
 on. 
 
 This being the first vessel to run their 
 batteries the Confederate gunners were 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 297 
 
 nervous and did not at first get the proper 
 range and many a screaming rifle shell went 
 over EUet's head, and passed harmlessly 
 by. The steamer at the levee burst into 
 flames but they were afterwards extin- 
 guished by the Confederates. 
 
 The " Queen of the West " had been well 
 packed with cotton-bales to make her shot 
 proof, but it did not make her shell proof, 
 for at the moment she struck the " Vicks- 
 burg" and became stationary a shell from 
 the enemy exploded in a cotton bale and in 
 a moment the vessel was all ablaze. The 
 flames spread rapidly and the dense smoke 
 suffocated the engineers in the engine- 
 room — so all attempts to ram the Vicksburg 
 again were given up and the "Queen" 
 turned her head down stream. Every one 
 was set to work to extinguish the fire, which 
 was done by cutting away the barricades 
 and throwing the cotton overboard. The 
 enemy of course were not idle but continued 
 to pour their shot and shells into the Missis- 
 
 _iililifiji 
 
 4* 
 
 
 ■SSi^TCrf* 
 
 "THE QUEEN OF THE WEST." 
 (FROM A DRAWrNQ BY EEAR-ADMIEAL "WALKE, MAY 15, 1862.) 
 
 sippi River without stint. The "Queen" 
 was struck twelve times, twice just above 
 the water line. 
 
 Ellet reached Red River and committed 
 great havoc along the shore. He had been 
 ordered to sink or destroy all steamers he 
 might capture, and to blockade the river so 
 closely that no provisions could get to Port 
 Hudson or Vicksburg. Almost immedi- 
 ately on his arrival he captured and burned 
 three large steamers loaded with army 
 stores for Port Hudson. Five army officers 
 were also captured. 
 
 Ellet then proceeded ten miles up the Red 
 River where the enemy were known to have 
 had a number of fine steamers engaged as 
 army transports — but they all fled on hear- 
 ing that a Federal gun-boat was approach ■ 
 ing. Ellet got out of coal and took advan- 
 tage of this panic to run up to Warrenton 
 just below Vicksburg, to obtain a fresh 
 supply and report progress. 
 
 He was again sent off to burn, sink and 
 destroy or capture, and did good execution. 
 He captured two steamers loaded with army 
 stores for Port Hudson, and destroyed 
 a wagon train returning from Shreveport : 
 then the " Queen of the West " started up 
 Red River but a treacherous pilot grounded 
 her under the guns of a fort ; the enemy 
 opened upon her with four 33 pounders, 
 every shot from which, struck her and 
 killed or wounded many of the crew. At 
 length a shot cut the steam pipe and the 
 scalding steam amidst the wounded and 
 dying made a never-to-be-forgotten scene. 
 Every one who was able to do so jumped 
 overboard to escape being scalded, and 
 Ellet with what was left of his crew floated 
 down the river on cotton-bales until he fell 
 in w^ith one of his prizes, the "New Era," 
 when all got on board and made their 
 escape up to the Federal landing below 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 The Confederates soon repaired the 
 "Queen of the West," manned her with a 
 good crew of sharpshooters, and sent her 
 in company with the " Webb," (another 
 powerful ram) in pursuit of the " New 
 Era." 
 
 The " Queen of the West " had been so 
 successful it was determined (to make mat- 
 ters doubly sure) to send down an iron- 
 clad, and the "Indianola," with a bow bat- 
 tery of two 11-inch guns, was prepared to 
 pass the batteries at night. She was com- 
 manded by Lieutenant-Commander George 
 Brown, an officer whose gallantry and 
 prudence had been well established. She 
 carried a coal-barge on each side of her 
 with orders to cut them adrift if she should 
 meet the " Webb," and every precaution was 
 taken to prevent her being captured in case 
 she got into an action. 
 
 She passed the batteries in safety, but a 
 few days after her departure two of her 
 crew appeared and stated that she had 
 fallen in with the rams "Queen of the 
 West " and " Webb," in company ; that she 
 had been rammed six times and being in a 
 sinking condition had surrendered. This 
 was a great disappointment to the ad- 
 miral and General Grant, but she was 
 blown up next night by a Yankee ruse, 
 and the Confederates did not benefit by her 
 capture. 
 
 In justice to Lieutenant-Commander 
 Brown, his account of this affair is inserted. 
 It will show the kind of fighting that took 
 place on the Mississippi, and the desperate 
 character of the foe the Federals had to con- 
 tend with. 
 
 Washin&ton, D. C, May 28, 1863. 
 Sib— At this my earliest opportunity, I respect- 
 fully submit to the department a report of the 
 operations of the U. S. steamer "Indianola," 
 while below Vicksburg, Mississippi ; also the par- 
 
398 
 
 THE NA VAL HIS TOR V 
 
 ticulars of the engagement with the rebel armed 
 rams "Queen of the West" and " WilHam H. 
 Webb,' and armed cotton-clad steamers "Dr. 
 Batey " and "Grand Era, ' in which the " India- 
 nola " was sunk and her ofDcers and crew made 
 prisoners. 
 
 In obedience to an order from Actingr-Rear-Ad- 
 miral Porter, commanding Mississippi squadron, I 
 passed the batteries at Vioksburg and Warrenton 
 on the night of tlie loth of February last, having 
 in tow two barges containing about 7,000 bushels 
 of coal each, without being once struck, although 
 eighteen shots were fired, all of which passed over 
 us. 
 
 I kept on down the river, but owing to dense fogs 
 made but slow progress until the morning of the 
 16th, when, about ten miles below Natchez, I met 
 the steamboat "Era No. .5," having on board Colo- 
 nel BUet, of the raui fleet, and a portion of the offi- 
 cers and crew of the steamer " Queen of the West." 
 I then learned for the first time of the loss of that 
 boat, and after consulting with Colonel Ellet, I 
 concluded to continue on down as far as the mouth 
 of the Red River. On the afternoon of the same 
 day I got under way, the " Era No. 5," leading. On 
 nearing Ellis's Cliffs the "Era'' made the pre- 
 arranged signal of danger ahead, soon after which. 
 I made out thereliel steamer " Webb." 
 
 Before I got within range of the "Webb" she 
 had turned and was standing down stream with 
 great speed. I fired two shots from the 11-ineh 
 guns but both fell short of her. She soon ran out 
 
 THE IRON CL.VD '■ INDUNOLA." 
 
 of sight, and in consequence of a thick fog setting 
 in I could not continue the chase but was obliged 
 to anchor. 
 
 I reached the mouth of the Red River on the 17th 
 of February, from which time until the 21st of the 
 same month I maintained a strict blockade at that 
 point. 
 
 I could procure no Red Riverpilots and therefore 
 did not enter that river. The "Era No 5," being 
 unarmed, and having several prisoners on board. 
 Colonel Ellet decided to go up the river and com- 
 municate with the squadron, and sailed at noon on 
 the 18th of the same month for that purpose. 
 
 On learning that the "Queen of the West" had 
 been repaired by the rebels, and was nearly ready 
 for service, al.so that the "William H. Webb" and 
 four cotton-clads, with boarding parties on board, 
 were fitting out to attack the Indianola," I left 
 the Red River for the purpose of getting cotton to 
 fill up the space between the casemate and wheel- 
 houses so as to be better able to I'epel the boarding 
 parties. 
 
 By the afternoon of the 22d of the same month, I 
 had procured as much cotton as I required, and 
 concluded to keep on up the river, thinking that I 
 would certainly meet another boat the morning 
 following, but I was disappointed. 
 
 I then concluded to coumiunicate with the squad- 
 ron as soon as possible, thinking that Colonel Ellet 
 had not reached the squadron, or that Admiral 
 Porter would expect me to return when I found 
 that no other boat was sent below. 
 
 I kept the bunkers of the "Indianola"' full of 
 coal, and would have sunk what remained in the 
 barges ; but knowing that if another boat was sent 
 below 'V'icksburg, I would be expected to supply 
 her with coal, 1 concluded to hold on to the barges 
 as long as possible. 
 
 In consequence of having the barges alongside 
 we could make but slow progress against the cur 
 rent, the result of which wasj that 1 did not rea«h 
 Grand Gulf until the morning of the 24th, at which 
 point and at others above we were fired on by par- 
 ties on shore. 
 
 As I knew that it would be as much as I could 
 do to get by the Warrenton batteries before day- 
 light the next morning, I returned the fire of but 
 one party. 
 
 At about 9.30 P. m. on the 24th, the night being 
 very dark, four boats were discovered in chase of us. 
 I immediately cleared for action, and as soon as 
 all preparations had been completed I turned and 
 stood down the river to meet them. At this time 
 the leading vessel was about three miles below, the 
 others following in close order. As we neared them 
 i made them out to be the rams "Queen of the 
 West" and " AVilliam H. Webb," and two other 
 steamers, cotton-clad and filled with men. 
 
 The "Queen of the West" was the first to strike 
 us, which she did after passing through the coal 
 barge lashed to our port side, doing us no serious 
 damage. 
 
 Next came the " Webb " I stood for her at full 
 speed ; both vessels came together bows on, with a 
 tremendous crash, which knocked nearly every one 
 down on board both vessels, doing no damage to 
 us, wliile the "Webb's" bow was cut in at least 
 eight feet, extending from about two feet above the 
 water line to the keelson. . 
 
 At this time the engagement became general and 
 at very close quarters. 
 
 I devoted but little attention to the cotton-clad 
 steamers, although they kept up a heavy fire with 
 field-pieces and small arms as 1 knew that every- 
 thing depended on my disabling the ram. The 
 third blow crushed the starboard barge, leaving 
 parts hanging by the lashings, which were speedily 
 cut. The crew of the " Indianola,' not numbering 
 enough men to man both batteries, I kept the for- 
 ward guns manned all the time, and fired them 
 whenever I could get a shot at the rams. The night 
 being very dark, our aim was very uncertain, and 
 our fire proved less effective than" I thought it at 
 the time. The peep-holes in the pilot-house were 
 so small that it would have been a difficult matter 
 to have worked the vessel from that place in day- 
 light, so that during the whole engagement the 
 pilots were unable to aid me by their knowledge of 
 the river as they were unable to see anything. 
 Consequently they could do no more than obey such 
 orders as they received from me in regard to work 
 ing the engines and the helm. No misunderstand- 
 ing occurred in the performance of that dutv, and 
 I was enabled to receive the first five blows" from 
 the rams forward of the wheels, and at such angles 
 that they did no more damage than to stai-t the 
 plating where they struck. 
 
 The sixth blow we received was from the "Webb," 
 which crushed in the starboard wheel, disabled the 
 starboard rudder and started a number of leaks 
 abaft the shaft. Being unable to work the starboard 
 engine, placed us in an almost powerless condi- 
 tion ; but 1 continued the fight until after we re- 
 ceived the seventh blow, which was given us bv the 
 "Webb." 
 
 She struck us fair in the stern and started the 
 timbers and starboard rudder-box so that the 
 water poured in in large volumes. At this time I 
 knew that the " Indianola " could be of no more 
 service to us, and my desire was to render her use- 
 less to the enemy, which I did by keeping her in 
 deep water, until there was two and a half feet of 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 299 
 
 "water over the floor, and the leaks were increasing 
 rapidly as she settled, so as to bring the opening 
 made \>y the "Webb " under water. 
 
 Knowing that if either of the rams struck us 
 again in the stern, which they then had excellent 
 opportunites of doing on account of our disabled 
 condition, we would sink so suddenly that few if 
 any lives would be saved, I succeeded in running 
 her bows on shore by starting the screw engines. 
 As fm-ther resistance could only result in a great 
 loss of life on our part, without a corresponding 
 result on the part of the enemy, I surrendered 
 the "Indianola," a partially sunken vessel, fast 
 filling with water, to a force of four vessels, 
 mounting ten guns and manned by over one thou- 
 sand men. 
 
 The engagement lasted one hour and twenty- 
 seven minutes. I lost but one killed, one wounded 
 and seven missing, while the enemy lost two 
 officers and thirty-three men kiUed and many 
 wounded. 
 
 Before the enemy could make any preparations 
 for endeavoring to save the " Indianola," her stern 
 was under water. Both rams were so very much 
 crippled that 1 doubt whether they would have 
 tried to ram again had not their last blow proved 
 so fatal to us. 
 
 Both signal books were thrown into the river by 
 me a few minutes before the surrender. 
 
 In conclusion, I would state that the 9-inch 
 guns of the ''Indianola'' were thrown overboard, 
 and the 11-inch guns damaged by being loaded with 
 heavy charges and solid shot, placed muzzle to 
 muzzle and fired by a slow match, so that they were 
 rendered useless. 
 
 This was done in consequence of the sham moni- 
 tor, sent from above, having grounded about two 
 miles above the wreck of the " Indianola." 
 
 I have the honor to be, etc., 
 
 GrBOB&K BrOWX, 
 
 Lieut. -Commander TJ. S. Navy. 
 Hon. GriDKON Welles. 
 
 Secretary of the Namj. 
 
 Other means had now to be invented to 
 get into the rear of the enemy or down the 
 river in order to stop his supplies. 
 
 The importance of this late mov6 can- 
 not be estimated. The communications 
 between Texas and Vicksburg had been cut 
 off, and the capture of so many steamers 
 loaded with army stores for Port Hudson 
 had sealed the fate of that place; they could 
 not hold out, and Bank's Army would soon 
 be free to march upon Vicksburg by the left 
 shore of the river. 
 
 At this time Vicksburg mounted seventy- 
 five heavy guns, and possessed a number of 
 heavy rifled field-pieces, which, being able 
 to move about, were quite as annoying to 
 vessels running the blockade. 
 
 The guns at Vicksburg were so scattered 
 about and so cunningly concealed that it 
 was almost impossible to detect them. A 
 clever plan was adopted by a naval photo- 
 grapher to bring all the guns to light. A 
 large photograph of the city was taken, 
 and that again enlarged, when by means of 
 magnifying glasses, every gun was re- 
 vealed. They were situated in many queer 
 places ; some inside the railroad depot, 
 one in an engine house, others screened 
 bv carts tinned UD. etc.. etc.: but from 
 
 that time forth the Federal mortars and 
 rifled guns sent their missiles to the right 
 place. 
 
 Eight mortars on rafts were kept playing 
 on the town and enemy's works day and 
 night, and three heavy rifled guns that 
 could reach any part of Vicksburg, were 
 placed on scows to protect the mortars. 
 
 Vicksburg was by nature the strongest 
 point on the river, but art had rendered it 
 almost impregnable. It was very certain 
 even in the early part of February,that this 
 was to be a long and tiresome siege, and so 
 General Grant viewed it. 
 
 A naval contingent could not do more 
 than give protection to the Army, which 
 was very important ; but as to the vessels 
 alone possessing the power to knock down 
 these inaccessible forts, it was not to be 
 thought of. If batteries should be placed 
 on the right bank of the river, they would 
 soon be driven out by the plunging shot and 
 shells from the enemy. 
 
 The military engineers in Vicksburg had 
 employed many expedients to render the 
 Federal fire ineffectual. For a distance 
 of six miles all their heavy guns were 
 scattered except at two points where water 
 batteries were placed to concentrate their 
 fire upon passing vessels. One of these 
 batteries mounted thirteen guns and the 
 other eleven. 
 
 The fire of the Navy upon Vicksburg 
 might in time have destroyed the city and 
 its fine public buildings, but that would 
 have brought the Army no nearer the de- 
 sired object : the possession of this strong- 
 hold and the opening of the Mississippi. 
 
 When General Williams ascended the 
 river in company with Farragut, with .3,000 
 men, he announced that this force was not 
 sufficient to hold Vicksburg, even if he 
 could capture it. In which opinion he was 
 right. He set his troops to work to cut a 
 canal across the isthmus, hoping to direct 
 the waters of the Mississippi into this cut 
 and make the river take a new direction, by 
 which the city would have been left out in 
 the cold; but the plan did not work as it 
 had done in many other cases, and when 
 General Williams departed he left only a 
 dry ditch. 
 
 General Grant being anxious to get trans- 
 ports past Vicksburg, determined to try the 
 ditcli again, and had dredges brought down 
 to work on it. It was hoped that when the 
 river rose it would cut its way through, 
 but that wished for event did not come to 
 pass until after the fall of Vicksburg. The 
 enemy mounted heavy guns opposite the 
 mouth of the canal, and prevented any 
 work upon it. 
 
 General Grant now hit upon a new expe- 
 dient — which was to deepen Lake Provi- 
 dence. This Lake communicated with the 
 
300 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Tensas River (a deep stream), and the 
 Tensas emptied into the Washita, and this 
 latter into the Red River — thus forming a 
 beautiful system of inland navigation which 
 if properly opened and intelligently directed 
 would have been of great service to the 
 country bordering on the rivers mentioned. 
 But it was not to be, the engineers were not 
 successful. Several transports were taken 
 in, but there were miles of forest to work 
 through and trees to be cut down. The 
 swift current drove the steamers against 
 the trees and injured them so much that 
 this plan had to be abandoned. 
 
 Then some one proposed to cut away the 
 levee at a place called Delta near Helena 
 and open Yazoo Pass. This used to be the 
 main way to Yazoo City and to the Talla- 
 hatchie and Yallabusha Rivers, before the 
 Southern railroad was built, and it had been 
 closed up to reclaim some millions of acres 
 of land. It led into the Tallahatchie, and 
 if our Navy could succeed in getting through 
 it, a way would be opened for the Army to 
 get into the rear of Vicksburg. 
 
 The levee was cut and the Mississippi 
 being on the rise the water rushed through 
 the opening with great force, sweeping 
 everything before it and cutting a channel 
 300 yards wide at the mouth. It took 
 several days for the water to reach its level, 
 as it had at first a fall of nine feet. 
 
 In the mean time gun-boats were detailed 
 and prepared for the expedition. These 
 vessels were the " Chillicothe," Lieutenant- 
 Commander Foster, the " Baron DeKalb," 
 Lieutenant-Commander Walker, the tin- 
 clad "Rattler," "Lioness " (ram) and two 
 other light draft vessels. All were under 
 the command of Lieutenant-Commander 
 Watson Smith, who had instructions to 
 open the way to the Yazoo River and 
 destroy all of the enemy's means that could 
 not be carried away. General Grant sent 
 an Army contingent along with the gun- 
 boats to assist in forcing the way through 
 the obstructions. This force was com- 
 manded by Brigadier-General Ross. 
 
 To describe the difficulties which attended 
 this expedition would be impossible and 
 they could only be realized by those who 
 saw them. The pass had been closed for 
 many years and trees had grown up in the 
 middle of the channel which had become 
 dry after the levee was built across its 
 mouth. Great rafts were left in this dry 
 channel as the water ran off and bushes 
 and vines now grew thickly around them 
 and tied them together as with withes. 
 Overhanging trees joined together over the 
 channel — and their branches were so low 
 that steamers could not pass without having 
 their smoke-pipes knocked down and all 
 their boats and upper-works swept away. 
 
 The current was running swiftly, for the 
 
 vessels entered the cut before the water had 
 reached its level. On the first day, not 
 more than six miles was made, and this 
 was only accomplished by all hands going 
 to work and sawing or cutting away the 
 obstructions. 
 
 Colonel Wilson, an Army engineer, who 
 directed all this kind of work, was a 
 thoughtful, energetic man, and he con- 
 ducted the operations in an intelligent man- 
 ner, and though the vessels did not make 
 very rapid headway, they did wonderfully 
 well considering the difficulties. They all 
 had to be carefully handled with hawsers 
 around the bends, for the Yazoo Pass, fol- 
 lowing the example of the mother Missis- 
 sippi, was as crooked as a ram's horn. 
 
 On the second day, the vessels were so 
 torn to pieces that no more harm could be 
 done to them — they had hulls and engines 
 left and that had to suffice. The officers 
 and men performed a great deal of manual 
 
 U. S. NAVAL HOSPITAL BOAT "RED EOVEB " PASSING 
 EANDOLPH NEAR FULTON. TENN. 
 
 (FEOM A SKETCH BY Il£AB-AJJMl£AL WAI.KE.) 
 
 labor, but no one found fault, and their 
 jolly songs echoed turough the woods as 
 they worked, frightening the birds out of 
 their quiet retreats, where they had rested 
 undisturbed for a quarter of a century. 
 
 The men were rewarded after four days' 
 of terrible labor by getting forty miles 
 on their journey through such obstructions 
 as they had never dreamed of. At last they 
 arrived at the Tallahatchie (a clear and 
 swift running river), and the vessels form- 
 ing in some kind of order, with the gun- 
 boats leading, hastened on. Much time 
 had been lost at Helena in getting the 
 troops on board the transports, and the pass 
 was not entered until the 8th of March, and 
 not passed until the 11th; then, when every- 
 one thought the way clear before them, 
 they suddenly came upon a formidable 
 fort, with a large steamer sunk in the mid- 
 dle of the channel to obstruct the passage 
 of the Federal fleet. Here was a surprise 
 to all parties. The Confederates did not 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 301 
 
 expect to see iron-clads in these waters, nor 
 the Federals to find forts where the contra- 
 bands had reported the way clear before 
 them. 
 
 Fortunately the people in the fort had 
 not yet removed the powder from the 
 steamer, and the transports had time to 
 back up the stream and take position be- 
 hind the woods in a bend, and there make 
 their preparations for attack. The"Chil- 
 licothe," Lieutenant -Commander Foster, 
 and the " DeKalb." Lieutenant-Commander 
 Walker, took position, side by sid(^, tied up 
 to the bank with bows down, and began the 
 action with a mortar boat that had ac- 
 companied the expedition, in the rear. 
 
 At this time, unfortunately, Lieutenant- 
 Commander Watson Smith gave evidence 
 of aberration of mind, and much hampered 
 Foster and Walker by contradictory orders 
 which they felt bound to obey. 
 
 The "Chillicothe" was temporarily dis- 
 abled by having her port shutter closed by 
 a shot from the fort, which returned the fire 
 of the gun-boats as soon as the Confed- 
 erates got their powder from the steamer; 
 and wlien they did g:et to work they kept 
 up a rapid and well directed fire. In obedi- 
 ence to the order of Lieutenant-Commander 
 Smith, the two iron-clads had to with- 
 draw from action, and this was put down 
 as a reconnaissance. 
 
 In the afternoon of the same day, the 
 " Chillicothe " went down and attacked the 
 fort at close quarters, but got the worst of 
 it. She proved herself to be a poor vessel 
 for resisting shot. During the afternoon 
 fight she lost four men killed and fifteen 
 wounded. 
 
 On the 1.3th, the two iron-clads again went 
 into action, lying alongside of each other as 
 before. The " Chillicothe" remained in ac- 
 tion one hour and thirty-eight minutes, and 
 then had to withdraw for want of ammuni- 
 tion, besides being much cut up by the ene- 
 my. The " DeKalb" remained in position 
 and finally silenced the Confederate bat- 
 tery, after losing but three killed and three 
 wounded. 
 
 The only way this fort could be taken 
 was by siege guns brought up close to the 
 works ; but this was not done. The general 
 commanding the military contingent did 
 not consider himself strong enough to at- 
 tempt anything of consequence, and after a 
 delay of thirteen days, in which neither side 
 did anything, the Federal forces with- 
 drew. 
 
 The Navy did all that was required of it 
 on this occasion, but there was no hearty 
 co-operation on the part of the Army. Fort 
 Pemberton, though well fortified and in a 
 strong position, ought to have been taken. 
 This would have given the Federals com- 
 mand of the Tallahatchie, Yallabusha and 
 
 Yazoo Rivers, and of course a clear way to 
 the rear of Vicksburg. 
 
 On the 18th of March, Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Watson Smith, owing to aberration 
 of mind, gave up the command of the Naval 
 force to Lieutenant -Commander Foster, 
 who after trying all that could be thought 
 of, followed the Army which had been or- 
 dered to retire from before Fort Pemberton. 
 
 A great deal of cotton was taken by this 
 expedition, but the result was a failure in 
 the main object. The enemy burned two 
 large steamers loaded with cotton, or they 
 were set on fire by the shells of the gun- 
 boats. 
 
 The Confederates had a narrow escape 
 here, and had it not been for the delay in 
 embarking the troops at Helena the Fed- 
 erals would have been successful. As soon 
 as the Confederates discovered the object 
 of this movement (which they did as soon 
 as the levee was cut at Delta) they went to 
 work and built the two formidable forts, 
 Pemberton and Greenwood on the Talla- 
 hatchie and Yallabusha, and blocked the 
 way effectually. 
 
 General Pemberton showed a great deal 
 of ability in his defense of Vicksburg. all 
 through, and won the respect of his oppo- 
 nents by his zeal and fidelity to his cause, 
 to say nothing of his spirit of endurance. 
 But in nothing did he show more energy 
 than in watching the Federal tactics, and 
 guarding against all attempts made to turn 
 his flanks, especially by way of the streams 
 which would have commanded the ap- 
 proaches to Vicksburg if held by an enemy. 
 
 Pemberton took care that these passes 
 should never be left unguarded in the future. 
 These attempts to turn his flanks sharpened 
 his wits and set them to work in other direc- 
 tions to make Vicksburg stronger than 
 ever. 
 
 The vessels which composed the expedi- 
 tion through Yazoo Pass, worked their way 
 back by the route they had entered. The 
 zeal they exhibited in getting in had all 
 left them, their vessels were much injured 
 and their labors seemed interminable. It 
 was a happy day to all when they found 
 themselves on the wide Mississippi, which 
 seemed to the explorers like an ocean in 
 comparison with the small and tortuous 
 streams over which they had been fighting 
 their way. 
 
 The shot and shell of the enemy were 
 nothing compared to the manual labor of 
 soldiers and sailors in removing obstruc- 
 tions which to many seemed insurmount- 
 able. Yet all alike were these difficulties 
 to be overcome in getting into Vicksburg, 
 and this was only one in a number of cases 
 where the energy and courage of our Army 
 and Navy were taxed to the utmost. 
 
 In reading over some of the Western 
 
303 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 papers of those days one would suppose that 
 the two branches of the service were sitting 
 down quietly before Vicksburg, watching 
 the daily performances of the besieged 
 without making any efforts to get inside the 
 city, while, in fact, from the general down, 
 there was but one feeling, — a total disregard 
 of personal comfort and a stern determina- 
 tion to capture Vicksburg at any cost. 
 
 Disappointment after disappointment was 
 met with a stern philosophy which showed 
 that the word "fail" was not understood 
 
 in that Army and Navy. Whenever our 
 soldiers and sailors laid aside their work 
 for a short time to rest, it was the signal for 
 renewed libelous newspaper attacks upon 
 their commanders, but these articles were 
 read by our men with the same feeling 
 of contempt which has been felt in later 
 times by those who have wasted life and 
 health in saving the unity of this great 
 country for millions yet unborn, whom, it 
 is hoped, will feel more grateful than their 
 forefathers. 
 
CH A PTER XXVII. 
 
 EXPEDITION THROUGH STEELE'S BAYOU AND DEER CREEK. 
 
 The Naval Expedition through the Woods. — Scenes and Incidents. — Through Black 
 AND Steele's Bayou. — A Hazardous Journey. — Destruction of Cotton and other 
 Property by the Confederates. — A Skirmish with Tree Cutters. — Sherman 
 Marching to the Relief of the Gun-boats. — Dreadful Work of the Sharp- 
 shooters. — The Confederates attempt to Capture the Fleet. — Sherman Arrives. 
 — Repulse of the Confederates. — Retreat of the Army and Navy. — Repairing 
 Damages. — Good effect of the Expedition. — Loss to the Confederates. — Grand 
 Gulf Fortified. — A Council of War. — Grant's Decision. — The Rams run the 
 Batteries — The "Lancaster" Sunk. — The "Switzerland" joins Farragut. — 
 Brave Volunteers, Etc., Etc. 
 
 ABOUT the time of the Yazoo Pass 
 expedition. Lieutenant McLeod 
 Murphy, U. S. N., discovered a 
 pass through the woods some ten 
 miles above the mouth of the 
 Yazoo, by which it was thought the gun- 
 boats could reach the valley of Deer Creek, 
 and, perhaps get into the Yazoo River by 
 the Sunflower and Yallabusha, thereby 
 reaching the rear of Vicksburg. The water 
 in the Mississippi had risen remarkably, so 
 much so that land usually dry for miles in 
 the interior, now had seventeen feet of 
 water over it. The question was, could the 
 gun-boats get through the woods and thick 
 underbrush which abounded in that local- 
 ity. The route was examined by General 
 Grant and Admiral Porter, and being 
 found apparently practicable for the pur- 
 pose intended, it was determined between 
 the Army and Naval leaders that an at- 
 tempt should be made to get to the rear of 
 Vicksburg in this way. 
 
 So important was this route considered 
 that Admiral Porter determined to go him- 
 self in charge of the naval part of the expe- 
 dition, while General Sherman was to lead 
 an army contingent of 8,000 or 10,000 men. 
 A man who knew all about the country, 
 and who gave his opinion that this was a 
 favorable opportunity to get into the de- 
 sired position in rear of the beleagured city, 
 was employed to accompany the expedi- 
 
 13031 
 
 tion as pilot ; and at the start everything 
 promised well. 
 
 On the 14th of March, Admiral Porter 
 started with the following vessels : " Cin- 
 cinnati," Lieutenant-Commanding Bache ; 
 ''Louisville," Lieutenant - Commander 
 Owens ; " Carondelet," Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Murphy; "Mound City," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commanding Byron Wilson; "Pitts- 
 burgh," Lieutenant-Commanding Hoel ; 
 two mortar floats and four tugs. 
 
 When the fleet came to the pass into 
 which it was to turn, after having ascended 
 the Yazoo, the entrance could scarcely be 
 made out, so dense was the growth of the 
 overhanging bushes and trees, but these 
 the men cut away with cutlasses and axes, 
 and a pass wide enough for three vessels 
 abreast, showed itself, lined out by heavy 
 trees, and through this the gun-boats fol- 
 lowed one another in line, their leadsmen 
 singing out in melodious song, " quarter 
 less three." There was no more channel 
 here than elsewhere, as the water over- 
 flowed every place alike, but there was a 
 long, straight pass opening through the for- 
 est, about 170 feet wide, which was, no 
 doubt, a road cut through the woods for 
 hauling cotton to some landing. 
 
 It was a novel scene. Thousands of 
 crows flew from their perches, and broke 
 the silence of the forest with their dis- 
 cordant notes, no doubt wondering what 
 
304 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 could have caused those great "mud- 
 turtles" to invade tlieir hitherto inaccessible 
 abode, where for centuries they had reared 
 their young and digested their plunder 
 without interruption. 
 
 On went the gun-boats, officers and sail- 
 ors alike, delighted with the romantic 
 scenery, which baffled description ; every 
 heart was cheered with the hope that the 
 long sought for road to Vicksburg had been 
 found, and that the great prize would soon 
 be in their hands. Now and then, a stray 
 tree as much as three feet in diameter would 
 be found standing in the middle of the 
 channel as if to dispute the way. The ves- 
 sels might have passed on either side, but 
 the desire to try the strength of these outly- 
 ing sentinels proved so great that the flag- 
 ship "Cincinnati " would run into them with 
 her strong, broad bow, and topple tliem 
 over, a feat rendered possible by the soft- 
 ening action of the water upon the earth 
 about their roots. The vessels in the rear 
 were told to haul them out of the way. 
 This was good practice, and came into play 
 before the expedition had proceeded many 
 miles. It was all fair sailing at first, but 
 became rough work in the end. 
 
 After some ten miles of easy progress 
 through the woods, the fleet arrived at 
 Black Bayou, a place about four miles long, 
 leading into Deer Creek —and here the plain 
 sailing ended. The gun-boats, being too 
 wide to pass between the trees, had to go to 
 work and knock them down, and pull them 
 up by the roots. The line of vessels was 
 broken, and each went to work to make her 
 way through the tangle as best she could. 
 Saws and axes now came into use, and 
 every means was resorted to for clearing 
 the way. The nari-ow tugs and tlie mor- 
 tar floats had no difficulty in getting along, 
 but the wider iron-clads were, for a time, 
 brought to a stand. The open roadway had 
 vanished, and the pilot confessed his igno- 
 rance of this locality. There was plenty 
 of water, and the stentorian voice of the 
 leadsman was still heard singing out "quar- 
 ter less three !" 
 
 There is nothing that will daunt the 
 American sailor but a lee shore and no sea 
 room. There was plenty of sea room here, 
 but no room to pass between the tangle. 
 The obstruction was passed, after working 
 twenty-four hours consecutively, and that 
 four miles overcome, leaving a good road 
 for those coming after, but a number of 
 trees were moved away. Titans of the 
 forest that had reigned there for a century 
 or more. 
 
 Sherman had arrived at Black Bayou 
 with part of his force, another part had 
 started to march over from a point tweiaty 
 miles above the Yazoo River, on the Mis- 
 sissippi, following a ridge oi" land not in- 
 
 undated. The part of the Army embarked 
 had been transported in small stern-wheel 
 steamers, which being very narrow, suc- 
 ceeded in passing between the trees with 
 only the loss of a few smoke-stacks. From 
 Black Bayou, the gun-boats turned again 
 into Steele's Bayou, a channel just one foot 
 wider than the vessels, and here came the 
 tug of war, such as no vessels ever encoun- 
 tered before. The keel of the skiff was the 
 largest thing that had ever floated in waters 
 now bearing vessels of 600 tons burthen. 
 These had to break through bridges span- 
 ning this muddy ditch, pass through the 
 smoke and fire of burning cotton-bales 
 (which the enemy set in a blaze as soon as 
 the fleet was discovered), and work on, at 
 the rate of half a mile an hour, through 
 lithe willows growing in the middle of the 
 stream, which at intervals was choked up 
 with rafts that had been there for years. 
 The pilot proved to be a fraud, he had never 
 seen the place before. 
 
 This bayou was bordered on both sides with 
 overhanging trees, whose Briarean arms 
 would cling around the passing vessels and 
 sweep away boats and smoke-stacks, while 
 the limbs of decayed trees would fall upon 
 the decks, smashing skylights to pieces, and 
 injuring the people. 
 
 It was dreadful to witness the infatua- 
 tion of the Confederate Government agents, 
 who, riding about on horseback, were set- 
 ting fire to the cotton far and near. They 
 must have imagined the expedition sent to 
 gather cotton — a purpose never thought of. 
 
 Houses were often consumed with the 
 cotton piles, and everything betokened a 
 Moscow affair. It was the cotton of the 
 Confederate government, and they were 
 allowed to burn it. It was the Confederate 
 sinews of war they were destroying ; they 
 were burning up their cash with which 
 they had expected to carry on the struggle. 
 
 The leaders of the expedition soon saw 
 they were discovered; tlie move was cer- 
 tainly known in Vicksburg, and the whole 
 Confederacy would be at work to defeat this 
 measure, as they had at Fort Pemberton. 
 The expedition hurried on to get into the 
 Rolling Fork, and thence into the Sun- 
 flower, whence it could reach the Yazoo 
 above Haines' Bluff. It seemed insane to pro- 
 ceed, there were so many dreadful obstacles 
 in the way, yet no one apparently minded 
 them. The work was hard on the sailors, 
 nevertheless they only made a lark of it. 
 
 Vicksburg was never so aroused as on 
 hearing of the raid right into the heart of 
 her preserves. The expedition had struck 
 that city's store-house: here were the flesh- 
 pots that would make any people glad; 
 cattle, corn, "hog and hominy " enough to 
 subsist a great Army. 
 
 The government agents assembled in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 305 
 
 numbers, they seemed to spring from the 
 earth: the cattle, pigs and poultry were all 
 driven to the woods. Corn ricks were set 
 on fire that the Federals might not have a 
 grain. The latter were not thinking of the 
 flesh-pots, they were too intent upon getting 
 to the rear of Vicksburg, too intent upon 
 clearing out the obstructions in the muddy 
 Bayou to think of " hog and hominy." 
 
 In the first twenty-four hours of this 
 work, the fieet made four miles! At dark 
 it tied up for the night that the hard worked 
 men might rest, but there was no rest for 
 any one there. - At ten o'clock that night, 
 lights were flitting about in the woods, and 
 the sounds of wood chopping fell upon the 
 ears of the watchers in the fleet, and the 
 falling of trees satisfied them that the enemy 
 was on the alert, cutting down trees across 
 their path to pen in the gun -boats. 
 
 Armed landing parties were made up 
 from each vessel, and put ashore; a tug, 
 with a boat howitzer mounted on board, 
 was sent up the bayou, and found two trees, 
 two and a half feet in diameter each, cut 
 down and lying across the stream, com- 
 pletely obstructing it. The tug fired after 
 the tree cutters, and the landing party of 
 300 men, under Lieutenant McLeod Murphy, 
 worked all night with axes and tackles to 
 remove the fallen timber. The fleet moved 
 on at night, the banks being lighted by 
 lanterns. They were determined not to be 
 detained by tree cutters. The tug went 
 ahead for twelve miles, firing her gun 
 wherever a white man and an axe could 
 be heard of. 
 
 Twenty-five trees had been commenced 
 upon by the cutters, but the latter were 
 driven off by the howitzer. It was found 
 that a large gang of negroes had been 
 pressed into service by the Confederate 
 agents who, with pistols at their heads, 
 compelled them to cut the trees; but when 
 the shrapnel from the howitzer began to 
 rattle through the woods, government 
 agents, woodcutters and all, left in a panic. 
 
 Slowly as the naval vessels moved, they 
 made greater progress than the troops, and 
 got ahead of them some twenty miles; the 
 troops met difficulties they were not pre- 
 pared for, and the fleet moved on in ad- 
 vance. After four days of the greatest 
 labor one can imagine, the fleet arrived at 
 or near the entrance to the Rolling Fork, 
 where it was supposed all difficulties would 
 be at an end. Here, for a distance of 600 
 yards, a bed of willows blocked the way. 
 The flag-ship " Cincinnati," ran into it 
 under a full head of steam, and there she 
 stuck; the willow wythes caught in the 
 rough iron of her overhang, and held her 
 as if in a vise. All the arts of seamanship 
 could not displace this obstacle, it would 
 
 After working a whole day and night 
 with saws, chisels and cutlasses, the men 
 stopped for a breathing spell, during which 
 a steamer landed at the bank, four miles 
 off on the Rolling Fork. Another soon came 
 higher up, and both landed artillery, which, 
 in two hours, opened a cross fire on the fleet 
 with about twenty shells a minute, driving 
 the men on the banks to seek the shelter of 
 the iron-clads. The mortars were brought 
 to bear on the enemy, and for a time, 
 checked the fire. Spy-glasses, used from 
 the top of an Indian mound — disclosed the 
 fact that the enemy were landing a large 
 force of infantry — the guns of the iron-clads 
 were so far below the banks of the bayou 
 that they were not a particle of use, the 
 vessels themselves were so jammed up 
 against the bank on either side that there 
 was danger of their crews being kept pris- 
 oners on board by sharpshooters. Sher- 
 man's troops were not in sight and it became 
 necessary to send back a messenger to the 
 general urging him to hurry up to the assist- 
 ance of the gun -boats, which were very 
 helpless at one time. 
 
 The united efforts of the steamers astern 
 of the "Cincinnati" pulled her out of the 
 willows, but not without great trouble, the 
 people on deck and on the banks being 
 exposed to the artillery which kept up a 
 sharp fire. 
 
 There was but one thing to be done under 
 the circumstances, and that was to fall back 
 and meet the Army, which the admiral re- 
 ceived assurances was moving on as fast as 
 possible. As soon as Sherman received the 
 dispatch announcing the condition of the 
 gun-boats, he started off his troops, though 
 it was night, and made his way along the 
 tortuous route by the light of pine knots. 
 He got into swamps and cane brakes, and 
 made but slow progress. This did not prove 
 to any one the fair road to Vicksburg. 
 The soldiers were as severely tried as the 
 sailors. 
 
 As night came on, the gun-boats were 
 ordered to unship their rudders, and drop 
 down with the current; and, the water now 
 running rapidly into the bayou, owing to 
 the cut at Delta — -which was overfiowing 
 the whole country — the vessels bumped 
 along at double the rate they had ascended, 
 bounding from tree to tree, and bringing 
 down the dead branches on the decks, to 
 the destruction of everything around— 
 boats were smashed, and more or less in- 
 jury done to everything. 
 
 As the gun-boats departed, the enemy ap- 
 peared upon the Indian mound, and owing 
 to the tortuous windings of the stream, kept 
 the fleet under fire without the latter being 
 able to fire more than an occasional gun un- 
 til nightfall, when it was found necessary 
 
306 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the howitzers were put ashore in prepara- 
 tion for emergencies 
 
 In the night the patrolling parties cap- 
 tured two of the enemy's officers and some 
 men, who stated that two batteries had been 
 landed, and three thousand sharpshooters, 
 and that they were quite satisfied they 
 would capture the gun-boats in twenty -four 
 hours. They were not aware that an army 
 was with the fleet; they took this for a raid 
 of gun-boats only, and, as one of them re- 
 marked, " a crazy one at that." 
 
 At daylight the fleet started down stream 
 again, stern foremost, hoping to meet the 
 army by noon, but at 8 a. m., they were 
 surrounded by sharpshooters, who kept up 
 such a fire that it was almost impossible for 
 any one to show himself on deck. The 
 riflemen on board, lying behind defences, 
 kept up a brisk fire whenever they saw a 
 curl of smoke. The howitzers were kept 
 at work from behind the deck-houses, and 
 the mortars, which were fired with small 
 charges, landed (heir shells in amongst the 
 enemy, and kept them at a distance. Now 
 and then a mortar shell, landing at the foot 
 of a tree behind which was a sharpshooter, 
 would overthrow the tree as it exploded — 
 making trees unsafe as a protection. Still, 
 the sharpshooters increased in numbers, 
 when, suddenly, the fleet had to come to a 
 stand. Eight or ten large trees, some three 
 feet in diameter, had been felled right 
 across their track, from either side of the 
 bayou, thus completely blocking the way, 
 and the loud cheers of the Confederates as 
 they rang through the woods showed they 
 thought their prey entrapped. 
 
 The officers and men of the fleet, un- 
 daunted by this state of things, went to 
 work to surmount the difiiculty and re- 
 move the trees. Five hundred armed men 
 were put on shore, and took to the trees to 
 meet the enemy's sharpshooters, while how- 
 itzers and mortars kept up a rapid fire 
 which was more than the enemy cared to 
 face. 
 
 The working party from the vessels com- 
 menced operations below the banks, out of 
 reach of the enemy's fire, and by using 
 hawsers, tackles, and that powerful ad- 
 junct, steam, in six hours the trees were all 
 removed, and the fleet went on its way 
 down rejoicing. 
 
 Sherman had heard the firing, and had 
 pushed on to get to the aid of the gun-boats. 
 In the meantime, the enemy had landed 
 more infantry — there were about four 
 thousand in all. Pemberton, at Vicksburg, 
 was well posted in all that was going on, 
 and was determined to leave nothing un- 
 done to capture the venturesome fleet. 
 
 Again the fleet came to a stand-still, 
 but this time only two large trees had been 
 felled. The crews of the vessels commenced 
 
 the work of removal, when a large body of 
 Confederate troops were seen advancing 
 directly through the woods upon the 
 steamers, while the sharpshooters in re- 
 doubled numbers opened fire on the fleet 
 from behind trees not more than fifty yards 
 distant. 
 
 The working parties were called on board 
 to defend the vessels, but before they could 
 get to their arms, there was a rattle of mus- 
 ketry in the woods, a cheering of the crews, 
 and a rapid retreat by the Confederates. 
 They had fallen in with the head of Sher- 
 man's column, which was a great surprise 
 to them, and after one or two volleys, they 
 broke and fled back to their steamers. Sher- 
 man arrived just in the nick of time. 
 Whether the gun-boats could have held 
 their own under the circumstances is im- 
 possible to say. They were well prepared 
 for a brave fight, and from behind the 
 banks they could have mown down the 
 enemy as they rushed on, but it was better 
 as it was, and they were not subjected to 
 the trial. 
 
 The broadside guns of the vessels had been 
 given their greatest elevation, and loaded 
 with grape and cannister. The iron sides 
 of the vessels had all been well greased, and 
 nothing was left for assailants to hold on 
 by. Fourteen hundred good men, with 
 breech-loaders and howitzers, were ready 
 to repel boarders, but there is no knowing 
 what a desperate set of men under good 
 leaders might have accomplished, with such 
 a prize in view as the best vessels of the 
 Mississippi squadron. No set of people 
 were ever so glad to see the soldiers as the 
 men of that fieet were to see Sherman and 
 his Army; and, as the gallant general rode 
 up to the gun-boats, he was received with 
 the warmest cheers he ever had in his life. 
 
 That was the end of the Steele's Bayou 
 expedition; the impossibility of going on 
 again in the face of all the difficulties was 
 conceded by all parties, and it was decided 
 to get the fleet out of that ditch before the 
 enemy blocked up the entrance in the rear 
 and left it in the mud. 
 
 The impracticability of the campaign had 
 been fully demonstrated. So much time 
 had been consumed by the numerous obsta- 
 cles the Army and Navy had to contend 
 with that the enemy had the opportunity to 
 produce the means of checkmating the 
 expedition. 
 
 The point where the gun-boats would 
 have to leave Steele's Bayou to get into the 
 Rolling Fork was so blocked up that it 
 would take many days to remove the 
 obstacles, and the Confederates could throw 
 in such a force as would prevent their op- 
 ponents from working at it. 
 
 The enemy had clear, open rivers to work 
 in; and, in two davs. could transnort, nnv 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 307 
 
 number of troops and guns they desired. 
 The country would not answer for a base 
 of operations, so the Union forces returned 
 to the woods and deep water, having gained 
 a great deal of experience, and the know- 
 ledge that Vicksburg could not be taken in 
 that direction. 
 
 This expedition greatly alarmed the Vicks- 
 burg people: the Army and Navy had there- 
 by found the way right into the store-house 
 from which the besieged had been fed, and 
 upon which they depended in the future. 
 
 This greatly changed their system of de- 
 fence; guns were removed from prominent 
 points along the Mississippi, while the rivers 
 Tallahatchie, Sunflower and Yazoo were 
 strongly fortified, and were guarded against 
 any attack in the future. Every precaution 
 was likewise taken to protect the flanks of 
 the city, but the soldiers and sailors reveled 
 in all the good things whicii abounded in 
 this district, and thinking there was vastly 
 more food there than the Confederates could 
 possibly want, the gun-boats and transports 
 carried off an astonishing amount of loot, 
 which reconciled them in a measure for 
 their disappointment in not fully succeeding 
 in their attempt to reach the rear of Vicks- 
 burg. 
 
 The Navy carried away over a hundred 
 thousand dollars' worth of cotton, marked 
 " C. S. A.," which the Confederates had 
 collected for the use of their government, 
 only waiting for the opportunity to carry 
 it to the sea-board. Over three hundred 
 thousand dollars' worth of cotton was de- 
 stroyed by fire, by command of Confeder- 
 ate agents, who determined that it should 
 not fall into the hands of the Federals. 
 This was all a great loss to the enemy, but 
 unimportant in comparison with what the 
 combined forces had hoped to attain. 
 
 When it was decided that no more could 
 be done on this expedition, the Army re- 
 turned to their transports, and the Navy 
 led the way out of the woods, the men at 
 the leads singing out "quarter less three," 
 in cheery tones, as if everything had gone 
 on smoothly with them, and the gun-boats 
 had not been almost smashed to pieces 
 while rebounding from tree to tree in 
 Steele's Bayou. 
 
 On the 26th of March, the fleet arrived 
 at its old anchorage on the Yazoo. All the 
 machinists, carpenters, boatbuilders, etc., 
 from the shops afloat were set to work to 
 repair damages, and in a week, with the 
 finishing touch of a new coat of paint, they 
 looked as good as new. 
 
 This expedition, though in a measure un- 
 successful, still had a good effect on the 
 Army and Navy. While the men were 
 kept so employed on what were really very 
 exciting expeditions, they had no time to 
 become disheartened by only looking: at 
 
 the frowning hills of Vicksburg, which 
 they, as well as the officers, could see were 
 not to be taken in front. It inured both 
 services to hard work which would the bet- 
 ter enable them to overcome like obstacles 
 in the future ; the constant employment 
 hardened their bodies, while it benefited 
 their minds, and kept them in good spirits. 
 They gained a thorough knowledge of the 
 difficulties they had to encounter, and all 
 this prepared them to battle with others of 
 the same kind. 
 
 These persistent attempts of the Army 
 and Navy to overcome all the obstacles in 
 the way of getting into Vicksburg, kept 
 the enemy continually on the alert, and 
 obliged them to be moving through a 
 country filled with all kinds of obstacles, 
 and made them doubtful where the blow 
 would fall. On this account, Pemberton 
 had to reduce his Army in the city, and 
 keep a larger portion of it at points remote 
 from the real objective point at which the 
 Union general aimed. 
 
 The Confederate soldiers were worn out 
 and dispirited by the numerous marches 
 and countermarches they were obliged to 
 make. They were compelled to live upon 
 the country when they went to expel the 
 invaders, and this soon exhausted the stores 
 in the invaded district on which the people 
 in Vicksburg depended when the hardest 
 time should come. Besides the Confederates 
 were raiders even among their own people. 
 The Union soldiers did pay a little respect 
 to private property, but the former paid no 
 such compliment to anything that could 
 add to their comfort, or fill their commis- 
 sariat ; and, on the whole, the Federal in- 
 vaders were more acceptable to the people 
 on the estates than were the Confederates. 
 
 In this invasion, the Army and Navy 
 both inflicted serious losses on the owners 
 of slaves, and large numbers of the latter 
 went off either in the transports or on the 
 gun-boats. The negroes stated that they 
 had been employed in working on the for- 
 tifications at Vicksburg, Haines' Bluff, etc., 
 and the fact that they had been emiiloyed 
 to cut down the trees on Steele's Bayou, 
 thereby to hem in the gun-boats, was a 
 good reason for taking them away. The 
 last and best reason was that the undeni- 
 able right of freedom was theirs, and it 
 was the duty of every Christian officer and 
 man to help them escape from the most 
 miserable slavery that ever existed in any 
 part of the world. 
 
 General Grant, though disappointed in 
 the result of this last expedition, was not 
 discouraged He saw that this was the last 
 attempt that could be made in this direc- 
 tion, and turned his attention to other ways, 
 believing, with the Duke of Marlborough, 
 that though all trials misrht fail, there was 
 
308 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 always one way left to get into a fortified 
 city. 
 
 So evident was it to the Confederates 
 that in both the Yazoo Pass and the Steele's 
 Bayou expedition they had left the north- 
 ern flank of Vicksburg unprotected, that 
 they removed the depot at once. Not only 
 that, though there was no apparent neces- 
 sity for it, they went to work to strengthen 
 their left flank also, as far down the river 
 as Grand Gulf, thinking, perhaps, that the 
 gun-boats might pass the batteries at Vicks- 
 burg, pass up the Black River, and gain 
 the rear of the besieged city by arriving at 
 Jackson, the capital of Mississippi — a thing 
 much more easily done than getting through 
 Steele's Bayou. 
 
 Whether they were influenced by these 
 ideas or not, they proceeded at once to for- 
 tify Grand Gulf in such a manner that no 
 vessel could pass up Black River, and with 
 hope that the forts would be strong enough 
 to prevent vessels of war from passing up 
 and down the Mississippi itself. While the 
 Confederates were considering these mat- 
 ters. Admiral Farragut arrived in the 
 " Hartford," just below Warrenton, in pur- 
 suit of coal and provisions. This was after 
 his passage of the Port Hudson batteries. 
 From him Grant obtained information of 
 affairs at the latter place, and the little 
 probability there was of General Banks 
 making the Confederates evacuate it. 
 
 On hearing this, General Grant thought 
 of sending an army corps to co-operate with 
 Banks, get possession of the works at Port 
 Hudson, and then bring all Banks' forces 
 to operate against Vicksburg. But this 
 idea did not exist long, the general coming 
 to this opinion through the fact that the 
 water had overflowed everything about the 
 upper part of Vicksburg, and dry land 
 could only be found on the heights. There 
 was no foot-hold for an army, and Grant 
 thought a better chance of turning Vicks- 
 burg might be found below, between War- 
 renton and Grand Gulf. 
 
 Having consulted with Admiral Porter 
 regarding the possibility of passing the bat- 
 teries at Vicksburg with a sufficient force 
 ^a point on which his mind was made easy 
 — he called a council of war, at which all 
 the divisional commanders, except Sherman 
 and McClernand, were present. 
 
 The plan proposed to the council was to 
 send the gun-boats below Vicksburg with a 
 sufficient number of transports, well packed 
 with cotton — to protect their boilers and 
 machinery — to march the Army over to 
 Carthage, and thence transport it to the 
 Vicksburg side, as circumstaiaces war- 
 ranted. 
 
 This proposition was respectfully but 
 strongly opposed by all the generals pres- 
 ent. Sherman sent his objections — which 
 
 were good ones — in writing; and McCler- 
 nand, to whom Grant had spoken on the 
 subject, wrote a letter, and proposed the plan 
 of going below, as originating with himself, 
 which was a habit this general had when 
 anything of importance was about to be un- 
 dertaken. 
 
 This plan of Grant's seemed to those 
 around him to be full of danger, and they 
 left no eloquence untried to persuade him 
 not to undertake a move threatening so 
 much peril to his Army. They urged that 
 to move his Army below Vicksburg was to 
 cut himself off from his base of supplies at 
 the North, to cut his own communications, 
 and do exactly what his enemies most de- 
 sired him to do: to place himself in a posi- 
 tion, where, if defeated, the defeat would 
 be overwhelming. The inundated state of 
 the country was pointed out to him, and 
 the difficulty of moving an Army and sup- 
 plies over such roads as there were. Some 
 of the most accomplished soldiers in his 
 Army, men who had won their way to fame, 
 urged him, with all the power of eloquence, 
 not to undertake the rash movement. 
 Grant listened to them respectfully, and 
 when the last had spoken, he said: " I am 
 sorry to diflier with you all, but my mind is 
 made up; the Army will move to-morrow 
 at ten o'clock." 
 
 When Grant was asked how he would get 
 the transports past the batteries, he replied: 
 " That is the Admiral's affair. Where the 
 ' Queen of the West ' and ' Switzerland ' can 
 go in broad daylight, the transports can 
 pass at night." 
 
 A few days before this council. Admiral 
 Farragut. who had come up from Red River, 
 as before mentioned, requested Colonel 
 Alfred Ellet to let him have two of the Ram 
 fleet (to run the batteries at night) for the 
 purpose of returning with him to the block- 
 ade of the Red River — saying he would make 
 it all right with Admiral Porter, etc. To 
 this Colonel Ellet at once agreed. Accord- 
 ingly the rams "Lancaster" and " Switzer- 
 land " were prepared to run the batteries, 
 the former commanded bv Lieutenant-Col- 
 onel John A. Ellet. the latter by Charles 
 Rivers Ellet. These EUets were"'all brave 
 fellows, and were full of the spirit of adven- 
 ture. Instead of going past the batteries 
 with comparative ease at night, thev chose 
 a time near daylight, and bv the tinie they 
 got abreast of the citv all the batteries 
 opened on them. The ' ' Lancaster's " boilers 
 were exploded by a shell, and being a frail 
 vessel, she went to pieces and sunk imme- 
 diately. The ' ' Switzerland " had her boilers 
 perforated by a plunging shot, and received 
 a number of hits, but otherwise the damage 
 done to her was not material, and she joined 
 Farragut, and afterward performed good 
 service down river. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 30!) 
 
 If such frail boats as these could pass in 
 open daylight, there was no reason why 
 transports could not pass at night, under 
 the lee of the iron-clads. A number of 
 transports were prepared by packing them 
 well with cotton-bales. Their crews in most 
 cases declining to serve, their places were 
 filled by volunteers from the Army. The 
 pilots, as a rule, determined to stay by 
 their vessels, and put them through, if pos- 
 sible. It was a hazardous task, but the - 
 
 pilots, a brave set of officers, got used to it 
 after awhile, and running the batteries came 
 to be considered by them as not much more 
 dangerous than racingwith another steamer, 
 with the captain sitting on the safety-valve. 
 This seemed to be the spirit which animated 
 soldier volunteers who were, in many 
 cases, sailors. 
 
 With these preparations the expedition 
 was ready to move at the appointed time — 
 the night of April 16th. 
 
CH A PTER XXVIII. 
 
 PASSAGE OF THE FLEET BY VICKSBURG AND CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF. 
 
 —CAPTURE OF ALEXANDRIA, ETC. 
 
 Plans for Running the Batteries. — The Fleet Underway. — The Batteries open Fire. 
 — The Transport "Henry Clay" Sunk. — A Grand Scene.— The Batteries Run. — 
 The Fleet Anchors below the City. — McClernand confronted with " Quaker 
 Guns." — Grant pushes on to Grand Gulf. — The "Price" in front of the Bat- 
 teries. — Insubordination of McClernand. — Grand Gulf Described. — The Gun- 
 boats Commence the Attack. — The Fight Fiercely Contested. — The " Benton's" 
 Wheel Disabled. — Damages to the Vessels.— The Gun-boats Tie up at Hard 
 Times.— Burying the Dead. — The Attack Renewed. — The Confederates stand to 
 their Guns.— So-called '• History." — Grant's Brightest Chapter. — Attack on 
 Haines' Bluff.— Captain Walke Captures Sharpshooters.— Grand Gulf Cap- 
 tured. — Porter confers with Farragut. — Up the Red River. — Fort DeRussy 
 partially Destroyed. — Capture of Alexandria. — General Banks takes Posses- 
 sion —Up the Black River. — Harrisonburg Shelled. — Operations of the Missis- 
 sippi Squadron Summarized. 
 
 THE Army had already moved on 
 the 15th of April, 1803, and that 
 night was selected for the naval 
 vessels to pass the batteries of 
 Vicksburg. 
 Orders had been given that the coal in 
 the furnaces should be well ignited, so as to 
 show no smoke, that low steam should be 
 carried, that not a wheel was to turn except 
 to keep the vessel's bow down river, and to 
 drift past the enemy's works fifty yards 
 apart. 
 
 Most of the vessels had a coal barge 
 lashed to them on the side away from the 
 enemy, and the wooden gun-boat " General 
 Price," was lashed to the off side of the 
 iron-clad "Lafayette." 
 
 When all was ready the signal was made 
 to get under way and the squadron started 
 in the following order: "Benton" (flag- 
 ship) Lieutenant-Commander James A. 
 Greer; "Lafayette," Commander Henry 
 Walke ; " General Price," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Selim Wood worth ; "Louisville," 
 Lieutenant - Commander E. K. Owen ; 
 "Mound City," Lieutenant - Commander 
 Byron Wilson; "Pittsburg," Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Hoel ; " Carondelet." Lieuten- 
 
 ant - Commander J. McL. Murphy, and 
 "Tuscumbia," Lieutenant-Commander J. 
 W. Shirk. The tug "Ivy" was lashed to 
 the "Benton," three army transports were 
 in the rear and the " Tuscumbia " was at the 
 end of the line to take care of them. 
 
 The "Benton," passed the first battery 
 without receiving a shot, but as she came 
 up with the second, the railroad station on 
 the right bank of the river was set on fire, 
 and tar barrels were lighted all along the 
 Vicksburg shore, illuminating the river 
 and showing every object as plainly as if 
 it was daylight. Then the enemy opened 
 his batteries all along the line, and the 
 sharpshooters in rifle-pits along the levee 
 commenced operations at the same instant. 
 The fire was returned with spirit by the 
 vessels as they drifted on. and the sound 
 of falling buildings as the shells burst 
 within them attested the efficiency of the 
 gun-boats' fire. 
 
 The vessels had drifted perhaps a mile 
 when a shell exploded in the cotton barri- 
 cades of the transport "Henry Clay," and 
 almost immediately the vessel was in a 
 blaze ; another shell soon after bursting in 
 her hull, the transport went to pieces and 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 311 
 
 sank. The " Forest Queen," another trans- 
 port, was also disabled by the enemy, but 
 she was taken in tow by the " Tuscumbia " 
 and conveyed safely through. 
 
 The scene while the fleet was passing the 
 batteries was grand in the extreme, but the 
 danger to the vessels was more apparent 
 than real. Their weak points on the sides 
 were mostly protected by heavy logs which 
 prevented many shot and shells going 
 through the iron. Some rents were made 
 but the vessels stood the ordeal bravely and 
 received no damage calculated to impair 
 their efficiency. 
 
 Texas would be cut off and they would have 
 to depend on what they could receive from 
 Richmond. 
 
 General Steele had been sent up to the 
 Steele's Bayou region to destroy all the pro- 
 visions in that quarter, andPemberton knew 
 that if Grant's Army once got below Vicks- 
 burg it would eat up everything in the way 
 of food between Warrenton and Bruens- 
 burg. 
 
 Although the squadron was under fire 
 from the time of passing the first battery 
 until the last vessel got by, a period of two 
 hours and thirty minutes, the vessels were 
 
 THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, UNDER ADMIRAL PORTER, PASSING THE BATTERIES AT VICKSBURG 
 
 ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 15, 1863. 
 
 The management of the vessels on this 
 occasion was virtually in the hands of the 
 pilots, who handled them beautifully and 
 kept them in line at the distance apart 
 ordered. 
 
 The enemy's shot was not well aimed; 
 owing to the rapid fire of shells, shrapnel, 
 grape and canister from the gun-boats, the 
 sharpshooters were glad to lay low, and the 
 men at the great guns gave up in disgust 
 when they saw the fleet drift on apparently 
 unscathed. 
 
 They must have known that Vicksburg 
 was doomed, for if the fleet got safely below 
 the batteries their supplies of provisions from 
 
 struck in their hulls but sixty-eight times 
 by shot and shells, and only fifteen men 
 were wounded. At 2.30 a. "m., all the ves- 
 sels were safely anchored at Carthage, 
 ten miles below Vicksburg, where was en- 
 camped the advanced division of the Army 
 under General McClernand. 
 
 The plantation at this place was owned by 
 an ultra Confederate who exulted over the 
 expected loss of all the gun-boats when he 
 heard that they were to attempt the passage 
 of the batteries, but when at two o'clock he 
 saw them one after another heave in sight 
 their night numbers up and signaling to the 
 fiag-ship, " all's well," he went off in despair, 
 
got drunk, set fire to his house and all the 
 negro cabins, and departed to parts un- 
 known. The negroes had already jouied 
 the Union Army,' having no attachment to 
 their brutal master, who had become so 
 debased that he scarcely bore resemblance 
 to a man. 
 
 When the day broke after the arrival of 
 the squadron at Carthage, some four hun- 
 dred men, the advance guard of McCler- 
 nand's division, were found behind in- 
 trenchments hastily thrown up with a log 
 on a pair of cart-wheels, to represent a field 
 piece, while less than a thousand yards in- 
 front of them was a formidable looking set 
 of earth-works with four large guns in posi- 
 tion; and Generals McClernand and Oster- 
 haus were momentarily expecting an attack. 
 
 LIEUT.-COMMANDEE (NOW CAPTAIN) JAMES A. GKEEE, 
 COMMANDING ELAG-SHIP "BENTON." 
 
 The enemy's worlds appeared to be full of 
 men, and as the Union troops had been un- 
 der arms all night, the arrival of the gun- 
 boats was a great relief to them. The 
 " Tuscumbia " was sent down to shell the 
 enemy out, but the latter scampered ofl" as 
 soon as they saw the gun-boat coming. 
 The Confederates had been playing a " bluff 
 game " with McClernand, and held him in 
 check until part of their force could get away 
 with some light field-pieces. The frowning 
 guns on the parapet proved on examination 
 to be nothing but logs — such are the de- 
 vices in war ! 
 
 The advance of General Grant's Army 
 moved but slowly on its way to Carthage. 
 The roads were in wretched condition, and 
 the artillery and wagons were continu- 
 
 ally stalled. The soldiers had therefore to 
 " cordurov " the roads so that those commg 
 after could get along faster, but it was ter- 
 rible marching at the best. 
 
 From the little damage that had been m- 
 flicted on the gun- boats, General Grant felt 
 satisfied he could send transports by the 
 batteries of Vicksburg, and shortly after- 
 wards six of these, on a dark night, passed 
 down in charge of their pilots— a daring 
 set of men who never shrunk from any 
 dangerous service,— only one steamer was 
 sunk by the enemy's shot. 
 
 A sufficient number of gun boats had 
 been left at the mouth of the Yazoo River 
 to take care of the upper Mississippi, and to 
 look out for two formidable rams that were 
 building at Yazoo City, forty miles from the 
 mouth of the river. 
 
 Sherman remained with his division at 
 Young's Point, ready to make another at- 
 tack from the Yazoo if opportunity offered, 
 and also to protect the supplies at MiUi- 
 ken's Bend from General Sterling Price, 
 who with a large Confederate force was en- 
 camped some thirty miles away on the 
 west bank of the Mississippi. 
 
 The Mississippi Marine Brigade, consist- 
 ing of two thousand men, under Brigadier- 
 General Alfred Ellet, in six or seven large 
 steamers, was left there. These flying 
 troops were attached to the Navy. Every 
 precaution had been taken to prevent a sur- 
 prise from the Confederates, or any attempt 
 on their part to fortify the river banks 
 again in the absence of the Army. 
 
 General McClernand had been ordered by 
 Grant to push forward with his division, 
 and with the help of the Navy, to seize 
 upon Grand Gulf. Had it not been for the 
 great overflow at that time, the Union Army 
 might have landed on the east side of the 
 river, but Vicksburg was now almost sur- 
 rounded by water, which obliterated all 
 roads except those on the high lands, which 
 could only be reached by going further 
 down the Mississippi. Hence it was that 
 after a careful examination of the left bank 
 of the river. Grant decided to push on to 
 Grand Gulf, a long and tedious march. 
 
 General McClernand had been given the 
 advance to satisfy his ambition, but he was 
 not equal to the occasion, and this desire of 
 General Grant to show McClernand that 
 he was anxious to give him an opportunity 
 for distinction, might have hazarded the 
 success of the campaign. Had McClernand 
 pushed on at once with the Navy to back him 
 Grand Gulf and its batteries would have 
 easily fallen into Federal hands; Big Black 
 River, which led up to the rear of Jackson, 
 would have been kept open by the gun- 
 boats; and the main Army instead of having 
 to land at Bruensburg. eight or ten miles 
 below Grand Gulf, could have disembarked 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 313 
 
 at the latter point and marched to the rear 
 of Vicksburg by favorable roads. Instead 
 of carrying out his instructions, McCler- 
 nand advanced only to Perkins' Landing, 
 where he pitched his tents (although he had 
 been directed to leave these behind on ac- 
 count of the difficulties of transportation), 
 and called upon General McPherson for 
 rations, of which he had failed to provide 
 himself a sufficient supply. Perkins' Land- 
 ing seemed to have such a fascination 
 for McClernand that he remained there un- 
 til Grant ordered him to move on. 
 
 Admiral Porter proceeded in the wooden 
 gun-boat "General Price" to reconnoitre 
 Grand Gulf , and ascertained that large num- 
 bers of troops were engaged in construct- 
 ing extensive fortifications. Some guns 
 were already mounted and others lying on 
 the ground. 
 
 The " Price " had but two guns and with 
 these Lieutenant-Commanding Woodworth 
 was ordered to proceed within twelve hun- 
 dred yards of the upper battery, and open 
 fire. The shells exploded in the battery, 
 and the workers sought the shelter of the 
 hills. The " Price " kept up a fire for over 
 an hour, the Confederates firing only two 
 shots from a Whitworth field-piece; for, as 
 was afterwards ascertained, they had at 
 that time received no ammunition for the 
 great guns. 
 
 The Admiral having satisfied himself 
 that the works could be easily carried by 
 assault under cover of the fire of the gun- 
 boats, hastened back to Perkins' Landing, 
 and stated the case to General McClernand, 
 urging the co-operation of two thousand 
 soldiers to enable him to occupy Grand 
 Gulf, but no heed was given to the applica- 
 tion; for McClernand, wrapped in his dig- 
 nity, scorned all advice. 
 
 Failing in that direction, the Admiral 
 wrote to General Sherman, detailing the 
 state of affairs and begged him to induce 
 General Grant to come to the front and 
 take charge in person, before the favorable 
 opportunity should pass away. 
 
 Grant was then at Milliken's Bend, forty 
 miles distant. It took Sherman twenty 
 hours to get the dispatch to him, and 
 twenty- four hours more for Grant to reach 
 Perkins' Landing, where he assumed com- 
 mand of the advance in spite of McCler- 
 nand's objections, which were manifested 
 in such an insubordinate way that most 
 commanding generals would have at once 
 relieved him from duty. 
 
 Three or four days had passed since the 
 reconnoissance of Grand Gulf by the 
 Admiral and time was lost which could 
 never be regained. The Confederates con- 
 cluded from the reconnoissance that meas- 
 ures were on foot to attack Grand Gulf, and 
 they worked incessantly to strengthen the 
 
 defences. Men and munitions of war were 
 poured in from Vicksburg, and the enemy 
 were prepared to make a strong resistance 
 to the gun-boats or to any assault from the 
 land forces. 
 
 Grand Gulf was by nature as strong as 
 Vicksburg, the Confederates in their pride 
 called it "the Little Gibraltar." The princi- 
 pal work called Bald Head, was on a bold 
 bluff promontory at a bend in the river com- 
 manding a view for miles up and down the 
 Mississippi. The current of the river, which 
 ran here five miles an hour with innumera- 
 ble eddies, had cut away the shore until 
 beneath the fort was a perpendicular wall 
 more than eighty feet in height, while in 
 the rear hills rising three hundred and fifty 
 feet above the river were dotted with field 
 works to protect the flanks of Bald Head, 
 which fort mounted four heavy guns, 
 Brooke rifles and 8-inch Columbiads. In 
 front of this the river formed a large circu- 
 lar bay or gulf from which the place took 
 its name. Black River emptied into the 
 gulf and the approach to it was commanded 
 by two 8-inch Columbiads. 
 
 The lower forts were half a mile below 
 Bald Head, and were connected with the 
 latter by intrenchments by which troops 
 could pass under cover from one fort to 
 another. The lower batteries mounted nine 
 heavy guns situated on the brow of a hill 
 eight hundred yards from the river and one 
 hundred and fifty feet above it. The guns 
 were mostly long 32-pounders and 8-inch. 
 There were some smaller batteries in which 
 were rified field pieces. All these batteries 
 were more formidable from the fact that 
 they were in very elevated positions, giving 
 them a plunging fire, while it was difficult 
 to elevate the guns afioat so that their shot 
 would reach the enemy. 
 
 After Grant had got his Army in motion 
 part of McClernand's division was embarked 
 on transports, the rest of the troops being 
 obliged to march to Hard Times, twenty- 
 two miles from Perkins' Landing. 
 
 Five barges and a steamer were sunk by 
 the batteries at Vicksburg when the last 
 six transports ran the blockade, which made 
 transportation by water for all of the 
 troops out of the question. 
 
 When the troops arrived at the point 
 abreast of Bald Head, and the soldiers on 
 the transports were ready to land as soon 
 as the batteries should be silenced, Admiral 
 Porter got under way with the squadron 
 and commenced the attack at 8 a. m., on the 
 29th of April, 1863. 
 
 The "Pittsburg" "Louisville," "Mound 
 City," and "Carondelet" attacked the 
 lower batteries, while the "Benton," "Tus- 
 cumbia," and " Lafayette " attacked Bald 
 Head battery, the two former as close as 
 they could get, and the "' Lafayette" lying 
 
314 
 
 THE IS AVAL tlliilUKX 
 
 in an eddy four hundred yards above the 
 fort where she could enfilade it. 
 
 As the vessels approached the works the 
 enemy opened fire and in ten minutes the 
 battle was raging all along the line. The 
 fight was severely contested, and it was 
 not until three hours after the first gun was 
 fired, that the enemy deserted his guns at 
 the lower batteries, and then only after the 
 "Lafayette" had been ordered from her 
 first position to reinforce the gun-boats be- 
 low. 
 
 In the meantime the flag-ship " Benton," 
 and the " Tuscumbia" were doing their best 
 to silence the upper battery, getting close 
 under the guns and endeavoring to knock 
 
 minutes— the "Pittsburg" lost six killed 
 and had twelve wounded. 
 
 After all the vessels concentrated their 
 fire on Bald Head, there was less resistance, 
 although the Confederates still stood to 
 their guns. When the battle had lasted 
 more than five hours, General Grant, who 
 from a tug up the river, was looking on, 
 made signal to the Admiral that he wished 
 to communicate, and the "Benton" joined 
 him two miles above the forts. The Con- 
 federates had now ceased firing, but the 
 gun-boats maintained their position around 
 Bald Head, occasionally firing a shell to 
 keep the enemy out of the works. 
 
 When General Grant went on board the 
 
 BATTERIES AT •■ GRAND GULF" CAPTURED BY THE U. S. MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, MAY 3, 1863. 
 
 off their muzzles, when they were run out 
 to fire. The current was so strong, how- 
 ever, that it was impossible to keep the two 
 vessels in position and they sheered about 
 very much. In one of these sheers, a 
 shot entered the " Benton's " pilot house, 
 disabled the wheel and cut Pilot Williams' 
 foot nearly off. Though the brave pilot 
 never left his post it was impossible to man- 
 age the vessel and she was accordingly run 
 into the bank to repair damages. 
 
 The gun-boats at the lower batteries had 
 been signalled to double up on Bald Head, 
 the " Lafayette" to resume her old position, 
 and the "Pittsburg," Volunteer - Lieu- 
 tenant Hoel, arrived opportunely to take the 
 "Benton's" place. During the time the 
 latter vessel was out of action — twenty -five 
 
 flag-ship, he decided that it would be too 
 hazardous to attempt to land troops, as it 
 did not appear that the guns in the enemy's 
 works were dismounted and the gunners 
 would therefore jump to their batteries 
 again, open on the unprotected transports 
 and destroy many of the troops. For the 
 same reason the general concluded not to 
 send the transports past the batteries with 
 the soldiers on board but to march the lat- 
 ter around by land. In this he was quite 
 right, as afterwards appeared. 
 
 As there was no longer any object in 
 keeping the gun-boats under the batteries, 
 all but the "Lafayette" were recalled, and 
 the latter was left in her old position to 
 keep the enemy from reoccupying the works 
 and repairing- damages. This duty Com- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 315 
 
 mander Walke effectually performed, firing 
 a shell every five minutes into the works 
 until darkness set in. 
 
 The engagement was fought under great 
 disadvantages; the current around the pro- 
 montory of Bald Head ran with great 
 rapidity, and it was as much as the gun- 
 boats could do to, stem it. Clumsy vessels 
 at best, the iron-clads would frequently be 
 turned completely round, presenting their 
 weak points to the enemy, of which the 
 expert Confederate gunners were not slow 
 to take advantage, and seldom missed their 
 mark so close were the vessels to the forts. 
 The light armor plates of most of the ves- 
 sels offered but an imperfect resistance to 
 the heavy missiles of the enemy, and, in 
 consequence, the list of killed and wounded 
 in the squadron was large. 
 
 The "Tuscumbia," on which vessel great 
 reliance was placed to resist heavy shot, 
 proved herself the weakest vessel in the 
 squadron, although Lieutenant-Commander 
 Shirk stood up to his work manfully. 
 In the beginning of the engagement, a rifle 
 shell struck the outer edge of the shutter of 
 the midship port — she fought three 11-inch 
 guns in the bow — opened the port and en- 
 tered the casemate, killing six men and 
 wounding several others. 
 
 Another shell jammed the shutters of the 
 same port so tightly, that the gun could not 
 be used for the remainder of the action. A 
 shell from the lower battery entered the 
 stern port, disabling every man at the 9- 
 inch gun, and yet this vessel was supposed 
 to be shot proof ! Some of the armor on the 
 forward casemate fell overboard from re- 
 peated blows, and all of it was started from 
 its seat. 
 
 The " Tuscumbia " was struck eighty-one 
 times by shot and shells, and was com- 
 pletely riddled; one engine was disabled, 
 six men killed and twenty-four wounded, 
 some of them mortally. 
 
 The flag-ship "Benton," although the 
 strongest of the gun-boats, was badly cut 
 up. A shell passed through her armor on 
 the starboard quarter and exploded in a 
 stateroom, setting fire to the vessel. 
 
 The "Benton" was struck forty-seven 
 times in the casemates, and seventy times 
 in all by heavy shot, the three-quarter inch 
 iron was perforated twelve times, the two 
 and-a-half inch, four times. A hundred 
 pound shot passed through the pilot-house, 
 smashing the wheel and severely wound- 
 ing the pilot, nine men were killed and 
 nineteen wounded. 
 
 The " Lafayette," Commander Walke, 
 proved herself an excellent fighting vessel. 
 She was struck by cannon shot forty -five 
 times, but only five shots did any serious 
 damage. She had only one officer 
 wounded. 
 
 The "Pittsburg," Volunteer-Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Hoel, was struck in the hull 
 thirty-five times, and had six killed and 
 thirteen wounded. 
 
 The other vessels, although considerably 
 cut up, were not materially damaged, and 
 all reported "ready for service" half an 
 hour after the action, when the gun-boats 
 tied up to the bank at Hard Times. 
 
 Then came the melancholy duty of bury- 
 ing the dead, who were followed mourn- 
 fully to their graves by their messmates and 
 friends. 
 
 Three hours afterwards the squadron got 
 underway and again attacked the batteries, 
 while the transports all passed in safety 
 below Hard Times. Some of the Confederate 
 gunners fired at the gun-boats but did no 
 damage. During the whole engagement the 
 Confederates stood to their guns manfully, 
 and certainly pointed them to some purpose. 
 Colonel Wade, the commanding officer at 
 Bald Head, was killed; his chief-of-staff 
 also, and eleven men were reported killed 
 by the Confederates, although more graves 
 than that were counted. The enemy had 
 many wounded, but the number was not 
 mentioned in the returns. 
 
 Rear- Admiral Porter, in his report, speaks 
 in the highest terms of Commander Walke, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Murphy, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commanders Shirk and Owen, Lieu- 
 tenants-Commanding Hoel and Wilson, 
 some of whom had already distinguished 
 themselves on the upper Mississippi. 
 
 The remarks on this battle of Grand Gulf 
 by military historians show how reluctant 
 they are to give the Navy credit. The fol- 
 lowing quotation from a well known writer, 
 is an instance in point. Speaking of Grand 
 Gulf he says : 
 
 " The vessels were handled with skill and bold- 
 ness, but the rebel batteries were too elevated for 
 Porter to accomplish anything. He was not able to 
 dismount a solitary piece and it would have been 
 madness to attempt a landing under unsilenced 
 guns like these. No serious injury was sustained 
 by any of the fleet. [!] The Admiral withdrew 
 after the utter futility of his effort had been amply 
 demonstrated. The enemy also suspended fire." 
 
 Such are the statements that have for 
 years passed for " history," one " historian" 
 repeating another only changing a little 
 the language of his predecessor to make it 
 pass for his own. The above quotation 
 reads like an excuse for the Army not land- 
 ing, although no excuse Avas needed. It 
 was General Grant's opinion that it would 
 be wiser to land the Army lower down, in 
 which opinion the naval commanding offi- 
 cer concurred. Grant had too few' men 
 with him to run the risk of losing any of 
 them, and there was no particular advan- 
 tage to be gained by landing immediately at 
 Grand Gulf, as was afterwards proven. 
 
 The military historian whom we have 
 
316 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 quoted has not stated the case truthfully, 
 but his statements are in keeping with 
 those of many other writers who seem 
 to fear that by giving credit to the Navy, 
 they mav detract from that which is 
 due the other arm of the service. An 
 intelligent reader will readily understand 
 that a campaign such as is here described 
 must have been a failure without the assist- 
 ance of the Navy. In default of credit from 
 the " military historians," the officers and 
 men of the Navy must rely on the reports 
 of their own chiefs to do them justice. 
 
 The night following the attack on Grand 
 Gulf information was obtained from a ne- 
 gro, that there was a good landing at Bru- 
 ensburg, six miles below Grand Gulf, and 
 that from Bruensburg an excellent road led 
 to Port Gibson, twelve miles in the interior. 
 In consequence of this information the gun- 
 boats and transports were next morning 
 crowded with troops, and steamed down 
 the river. About noon, Grant disembarked 
 thirty -two thousand men with four days' 
 rations, and without transportation deter- 
 mined to live upon the enemy, as he was 
 satisfied the supply of provisions in the 
 district was ample to meet all his require- 
 ments. 
 
 Here Grant started on that remark- 
 able march against an enemy who out- 
 numbered his forces two to one; he outgen- 
 eraled the Confederates, fought battle after 
 battle and finally reached the rear of Vicks- 
 burg, shutting General Pemberton inside 
 the fortifications and causing General 
 Joseph E. Johnston to evacuate Jackson 
 and retreat. 
 
 Grant's conduct of this campaign forms 
 the brightest chapter in his military record 
 and can only be appreciated by those who 
 know the difficulties with which he had to 
 contend, and particularly the nature of the 
 country through which he had to march his 
 Army. 
 
 General Grant had made arrangements 
 for Sherman's division to make a feint up 
 Yazoo River the same day the gun-boats 
 attacked Grand Gulf. Accordingly, on that 
 day Sherman moved up the Yazoo in trans- 
 ports preceeded by " the gun-boats," as the 
 military historian puts it. Most of these gun- 
 boats were what were called " workshops," 
 i. e.,the machinevessel, carpenter shop, store 
 vessel, powder vessel and hospital vessel. 
 These were simply river steamers painted 
 black. The naval forces were led by Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander K. R. Breese in the 
 " Black Hawk " and comprised the " Baron 
 DeKalb," Lieutenant-Commander John G. 
 Walker, ' ' Choctaw,' ' Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander F. M. Ramsay, "Taylor." Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Prichett, '•Signal," 
 "Romeo," "Linden" and "Petrel" with 
 three 13-inch mortars. 
 
 The naval demonstration was really a fine 
 one, calculated to impress the Confederates, 
 who had seen so many nondescripts pass 
 Vicksburg that they hardly knew a gun- 
 boat from a transport. 
 
 While Pemberton was making his prepa- 
 rations to meet Grant's Army on Big 
 Black River, he received a dispatch inform- 
 ing him that Haines' Bluflf was the real 
 point of attack and that a large Army sup- 
 ported by numerous gun-boats was moving 
 against that place. It was desirable that 
 the Confederates should be encouraged in 
 the belief that Haines' Bluff was the real 
 point of attack, and the "DeKalb," "Choc- 
 taw" and "Taylor," approaching as near 
 as they could get, opened a heavy fire on 
 the works while Sherman disembarked his 
 troops. 
 
 There was but one narrow road which led 
 along the levee, and this was wide enough 
 for but four men to march abreast. As 
 Sherman advanced along this road towards 
 Haines' Bluff the three gun-boats main- 
 tained their incessant fire and confirmed 
 the Confederates in their belief that this 
 was really the point of attack, although the 
 condition of the country ought to have as- 
 sured them that no Army would be likely to 
 attack a place so strongly fortified, under 
 the circumstances. 
 
 The fire of the gun-boats was kept up as 
 long as possible, and videttes and skirm- 
 ishers were thrown out by the Army on the 
 road leading to the Bluff; upon this road 
 the enemy opened with heavy guns and 
 apparently could have swept away any 
 force approaching from that direction. At 
 dark, General Sherman re-embarked his 
 men, having accomplished the object of 
 his movement, which was simply to deceive 
 the Confederates. 
 
 Notwithstanding the movement was but 
 a feint, the three gun-boats, "Choctaw," 
 "DeKalb," and "Taylor," together with 
 the "Black Hawk," kept up a hot fire for 
 three hours as well as they could — wedged 
 in a stream which was here not over forty 
 yards wide; as, since the demonstration 
 was considered of such importance by Gen-, 
 eral Sherman, it was necessary to do every- 
 thing that would make the attack appear 
 a real one. The morning after these trans- 
 actions, it was discovered that new works 
 had been thrown up by the Confederates 
 during the night, that the old ones had been 
 extended, and several additional heavy 
 guns had been placed in position. 
 
 This feint against Haines' Bluff continued 
 for several days, and Pemberton was 
 obliged, in answer to solicitations, to send 
 re-inf orcements, thus weakening his Army 
 below. Ox teams were observed hauling 
 heavy guns to mount at Haines' Bluff, to 
 check the advance of the Federal forces, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 317 
 
 showing that the enemy was exerting all 
 his energy to strengthen the threatened 
 position. 
 
 During this movement, the " DeKalb," 
 while temporarily dropping out of action 
 was attacked by sharpshooters from some 
 buildings on the eastern bank. Lieutenant- 
 Commander Walker immediately ran the 
 vessel into the bank and landed twenty-five 
 men under command of Acting-Master C. 
 S. Kendrick, who dislodged the enemy and 
 chased them into the swamp, killing one 
 officer and three privates, and taking a lieu- 
 tenant of the Third Louisiana Infantry 
 prisoner. This officer was captured in a 
 hand-to-hand fight by Mr. Kendrick, who 
 knocked him down with a pistol. In two 
 days firing, the "DeKalb" expended two 
 hundred rounds of shot and shells, did not 
 suffer materially in her hull, and had only 
 one casualty. 
 
 The "Choctaw," Lieutenant-Commander 
 Ramsay, had an opportunity of show- 
 ing her -fighting qualities. She was a sister 
 ship to the "Lafayette," and had lately 
 joined the squadron. She was struck forty- 
 seven times in her hull, and had thirteen 
 shots through her smoke-stack. The turret 
 was struck six times. A ten-inch shot pene- 
 trated the crown, and a six inch rifle shot 
 buried itself in the iron plating. Two shots 
 struck below the water line on the starboard 
 side forward of the turret. With the ex- 
 ception that the good order of the vessel 
 was rather marred, no great injury was 
 done, and, fortunately, no one was killed. 
 
 The "Taylor," being a wooden vessel, 
 could only take an occasional part in the 
 bombardment. She was struck below the 
 water line with a rifle shot, and made to 
 leak so badly that she had to withdraw from 
 action to repair damages. 
 
 At one time the flre of the gun-boats was 
 so effective that the enemy's flre almost 
 ceased, and but for a raft which blocked the 
 further advance of the vessels, the latter 
 would have endeavored to get close enough 
 to use grape and canister, which might 
 have made quite a difference in the state of 
 affairs. As it was, everything turned out to 
 General Sherman's satisfaction, and return- 
 ing to Young's Point, he started with his 
 division to join General Grant, crossing the 
 river at Grand Gulf and overtaking the 
 main body of the Army in time to be pres- 
 ent during the important events which laid 
 Vicksburg at the mercy of the Federal Army. 
 
 After General Grant and his troops 
 landed at Bruensburg, Admiral Porter re- 
 turned the same night to Grand Gulf with 
 the intention of trying to get possession of 
 the enemy's works. As seven o'clock, on 
 the following morning, the "Lafayette" 
 was sent up to draw the flre of the forts. 
 As she annroached. the maa-azine in the 
 
 lower battery blew up, throwing a vast 
 cloud of dust into the air. Several other 
 magazines in the smaller forts followed, 
 and the Confederate troops evacuated all 
 the works. 
 
 The fort at Bald Head, on Point of Rocks, 
 was left intact, and a tiny Confederate flag 
 was left sticking in a flower-pot to show 
 that the enemy did not surrender. 
 
 There is no other instance during the war 
 of a fort holding out so determinedly as 
 this one at Bald Head. The destruction 
 wrought inside the work was marvellous — 
 one would suppose that no living thing 
 could have continued there under such a 
 flre. The military historian whom we have 
 quoted was wrong, for every gun in the fort 
 was rendered useless by the shot and shells 
 from the gun-boats; only one gun could be 
 flred and that could not be trained, owing 
 to the destruction of its carriage. 
 
 Some of the guns in the lower batteries 
 were still intact, and these opened on the 
 fleet. In the evening, the guns were all dis- 
 mounted by the sailors and laid along the 
 levee, where they could be shipped to Cairo. 
 
 The following is a copv of a report made 
 by T. M. Farrell, U. S. N., May, 1863 : 
 
 "These batteries mounted one lOO-pounder, two 
 64-pounders, two 7-inch rifles, one 30-pounder 
 Parrott, two 30-pounder Parrotts in battery, two 
 20-pounder Parrotts in main magazine, three 10- 
 pound er Parrotts on the hills. 
 
 ' 'Batteries engaged by the gun-boats for live hours 
 and thirty-five minutes, the lower battery silenced 
 in three hours, the upper battery silenced with the 
 exception of one gun. The " Lafayette ' laid oppo- 
 site this battery and kept the people from working 
 until dark, when it was partially repaired. The 
 defences were all earthworks. 
 
 "In addition to the above, four or five small field- 
 pieces were used by the rebels and shifted about 
 from place to place." 
 
 Admiral Farragut was still at the mouth 
 of Red River in the flag-ship " Hartford," 
 where he had remained ever since he 
 had made the passage by Port Hudson, 
 and Admiral Porter having left Lieutenant- 
 Commander Owen in charge at Grand 
 Gulf with the " Louisville " and " Tuscum- 
 bia," proceeded down the river to meet Far- 
 ragut and relieve him of the command of 
 that part of the river. 
 
 On the 3d of May, 1863, Admiral Porter 
 reached the mouth of Red River and after 
 conferring with Admiral Farragut, pro- 
 ceeded up that stream with the "Benton," 
 " Lafayette," " Pittsburg," "General Price," 
 tug " Ivy " and ram " Switzerland." Meet- 
 ing two of Admiral Farragut's vessels, the 
 "Arizona" and the " Estella," they were 
 turned back and accompanied Admiral 
 Porter's squadron which arrived next morn- 
 ing at Fort DeRussy. 
 
 This work was a casemated battery built 
 in the most substantial manner and plated 
 after the stvle of the rams with railrnnil 
 
318 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 iron. On the rumored approach of the gun- 
 boats the Confederates hastily dismounted 
 and carried off all the guns except one 64- 
 pounder. 
 
 There were at Fort DeRussy, three case- 
 mates intended for two guns each, and a 
 flanking battery at right angles to the case- 
 mates calculated to mount seven guns 
 more. There was also a large square earth- 
 work eight hundred yards inland not yet 
 ready for guns. 
 
 These works would have been very 
 formidable had they been finished, and it 
 was as well they were not completed and 
 manned. They were a monument of the 
 energy and determination of the enemy, 
 which seemed to be without limit. 
 
 After partially destroying the works at 
 Fort DeRussy, the squadron proceeded up 
 to Alexandria which place submitted with- 
 out a dissenting voice, many of the inhabi- 
 tants professing themselves Unionists. The 
 day after the arrival of the gun-boats Major- 
 General Banks marched into Alexandria 
 and the town was turned over to him by 
 the Navy. The following day the squad- 
 ron returned down the Red River with the 
 exception of the "Lafayette," "Estella" 
 and "Arizona," and the ram "Switzer- 
 land" which were left to co-operate with 
 General Banks in case he should require the 
 assistance of the Navy. 
 
 While in Red River, Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Woodworth was sent up Black 
 River, a branch of the former stream, to 
 make a reconnaissance with the " General 
 Price," "Pittsburg," "Estella," and "Ari- 
 
 zona." These vessels ascended as far as 
 Harrisonburg which was found to be 
 strongly fortified. The works were shelled 
 for some time with little apparent effect 
 and after destroying a large amount of Con- 
 federate Army stores, amounting to three 
 hundred thousand dollars in value, the gun- 
 boats returned to Red River, and the " Ben- 
 ton " and consorts proceeded to Grand 
 Gulf to co-operate with General Grant in 
 any of his plans where the Navy could be 
 useful. 
 
 Thus within ten days the flag-ship and 
 her consorts, after dismantling the fortifica- 
 tions at Grand Gulf, had ascended Red 
 River, had destroyed the works at Fort 
 DeRussy, broken up an immense raft 
 intended to obstruct Red River, captured 
 Alexandria, destroyed a large amount of 
 the enemy's stores on Black River, and 
 returned to Grand Gulf, where it was found 
 that General Grant had moved his Army to- 
 wards Vicksburg. 
 
 The whole squadron then ascended the 
 river to a point two miles below Vicksburg. 
 and the admiral again hoisted his flag on 
 board the " Black Hawk," at Young's Point, 
 ready to communicate with General Grant 
 the moment his Army should arrive in the 
 rear of the besieged city. 
 
 In less than a month, the Mississippi 
 squadron had passed through a sharp and 
 exciting campaign, had failed in nothing it 
 had undertaken, and had given the Army 
 the assistance necessary to enable it to 
 reach a position which ensured the fall of 
 Vicksburg. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 SIEGE OF VICKSBURG— Continued. 
 
 The Army marches from Bruensburg towards Vicksburg. — Destruction of the last 
 works built by the confederates on the mississippi. — admiral porter opens 
 Communication with General Grant in the rear of Vicksburg, and occupies 
 Haines' Bluff. — Midnight attack on Vicksburg by the Army and Navy. — Attack 
 on Yazoo City by the Gun-boats and Destruction of three Iron-clad Rams. — 
 Attack on the Vicksburg Works, May 23, by the Army and Navy. — Loss of the 
 "Cincinnati" before Vicksburg. — Her Guns transferred to the rear of the 
 City. — Destruction of Nine Confederate Steamers up the Yazoo, by Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Walker.— Attack on Vicksburg, June 19, by the Army and Navy. 
 — All the Enemy's Guns Silenced. — General Price's Army repulsed by General 
 Mower and the Marine Brigade. — Energy shown by the Confederates in Vicks- 
 burg. — Short Summary of the Work Accomplished before Vicksburg by the 
 Navy. — Surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. — Meeting of the Officers of the 
 Army and Navy on Board the Flag-ship " Black Hawk." — Letters from General 
 Sherman to Admiral Porter.— Generous Terms granted the Besieged after the 
 Capture of Vicksburg. — True History. — Harmony in Army and Navy Co-opera- 
 tion. — Last words of Grant. — Detailed Report of Rear-Admiral Porter. — Con- 
 gratulatory Letter of Secretary Welles. 
 
 AS THE Army had marched from 
 Bruensburg, and was well on the 
 way to Vicksburg, Admiral Porter 
 changed his station from Grand 
 Gulf to the flag-ship " Black Hawk " 
 at the mouth of the Yazoo River, ready to 
 co-operate with the Army the moment it 
 should make its appearance in the rear of 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 Two iron-clads were left at the mouth of 
 the Red River, blocking it up closely, which 
 sealed the fate of Fort Hudson. No more 
 supplies would get to the Confederates from 
 that quarter. 
 
 One iron-clad was left at Carthage, three 
 at Warrenton, (where the enemy aimed at 
 building heavy works), and two or three in 
 the Yazoo. 
 
 Notwithstanding the Confederates were 
 so hardly pressed, they still clung to the idea 
 , that they would beat the Federal Army back 
 from its hard-won positions, and they were 
 not even willing that the gun-boats should 
 have the satisfaction of going to the landing 
 ODDosite Warrenton to obtain provisions and 
 
 coal. They proceeded to erect a heavy work 
 there that would command the river both 
 ways, and particularly the opposite landing. 
 
 The enemy had labored hard on these 
 works, night and day, in hopes of having 
 them ready by the time the vessels of the 
 fleet returned. It was intended to mount 
 eight 10- inch guns and some 100-pound rifles. 
 The work was built of cotton-bales covered 
 with logs — the logs to be covered with several 
 layers of railroad iron and the whole to be 
 covered with bags of earth — a fort, in fact, 
 impervious to shot or shells. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Wilson, in the 
 " Mound City," appeared below Warrenton 
 about the 12th of May, and seeing these 
 works and no persons about, sent a party 
 on shore to reconnoitre. These mounted the 
 parapets and discovered a number of artil- 
 lerists inside the fort, who, to make them- 
 selves secure from observation, were crouch- 
 ing under the parapets. 
 
 The Federal party emptied their revolvers 
 into the enemy and then, jumping down, 
 hailed the " Mound City " and told those on 
 
320 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 board to open fire on the works, which was 
 done. A stray shell found its way into a 
 cotton-bale — in ten minutes this formid- 
 able work was in a blaze, and in less than 
 an hour the whole fabric was consumed. 
 
 This was the last work built by the Con- 
 federates on the Mississippi River. All the 
 appliances of a fort and a quantity of stores 
 were in the houses at Warrenton, which the 
 Confederates set fire to and destroyed. And 
 what houses were left in the town were de- 
 stroyed by the ' ' Mound City's " men. War- 
 renton had been a troublesome place and 
 merited its fate. 
 
 On the 15th of May, the admiral joined 
 the fleet in the Yazoo, and on the Itith firing 
 was heard in the rear of Vicksburg — a sign 
 that General Grant's Army was not far off, 
 and that he was driving Pemberton into the 
 
 LIEUT.-COMMANDING (NOW CAPTAIN) BYEON WILSON, U. S. N. 
 
 city. The flag-ship pushed up the river as 
 near as she could get to the combatants, and 
 it was soon discovered by the aid of glasses 
 that General Sherman's division was com- 
 ing in on the left of Snyder's Bluff, cutting 
 off the enemy at that place from joining the 
 troops in the city. 
 
 The "DeKalb," Lieutenant - Commander 
 Walker, the " Choctaw," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Ramsay, the " Linden," " Romeo," 
 and " Forest Rose," all under the command 
 of Lieutenant-Commander Breese, were now 
 sent up the Yazoo to open communication 
 with the Army. In tliree hours, letters 
 were received bj^ the Admiral from Generals 
 Grant, Sherman and Steele, informing him 
 of their complete success in driving Gen- 
 eral J. E. Johnston away with his Army 
 of 40,000 meUj and forcing Pemberton into 
 
 Vicksburg with about the same number of 
 troops. 
 
 In the meantime the "DeKalb" pushed 
 on to Haines' Bluff, which had been the 
 great obstacle to our advance in that direc- 
 tion, and which the enemy had commenced 
 evacuating the day before. A part of the 
 garrison had remained behind in hopes of 
 carrying off a quantity of stores, but they 
 were driven away by the '"DeKalb" and 
 were cut off by some of Sherman's com- 
 mand who had marched in that direction. 
 
 The Confederates had been so completely 
 surprised by the sudden appearance of our 
 gun-boats and Army that they had not time 
 to destroy anything — guns, tents, equipage 
 and all kinds of stores were left in good or- 
 der and fell into the hands of the Federals. 
 
 As soon as the Army appeared, driving 
 the Confederates into Vicksburg, all the 
 gun-boats below the city were ordered up 
 to attack the batteries, which fire was kept 
 up for tliree hours. At midnight the fire 
 was reopened and directed to all points 
 where it might be possible to harass the en- 
 emy's troops, and it was continued all night. 
 The Confederates must have had an un- 
 comfortable time of it, after marching and 
 fighting all day with little hope of rest 
 within their trenches. Shot and shells were 
 whistling about them and every now and 
 then a fire broke out in the city, threaten- 
 ing destruction to their stores and muni- 
 tions of war. 
 
 The Admiral ordered up the army trans- 
 ports with stores and provisions, which the 
 Union forces were glad to get that day be- 
 fore sunset. 
 
 The works at Haines' Bluff were found 
 to be very formidable — far too much so to 
 have been taken by our Army; or from the 
 water side ; there were eighteen of the 
 heaviest guns (8-inch and 10-inch colum- 
 blads, and 7^-inch rifles) with ammuni- 
 tion enough to last a long siege, and much 
 of it suited for the guns of the naval vessels. 
 The works and encampment (which con- 
 sisted of permanent houses), covered many 
 acres of ground, and the fortifications and 
 rifle-pits extended over one mile and a 
 quarter. Wide ditches, chevaux-de-frise, 
 and net works (obstructions that would de- 
 light any military engineer,) formed part of 
 their defenses; and these were but a coun- 
 terpart of miles of the same kind of work, in 
 and around Vicksburg. Most of these 
 works were destroyed as not conducing in 
 any way to the requirements of the Federal 
 Army, and to prevent their being used to 
 check the advance of the gun- boats, in case 
 the enemy by superior force caused the 
 siege to be raised. 
 
 As soon as the Confederates had evacu- 
 ated Haines' Bluff, and all the rafts which 
 blocked the river above had been removed. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 321 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Walker, in the 
 "DeKalb," was sent up the Yazoo River 
 with a sufficient force to destroy all the 
 ■works at Yazoo City, which had been used 
 in the construction of their rams. 
 
 As this naval force approached Yazoo 
 City, the Confederate property was set on 
 fire by Lieutenant Brown, late commander of 
 the " Arkansas," and our men had only to 
 add fuel to the flames which were well un- 
 der way. Three powerful rams were burned : 
 the " Mobile," a screw steamer ready for her 
 plating; the "Republic," already plated 
 with railroad iron, and a monster steamer 
 on the stocks (310 feet long and 70 beam). 
 Intended to be the most powerful vessel of 
 the kind ever built. She was to have had six 
 engines, four side wheels and two propel- 
 lers, with a speed of sixteen knots. 
 
 The Confederates were unfortunate in 
 their rams — they built them only to lose 
 them. But the amount of energy they ex- 
 hibited in endeavoring to obtain vessels 
 of this class was remarkable, and what 
 they accomplished, in this line, was more 
 astonishing still. Every ram which they 
 built was either destroyed by our Navy, or 
 \>Y themselves to prevent the Navy from 
 capturing them. Naval officers knew how 
 much damage one of these vessels would 
 commit, if she could ever get fairly afloat, 
 and when one was heard of as building at 
 any point, no effort was left untried to 
 reach the place and destroy her. 
 
 Yazoo City fared badly for its misfortune 
 in being selected as a site for a Navy Yard. 
 The expedition which had been directed to 
 do its work with all dispatch and return as 
 quickly as possible to headquarters, set fire 
 to everything of a public character. The 
 Navy Yard contained five saw-mills, be- 
 sides planing-mills, machine shops, carpen- 
 ter and blacksmith shops, in fact all the ap- 
 pliances for building a Navy. Saw-mills 
 above the city were also destroyed and the 
 Federal forces left nothing that could be 
 used towards building a boat even. 
 
 Yazoo never built another ram; the people 
 were quite satisfied to have their houses left 
 standing. 
 
 The expedition returned down the river, 
 liaving fully accomplished all they went 
 for. 
 
 They were attacked at Liverpool Land- 
 ing, at a very sharp bend in the narrow 
 river, by three field-pieces and 300 rifle-men 
 concealed in the bushes; but these were 
 soon made to retreat. The vessels only lost 
 one man killed and eight wounded — but the 
 amount of destruction which they caused 
 can hardly be realized. 
 
 The Confederates now lost all hope of be- 
 ing able to build rams or any other vessels 
 on the tributaries of the Mississippi, and 
 though Yazoo City was for some time after 
 
 the rendevous of the cowardly guerillas, yet 
 it no longer formed a source of anxiety to 
 the Union forces. 
 
 On the evening of the 21st of May, Ad- 
 miral Porter received a communication 
 from General Grant to the effect that he in- 
 tended to make a general attack upon the 
 Confederate works at Vicksburg at 10 a. m. 
 the next day. He had closely invested the 
 enemy's works and was so near that he 
 thought he could get inside. The Admiral 
 was requested to attack on the water side, 
 and shell all the batteries from 9.30 to 10.30 
 A. M., to annoy the garrison and draw off as 
 many as possible from the trenches. 
 
 In the meantime the Admiral with the 
 " Benton," '• Tuscumbia," " Carondelet," 
 and " Mound City " opened on the hill bat- 
 teries and silenced them one after another, 
 and the " Mound City " had the honor of 
 disabling the heaviest gun the enemy had 
 mounted, called " Whistling Dick," a gun 
 that had hitherto defied the best marksmen 
 
 " WHISTLING DICK." 
 
 (SKETCHED BY BEAR-ADMIRAL WALKE FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY 
 
 PAYMASTER BENTON.) 
 
 The Confederates did not stand to their 
 guns this day as they had been accustomed 
 to do. They were receiving a heavy fire in 
 the rear as well as in front, and the shriek of 
 the shells from the army field-pieces, as they 
 fell by the hundred in the Confederate works, 
 could be heard down on the water amid the 
 roar of the heavy cannon. The batteries 
 one after another were silenced, as the gun- 
 boats, firing bow and broadside guns, moved 
 upon them until they came to the 13-gun 
 battery in front of the city. 
 
 This battery was commanded by Colonel 
 Higgins (formerly a lieutenant in the U. S. 
 Navy), who had so gallantly defended Fort 
 Jackson. He felt called upon to show his 
 old naval friends that he would not flinch 
 from his post no matter what force was 
 brought against him. But the water was high 
 (nearly level with the banks), and the gun- 
 boats were above the enemy's water batter- 
 ies; the first time they had ever enjoyed this 
 advantage. They had nothing but this one 
 battery to engage their attention, as all the 
 
332 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 others had been silenced. This was the 
 hottest fire the gun-boats had yet been 
 under, as Col. Higgins clung to his works 
 with the greatest tenacity and placed a 
 number of shot (fortunately they were not 
 shells) below the water-line. This went on 
 for two hours and a quarter when it was 
 quite time, accordingto rule, that the enemy 
 snould abandon his post, but he still held on. 
 
 The "Tuscumbia" was brought up with 
 her 11-inch guns, but Higgins soon made 
 her turret untenable, and she was finally 
 completely disabled and had to drop out of 
 action. 
 
 The gun-boats had started down the river 
 with a large amount of ammunition, but 
 they had been under fire a good deal and 
 up to this time had had no opportunity of 
 replenishing their supply. Reports came 
 up from below that the ammunition was 
 running short and would be out in a few 
 minutes. This was provoking. Colonel 
 Higgins' fire had begun to slacken and in 
 half an hour more he would have been 
 silenced; but no; one after another the gun- 
 boats got out of ammunition, and were 
 obliged to drop down, and finally the last 
 one was obliged to retire and Colonel Hig- 
 gins was left master of the field. It is not 
 likely that he enjoyed the sport however, 
 as he afterwards confessed to losing a great 
 many of his men. 
 
 The gun-boats had done what was re- 
 quired of them by General Grant, and 
 more. He asked an hours attack to annoy 
 the garrison, while his Army assaulted in 
 the rear; they fought the batteries for two 
 hours and a half, more than twice as long 
 as was required, and with what success 
 will be seen from the following letter of 
 General McArthur. 
 
 Headquarters, 6th Division, 17th Army 
 Corps, in field near Vicksburg, 
 Miss., May 23, 1863. 
 
 Admiral — I received your communication with 
 regard to silencing the two batteries below Vicks- 
 burg, and in reply would say that I witnessed with 
 intense interest the firing on that day, it being the 
 finest I have yet seen. 
 
 I would have taken advantage of the results thus 
 gained by your vessels, and had given the necessary 
 orders to do so, when I received peremptory orders 
 from Major-General McClernand to move my com- 
 mand around to the right of my position, to sup- 
 port a portion of his troops who had gained a 
 lodgment in the enemy's works. 
 
 I arrived, however, too late, and have now been 
 ordered back to my former position and to follow 
 up any advantage your vessels may gain. 
 
 I have made a request to have some rifle guns 
 sent me, which I require, and on receipt of which I 
 expect to enfilade " Whistling Dick's " position ; at 
 any rate I will try 
 
 I am, your obedient servant, 
 
 I. McArthur, 
 Brig.-Gen. Corn'ding 6th Division, 17th Corps. 
 
 Had Gen. McArthur been let alone, and 
 not been prevented from occupying the 
 
 works from which the Navy had driven the 
 Confederates, he would have kept posses- 
 sion of every fort on the ridge of hills which 
 overlooked Vicksburg, and decided the fate 
 of the city. 
 
 To show that these attacks of the gun- 
 boats were not child's play, the reports of 
 some of the injuries received by them are 
 herewith mentioned : 
 
 " ' Mound City,' May 23d, 1863. 
 
 " A shot struck and lodged in starboard bow near 
 the stern, and five feet under water 
 
 ' ' A shot went through the forecastle on port side 
 into the coal bunkers; a shot on starboard side 
 went through the hammock netting and starboard 
 chimney at the lower band, tearing the chimney 
 half off, then through the galley and overboard. A 
 shot in front passed through two heavy thicknesses 
 of boiler iron, the iron of the the pilot-house near 
 the deck, and through the deck, cutting away car- 
 lines, and lodged in a mess-chest. 
 
 "A shot on starboard side passed through haU 
 of the hog-chain stanchion, passed through wheel- 
 house, cutting away iron wheel and brace; then 
 through the steerage, tearing up eight feet of the 
 planks and breaking carlines and woodwork in 
 ward- room. A shell burst close to No. 6 gun, 
 knocking off part of the muzzle. A shot on star- 
 board side struck the iron near the top, cutting 
 half through and bending one of the plates, 
 knocking out a stanchion and starting the bolts on 
 the inside. A shot on starboard side struck the 
 muzzle of No. 7 gun, wrecking the gun, then 
 glanced, went through the hammock netting and 
 fell into the pitman. A shot struck the iron on 
 starboard side, over shell- room, knocking off the 
 plate and driving a piece of it through the iron 
 plating of the casemate. A shot on starboard side 
 cut away an awning stanchion, and passed through 
 cabin skylight tearing up the plank. 
 
 "A shot struck front chimney twenty feet from 
 deck. A shot through brace of forward stanchion 
 and skylight. A shot on starboard side struck iron 
 plating between guns Nos. 4 and 5, three feet above 
 the water, and glanced off bending the plates and 
 starting the bolts. A shot on starboard side at 
 shell room two feet below water; a shot struck bin- 
 acle on port quarter, and glanced knocking hole in 
 the plating of casemate. A shot struck boat davit 
 and bent it, etc." 
 
 Half the number of these shots striking a 
 wooden vessel would have destroyed her. 
 
 The "Benton" was struck in her hull 
 thirteen times; four times at the water line, 
 etc. 
 
 While this was going on, the Army as- 
 saulted in the rear of Vicksburg, but did not 
 succeed in getting in. Pemberton had at 
 this time 42,000 men toman his ramparts. 
 
 The gun-boats kept up their attack until 
 the 37th when there was a lull for a time. 
 
 On the 29th, General W. T. Sherman sig- 
 nalled to the flag-ship, requesting that two 
 gun-boats be sent down to clear out a battery 
 of two guns that prevented him from ex- 
 tending his right flank. It being a rule with 
 the Navy never to refuse a request from the 
 Army, the "Cincinnati" was prepared for 
 the adventure. 
 
 Sherman was under the impression that 
 the enemy had moved a battery of eleven 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 333 
 
 heavy guns from a bluff commanding the 
 Mississippi to the land side, but the guns 
 had only been lowered from their car- 
 riages to avoid the naval fire, and Col- 
 onel Higgins (who had made out all the 
 signals passing between our Army and 
 Navy), quickly remounted them under 
 cover of the night and screened them with 
 bushes. 
 
 Next morning the "Cincinnati," Lieuten- 
 ant George M. Bache, started down the 
 river to attack the small battery mentioned 
 by Sherman, but as the vessel rounded to 
 and opened her broadside, the battery on 
 the bluff opened on her stern with its heavi- 
 est guns. 
 
 The first shot from the enemy passed 
 through the magazine and then through the 
 bottom, causing the "Cincinnati" to fill 
 rapidly . Then the starboard tiller was shot 
 away, the enemy 
 firing rapidly and 
 with great accu- 
 racy ; 8-inch and 
 10-inch shot went 
 clear through the 
 bulwarks of hay 
 and logs, and plung- 
 ing shots from 
 the heights went 
 through the deck 
 and did much dam- 
 age. 
 
 The vessel could 
 not return this fire 
 and putting on 
 steam crept along 
 the shore, up river, 
 making against the 
 current not more 
 than three miles an 
 hour. 
 
 The "Cincinnati" 
 was soon in a sink- 
 ing condition, and 
 her gallant com- 
 mander ran her into the bank and got out 
 a plank to save his crew before the vessel 
 went down. A hawser was taken on shore 
 and made fast to a tree, but, unfortunately, 
 it was not properly secured, and giving way 
 allowed the vessel to slide off into deep 
 water. All this time the enemy continued 
 to pour in a destructive fire. Bache would 
 not haul down his fiag, but nailed it to the 
 stump of his fiag-pole which had been shot 
 away. 
 
 As the vessel was now sinking the order 
 was given for all who could to swim to 
 the shore, which was not far off; the boats 
 had all been shot to pieces and were of no 
 use. There were but three fathoms of wa- 
 ter where the " Cincinnati" went down, and 
 her colors and smoke-pipes remained in 
 sight. Fifteen men were drowned in at- 
 
 LIEUTENANT GEORGE M BACHE, NOW COMMANDEK TJ. S. N. 
 
 tempting to reach the bank and twenty more 
 were killed or wounded. 
 
 This was an unfortunate affair, but the 
 calamity was somewhat deprived of its 
 sting by the cool and courageous conduct 
 of the commander, officers and crew, who 
 withstood the Confederate fire unflinch- 
 ingly and preferred to sink rather than haul 
 down their colors. The Confederates kept 
 up their fire on the fiag, and many of the 
 plunging shot found their way through the 
 vessel's hull. 
 
 As soon as General Sherman saw what 
 had happened he sent a company of the 
 76th Ohio to the relief of our oflScers and 
 men. 
 
 Sherman wrote to the Admiral, deploring 
 the loss of the vessel, but said: " the impor- 
 tance of the object desired to be accom- 
 plished fully warranted the attempt. It has 
 
 proved successful 
 and will stimu- 
 late us to further 
 efforts to break 
 the line which ter- 
 minates on the 
 Mississippi in such 
 formidable bat- 
 teries." 
 
 In a few days the 
 water in the river 
 fell sufficiently for 
 the guns to be re- 
 moved from the 
 "Cincinnati." This 
 was done by the 
 Army at night 
 when the enemy 
 could not see what 
 was going on. 
 Some of the guns 
 were mounted in 
 front of Sherman's 
 division, and were 
 
 under the com- 
 mand of Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander T. O. Self ridge, with 
 blue-jackets to work them; and this battery 
 finally accomplished what the " Cincinnati " 
 had not time to do; viz., clear out the bat- 
 teries which threatened Sherman's right 
 fiank. These guns were also employed in 
 firing upon such points as Sherman pointed 
 out, where he thought it advantageous to 
 clear a way for the Army in case of another 
 assault. 
 
 The "Cincinnati's " 9-inch guns were tem- 
 porarily mounted in the rear of the city, 
 and worked by a party of blue -jackets 
 under Lieut. -Commander Walker. Both of 
 these batteries did good service during the 
 siege. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navy wrote a hand- 
 some letter to Lieutenant Bache, concluding 
 as follows: 
 
324 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 
 " Amid an incessant Are of shot and shells, even 
 when the fate of the vessel had been sealed, and de- 
 struction both from the elements and the enemy 
 was threatened, the officers and men appear to have 
 stood bravely at their posts, and it is a jjroud record 
 of the "Cincinnati" that when her last moments 
 came, she went down with her colors nailed to the 
 mast. 
 
 " It is with no ordinary pleasure that I express to 
 you and the surviving officers and crew of the " Cin- 
 cinnati " the department's appreciation of your 
 brave conduct." 
 
 There was still work for the Navy to do in 
 the Yazoo, whileGeneral Grant was starving 
 the Confederates out in Vicksburg. There 
 was no use in wasting life in assaulting a 
 place with such defences, and the Army 
 continued to make their approaches and 
 mount their batteries until they were within 
 fifty feet of the enemy's works. The sur- 
 render was but a matter of time, and a short 
 time at that. Every opening was stopped 
 up, no one inside could get out, nor those 
 outside get in. 
 The enemy now 
 had to subsist on 
 what provisions 
 they had on 
 hand, which was 
 not much, and 
 unless relieved 
 by a superior 
 force a month 
 more or less 
 would bring 
 about a surren- 
 der. It was not 
 likely that the 
 siege would be 
 raised, for if the 
 Federal Army, 
 with all the dis- 
 advantages un- 
 der which it 
 labored, could 
 manage to dispose of an enemy 80,000 strong 
 in a country where the latter occupied 
 all the strong positions, it could prevent the 
 escape of that portion of them which had 
 been driven into the city. 
 
 It is not the province of the writer to give 
 an account of the military operations of the 
 siege of Vicksburg; this book is mostly con- 
 fined to the naval operations, and he is not 
 sufficiently informed on the subject to do 
 full justice to the movements of the Arm^^ 
 He knows enough, however, to be satisfied 
 that everything was done by the gen- 
 erals of our Army in a masterly manner, 
 and that they had posted themselves so 
 securely around Vicksburg that all the 
 power of the Confederacy could not affect 
 them in any way, and that while our 
 soldiers were fed by a commissariat that 
 had no equal in any part of the world, 
 Pemberton and his troops inside the city 
 were living on short rations. The Con- 
 
 U. S. GUN-BOAT 
 
 'CINCINNATI" SUNK 
 AT VICKSBURG, 
 
 (FBOM A PEN-AND-INK SKETCH BY EEAE-ADMIBAI WALKE.) 
 
 federates were now acknowledging one 
 to another that Pemberton (clever as he 
 was) had more than met his match in the 
 leader of the Federal Army, and that the 
 Union soldiers.when well commanded, could 
 meet a larger number of the enemy and de- 
 feat them with ease. 
 
 There were still a number of steamers on 
 the Yazoo that might in some way be ser- 
 viceable to the enemy and an expedition 
 under Lieutenant-Commander Walker of 
 the "DeKalb" was sent up that river to 
 capture or destroy them. 
 
 The " Forest Rose," -'Linden," "Signal" 
 and -'Petrel" (vessels whose names have 
 appeared frequently in this history) accom- 
 panied the expedition. The "Signal" 
 knocked down her chimney among the trees 
 the first night, and had to return. Walker 
 pushed on with the smaller vessels (leaving 
 the "DeKalb" to follow after) to within 
 
 fifteen miles of 
 Fort Pemberton, 
 where the steam- 
 e r s ''John 
 Walsh," "Lock- 
 wood," "Golden 
 Age " and "Scot- 
 land" were 
 found sunk on a 
 bar, completely 
 blocking the 
 way. Failing in 
 his efforts to 
 make a passage 
 through the 
 boats, he set fire 
 to them and 
 they were all 
 destroyed. 
 
 The expedition 
 was attacked at 
 
 BY THE UPPER WATER BATTERY 
 MAY 27, 1863. 
 
 this point by 
 artillery and sharp-shooters in force, but 
 they were driven off with loss. Saw-mills 
 were burned, the corn on whicli an enemy 
 could subsist was destroyed, and at Yazoo 
 City the crews landed and brought away 
 all the bar, round and flat iron intended 
 to be used in the building of their iron- 
 clads. 
 
 Armed boats were sent through the Roll- 
 ing Fork and into bayous which were inac- 
 cessible at that moment to the gun-boats. 
 Pour other steamers were found hidden 
 away in snug retreats and burned— almost 
 rivalling the mischief done by the "Ala- 
 bama," who had taught us how to retaliate 
 upon an enemj'. 
 
 This was a terrible raid and involved a loss 
 to the enemy of more than two millions of 
 dollars. The performance showed how eas- 
 ily the Delta expedition could have obtained 
 possession of the Yazoo River and district 
 as far as the rear of Vicksburg but for the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 325 
 
 delay at Helena. It also assured the success 
 of the Steele's Bayou expedition, which was 
 undertaken soon after the expedition to 
 Yazoo Pass. 
 
 On the 19th of June, Admiral Porter 
 received a notification from General Grant 
 that he intended to open a general bom- 
 bardment on the city at 4 a. m. and con- 
 tinue it until 10 o'clock. At the appointed 
 time the bombardment commenced all along 
 the army line and was joined on the water 
 side by every gun-boat, the guns on scows 
 and the mortars, until the earth fairly shook 
 with the thundering noise. The gun-boats 
 spread themselves all along in front of the 
 city — cross firing on everything in the shape 
 of a battery — but there was no response 
 whatever — the works were all deserted ; 
 even the indefatigable Colonel Higgins, 
 who loved to give his old shipmates a 
 reminder of his gallantry, failed to fire a 
 shot from his spiteful water-battery which 
 had so often defied them. 
 
 After the fire was all over on the Union 
 side, the city of Vicksburg was as quiet as 
 .the grave — not a soul could be seen. The 
 women had all taken refuge in the shelters 
 built in the hillsides, and every man that 
 could hold a musket or point a bayonet was 
 in the trenches. There they would stay for 
 days and nights, lying in the mud and hav- 
 ing what food they could get served out to 
 them there. 
 
 The trials and privations which the Con- 
 federates suffered at this time can only be 
 desci'ibed by those who took part in the 
 defence. The day on which they surren- 
 dered was a day of jubilee to them, for the 
 Federal commanders served out full rations 
 to everybody, which were eaten with an 
 enjoyment that can only be realized by 
 people who have been on quarter rations 
 for a month. 
 
 Every effort was made to bring relief to 
 the Confederates through Louisiana. Gen- 
 eral Price had been moving about some 
 twelve miles from Young's Point among 
 the swamps and bayous, and it was reported 
 that he intended to seize Young's Point with 
 some ten thousand men and try to provision 
 Vicksburg by the front. 
 
 There was only a small force of Federal 
 troops at Young's Point and Milliken's 
 Bend at this time, and Price might have 
 gained a partial success, but nothing sub- 
 stantial. 
 
 One attempt was made on Milliken's 
 Bend, and quite a number of the garrison 
 killed, but the gun-boats "Choctaw" and 
 "Lexington" went immediately to the 
 relief of our troops and the Confederates 
 were driven off with loss 
 
 The Marine Brigade under Brigadier-Gen- 
 eral Alfred EUet had joined the squadron 
 
 \ j.«;„„i 
 
 organization consisted of about two thous- 
 and men, well equipped and fairly dis- 
 ciplined. General Mower, a very brave offi- 
 cer, had about 8,000 men at Young's Point, 
 and uniting the marine brigade with his 
 troops he marched out to hunt up General 
 Price's army, — found it and scattered it 
 after a short and decisive battle. Price's 
 army now left this district and troubled it 
 no more. This was the last hope of the 
 besieged, if they had ever hoped anything 
 from so forlorn a scheme, and they sat in 
 their trenches waiting for the time when 
 the last ration should be served out. 
 
 On the 30th of June, this was the con- 
 dition of affairs in the city. The gun-boats 
 were by turns throwing shells day and night; 
 the mortars kept up an incessant bombard- 
 ment, which if it damaged no works demor- 
 alized the enemy's troops; a constant fire 
 from the Army and Navy guns in the rear 
 was kept up, day and night, and a 6-inch 
 rifle battery taken from the gun-boats was 
 served with great skill by General Mc- 
 Arthur on the left flank. General Mc- 
 Pherson had blown up what was called the 
 citadel of the Confederate works, and 
 mounted on the debris four 9-inch guns 
 from the squadron, and some rifled 30- 
 pounders. 
 
 These guns now commanded a large 
 portion of the enemy's works, and when 
 they opened fire the requiem of Vicksburg 
 was sung by the shrieking shell, as they 
 flew through the air carrying death and 
 destruction all over the city. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1863, that historic day 
 was rendered more memorable by the sur- 
 render of Vicksburg to the Federal forces 
 after a desperate but vain resistance, in 
 which the Confederates had won the respect 
 of their conquerors by the bravery and 
 endurance displayed during a siege of seven 
 months. 
 
 Southern historians have eulogized them 
 for their faithful adherence to a cause 
 which received its deatli-blow when they 
 surrendered, but as this history is more par- 
 ticularly connected with the boys in blue 
 than with the boys in gray we must leave 
 the latter to the future military historian, 
 who, when the excitements and prejudices 
 of the time have worn away, will no doubt 
 do them justice. 
 
 It was from no want of ability on the part 
 of our military leaders that this surrender 
 was not brought about sooner, but owing to 
 the magnitude of the Confederate defences, 
 which were intended to keep at bay any 
 force the Federal Government could bring 
 against them, and calculating that even 
 were the city to be enveloped by troops the 
 Confederacy could always send a sufficient 
 number from the South to raise the siege. 
 
 ^rt.-.'U-J- fl^^ 
 
 riU 
 
 T^+U +V,, 
 
336 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Confederates to do as they thought could 
 be done, but the great oak that has been 
 torn and twisted by the winds for centuries 
 must succumb at last to a tornado: the Con- 
 federacy had now received many telling 
 blows, and its strength had begun to fail. 
 
 Many could see the end of the rebellion, 
 and no one knew how near it was, better 
 than the Confederates themselves. If doubts 
 still remained with any of them, the fall of 
 Vicksburg, the opening of the Mississippi 
 from the Northern States to the sea, and 
 the complete severance of the three most 
 important States (as regarded supplies 
 from others) would have removed their de- 
 lusion. But they still fought on, though it 
 was only with the spirit of the game-cock 
 which strikes at random while the life-blood 
 is flowing from its veins 
 
 History has seldom had an opportunity of 
 recording so desperate a defence on one side, 
 with so much ability, courage, perseverance 
 and endurance on the other. The Army of 
 the Tennessee covered itself with honor of 
 which no one can ever deprive it. 
 
 Though the Navy performed naturally a 
 less conspicuous part than the Army, yet it 
 did its duty in a manner which not even 
 the most exacting could find fault with. 
 Less zeal on the part of its officers and 
 men would doubtless have extended the 
 siege to some indefinite time. 
 
 A short summary of the work done by the 
 Navy during the last forty days of the siege, 
 may not be amiss. It will assure those who 
 served at this critical period in the Navy, 
 that they are not forgotten, and that their 
 names will go down to history, honored as 
 they deserve to be. 
 
 The mortar boats were kept at work for 
 forty days, night and day, throwing shells 
 into every part of Vicksburg and its works, 
 some of them even reaching the trenches in 
 tlin rear of the city. Three heavy guns 
 plac(jj on scows, one 9-inch, one 10-inch, 
 and a 100-pounder rifle were placed in posi- 
 tion a mile from the town, and commanded 
 all the important water batteries. They 
 kept up an incessant and accurate fire for 
 fourteen days, while the path of the mis- 
 siles was filled with destruction. 
 
 Five 8-inch, four 9-inch, two 42-pounder 
 rifled guns and four 32-pounder shell guns 
 were landed from the gun-boats at different 
 points during the siege at the request of the 
 officers commanding divisions, or of Gen- 
 eral Grant, and whenever officers and men 
 could be spared from the fleet they were 
 sent on shore to work the guns. As no dis- 
 satisfaction was expressed by the officers 
 in command, it was presumed that the 
 sailors performed their duty well. 
 
 The banks of the Mississippi were so 
 watchfully guarded from Vicksburg to 
 Cairo that the Armv transnorts went 
 
 through with troops and stores, for a dis- 
 tance of about 450 miles, without molesta- 
 tion. The marine brigade, under Briga- 
 dier-General Ellet, was constantly landing 
 along the river to break up guerilla warfare. 
 Without a watchful eye on the Mississippi, 
 on the part of the Navy, the operations of 
 the Army would have been often inter- 
 rupted. Only one Army steamer was dis- 
 abled during the siege operations, and six 
 or seven men killed on board of her. 
 
 When the whole of our Army was in the 
 rear of Vicksburg, with the exception of a 
 small force at Young's Point under General 
 Mower, and that place was attacked by 
 Major-General Price with 12,000 men, the 
 marine brigade and the gun-boats united 
 with General Mower's force to put the Con- 
 federates down, which was effectually done; 
 and General Grant was satisfied that 
 Young's Point would be taken care of by 
 the Navy, while he was engaged in reduc- 
 ing the monster on the east bank of the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 When the Army and Navy started out to 
 capture Vicksburg the Mississippi was 
 closed against the Federal forces from 
 Helena to Port Hudson. This latter place 
 fell shortly after the surrender of Vicks- 
 burg and the river was thus open to the 
 sea. 
 
 There was no longer a doubt that the re- 
 bellious states were divided, and that the 
 uninterrupted navigation of the "father 
 of waters" and its tributaries was soon 
 to be restored to the Union. So satis- 
 fied were the Confederate leaders that 
 Vicksburg was the key to this great net- 
 work of water which enriched the vast do- 
 main through which it found its way to the 
 sea, that they staked their cause upon its 
 retention. When they failed in this effort 
 they were almost in their last throes, 
 though their vitality enabled them to pro- 
 long the struggle (that was impoverishing 
 and ruining their country,) for some time 
 longer. 
 
 But there could be no hope of success for 
 the Southern cause, when the great slave 
 power which had controlled so many miles 
 of the banks of the Mississippi no longer 
 existed. The chain which held slavery to- 
 gether was broken, and the commerce of 
 the nation went rejoicing on its way to the 
 great ocean, once more to barter with the 
 people of the outside world. 
 
 That 4th of July was a happy day to all 
 those who had joined in the herculean ef- 
 forts to bring about the desired end. At a 
 certain hour the American flag was to be 
 hoisted on the court-house where the Con- 
 federate emblem had so long flaunted in the 
 face of the Union forces. At the moment 
 the flag went up every vessel in the river, 
 ffun -boats and trn.nsnnrts <\ar\ro.i\ ixn'+v. -fl^.^^. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 327 
 
 started from above and below to reach the 
 levee in front of the city, sounding their 
 steam whistles and firing a national salute 
 that seemed like a renewed attack. 
 
 The flagship "Black Hawk" had scarcely 
 reached the levee when General Grant and 
 many of his officers rode up, and dismount- 
 ing, went on board, where they were re- 
 ceived with that warmth of feeling and 
 hospitality that delights the heart of a 
 sailor. The leader, who with his Army had 
 achieved the greatest victory of the war, now 
 received the congratulations of the officers 
 of both Army and Navy, and although no 
 one would judge from his manner that any- 
 thing remarkable had happened yet he must 
 have felt that this was the triumph of his life. 
 
 Sherman was one of those whose absence 
 was regretted by all, but he was off with a 
 division of the Army in pursuit of General 
 Johnston, who had been lingering in 
 the vicinity of Jackson in hopes of render- 
 ing aid to the besieged. He was too for- 
 midable an enemy to be allowed to remain 
 near the prize which had been so hardly 
 won, and Sherman had gone to show him 
 that he must move his headquarters some- 
 where else. 
 
 But even while engaged on so important 
 a duty, Sherman did not forget those of 
 the Navy with whom he had co-operated 
 for so many months, and he wrote a letter 
 to the Admiral in which he expressed his 
 satisfaction at the final result of the siege. 
 This letter is so like the warm-hearted and 
 gallant soldier, that no one can help feeling 
 pleasure when he reads it, and it is here in- 
 serted. 
 
 Hbadquartbrs Expeditionary Armx, ) 
 Black River, July 4, 1863. ) 
 
 Dear Admiral — No event in my life could have 
 given me more personal pride or pleasure than to 
 have met you to-day on the wharf at Vioksburg — a 
 Pourth of July so eloquent in events as to need no 
 words or stimulants to elevate its importance. 
 
 I can appreciate the intense satisfaction you must 
 feel at lying before the very monster which has de ■ 
 fled us with such deep and malignant hate, and see- 
 ing your once disunited fleet again a unit, and bet- 
 ter still, the chain that made an enclosed sea of a 
 link in the great river broken forever. 
 
 In so magnificent a result I stop not to count who 
 did it. It is done and the day of our nation's birth 
 is consecrated and baptized anew in a victory won 
 by the united Navy and Army of our country. 
 
 God grant that the harmony and mutual respect 
 that exist between our respective commanders, and 
 shared by all the true men of the joint service, may 
 continue forever, and serve to elevate our national 
 character, threatened with shipwreck. 
 
 Thus I muse as I sit in my solitary camp out in 
 the woods, far from the point for which we have 
 jointly striven and so well, and though personal 
 curiosity would tempt me to go and see the frown- 
 ing batteries and sunken pits that have defied us so 
 long, and sent to their silent graves so many of our 
 early comrades in the enterprise, I feel that other 
 taslis lie before me, and time must not be lost. 
 
 Without casting anchor, and despite the heat and 
 the dust, and the drought, I must again into the 
 
 burg fulfill all the conditions it should in the pro- 
 gress of this war. 
 
 Whether success attend my efforts or not, I know 
 that Admiral Porter will ever accord to me the ex- 
 hibition of a pure and unselfish zeal in the service 
 of our country. 
 
 It does seeui to me that Port Hudson, without 
 facilities for supplies or interior communication, 
 must soon follow the fate of Vicksburg and leave 
 the river free; and to you the task of preventing 
 anymore Vicksburgs or Port Hudsons on the bank, 
 of the great inland sea. 
 
 Though further apart, the Navy and Army will 
 still act in concert, and I assure you I shall never 
 reach the banks of the river or see a gun-boat but 
 I wiU think of Admiral Porter, Captain Breese, and 
 the many elegant and accomplished gentlemen it 
 has been my good fortune to meet on armed or un- 
 armed decks of the Mississippi Squadron. 
 
 Congratulating you and the officers and men of 
 your command at the great result in which you 
 have borne so conspicuous a part, 
 
 I remain, your friend and servant, 
 
 W. T. Sherman, 
 Major- General. 
 Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Fleet. 
 
 Army and Navy vied with each other in 
 their efforts to alleviate the discomforts of 
 those who had spent so many months under 
 a merciless fire and suffered all the miseries 
 attending a siege. The commanding Gen- 
 eral set the example by giving all the pro- 
 visions, stores and transportation General 
 Pemberton required for the officers and men 
 of his Army, who had been paroled and al- 
 lowed to return to their homes. The naval 
 officers opened their stores for those officers 
 who had families, and though they did not 
 leave Vicksburg in niuch style, they were 
 comparatively comfortable after suffering 
 so many evils. 
 
 It was curious to see, an hour after the 
 surrender, the soldiers of the two armies 
 fraternizing as if they belonged to the same 
 party; there was not, in fact, much differ- 
 ence between them, only one party had gone 
 off on the wrong track, and, owing to bad 
 leaders, had drifted considerably out of their 
 course. Confederate officers on horseback 
 would join naval officers, who, mounted 
 on the sorry -looking steeds which had been 
 loaned them, were riding about the city, 
 and chat with them as pleasantly as if they 
 were honored guests. Groups of officers in 
 blue and gray mingled together in the most 
 friendly manner. 
 
 Officers who visited houses where there 
 were ladies, were received courteously if 
 not warmly, and it was difficult to realize 
 that the people of this battered city had been 
 within a few days doing all they could to 
 harm those with whom they now seemed to 
 be on such pleasant terms. The people of 
 Vicksburg were thoroughly subdued, they 
 had gone through so much misery and en- 
 dured so many privations that any change 
 was acceptable. 
 
 Besides, their conquerors had been gener- 
 ous far bevond their exneotations. a.nd ha.rl 
 
328 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 furnished them the means to depart and 
 meet again their absent friends, with whom 
 they had not communicated for many days. 
 
 The regret of being conquered was miti- 
 gated by the promised pleasure of seeing 
 their loved homes, and getting away from 
 scenes which continually reminded them of 
 the horrors which they had undergone for 
 so many months. Over 5,000 had died in 
 hospital or been killed in the trenches since 
 the close siege had commenced, and many 
 must have left there with deep regrets for 
 the loss of loved ones, who were buried in 
 the soldier's cemetery without a stone to 
 mark their resting places. 
 
 As time moves on and the military and 
 naval history of the war are being chron- 
 icled by impartial authors, the facts con- 
 nected with the most important events are 
 being brought to light. 
 
 The war has been mostly written up 
 through the reporters, who accompanied the 
 Armies of the Republic, and although they 
 have described the scenes in a most graphic 
 manner, yet their accounts were given a 
 coloring that detracted from, rather than 
 embellished, the picture. 
 
 There was no scene of action during the 
 war where more misrepresentations were 
 made, or where less desire seemed to be 
 manifested by the newspaper correspond- 
 ents to do justice to both the naval and 
 military movements, than at Vicksburg, and 
 to read the numberless accounts that were 
 transmitted from these to the various news- 
 papers, one would form an altogether erro- 
 neous opinion of what took place. 
 
 Some of these descriptions of events 
 were written with only a desire to please 
 the public, and they were of a sensational 
 character — pleasant reading over a break- 
 fast table, but far from being history. 
 
 Many of the correspondents wrote from 
 hearsay, and were not near the scene of ac- 
 tion which they so graphically described, 
 and the people at the Nortln, greedy to drink 
 in the news from distant battlefields, were 
 satisfied to believe the wanton mistakes 
 which were sent abroad without revision, 
 and adopted them as the true version of 
 affairs. 
 
 It was not, and is not now, generally 
 understood, that the operations against 
 Vicksburg were a combination of Army 
 and Navy, in which each commander acted 
 on his own responsibility, neither having 
 received any instructions from their several 
 Departments. 
 
 The plans for the capture of Vicksburg 
 from the first to the last were arranged by 
 General Grant and Admiral Porter, and 
 carried out to the end with that unanimity 
 of purpose which always leads to success. 
 
 General Grant never undertook any move- 
 ment without consulting the commander of 
 
 the Mississippi Squadron, while the latter 
 never did anything without consulting- 
 General Grant, and thus a harmony of 
 action prevailed which probably never 
 was obtained in any other military and 
 naval co-operation. 
 
 Grant and Porter were of assimilated 
 rank, and neither could give an order to 
 the other; therefore it was only through 
 that high courtesy bred in a purely mili- 
 tary school, that so perfect an understand- 
 ing could be arrived at, or that the wishea 
 of either military or naval commander 
 could be anticipated. 
 
 Some naval officers, after the reduction of 
 Vicksburg, were disposed to find fault with 
 General Grant for not being more demon- 
 strative in his remarks concerning the 
 work the Navy had performed ; but Grant 
 was never a demonstrative man; he left it 
 to the Commander-in-chief of the Missis- 
 sippi Squadron to mention the services of 
 his own officers and vessels, and would, no 
 doubt, have thought it peculiar if the naval 
 commander had undertaken to go into an 
 elaborate eulogy on the performances of 
 the Army. But Grant, in his last days, did 
 not forget the great help he received from. 
 the naval part of the expedition to capture 
 Vicksburg. In his reminiscences of the 
 war, he says : 
 
 " The Navy under Porter was all it could be dur- 
 ing the entire campaign. "Without its assistance 
 the campaign could not have been successfully made 
 with twice the number of men engaged. It could 
 not have been made at all in the way it was, with 
 any number of men without such assistance. The 
 most perfect harmony reigned between the two 
 arms of the service. There never was a request 
 made, that I am aware of, either of the Flag-ofiBcer 
 or any of his subordinates, that was not promptly 
 complied with." 
 
 This should afford satisfaction to those 
 naval officers who for a time doubted Gen- 
 eral Granfs generosity. Words of ordinary 
 praise coming from him were of more im- 
 port, than words from a man who was too 
 lavish of his commendations. Those last 
 words of Grant's were grains of gold, and 
 will go down in history, never to be erased 
 from the book of fame. 
 
 The commander of the Mississippi Squad- 
 ron was contented with General Grant's re- 
 ticence in regard to naval movements before 
 Vicksburg. He felt satisfied that he alone 
 could do full justice to the brave officers and 
 men who served under him, as will appear 
 from the following letter written after the 
 surrender of Vicksburg. 
 
 [detailed report of acting-rear-admirai. 
 
 PORTER.] 
 
 U. S. Mississippi Squadron, Flag-ship 1 
 
 " Black Hawk," off Vicksburg, \ 
 
 July 13, 1863. \ 
 
 Sir— I have made reports to the Department of 
 
 the different actions that have occurred on this 
 
 river since the investment of Vicksburg; and it now 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 ;J29 
 
 remains for lae to give credit to the different offi- 
 cers who have participated in the events transpir- 
 ing here. 
 
 When I took command of this squadron this river 
 was virtually closed against our steamers from Hel- 
 ena to Vicksburg. It was only necessary to impress 
 the officers and men with the importance of open- 
 ing communication with New Orleans, and every 
 one, with few exceptions, have embarked in the 
 enterprise with a zeal that is highly creditable to 
 them, and with a determination that the river 
 should be opened if their aid could effect it. 
 
 With such officers and the able general who com- 
 manded the Army I have not feared for the result, 
 though it has been postponed longer than I 
 thought it would be. 
 
 First and foremost, allow me to speak of Captain 
 Pennock, fleet captain and commandant of station 
 at Cairo. To him I am much indebted for the 
 promptness with which he has kept the squadron 
 supplied with all that was required or could be 
 procured. 
 
 His duty has been no sinecure, and he has per- 
 formed it with an ability that could not have been 
 surpassed by any officer of the Navy. He has ma- 
 tei'ially assisted me in the management of the Ten- 
 nessee and Cumberland squadrons, keeping me 
 promptly informed of all the movements of the en- 
 emy, and enabling me to make the proper disposi- 
 tions to checli him, exercising a most discreet judg- 
 ment in moving the vessels to meet the rebels when 
 there was no time to hear from me. 
 
 The war on the banks of the Tennessee and Cum- 
 berland has been carried on most actively. There 
 has been incessant skirmishing between the guerril- 
 las and gun-boats, in which the rebels have been 
 defeated in every instance. So constant are these 
 attacks that we cease to think of them as of any 
 importance, though there has been much gallantry 
 displayed on many occasions. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanders Phelps and Fitch have 
 each had command of the Cumberland and Ten- 
 nessee Rivers, and have shown themselves to be 
 most able officers. I feel no apprehension at any 
 time with regard to movements in that quarter. 
 Had it not been for the activity and energy dis- 
 played by Lieutenant-Commander Fitch, Captain 
 Pennock and Lieutenant-Commander Phelps, (ien- 
 eral Rosecrans would have been left without pro- 
 visions. 
 
 To Captain Walke, Commander Woodworth, 
 Lieutenant-Commanders Breese, Foster, Greer, 
 Shirk, Owen, Wilson, Walker, Bache, Murphy, Sel- 
 f ridge, Prichett, Ramsay and Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Hoel, I feel much indebted for their ac- 
 tive and energetic attention to all my orders, and 
 their ready co-operation with the Army corps com- 
 manders, at all times, which enabled them to carry 
 out their plans successfully. 
 
 The "Benton," Lieutenant-Commander Greer, 
 ■' Mound City," Lieutenant Byron Wilson, " Tus- 
 cumbia," Lieutenant - Commander Shirk, " Caron- 
 delet," Acting Lieutenant Murphy, and the "Ster- 
 ling Price," Commander Woodworth, have been 
 almost constantly under fire of the batteries at Vicks- 
 burg since the forty-five days' siege commenced. 
 
 The attack of the 22d of May, by the "Benton," 
 "Mound City," "Carondelef and "Tuscumbia" 
 on all the water batteries, in which three were si- 
 lenced and four guns injured or dismounted, was 
 one of the best contested engagements of the kind 
 during the war. 
 
 On the next attack of the same gun-boats, when 
 General Grant opened all his batteries for six hours, 
 the river batteries were all silenced and deserted, 
 and the gun boats moved up and down the river 
 without having a shot fired at them, showing the 
 moral effect of the first attack. 
 
 The attack of the "Cincinnati" (Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Bache\ on the outer water battery 
 
 will long be ranked among the most gallant events 
 of this war; and though Lieutenant Bache had the 
 misfortune to have his vessel sunk under him, he 
 well deserves the handsome commendations be- 
 stowed upon him by the Department. 
 
 To Lieutenant - Commander Ramsey, of the 
 " Choctaw," was assigned the management of three 
 heavy guns placed on scows and anchored in a 
 position to command the town and water batteries. 
 Every gun the enemy could bring to bear on these 
 boats was fired incessantly at them, but without 
 one moment's cessation of fire on the part of our sea- 
 men, though the enemj-'s shots and shells fell like 
 hail among them. This floating battery completely 
 enfiladed the enemy s batteries and rifle-pits in front 
 of General Sherman, and made them untenable. 
 
 The mortar-boats were under charge of gunner 
 Eugene Mack, who for thirty days stood at his post, 
 the firing continuing night and day. 
 
 He performed his duty well and merits approval. 
 The labor was extremely hard, and every man at 
 the mortars was laid up with sickness, owing to ex- 
 cessive labor. After Mr. Mack was takenill. Ensign 
 Miller took charge and conducted the firing with 
 marked ability. We know that nothing conduced 
 more to the end of the siege than the mortar firing, 
 which demoralized the rebels, killed and wounded 
 a number of persons, killed the cattle, destroyed 
 property of all kinds, and set the city on fii-e. On 
 the last two days we were enabled to reach the 
 outer works of the enemy by firing heavy charges 
 of twenty -six pounds of powder; the distance was 
 nearly three miles, and the falling of shells was very 
 annoying to the rebels, to use the words of a rebel 
 officer, "your shells intruded everywhere." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Breese has been very 
 efficient in relieving me of a vast amount of duty, 
 superintending ])ersonally all the requirements 
 made on the Navy, and facilitating the operations 
 of the Army in every way that laid in his power. 
 In every instance where it was at all possible to 
 bring the "Black Hawk" into action against the 
 enemy's batteries, he has not hesitated to do so, 
 though she is not fortified exactly for such a pur- 
 pose. His long range guns have done most excel- 
 lent service at different times. 
 
 I beg leave to mention the different commanders 
 of the light draughts who have carried out my or- 
 ders promptly, aided in keeping guerillas from the 
 river, coavoyed transports safely, and kept then- 
 vessels in good condition for service, viz : Aoting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant George W. Brown, command- 
 ing "Forest Rose"; Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 C. Dominey, commanding "Signal"; Acting- Vol- 
 unteer Lieutenant J. H. Hurd, commanding "Cov- 
 ington " ; Ensign Wm. C. Hanford, commanding 
 "Robb"; Acting-Master J. C. Bunner, command- 
 ing "New Era"; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 John Pierce, commanding " Petrel"; Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant J. V. Johnstone, commanding 
 "Romeo"; Acting-Master W. E. Fentress, com- 
 manding "Rattler"; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 T. E. Smith, commanding " Linden ' ; Acting- Vol- 
 unteer-Lieutenant E. C. Brenuan, commanding 
 "Prairie Bird"; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant J. 
 Goudy, commanding "Queen City." There are 
 others who deserve commendation, but these seem 
 to be the most prominent. 
 
 The action of the 4th of July, at Helena, wherein 
 the "Taylor" participated so largely, has already 
 been reported to the Department. 
 
 There is no doubt left in the minds of any, but 
 that the "Taylor " saved Helena, for, though Gen- 
 eral Prentiss fought with a skill and daring not ex- 
 celled in this war, his little force of thirty-five hun- 
 dred men were fast being overpowered by the 
 enemy with eighteen thousand men, when the 
 "Taylor 'took a position and changed the fortunes 
 of the day. 
 
 I must not omit fo mention Actine- Volunteer- 
 
330 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Lieutenants Hamilton and Richardson of the pow- 
 der vessels "Great Western" and "Judge Tor- 
 rence." They were unremitting in their attention to 
 their duties during the siege, supplying without de 
 lay every requisition made on them by the Army 
 and Navy, and volunteering for any service. 
 
 When the Army called on the Navy for siege 
 guns, I detailed what officers and men I could spare 
 to man and work the batteries. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander Selfridge had command 
 of the naval battery on the right wing in General 
 Sherman's corps. This batlery was worked with 
 marked ability, and elicited the warmest praises 
 from the commanding general. One thousand 
 shells were fired into the enemy's works from Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Selfridge's gunn. His services 
 being required up the river, I relieved him a few 
 days before the surrender, and Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Walker supplied his place and conducted 
 the firing with the same ability. 
 
 Acting-Master Charles B. Dahlgren was ordered 
 to report to General McPherson lor duty, and was 
 assigned the management of the 9-inch guns, which 
 were admirably served. 
 
 Acting-Master Reed, of the " Benton," had charge 
 of the batteries at Fort Benton — so named by Gen- 
 eral Herron in honor of the occasion. General 
 Herron generously acknowledged the services of 
 those I sent him, which communication I enclose 
 with this report. 
 
 I have endeavored to do justice to all who were 
 immediately engaged in the struggle for the mastery 
 of the Mississippi. To the Army do we owe imme- 
 diate thanks for the capture of Vicksburg; but the 
 Army was much facilitated by the Navy, which 
 was ready at all times to co-operate. This has been 
 no small undertaking. The late investment and 
 capture of Vicksburg will be characterized as one 
 of the greatest military achievements ever known. 
 The conception of the siege originated with Gen- 
 eral Grant, who adopted a course in which great 
 labor was performed, great battles were fought and 
 great risks were run. A single mistake would have 
 involved us in difficulty, but so well were all the 
 plans matured, so well were all the movements 
 timed, and so rapid were the evolutions performed, 
 that not a mistake has occurred from the passage 
 of the fleet by Vicksburg and the passage of the 
 Army across the river, up to the present time. So 
 confident was I of the ability of General Grant to 
 carry out his plans when he explained them to me, 
 that I never hesitated to change my position from 
 above to below Vicksburg. The work was hard, 
 the fighting severe, but the blows struck were in- 
 cessant. 
 
 In forty-five days after our Army was landed, a 
 rebel Army of 40,000 men had been captured, killed 
 and wounded, or scattered to their homes perfectly 
 demoralized, while our loss has been only about 5,000 
 killed, wounded and prisoners, and the temporary 
 loss of one gun-boat. 
 
 The fortifications and defences of the city exceed 
 anything that has been built in modern times, and 
 are doubly unassailable from their immense height 
 above the bed of the river. 
 
 The fall of Vicksburg insured the fall of Port 
 Hudson and the opening of the Mississippi River, 
 which, 1 am happy to say, can be traversed from its 
 source to its mouth, without apparent impediment, 
 the first time during the war. 
 
 I take this opportunity to give to Mr. Pendall 
 and Mr. Straus, assistants in the Coast Survey, 
 the full credit they deserve for their indefatigable 
 industry. 
 
 Since they have been attached to the Squadron, 
 they have been connected with almost every expe- 
 dition that has been undertaken; they have kept 
 both Army and Navy supplied with charts, when 
 they could not otherwise be obtained; they were 
 found ready at all times to go anywhere or do any- 
 
 thing required of them, whether it was on a gun- 
 boat expedition or in the trenches before Vicksburg, 
 engineering, when the general-commanding asked 
 for volunteers from the Navy. 
 
 They have added to our collection of maps many 
 geographical corrections which are valuable, and 
 they have proved to me that no squadron can 
 operate effectively without a good corps of sur- 
 veyors. 
 
 I have the honor to Tae, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Portek, 
 ActingRear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi 
 
 Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 CONGBATULATOBT LETTER TO REAR-ADMIRAL 
 PORTER ON THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBUR&. 
 
 Navy Department, July 13, 1863. 
 
 Sir — Your dispatch of the 4th instant announc- 
 ing the surrender of Vicksburg on the anniversary 
 of the great historic day in our national annals, 
 has been received. 
 
 The fall of that place insures a severance of the 
 rebel territory, and must give to the country the 
 speedy uninterrupted navigation of the rivers 
 which water and furnish the ocean outlet to the 
 great central valley of the Union. 
 
 For the past year the key to the Mississippi has 
 been Vicksburg, and so satisfied of this was the 
 rebel chief who pioneered the rebellion and first 
 gave the order to open the fires of civil strife, that 
 he staked his cause upon its retention. 
 
 By the herculean efforts of the Army under the 
 admirable leadership of General Grant, and the 
 persistent and powerful co-operation of the Navy, 
 commanded by yourself, this great result, under the 
 providence of Almighty God, has been achieved. 
 
 A slave empire, divided by this river into equal 
 parts, with liberty in possession of its banks, and 
 freedom upon its waters, cannot exist. 
 
 The work of rescuing and setting free this noble 
 artery, whose unrestricted vital current is essential 
 to our nationality, commenced with such ability by 
 the veteran Farragut and the lamented Foote, and 
 continued by Davis, is near its consummation. 
 
 You have only to proceed onward and meet that 
 veteran chief whose first act was to dash through 
 the gates by which the rebels assumed to bar the 
 entrance to the Mississippi, whose free communica- 
 tion to and above New Orleans he has ever since 
 proudly maintained. 
 
 When the squadrons of the Upper and Lower 
 Mississippi shall combine, and the noble river be 
 again free to a united people, the nation will feel 
 its integrity restored, and the names of the heroic 
 champions who signahzed themselves in this invalu- 
 able service, will be cherished and honored. 
 
 Present and future millions on the shores of 
 those magnificent rivers which patriotism and valor 
 shall have emancipated, will remember with un- 
 ceasing gratitude, the naval heroes who so well 
 performed their part in these eventful times. 
 
 To yourself, your officers, and the brave and gal- 
 lant sailors who have been so fertile in resources, so 
 persistent and enduring through many months of 
 trial and hardship, and so daring under all circum- 
 stances, I tender, in the name of the President, the 
 thanks and congratulations of the whole country 
 on the fall of Vicksburg. 
 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Rear-Admieal David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding Mississippi Squadron, Vicksbura 
 Miss. 
 
CH A PTER XXX 
 
 Naval and Military Expedition to Yazoo City. — Capture of the Enemy's Works. — 
 The " Baron-de-Kalb " blown up by Torpedoes. — Expedition up the Red, Black 
 and Tensas Rivers, under Lieutenant-Commander Selpridge. — Destruction op 
 Enemy's Vessels and Stores. — The Marine Brigade, its Important Services. — 
 Operations op Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy Fitch on the Tennessee River. — 
 Attack on Colored Troops at Milliken's Bend. — Attack on Helena, Arkansas, 
 BY General Price. — Defeat of the Enemy owing to the fire of the Gun-boat 
 "Lexington." — The Raid op General John Morgan into Ohio and Indiana, and 
 the Capture of his Forces owing to the energy op Lieutenant-Commander Le 
 Roy Fitch with his Gun-boats. — Gallant Conduct op Engineer Doughty in Cap- 
 turing TWO OF THE Enemy's Steamers. — Eulogy upon the Pilots and Engineers 
 OP THE Mississippi Squadron. — Important Services op Lieutenant-Commander 
 Phelps in the Tennessee River. — Vessels employed at Vicksburg during the 
 Siege, with List op Officers. — Vessels employed at other points on the Missis- 
 sippi River, 1863-65. 
 
 AFTER the surrender of Vicksburg, 
 there was still much to be done 
 in the vicinity, particularly in 
 driving off the Confederates, who 
 lingered on the banks of the Ya- 
 zoo and fired on our small gun-boats as 
 they patrolled that river. 
 
 A report reached Vicksburg that General 
 Joseph E. Johnston was fortifying Yazoo 
 City, with the apparent intention of occu- 
 pying that neighborhood with his Army. 
 For this the region was well adapted, being 
 rich in cattle and grain, "hog and hominy." 
 
 It was also reported that a number of 
 large river-steamers that had been em- 
 ployed by the enemy, and had been hiding 
 in the Tallahatchie, were at Yazoo City and 
 employed in supplying Johnston's troops. 
 
 A military and naval expedition was 
 therefore arranged to go after these steam- 
 ers and break up the enemy's resort at Ya- 
 zoo City. 
 
 The "Baron de Kalb," " New National," 
 "Kenwood" and "Signal" composed the 
 naval part of the expedition under Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander John G. Walker, while 
 General Herron, with five thousand troops 
 in transports, composed the military part. 
 
 On approaching Yazoo City the enemy 
 appeared in force, and the " DeKalb," being 
 thfi hfiavifist vessel, nushed ahead and 
 
 opened her batteries to ascertain the num- 
 ber and position of the enemy's guns. Find- 
 ing the defences formidable. Walker drop- 
 ped back and notified General Herron, who 
 at once landed his troops and the Army and 
 Navy made a combined attack. After a 
 sharp conflict the enemy fled, previously 
 setting fire to the four large steamers in 
 their possession, which before the war had 
 been considered the finest passenger ves- 
 sels on the Mississippi River. General Her- 
 ron captured the enemy's rear-guard of two 
 hundred and fifty men and pressed on after 
 the retreating foe, taking prisoners every 
 minute. 
 
 There were six heavy guns mounted in 
 the enemy's works and one vessel was cap- 
 tured which had formerly been a gun-boat. 
 Unfortunately, while the "De Kalb" was 
 moving slowly along and firing on the en- 
 emy she ran foul of a floating torpedo, 
 which exploded, and the vessel sank almost 
 immediately, a second torpedo exploding 
 under her stern as she went down. 
 
 The squadron had pushed ahead with too 
 much enthusiasm to bring the enemy to 
 close quarters where grape-shot and canister 
 would tell. It seems that Lieutenant Isaac 
 N. Brown, of the Confederate Navy, had on 
 a former occasion been prevented by the 
 citizens from nlacinar tornedoes in front of 
 
332 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Yazoo City, and it was supposed that it 
 would not be permitted on this occasion for 
 fear of the consequences in the destruction 
 of the property of the inhabitants, should 
 the Union forces get possession of Yazoo 
 City. Lieutenant-Commander Walker there- 
 fore felt confldent that he could proceed 
 without encountering any of these destruc- 
 tive machines. 
 
 The loss of the "DeKalb" was a serious one 
 — four of the armored gun-boats lay at the 
 bottom of the rivers — the "Cincinnati "be- 
 fore Vicksburg, and the " Cairo " and "De- 
 Kalb" in the Yazoo, while the " Indianola" 
 was sunk below Vicksburg. But this is the 
 fortune of war— to achieve anything risks 
 must be run, and while a Confederate flag 
 floated in the breeze the officers and men 
 of the Mississippi squadron never stopped 
 to count the cost in pursuit of it. 
 
 With the exception of the loss of the "De- 
 Kalb," whose officers and men were all 
 saved, the expedition was a complete suc- 
 cess The enemy's rendezvous was broken 
 up, and a large amount of cotton, beef and 
 pork captured, the enemy's forces driven 
 away and many of them captured by Gen- 
 eral Herron. Yazoo City was never again 
 troubled hj the Confederates planting bat- 
 teries there. 
 
 It had been an important place for the 
 Confederates, and but for the constant at- 
 tention it received from the Navy and the 
 destruction of all the vessels hiding there, 
 they would probably have sent down a 
 force that would have destroyed our iron- 
 clad gun-boats, and perhaps have made a 
 material change in the final result of the 
 campaign. 
 
 The Confederate government relied a 
 great deal on the completion of the three 
 iron-clad rams building at Yazoo City, and 
 with their assistance hoped to drive off the 
 Federal squadron from below Vicksburg 
 and thereby cause the siege to be raised — 
 while Haines' Bluff could block the way 
 with its guns and the huge raft which filled 
 up the Yazoo River for half a mile. The 
 Confederates worked on their iron-clads 
 without molestation, and even when Gen- 
 eral Grant had gained the rear of Vicks- 
 burg they relied on General J. E. Johnston's 
 army to protect them while they completed 
 the work on the rams. 
 
 If the " Arkansas," which ran the gaunt- 
 let of Farragut and Davis' squadrons, was 
 a specimen of the iron-clad that could be 
 built at Yazoo City, the Federals had cause 
 to congratulate themselves that the Yazoo 
 was open by the evacuation of Haines' Bluff, 
 and the last attempt of the Confederates to 
 carry on naval operations in that quarter 
 abandoned. 
 
 At the same time that the expedition was 
 sent up the Yazoo another was dispatched 
 
 up the Red River, ascending the Black and 
 Tensas Rivers. Lieutenant-Commander 
 Selfridge penetrated to the head of naviga- 
 tion on the latter stream, at Tensas Lake 
 and Bayou Macon, thirty miles above Vicks- 
 burg, and within five or six miles of the 
 Mississippi River. 
 
 Parties of the enemy's riflemen were in 
 the habit of crossing this narrow strip of 
 land and firing upon transports passing up 
 and down the Mississippi, sometimes killing 
 women and children who happened to be 
 on board. Quite a large force of Confed- 
 erates were assembled in that quarter, con- 
 sidering themselves secure from the attacks 
 of the gun-boats, the distance by water 
 from Vicksburg being so great : the route 
 being first to the mouth of the Red River, 
 then up the Black and Tensas, both narrow 
 streams, to Tensas Lake and Bayou Macon. 
 The guerillas fancied they could carry on 
 their raids with impunity. So when Sel- 
 fridge appeared with his little flotilla on the 
 12th of July, they were taken by surprise. 
 As soon as the gun-boats hove in sight the 
 enemy's transports, of which there were 
 here quite a number, made their escape 
 among the intricate water-ways with which 
 that region abounds, and where for want of 
 pilots they could not be immediately fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 Selfridge now divided his forces, sending 
 the " Manitou " and " Rattler " up the Little 
 Red River, a small tributary of the Black, 
 and the "Forest Rose" and "Petrel" up 
 the Tensas. The night was dark and rainy 
 and the vessels had to grope their way care- 
 fully along, keeping a good lookout ahead. 
 Suddenly the "Manitou" and "Rattler"' 
 came upon a very large steamer, the finest 
 of those now remaining afloat, which had 
 been the pride of the Mississippi River 
 before the war. This was the "Louisville," 
 afterwards converted into a war-vessel car- 
 rying fifty guns. 
 
 Selfridge's other two vessels about the 
 same time captured the steamer " Elmira," 
 loaded with stores for the Confederate 
 army under General Walker, who on hear- 
 ing of the arrival of the Federal gun-boats 
 embarked his army and disappeared up some 
 of the tortuous channels known only to 
 pilots. Selfridge started in pursuit and soon 
 overtook two of the transports, but the Con- 
 federates immediately abandoned the ves- 
 sels after setting them on fire, and they 
 were totally destroyed. 
 
 One steamer loaded with ammunition 
 escaped above the fort at Harrisonburg, a 
 strong work impregnable to wooden gun- 
 boats with light batteries. The expedition 
 could proceed no further in this direction. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge fortu- 
 nately learned of a large amount of ammuni- 
 tion that had been sent up from Natchez, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 333 
 
 whence large quantities of provisions, stores 
 and ammunition were often transported. 
 Natchez took no part in the war beyond 
 making money by supplying the Confeder- 
 ate armies. 
 
 Selfridge captured at one place fifteen 
 thousand rounds of smooth-bore ammu- 
 nition, one thousand rounds of Enfield 
 rifle and two hundred and twenty four 
 rounds of fixed ammunition for guns, a 
 rifled thirty -pounder Parrott gun-carriage, 
 fifty-two hogsheads of sugar, ten puncheons 
 of rum, nine barrels of flour and fifty barrels 
 of salt ; and General Walker's army being 
 left without a supply of ammunition, he 
 moved his forces into the interior and 
 troubled the Mississippi no more. Thus 
 these constant raids of the gun-boats har- 
 assed and weakened the enemy, broke up 
 the steamboat transportation so necessary 
 for their movements, and deprived them of 
 ammunition and provisions, without which 
 they could not fight. 
 
 One portion of Admiral Porter's com- 
 mand — the Marine Brigade — is entitled to 
 special mention. When he assumed com- 
 mand of the Mississippi Squadron, the 
 Admiral applied for a force of marines to be 
 carried in suitable vessels accompanying 
 the gun-boats and to be landed at points 
 where parties of guerillas were wont to 
 assemble. The gun-boats alone could not 
 break these parties up, and it was therefore 
 necessary to have trained soldiers at hand 
 to chase and annihilate them. 
 
 The Navy Department could not furnish 
 the marines asked for, but the War Depart- 
 ment undertook to organize a Marine Brig- 
 ade, and also to furnish the necessary 
 vessels to carry these soldiers about. The 
 command was given to Brigadier General 
 Alfred Ellet, and as the members of this 
 family had before proved themselves brave 
 and enterprising men several of them 
 were given appointments in the Marine 
 Brigade. 
 
 As soon as this organization was fully 
 equipped General Ellet was ordered by 
 the Commander-in-chief of the Mississippi 
 squadron to proceed to the Tennessee River 
 before reporting at Vicksburg, and help put 
 down the numerous guerilla bands that in- 
 fested the banks of that stream. These 
 guerillas, although enlisted by the Confed- 
 erates in the usual way as soldiers, were in 
 fact made up of men too cowardly to join 
 the regular Army and worthless fellows 
 who would rather hang around home, pre- 
 tending to save the Confederacy, than go 
 where bullets were flying thick and fast on 
 the field of battle. During the whole war 
 bitterness and treachery flourished in Ten- 
 nessee owing to this guerilla system. In 
 some parts of the State almost every family 
 had one or more of these quasi-soldiers be- 
 
 longing to a gang whose occupation was 
 firing on unarmed steamers, and seldom or 
 ever, even when supported by artillerv, 
 making a successful stand against the light 
 gun-boats called "tin-clads." Now and 
 then they would receive severe punishment 
 and some of them get killed; occasionally 
 when overtaken they were summarily dealt 
 with. 
 
 In April, 1863, Lieutenant-Commander 
 LeRoy Pitch was patrolling the Tennes- 
 see River with the gun-boats "Lexing- 
 ton," "Robert," and " Silver Lake." This 
 active officer made matters so uncomfort- 
 able for the guerillas that they did not 
 often come within range of his guns. One 
 of his first acts was to take on board his 
 vessels one hundred and fifty soldiers from 
 Fort Hindman, under command of Colonel 
 Craig, and visit the landings infested by 
 guerillas. At Savannah, where Lieutenant- 
 Commander Fitch landed two hundred 
 soldiers and sailors, he burned a mill which 
 was used in making cloth to clothe the gue- 
 rillas; a quantity of horses, mules, and 
 wagons belonging to the Confederate cav- 
 alry were also made prize of war. 
 
 The plantations of those persons who 
 were known to have aided and abetted the 
 outrages of the guerillas were destroyed, as 
 an example to others. The war had been 
 carried on by these worthless marauders in 
 such a way that this course was found to 
 be necessary to put a check on operations 
 which had the effect of embittering both 
 parties without in any way benefitting the 
 Confederate cause. 
 
 On the bodies of some of the guerillas 
 who were killed in one of the attacks was 
 found an oath of allegiance to the United 
 States Government. A certain class of per- 
 sons would take the oath of allegiance to 
 the United States one day, to secure protec- 
 tion, and the next would be found firing 
 upon unarmed vessels. 
 
 The command of Lieutenant-Commander 
 Fitch was increased as fast as the small 
 stern-wheel merchant-steamers could be al- 
 tered into gun-boats, the Navy Department 
 having authorized Admiral Porter to pur- 
 chase as many of these as he deemed requi- 
 site to put down the guerillas and pro- 
 tect loyal citizens, and a large number of 
 naval vessels were soon in commission on the 
 western waters. One requisition alone for 
 seven hundred pieces of ordnance will show 
 how this tin-clad service was increased. 
 Many engagements occurred when Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Fitch had a sufficient 
 number of vessels to effectually patrol the 
 Tennessee, where by night and day he was 
 indefatigable in trying to put down the ma- 
 rauders. The gun-boats never remained at a 
 bank for fear of a surprise, and when anch- 
 ored in the stream men were always at the 
 
334 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 guns, and at night all lights were kept 
 covered. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when 
 Brigadier-General Alfred EUet, with the 
 marine brigade, entered the Tennessee in 
 five steamers, admirably equipped for the 
 accommodation of the men, and united 
 with Lieutenant-Commander Fitch to sup- 
 press the guerillas. These combined forces 
 penetrated to the furthest part of the river 
 when the water would permit, and when 
 the river was very low Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Fitch was provided with a class 
 of gun-boats drawing only sixteen inches 
 of water, which could almost always make 
 their way to any desired point. The re- 
 markable energy and perseverance of Fitch 
 won the approbation of the Union men in 
 Tennessee, and gained the entire confidence 
 of his Commander-in-chief. His officers 
 were all volunteers, but with his example 
 and training they were quite equal to any 
 in the regular service for the duty in which 
 they were engaged. 
 
 The Confederates were much surprised at 
 the advent of the Marine Brigade, who were 
 gun-boat men and soldiers at the same time, 
 and could land fifteen hundred troops with 
 field artillery at a moment's notice to pur- 
 sue the enemy. In fact, when Fitch and El- 
 let co-operated, they made short work of the 
 Confederates, who had really been a scourge 
 to both parties in Tennessee. 
 
 General EUet's command included cav- 
 alry, with which he made night marclies to 
 pounce on the camps of the guerillas and 
 destroy the stores on which these maraud- 
 ers relied for subsistence. The Marine 
 Brigade also co-operated with the Army un- 
 der General Dodge and afforded material 
 assistance in breaking up the command of 
 the Confederate general. Cox, some eigh- 
 teen miles above Savannah on the Tennes- 
 see. 
 
 General EUet's command was not popular 
 with the Confederate inhabitants, as the 
 former did not trouble themselves much 
 about the " amenities of war." Tiiey saw 
 so many " irregularities " committed by the 
 enemy that they retaliated in many in- 
 stances by destroying the property of dis- 
 loyal persons, and often returned from an 
 expedition with sufiicient stores captured 
 from the enemy to last the command a 
 month. 
 
 On the morning of April 25, 1863, the 
 Marine Brigade was attacked at a place 
 called Duck River by a Confederate force 
 of seven hundred men and two field-pieces 
 under Colonel Woodward. It seems the 
 enemy mistook the Marine Brigade vessels 
 for transports and were quite unprepared 
 for the reception they encountered. As 
 soon as possible a landing was effected and 
 the enemy pursued for twelve miles. Major 
 
 White, of the 6th Texas Eangers, was found 
 mortally wounded in a house four miles 
 from the field of battle where eight of the 
 Confederates were killed. 
 
 The water in the Tennessee River becom- 
 ing too low for the Marine Brigade steamers 
 to operate, they left the river on the 7th of 
 May, having destroyed great numbers of 
 boats and scows and all the ferry-boats they 
 could find. Tennessee became not only a 
 battle-ground for the contending armies, 
 but her vindictive home -guards brought 
 upon her more misery than can be compen- 
 sated for by fifty years of prosperity. 
 
 On his way down to Vicksburg General 
 Ellet heard of some Confederate troops at 
 a place called Austin and dispatched a cav- 
 alry force of two hundred men, commanded 
 by Major Holland, in pursuit, followed by 
 infantry. The cavalry encountered the 
 main body of the Confederates, one thous- 
 and strong, with two pieces of artillery. 
 Holland found his retreat cut off, but by 
 getting a good position and dismounting 
 his men he managed to hold his ground until 
 the infantry came up, when the enemy re- 
 treated leaving five of their number dead 
 on the field. The Union loss was two killed 
 and nineteen wounded. A wagon train and 
 a quantity of arms were captured, together 
 with three prisoners, and the town of Austin 
 was set on fire and destroyed with a large 
 amount of provisions, thus breaking up a 
 nest of guerillas who were making prepara- 
 tions to commence a system of firing on 
 vessels as they had done on the Tennessee. 
 
 While the town was on fire numerous 
 explosions showed where arms and am- 
 munition had been secreted. 
 
 On the 29th of May the Marine Brigade 
 reached the Yazoo River, after having per- 
 formed much valuable service. 
 
 After the Brigade left the Tennessee 
 River the guerillas re-commenced their 
 operations, but the commanding officers of 
 the small gun-boats exerted themselves to 
 the utmost to make up for the loss of the 
 landing parties. On the 19th of June Act- 
 ing-Master W. C. Hanford, commanding 
 the U. S. S. "Little Rebel," heard that a 
 party of guerillas under Colonel Bissell 
 were lying in wait for gun-boats, proposing 
 to give them one round from their battery 
 and then make off. Hanford mounted two 
 howitzers as field-pieces, manned them with 
 sixteen of his best men, and started them 
 in search of the marauders. 
 
 On the following morning, June 19th, on 
 hearing the firing of guns the " Robb" and 
 the "Silver Cloud" got underway and ran 
 down to the point where the battery had 
 been placed. Here Hanford found that Bis- 
 sell had attacked his battery with four hun- 
 dred men, but as the Confederates advanced, 
 four abreast, the Union guns opened on 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 335 
 
 them, making large gaps in their ranks 
 and firing so rapidly that they at length 
 turned and fled, having lost about fifty in 
 killed and wounded, while Hanford had but 
 one killed and two wounded. 
 
 On this occasion the gun -boats fired with 
 grape and canister at close quarters, and 
 the enemy's column was enfiladed on both 
 sides as it advanced. The Confederates 
 had dismounted from their horses to charge 
 the battery. 
 
 In June, 1863, a great sensation was cre- 
 ated throughout the country by a thrilling 
 account of an attack made on a body of 
 colored troops stationed at Milliken's Bend, 
 by a portion of the Confederate army under 
 General Price. Milliken's Bend is but two 
 or three miles above Young's Point and was 
 in daily communication with that place. 
 
 It was a mooted question whether the 
 blacks enlisted as soldiers would be reliable 
 in battle and they were mostly employed, 
 as at Milliken's Bend, in guarding stores or 
 in other duty, where they could relieve white 
 soldiers sent to the front. As far as appear- 
 ances went, the colored troops were good 
 soldiers and many enthusiasts declared that 
 they would stand the shock of arms as well 
 as the whites. 
 
 At Milliken's Bend was also a portion of a 
 white regiment which was looked upon by 
 those who were not enthusiasts as by far 
 the most reliable part of the garrison. 
 
 On the 6th of June, the Admiral, who 
 had general charge of matters in that quar- 
 ter, hearing that some of the enemy's 
 troops had been seen hovering around Mil- 
 liken's Bend, sent the "Choctaw," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander F. M. Ramsay, up to that 
 place with orders to be ready for an emer- 
 gency. At 2.15 A. M., on the 7th instant, an 
 Army officer hailed the "Choctaw "and re- 
 ported that his pickets had been attacked 
 and driven in by the enemy. A few min- 
 utes later firing was heard in the main 
 camp. The " Choctaw " immediately 
 opened in direction of the enemy with a 
 hundred - pounder rifie and a nine-inch 
 shell-gun, the Federal troops, with the 
 exception of the 33d Iowa, retreating at the 
 first attack of the enemy. 
 
 It was impossible for the " Choctaw" to 
 fire except by signs from those on shore, who 
 pointed out the direction of the enemy; but 
 the practice turned out to be good, and at 
 8.30 the Confederates retreated much cut 
 up. The "Lexington," Lieutenant Com- 
 manding George M. Bache, reached the 
 scene of action as the enemy were making 
 oflf and opened on the retreating columns 
 with eight-inch shells. 
 
 Had it not been for the presence of a gun- 
 boat, the enemy would have captured every- 
 thing at Milliken's Bend, for they were in 
 strong force and charged right over the col- 
 
 ored troops, who fled to the trenches and 
 thence fired at random. The enemy then 
 swarmed over the parapets and shot right 
 down among the crouching blacks, filling 
 the trenches with killed and wounded. A 
 majority of the slain had bullet-holes in 
 the top of their heads, showing that the 
 brilliant defence made by the black troops 
 was altogether imaginary, the only resist- 
 ance being made by the white soldiers. . 
 
 Such statements were often made by 
 sensational correspondents during the war. 
 In the present instance the black troops 
 were given credit for bravery which they 
 did not display and the 33d Iowa regiment 
 and the Navy were completely ignored. 
 
 In justice to the colored troops it may be 
 said that their white officers were the first 
 to run away, and that with better leaders 
 the soldiers might have stood their ground. 
 
 On the 3d of July, General Ellet, with 
 the Marine Brigade, was ordered to proceed 
 to Goodrich Landing, where some Confeder- 
 ate raiders had attacked a detachment of 
 United States troops there stationed. When 
 the brigade reached Goodrich Landing the 
 troops were found under arms, and the pres- 
 ence of the enemy was indicated by the 
 burning mansions, cotton-gins and negro 
 quarters in the vicinity — one of those acts 
 of wanton destruction for which the class 
 of Confederate soldiers along the river banks 
 were famous. If they could not find an 
 enemy to harass they would often destroy 
 the property of their own people. 
 
 The entire Marine Brigade, artillery, in- 
 fantry and cavalry, was immediately landed 
 and started in pursuit of the Confederate 
 forces; Colonel Wood, who commanded the 
 colored troops at this point, accompanying 
 the brigade. The cavalry overtook the 
 enemy at Bayou Tensas, and detained him 
 until the main body of the Union forces ar- 
 rived. The enemy had a strong force of 
 cavalry and several pieces of artillery, and 
 endeavored to recross the Bayou and turn 
 the right flank of the brigade. In this move- 
 ment he met with a severe repulse. The 
 brigade then advanced on the enemy, who 
 rapidly retreated, throwing away all the 
 plunder taken from the houses that had 
 been burned, including a fine piano ! These 
 were some of the men enlisted to "protect" 
 the Southern people, who, finding the latter 
 already well treated and cared for by the 
 Union forces, turned their vengeance 
 against the inhabitants of their own section, 
 and overcoming the small garrison at Good- 
 rich Landing destroyed and carried oflf 
 everything on which they could lay hands. 
 
 But this is the kind of war one must ex- 
 pect to be waged by a government with- 
 out power to maintain the position it has 
 assumed and liable at any moment to col- 
 lapse. As the cause of rebellion became 
 
336 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 more hopeless, the rancor of the guerillas 
 increased, and there were frequent occur- 
 rences which curdled the blood in the veins 
 of loyal people. Yet some of the people, 
 while well satisfied to receive protection 
 from the Union forces, would give informa- 
 tion to these predatory bands and secrete 
 them when in danger. 
 
 General EUet gave the party at Goodrich 
 Landing a lesson they did not soon forget, 
 and having completely routed -the enemy 
 re-embarked his command and returned to 
 the mouth of the Yazoo River. 
 
 We have dwelt on these events to show 
 the character of the war as waged by the 
 Confederates in that section of the country, 
 and the energy and enterprise of the of!i- 
 ers and men of the Mississippi squadron. 
 
 The Army under General Price, or his 
 subordinate. General Holmes, which hung 
 about the swampy region to the west of 
 Vicksburg, found, on the surrender of that 
 place, their occupation gone. All the Federal 
 stores and munitions of war were transfer- 
 red from Young's Point and Milliken's Bend 
 to Vicksburg, and the Confederates could no 
 longer hope to replenish their stock by raids 
 on these points. General Price therefore 
 determined to change his base and carry on 
 operations elsewhere. He was an active, 
 enterprising officer, and had under his com- 
 mand some twelve or fourteen thousand 
 men who were inured to hardships and ca- 
 pable of long and rapid marches. 
 
 In the latter part of June, Admiral Porter 
 received information from deserters that 
 General Price was moving with a large 
 force from Arkansas towards the Missis- 
 sippi, intending to unite with other troops 
 near Vicksburg to operate along the river. 
 The Admiral immediately made arrange- 
 ments to meet this force by sending gun- 
 boats to such points as it would be most 
 likely to attack. The " Taylor," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Prichett, "Bragg," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commanding Bishop, and the "Hast- 
 ings," were sent to Helena, where Major- 
 General B. M. Prentiss was in command of 
 the U. S. forces. 
 
 That officer was rather astonished when 
 the gun-boats arrived and he was informed 
 that he might soon expect an attack. He 
 had expected nothing of the kind and felt 
 sure he could defend his post without the 
 aid of gun-boats, although he was glad to 
 welcome them. The " Bragg" came to an- 
 chor off Helena, and the "Taylor" and 
 " Hastings " cruised up and down the river 
 in search of guerillas, Lieutenant Com- 
 mander Prichett quite neglecting tlie in- 
 structions he had received — under no cir- 
 cumstances to leave Helena witliout posi- 
 tive orders from the Admiral. 
 
 However, on one of his expeditions, Prich- 
 ett happened to read his orders over again, 
 
 and seeing how positively they were worded, 
 hastened back to Helena, where he learned 
 that General Prentiss was expecting an at- 
 tack from Price with twelve to fourteen 
 thousand troops, to oppose which the Union 
 commander had about three thousand five 
 hundred men. Prentiss made the best dis- 
 position possible of his small force, deter- 
 mined to hold the works as long as he could. 
 This was on the 4th of July, the very day 
 of the surrender of Vicksburg. 
 
 Prichett had hardly got into the position 
 he deemed most desirable to render the fire 
 of the gun-boats effective, when the enemy 
 appeared in sight and attacked the centre 
 defences in overwhelming force. These 
 were soon carried, as also a battery on the 
 hills in the rear which commanded Helena 
 and all the other defences. 
 
 The enemy then pushed his forces down 
 the slope of the ridge into the gorges, and 
 his sharpshooters under cover commenced 
 driving the artillerists from their guns in 
 the main fort. The Confederates had 
 planted their artillery above and below the 
 turn in the most commanding positions and 
 opened fire on the line of defensive works 
 across the river bottom, about one thousand 
 yards in width, and large bodies of troops 
 were massed near to secure the advantages 
 the capture of the forts on the heights 
 would offer for closing upon the town of 
 Helena. 
 
 The "Taylor" at once covered the ap- 
 proach to Helena by what was called the 
 "old farm road;" but discovering the 
 enemy pouring down the hills, after captur- 
 ing the works in the Federal centre, Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Prichett took up a new 
 position where his broadside guns enfiladed 
 the ravines which were filled with Confed- 
 erates, and bow -guns at the same time 
 played upon the enemy's batteries above, 
 and his stern guns upon those below. 
 
 This was a reception General Price had 
 never dreamed of. He had attacked Helena 
 with the expectation of "walking over the 
 course," and his first success in capturing 
 the most commanding position in the de- 
 fences confirmed him in his idea of an easy 
 victory, but the broadsides of the gun-boa"t 
 soon put a new face on affairs. The 
 slaughter caused by the "Taylor's" guns 
 was terrible, the shells falling in the thickly 
 massed troops of the enemy and tearing 
 them to pieces. A panic seized the enemy 
 and he was soon in full retreat, pursued by 
 the fire of the gun-boat, until the road was 
 strewed with the killed and wounded. 
 
 Those of the Confederates who had 
 gained the inside of the Union works, see- 
 ing the slaughter and i-etreat of their com- 
 rades, lost no time in moving to the rear, 
 urged on by the Federal garrison, who, en- 
 couraged by the success of the " Taylor," 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 337 
 
 added the fire of their batteries to that of 
 the gun-boat. 
 
 The victory was complete, and it toolc 
 little more time than we have occupied in 
 telling the story. The whole affair was 
 one continuous roar of cannon and burst- 
 ing of shells, the latter thrown with an 
 accuracy the crew of the " Taylor" had 
 acquired by long experience. Three hun- 
 dred and eighty of the Confederates were 
 left dead on the field near the forts and in 
 the ravines, eleven hundred were wounded 
 and as many more taken prisoners. For 
 several days the Federal cavalry were con- 
 stantly discovering killed and wounded, 
 and steamboats on the river were hailed by 
 deserters from Price's army, asking to be 
 taken on board. No troops were ever worse 
 beaten or more demoralized. 
 
 Although the Union troops hadstood man- 
 fully against the attack of Price's appar- 
 ently overwhelming force, the slaughter in 
 the enemy's ranks was due to the Judgment 
 shown by Lieutenant-Commander Prichett 
 in taking such an admirable position, where 
 he could use his guns eff'ectively. On two 
 previous occasions — at Belmont and at 
 Pittsburg Landing — the "Taylor" had 
 saved the day to the Union cause, yet we 
 doubt if a vast majority of the American 
 people are aware that such a vessel ever 
 existed, and we deem it only fair to say 
 that the garrison of Helena, although they 
 fought with a courage unsurpassed during 
 the war, owed their victory over an enemy 
 which so greatly outnumbered them entirely 
 to the batteries of the sturdy wooden gun- 
 boat. General Prentiss, like a brave sol- 
 dier as he was, grows eloquent in his praise 
 of Lieutenant-Commander Prichett and his 
 officers and men for the service they had 
 performed. In his report to the Admiral 
 he says: " I attribute not a little of our suc- 
 cess in the late battle to his (Lieutenant- 
 Commander Prichett's) full knowledge of 
 the situation and his skill in adapting the 
 means within his command to the end to be 
 
 attained Permit me to add, sir, 
 
 that I can conceive of no case wherein pro- 
 motion would be more worthily bestowed 
 than in that of Lieutenant-Commander 
 Prichett, and it will give me great pleasure 
 to learn that his services have received a 
 proper reward." Prichett never received 
 any " reward " save an eloquent letter from 
 Mr. Secretary Welles, which that gentle- 
 man knew so well how to indite, but he had 
 the satisfaction of not having dimmed the 
 lustre of that 4th of July made so glorious 
 by the capture of Vicksburg and the victory 
 of Gettysburg. 
 
 On the 9th of August the " Mound City," 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Byron Wilson, 
 while at Lake Providence, gave the enemy 
 a severe lesson. Captain John McNeil, 
 
 C. S. A., notorious raider, made a descent on 
 Lake Providence with some seventy men, 
 for the purpose of carrying off some mules, 
 horses and wagons, a number of the latter 
 having congregated there during the occu- 
 pation of the place by a part of the Federal 
 army. 
 
 As McNeil's men entered the town the 
 "Mound City" opened on them with her 
 portbattery and the enemy fled to the woods, 
 leaving seven dead on the field and carrying 
 off many wounded. The enemy never ex- 
 pected to see an ironclad at Lake Providence 
 and never troubled the place again. 
 
 It was exceedingly difficult to suppress 
 this system of guerilla warfare, but it was 
 finally put an end to by the Navy when the 
 surrender of Vicksburg relieved a large 
 number of gun-boats from imperative du- 
 ties which could not be neglected for minor 
 matters. 
 
 One of the most remarkable incidents of 
 the civil war was the raid of General John 
 Morgan, one of the daring partisan lead- 
 ers of the Confedei-ate Army, and the man- 
 ner in which the raid was averted from 
 Indiana — the point aimed at by the auda- 
 cious Morgan — by three or four so-called 
 "tin-clads," armed with boat-howitzers. 
 
 Hearing that Morgan was moving in 
 force up the left bank of the Ohio River, 
 pursued by the Union forces under General 
 Judah, Lieutenant-Commander Fitch de- 
 termined, if possible, to cut him off. The 
 water in tlie river was very low and the five 
 light draft gun- boats which Fitch had with 
 him worked night and day to intercept the 
 raiders, who were seeking for a place to 
 ford the Ohio. 
 
 To get the gun-boats over the shoal places 
 it was often necessary to " jump them " by 
 placing two heavy spars, carried for the 
 purpose, forward of the bow at an angle 
 and set taut, a heavy tackle leading from 
 the head of the spars to the deck. Steam 
 was then put on, and as the vessel pushed 
 ahead her bow was raised and she was 
 forced forward eight or ten feet; this oper- 
 ation was repeated until the shoal was 
 passed, and this was the way the officers 
 and men on the Ohio had to work to pre- 
 vent Morgan from reaching Indiana, whose 
 people were wholly unprepared for a move- 
 ment which, had it succeeded, must have 
 been most disastrous to the State. 
 
 Morgan's object after devastating Indi- 
 ana was to march into Ohio with the hope 
 of capturing Cincinnati and plundering it. 
 This, to say nothing of the loss to the citi- 
 zens of their property, would have been an 
 indelible disgrace to the Federal cause. 
 
 Morgan pushed his way leisurely along 
 the bank of the Ohio, calculating that he 
 could cross from one side to the other as 
 circumstances might require in order to 
 
338 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 elude any pursuing force, although he 
 knew of none in the vicinity that he need 
 fear, and he intended that his followers 
 should enjoy themselves among the flesh- 
 pots of the North, and leave the marks of 
 their trail so wide that the Union people 
 would remember John Morgan's raid for 
 a century to come. Indeed he marched so 
 leisurely and committed so many depre- 
 dations that the people began to rise and 
 arm themselves in the interior on his left, 
 which induced him to cling to the river 
 bank, little dreaming of the danger threat- 
 ened him from the gun-boats. General 
 Judah's forces pushing after him, Mor- 
 gan determined to cross the river, but here 
 he was confronted by Fitch and his "tin- 
 clads," which were spread out for the space 
 of two miles ready to prevent his passage. 
 As the river was fordable in many places, 
 Morgan could easily have crossed with all 
 his forces but for the presence of the gun- 
 boats. 
 
 As soon as the Confederate column ap- 
 peared in sight, they received a volley that 
 staggered them so they gave up the idea of 
 crossing at that point and continued up the 
 river, wiiile the gun-boats kept ahead shell- 
 ing the enemy whenever they showed them- 
 selves. It was a novel sight, a flotilla of gun- 
 boats (very " gallinippers ") in pursuit of a 
 land force. It was in every respect a new 
 feature of the war. 
 
 When Morgan found himself hemmed in 
 on the left, on the right, and in the rear, he 
 saw that his best course was to push on up 
 the Ohio to a point where the water was too 
 low to float tlie gun-boats, probably not 
 dreaming that the vessels had been selected 
 for just such an emergency and drew barely 
 sixteen inches. With all he could do, Mor- 
 gan could find no place to cross, for the 
 gun-boats pressed close to him night and 
 day, firing upon his men whenever they ap- 
 proached the river. 
 
 This odd march of the Confederates and 
 the pursuit of tlie gun-boats continued up the 
 river for five hundred miles. On the morn- 
 ing of the 19th of July, Fitch attacked Mor- 
 gan's troops just above Buffington Island. 
 The enemy made a desperate resistance 
 with artillery and musketry for over an 
 hour, at the end of which time they broke 
 and fled, leaving behind two pieces of artil- 
 lery, wagons, horses, arms, etc.. A- portion 
 of them rallied and moved rapidly up along 
 the river bank; but Fitch followed them so 
 closely that tliey soon scattered among the 
 hills out of the reach of the shells. 
 
 The road along the bank was strewed with 
 plunder left by the Confederates — cloth, 
 ijoots, shoes, and dainties of every descrip- 
 tion. Among the articles abandoned were 
 some carriages, one of which was said to 
 have been used by Morgan when weary of 
 
 horseback exercise. The gunboats pushed 
 on up river to look after the remnant of 
 Morgan's band, leaving it to General Judah 
 to pick up the stragglers in the rear. 
 
 About fifteen miles above the scene of 
 his last conflict, Fitch encountered another 
 portion of Morgan's command who were 
 fording the river. The current was here so 
 swift and the channel so narrow and 
 crooked, that it was sometime before the 
 gun-boat could get within range. At length 
 Fitch opened on the enemy, emptying a 
 number of saddles and driving most of 
 them back to the bank, whence they started 
 off up the river again; a few got across the 
 river and escaped ; and twenty horses, 
 whose riders had perhaps been drowned or 
 shot, were left standing on the bank. On 
 went Fitch till no more enemies were to be 
 seen and he was brought to a stand by 
 shoals he could not pass. 
 
 This was the end of Morgan's raid, one of 
 the most remarkable events of the civil 
 war, and the very boldness of which almost 
 insured its success. It could not have been 
 intended to benefit the Confederate cause, 
 and must be regarded as an insane military 
 frolic. The rude partisan who had con- 
 ceived the plan which he carried out with 
 such bravery and zeal, meeting at first with 
 no opposition, seems to have fancied him- 
 self master of the situation. He lost his 
 head, and when he took to riding in a car- 
 riage his followers began to lose faith in 
 him, which may account for the numerous 
 desertions and for the rapidity with which 
 the raiders fled from the gun-boats. 
 
 But for the energy of Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Fitch, Morgan's enterprise would 
 doubtless have been disastrous to the people 
 of Indiana and Ohio and disgraceful to the 
 United States Government, which had 
 taken so little pains to guard against such 
 incursions. 
 
 Morgan and most of his men were cap- 
 tured, and although he had committed no 
 greater infractions of the laws of war than 
 many others, he and his oflicers were sent 
 to the Ohio penitentiary. To have shot him 
 as he stood at bay, like a wild boar in the 
 forest, would have been kinder and more in 
 keeping with the romantic nature of his 
 enterprise. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navy wrote to Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Fitch, eulogizing his 
 conduct in the highest terms. Maj.-Gen. 
 Burnside and Brig. -Gen. Cox also wi-ote 
 the warmest acknowledgements to Admiral 
 Porter for the part Fitch had taken in the 
 capture of Morgan. Fitch certainly demon- 
 strated the importance of the little " tin- 
 clads," which seemed from their appearance 
 to have been gotten up more for pleasure- 
 boats than for war purposes, where a strong 
 shot was liable to send them to the bottom. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 339 
 
 After the loss of the "Cincinnati," on 
 which occasion Lieutenant Bache and his 
 officers and men exhibited so much coolness 
 and braverj^ Bache was ordered to Com- 
 mand the " Lexington." sister-ship to the 
 " Taylor," and one of the gun-boats that had 
 braved the storm of battle at Belmont, 
 Shiloh, Fort Henry, Donelson and Arkan- 
 sas Post. 
 
 The Confederates were again assembling 
 in White River, where it was easy for them 
 to get from Little Rock, Arkansas, and 
 escape back again if attacked. Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Bache was ordered up White 
 River to suppress these raiders, whose zeal 
 and persistency seemed without limit. The 
 great Confederate armies of the West 
 appeared to have been divided into small 
 bodies, which could move with greater 
 celerity. The " Lexington," "Cricket" and 
 "Marmora" were the vessels comprising 
 Lieutenant Bache's command. 
 
 On the arrival of the expedition at Des 
 Arc, it burned a large warehouse filled 
 with Confederate stores, which the thought- 
 less enemy had supposed was safe from the 
 attack of gun-boats. On the second morn- 
 ing, on arriving off the mouth of Little 
 Red River, a narrow and tortuous tributary 
 of the White, the "Cricket" was sent up 
 that stream in pursuit of two Confederate 
 steamers, while the "Lexington" went 
 twenty-five miles further up the White to 
 Augusta. At that place Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Bache was informed that the inde- 
 fatigable General Price was assembling an 
 army at Brownsville, and that two kindred 
 spirits. Generals Kirby Smith and Marma- 
 duke, were with him. 
 
 Lieutenant Bache imiuediately proceeded 
 up the Little Red River and met the 
 "Cricket" returning with her two prizes, 
 after having destroyed a pontoon bridge 
 constructed by General Marmaduke. As 
 the two captured steamers were the only 
 ones relied on for transportation in this 
 river, the schemes of the Confederates were 
 thwarted for the time being, and the fact 
 that gun-boats had penetrated their lines 
 and were destroying their pontoons and 
 stores quite dampened the ardor of the 
 three chiefs. 
 
 Although no blood was spilled, this incur- 
 sion of the little flotilla was equal to a vic- 
 tory over General Price, whom it would 
 have required an army of twenty thousand 
 men to drive back. By these movements 
 of the gun-boats the Confederate transporta- 
 tion on the rivers was broken up — they had 
 not a steamer left in this vicinity except 
 one on the White River. 
 
 A little later, Volunteer-Lieutenant J. 
 P. Couthouy, commanding the " Osage," 
 who had been sent to cruise in Red River, 
 receiving information of a Confederate 
 
 steamer tied to the bank in his neighbor- 
 hood, fitted out an expedition of twenty 
 men under command of Chief Engineer 
 Thomas Doughty. The party, after incred- 
 ible labor, forcing their way through the 
 thick undergrowth and vines, surprised the 
 steamer lying at the bank and captured her. 
 A few moments later Mr. Doughty caught 
 sight of another steamer, which he also 
 captured in a similar manner, and besides 
 her crew found himself in possession of 
 nine Confederate soldiers, commanded by 
 an aide to General (" Dick ") Taylor. The 
 aide had been sent up for the " Fulton," a 
 remarkably fine vessel, to transport some 
 troops across Atchafalia Bay. The other 
 steamer was filled with military stores. 
 
 There was an impassable shoal across the 
 Red River at that time, and as Chief Engi- 
 neer Doughty could not take the steamers 
 out of tlie river he burned them with all 
 their stores, and returned safely to his ves- 
 sel. These steamers were a great loss to 
 the Confederates in that quarter as their 
 means of transporting troops and supplies 
 by water was greatly impaired, growing 
 smaller by degrees and beautifully less, and 
 confining the raiders within narrower limits 
 than ever. 
 
 After the capture of Vicksburg the gun- 
 boats were stationed all along the Missis- 
 sippi from Cairo to Red River, and on the 
 Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. 
 The gun-boats were in divisions extending 
 between specified points, each under com- 
 mand of an officer in the regular Navy. 
 Strict discipline was maintained and all the 
 spare time was devoted to exercising the men 
 with the great guns and small arms. Most 
 of the officers in the squadron were volun- 
 teers, natives of the West, who had never 
 had any naval experience previous to the 
 war, but it was wonderful to see how 
 quickly they accommodated themselves to 
 circumstances and what excellent officers 
 they became. Their energy and zeal was 
 equal to their courage, and many of them 
 made fine records before the war ended. . 
 The commanding officers of the divisions 
 were well qualified as instructors as well as 
 leaders, and the exploits of many of the 
 vessels, if properly set forth, would adorn 
 the pages of history. 
 
 Some of the boldest and most enterpris- 
 ing officers in the fleet were pilots and engi- 
 neers, who, leaving the steering-wheel or 
 the engine, and buckling on sword and pis- 
 tols, would start out on the most hazard- 
 ous expeditions. These officers would go 
 into action as if it were pastime, the engi- 
 neers well knowing that a single shot strik- 
 ing the boiler — which in many cases stood 
 unprotected on the deck — would scald every 
 one near it to death, and the pilots feeling 
 that they were special targets for the enemy 
 
340 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 to shoot at. To kill a pilot or an engineer 
 at his post of duty would excite as much 
 glee among the Confederates as if they had 
 gained an important victory. 
 
 The men who served in the Mississippi 
 squadron as pilots and engineers are to this 
 day ostracized by Confederate sympa- 
 thizers for their devotion to the cause of 
 their country. The pilots received neither 
 prize-money nor pension, and there are 
 some of tliem who now suffer from the 
 wounds and exposure to which they were 
 subjected. Comparatively few of them re- 
 main to read this tribute to their fidelity 
 to the cause of the Union, but those who 
 still live well know the estimation in which 
 they are held by their Commander-in-chief, 
 who has never failed to press their claims 
 on the gratitude of their country whenever 
 an opportunity occurred. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander S. L. Phelps per- 
 formed important service in tlie Tennessee 
 Eiver, his command extending from Fort 
 Henry as far up stream as his vessels could 
 ascend. He chose command of this dis- 
 trict to enable him to attend to the recon- 
 struction of the "Eastport," a vessel cap- 
 tured by him in the Tennessee after the fall 
 of Fort Henry. At the time of her cap- 
 ture the Confederates were transforming 
 the vessel into an iron-clad ram. This was 
 the '"Eastport," hitherto mentioned in our 
 narrative. 
 
 Phelps was very active in harassing the 
 enemy, and gave them no rest. His first 
 act after assuming command on the Ten- 
 nessee was to proceed from Paducah, Ky., 
 with the "Covington," "Queen City," 
 "Argosy," "Silver Cloud" and "Cham- 
 pion," up the river, destroying everything 
 on the way that could be of any use' to the 
 enemy. All boats and scows were destroyed, 
 so that communication from one bank to 
 another was pretty effectually cut off. The 
 "Covington" ascended as far as Eastport, 
 the higliest point attainable at that stage 
 of the river, offering protection to Unionists 
 and bringing out of the country those desir- 
 ing to escape conscription; for at that time 
 the enemy had strong parties going through 
 Tennessee seizing upon all the able-bodied 
 men they could find to recruit the Confeder- 
 ate army. Among these were many who 
 would not willingly have served against the 
 Union. Thus the Confederate government, 
 after dragging Tennessee out of the Union, 
 making it the theatre of war, destroying its 
 resources and reducing its people to penury, 
 gave the final stroke in the shape of con- 
 scription. The conscripts were seized and 
 bundled off pretty much as slaves were 
 transported in former days. 
 
 This was the "liberty" promised the 
 Southern people by their leaders when they 
 started on the ir wild crusade against the 
 
 Union. Had they succeeded, there would 
 have been such a depotism established in 
 this country as was never dreamed of. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Phelps deter- 
 mined to try and break up these conscription 
 raids if possible, and as he could not land 
 parties of sufficient force to cope with the 
 enemy, he made an arrangement with Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Breckenridge at Fort Henry 
 to supply a body of cavalry for the purpose. 
 
 There was a conscription party at Linden, 
 Tennessee, which had made itself particu- 
 larly odious, and it was arranged that Col- 
 onel Breckenridge should be landed with his 
 men at a certain point, and the gun-boats 
 should be spread along the river, so that the 
 troops could retreat to them in case the 
 enemy was too strong to be resisted. 
 
 The gun-boats being placed at night in 
 the positions assigned them, Phelps dropped 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER S. LEDYAHD PHELPS. 
 
 down to Decatursville. where he took on 
 board Colonel Breckenridge and fifty 
 mounted men and landed them on the op- 
 posite side of the river. 
 
 At daybreak Colonel Breckenridge reached 
 Linden, twelve miles from the river-bank, 
 and completely surprised the enemy. The 
 latter made little resistance, and only three 
 of their number were killed. These men 
 were evidently not anxious to fight them- 
 selves, but were looking for others to fight 
 in their places. 
 
 The small Union force returned to the 
 gun-boats with one lieutenant-colonel, one 
 captain, four lieutenants, and forty privates 
 as prisoners, besides fifty horses and equip- 
 ments, two transportation wagons, arms, 
 etc. The Court House, which was the ren- 
 dezvous of the conscriptors, was burned 
 with a quantity of arms and stores. The 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 341 
 
 Union party lost only a horse killed. This 
 was the end of the conscription business in 
 that quarter. 
 
 In the latter part of June, 1863, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Phelps crossed fifteen hun- 
 dred cavalry under Colonel Conger, of the 
 10th Missouri Volunteers, over the river. 
 Colonel Conger made a forced march on 
 Florence, Alabama, and captured the place 
 after a sharp engagement. The expedition 
 destroyed an immense amount of property 
 of various kinds, valued at two millions of 
 dollars, among v^hich were three large cot- 
 ton mills and magazines of corn; they also 
 captured sixty-five prisoners. 
 
 Meanwhile one hundred and fifty cavalry 
 had landed at Savannah, under cover of the 
 guns of the "Covington," intending to op- 
 erate in that neighborhood and keep open 
 communication between Colonel Conger and 
 the gun-boats. The "Forest Rose" and 
 " Robb " covered the landing opposite Ham- 
 burg. The force at Savannah had captured 
 some stock and brought it in; but on one 
 occasion, while returning from an expedi- 
 tion, the commanding officer of the party, 
 being pressed by a superior force of the 
 enemy, abandoned his captured stock and 
 barely succeeded in reaching Savannah, 
 where Lieutenant-Commander Phelps found 
 his troops covered by the " Covington." 
 
 Colonel Bissel, the Confederate com- 
 mander, had invested the town, and given 
 one hour for the removal of the women and 
 children before proceeding to the attack. 
 The answer of the two Union commanders 
 to this summons was, " Come and take it." 
 
 That night Colonel Conger arrived, and 
 the Confederates raised the siege and de- 
 parted. The same night the gun-boats 
 crossed Colonel Conger's force safely over 
 the river, during which brisk skirmishing 
 was going on, and a number of Union fami- 
 lies were taken away by the gun-boats to 
 escape the vengeance of the Confederate 
 raiders. 
 
 Large quantities of hides were carried 
 off by the gun -boats to keep them from 
 falling into the enemy's hands, for the Con- 
 federates maintained quite a large body of 
 men in the State, whose business it was to 
 collect such material as would be useful to 
 their army. 
 
 Thus the war was carried on in the region 
 
 of the Tennessee with much bitterness, the 
 Federal authorities being obliged in self- 
 defence to resort to extreme measures, and 
 to follow a system which they naturally ab- 
 horred It was found that by practicing the 
 amenities of war we only gave encourage- 
 ment to the bands of guerillas and conscrip- 
 tors to pursue their work of bloodshed and 
 rapine,so the Union forces gradually became 
 almost as indifferent to suffering as their 
 opponents. Unfortunately, this reacted in 
 many cases on those citizens who claimed to 
 be Unionists and to be willing to acknowl- 
 edge the government if they could only 
 receive protection. 
 
 This protection, however, could not 
 always be given, as we had only a certain 
 number of soldiers in the Western army, 
 which with its extended lines was taxed to 
 its utmost. It was slowly but certainly 
 making its way South, and although its 
 rear was not unprotected, yet it was not 
 always strong enough to follow up the rov- 
 ing bands of irregulars who to avoid con- 
 scription had perhaps become conscriptors 
 themselves. 
 
 Sympathizers with the Southern cause 
 may affirm that every Southerner had a 
 right to fight for life and liberty, and that 
 all combatants were entitled to be treated 
 alike, but if they could not secure what 
 they wanted by the weight of their numbers 
 or appeals to reason, they should not have 
 attempted to bring on civil war; and those 
 who were fighting to preserve law and 
 order, though themselves justified in pursu- 
 ing extreme measures to put an end to a 
 struggle which by all the rules of warfare 
 should have terminated when Vicksburg 
 fell; for the Federal government was daily 
 increasing its strength. and the Confederates 
 were fighting from foolish pride or pure 
 vindictiveness to inflict all the injury pos- 
 sible on the North. 
 
 Although the strength of our army along 
 the Tennessee and other rivers was not 
 great, it had powerful coadjutors in 
 those little gun-boats which the enemy at 
 first professed to despise, but which they 
 were anxious to avoid when circumstances 
 brought them near together. On many oc- 
 casions a few gun-boats were of more advan- 
 tage than a division of soldiers would have 
 been. 
 
343 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON. 
 
 VESSELS EMPLOYED AT VICKSBURG DURING THE SIEGE, WITH LIST OF OFFICERS. 
 
 Names of vessels, officers, etc., are obtained from the Navy Register of January, 1863, unless some other date is appended thus (1864), (1865). 
 Officers who received favorable notice in Admiral Porter's official report, dated July 13, 1863 (concerning the fall of Vicksburg and operations 
 
 on the river), are marked thus '. 
 
 FLA(J-SHIP "black-hawk" (3d RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant-Commander, K. K. Breese; Fleet-Sur- 
 geon, Ninian Pinkneyj Assistant Surgeon, J. C. 
 Bertolette; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. H. 
 Sells; Ensigns, W. B. Bridgeman, Merrill Miller, S. 
 H. Hunt and G. M. Brown; Acting Ensigns, G. D. 
 Gove, W. Wardrop, E. W. Clark, R. R. Hubbell and 
 D. P. Rosenmiller; Acting-Master's Mates, F. J. 
 Turner, P. H. Brown, James DeCamp, C. H. Porter 
 and F. D. Campbell; Engineers. G. W. Walker, 
 O. G. Ritchie, A. P. Sutherland and Frandford 
 Shepard. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "LOUISVILLE" (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant-Commander, E. K. Owen; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, W. D. Hoffman; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, D. L. Ruth; Acting-Ensigns, F. Bates; 
 J. T. Blackford, J. G. Waters and S. M. B. Servos; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, H. D. Coffenberry; Engi- 
 neers, J. B. Fulton, A. W. Hardy. C. W. Reynolds 
 and C. W. Degelman; Acting-Gunner, Wm. Shields, 
 Acting-Carpenter, D. H. Curry. (Jan., 1864.) 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " CHOCTAW" (3D RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant-Commander, F. M. Ramsay; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Wm. N. Whitehouse; Acting- 
 Master, W. A. Griswold; Acting-Ensigns, E. Bea- 
 man, W. C. Bennett, A. 8. Palmer and L. R. Ham- 
 ersly; Acting-Master's Mates, T. Hopkins and H. 
 Marsh; Engineers, JS^. P. Baldwin, O. E. Arbuthnot, 
 Joseph Blake, S. C. Babbitt and E. H. Austin; 
 Acting-Gunner, Reuben Applegate; Acting-Carpen- 
 ter, J. A. Stewart. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " LAFAYETTE " (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Captain, Henry Walke; Acting-Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant, James Laning; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 Colhns D. White ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 James P. Kelly ; Acting-Ensigns, J. L. Moran, 
 Ellas Smith and W. C. Bennet; Acting-Master's 
 Matesj H. G. Warren, C. H Slocum, H. C. Blarsh, 
 8. O. Lovell, S. R. Winram, W. P. Higbee, Thomas 
 Twitchell and Paul Morgan ; Engineers, Robert 
 Tate, A. M. Rowe, E. B. Hill and J. W. Paull; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, G. W. Price; Acting-Carpenter, C. M. 
 Underwood. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " CARONDELBT " (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenaiit, J. McLeod Murphy; Acting-Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant, E. E. Brennard; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, D. R. Brannan; Acting-Assistant Surgeon. 
 8. B. Harriman ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, F. 
 M. Hawley ; Acting Ensigns, W. E. H. Fentress, O. 
 Donaldson, J. C. Gipson, M. F. Benjamin and R. P. 
 Petty; Acting-Master's Mates, J. Bath, and C. W. 
 Miller; Engineers, C. H. Cavin, John Huff and L. 
 Fulton; Acting-Gunner, F. Beaufort. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " CHILLICOTHE " (4TH RATE). 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. P. Foster; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, J. C. Foster; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. H. Hathway ; Acting Ensigns. W. J. 
 Power and Walter Muir; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Henry Baker, H. A. Hannon and Joseph Brown; 
 Engineers, A. W. Hardy, J. G. Briggs, G. L. Kings- 
 ley, Charles Trotter and W. B. Fleming; Acting- 
 Carpenter, James C. Hall. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "PITTSBURG" (4tH RATE). 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants, *William R. Hoel 
 and J. C. Bentley; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. 
 M. Miner; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Gould; 
 Acting-Master, Charles Germain; Acting-Ensigns. 
 G. W. Paulding and G. AV. Rogers; Acting-Master's 
 
 Mates, G. W. Garlick, F. Vincent and James Ovett; 
 Engineers, S. B. Goble, G. H. Atkinson, J. L. Auble, 
 Wm. Mills and W. H. Mitchell; Acting-Gunner, Jos. 
 Simons. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "TAYLOR " (4TH RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant, Jas. M. Prichett; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. W- Ballentine; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. A. Gardner ; Acting-Master, Wm. H. 
 Minor ; Acting-Ensigns, E. Loring, C. T. Stanton, J. 
 F. Holmes and S. E. Brown; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Charles Ackley, H. S. Wetmore and Ira Athearn; 
 Engineers, James Fleming, J. R. Ramsey ; Wm. 
 Finch and B. M. Bumpus; Acting-Carpenter, A. B. 
 Chapman. 
 
 STEAMER " HASTINGS " (4TH RATE). 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, A. R. Langthorne; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, T. M. Flint; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, P. J. Stone; Acting-Master, J. 
 W. Morehead; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Turner and 
 C. H. Reed; Acting Master's Mates, E. C. Urner, 
 Frank Seymour and F. M. Clafk; Engineers, J. H. 
 Scott, Edwin Senior, Samuel Weaver, A. M. Wasson 
 and G. W. Amsden. 
 
 STEAMER " FOREST ROSE " (4TH RATE"). 
 
 * Acting-Master, Geo. M. Brown; Acting-Ensigns, 
 James Kearney and F. F. Smith; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Jacob Rutherford, J. Robinson, C. W. John- 
 son and W. B. Anderson; Engineers, Francis Marsh, 
 Edw. H. Goble and J. Lozier. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "CINCINNATI " (4TH RATE\ 
 
 *Lieutenant, George M. Bache; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, R. R. Hall; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 S. R. Hinsdale; Acting-Masters, J. Pearce and C. 
 Germaine; Acting-Ensigns, A. F. O'Neil, G. L. 
 Coleman and P. R. Starr; Acting-Masters' Mates, 
 Henry Booby, Daniel Winget and D. W. Stebbins; 
 Engineers, W. O. McFarland, Simon Shultice, Reu- 
 ben Storey and F. Hense; Acting-Gunner, J. F. 
 Ribbitt; Acting Carpenter, G. H. Stevens. 
 
 STEAMER "JULIET" (4TH RATE). 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Shaw; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Geo. W. VVinans; Acting- 
 Ensigns, W. L. Holcomb, W. C. Turner and M. K. 
 Haines; Acting-Master's Mates, Hugh Kuhl, D. F. 
 Davids and Raymond Wigand; Engineers, P. M. 
 Strickland, Joseph Bolejaek and Julius Gale. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "INDIANOLA" (4TH RATE). 
 
 ^'Lieutenant -Commander, George Brown; Acting- 
 Ensigns, J. A. Yates, W. S. Pease and Thomas 
 Mc Eleven ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Thomas 
 Carstairs; Acting-Master's Mates", P. W. Frost, W. 
 8. Ward, James Williams, Gardner Phipps and L. 
 Kenney ; Engineers, Thomas Doughty, David 
 Hawksworth, W. B. Hovey, G. W. Voice, George 
 Wadell and Josephus Blake ; Acting-Carpenter, 
 James E. Green. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "GENERAL BRAGG " (4TH RATE). 
 
 Lieutenant, Joshua Bishop ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. A. Collins; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, J. H. Jenkins; Acting-Ensigns, T. J. McLaugh- 
 lin and Edw. F. Phelps; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Alex. Lee, John Lawson and John Ackley; Engi- 
 neers, Oliver Titcomb, E. W. Andrews and Joseph 
 Anderson; Acting-Gunner, Lewis Dawson; Acting- 
 Carpenter, L. D. Johnston. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "MOUND CITY" (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant, Byron Wilson; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, R. Cadwallader; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR 
 
 343 
 
 B. J. Donohue; Acting Ensigns, James Martin, F. 
 T. Coleman, S. B. Coleman and DeWayne Stebbins; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, R. V. Lamport; Engineers, 
 Edw. Merriman, R. M. Gardiner, A. N. Derby, 
 Blihu Stephens and J. N. Hartnett; Gunner, Her- 
 man Peters. 
 
 STEAMER " GENERAL PRICE " (4TH RATE). 
 
 *Acting-Lieutenant, S. B. Woodworth (1863); Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, George Harvey; Acting- Assis- 
 tant Paymaster, J. W. McLellan; Acting-Ensigns, G. 
 W. Pratt, J. H. Seeverand D. P. Bosewortli; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, D. McKay and Peter Barclay; 
 Engineers, D. E. Weaver, W. H. Coulter, Alex. 
 Campbell, J. B. Baldwin and R. A. Kyle. 
 
 STEAMER "MARMORA" (4TH RATE). 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Robert Getty; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Fayette Clapp; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, G. S. Sproston; Acting-Master, 
 Elias Reese: Acting-Ensigns, Edw. Alford, H. H. 
 Walker, Elliot Callender and Edward Morgan ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Foster, D. B. Lawrence 
 and D. C. Bond; Engineer, G. W. Smith, W. C. 
 Armstrong and J. 8. Armstrong. 
 
 STEAMER "CRICKET " (4TH RATE). 
 
 Acting-Master, A. R. Langthorne; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, H. A. Bodman; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, S. T. Savage; Acting-Ensign, J. W. Morehead; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, B. C. Hubbell, Wm. Gregg 
 and W. O. Stephenson; Engineers, B. Hand, David 
 Chillas and George Shipley. 
 
 STEAMER " ROMEO " (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, J. V. Johnston; 
 {Admiral's Report, '80) Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. 
 S. McNeely; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. R. Maf- 
 fat; Acting-Ensigns, J. B. Dwyer, Pat.Murphy, Rob- 
 ert P. Smith and Eugene Zimmermian; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. E. Ernest, R. P. Shaw and G. C. Cox ; 
 Engineers, J. McCurdy, Joseph Grippen and J. P. 
 WilUams. 
 
 STEAMER " BATTIER " (4tH RATE). 
 
 *Acting Master, W. E. Fentress; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. H. Wilson; Acting-Master, W. E. H. 
 Fentriss; Acting-Ensigns, G. S. West, Wm. Fergu- 
 son and John Bath; Acting-Master's Mates, H. B. 
 Church, Daniel Welsh and 8. H. Strunk; Engineers, 
 James Whitaker, Jefferson Bell and A. J. Bashloe; 
 Acting-Gunner, T. Carpenter. 
 
 MAIL-BOAT "new national" (4tH RATE). 
 
 Acting - Masters, Alexander M. Grant and Os- 
 car H. Pratt ; Acting-Ensign, J. Hill; Acting- 
 Masters' Mate, W. C. Herron ; Engineers, W. H. 
 Price, James Wilkins and E. C. Rensford. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " BENTON "(4TH RATE). 
 
 *Lieutenant-Commander, James A. Greer; Acting- 
 Master, G. P. Lord; *Ensign, J. F. Reed; Acting- 
 Ensigns, C. A. Wright, J. M. Walker, W. J. Lees 
 and Frank Reed; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. 
 G. Lowndes: Acting-Master's Mates, E. C. Brennan 
 and W. H. Lemassena; Engineers, J. V. Starr, C. 
 W. Fairfowl, R. Hoffman, C. W. Ridgely, Robert 
 Long and Oliver Bragg; Gunner, N. B. Willetts ; 
 Carpenter, R. Blackford. 
 
 HOSPITAL-SHIP " RED ROVER." 
 
 Acting-Master, W. R. Welles; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. N. Pearson ; Acting-Ensign, Wm. 
 Harris; Acting-Master's Mates, C. King and F. Lowe; 
 Engineers, W. J. Buffington, G. W. Gimbeo, W. 
 O. Logne, Julius EUter and J. A. Goodloe; Acting- 
 Carpenter, H. Kenney; Acting-Assistant Surgeons, 
 George H. Bixby and George Hopkins (Jan. 1864). 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "TUSCCMBIA." 
 
 *Lieutenant-Commander, James W. Shirk; Assis- 
 tant Paymaster, George A. Lyon; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Lewis Kenny and E. M. Clark; Engineers, John 
 W. Hartupee, Perry South and William J. Mil- 
 ligan. 
 
 TUG ''IVY." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, E. C. Boss; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 S. H. Carson; Engineers, A. Miller and E. Cal- 
 lahan. 
 
 STEAMER " W. H. BROWN " (4tH RATE). 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. A. French; Act- 
 ing-Ensign, J. B. Hawthorne ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Jacob Shinn and William Cassidy; Engi- 
 neers, G. L. Scott and Geo. W. Taylor. 
 
 TUG "laurel." 
 Engineers, Acting- Second -Assistant, N. Mier- 
 stang, and Acting-Third Assistant O. Rosebush. 
 
 TUG "dahlia." 
 Acting-Ensign, Thomas Wright; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, W. H. Strope ; Engineers, B. Nannah and 
 H. Sullivan. 
 
 TUG "pansy." 
 Acting-Ensign, D. C. Bowers ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, 8. Johnson ; Acting-Second-Assistant En- 
 gineers, J. W. Lindsey and F. H. Majors. 
 
 STEAMER "GREAT WESTERN" (POWDER VESSEL.) 
 
 *Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. F. Hamilton; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Jos. 8. Harvey; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. C. Little ; Acting-Ensign, Richard 
 Ellis; Acting-Master's Mates, L. F. Knapp and R. 
 Mitchell ; Engineers, Chas. Christopher, Joseph. 
 Goodwin, B. A. Farmer and G. 8. Baker; Acting- 
 Gunner, Robert Sherman; Acting-Carpenter, Joseph 
 Morton. 
 
 STEAMER "JUDGE TORRKNCE " (POWDER VESSEL). 
 
 * Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant J. F. Richardson; 
 Acting-Ensign, Jeremiah Irwin; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, James Ross ; Engineers, P. R. Hartwig, J. 
 Stough, John C. Barr and W. Y. Sedman. 
 
 MORTAR BOATS. 
 
 Commanded by Gunner * Eugene Mack, after- 
 wards by ^Ensign Miller. 
 
 VESSELS EMPLOYED AT OTHER POINTS ON THE 
 RIVER (1863-5). 
 
 Steamer "Peosta" (4th rate).— Acting-Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant, T. E. Smith (1864). 
 
 Steamer "Kenwood" (4th rate). — Acting-Master 
 John Swaney (1864). 
 
 Steamer "Paw-Paw" (4th rate). — Acting-Master A. 
 
 F. Thompson (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Conestoga " (4th rate). — Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander * T. O. Selfridge. 
 
 Steamer "Argosy" (4th rate). — Acting-Ensign J. C. 
 Morong (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Alexandria" (4th rate). — Acting-Master 
 D. P. Rosenmiller (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Fairplay " (4th rate).— Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Le Roy Fitch (1863j; Acting-Master Geo. 
 
 G. Groves (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Fawn ' (4th rate). — Acting-Master J. R. 
 Grove (1863 1. 
 
 Steamer " Silver Cloud" (4th rate). — Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant A. F. O'Neil (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Silver Lake" (;4th rate). — Acting-Master 
 J. C. Coyle (1864-5). 
 
 Steamer " Springfield " (4th rate). — Acting-Master 
 Joseph Watson (1864;; Acting-Master Edward 
 Morgan (1865;. 
 
 Steamer " Victory '■ (4th rate). — Ensign Frederick 
 Read (1864-5). 
 
 Steamer "Champion" (4th rate). — Acting- Master 
 Alfred Phelps (1864). 
 
 Steamer "Curlew" (4th rate.) — Acting-Ensign H. 
 A. B. O'Neil (1864). 
 
 Steamer "Little Rebel," (4th rate). — Acting-Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant T. B. Gregory; Acting Ensiga 
 J. B. Petts (1865). 
 
344 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Steamer " Signal". — * Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, 
 C. Dominey (1863) ; Acting-Ensign W. P. Lee 
 (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Covington." — Acting- Volunteer- Lieuten- 
 ant."—* J. S. Hurd (1863 ; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant George P. Lord (1864'. 
 
 Steamer "Robb."—* Ensign W. C. Handford; Act- 
 ing-Ensign Lloyd Thomas (1864). 
 
 Steamer "New Era." — * Acting Master J. C. Bren- 
 ner; Acting-Master John Marshall (1864). 
 
 Steamer "Romeo.' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 J. V. Johnstone ; Acting-Master Thomas Bald- 
 win (1864 . 
 
 Steamer " Petrel.'' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 * John Pierce; Acting-Master Thomas McElroy 
 (1804 . 
 
 Steamer " Linden." — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 *T. E. Smith; Acting-Master T. M. Farrell 1864). 
 
 Steamer " Prairie Bird. " — Acting- Volunteer- Lieu- 
 tenant *E. C. Brennard (1863 1; Acting-Ensign 
 J. W. Chambers (1864\ 
 
 Steamer " Queen Cit-y.''— Acting- Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant *J. (roudv (1803 ; Acting- Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant G. W. Brown (1864 . 
 
 Steamer " Sybil.' — Lieutenant-Commander J. G. 
 Mitchell (1865). 
 
 Steamer " Neosho.'' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 Samuel Howard (1864). 
 
 Steamer " Moose." — Lieutenant-Commander LeRoy 
 Fitch (1864'. 
 
 Steamer ' Ouichita." — Acting-Ensign E. Zimmer- 
 man (1804). 
 
 Steamer "Osage." — Acting-Master Thomas Wright 
 (1864\ 
 
 Steamer "Reindeer." — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 H. A. Glassford (1864>. 
 
 Steamer "St. Clair.' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 J. S. Hurd; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. B. 
 Gregory 1804). 
 
 Steamer "Lexington." — Lieutenant G. M. Baehe 
 (1804'. 
 
 Steamer "Naumkeag."— Actmg-Master John Rogers 
 (1864 . 
 
 Steamer "Port Hindman." — Acting- Volunteer- Lieu- 
 tenant J. Pearce U864>. 
 
 Steamer "Winnebago.'" — Building at St. Louis 
 (1864\ 
 
 Steamer "Tensas" (4th rate\ -Acting-Ensign E. 
 C. Van Pelt (1864-5). 
 
 Steamer " Gen. Pillow " (4th rate\ — Acting-Ensign 
 Joseph Moyer. 
 
 Tug " Fern.''— Acting-Ensign Alpheus Sempies; 
 Acting-Ensign J. M. Kelly (1864 . 
 
 Tug "Mistletoe."— Acting-Ensign W. H. H. Ford 
 a863); Jas. M. (^iuigley (1864). 
 
 Tug "Mignonette." — Acting- Ensign E. S. Hamlin 
 (1863 ; Acting-Ensign H^ D. Green ,1864 . 
 
 Tug "Myrtle." — Second Assistant-Engineer Thomas 
 Guernsey (1863 ; Acting-Ensign J. N. tJoldsmith 
 (1864 . 
 
 Tug "Hyacinth." — Acting-Ensign J. B. Heizerman 
 (1863-41. 
 
 Tug "Thistle." — Acting-Ensign P. H. Timmons; 
 Acting-Ensign R. E. Ettingham '1864\ 
 
 Tug " Daisy."— Acting-Ensign D. C. Bowers (1833-4). 
 
 Despatch Steamer "Gen. Lyon." — Pilot R. E. 
 Birch. 
 
 Steamer ' ' Brilliant. '' — Acting- Volu nteer- Lieuten- 
 ant C. G. Perkins 1 18641. 
 
 Tug "Lilly."— Acting-Ensign R. H. Smith. 
 
 Steamer " Vindicator." — Acting-Volunteer-Lieuten- 
 ant H. H. Gorringe il865'. 
 
 Iron-clad " Essex." — Commander Robert Townsend 
 (1864 ; Commander Andrew Bryson 1865 . 
 
 Steamer " Ozark."— Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 G. W. Brown 1865\ 
 
 Steamer " Chickasaw.' ^Building at St Louis 
 (1864 . 
 
 Steamer " Kickapoo.'" — Building at St. Louis 1864 . 
 
 Steamer "Milwaukee.'' — Building at St. Louis 
 (1864 . 
 
 Steamer " Tawah." — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 Jason Goudy (1864 . 
 
 Steamer "Key west." — Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant 
 E. M. King 11804'. 
 
 Steamer "Exchange.' — While commanding "Cov- 
 ington." See page 18. ) * Acting- Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant J. S. Hurd (1864'; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant J. C. Gipson U805'. 
 
 Steamer " Gazelle."— Acting-Ensign A. S. Palmer 
 (1863'. 
 
 Steamer "Avenger.'' — Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 C. A. Wright vl865 . 
 
 Steamer "Elfin." 
 
 Steamer "Naiad." — Acting- Master Henry T. Keene 
 (1805). 
 
 Steamer "Nymph.'' — Acting-Master Patrick Don- 
 nelly. 
 
 Steamer " Undine.'' 
 
 Steamer "Siren." — Acting-Master James Fitzpat- 
 rick (1865'. 
 
 Steamer "Huntress." — Acting-Master John L. Den- 
 nis (1865). 
 
 Steamer "Peri." — Acting - Master T. M. Farrell 
 (1805). 
 
 Store ship "Sovereign." — Acting- Master Thomas 
 Baldwin. 
 
 Steamer " Glide." — Acting-Lieutenant S. E. Wood- 
 worth. 
 
 Iron clad "Eastport." — Lieutenant-Commander S. 
 L. Phelps (1864 . 
 
 Steamer "Tennessee.'" — Lieutenant-Commander E. 
 P. Lull (1865'. 
 
 Steamer "Gen. Burnside."— Lieutenant Moreau 
 Forest (1865). 
 
 Steamer " Gen. Thomas.'' — Acting-Master Gilbert 
 Morton 1865 . 
 
 Steamer "General Sherman."' — Acting-Master J. W. 
 Morehead (1805\ 
 
 Steamer "General Grant." — Acting-Master Joseph 
 Watson (1865 . 
 
 Steamer "Volunteer. "—Acting- Ensign M. K. Haines 
 il805\ 
 
 Iron - clad ' ' Baron - de - Kalb. " — * Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander J. G. Walker. 
 
 VESSELS STATIONED AT CAIRO. 
 
 Inspection-ship " Abraham." — Acting- Ensign Wm. 
 Wagner. 
 
 Tug " Sampson."— Acting Ensign J. D. Buckley. 
 
 Receiving-ship "Clara Dolson.'' — Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Thomas Pattison. 
 
 Receiving-ship "Grampus.'' — Acting- Master Elijah 
 Sells a864'. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Bounds of Farragut's Command up to 1863.— Operations of Farragut's Vessels on 
 THE Coast of Texas. — Gallant attack on Corpus Christi by Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant Kittredge. — Galveston, Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi fall into the 
 Federal hands. — An Expedition of the Army and Navy defeated at Sabine Pass. 
 — Farragut blockades Red River in the " Hartford." — Capture of the "Diana " 
 by the Confederates. — Loss of the Union Gun-boat " Barrataria." — Destruction 
 OF the " Queen-of-the-West " by Lieutenant-Commander A. P. Cooke. — Farra- 
 gut relieved from Command in the Mississippi, May 7th. 1863. — Expedition 
 UP Red River under Lieutenant-Commander Hart. — Farragut arrives below 
 Port Hudson, and Commences Active Operations against that Place. — Attack 
 
 ON DONALDSONVILLE BY CONFEDERATE GENERAL GrEEN. — HiS ReTREAT UNDER THE 
 FIRE OF THE GUN BOAT "PRINCESS RoYAL." — ATTACK OF CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY ON 
 
 THE Gun-boat " New London." — Gallant Conduct of Lieutenant-Commander Geo. 
 H. Perkins. — Death of Commander Abner Reed. — Rejoicing of the Army and 
 Navy at New Orleans on hearing of the Fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson.— 
 General Remarks. 
 
 WHILE Flag-officer Farragut 
 was engaged in the operations 
 before Vicksburg, down to the 
 time when he passed the bat- 
 teries at Port Hudson, many 
 events occurred in the fleet which have not 
 been mentioned heretofore, as it could not 
 have been done without interrupting the 
 narrative of current events. 
 
 Farragut's command up to May, 1863, in- 
 cluded the Mississippi River as far as 
 Vicksburg, and all its tributaries below ; 
 also the coasts of Louisiana, Florida and 
 Texas, extending from Pensacola on the 
 east to the mouth of the Rio Grande, in- 
 cluding that network of bays, streams, in- 
 lets, bayous, sounds, and island groups 
 which extends from the mouth of the Mis- 
 sissippi as far west as Sabine Pass, and the 
 difficult bars and channels leading to Gal- 
 veston, Matagorda and Corpus Christi, 
 where none but the smallest vessels could 
 enter, and which afforded safe refuges for 
 blockade-runners during the entire war. 
 
 This coast, with its indentations, is over 
 600 miles in length, and had to be guarded 
 with great care to prevent supplies reaching 
 the Confederates through the numerous 
 gates leading into Louisiana and Texas. 
 The Federal officers had to exercise great 
 
 watchfulness in guarding against the 
 people they had to contend with, for they 
 were a brave, hardy set of men, regardless 
 of danger, and amply supplied with small- 
 arms and field-artillery to withstand any 
 attack that could be made upon them by 
 the combined forces of our Army and 
 Navy. 
 
 The blockade of this part of the Southern 
 coast had been indifferently carried on 
 while Farragut was confined to his opera- 
 tions in the Mississippi, for it took every 
 vessel he had to control that part of the 
 river which was under his command; and 
 it was not until after the fall of Port Hud- 
 son, when the navigation of the river was 
 once more free, that the smaller vessels 
 could be spared. 
 
 All this time the Confederates on the 
 coasts of Louisiana and Texas kept up 
 active operations with their blockade- run- 
 ners, which had nothing to interfere with 
 them until August, 186:i, when Farragut 
 sent down a small force of sailing-vessels 
 and one small steamer (the " Sachem ") to 
 try and close some of the Texan ports. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant J. W. Kit- 
 tredge, with the bark " Arthur," the above- 
 mentioned steamer, and an armed launch, 
 proceeded on this duty. He captured Corpus 
 
346 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Christi and the adjacent waters, from 
 whence so many small craft had been run- 
 ning to Havana. 
 
 Lieutenant Kittredge showed not only 
 great cleverness in the performance of this 
 duty but cool courage. He had under his 
 command a small yacht (the " Corypheus ") 
 and with the aid of her crew he removed 
 some obstructions which the Confederates 
 had placed in Corpus Christi " dug-out '' 
 to protect several small schooners which 
 they had collected at that point. Lieuten- 
 ant Kittredge ran his vessel through the 
 gut and attacking one of the schooners, she 
 was soon driven ashore and burned. An- 
 other one was also set on fire by the enemy. 
 He then ran across the bay to Corpus 
 Christi, with his little flotilla following him, 
 and called upon the authorities to surrender 
 and for the military forces to evacuate the 
 town. 
 
 The Confederates set flre to a sloop on his 
 approach and asked for a truce of forty- 
 eight hours. At the end of that time they 
 refused to evacuate the place, and on Au- 
 gust 16th opened fire on Kittredge's vessel 
 from a battery planted behind the levee. 
 This was replied to with spirit by the Union 
 vessels, which kept up such an incessant 
 and accurate fire on the enemy, that they 
 were three times driven from their guns on 
 that day. At night-fall the Union forces 
 withdrew out of range. The next day the 
 Confederates set fire to a steamer that had 
 run aground and could not be moved. 
 
 On August 30th, Lieutenant Kittredge 
 went to work again on the enemy. He 
 landed a 12-pounder howitzer under com- 
 mand of Master's Mate A. H. Reynolds, 
 placed the schooner "Reindeer," Masters 
 Mate William Barker, in position to cover 
 the landing party, and proceeded to enfi- 
 lade the enemy's battery and pour shrapnel 
 and canister into his flank. 
 
 Master's Mate Reynolds moved up his 
 howitzer to within musket range, and 
 mowed the enemy down, the latter de- 
 ployed 100 infantry to the right of the land 
 party with the intention of flanking it. but 
 they were soon scattered and driven off by 
 the flre of the "Reindeer" and her consorts. 
 The Confederates then charged the 12-pound 
 howitzer with 250 men, and for a time its 
 capture seemed certain. But Lieutenant 
 Kittredge moved the " Corypheus" and 
 " Sachem " close in shore, and met the 
 enemy with so heavy a fire of canister that 
 they wavered and retreated with consider- 
 able loss. The engagement continued all 
 day, the enemy's battery was silenced and 
 the vessels shelled the town. 
 
 This was a very gallant affair, conducted 
 entirely by volunteer officers, who, although 
 they had not received a regular naval train- 
 ing, displayed as much ability as if they had. 
 
 Not having the force to hold the town, the 
 flotilla laid out in the bay and blockaded it. 
 Unfortunately the gallant Kittredge was 
 surprised and with his boat's crew captured 
 while reconnoitering. 
 
 Galveston, Sabine Pass and Corpus 
 Christi fell into the Federal hands a short 
 time afterwards; the former place being 
 captured by Commander Renshaw without 
 the loss of a man. This for a time put a 
 stop to blockade-runn ing on the Texas coast. 
 Its unfortunate recapture, the loss of the 
 " Harriet Lane" and the blowing up of the 
 " Westfield," have been already related, and 
 Galveston once more became a shelter to 
 blockade-runners, which much rejoiced the 
 hearts of our enemies in Texas. Their suc- 
 cess at thispoint fired the hearts of the Texan 
 soldiers and they assembled in large num- 
 bers along the coast, making it very danger- 
 ous to attempt any landing operations 
 without the assistance of the army, which 
 it seems was not prepared for such a pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Several unimportant affairs occurred 
 along the coast, but nothing of a very satis- 
 factory nature. 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Banks, who had relieved Gen- 
 eral Butler at New Orleans, wishing to com- 
 memorate his appointment by a signal vic- 
 tory over the enemy, proposed a combined 
 expedition against Sabine Pass, which had 
 been retaken and fortified by the enemy. 
 The defences on shore, it was supposed, con- 
 sisted only of two 32-pounders, while on the 
 water the Confederates had two steamboats 
 converted into rams. 
 
 The Army organization consisted of 4,000 
 men under General Franklin ; and Com- 
 modore H. H. Bell, who commanded the 
 naval force at New Orleans in the absence 
 of the Flag-officer, detailed Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Frederick Crocker to command 
 the naval part of the expedition, consisting 
 of the steamer " Clifton," the steamer 
 "Sachem," Volunteer - Lieutenant Amos 
 Johnson; steamer "Arizona," Acting-Mas- 
 ter H. Tibbetts, and steamer " Granite 
 City," Acting-Master C. W. Lamson. This 
 force was considered quite sufficient for the 
 purpose intended. 
 
 It was concerted with General Franklin 
 that the gun-boats should make the first 
 attack alone, led by Lieutenant Crocker, 
 assisted by 180 sharp-shooters divided 
 amongst the vessels, and after driving the 
 enemy from his defences and destroying or 
 driving off the rams, the transports were 
 to advance and land the troops. In all, 
 these vessels carried twenty-seven guns, 
 which one would suppose was enough to 
 dispose of the few guns the enemy had 
 mounted. 
 
 The attack, which was to have been a 
 surprise at early dawn, was not made until 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 347 
 
 3 P. M. on the 8th of September, 1863, 
 twenty-eight hours after the expedition had 
 appeared off the Sabine. 
 
 A reconnaissance had been made in the 
 morning by Generals Franklin and Weit- 
 zel and Lieutenant Crocker, when they de- 
 cided on a plan of attack. Commodore 
 Bell had sent two good pilots down in the 
 '• Granite City." At 3 p. m. the transports 
 were over the bar, the "Granite City" 
 leading them in, for the purpose of cover- 
 ing the landing of the troops 
 
 The '-Clifton," "Sachem" and "Arizona" 
 engaged a battery of seven guns. A shot 
 struck the boiler of the " Sachem " and she 
 was soon enveloped in steam. The "Clifton" 
 ran directly under the fort and for twenty 
 minutes fired rapidly grape, canister and 
 shell, receiving a heavy fire in return. She 
 soon afterwards got on shore, and not being 
 able to back off, hauled down her colors — 
 as did also the " Sachem." 
 
 The " Arizona " stood down the channel 
 and took her station ahead of the trans- 
 ports. She got ashore also; several of the 
 transports were aground and the " Granite 
 City " went to the support of the " Arizona," 
 which it was necessary to do, for a Con- 
 federate steamer (probably one of the rams) 
 was coming down the river. This steamer, 
 whatever she was, got the "Clifton" and 
 " Sachem " afloat and towed them up the 
 river. 
 
 The "Arizona," "Granite City " and trans 
 ports got over the bar and made the best of 
 their way to South West Pass, the army 
 having made no attempt to land. The 
 "Granite City" and "Arizona" do not 
 appear to have received any injuries, but 
 they made no attempt to rescue the two 
 steamers that had surrendered. 
 
 This was rather a melancholy expedition 
 and badly managed It resulted in the loss 
 of some twenty men killed and naany 
 wounded on board the "Clifton" and " Sach- 
 em," and was somewhat injurious to the 
 prestige of the Navy. It did not, however, 
 reflect any discredit upon the officers of the 
 "Clifton" or "Sachem." as both of these 
 vessels were gallantly fought. 
 
 This affair, with some minor matters, 
 ended the operations of the West Gulf block- 
 ading squadron on the coast up to Septem- 
 ber, 1863. The latter year had not been as 
 successful as the one previous, yet the 
 squadron did a great deal of hard work and 
 its officers were engaged in scenes where 
 they gained reputation, and the Union flag 
 was in no ways dimmed. 
 
 After Farragut had passed Port Hudson 
 with the "Hartford " and "Arizona," he was 
 quite isolated from the rest of his squad- 
 ron, but was finally re-enforced by the gun- 
 boat "Estrella," which worked its way up 
 throusrh the Atchafalava into the Red 
 
 River and joined the other vessels at its 
 mouth, at the same time running the risk 
 of being mistaken for a Confederate ram 
 and getting a broadside from her consorts. 
 
 Farragut might have run past Port Hud- 
 son with his vessels in the night without 
 firing a gun or receiving a shot, but he was 
 doing more good where he was. Port Hud- 
 son was completely cut off from supplies 
 via Red River, and the two gun -boats could 
 patrol it perfectly fifty or more miles up, 
 and prevent any supplies from being sent 
 overland to the side of the river opposite 
 Port Hudson. 
 
 It was now simply a case of starving out 
 the garrison, for there seemed no prospect 
 of the place being taken by the Army, for 
 as late as May 8th, 1863, General Banks 
 marched a large portion of his army to 
 Alexandria, La., at the very time he should 
 have been closely besieging Port Hudson. 
 For what purpose he marched no one could 
 ever discern, for the gun-boats under Ad- 
 miral Porter had arrived there before him, 
 taken possession of and destroyed the de- 
 fences along the river, and opened it so 
 thoroughly that there was no danger of its 
 being closed against the Federal vessels. 
 
 While Farragut was away up the Missis- 
 sippi, after the passage of Port Hudson, 
 Commodore Morris was left in charge at 
 New Orleans with directions to co-operate 
 with the military commander at that place, 
 and perform all the duties which would have 
 devolved upon the Flag-officer had he been 
 present in person. 
 
 Some of the expeditions fitted out by 
 Commodore Morris, and later by Commo- 
 dore Bell, properly belong to this history, as 
 showing the numerous duties performed by 
 the Navy, and also that, notwithstanding 
 Farragut was not at New Orleans himself 
 to conduct matters, his orders were carried 
 out, and there was the heartiest co-opera- 
 tion between the Armv and Navy. 
 
 On the 28th of March the " Diana," Act- 
 ing-Master Thos. L. Peterson, was sent into 
 Grand Lake on a reconnaissance, with 
 Lieutenant Allen, U. S. A., of General 
 Weitzel's staff, and two companies of in- 
 fantry on board. She was ordered to pro- 
 ceed down the Atchafalaya River as far as 
 the mouth of the Teche and return by the 
 lake. 
 
 Disobeying this order, Acting-Master 
 Peterson attempted to return to Berwick 
 Bay by the way of Atchafalaya. After pass- 
 ing the mouth of the Teche he was attacked 
 from shore by field-pieces and sharp-shoot- 
 ers. The men fought well, and the action 
 lasted two hours and three-quarters. The 
 captain of the " Diana" was killed early in 
 the action, and his executive officer, Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate Thomas G. Hall, was mor- 
 tallv wounded ; also Master's Mate Geo. C. 
 
348 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Dolliver and Engineer Jas. McNally, leav- 
 ing only one officer (Master's Mate Charles 
 P. Weston), who carried on the fight and 
 behaved most admirably. The tiller-ropes 
 were shot away and the engine disabled 
 so that the " Diana " became unmanageable 
 and drifted ashore, when it was impossible 
 to longer defend her. 
 
 As soon as the firing was heard at the 
 bay, the " Calhoun," Acting-Master M. Jor- 
 dan, was sent into the lake to ascertain the 
 cause of it. She arrived at the mouth of the 
 Atchafalaya, where she grounded and re- 
 mained until midnight. 
 
 Several of the crew of the " Diana " had 
 escaped, and they informed the command- 
 ing officer of the "Calhoun" that the 
 " l3iana " had been captured near Peterson- 
 ville. Acting Master Jordan threw over- 
 board part of his ballast, his coal, provi- 
 sions, and even ammunition, and finally 
 reached the bay at 2 a. m. ; but the 
 " Diana " was a prize to the enemy. 
 
 Another of the United States vessels was 
 lost a short time after, the " Barrataria," 
 Acting-Ensign Jas. T. Perkins, at the 
 moutli of the Amite River, on Lake Mari- 
 posa She was on a reconnaissance with 
 some army officers in Lake Mariposa, 
 intending to examine the moutli of the 
 Amite River. The pilot stated that there 
 was always five feet of water there, but the 
 vessel struck on a sunken snag and stuck 
 fast. Everything possible was being done 
 to relieve the vessel and get her off, when 
 they were attacked by a force of concealed 
 riflemen and a brisk engagement took 
 place, in which the " Barrataria" used her 
 guns and also musketry with good effect. 
 
 There were on board the " Barrataria" 
 Colonel Clarke, Captain Gordon, Lieuten- 
 ant Ellis, and ten privates of the 6tli Michi- 
 gan Volunteers; the latter did good service 
 with their rifles. The engagement lasted 
 over half an hour, when the enemy ceased 
 firing. 
 
 Ettorts were still made to get the "Bar- 
 rataria" off, but without avail. The bow 
 gun was spiked and thrown overboard and 
 the water blown out of the boilers ; the 
 " Barrataria " still stuck fast. 
 
 Fearing that the vessel might fall into the 
 hands of tlie enemy. Acting Ensign Perkins 
 got his crew and passengers into boats, and 
 after spiking all the guns, shoved off under a 
 fire of musketry from the concealed enemy. 
 Mr. Gregory, Acting - Master's Mate, who 
 was left behind to set fire to the vessel, then 
 ignited the inflammable matter and shoved 
 off in a small boat. The vessel was soon in 
 flames and shortly afterwards blew up. 
 After being assured of the vessel's destruc- 
 tion, the party made the best of its way back 
 and arrived at South Pass in safety. 
 
 In the case of the "Diana "there were 
 
 six killed and three wounded; in the case of 
 the "Barrataria" there was only one 
 wounded. Affairs of this kind were very 
 provoking and harassing to a Commander- 
 in-chief, but the officers seem to have per- 
 formed their duty faithfully. Some of them 
 died at their posts — there could be no fault 
 found with them. 
 
 The navigation through all these lakes, 
 bayous and so-called rivers was full of snags 
 and shoal places, and was of the most per- 
 plexing kind. Most of the officers in the 
 above-mentioned vessels were volunteers, 
 full of zeal and courage and anxious not to 
 have it said of them that the case would 
 have been better managed if a regular line- 
 officer had been present. Acting-Ensign 
 Perkins may have lacked a little in judg- 
 ment in pushing ahead, but when it came 
 to the point about letting his vessel fall into 
 the enemy's hands, there was nothing want- 
 ing, and he abandoned his command in open 
 boats at the risk of the lives of his crew, 
 conscious that the enemy could derive no 
 benefit from anything left behind. 
 
 A short time afterwards an expedition 
 was fitted out in Berwick Bay under Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander A. P. Cooke, who, with 
 the "Estrella" and other vessels, engaged 
 the" Queen-of-tlie-West " (formerly cap- 
 tured from Colonel C. R. Ellet), and after a 
 fight of twenty minutes destroyed her. 
 He also, a short time after, destroyed two 
 other steamers, the "Diana" and "Hart." 
 
 Farragut was relieved by Acting-Rear- 
 Admiral Porter at the mouth of the Red 
 River, May 7th. 1863, and crossing overland, 
 joined his squadron below Port Hudson. He 
 might have run by the batteries at night, but 
 the old "Hartford" he thought had been 
 subjected to enough of that kind of work, 
 and it was scarcely worth while to expose 
 her officers and crew to any more such trials, 
 especially as it was expected that Port Hud- 
 son would soon be evacuated by the enemy. 
 So Captain Palmer remained with the "Hart- 
 ford at the mouth of Red River until after 
 the fall of Port Hudson, it having been left 
 discretionary with him to pass the batteries 
 or not. 
 
 Before Farragut's departure overland he 
 had sent an expedition up the Red River to 
 co-operate with General Banks, who was 
 expected at Alexandria with a large military 
 force (he being under the impression that 
 there were military stores at this point and 
 that it was heavily fortified on the water 
 side, or would be in a short time). 
 
 There were also some other military 
 movements under consideration to discon- 
 cert General Kirby Smith (Confederate), 
 who had gone to Alexandria, so it was said, 
 to provide troops with which to reinforce 
 General Dick Taylor. Neither of these 
 generals had any idea of operating below 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 349 
 
 Alexandria, which was their natural base ; 
 for the gun-boats might get up that far very 
 easily, but would find it a difficult matter 
 to proceed further, as was proved in the 
 end. 
 
 The expedition sent by Farragut was 
 composed of the wooden gun-boats "Alba- 
 tross," " Estrella," Lieutenant-Commander 
 A. P. Cooke, and "Arizona," Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant-Commanding D. P. Upton, all 
 under Lieutenant - Commander John E. 
 Hart. It arrived off Fort de Russy on 
 May 3d, and found the enemy in the act of 
 abandoning the works and removing their 
 guns. Two steamers were engaged in this 
 duty, and two others were moored to 
 the bank alongside the earthworks, with 
 their bows down stream. Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Hart at once attacked them with 
 
 LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NOW CAPTAIN) AUGUSTUS P. 
 COOKE, U. S. N. 
 
 his broadside guns and a regular battle 
 commenced, the Confederate steamers re- 
 turning the fire promptly, and it was kept 
 up on both sides until a dense smoke envel- 
 oped the river. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Hart states that 
 the enemy had the most guns and fired shot 
 and shell with great rapidity, and certainly 
 with accuracy. The "Albatross " went into 
 action alone, but the enemy had too many 
 guns for her and she was considerably cut 
 up, and finally obliged to retire, having got 
 aground on' the very spot where the 
 " Queen-of-the-West " had been disabled 
 and captured. Hart claims that the other 
 two vessels did not assist him ; but the 
 probability is that the pilots did not think 
 
 there was room for three vessels to get into 
 action at one time, as this was the worst 
 point on the river to manage a vessel in — 
 the current ran rapidly and tlie eddies were 
 very annoying to the best pilots; besides, 
 that class of vessel was not at all suited for 
 this work. 
 
 The "Albatross" lost two killed, one being 
 the pilot, Mr. J. B. Hamilton, and four 
 wounded — a small number, considering that 
 her commander reported such a severe en- 
 gagement. 
 
 The Confederate steamers carried off the 
 guns, but left a large raft across the river 
 to obstruct the passage. The Confederate 
 commanders had already heard of the ar- 
 rival at the mouth of the river of a large 
 force of iron-clads, and of the advance of 
 Bank's Army, and their object now was to 
 get the guns to Shreveport. All idea of 
 fortifying Alexandria was abandoned and 
 two or three days afterwards the place sur- 
 rendered to Rear-Admiral Porter without 
 any resistance. 
 
 On Farragut's arrival below Port Hudson 
 he again commenced operations against 
 that place, in conjunction with General 
 Banks, who, as he reported, had the forts 
 closely invested. 
 
 Farragut furnished a breaching-battery 
 of four 9-inch guns, under Lieutenant 
 Terry, and the army mounted four 24- 
 pounders. These guns were kept firing day 
 and night to harass the enemy, and also 
 when tlie Confederates opened fire upon the 
 Federal troops. The mortar schooners also 
 kept up a continuous fire upon the interior 
 of the works, to distress the enemy as much 
 as possible. 
 
 It was expected that Port Hudson would 
 hold out as long as Vicksburg did, for the 
 officers of the fort declared that they would 
 never surrender as long as that stronghold 
 remained to them. 
 
 In the meantime the enemy were as- 
 sembling quite a large force from Texas, 
 under a very clever leader (General Green). 
 Demonstrations liad been made by this 
 party against Donaldsonville, but they 
 were driven off by the fire of the gun- 
 boats, and finally settled down in Brashear 
 City to await the arrival of their main body 
 of troops from Texas. The object of this 
 raid was no doubt to raise the siege of Port 
 Hudson, or draw off enough of General 
 Banks' troops to enable the garrison to 
 evacuate that place. 
 
 As soon as Admiral Farragut heard of 
 these Confederate movements he went 
 down the river to attend to affairs person- 
 ally, and placed the gun-boats where they 
 would do the most good. Unfortunately, 
 there was only one vessel (the "Princess 
 Royal," Commander M. B. Woolsey) sta- 
 tioned at Donaldsonville, the place the en- 
 
350 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 emy was marching to attack, but this officer 
 was equal to the emergency. 
 
 About noon on the 27th of June, hearing 
 the long roll beaten in the fort where the 
 Federal troops were assembled, he sent to 
 inquire the cause, and was informed that 
 General Green had written a letter to the 
 commander of the post to notify the women 
 and children of the town to remove three 
 miles outside of it, as it was his intention 
 to attack the place. A reply was sent back 
 by the flag's truce notifying the Confederate 
 general that the inhabitants would be duly 
 warned. Commander Woolsey got under 
 way early in the evening — his vessel 
 cleared for action — ready to take any posi- 
 tion that might be required of him. At 
 midnight a red light was burned in the fort 
 (the pre-arranged signal denoting that the 
 enemy was in motion), and at a little past 
 1 A.M. tlie Confederates attacked the Federal 
 post with musketry, whicli the latter re- 
 turned with great guns. At the same mo- 
 ment the '• Princess Royal " opened on the 
 enemy, in a wood to the right of the fort, 
 with shells, and also fired shells over the 
 fort up the bayou for the pui-pose of disturb- 
 ing troops that were in the rear. 
 
 Finding that the enemy was pressing 
 upon the water-side of the fort for the pur- 
 pose of assaulting it, the ''Princess Royal'" 
 sheered close in to the levee and kept up a 
 rapid fire of shrapnel and canister from all 
 her guns until 2 a. m.. when the smoke be- 
 came so dense tliat it was impossible to see 
 the ffirt from tlie steamer. Commander 
 Woolsey then stood up the river twu hun- 
 dred yards and continued his fire upon the 
 enemy, who were in a wood north of and at 
 a distance of four hundred yards from the 
 Federal fort. Their position was indicated 
 bj^ their yelling, as the flashes of their guns 
 could not be seen for the smoke. 
 
 The " Princess Royal "then stood up river 
 for an opening in the levee which her com- 
 mander remembered, and when abreast of 
 it, he poured in upon the enemy grape and 
 canister at point-blank range and enfiladed 
 them. 
 
 The enemy then attacked the steamer 
 with rifles and she turned down river and 
 presented her other broadside. The enemj^ 
 opened on her from tlie town, wlien Com- 
 mander Woolsey fired one broadside up the 
 main street and another one up the north 
 side of the bayou. He then stood up stream 
 again and took position to enfilade the 
 north side of the fort. In fact this flying 
 battery of heavy guns seemed to be every- 
 where at tlie same time, disconcerting all 
 the plans of the Confederate general, who 
 had evidently placed his men expecting to 
 have an easy victory. 
 
 This fire was kept up until 3.30 a. m., 
 while the Confederate riflemen returned it 
 
 so steadily that the men of the " Princess 
 Royal " had several times to lie flat on the 
 deck until the line of fire was passed. 
 
 At about 4 a. m., the yelling of the Con- 
 federates ceased and their fire slackened, 
 and shortly afterwards cheers went up 
 from the Federal ramparts. 
 
 At this moment the gun-boat "Winona," 
 Lieutenant - Commander A. W. Weaver, 
 joined in the engagement, and continued 
 in it until the end. 
 
 At daylight the American flag floated 
 gaily over the fort — none of its stars dim- 
 med. General Green and his army re- 
 treated and left Donaldsonville in peace. 
 One hundred and twenty of the Confeder- 
 ates got inside of the fort, and were cap- 
 tured and distributed among the different 
 vessels for safe-keeping. 
 
 Take it altogether, this was a handsome 
 affair. There is no knowing what might 
 have happened had it not been for the 
 skill . with which the naval steamer was 
 handled and the bravery of her commander, 
 officers and crew, who at times fought their 
 guns lying on the deck, which they were 
 obliged to do to escape the riflemen's uner- 
 ring aim. 
 
 What vessels remained of the mortar flo- 
 tilla had been for three months in front of 
 Port Hudson bombarding that place, and 
 the vessels, with their commanders, officers 
 and crews were spoken of by those who 
 witnessed their work in the most enthusi- 
 astic manner. Xot only naval officers, but 
 officers of the Army who witnessed the 
 practice, acknowledged the efficiency of 
 the mortar-shells when managed by intelli- 
 gent officers and men. And yet a high 
 official, whose duty it was to perform a fair 
 and impartial ])art towards ever}' officer 
 and man in the Navy, attempted to depreci- 
 ate the services of this gallant little flotilla 
 that had more than once helped Army and 
 Navy on to victi.irv. 
 
 Admiral Farragut on June 3d, 1863, rec- 
 ommended for promotion a young Ensign 
 (Adams) wlio had commanded one of the 
 mortar vessels (the "Orvieto'") at Port 
 Hudson, at the same time calling the atten- 
 tion of tlie department to his heroism, en- 
 durance and obstinate determination to 
 hold his ground until compelled by his com- 
 mander to fall back, when his vessel was 
 being cut to pieces. 
 
 The last affair of any importance that 
 took place in the river before July 10th, 
 18(13, was the attack of some Confederate 
 field batteries upon the U. S. steamer " New 
 London," Lieutenant - Commander G. H. 
 Perkins. 
 
 The " New London " was on her way from 
 Port Hudson, having on board a bearer of 
 dispatches from General Banks, announcing 
 the unconditional surrender of that place. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 351 
 
 On his arrival at Donaldsonville, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Perkins was directed to 
 proceed to New Orleans, the "Winona" 
 to accompany him past some batteries at 
 Whitehall Point. 
 
 At 1 o'clock, A. M., as the " New London" 
 was passing this point, the enemy opened 
 on her with artillery and musketry. The 
 third shell entered one of the boilers, and 
 exploding, made seven holes in a line with 
 the upward flues, scalding six persons 
 severely. Another perforated the steam- 
 drum, and the vessel was disabled and en- 
 veloped in steam. The Captain put the ves- 
 sel's head toward the eastern shore, but the 
 steam escaped so rapidly that the men 
 could not stay at the wheel and the " New 
 London " grounded under the battery. A 
 rocket was sent up to call the attention of 
 the " Winona " that she might come to the 
 assistance of her consort, but she was not 
 in sight. The port battery was manned 
 and commenced playing on the opposite 
 shore where the Confederates were posted. 
 The Are of the enemy's batteries was very 
 severe, and though it was night their range 
 was improving all the time. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Perkins lowered 
 all his boats and got kedges out astern to 
 haul his vessel off the bottom, which he 
 succeeded in doing, and drifted down the 
 river until out of range of the upper batter- 
 ies. The principal battery being below, 
 Lieutenant-Commander Perkins towed the 
 " New London" with his boats to the east 
 bank and made her fast During this oper- 
 ation, a continuous fire was kept up by the 
 enemy's infantry upon the boats and also 
 on the vessel. It was nearly daylight and 
 the Union commander, expecting a re- 
 newed attack by the enemy, sent his men 
 on shore under cover of the levee to guard 
 against it. Pickets were stationed up and 
 down the river and messengers sent to Don- 
 aldsonville to state the condition of affairs, 
 and also down the river to obtain the assist- 
 ance of the iron-clad "Essex" and steam- 
 sloop " Monongahela. " 
 
 The messengers returned from Donald- 
 sonville, stating that no assistance could be 
 rendered, and the two couriers from below 
 returned with the unsatisfactory news that 
 the "Essex" and "Monongahela" could 
 not be found. 
 
 This was not the kind of an answer the 
 Army would have received from the Navy 
 if the general in command had made a 
 requisition for gun-boats when attacked by 
 the Confederates. It was not the kind of 
 message Commander Woolsey sent from 
 the "Princess Royal" when the post at 
 Donaldsonville was attacked by General 
 Green, who with his large force would 
 have carried the works but for the tremen- 
 dous enfilading fire of the Federal gun-boat. 
 
 But General Weitzel was in command at 
 Donaldsonville and he did not seem to 
 think a gun-boat of much importance, or 
 perhaps did not think it prudent to weaken 
 his garrison while there were Confederate 
 field-pieces in the neighborhood. 
 
 But Lieutenant - Commander Perkins, 
 knowing that the Confederates would at- 
 tack him at night with a force he could not 
 resist, determined to go and convince Gen- 
 eral Weitzel of the necessity there was for 
 sending troops to the assistance of his ves- 
 sel, and succeeded in doing so; but on re- 
 turning to the place where he had left the 
 " New London," he found her gone. Dur- 
 ing his absence, which was only of two 
 hours' duration, the "Essex" and "Mo- 
 nongahela" had come up the river and towed 
 the " New London " down ! 
 
 The Confederates did not easily relinquish 
 what no doubt they considered a certain 
 prize. They contested the passage of the 
 "Essex" and "Monongahela" with much 
 determination, and the infantry even stood 
 up for some time against the fire of the 
 heavy guns of three vessels; but they were 
 scattered by grape, canister and shrapnel, 
 which proved too much for them. 
 
 This affair was well managed by Lieu- 
 tenant - Commander Perkins, who did all 
 that lay in his power to prevent his vessel 
 falling into the eneiny's hands; displaying 
 cool judgment and bravery through all. 
 Some officers under the circumstances 
 might have abandoned the gun-boat in the 
 night, and escaped in the boats after setting 
 fire to her; but Perkins preferred to use his 
 boats to tow her out of range of the en- 
 emy's guns until he could obtain assistance, 
 which by his perseverance he succeeded in 
 doing. Farragut blamed him for leaving 
 his ship to go after assistance himself. No 
 doubt the j^rinciple that every commanding 
 officer should be the last man to leave his 
 vessel, is the right one, but here there was 
 no danger of capture in his absence, as the 
 enemy was on the opposite shore and could 
 not reach his vessel in the short time that 
 he was away from her. 
 
 The last of the reports from Admiral 
 Farragut to the Navy Department, pub- 
 lished in the year 1863, conveyed the mel- 
 ancholy news of the death of Commander 
 Abner Reed of the "Monongahela." He 
 was mortally wounded by a rifle-shell while 
 passing the batteries, twelve miles below 
 Donaldsonville, and Farragut says of him: 
 "Commander Reed was one of the most 
 enterprising and gallant officers in my 
 squadron, and the very mention of his 
 name was a source of terror to the Confed- 
 erates — the country could well have spared 
 a better man." No higher eulogium was 
 ever passed upon any officer, and it should 
 be recorded in history. 
 
362 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Captain T. A. Jenkins, who was on board, 
 was severely wounded. 
 
 Tliis brings the narrative of events up to 
 July 28th, 1863. 
 
 The news of the surrender of Vicksburg 
 had been received in New Orleans, and that 
 of Port Hudson immediately followed. 
 
 The Father of Waters flowed peacefully 
 to the sea. free and untrammelled. The 
 great chain of slavery was broken, never 
 to be again united. The work of setting 
 free the great artery of the North and 
 South, so essential to our nationality, had 
 been accomplished, and the foul blot of 
 human slavery had disappeared forever 
 from our escutcheon. The squadrons of the 
 Upper and Lower Mississippi had shaken 
 
 ,»i* 
 
 COMMANDER ABNEK REED 
 
 hanas in New Orleans, and the great high- 
 way between Cincinnati and the Queen 
 City of the South was once more open to 
 commerce with the North and with foreign 
 countries. The power of the United States 
 Government had been restored and its au- 
 thority vindicated in more than half the 
 territory claimed by the insurgents. 
 
 It is to be hoijed that the future millions 
 who Avill dwell along the banks of these 
 mighty waters, which were emancipated 
 by tJie valor of the Army and Navy, will 
 not withhold a due share of credit to the 
 officers and men of the Navy, who per- 
 formed their important part in those 
 eventful times with such an unflinching de- 
 votion to the Union. 
 
 A quarter of a century has passed away 
 
 since the events took place which are here 
 narrated. Many of the men who figured 
 in those scenes have been overtaken by age, 
 and Time, the great destroyer, has some- 
 what impaired their faculties, but they are 
 the same in spirit as in 1861, and still en- 
 titled to the gratitude of their country 
 
 The men in civil life who read the stir- 
 ring incidents of the war by their cosy 
 firesides should not forget that they have 
 reaped the benefits arising from the in- 
 cessant toil of the Navy, and should there- 
 fore forbear to speak unkindly of a pro- 
 fession whose officers and men would to- 
 morrow — if war should again arise — ex- 
 hibit the same zeal, energy and courage as 
 was shown by those who so well performed 
 their parts in the late conflict. 
 
 On the receipt of the news of the fall of 
 Vicksburg and Fort Hudson at New Or- 
 leans, on the 10th of July, there was great 
 rejoicing on the part of our Army and Navy. 
 The commanding officers of both branches 
 of the service ordered salutes of one hun- 
 dred guns to be fired — the sound of which 
 carried joy to the hearts of those who sym- 
 pathized with the Union cause, and dismay 
 to the hearts of the Confederates. The 
 latter element predominated very largely, 
 yet on the whole the people of New Orleans 
 were pleased with the hope of seeing the 
 commerce of the North and West return to 
 their once fiourishing city and again crowd 
 its levees with the splendid steamers that 
 formerly kept their storehouses supplied 
 with the products of the Upper Mississippi. 
 But war had made sad ravages in this class 
 of vessels; hundreds of them had been sunk 
 or burned in the Red, Yazoo, Arkansas and 
 White Rivers, and the few that now came 
 creeping out of the bayous and small streams 
 where tliey had been laid away, were in so 
 dilapidated a condition that on their appear- 
 ance at the levee, the very sight of these 
 vessels called to mind the decayed con- 
 dition of this once fiourishing city and 
 brought tears of sorrow to many an eye. 
 These people were only repaid for their faith- 
 lessness to a form of government under 
 which they had reaped so much prosperity 
 and from which, even in their wildest en- 
 thusiasm for the Confederacy, they received 
 protection. 
 
 Few of Ihe seceders would believe that 
 Vicksburg and Port Hudson had surren- 
 dered, for they were so infatuated with the 
 Confederacy that they could not but believe 
 that it was the strongest government on the 
 face of the earth, and that its resources were 
 illimitable; forgetting that it onlv derived 
 Its present strength from coming^into pos- 
 session of the foi-ts. navy-yards and arsenals 
 which had been taken from the true gov- 
 ernment by the very persons for whose pro- 
 tection they had been built. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 New Orleans, after it had been conquered 
 by Farragut's fleet, became a model city as 
 regards its police and sanitary departments, 
 for the first time in its history. No city in 
 the world ever possessed a more turbulent 
 mob — and in no city were the municipal 
 laws less respected (before its capture) — at 
 the end of 1862 its streets were as well kept 
 as those of the cleanest village at the North 
 and the citizens had never enjoyed such 
 safety as they did under the Butler regime, 
 when General Shipley was the military 
 governor of the city. 
 
 With the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hud- 
 son the flying detachments of Confederates 
 that lingered along the Mississippi and in 
 the bayous and inland rivers drew back 
 into the western part of Louisiana, or into 
 Texas, where most of them came from. 
 They were a fearless set of men (unlike the 
 home-guards of Tenjiessee), who seem to 
 have been drawn to the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi for the purpose of aiding their be- 
 sieged friends in Vicksburg and Port Hud- 
 son; and although they were sufficiently 
 active in annoying gun-boats and trans- 
 liorts going up or down the river, they did 
 not resort to the vile measures of the Ten- 
 nessee home-guards or commit depredations 
 upon inoffensive citizens. They were sol- 
 diers in every sense of the word, and risked 
 their lives fearlessly in making attacks on 
 the Union fortifications; fighting in what 
 they considered the defence of their own 
 soil, until the last Confederate stronghold 
 on the Mississippi had fallen. 
 
 The surrender of the two great fortifica- 
 tions relieved a large force of the Army and 
 Navy from close confinement around the 
 enemy, and allowed them to be used all 
 along the river and coast. This, too, in a 
 measure helped to get rid of the artillery 
 and mounted rangers, who, though not nu- 
 merous enough to make a stand against the 
 Federal troops, had been very annoying. 
 The Federals had frequently to acknowledge 
 that the Texas and Louisiana troops were 
 more than a match for them; and if they 
 had not been so strongly backed by the 
 naval force, it is doubtful whether Butler or 
 
 Banks could have held their positions for a 
 month. 
 
 After the fall of Vicksburg, Rear-Admiral 
 Porter descended the Mississippi as far as 
 New Orleans, where the comiuand of the 
 entire river and all its tributaries was turned 
 over to him by Farragut, who could now 
 give his whole attention to the coast and its 
 inlets, which were still in the hands of the 
 enemy. 
 
 Farragut had calculated on capturing 
 some of the enemy's strongholds on the 
 coast as early as 1862, but the latter held 
 out defiantly — very much strengthened, 
 doubly armed and trebly manned — their 
 commanders arrogantly flying the Confed- 
 erate flag and bidding our wooden vessels 
 to come to the sacrifice that awaited them. 
 
 After Farragut had turned over his part 
 of the command in the Mississippi, it be- 
 longed to his successor to see that the enemy 
 built no more forts along the banks of the 
 great river; to guarantee a safe passage to 
 army transports and commercial steamers, 
 and to see that no provisions or troops 
 reached the Confederates from Arkansas, 
 Louisiana or Texas. 
 
 These duties were faithfully performed. 
 The tin-clads and gun-boats, now amount- 
 ing to about 112, were spread along the 
 wjiole length of the river (below Vicks- 
 burg) and at or near the mouth of all tribu- 
 taries. The vessels were divided into squad- 
 rons under young and competent officers, 
 who vied with each other in carrying out 
 the orders that were issued from time to 
 time "to keep open the free navigation of 
 the rivers." 
 
 It cannot be said that peace was actually 
 established, but the transit from Cairo to 
 New Orleans was not at all hazardous for 
 the travelling community; the little towns 
 began to exhibit a desire to trade, and the 
 people on the plantations soon found that 
 they received more protection from the 
 gun-boats than they did from the half- 
 starved Confederates, who had been accus- 
 tomed to make frequent raids upon the 
 coast (as they called the river-banks) in 
 search of food and plunder. 
 
CH A PTER XXXII 
 
 Condition of the Navy Department at the Breaking out of the Rebellion. — Secre- 
 tary Welles, his Character and Ability. — Commodores Stringham and Pauld- 
 ing CONNECTED WITH THE NaVY DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST SeCRETA'RY WeLLES. — PaULD- 
 ING DRIVES THE SECESSIONISTS OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT. — PRESIDENT LINCOLN SELECTS 
 
 Mr. G. V. Fox AS Assistant to Secretary Welles. — Preparations of the Confed- 
 erate Leaders. — Confederate Iron-clads. — Policy of the United States Govern- 
 ment in Building Ships and Mounting Guns. — Slowness of the Government in 
 
 TAKING IN the SITUATION. — APPARENT SUPINENESS OF THE NaVY DEPARTMENT. — 
 
 Department Overwhelmed with Plans and Contractors, but Rises to the Oc- 
 casion AND Puts forth its Energy. — Difficulties in the way of Adopting the 
 Right kind of Iron-clad. — The Department at first doubtful of the Plans of 
 Ericsson's " Monitor." — Boards Appointed to Discuss the matter of Iron-clads. 
 — Mistake in not Cutting down some of our Heavy Steamships and Converting 
 THEM into Iron-clads. — Mr. Fox bends all his Energies towards Introducing 
 Iron-clads into the Navy. — Mr. Lenthall Chief-Constructor. — Mr. Isherwood 
 Chief of Bureau of Engineering. — Rear- Admiral Dahlgren and his Guns. — Mr. 
 Fox Introduces the 15-inch Gun into the Navy.— Ericsson's claim as an In- 
 ventor.— Congress wakes up in Regard to the Requirements of the Navy.— 
 Citizens to whom Credit was Due. — Twenty Single and Four Double Turreted 
 Monitors Contracted for. — Preparations to attack Charleston. 
 
 out, 
 like 
 the 
 un- 
 
 WHEN the civil war broke 
 the Navy Department, 
 every other branch of 
 government, was totally 
 prepared for the event. 
 The right of secession had been openly 
 declared in the Senate and House of Rep- 
 resentatives, and Southern members were 
 daily leaving their seats; yet the Adminis- 
 tration held back, and, deluded by Confed- 
 erate sympathizers, sat still and looked on 
 with dismay at the dismemberment of the 
 country without seeming to take any steps 
 to prevent it. 
 
 No department of the government seemed 
 to rise to the occasion, and the Navy De- 
 partment was no exception to the rule. 
 The Secretar}^ of the Navy, Mr. Gideon 
 Welles, was not a naval man in any sense 
 of the word. His life had been passed amid 
 civil pursuits, and the only connection he 
 had ever had with the Navy was for a short 
 time when he was Chief of the Bureau of 
 Provisions and Clothing — a purely political 
 
 appointment. He had spent many years of 
 his life as editor of a newspaper, and during 
 his administration of affairs in the Navy 
 Department gave evidence of ability in the 
 use of his pen. The numerous dispatches 
 and reports which he wrote during the war 
 showed that as a literary man he had few 
 superiors. 
 
 But Mr. Welles was far advanced in years 
 when he took charge of the Navy, and had 
 reached a period when men generallv desire 
 to retire to the shades of private life, and 
 follow pursuits more congenial to their 
 tastes. He was not a rapid thinker— was 
 cautious by nature and extremely methodi- 
 cal m all he did. Having been at the head 
 of a bureau where he constantly came in 
 contact with contractors, he naturally sur- 
 rounded himself with guards of all kinds, 
 and introduced so much red tape into the 
 Department, that it must have been a bold 
 man who would have attempted to break 
 through it all with the hope of overreaching 
 the chief or his assistants. 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 355 
 
 Some of the bureau officers were inocu- 
 lated with secession sentiments, and their 
 rooms were daily filled with officers who 
 exchanged opinions hostile to the govern- 
 ment, meanwhile leaving the Secretary to 
 assume that they were loyal. The Secre- 
 tary, as a matter of course, received no aid 
 from these men; on the contrary, they held 
 him back and delayed his doing what good 
 he attempted. 
 
 Mr. Welles began to find out gradually 
 that he was not surrounded by the kind of 
 men it was desirable to have about him 
 under the circumstances, and he called to 
 his aid in the department Commodore 
 Stringham, the best dock-yard officer in the 
 Navy and a thorough seaman, loyal to the 
 last degree and of a most honorable char- 
 acter. But he possessed no administrative 
 abilities, disliked an office life, and soon 
 sought relief from it by applying for active 
 duty afloat. He was therefore appointed to 
 the command of a small squadron, to at- 
 tempt the capture of the forts at Hatteras 
 Inlet, which he succeeded in doing. 
 
 To show how slowly secretaries or officers 
 had risen to the occasion, and how little all 
 concerned could form any estimate of what 
 was actually necessary to be done at the 
 breaking out of the civil war (though the 
 • coming events cast their shadows plainly 
 before them), the Hatteras expedition was 
 looked upon as a great event, and it was 
 thought that the success of it was likely to 
 carry such terror into the hearts of the Con- 
 federates that it would break up any further 
 attempt to fortify the Southern coast! 
 
 Commodore Paulding relieved Commo- 
 dore Stringham in the Navy Department. 
 He was a faithful officer, who looked upon 
 the flag of his country as the emblem of 
 all that was great and glorious. He re- 
 garded secession as the worm at the root of 
 the flower, sure to destroy it unless speedily- 
 removed, and he was in favor of extermi- 
 nating every man in the Navy of whose loy- 
 alty there was even a doubt. He had 
 served many years of his life in active duty 
 at sea, but he now began to show the ad- 
 vance of age, and did not at once realize 
 the gravity of the situation. Running in a 
 groove, as he had done for so many years, he 
 was not able to change his nature suddenly 
 and adopt new methods. 
 
 He soon found that he did not suit the 
 place, nor the place him, and as his ideas 
 of naval discipline were so dissimilar to 
 the system which governed a civil depart- 
 ment" that he had at times to defer to the 
 opinions of the chief clerk, and the associa- 
 tions were not pleasant, he soon tired of the 
 position, especially when he found that he 
 would have to bear responsibilities which 
 he did not care to shoulder. 
 
 In fact. Commodore Paulding disliked 
 
 the atmosphere of the Navy Department as 
 much as Commodore Stringham had done, 
 and soon obtained duty at the New York 
 Navy Yard, where he thought he could be 
 of more service to his country. But before 
 he left the Department he not only rooted 
 out the disloyal officers who were attached 
 to the different bureaus, but forbade any 
 man who uttered disloyal sentiments, or 
 who hesitated to espouse the Union cause, 
 from entering the building. 
 
 It never struck these loyal old officers, 
 when they heard that the Confederates were 
 building iron-clads, that something might 
 be done in that direction by the North. 
 They had fought their battles on the open 
 decks of ships and they thought that was a 
 good-enough way for any one to fight. 
 They did not believe in men who would 
 resort to a shelter of iron for protection 
 against shot or shell, and rather had a con- 
 tempt for any one who would suggest such 
 a mode of fighting. Consequently, their 
 thoughts did not run in the direction of 
 iron-clads. 
 
 It was absolutely necessary that Mr. 
 Welles should have an adviser in his de- 
 partment who could take charge of the prac- 
 tical part of naval affairs, and who by his 
 knowledge of the wants of the Navy could 
 assist him to meet the difficulties which were 
 daily accumulating, and almost overpower- 
 ing him. It would not have been looked upon 
 favorably had he selected a naval officer be- 
 low the highest grades, no matter wliat his 
 abilities were, for such a thing had never 
 occurred in the Navy ! That was argument 
 enough, without mentioning that it would 
 have been a reflection upon the older offi- 
 cers. It was for this reason that Mr. G. V. 
 Fox, late a lieutenant in the Navy, was se- 
 lected by President Lincoln as naval ad- 
 viser, and finally appointed Assistant Sec- 
 retary of the Navy. It was not until Mr. 
 Fox was appointed that due attention was 
 paid to the building of iron-clads and other 
 vessels appropriate for coast and river ser- 
 vice, and it was to Mr. Fox that we were 
 indebted during the war for the life and 
 energy that pervaded the naval adminis- 
 tration, and his ready compliance with the 
 requisitions of officers, which enabled them 
 to carry on naval operations with vigor. 
 
 Secretary Welles was not an eminent 
 statesman, yet he had qualities of a high 
 order. He was loyal to his government, 
 held no intercourse with men of dis- 
 loyal sentiments, and drove out of the 
 service all those officers who wavered in 
 their allegiance. He was a man of good 
 judgment in many matters relating to the 
 business that came before him, and he 
 never showed more wisdom than when he 
 acquiesced in the President's appointment 
 of Mr. Fox as his naval adviser. 
 
356 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 The civil war had now assumed such large 
 proportions, and so rapidly, that even the 
 wisest men were at fault as to what should 
 be done to meet the style of warfare which 
 the Confederates were inaugurating all 
 over the South. With the assumed re- 
 sources of the North, every step the Con- 
 federates made in military or naval warfare 
 should have been more than met by a cor- 
 responding move on the Federal side; but 
 this was not done. It was known early in 
 the war that the Confederates were build- 
 ing iron-clads of a peculiar character, but 
 no one seemed to know exactly what their 
 character was. 
 
 There is no doubt of one thing, viz., that 
 long before the prominent secession leaders 
 had signified their intention of leaving their 
 seats in Congress, every move had been de- 
 termined. It was known exactly liow many 
 small arms were wanted, and how many 
 great guns and pieces of artillery; and it 
 was known that for a beginning there were 
 enough of these arms stowed away in the 
 Government arsenals scattered through the 
 Southern States, to say nothing of the great 
 armament that had been supplied from time 
 to time to the States for the use of their 
 militia. It is thus seen that in respect to 
 arms the Confederates had no right to com- 
 plain of deficiencies. At the battle of Bull 
 Run they were as well supplied with all the 
 appliances of war as were the government 
 troops, who were forced to retreat on that 
 day before the fire of this first army of 
 the insurgents. 
 
 For some time all these matters had been 
 considered by the southern leaders; and 
 when the time came to act, eleven States rose 
 as one man, and the government had not 
 only to put down the State of South Caro- 
 lina, with a small number of insurrection- 
 ists, but millions of people from Kentucky 
 to Maryland, all armed and equipped and 
 formed into battalions, as if they had been 
 the great reserve of the nation, ready to 
 jump to their arms at the call of the gen- 
 eral government. This system of prepara- 
 tion extended to the Navy as well as to the 
 Army. The Confederate leaders knew, two 
 years before the war, what officers of the 
 Navy would unite with them in humiliating 
 the old flag, and though these officers made 
 no pledges, and doubtless hoped that the 
 event would never take place tliat would 
 disturb their position under the United 
 States Government, yet they had made up 
 their minds what to do in case the struggle 
 ensued. 
 
 It is not likely that the Southern leaders 
 would lose any opportunity of gaining in- 
 formation from Southern officers that would 
 enable them to carry out their plans, and it 
 is free to presume, from what we now know, 
 that a full discussion of all matters was 
 
 carried on between the promoters of seces- 
 sion and officers of the Army and Navy up 
 to the last moment; many of the latter may 
 have entered into these discussions and 
 given all the desired information without 
 realizing that they were unfaithful to the 
 trusts confided to them by their lawful gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 We believe that all the iron-clads that 
 finally got afloat or weri: burned on the 
 stocks were calculated for before the war, 
 the places of building them decided upon, 
 the difficulties the Federal Government 
 would have to contend with to get at them, 
 the material required for their construction, 
 the time required to build them, and the 
 officers and artisans who were to be em- 
 ployed in the work selected. This may seem 
 doubtful, but the Confederates could never, 
 with all their energy and determination to 
 win, have achieved such work as they per- 
 formed in the building of an iron-clad navy 
 without having had preconceived plans. 
 
 It is a compliment to their energy and 
 ingenuity to say that they could build 
 anything at all at the South beyond their 
 light river-steamers. They had so long de- 
 pended upon the Northern machine-shops 
 for all heavy work needed in the South, 
 that they had no great factories of their 
 own. Even the Tredegar Works at Rich- 
 mond, which supplied a large number of 
 the Brooke rifles for the Confederacy, owed 
 its existence to the fact that it was sus- 
 tained by the United States Government 
 in the first instance, and by large contracts 
 given it for naval ordnance up to 1861, some 
 of which was on the lathe when Sumter fired 
 the first gun. 
 
 If the Southerners did not make their 
 plans before the war actually broke out, 
 they deserve unbounded credit for the 
 energy display^ed in getting into existence 
 such formidable vessels as they did before 
 the North had done anything but build the 
 little "Monitor,"' which was ready nearly on 
 the same day that the " Merrimac " created 
 such consternation at Hampton Roads. 
 
 It is true, that through the enterprise and 
 energy of a western man, Mr. James B. 
 Eads. we got some iron-clads afloat on the 
 Mississippi, but it was not until the 17th of 
 June. 1861. that the Quartermaster-general 
 of the Army issued proposals for building 
 the vessels. Great progress was made 
 upon these quasi iron-clads when the work 
 was once under full headway; but with all 
 the remarkable services they performed, 
 what were they when compared with the 
 "Virginia," the "Louisiana,"' the "Albe- 
 marle." "Atlanta," "Mobile," and three 
 large vessels built or building at Yazoo City 
 — the "Mississippi," burnt at New Orleans 
 — the "Tennessee," that fought a whole 
 squadron (including three iron-clads) in Mo- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 367 
 
 bile Bay— and the " Arkansas," that passed 
 through a fleet of vessels (carrying 150 
 guns), without receiving more serious in- 
 3ury than the wounding of some fifteen men 
 and the slight derangement of part of her 
 armor and machinery? 
 
 Previous to the civil war it had been 
 the aim of the United States Government 
 to excel all other nations in the quality 
 and size of its vessels-of-war. If a steam- 
 frigate was built in Europe of large size 
 and heavily armed, the U. S. Government 
 at once laid down the lines of a larger 
 vessel carrying many more guns, and these 
 guns of a calibre hitherto unknown in naval 
 warfare. We had, in fact, reached the 
 point of excellence in our ships some 
 years previous to the breaking out of the 
 Rebellion, and the great steam - frigates 
 which figured during the war in attacks on 
 heavy earth-works were sample vessels of 
 our Navy. They had all steamed to differ- 
 ent parts of the world, and their appearance 
 and power called forth the applause of all 
 foreign officers who visited them.* There 
 were no vessels in Europe of this class that 
 could compare with them; yet, with all 
 these triumphs over foreigners, we had only 
 one vessel at the time of the " Merrimac's " 
 appearance that was able to compete with 
 her. The only vessels we had building 
 were the "New Ironsides" (a splendid ship 
 of her class) and the "Galena," a perfect 
 failure as an iron-clad, as proved by her 
 weakness on the James River, where she 
 attacked the Confederate batteries. 
 
 It required some time for the Department 
 to take in the true situation of affairs, and 
 it was not until after the battle between the 
 "Monitor" and " Merrimac" that they saw 
 how nearly the nation escaped a great 
 calamity, which had been averted by the 
 invention of John Ericsson, and the gallant 
 officer who fought the Union iron -clad with 
 so much skill and bravery. Then the Navy 
 Department rose to the occasion, and put- 
 ting forth all its energy, more than re- 
 deemed itself for the apparent supineness 
 of the past. 
 
 At first neither the constructors nor the 
 Navy Department had a fair conception 
 of what was needed in the Navy to meet 
 the new order of vessels that were being 
 built in the South. The Department was 
 overwhelmed with a multiplicity of plans 
 that were presented by outside parties, who 
 were backed by strong political friends in 
 Congress whom it was advisable the Sec- 
 retary should conciliate. Some of these 
 plans were so wild and impracticable that 
 they could not be considered for a moment. 
 The attention required by these claimants 
 and their political backers hampered the 
 Department greatly; and they were not so 
 much indebted to John Ericsson for drivina- 
 
 the "Merrimac" into port, as for getting 
 rid of the pack of inventors and advisers 
 who had been hanging about the doors of the 
 Secretary of the Navy, until none but a person 
 of Mr. Welles' placid temper or Mr. Fox's 
 inflexible will could have been able to stand 
 the strain. The little " Monitor " settled all 
 these inventors at the same time that she 
 settled the " Merrimac," and Ericsson not 
 only rose at once in the estimation of the 
 public, but his standing with the Govern- 
 ment became assured. 
 
 From that time forth the Navy Depart- 
 ment may be said to have assumed new life 
 and vigor, and the most hypercritical his- 
 torian can scarcely find fault with it for 
 want of energy displayed in building ves- 
 sels of the new type, which, when finished, 
 could bid defiance to the heaviest ships of 
 any foreign navy. 
 
 There was at one time in England a large 
 number of British naval officers who would 
 not listen to the idea of having an iron-clad 
 navy. The French were trying to introduce 
 iron-clads into their service, but on a small 
 scale; and their want of success did not en- 
 courage Englishmen to copy their tradi- 
 tional enemies. They still clung to their 
 idols, the staunch old wooden three-deck- 
 ers, seventy -fours and frigates, and scouted 
 the idea of laying aside these noble struc- 
 tures for a class of vessel that had never 
 been tested at sea, and which, in the opin- 
 ion of many, would go to the bottom in 
 the first gale of wind they encountered. 
 They had in some cases partially protected 
 the wood-work abreast of the guns, but not 
 to any extent. 
 
 There was no master-mind to take hold 
 of the subject, and to evoke a system that 
 would at once show up the weakness of the 
 British navy, and convince the authoi'ities 
 that the days of the wooden monarchs of 
 the sea were numbered. 
 
 The Federal Navy Department long before 
 had its eyes on the great English navy that 
 made no move in the direction of changing 
 the character of its vessels — a navy full of 
 clever and scientific men, who should have 
 been ever alive to any theory that makes 
 one navy superior to another, but who now 
 refused to listen to the talk about iron-clad 
 ships and scouted the idea of adopting them. 
 
 It would have been a bold man, indeed, 
 who, as Secretary of the Navy, would have 
 taken the responsibility of building any 
 number of untried "Monitors" without 
 something to justify him in doing so. The 
 Secretary of the Navy himself and those 
 about him had no positive belief at first in 
 the success of Ericsson's " Monitor." The 
 plan was so contrary to all preconceived 
 ideas of a fighting-ship that they could not 
 believe it would do what Ericsson predicted 
 for it. 
 
35E 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 The chief constructor of the navy, Mr. 
 John Lenthall, at first condemned the 
 "Monitor" in toto, and he was at that 
 time the ablest naval architect in any coun- 
 try, having built some of the most effective 
 ships afloat. 
 
 All these things were enough to have de- 
 terred Secretary Welles from embarking in 
 the iron-clad business; but he did take hold 
 of the Ericsson plan, and in view of the fact 
 that it was necessary to have something 
 with which to meet the "Merrimac," he 
 made a contract with this inventor which 
 in the end led to much larger vessels. As 
 soon as the invulnerability of the " Monitor " 
 was established by her en- 
 counter with the most pow- 
 erful iron -clad afloat. Secre- 
 tary Welles was no longer 
 backward in advocating this 
 class of vessel. 
 
 To show how little was 
 known about iron-clads in 
 the U. S. Navy and how lit • 
 tie support the Department 
 received from that direction: 
 A Board, established by Act 
 of Congress, "to consist of 
 three skillful line officers of 
 the Navy," was appointed to 
 look into the subject of iron- 
 clads; and, if their report 
 was favorable, the Secretary 
 of the Navy was to be au- 
 thorized to build one or more 
 armored or iron - clad, or 
 steel-clad, steamships or 
 floating batteries, etc., etc. 
 This law was passed in Sep- 
 tember, 1861. The Board of 
 Officers appointed to decide 
 upon this matter approached 
 the subject very carefully, 
 saying: "Distrustful of our 
 own ability to discharge this 
 duty, which the law requires 
 should be performed by three 
 skillful naval officers, we 
 approach the subject with 
 diffidence, having no experi- 
 ence and but scanty knowl- 
 edge in this branch of naval architecture." 
 
 This Board was governed very much in 
 their reports by the information and opin- 
 ions which they could obtain from English 
 authorities. They recommended three out 
 of seventeen plans that had been submitted 
 (one of them John Ericsson's), but with 
 reservations and a proviso (which was 
 enough to frighten off any constructor) 
 that the vessels must be a success in all 
 respects, or else be thrown back on the 
 hands of the contractors ! " 
 
 The Board on their own account recom- 
 mended that armor and heavy guns be 
 
 placed on one of our river craft; " or, if none 
 will bear it, to construct a scow that will 
 answer, to plate and shield the guns for 
 river service on the Potomac; to be con- 
 structed or prepared at the Washington 
 Navy Yard for immediate use ! " The 
 Board did not say how this iron-clad war- 
 rior was to be propelled. 
 
 When three of the most skillful officers 
 of the Navy could give the Secretary no 
 better information than this, it is no wonder 
 that he was doubtful of his own ability to 
 decide in such a case; but he did decide, 
 and in favor of Ericsson, who proposed 
 not only the most reasonable price for 
 
 JOHN LENTHALL, CHIEF OF BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 his vessels, but the unity of the design 
 seemed to strike the Board as something 
 likely to succeed. The "New Ironsides" 
 was also contracted for with Cramp &: 
 Sons in Philadelphia, and the " Galena," to 
 be armored with three -inch iron, to be 
 built by Bushnell & Co., New Haven, Con- 
 necticut. These three vessels, it is said, were 
 to represent the three types of the American 
 idea of iron-clads — though, with the excep- 
 tion of the " New Ironsides," very few per- 
 sons had any faith in them. 
 
 This was the first attempt at building an 
 iron-clad navy for operations on the coast, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 359 
 
 and the " Monitor " was the only one of 
 them that was ready to meet the enemy's 
 greatest fighting-machine, "just in the nick 
 of time." 
 
 There was one thing- which the Navy De- 
 partment lost sight of altogether, and that 
 was that the "Merrimac" was simply a 
 large frigate being metamorphosed into 
 an iron-clad. We had five vessels similar 
 to the " Merrimac," and any two of them 
 could have been cut down and armored 
 much more effectively than the ' ' Merrimac " 
 was. The work could have been done at 
 our northern navy yards in half of the 
 time it could be done by the Confederates, 
 and we would have had two heavy iron- 
 clads ready to meet the Confederate mon- 
 ster if ever she should get out of Norfolk. 
 
 What matters it ? some will say. The 
 "Monitor" drove the " Merrimac" back, 
 and demonstrated the superiority of the 
 American type of iron-clad over the most 
 powerful war-ship ever until that time built 
 in any navy, placed us on an equality with 
 England and France, and gave our govern- 
 ment a sure plan they could • follow with 
 safety. 
 
 Yes, but we would have been saved the 
 disgrace and disaster of seeing two of our 
 finest frigates sunk or destroyed at New- 
 port News, 250 gallant officers and men slain 
 almost in cold blood, three frigates run on 
 shore and at the mercy of the " Merrimac," 
 and every ship at Hampton Roads thrown 
 into a state of panic, which unfortunately 
 was witnessed by a foreign man-of-war 
 lying at anchor off Fortress Monroe. It 
 would have saved the government a shock 
 which it did not recover from for some time, 
 and the Northern people from the mortifica- 
 tion of knowing that our entire fieet at 
 Hampton Roads had been beaten by one 
 Confederate vessel in the first naval encoun- 
 ter of the war. 
 
 With all this, the lesson learned was a 
 useful one. It opened the eyes of Congress 
 to the necessity of making more liberal ap- 
 propriations for the Navy, and made them 
 listen at last to the appeals of the Secretary 
 of the Navy to strengthen this branch of the 
 service. 
 
 The Board above referred to recommended 
 that the Department should ask Congress, 
 at the next session, to appropriate $10,000 
 for experiments on iron plates of diffei'ent 
 kinds ! As if the Department could Avait 
 while the enemy was thundering at its 
 doors! But it is due to the Navy Depart- 
 ment to state that it was not at all influ- 
 enced by such a procrastinating policy. 
 Mr. Welles while Secretary of the Navy 
 received his share of abuse, and on no 
 point was he more severely criticised than 
 on his selection of the "Monitor" as the 
 type of American iron-clads, for the princi- 
 
 ple did not meet with favor among that 
 class of officers who were expected to serve 
 in them. Mr. Welles could not expect to 
 be exempt from criticism, or be excused 
 from the responsibility of any failure that 
 might attend his experiments with the 
 Navy. He was in the position of the 
 commander of a fleet, being alone re- 
 sponsible for success or failure. Though 
 his subordinates may do a great deal of the 
 work, and make a great many suggestions, 
 yet the Commander-in-chief is entitled to 
 all the honors in case of success, and must 
 also bear the blame of failure. Such has 
 been the history of war since wars began. 
 This rule also applies to heads of depart- 
 ments. They may have the ablest subordi- 
 nates and be relieved of many of the cares 
 of office, yet they must shoulder all responsi- 
 bility and take the odium of every case of 
 failure. 
 
 In writing history, one must be careful 
 not to let his predilections in favor of one 
 man lead him to do injustice to another, 
 especially if this other is the head of a de- 
 partment and the responsible party. 
 
 No matter what the abilities of the sub- 
 ordinates are, or how much their services 
 have conduced to the desired end, one must 
 look only to the head of his department 
 for reward, as a lieutenant does to his cap- 
 tain. 
 
 It is not always that men receive in their 
 life-time the amount of credit due for their 
 work; it oftener happens that they receive 
 more honor after death. In the course of 
 years history will do them justice. The pa- 
 tient, plodding historian will come along, 
 and taking no account of time, will delve into 
 the mass of records which lie at his dis- 
 posal, when every word is carefully scanned, 
 and the truth is sure to be evolved. Then 
 men are weighed according to their merits, 
 and assigned to their rightful positions. 
 
 All the sensational histories written dur- 
 ing the war, or directly after it, have long 
 since been consigned to that bourne from 
 which sensational history never returns. 
 He who now undertakes to write of the war 
 must prepare himself for severe criticism 
 if he tries to deprive any one of credit. 
 
 Time is a great promoter of good feeling 
 and softener-down of asperities, enabling 
 a writer of the present day to view things 
 in a different light from what he did twenty 
 years ago. It would be better, nevertheless, 
 that a century should pass before the history 
 of a war is written, when all the partici- 
 pators in it are dead ; for history can be 
 better told from the written or printed 
 records of the day than from the recollec- 
 tions of any one who lived among the scenes 
 he attempts to describe; but, if men will 
 write, they must lay aside all personal feel- 
 ing, and keeping the records before their 
 
360 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 eyes, do their duty " tho' the heavens should 
 fall." 
 
 Thus, in this history, in speaking of the 
 work done by the Navy Department to bring 
 to an end the terrible rebellion that was 
 devastating the country, the writer can 
 only recognize Mr. Welles, the Secretary 
 of the Navy, as the one who controlled 
 the great machine that was turning out 
 ships, gun -boats, iron-clads, etc., with a 
 rapidity that astonished the powers of Eu- 
 rope, who were looking on with amazement 
 at the Federal Government while the latter 
 was building a Navy capable of setting at 
 defiance even France or England. 
 
 While Mr. Fox, the Assistant Secretary, 
 was bending all his energies to devise the 
 class of vessels best suited for the purposes 
 of our war, and to meet the necessities 
 of the occasion, and Mr. Faxon, the chief 
 clerk, was giving his undivided attention to 
 the civil branch of the Department, Mr. 
 Welles was presiding over all and giving to 
 each his moral support. 
 
 Mr. Welles was the responsible head; it 
 was his judgment that decided almost all 
 matters; it was his coolness and placidity 
 of temper that controlled those around him 
 and smoothed over the little asperities and 
 jealousies which would spring up among 
 his subordinates — with a smooth word lie 
 brought back to his proper position anyone 
 who attempted to assume more than his 
 rightful authority — in this way making a 
 unit of the department. Mr. Fox was the 
 able assistant, in charge of the general 
 naval duties that had in years gone by per- 
 tained to the Board of Naval Commission- 
 ers, while Mr. Faxon was the chief clerk 
 in charge of the Civil Department and the 
 records. 
 
 Secretary Welles was the judicial, finan- 
 cial, and political head, under whose direc- 
 tion everything was done; all plans were 
 submitted to him, and no movement was 
 made without his consent, and he weighed 
 every matter before coming to a conclusion. 
 He knew everything that was going on in 
 the Navy; and as a proof that he under- 
 stood and appreciated all that was taking 
 place, and that he was observing the proper 
 steps to provide for the future, it is only 
 necessary for one to read the numerous 
 able reports he wrote from time to time on 
 tlie condition of the Navy and its require- 
 ments, or his descriptions of the operations 
 of tlie different squadrons. These docu- 
 ments will convince any one that Secretary 
 Welles had abilities of no ordinary kind, 
 and that, with few omissions, he did every- 
 thing that could be done to put the Navy in 
 a creditable condition. 
 
 That he could have accomplished all 
 he did without Mr. Fox's assistance no 
 one pretends to claim ; but he showed 
 
 his judgment in listening to this gentle- 
 man's recommendations, and by placing 
 confidence in one who had the best interests 
 of the service at heart. Hereafter, then, 
 when speaking of the Navy Department, 
 we shall regard Secretary Welles as the re- 
 sponsible head to whom all under him owed 
 proper obedience and their best efforts to 
 aid in the difficult task he had before him. 
 
 In all that regarded the general increase 
 of the Navy, the Department had made 
 good use of the means at its disposal. The 
 Navy Yards and private establishments 
 were full of work to overflowing. Mr. John 
 Lenthall, a constructor of the highest order, 
 was always ready, with his practical skill 
 and science, for any emergency. He had 
 planned the great frigates. -'Colorado," 
 " Wabash," "Minnesota," " Merrimac,"and 
 ■' Franklin," which had elicited the applause 
 of the world. He planned the "90-day 
 gun-boats " immediately after the breaking 
 out of the war (a small class of vessel car- 
 rying one 11-inch gun forward and two 
 light 32-pounders aft, drawing only eight 
 or ten feet of water, and therefore able to 
 enter any of the Southern ports). These 
 vessels were of the greatest use during the 
 war, and their value could not be ovei-- 
 estimated. 
 
 On a requisition from Mr. Fox, Mr. Len- 
 thall designed the double-enders, with their 
 heavy batteries of 9 and 11-inch guns and 
 ten feet draft of water, that could follow 
 the "90-day gun-boats" through the most 
 narrow and tortuous streams, where, not 
 having room to turn, they could go out 
 again stern foremost, like a New York 
 ferry-boat going from slip to slip. 
 
 And when Mr. Lenthall was notified that 
 the Confederates were having built in Eng- 
 land fast clippers armed with English guns, 
 manned by English seamen, and com- 
 manded by Confederate officers, he at once 
 designed a score of swift and beautiful cor- 
 vettes, that were able to overtake any of 
 the Confederate cruisers and capture them 
 when they got them under their guns. One 
 of these did actually destroy the " Ala- 
 bama." 
 
 Mr. Lenthall also designed those large 
 ships-of-war of over 3,000 tons (on Mr. Fox's 
 suggestion), the first of which made seven- 
 teen and one-half knots per hour for twenty- 
 four consecutive hours, the greatest speed 
 that had been attained at that time by any 
 naval power. In this case the ability of Mr. 
 Isherwood, chief of Bureau of Steam Engi- 
 neering, was brought into play. He designed 
 the engines and boilers of these ships, as he 
 did the machinery of all others planned by 
 Mr. Lenthall. 
 
 Mr. Lenthall could not at first be made to 
 admit that a vessel of the "Monitor's" 
 build could be made efficacious for war pur- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 361 
 
 poses, or live in a sea-way, and he did not 
 hesitate to say, while she was building, that 
 she would go down as soon as she was 
 launched. It was not until after the battle 
 of the " Monitor" and " Merrimac" that he 
 had any confidence in the former. Then Mr. 
 Lenthall's ideas underwent a radical change, 
 and while he sighed over what he knew 
 would be the end of all his beautiful wooden 
 vessels, with whose fine models he had 
 spent so many hours of his life, his practi- 
 cal mind at once grasped the subject, with 
 new ideas engrafted on the first project, 
 and in the end he produced vessels of the 
 Monitor type that had not their equals at 
 that time in any European navy. 
 
 Whatever alterations may have been 
 made in the Monitor system, the original 
 idea was that of John Ericsson; any change 
 
 B. P. ISHEBWOOD, U. S. NAVY, CHIEF OP BUREAU OP 
 STEAM-ENGINEERING. 
 
 or improvement that left the hull submerged, 
 or nearly so, and retained the revolving 
 turret, was his by right. The criticisms on 
 his first invention led him to consider the 
 importance of somewhatchanginghis plans, 
 and out of this came the ''Miantonomah," 
 "Monadnock," etc., double-turreted moni- 
 tors, which, with their four 15-inch guns, 
 were more than a match for any three- 
 decker. 
 
 Though there were some objections to 
 the first Monitor, there was nothing to call 
 for the bitter criticisms with which the ves- 
 sel was assailed. Theoretically, the original 
 plan had advantages over the later ideas: 
 for instance, the armor projected over the 
 sides, stern and bow on what was called 
 
 ^hii /-»T7-CiT»l-i oi-i n^ TX7'l-n/->l-» 
 
 a »*-f*ii:irl rviTf +V»o irl/iio 
 
 Ericsson first conceived of building a raft 
 that could not sink; which could not be 
 struck by shot below the water line; which 
 could not be rammed; where the rudder and 
 propeller were entirely secure from shot or 
 ramming; and where raising the anchor 
 and all other operations could be performed 
 without a single person appearing on deck. 
 
 If the "Monitor" was not as efficient a 
 vessel as some of those that came after her, 
 it is no reason why any of her arrange- 
 ments should be condemned. She performed 
 a more important part in the history of the 
 war than any of her successors, and her 
 name will go down in history when the 
 names of other vessels of her class will 
 have been forgotten. Had the original de- 
 sign been received by the government as 
 it ought to have been, and money spent 
 without stint to produce at the first such 
 vessels as the " Miantonomah" and " Mon- 
 adnock," either of them would have de- 
 stroyed the "Merrimac " in twenty minutes. 
 
 We prided ourselves in those days on the 
 character of our ordnance, which was the 
 best of its kind in the world — we refer to 
 the 11-inch and 9-inch smooth-bore — rifled 
 cannon had not at that time made such 
 an advance as to satisfy us that it would be 
 the gun of the future. Admiral Dahlgren, 
 who had brought our naval ordnance to 
 a state of perfection, considered the 11-inch 
 the most powerful gun in the world; and 
 having accomplished what he considered 
 the grandest feat of gun-making in modern 
 times, he was contented to rest upon his 
 laurels. 
 
 There was a diversity of opinion at that 
 time between the ordnance authorities of 
 the Army and Navy in regard to the kind 
 of guns that were required, which engen- 
 dered some ill-feeling between the heads of 
 the two branches of the service, the result 
 of which was that there was no interchange 
 of ideas. The Naval Chief of Bureau was 
 satisfied that he had found in the 11-inch 
 gun all that was desirable for naval pur- 
 poses, never considering the great change 
 that might occur at any moment in the 
 shape and character of war ships that 
 would involve the necessity of using larger 
 guns. The result was that the new era 
 came and found us with only the 11-incli 
 gun on hand in the Navy. 
 
 It is not certain that the original Moni- 
 tor would have carried two guns of larger 
 size, but her dimensions and steam power 
 might easily have been increased at small 
 additional expense, and she could have been 
 provided with 15-inch guns. 
 
 The ordnance department of the Army 
 had gone to work very quietly and cast 
 some guns of that size, somewhat on the 
 Dahlgren pattern. Whether the Naval Ord- 
 
3G2 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 this 15-inch gun we are not prepared to say, 
 but it is certain neither Secretary Welles nor 
 Mr. Fox knew anything about it until after 
 the battle of the " Monitor "and " Merrimac. " 
 
 The account of the destruction of the 
 " Cumberland " and "Congress" had been 
 flashed over the wires to the Secretary of 
 the Navj^ and Mr. Fox started at once for 
 Hampton Roads to see if he could be of any 
 service, and to report on the condition of 
 affairs. 
 
 Mr. Fox was on the dock at Fortress Mon- 
 roe, where he could witness the fight be- 
 tween the iron-clads. He noticed that the 
 shot from the "Monitor's" guns glanced 
 off from the sloping sides of the "Merri- 
 mac," while the rifled shot of the "Merri- 
 mac " seemed to have no effect on the turret 
 of the "Monitor." "I wonder," he said, 
 mentally, ' ' why no one has ever thought of 
 casting larger guns with heavier shot, that 
 would knock in that fellow's sides at the 
 first broadside." As this idea struck him, 
 he cast his eyes on a monster gun that was 
 lying on the dock under the lifting-crane, 
 and on examining it he found it to be a 
 1 0-inch gun, army pattern, intended to be 
 mounted at Fortress Monroe. This was a 
 revelation to the Assistant Secretary, and 
 he returned to Washington with his ideas 
 much enlarged, and said to the Secretary, 
 " We must have Monitors that will carry 
 turrets large enough for 15-inch guns;'' and 
 Mr. Welles, on hearing his story, agreed 
 with him in his conclusions. 
 
 When an invention which has been doubt- 
 ed and decried shows its superiority over 
 all its competitors, and its detractors are 
 set at naught, it immediately rises to the 
 extreme of popularity; and so it was with 
 the Monitor system, though some officers, 
 who thought more of their personal com- 
 fort than they did of results to be achieved, 
 greatly preferred the " New Ironsides," with 
 her sixteen 11-inch guns, to a Monitor with 
 two, or even four, 15-inch guns. 
 
 The "New Ironsides" was without doubt 
 a splendid vessel, and we ought to have 
 built more of the same kind; but although 
 she was better suited for attacking fortifica- 
 tions under certain conditions than the 
 Monitors were (owing to the number of 
 her guns and the consequent rapidity of 
 her fire), she would have stood no chance in 
 a contest with one of the single-turreted 
 class — much less with the "' Monadnock " 
 or " Miantonomah." 
 
 The "New Ironsides " did not represent 
 an idea that could be carried out in all 
 future naval ships; no vessels built on her 
 plans have maintained their positions, while 
 the Monitor system has been combined in 
 all the grand fighting-ships of the line in 
 England. The Monitor turret has even been 
 used for land fortifications, and it will no 
 
 doubt in the future be extensively applied 
 to the defence of bays and harbors. 
 
 That Ericsson deserves the credit for the 
 original idea of the Monitor system, no one 
 will deny; but, next to Mr. Ericsson, the 
 Assistant Secretary of the Navy did more 
 than any one else to improve on this idea, 
 and apply it to naval warfare. It was a 
 matter which the Navy Department had to 
 handle cautiously; for though the "Moni- 
 tor" had demonstrated her superiority over 
 the "Merrimac," yet the plan was not alto- 
 gether acceptable to the majority of naval 
 officers; their objections were taken up by 
 members of Congress, particularly those 
 belonging to the "opposition," who were 
 averse to giving liberal appropriations to 
 "oppress the Southern people;" and it was 
 only when anxiety was felt lest we might 
 be involved in a war with France or Eng- 
 land that patriotic feelings got the upper 
 hand of sectional tendencies, and Congress 
 came forward and voted the necessary 
 money to build as many vessels of the 
 Monitor type as the Navy Department asked 
 for. 
 
 To go further into an explanation of all 
 the merits of the Monitor class of vessels 
 would take the writer beyond the limits as- 
 signed to this history. The reader must 
 judge of their merits from what has been 
 done with them by intelligent officers. 
 
 To the uninitiated the history of the diffi- 
 culties attending the introduction of this 
 new type of vessel into the Navy will be 
 very much less interesting than the battles 
 in which they engaged and the hard service 
 they performed on the Atlantic coast, in 
 shelling forts and riding out heavy gales, 
 while anchored out at sea — defying the 
 elements in their most disastrous forms. 
 
 It is not only in regard to the men who 
 fought the battles of the war that the pub- 
 lic should be interested, but they should 
 also be glad to understand the work done 
 by those in official positions at headquarters 
 in overcoming tiresome details, in fighting 
 against ignorance and prejudice, or in pro- 
 viding for the thousand wants of fleets and 
 ships, which, without proper forethought 
 on their part, might have been paralyzed, 
 perhaps in a time of great danger to the 
 nation. 
 
 When the United States was drawn into 
 the dreadful contest, which brought sorrow 
 and desolation to so many homes, the 
 country was in no condition to go into a 
 war of any kind. Had we become involved 
 at that time with a fifth-rate naval power, 
 we should have been humiliated beyond 
 anything one can conceive; our cities would 
 have been bombarded and laid waste, our 
 commerce would have been driven from the 
 ocean to seek shelter under some neutral 
 flag, and our Navy, instead of beine- in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 363 
 
 condition to take the sea against our ene- 
 mies, would have been laid up to prevent 
 its being captured. 
 
 That is not exactly the kind of Navy a 
 great country like this should possess, fit 
 only to cruise in peaceful times and over 
 summer seas. But such has been the policy 
 of our statesmen from decade to decade, 
 and the Navy has never received proper at- 
 tention. Even the great civil war did not 
 seem to stir up Congress to remedy the evils 
 that had fallen upon it during the long 
 peace. 
 
 The cry was in the halls of Congress, 
 " We want no Navy," and the Secretaries 
 of the Navy, up to 18G1, echoed the oft-told 
 tale that we only wanted a " small but eflfi- 
 cient Navy!" As if a small Navy could 
 be at all efficient, when it would have been 
 obliged to retire under the guns of our forts 
 in case of a foreign war, or else be towed 
 up some inaccessible river and stowed away 
 until peace was restored. 
 
 We at times almost think that the rebel- 
 lion was a blessing in disguise, if only to 
 show how unprepared we were for hostili- 
 ties with a foreign foe, by whom we would 
 to a certainty have been humiliated and no 
 doubt have been mulcted in damages to an 
 amount that would have crippled the coun- 
 try for years to come. Though we might 
 incur great losses by a civil war, yet there 
 would be no humiliation in it. What 
 chagrin may have been felt on both sides, 
 we could share it alike; and having set fire 
 to our estates and burned up each other's 
 houses, it would be our free fight and not 
 the business of any one else. We could put 
 our shoulders to the wheel after the fight 
 was over, and with the energy possessed by 
 no other people we could gather the frag- 
 ments of our greatness together again, and 
 become stronger than ever. There would 
 be no humiliation to the nation in such a 
 strife, and we would show the world at 
 large how impossible it would be for any 
 foreign army to land on our shores with- 
 out being exterminated. The naval officers 
 who gained success in the war of the rebel- 
 lion ought not to forget, amidst the honors 
 and rewards they won, how much they were 
 indebted to the herculean efforts of those 
 in the Navy Department for the support 
 they received under the most trying cir- 
 cumstances — how, after the first surprise of 
 being forced into a great war, and the slow 
 process of realizing the situation had been 
 passed, ships and guns were furnished as 
 if by magic; when at the beginning of the 
 war, few officers counted on obtaining com- 
 mands, and there was little prospect of our 
 acquiring a class of vessels that would be 
 impregnable against the heavy shot and 
 shell which the enemy seemed to possess 
 in abundance, even a year after the war 
 
 began. Yet all this was provided for in 
 less than a year. 
 
 Though the Navy Department has been 
 at times severely criticised by those in 
 opposition to it, yet the naval officers, as 
 a whole, can but acknowledge that, with the 
 exception of not keeping i^ace in the early 
 part of the war with the Confederates in tlie 
 building of heavy iron-clads, there was a 
 remarkable degree of efficiency in all the 
 civil branches of the Navy as well as in the 
 Navy afloat. 
 
 It would occupy a large space to enumer- 
 ate all that was done by the Department: 
 the difficulties overcome, the resources cre- 
 ated almost out of nothing, the opposition 
 of partisans, the strife that had to be con- 
 ciliated and the enemies that had to be op- 
 
 CAPTAIN H. A. "WISE, U. S. NAVY, CHIEF OF BURE.\U OF 
 ORDNANCE. 
 
 posed, out of all which grew up a Navy that 
 at one time bade defiance to France and 
 England, who, in consequence, let us alone 
 to work out our own destiny. 
 
 Among others who were in favor of build- 
 ing up an iron - clad navy were citizens 
 whose names should ever be remembered. 
 At the time when the greatest opposition 
 was being manifested against Ericsson's 
 invention, and the government would only 
 authorize the construction of the first 
 "Monitor" on a guarantee that she should 
 prove a success in battle, John A. Griswold, 
 Bushnell and Winslow, and Erastus Corn- 
 ing, came forward to the inventor's assist- 
 ance, and it was mainly due to the capital 
 furnished by these gentlemen that the 
 
364 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "Monitor" was ready in time to meet the 
 " Merrimac." It is thus seen that, although 
 there was a want of liberality in Congress, 
 our private citizens were more generous, 
 and would not let an invention which com- 
 mon-sense told them was invaluable, be lost 
 for want of money, even though they ran 
 the risk of losing all that they ventured. 
 
 Men frequently occupy subordinate posi- 
 tions where their lives are expended in car- 
 rying on important work which without 
 their services would result in failure. To 
 such men great credit is due, although they 
 generally receive but little. 
 
 Captain Henry A. Wise, Chief of the 
 Bureau of Ordnance in the Navj^ Depart- 
 ment, was one of those steady workers who 
 labored from the beginning to the end of the 
 
 
 HOKATIO BRIDGE, PAY DIRECTOR, U. S. NAVY, (CHIEF OF 
 BUBEAD OF PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING.) 
 
 war. Of him it may be truly said that the 
 right man was in the right place while he 
 occupied his important post. 
 
 Everything in Captain Wise's bureau 
 moved like clockwork, and ships and 
 squadrons lost no valuable time in waiting 
 for guns and ammunition. The occasions 
 were many in which commanding officers 
 paid the highest eulogiums to Captain 
 Wise's energy and ability, and he was 
 thoroughly appreciated by the head of the 
 Department and by Assistant Secretary 
 Fox. 
 
 The Board of Admirals convened at the 
 close of the civil war paid Captain Wise 
 the high compliment of recommending his 
 promotion to the grade of commodore, but 
 owing to the wording of the law Mr. Secre- 
 
 tary Welles did not feel himself authorized 
 to recommend to the President to send Cap- 
 tain Wise's name to the Senate. 
 
 Paymaster Horatio Bridge, Chief of the 
 Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, also 
 made his mark in the Navy Department un- 
 der the administration of Mr. Welles. He 
 was Paymaster-General and Commissary- 
 General of the Navy, and had over six hun- 
 dred vessels-of-war of all classes to keep 
 supplied. This important duty he performed 
 in a most satisfactory manner, and his ex- 
 ertions contributed much to the success of 
 naval operations. 
 
 Surgeon P. J. Horintz, Chief of the Bureau 
 of Medicine and Surgery, displayed marked 
 ability in the Management of the Bureau 
 over which he presided. Of the importance 
 of the duties of Surgeon-General, particu- 
 larly in time of war, it is not necessary to 
 speak, and we can only say that Dr. Horintz 
 did his duty in a most satisfactory manner. 
 
 To Rear- Admiral Joseph Smith, Chief of 
 the Bureau of Yards and Docks, the coun- 
 try was largely indebted for the practical 
 advice which he gave the Department, the 
 fruit of his long and varied experience. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Smith, with the other offi- 
 cers whom Mr. Secretary Welles had to 
 assist him, formed a fine combination, and 
 although the former was advanced in years 
 at the breaking out of the war, and not very 
 robust, yet he was ever punctual in the 
 performance of his duties. 
 
 Such men as we have mentioned assisted 
 greatly in lightening the labors of the ven- 
 erable Secretary of the Navy, and enabled 
 him to carry the Navy successfully through 
 a great crisis. 
 
 It was sometime in April, 1862, that the 
 Department determined to build up an iron- 
 clad navy on the Ericsson idea, and by De- 
 cember of that year twenty single-turreted 
 Monitors were contracted for, or under con- 
 struction, all their plans having been made 
 ready for the assembling of Congress. 
 These vessels were to be of about 614 tons 
 displacement, excepting a few of 844 tons. 
 They were very much larger than the orig- 
 inal •' Monitor"' and were designed to carry 
 two 15-inch guns in a revolving turret. The 
 idea of the first " Monitor" was carried out 
 m these vessels to a great extent, but with 
 such modifications as experience warranted. 
 The side-armor was five inches thick, fast- 
 ened to a three -foot oak backing, and the 
 turrets of eleven 1-inch plates, bolted to- 
 gether with all the skill and ingenuity 
 American mechanics were capable of. 
 
 There were also contracted for, or under 
 construction, four double-turreted Monitors, 
 to be armed with four 15-inch guns, the 
 object of the government in building these 
 vessels being to provide a turreted ocean- 
 cruiser. They were large vessels of 1,564 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 305 
 
 tons displacement, 257 feet in length, and 
 56 feet in breadth, and drawing about 18 
 feet of water. The side-armor was equal to 
 11 inches of solid iron, not counting the 
 wood backing; the turrets were 12 inches 
 thick, of laminated plates. Weight of broad- 
 side 1,800 pounds, more than equalling the 
 broadsides of the heaviest French or Eng- 
 lish frigate. 
 
 This was a wonderful step for the Navy- 
 Department to take after hesitating so long 
 over the contract for the first "Monitor," 
 but that little vessel had so effectually dem- 
 onstrated her capability of coping with the 
 great leviathan of the Confederacy that 
 there was no longer, as regarded the Moni- 
 tor system, a pin to hang a doubt on. It 
 was evident that the principle could be car- 
 ried out to any extent, and that vessels-of- 
 war of this construction could be built to 
 cross the ocean and withstand the heaviest 
 weather. 
 
 Nine of the single-turreted Monitors were 
 pushed to completion for the purpose of tak- 
 ing Charleston, and for such other work as 
 could not be accomplished by wooden ships. 
 
 From the time Rear- Admiral Dupont took 
 command of the squadron, Charleston had 
 been closely watched from outside the bar, 
 and the whole southern coast blockaded to 
 the satisfaction of the Department. 
 
 This was good work to accomplish from 
 November, 1861, to October, 1862, for it in- 
 cluded, in addition to keeping up a vigorous 
 blockade, a great many expeditions against 
 the enemy in the numerous sounds and in- 
 lets; and these expeditions had often to be 
 undertaken at the risk of neglecting the 
 blockade for a day or two. 
 
 The Navy Department had not yet been 
 supplied with a sufficient number of vessels 
 to comply with all the demands made upon 
 it. There was a large amount of coast 
 under blockade from the capes of Virginia 
 to the Rio Grande in Texas, and every 
 commander of a squadron was applying for 
 more vessels to enable him to carry out his 
 instructions. 
 
 The great desire of Secretary Welles had 
 been for the Navy to capture Charleston, 
 the original seat of insurrection and dis- 
 union. Preparations were made for the 
 occupation of the harbor and the reduction 
 of the defences of this city. The comple- 
 tion of the iron-clad vessels was pushed 
 with all the power of the Department, 
 though it was found a difficult matter to 
 urge the contractors to move faster than 
 their limited means would pei-mit. It was 
 a new work on which they were engaged, 
 and it was necessary to feel the way for 
 fear of making mistakes; besides, in almost 
 all cases, it was necessary to get up a new 
 plant. 
 
 In order to enable Rear- Admiral Dupont 
 
 to carry out the wishes of the Department, 
 his squadron was now re-inforced hx the 
 following iron-clads : "New Ironsides," 
 "Weehawken," "Montauk." "Keokuk," 
 "Patapsco," "Nahant," "Nantucket" and 
 " Catskill." This was a powerful fleet, and 
 the Secretary of the Navy depended upon it 
 to close the port of Charleston so effectively 
 that nothing in the shape of an enemy could 
 get in or out; and finally, if opportunity of- 
 fered, to make an attack on the batteries, 
 remove the obstructions, and go on up to 
 the city. 
 
 The "New Ironsides" carried sixteen 11- 
 inch guns and one heavy rifle; the Monitors 
 each carried one 15-inch and one 11-inch 
 gun (except one that carried a heavy rifle 
 instead of the 11-inch). 
 
 This was the force that would be called 
 into play in case Dupont determined to 
 attack the batteries, and with which he 
 was expected to be victoi-ious. For after 
 the fight of the "Monitor" with the "Mer- 
 rimac," and her success, theturreted vessels 
 had grown in favor with all classes of 
 people, and many ran to the other extreme 
 of supposing that the Monitors were invul- 
 nerable, that all they had to do was to 
 haul up alongside the Confederate fortifi- 
 cations and drive the gunners away. 
 
 Some of these vessels arrived at Charles- 
 ton bar as early as January, 1863, and Du- 
 pont, who was a sagacious and prudent 
 officer, considered it his duty, before com- 
 mencing any important operations, to have 
 them tested to see what their turrets and 
 hull would bear, and to ascertain whether 
 anything could be done to improve their 
 defensive power. 
 
 The turret principle had only been tried 
 once in battle, and then only against guns 
 the largest of which were the 7-inch rifles 
 in the bow and stern of the "Merrimac," 
 neither of which, it is clear, ever struck 
 the " Monitor" in hull or turret. To deter- 
 mine this point. Commander John L. Wor- 
 den was sent down to Ossabaw Sound to 
 operate up the Great Ogeechee River and 
 capture, if he could, a fort at Genesee Point, 
 under cover of which the steamer " Nash- 
 ville " was lying, fltted out as a privateer, 
 and onh^ waiting an opportunity to get to 
 sea and prey upon Federal commerce. He 
 was also instructed to destroy the railroad 
 at that point, if successful in taking the fort 
 and destroying the " Nashville." 
 
 Commander Worden arrived off the bar 
 at Ossabaw Sound on Januarj^ 24th, 1863, 
 but a thick fog prevailed at the time, and 
 the " Montauk " did not get under-way and 
 stand up the river until the next morning. 
 When just outside of the range of Fort Mc- 
 Allister's guns Worden again anchored, 
 and was there joined by the gun-boats 
 "Seneca," " Wissahickon," and "Dawn." 
 
366 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORF 
 
 The enemy had range- stakes or buoys 
 planted in the river, and a boat expedition 
 under the command of Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Davis was sent up to destroy them, 
 and any obstructions or torpedoes that he 
 might find in the way. 
 
 At 7 A. M., on the 37th, Commander 
 Worden got underway with the " Montauk" 
 (the gun-boats following), moved up to 150 
 yards below the obstructions — anchored — 
 and opened tire on the fort. The enemy 
 returned the "Montauk's" fire very briskly 
 at first, no doubt wondering what kind of 
 a nondescript they were firing at. After 
 about an hour's practice the " Montauk " 
 had the enemy's range so well that his fire 
 began to slacken. At 11.15, a. m., all the 
 shells of the " Montauk " had been expended 
 and solid shot had to be used in their stead — 
 but as they did not seem to have the same 
 effect upon the enemy as the sliells, Com- 
 mander Worden, considering that he was 
 throwing away ammunition, got underway 
 and stood down the river, accompanied by 
 his consorts. 
 
 The practice of the Confederates during 
 this battle was very fine, striking the " Mon- 
 tauk " a number of times but doing no dam- 
 
 age, and towards the end only firing at 
 intervals. The report does not say what 
 weight of shot or shell the enemy fired, 
 whether smooth-bore or rifle, or how many 
 times, or in what part of the vessel, the 
 "Montauk" was struck; but we presume 
 that Commander Worden was satisfied 
 with the result of his experiment, and so 
 reported to Rear- Admiral Dupont. 
 
 Worden, whose experience in the lighter 
 "Monitor" at Hampton Roads ought to 
 have made him a good judge of the strength 
 of the " Montauk " on this occasion, seemed 
 to treat the matter lightly, and it is prob- 
 able that he thought his vessel would give 
 a good account of herself when she was 
 brought into action against the Charleston 
 defenses. 
 
 As no battle of the war has been so closely 
 criticised as the one between our iron-clads 
 and the forts at Charleston, we will give a 
 separate chapter to the operations of Rear- 
 Admiral Dupont while he commanded at 
 that point. 
 
 In the next chapter we will also give an 
 account of such events as occurred prior to 
 this attack, which cannot help but be inter- 
 esting to the reader. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 Capture of the "Princess Royal."— Remarks on Blockading the Southern Ports, 
 
 AND THE DIFFICULTY in PREVENTING BlOCKADE-RUNNERS GETTING IN AND OUT. — ATTACK 
 
 ON Blockading Vessels before Charleston by Confederate Rams. — Surrender 
 
 OF THE U. S. S. "MeRCEDITA." — "KEYSTONE StATE " DISABLED BY THE RaMS, WHICH 
 AFTERWARDS ATTACK THE " AUGUSTA," " QuAKER CiTY" AND " MEMPHIS."— RaMS 
 
 escape chased by the " juniata." — confederates claim the blockade is raised. 
 — The Claim not admitted and the Blockade Strengthened. — Capture of the Gun- 
 boat "Isaac Smith." — The Iron-clad "Montauk," Commander John L. Worden, 
 
 ENGAGES the FoRTS AT OGEECHEE RiVER. — CONFEDERATE STEAMER " NaSHVILLE " DE- 
 STROYED BY THE "Montauk" and other Vessels. — Iron-clads "Passaic," "Pa- 
 
 TAPSCO " AND ' ' NaH ANT " ATTACK FORT Mc ALLISTER. — SINKING VESSELS ON CHARLESTON 
 
 Bar as Obstructions. — Expectations of the Navy Department from the Iron-clad 
 Vessels. — Admiral Dupont attacks the Batteries in Charleston Harbor, April 7, 
 1863. Description of the Harbor of Charleston. — Order of Admiral Dupont 
 PREVIOUS TO Attacking the Forts.— List of Iron-clads engaged in the Attack. — 
 Iron-clads Retire before the heavy Fire op the Batteries. — The " Keokuk" dis- 
 abled AND afterwards SUNK. — LiST OF DAMAGES TO THE IrON-CLADS. — COMPARISON 
 BETWEEN THE GUNS ON ShORE AND THOSE AFLOAT. — ViEW OF THE CaSE. — REFLECTIONS 
 
 ON Chief Engineer Stimer's Letter to the Navy Department.— -Difficulties en- 
 countered BY the Monitors. — Misrepresentations of the Attack on Charleston. 
 — General Ripley's Instructions for Repelling the Federal Attack on Charles- 
 ton. — Correspondence between President Lincoln and Admiral Dupont, and 
 between Mr. Secretary Welles and Admiral Dupont. — Admiral Dupont retires 
 TO Port Royal. — Combined Attack of Army and Navy on Buffington. — Capture 
 OF Confederate Iron-clad "Atlanta" by the U. S. S. "Weehawken." — Admiral 
 Dupont Retires from Command of the South Atlantic Squadron and is Suc- 
 ceeded by Rear- Admiral Dahlgren. — Secretary Welles' Letter to Rear- 
 Admiral Dupont on his Giving up his Command. — List of Officers who served 
 UNDER Admiral Dupont. 
 
 OPERATIONS commenced in Janu- shore in a north-west direction, guided by a 
 ary, 1863, by some of the vessels of rocket thrown up apparently by the "Blunt," 
 Rear - Admiral Dupont's squadron and indicating the course of a vessel at- 
 capturing a large blockade-running tempting to run the blockade. After pro- 
 steamer, which proved to be one of ceeding inshore a mile and a half, a steamer 
 the most valuable prizes of the war. was observed from the " Unadilla " stand- 
 To show the nature of the blockading ing along close to the shore, and heading 
 service, it may not be uninteresting to give for Charleston. Two shots were fired at her 
 an account of the capture of the above- by the "Unadilla," when the strange 
 mentioned vessel. steamer changed her course and ran upon 
 On the morning of the 29th of January a the beach, where she was immediately 
 blue light was observed from the U. S. S. taken possession of. The prize proved to be 
 "Unadilla," Lieutenant-Commander S. P. the iron steam-propeller "Princess Royal," 
 Quackenbush, in an easterly direction, sup- four days out from Bermuda — one of the 
 posed to be from the U. S. S. " Blunt." The principal depots of the blockade-runners 
 " Unadilla " slipped her cable and stood in — loaded with rifle-guns, small-arms, am- 
 
368 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 munitioii, steam-engines for iron-clads, etc., 
 etc. 
 
 Thus was the Confederacy kept afloat by 
 our cousins across the water, not so much 
 from sympathy with the Southern people as 
 from a desire to obtain cotton, which was 
 so necessary for them to have to keep their 
 mills going and prevent a revolt of the 
 factory operatives. The English Govern- 
 ment did nothing to prevent blockade-run- 
 ning, and doubtless considered it a fair 
 business enterprise. If a vessel got safely 
 in past the blockaders, her cargo sold at 
 a large profit, and she loaded with cotton, 
 worth three times as much as the ingoing 
 cargo. There was great excitement as well 
 
 blockade - running continued, the task of 
 putting down the Rebellion was greatly in- 
 creased, and it could only be prevented by 
 the untiring energy and watchfulness of the 
 Navy, incited somewhat by the hope of 
 prize-money, which is a great incentive to 
 extra exertions in time of war both to 
 officers and men. Blockade-runners were 
 captured in large numbers, and the vessels 
 and cargoes condemned by our Admiralty 
 Courts, without protest from the British 
 Government. 
 
 There was plenty of timber in the South, 
 and the Southerners could build vessels as 
 fast as Perry did on Lake Erie, but they could 
 not build engines of the kind they required. 
 
 SUBEENDER OF THE U. S. STEAMER " MERCEDITA " TO THE CONFEDERATE RAM, "PALMETTO STATE," OFF CHAKLESTON 
 
 HARBOR. JAN. 31, 1863. 
 
 as profit to the hardy Britons who engaged 
 in this trade. 
 
 In some respects the Confederates had ad- 
 vantages superior to our own. The markets 
 of Europe were glutted with rifled guns and 
 engines, and almost all the blockade-runners 
 carried rifled field-guns for the Confederates, 
 while the conservative Army and Navy 
 Departments of the North felt it due to the 
 people that all the implements of war should 
 be made at home. The result was that the 
 Confederates at an early stage of the war 
 had their forts partly armed with heavy 
 rifled guns, while in our vessels-of-war a 
 rifled gun was an exception. 
 
 It was plainly to be seen that, as long as 
 
 The British merchants who went into 
 blockade-running with such alacrity proba- 
 bly never dreamed of the facility with which 
 the United States Government could equip 
 a large number of vessels exactly calculated 
 to run down and capture their own. There 
 was another factor that these traders had 
 not taken into account — the watchfulness 
 and energy of the American naval officers, 
 who were ever on the alert, and would 
 either run the blockade-runners off the coast 
 or upon the beach, where they would fall 
 into Federal hands, often with their cargoes 
 in perfect order. This was the case with 
 the "Princess Royal," which was floated 
 off without sustaining the least injury, and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 369 
 
 "was fitted up by the Navy Department as 
 a gun-boat, and performed good service, 
 under Commander M. B. Woolsey, at the 
 capture of the forts at Donaldsonville, 
 La. 
 
 During January, 1863, the harbor of 
 Charleston was not occupied by the Federal 
 squadron, but the vessels lay outside the 
 bar, keeping a bright look-out. Towards 
 the end of the month two of the heaviest 
 ships, the "Powhatan" and " Canandai- 
 gua," had to proceed to Port Royal for coal, 
 leaving some lighter vessels to continue the 
 blockade. The Confederates had two iron- 
 clad rams, the "Chicora" and "Palmetto 
 State," under Commodore D. N. Ingraham, 
 in Charleston Harbor, and on the 31st of 
 January, about 4 a. m., they succeeded in 
 crossing the bar unperceived in the darkness 
 and attacked the " Mercedita," Captain H. 
 S. Stellwagen, which had just returned from 
 the chase of a strange vessel. 
 
 The captain was below, and Lieutenant- 
 Commander Abbott in charge of the deck, 
 when the faint appearance of a vessel 
 showing black smoke was seen through 
 the gloom. All the Federal vessels burned 
 anthracite, while the Confederates and 
 blockade-runners burned bituminous coal, 
 the smoke from which can be seen even in 
 the darkness of night. 
 
 All hands were called to quarters, the cap- 
 tain appeared on deck, and saw what, for 
 all he knew, might be a tug belonging to the 
 squadron. The guns were trained on the 
 approaching stranger, who was then hailed 
 and ordered to heave-to. The answer to the 
 first hail from the ' ' Mercedita " was ' ' Hello !" 
 The other replies were purposely indistinct, 
 and the stranger crashed into the Federal 
 vessels, with the reply, " This is the Confed- 
 erate States' steam-ram, 'Palmetto State.'" 
 
 The order was given to fire, but no gun 
 could be brought to bear on the enemy as she 
 approached. At the moment of striking, the 
 "Palmetto State" fired a rifle-shell diago- 
 nally through the Federal steamer, which 
 penetrated the condenser, the steam-drum 
 of the port-boiler, and exploded against the 
 port-side of the vessel, making a hole four 
 or five feet square in its exit. The " Merce- 
 dita" was instantly enveloped in vapor, while 
 cries came from below: "Shot through 
 the boiler! Fires put out — gunner and one 
 man killed and a number fatally scalded — 
 water over fire-room floor — vessel sinking 
 fast ! The ram has cut us through at and 
 below water line, and the shell has burst 
 at the water line on the other side !" 
 
 This was appalling information, and it 
 must be a well-trained crew that would 
 not feel nervous at such intelligence. Cap- 
 tain Stellwagen could do nothing, for the 
 enemy's ram was under his counter. He had 
 made a mistake in not firing on the stranger 
 
 as soon as she appeared, for none but an en- 
 emy would have approached so stealthily. 
 
 He should have had steam up and chain 
 ready to slip at a moment's notice. No one 
 expected that the enemy's rams would dare 
 cross the bar, but the same love of adventure 
 existed in the Confederate navy as in the 
 Federal, and this affair was another illustra- 
 tion of the importance of never underrating 
 a foe. 
 
 After the "Palmetto State" struck the 
 "Mercedita" she swung round under the 
 latter's counter, and the Confederate com- 
 mander called out, "Surrender, or I will sink 
 you!" Captain Stellwagen replied, "I can 
 make no resistance, my boiler is destroyed." 
 "Then, do you surrender?" inquired the 
 other. "I do," replied Stellwagen. 
 
 The Confederate commander hailed sev- 
 eral times for a boat to be sent him, threat- 
 ening to fire in case of further delay. Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Abbott then proceeded 
 on board the ram, where the parole of the 
 officers and crew of the " Mercedita " was 
 demanded; after receiving which, the ram 
 started in the direction of the "Keystone 
 State," which vessel and three other block- 
 aders Captain Stellwagen had tried to alarm 
 by burning signal-lights. 
 
 Soon after the ram left the "Mercedita " 
 the people on board that vessel saw a shell 
 from the " Keystone State " explode against 
 her armor, and several shells from the ram 
 hit the "Keystone State," followed by smoke 
 and vapor, which poured from the latter. 
 The firing then receded to the north and 
 east and finally died away, and it was sup- 
 posed the ram had engaged all the block- 
 ading vessels in turn. 
 
 The commanding officer of the " Merce- 
 dita " now set to work to save his vessel, 
 about which nothing had been said on 
 board the ram. The enemy supposed the 
 vessel was sinking, and probably thought 
 those on board could take care of themselves. 
 In two hours repairs were made, and with 
 the assistance of the " Stettin " and " Flag " 
 the "Mercedita" reached Port Royal. 
 
 When the "Keystone State" was attacked. 
 Commander Le Roy gallantly returned the 
 enemy's fire, but the ram lodged a shell in 
 the fore-hold of his vessel, which set the 
 " Keystone State " on fire and obliged her to 
 shear off till it could be extinguished. By 
 this time the ram "Chicora," Commander 
 John R. Tucker, had attacked the "Key- 
 stone State" and Le Roy turned upon the 
 enemy, and putting on full steam ran right 
 for one of the rams at the rate of twelve 
 knots an hour, when a shell from the enemy 
 penetrating both steam-chests rendered the 
 "Keystone State" powerless. Two rifle- 
 shells burst on the quarter-deck, but most 
 of them struck the hull, and there were two 
 feet of water in the hold; but some of the 
 
370 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 other vessels of the blockading squadron 
 now came to the assistance of the ' ' Keystone 
 State" and took her in tow. These vessels 
 were the " Augusta," Commander E. G. Par- 
 rott, the "Quaker City," Commander J. M. 
 Frailey, and the "Memphis," Acting-Lieu- 
 tenant P. G. Watmough. 
 
 All these steamers kept up a brisk fire on 
 the enemy's rams while the "Keystone 
 State" was towed out of their reach. The 
 "Augusta "and "Quaker City "were both 
 struck in their hulls, but the "Memphis" 
 only in her rigging. 
 
 As daylight approached, the rams hauled 
 off to the north-west, chased by the U. S. S. 
 " Juniata," and anchored inside the shoals 
 of the swash-channel, their commanders 
 doubtless thinking they had done enough 
 for one night and that they must reserve 
 their strength for a future occasion. 
 
 On board the "Mercedita" there were 
 twenty killed and as many wounded, a 
 number being scalded to death, among 
 whom was Assistant Surgeon Jacob H. 
 Gotwold and his steward. It was a heavy 
 list of killed and wounded for so short an 
 engagement, but the Confederates wasted 
 very few shots, and the striking of the 
 boilers of two of the Federal vessels was no 
 doubt a matter of calculation and not mere 
 accident. 
 
 The attack of the Confederate rams on 
 the Union squadron was a gallant affair, 
 and the one that encountered the "Merce- 
 dita" might have sunk that vessel while 
 the commanding officer was hesitating to 
 answer the hails. After disabling the ' ' Mer- 
 cedita " and encountering four other vessels, 
 finding doubtless that the Federal ships were 
 too numerous to be agreeable, the rams 
 moved off uninjured and sought the safety 
 of well-known channels. Admiral Dupont 
 was much chagrined when he received the 
 news of this engagement; but a nation can- 
 not expect to carry on a war with a skillful 
 and energetic enemy without mishaps, es- 
 pecially under circumstances like the above, 
 where the Confederates could slip out in the 
 darkness, make a dash at the blockading 
 vessels and retire when necessary to do so. 
 
 The Confederate authorities endeavored 
 to make great capital out of this affair, 
 and General Beauregard, who commanded 
 the defences, proclaimed officially that the 
 blockade had been raised, as the United 
 States Navy was powerless to maintain 
 it. However, next morning, the blockading 
 vessels were at their posts as usual, ready 
 to prevent the ingress or egress of any 
 vessel. 
 
 The claim of the Confederates that the 
 blockade had been raised by the raid of 
 their two rams was, of course, absurd. To 
 raise a blockade, it would be necessary to 
 drive away the blockading vessels alto- 
 
 gether and hold the positions they occupied, 
 yet, strange to say, the foreign consuls at 
 Charleston, and an officer commanding one 
 of Her Britannic Majesty's ships-of-war, 
 united in a statement that the blockade of 
 Charleston had been raised ! 
 
 The "New Ironsides," "Powhatan," and 
 " Canandaigua " were immediately added 
 to the force off Charleston, which, without 
 further argument, settled the question. The 
 port of Charleston remained blockaded more 
 closely than ever, and it was generally ac- 
 cepted by the world that the gentlemen who 
 had put their names to a paper stating the 
 blockade had been raised had prostituted 
 their offices, by giving currency to a state- 
 ment which could not have been forced 
 upon their conviction as truth. 
 
 CAPTAIN PEKCrVAL DRAYTON, U. S. N. 
 
 On the 1st of February Admiral Dupont 
 received notice of the capture of a gun- 
 boat. It seems that the " Isaac Smith," 
 Acting-Lieuteuant-Commanding F. S. Con- 
 over, was sent up Stone River to make a 
 reconnaissance. No enemy was seen; but 
 when the vessel was on her way back three 
 concealed batteries opened a concentrated 
 fire on her from heavy rifle-guns. The 
 gun-boat " McDonough," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Bacon, was at anchor down the 
 river, and on hearing the firing got under- 
 way, and went to the assistance of the 
 "Isaac Smith;" but owing to the number, 
 position and weight of the enemy's guns 
 could render no aid without the certainty 
 of losing his own vessel. The " Isaac Smith " 
 was aground and enveloped in a cloud of 
 vapor, and the "McDonousrh" was soon 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 371 
 
 driven off by the superior range of the 
 enemy's fire. 
 
 The commanding officer of the " Isaac 
 Smith" endeavored to get out of the trap in 
 which he found himself by dropping below 
 the batteries; but for upwards of a mile, on 
 account of a bend in the river, the vessel 
 was subjected to a raking fire of 30 guns, 
 and was only able now and then to answer 
 with her pivot-gun. To add to the difficulty, 
 a large number of concealed riflemen were 
 firing upon the vessel. Eight of the gun- 
 boat's crew were killed and 17 wounded. 
 But for the latter, the commanding officer 
 would have set fire to his vessel and escaped 
 with his officers and men; but to escape 
 with the vessel was impossible, and she 
 was therefore surrendered. 
 
 It may have been observed by the reader 
 that many cases occurred during the civil 
 war where vessels were entrapped as the 
 "Isaac Smith" was; but, as a rule, the 
 defence of these vessels was characterized 
 by great, courage. In such cases it was 
 not possible to ascertain the loss of the 
 enemy, and we abstain from unreliable con- 
 jectures. 
 
 It was impossible to circumvent the en- 
 emy without running such risks as were 
 encountered by the " Isaac Smith." " Noth- 
 ing venture, nothing have," is a maxim 
 which all should profit by who go to war. 
 Though now and then the Federals met 
 with losses of vessels, yet the experience 
 gained was beneficial and stimulated the 
 younger officers to deeds of daring, while 
 teaching them at the same time the necessity 
 of prudence. 
 
 On the 1st of February the "Montauk," 
 Commander John L. Worden, was ordered 
 to engage the forts at Ogeechee River, a 
 duty which was well performed; but the 
 Confederates shifted their guns from point 
 to point, as the range of the "Montauk" 
 improved, and finally the vessel withdrew 
 from action after expending a large amount 
 of ammunition and being struck thirty -nine 
 times without apparent injury. 
 
 The Confederate steamer "Nashville" 
 had been closely watched for eight months 
 by the blockading steamers "Wissahickon," 
 Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis, the 
 "Dawn," Lieutenant John S. Barnes, and 
 the "Seneca," Lieutenant-Commander Wil- 
 liam Gibson. The "Nashville" lay under 
 Fort McAllister loaded with cotton, and al- 
 though a swift and well-appointed steamer, 
 never ventured to run out. After several 
 months she withdrew up the Ogeechee River 
 and returned in the guise of a privateer, 
 presenting a formidable appearance. 
 
 Fort McAllister was strengthened and 
 the river lined with torpedoes to prevent 
 the ascent of vessels to attack the "Nash- 
 ville." 
 
 The vessel frequently came near the forts, 
 watching an opportunity to run out and 
 perform the part of the "Alabama" or 
 "Florida." The "Nashville" was armed 
 with a heavy pivot-gun, and, being fast, 
 would no doubt have rivalled the other 
 Confederate cruisers that had done so much 
 injury to our commerce. For this reason 
 she was closely watched, and it was as 
 great a triumph to dispose of such a craft 
 as it would have been to win a considerable 
 victory. 
 
 On the 27th of February, Commander 
 Worden, on making a reconnaissance, ob- 
 served that the " Nashville " had grounded 
 in that portion of the river known as "Seven 
 Mile Reach," and on the 28th at daylight the 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW EEAE-ADMIKAL) DAHIEL AMMEN. 
 
 " Montauk '" " Seneca " and " Dawn " moved 
 up the river. Worden was able to approach 
 within twelve hundred yards of the " Nash- 
 ville," though under a heavy fire from the 
 fort. The "Montauk" opened on the priva- 
 teer, while the gun-boats enfiladed the fort 
 at long range. 
 
 In a short time Commander Worden had 
 the satisfaction of seeing the " Nashville " 
 in flames from the shells exploding in dif- 
 ferent parts of her. The ' ' Nashville's" pivot- 
 gun was soon exploded by the heat, and in 
 a short time the vessel blew up with a ter- 
 rific crash. The fort continued a brisk fire 
 on the "Montauk," but only struck her five 
 times, and inflicted on her no damage what- 
 ever, which indicated that she was imper- 
 vious to shot and shell. A toroedo exnloded 
 
372 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 near the vessel as she dropped down the 
 river out of range of the enemy's guns, 
 but did no harm, and that night Commander 
 Worden had the satisfaction of reporting 
 to Rear- Admiral Dupont the destruction of 
 a vessel that might have proved as trouble- 
 some as the " Alabama." 
 
 It was deemed advisable to try the iron- 
 clads of the squadron in action with some 
 fort, so as to be certain of their impenetra- 
 bility, and fully test the working of the 
 turrets. Captain Percival Drayton, com- 
 manding the "Passaic," was directed to 
 proceed with the "Patapsco," Commander 
 Daniel Ammen, and the "Nahant," Com- 
 mander John Downes, up the Ogeechee 
 River, and make an attack on Fort McAl- 
 lister. 
 
 The fort had been subjected to three pre- 
 vious attacks from the "Montauk;" but 
 damages to earth-works are easily repaired, 
 and the work made stronger than ever, un- 
 less the guns have been dismounted, as dur- 
 ing a bombardment the weak points are 
 discovered and strengthened. 
 
 Fort McAllister was 20 feet above the 
 river, solidly built, with high traverses be- 
 tween the guns, protecting them from any- 
 thing but a direct fire. It contained one 10- 
 inch columbiad, a 100-pounder rifle, four 32- 
 pounders, and one Whitworth rifle, throwing 
 bolts. 
 
 The three vessels anchored 1,200 yards 
 below the fort, at 8 a. m., March 3, 1863, 
 opened fire, and, as Captain Drayton re- 
 ported, the parapets were much cut up and 
 large holes made by the bursting shell, but 
 no damage was done that could not be re- 
 paired in a few hours. 
 
 Captain Drayton did not consider the 
 fort nearly as great an obstacle to his ad- 
 vance as the piles which w ere driven in the 
 channel of the river, and which rendered it 
 impassable till they could be removed. 
 
 The iron-clads were subjected to the fire 
 of Fort McAllister for eight hours without 
 receiving any serious injury, but the same 
 tiling was true of the fort. 
 
 Captain Drayton expressed some mortifi- 
 cation at what he called his want of success 
 in this attack; but experience has proved 
 that iron-clads, although so valuable against 
 ships, or fortifications built of masonry, are 
 not so serviceable againsb earth-works as 
 vessels carrying a greater number of lighter 
 guns. 
 
 The power of the 15-inch gun as a breach- 
 ing force against masonry is considerable, 
 but against a work constructed of sand-bags 
 it has not the value of a 11-inch gun, and 
 nothing like the power of a 100-pounder 
 rifle for boring through the sand. Tlie 15- 
 inch gun in a turret is slow firing, not being 
 able to discharge oftener than once in five 
 minutes, while the breech-loading rifie can 
 
 be pointed and fired once a minute, which 
 in an hour would give 60 shots from the 
 rified-gun to 12 from the 15-inch. 
 
 While the iron-clads were turning their 
 turrets, the enemy would wait until the 
 port-holes appeared, would fire, knowing 
 the exact range, hide in their bomb-proofs 
 until the iron-clads had fired, then stand to 
 their guns again, until the port-holes once 
 more came round. 
 
 In attacking forts, in conjunction with 
 other vessels carrying many guns, iron-clads 
 are valuable for distances not exceeding 600 
 yards; but the initial velocity of the 15-inch 
 shot is only about 1,500 feet per second, 
 which is much reduced even at the distance 
 of 1,200 yards. At 800 yards a 15-inch shot 
 would not, with the charges assigned to the 
 gun, penetrate a 4-inch iron plate. 
 
 More was expected from our iron-clads 
 during the war than they had power to ac- 
 complish. Any one of them armed with 15- 
 inch guns could have destroyed a vessel like 
 the " Merrimac" in half an hour, but against 
 earth works, sand especially, none of the 
 monitor class were equal to the "New Iron- 
 sides," with her quick-firing batteries of 11- 
 inch guns. 
 
 All these matters were fully discussed 
 during the siege of Charleston. Admiral 
 Dupont had a great responsibility on his 
 shoulders, as he was the first officer to whom 
 these iron-clads had been assigned. He 
 was determined to leave nothing undone to 
 give these vessels a full trial to determine 
 their capabilities. It cannot be doubted 
 that the experience to which the iron-clads 
 had been subjected in the attack on Fort 
 McAllister afforded valuable information in 
 relation to their qualities, and several im- 
 perfections were detected which could be 
 remedied in other vessels of their class. 
 
 The capture of Fort McAllister, in itself, 
 was of no special importance, except, per- 
 haps, to prevent its protecting some other 
 privateer or blockade-runner. 
 
 Captain Drayton's opinion was that the 
 fire of the iron-clads was not effective, and 
 that the fort fired more rapidly towards the 
 end than it did at the beginning of the action. 
 
 In the demonstration against Fort Mc- 
 Allister it was discovered that the fuses for 
 the shells were not good, and the shells ex- 
 ploded at irregular intervals— a very impor- 
 tant matter to ascertain before the grand 
 engagement with the forts at Charleston 
 took place. The "Patapsco" carried one 
 15-inch gun, and one 150-pounder rifle. She 
 fired fourteen 15-inch shells and 46 shells 
 from the one 150-pounder rifle — over three 
 to one in favor of the rifle. 
 
 The "Nahant" was not struck by the 
 shells from Fort McAllister, the enemy- 
 seeming to concentrate his fire on the " Pas- 
 
 saic. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 373 
 
 Up to the 10th of March was a busy and 
 successful time with the blockaders of 
 Admiral Dupont's squadron. Two large 
 steamers, the "Queen-of-the-Wave " and the 
 "Georgian," loaded with munitions of war 
 for the Confederates, were destroyed, which 
 served to indicate that the blockade was 
 still effective. 
 
 As Charleston had taken the lead in the 
 movement for a division of the Union, the 
 government naturally desired that the laws 
 should be vindicated there at as early a date 
 as practicable, and the Navy Department 
 wished to have the'honor of bringing about 
 so desirable an end. Therefore, Assistant 
 Secretary Fox, with the approbation of the 
 Secretary of the Navy, directed all his 
 energies towards getting as large a number 
 of iron-clads as possible to Charleston to 
 
 COMMANDEK ("NOW EEAE-ADMIBAL) WILLIAM E. LE KOY. 
 
 enable Admiral Dupont to force his way 
 up to the city. 
 
 The harbor of Charleston had been closely 
 guarded and many blockade-runners cap- 
 tured, but the Confederates calculated to 
 strengthen their fortifications and add new 
 ones, so as to hold the hot-bed of secession 
 against all the forces that could be brought 
 to bear. 
 
 Besides establishing a close blockade, an 
 attempt had been made by the Federals to 
 obstruct the passage across the bar with 
 sunken vessels, which proved unsuccessful, 
 as the vessels soon disappeared in the quick- 
 sands, or the currents washed out new 
 channels. So the blockade-runners, though 
 closely watched, continued to run into 
 Charleston and supply the Confederacy 
 with munitions of war. 
 
 Several plans for the reduction of the 
 
 Confederate stronghold were proposed, but 
 none were thought advisable, and in the 
 absence of a large land force it seemed that 
 the duty must devolve entirely upon the 
 Navy. 
 
 This was a most serious task for the Navy 
 to undertake without any support from the 
 Army; but even at that stage of the war 
 the Government had not learned the im- 
 portance of using large land and naval 
 forces in conjunction when attacking 
 heavily fortified places — attacks which, 
 when conducted with good judgment, 
 seldom or ever failed. The Navy Depart- 
 ment was, doubtless, very willing to have 
 the co-operation of the Army, but they were 
 frequently unable to obtain it, and the War 
 Department did not attach the same im- 
 portance to the capture of Charleston as did 
 the Navy. 
 
 Much was expected of the iron vessels by 
 the Navy Department, and their hopes 
 were confirmed by the attacks on Fort Mc- 
 Allister, where none of the vessels were 
 seriously injured, and none of their crew 
 killed. The Department had been abused 
 for expending so much money on these 
 vessels, which their detractors affirmed 
 would perform no effective service, and 
 would founder, as the •' Monitor" had done ; 
 not taking into consideration the fact that 
 they were superior to the original ' • Moni- 
 tor," and that the defects of the latter had 
 been eliminated in these later structures. 
 The Department naturally wanted to show 
 that it had made no mistakes in this in- 
 stance , and they push ed on the work of prep- 
 aration regardless of the criticism of those 
 who were in favor of a different class of ves- 
 sel carrying more guns. Someof these de- 
 tractors were persons whose plans had been 
 rejected, and who thought there was no 
 other mode but their own of bringing the 
 contumacious city under subjection. 
 
 On the other hand, the Department had 
 rather too much faith in these vessels, and 
 was inclined to expect from them more than 
 they could perform, and was. therefore, 
 disinclined to listen to the advice of offi- 
 cers who, by their standing and length 
 of service, were entitled to consideration. 
 Almost everybody admitted the value of the 
 turret-vessels as harbor defences, but many 
 doubted their efficiency against the earth- 
 works of Charleston. 
 
 Admiral Dup.ont was pressed by the Navy 
 Department to attack the batteries, and on 
 the 7th of April, 1863, he determined to at- 
 tempt what he was far from certain would 
 be a success, in order to carry out the wishes 
 of the government, and meet, if possible, the 
 public expectations. 
 
 To understand the harbor of Charleston, 
 with its intricate shoals and channels, re- 
 quires the study of a chart. In some respects 
 
374 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 it resembles the harbor of New York, al- 
 though it is on a much smaller scale. The 
 city of Charleston stands on a neck of land, 
 bounded by two rivers, and projecting into 
 a narrow bay. The bay was protected by 
 Fort Pinkney, Fort Ripley, Fort Moultrie, 
 Fort Beauregard. Fort Sumter, Battery Bee, 
 Battery Gregg, Battery Wagner, etc. These 
 defences were so placed that a vessel at- 
 tempting to pass Sumter would be under a 
 cross-fire from them all. every fort being 
 armed with the heaviest and most destruc- 
 tive ordnance then known. 
 
 After crossing the bar. there were several 
 channels leading into Charleston harbor — 
 the "Main-Ship Channel," "North Chan- 
 nel" and "Swash Channel." In taking 
 either of these, a vessel would be under a 
 raking and cross fire. Should she get by 
 Sumter, she would still be subjected to a 
 raking fire from that work and the works 
 on the upper part of Sullivan's Island — from 
 Battery Gregg, Fort Johnson, Fort Ripley 
 and Castle Pinkney, and some smaller bat- 
 teries. To run past these defences, if there 
 were no obstructions in the channel, would 
 be much easier with a small squadron than 
 to stop and give the forts battle with iron- 
 clads. This fact was established during 
 the civil war, and the subject has been ably 
 treated in a work published in 1868 by Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Von Slieliha. 
 
 Before proceeding to attack the defences 
 of Charleston, Rear- Admiral Dupont issued 
 the following order: 
 
 The bar -will be buoyed by the " Keokuk," Com- 
 mander Rhind, assisted by C. O. Boutelle, Assistant 
 United States Coast Survey, t'ommanding the 
 "Bibb," by Acting-Ensign Piatt, and by the pilots 
 of the fleet. 
 
 The commanding officers will, pi-evious to cross- 
 ing, make themselves acquainted with the value of 
 the buoys. 
 
 The vessels, on signal being made, will form in 
 the prescribed order ahead at intervals of one cable's 
 length. 
 
 The squadron will pass up the Main Ship Chan- 
 nel without returning the fire of the batteries on 
 Morris Island, unless signal should be made to com- 
 mence action. 
 
 The ships will open fire on Fort Sumter when 
 within easy range, and will take up a position to 
 the northward and westward of that fortification, 
 engaging its left or north-west face at a distance 
 of from 600 to 800 yards, firing low, and aiming at 
 the centre embrasure. 
 
 The commanding officers will instruct their ofB- 
 cers and men to carefully avoid wasting a shot, and 
 will enjoin upon them the necessity of precisicm 
 rather than rapidity of fire. 
 
 Bach ship will be ready to render assistance to 
 any vessel that may require it. 
 
 The special code of signals jjrepared for the iron- 
 clads will be used in action. 
 
 After the reduction of Fort Sumter, it is probable 
 that the next point of attack will be the batteries on 
 Morris Island. 
 
 The line of battle will be in line ahead, as follows : 
 
 1. "Weehawken," Captain John Rodgers. 
 
 2. "Passaic," Captain Percival Drayton. 
 
 3. " Montauk," Captain John L. Worden. 
 
 4. " Patapsco," Commander Daniel Ammen. 
 
 5. "New Ironsides," Captain T. Turner. 
 
 6. "Catskill," Commander G. W. Rodgers. 
 
 7. "Nantucket," Commander D. M Fairfax. 
 
 8. "Nahant," Commander John Downes. 
 
 9. "Keokuk," Commander A. C. Rhind. 
 
 A squadron of vessels, of which Captain J. F. 
 Green will be the senior officer, will be formed out- 
 side the bar, near to the entrance buoy, consisting 
 of the following vessels: " Canandaigua," "Housa- 
 tonic," "Huron, " Unadilla," " Wissahickon," and 
 will be held in readiness to support the iron-clads 
 when they attack the batteries on Morris Island. 
 
 S. F. Dupont, 
 Rear-Admiral commanding South-Atlantic Block- 
 ading Squadron. 
 
 When Admiral Dupont lioisted his flag 
 on board the " New Ironsides," he took with 
 him his personal staff, who remained with 
 him during the operations at Charleston. 
 To the officers of the staff he pays the high- 
 est encomiums for the assistance they ren- 
 dered him in the battle and otherwise. They 
 were as follows: 
 
 Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, Fleet Cap- 
 tain; Lieutenant S. W. Preston, Flag Lieu- 
 tenant; Lieutenant A. S. Mackenzie, Ord- 
 nance Officer; Ensign M. L. Johnson, Aide 
 and Signal Officer. All these gentlemen 
 are mentioned with that warmth of feeling 
 which distinguished Dupont in cases where 
 officers under him performed their duty 
 faithfully. 
 
 On the 7th of April the vessels moved to 
 the attack, the " Weehawken " leading with 
 a torpedo raft in front. On the waj' up the 
 Main Ship Channel, the leading vessel 
 passed a number of buoys indicating tor- 
 pedoes, one of which exploded near the 
 "Weehawken," without, however, doing 
 any harm. 
 
 At 2 p. M. , the squadron approached the 
 obstructions extending across the harbor 
 from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. These 
 were indicated by several lines of casks, be- 
 3'-ond which piles were seen extending 
 "from James Island to the Middle Ground." 
 
 At 2.50 p. M., the guns of Fort Moultrie 
 opened upon the "Weehawken," followed 
 shortly after by Fort Sumter, and all the 
 batteries on Sullivan's Island. 
 
 Being unable to pass the obstructions, 
 the iron-clads were obliged to turn, which 
 threw the line into confusion. The flag- 
 ship became entangled with the Monitors, 
 and could not bring her batteries to bear on 
 the enemy without danger of firing into 
 them. The " New Ironsides " was compelled 
 to anchor twice to prevent going ashore, 
 — on one of these occasions the Monitors 
 and the "Keokuk " were able to get within 
 easy range of Fort Sumter— at distances 
 varying from 550 to 800 yards— in which 
 position they were subjected to a fire from 
 the batteries on Sullivan's Island, Morris 
 Island and Sumter. 
 
 The effect of tlie concentrated firp r.f the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 375 
 
 forts on the Monitors would have been 
 bewildering to officers and men whose 
 nerves were not of the strongest kind. The 
 enemy had been anxiously looking forward 
 to the time when they could get the Federal 
 iron-clads in just such a position, and their 
 only apprehension was that the opportunity 
 would not be offered them. The Confeder- 
 ate engineers felt that it would be impossible 
 for any force of vessels such as the Federals 
 possessed to pass the forts and obstructions 
 to Charleston. Owing to repeated practice 
 at targets, the Confederate officers felt cer- 
 tain of planting two out of three of their 
 heaviest shots on the Monitors' turrets at 
 the rate of sixty shots a minute. 
 
 The trial of the Monitors before Fort 
 McAllister afforded no real test of their en- 
 durance, for there could be no comparison 
 between such a work as McAllister and the 
 defences of Charleston. The fire on the iron- 
 clads was such as an equal number of the 
 heaviest European ships-of-war could not 
 have withstood many minutes. 
 
 The severity of the fire was shown by the 
 effect on the Monitors and the sinking of 
 one of their number, and yet the vessels re- 
 tired from the conflict without confusion. 
 
 That attack will always stand the sever- 
 est criticism from those disposed to be hy- 
 percritical; and those capable of judging 
 will admit that it was conducted with skill 
 and judgment. It was very well in those 
 who could sit in their cosy arm-chairs and 
 direct great naval and military movements, 
 who seldom reflect that while undertaking 
 to direct battles from a distance they are 
 meddling with that which properly should 
 be managed by the professional leader, and 
 uselessly sacrificing the lives of officers and 
 men. 
 
 Admiral Dupont found it impossible, ow- 
 ing to currents and an unmanageable ship, 
 to place the " New Ironsides " where he de- 
 sired, although he was within one thousand 
 yards of Fort Sumter; night was coming 
 on, and the squadron in some disarray. 
 He therefore signalled the vessels to with- 
 draw from action, intending to renew the 
 engagement. 
 
 That evening the commanding officers of 
 the iron-clads visited the flag-ship to report 
 the condition of affairs on board their re- 
 spective vessels, which caused Admiral Du- 
 pont to change his mind about renewing the 
 attack next morning, for he was now satis- 
 fied that it was impossible to take Charles- 
 ton with the force under his command. 
 
 And here arises the question — Was it wise 
 to undertake so great a task as the capture 
 of Charleston at one blow ? It would have 
 been a good beginning to have taken Fort 
 Wagner. To have attacked that place eight 
 hundred yards to the southward would have 
 -nlacftd the snuadron two and a half miles 
 
 from the forts on Sullivan's Island and a 
 mile and three-quarters from Sumter. Of 
 course, if the iron-clads could not reduce 
 Wagner, it would be useless to attempt to 
 go up to the city. There was a great desire, 
 on the part of the Northern people, that 
 Charleston should be taken, and the officer 
 who could at that moment have captured 
 the place would have won unbounded popu- 
 larity. It was certainly the hardest task 
 undertaken by the Navy during the war. 
 In fact, without the co-operation of an 
 army, the taking of Charleston was an im- 
 possibility. 
 
 Charleston was approached by tortuous 
 channels filled with obstructions, that even 
 without the fortifications would have been 
 formidable to the squadron that went to at- 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAl) A. C. EHIND. 
 
 tack it. It is difficult to manoeuvre a squad- 
 ron in a narrow space with strong currents 
 running; how much more difficult must it 
 be, then, when crooked channels are filled 
 with obstructions ? 
 
 In such a case a Commander-in-chief is 
 entitled to use his own discretion, and not 
 undertake a movement against a place un- 
 less he is confident the obstructions are not 
 of a character to impede the progress of his 
 fleet. Had Dupont persevered and entan- 
 gled his vessels in the contrivances placed 
 in the channels for that purpose, those who 
 urged him on would have put the blame of 
 the necessary failure upon his shoulders. 
 He discontinued the attack in good time, 
 and let us see the result: 
 
 No shins had been exnosed to the sevprAst. 
 
37(3 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 fire of the enemy more than fortj' minutes, 
 yet in that brief period five iron-clads were 
 wholly or partially disabled. 
 
 Commander Rhind, in the " Keokuk," had 
 been able to fire only three times during the 
 period he was exposed to the guns of the 
 enemy, when he was obliged to withdraw 
 from action to prevent his vessel from sink- 
 ing, which event did happen on the follow- 
 ing morning. The '• Nahant," Commander 
 Downes, was seriously damaged, her turret 
 so jammed as to prevent its turning, many 
 of the bolts of both turret and pilot house 
 broken, and the latter rendered nearly un- 
 tenable by flying bolts and nuts. Captain 
 Drayton, in the " Passaic," after the fourth 
 fire from her 11-inch gun, found himself un- 
 able to use it again during the action. His 
 turret, also, became jammed, although he 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) D. Mc. N. FAIRFAX. 
 
 was finally enabled to get it in motion again. 
 Commander Ammen, of the "Patapsco," 
 lost the use of his rifled-gun after the fifth 
 fire, owing to the carrying away of the bolts 
 of the forward cap-square. Commander 
 Fairfax, of the "Nantucket," reports that 
 after the third shot from the 15-incli gun, 
 the port-stopper became jammed, several 
 shot striking near the port, driving in the 
 plates and preventing the further use of the 
 gun during the action. 
 
 The other iron-clads, although struck 
 many times, were still able to use their 
 guns, but it seems probable that in a short 
 time they would have been placed hors-de- 
 combat. 
 
 The position of the squadron was simply 
 that of being in a trap, and having to bear 
 the cross-fire of all the forts within a circle 
 
 of two miles. Only one hundred and thirty 
 shot and shell were fired by the iron-clads 
 during the action, while many hundred 
 were fired by the enemy, the character of 
 which is well described by a contemporary 
 writer, who remarks : 
 
 In order to more fully understand the terrible se- 
 verity of the fire to which these vessels were to be 
 exposed, it is necessary to consider some statements 
 in the circular of the Confederate General Kipley. 
 He mentions tliree circles of fire which had been 
 prepared for the reception of the fleet. He meant 
 that there were three points beyond each other in 
 passing up the harbor upon which circles the bat- 
 teries on shore would concentrate their fire as upon 
 a focus, and to these points the range of the guns 
 had been actually adjusted by experimental firing, 
 and the points were marked by guides, buoys and 
 obstructions, so that no shot could miss its mark. 
 
 The first focus of flre into wliich the fleet would 
 come was formed between Sumter and Moultrie. 
 Three obstructions of various kinds were placed 
 in and across the channel, through which it was 
 thought the fleet could not pass, and where the lead- 
 ing vessels being stopped the line would be thrown 
 into confusion, and the Monitors would be huddled 
 together and could be crushed by the concentrating 
 fire of the circle of forts and batteries. 
 
 According to the Confederate accounts seventy- 
 six guns bore on this single point, while our own 
 officers placed the number at a hundred. If now 
 it is considered that bearing on this spot were 7- 
 inch, 8-inoh, Brooke and Blakely rifies, 10-inch 
 columbiads, for which had been prepared square- 
 head bolts, with chilled ends, much heavier than 
 the ordinary shot, and guns for hot shot and shells 
 containing moulten iron, an idea may be formed of 
 what these iron-clads were to meet. The enemy's 
 guns, moreover, had been so tried that there could 
 be no random shooting. The Confederate plan of 
 defence lacked nothing which skill, experience and 
 science could suggest. 
 
 So far the writer whom we quote pictures 
 in glowing terms the difficulties with which 
 the Monitors would have to contend in an 
 attack on Charleston; but after stating the 
 damages received by the Federal vessels, 
 and quoting the opinions of all the princi- 
 pal officers that a continuation of the at- 
 tack would have resulted in the destruction 
 of the squadron, the chronicler suddenlv 
 changes his course, as if impressed by a 
 new idea, and attempts to show that a pro- 
 longation of the struggle would have led to 
 a Union victory, and that the opinions of 
 ten brave and experienced officers were of 
 no account whatever ! 
 
 There was no officer in the Navv whose 
 reputation stood higher than that of Du- 
 pout. He had gallantly won the first naval 
 battle of any importance in the war, and 
 had shown so much abilitv at Port Royal 
 as to entitle him to the full confidence of 
 the Government, and his opinions should 
 have been preferred in all matters relating 
 to his command to those of anv other per- 
 son. The belief was general^at the time 
 that Dupont was not well treated by the 
 Navy Department— a belief which prevails 
 in the Navy to this day. 
 
 When thfi Df>nart,mAnt rrvTv-imr^v^^^.^ l^„;i/^ 
 

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GENERAL MAP 
 
 OF 
 
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 SHEfTOfG COSFEDERA.TE DEFENCES AND OBSTEUCTlOirS. 
 
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 FORT syMTER. 
 
 CROSS SECTION OH THE FACE&. 
 
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 Sail.^.lOOEeol,li>IlniJ.. 
 
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 ScoJo, aOicettoXWiu 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 377 
 
 ing small Monitor - shaped vessels with 
 great rapidity, the Secretary and Assistant 
 Secretary of the Navy were unjustly as- 
 sailed from various quarters for adopting 
 the Monitor system in preference to all 
 others. 
 
 In this matter, Mr. Secretary Welles and 
 Mr. Pox showed good judgment, for the 
 "Keokuk," which was not a Monitor-built 
 vessel, was shattered so by the enemy's fire 
 at Charleston that in a few minutes she 
 withdrew from action to avoid sinking, and 
 did sink some hours afterwards from the 
 effects of the enemy's shot. 
 
 Having prepared these Monitors, the 
 Navy Department were naturally anxious 
 to prove to their detractors that this was 
 the right form of vessel to carry out the 
 ideas of the government; but the Depart- 
 ment did not take into consideration that 
 seven Monitors, each with two slow-firing 
 guns, were no match for seventy-six pieces 
 of ordnance of the heaviest calibre then in 
 use. If we further consider that half of the 
 guns in the Monitors were 11-inch, there 
 remained but seven 15-inch guns with which 
 to breach the masonry of Fort Sumter and 
 the thick earth- works of the numerous other 
 fortifications. 
 
 The Confederate accounts disagree in the 
 number of their guns, but it is probable that 
 in the aggregate they fell not much short of 
 a hundred. 
 
 In their anxiety to triumph over those 
 who had attacked them so unjustly, the 
 Navy Department required of Dupont more 
 than could be accomplished with his small 
 force, and did not pay that deference to 
 his opinion to which his reputation and 
 position entitled him. On Dupont alone 
 would have rested the responsibility of de- 
 feat had he entangled his vessels in the 
 meshes prepared to receive them, and ren- 
 dered them targets for the enemj^ to destroy 
 at their leisure. In that event there would 
 have been such an outcry at the North 
 against the Monitor system that the Navy 
 Department could not have withstood it. 
 All the blame would have been thrown 
 upon Dupont in the same way that the 
 blame of failing to continue his attack was 
 ascribed to him. 
 
 But the Navy did not look upon the ac- 
 tion of the 7th of April as a defeat, by any 
 means. It was a prudent withdrawal from 
 engagement with a force more than six 
 times its superior. It must not be forgot- 
 ten that the Monitors had to take position 
 and get their range under a most terri- 
 fic fire; and although none were so disabled 
 that they could not have resumed the ac- 
 tion next day, they were enough so to be 
 obliged to retire temporarily. 
 
 The difficulty lay in having too few ves- 
 sels to accomnlish so great a work — an 
 
 opinion which was generally acquiesced in 
 by those cognizant of the facts of the case. 
 It is now an axiom that, no matter how 
 strong you may build an iron-clad, guns can 
 be made that will knock her to pieces in a 
 given space of time. In the case of the 
 Monitors, the enemy had in forty minutes 
 weakened some of them, and an hour longer 
 would perhaps have made it necessary for 
 them to go to the machine-shop. 
 
 We do not consider the official report of 
 Chief Engineer A. C. Stimers to the Navy 
 Department as carrying any weight with it, 
 particularly in view of the terrible mistakes 
 made by that officer in tlie building of a 
 number of light-draft Monitors which were 
 consigned to the scrap-heap as worthless. 
 In his communication to the Navy Depart- 
 ment Mr. Stimers says: " In consideration of 
 the vast importance to our country that this 
 strongholdof the rebellion should be reduced, 
 I take the liberty to express to the Depart- 
 ment my firm opinion that the obstructions 
 could be readily passed with the means al- 
 ready provided, and our entire fleet of iron- 
 clads pass up successfully to the wharves at 
 Charleston, and that the Monitors will retain 
 sufficient enduring power to enable them to 
 pass all the forts and batteries which may 
 reasonably be expected." 
 
 Mr. Stimers also exjjressed great confi- 
 dence in the efficiency of the torpedo rafts 
 designed by Mr. Ericsson, for tlie purpose 
 of removing torpedoes and blowing up 
 obstructions, which the historian of the 
 Navy says "naval officers were unwilling 
 to use " 
 
 Mr. Stimers — or any other person in like 
 circumstances — could express what opinion 
 he pleased, as he had no responsibility in 
 the matter and was not likely to have any. 
 The intelligent reader will doubtless attach 
 more importance to the opinion of the Com- 
 mander-in-chief and his well-tried officers, 
 who always did their duty faithfully in 
 whatever situation they were placed. 
 
 To show that the commanding officers of 
 the Monitors did not lose their coolness, and 
 that they were not deficient in courage dur- 
 ing the time they were under the fire of so 
 many guns, it is only necessary to state the 
 accuracy of the fire of those vessels. One 
 hundred and twenty-four shots were fired at 
 Sumter, and during the engagement the 
 Monitors had to be kept in position to pre- 
 serve their range under the storm of shot 
 that was showered upon them. 
 
 The Confederate accounts state that fifty- 
 five of the Monitors' shot struck the walls of 
 Sumter, and others struck inside the works, 
 which was excellent practice considering 
 the situation. The firing also showed that 
 the 15-inch shot had a breaking force against 
 masonry that it did not possess against 
 earth-works. 
 
378 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 The distance at which the vessels were 
 from the fort is differently stated by the 
 Federal and Confederate officers, the former 
 placing it at 600, the latter at 1,000, yards. 
 As both were liable to error, we will take 
 the mean of the two, or 800 yards, as cor- 
 rect, at which distance both the 15-inch and 
 the 11-inch guns must have great breach- 
 ing power. Only two of the 15-inch shot 
 passed through the walls of Fort Sumter 
 and exploded — one in a casemate, the other 
 in the parade-ground. Other 15-inch shells 
 exploded against the walls, making deep 
 craters, but not essentially injuring the 
 fort; " embrasures were destroyed, and one 
 shot cracked the masonry for twenty-four 
 feet in length;" "one large shell went over 
 the parapet, demolished the officers' quar- 
 ters, and damaged several walls." "Other 
 15-inch shells and shot and fragments of 
 shells were picked up in and about the 
 fort." These facts we glean from the Con- 
 federate official account. 
 
 We quote the historian of the Navy, who 
 is anxious to show that Admiral Dupont 
 and his officers had no idea of the damage 
 they were doing to the fort, otherwise they 
 would have continued the attack. The fact 
 is, if the Monitors had been filled with shot 
 and shell and every one had struck Fort 
 Sumter, they would not materially have in- 
 jured its powers of resistance unless they 
 could have disabled the guns. 
 
 The naval historian says: " That nothing 
 was more certain, in view of what was 
 actually done, than that Sumter could not 
 long have resisted even such a fire as the 
 Monitors delivered that day. The result 
 would, have been not such a gradual crum- 
 bling of the walls as took place under the 
 long-range firing of the heavy rifles after- 
 wards from the land batteries, but they 
 would have come down with a crash, and 
 the whole interior of the fort would have 
 been torn in pieces by the enormous shells." 
 In giving such opinions, it is very plain the 
 Naval historian, whom we quote, had never 
 seen a fort after a bombardment, where the 
 ground was strewn with shells and debris, 
 yet remaining in fair fighting condition. 
 He seems not to consider that while the fort 
 is getting battered the iron-clads are at the 
 same time receiving a severe hammering, 
 and that, when the bombardment is con- 
 tinued for a length of time, the iron turrets 
 will be likely to yield to repeated blows, on 
 the same principle that the trunnions of a 
 heavy gun can be broken off by I'epeated 
 strokes from an ordinary hammer. 
 
 There was another argument urged in 
 favor of the Monitors maintaining the fight 
 with Sumter, viz. : " That, in judging of 
 the actual power of these large guns, one 
 very important point must be considered. 
 These guns were novel weapons, and there 
 
 was an apprehension that they would burst 
 in firing, and consequently were used with 
 a caution which in the light of subsequent 
 experience appears like timidity. The 
 charge of powder was limited to thirty-five 
 pounds. They have since been fired re- 
 peatedly and safely with double that 
 amount — with seventy pounds of powder, 
 or one hundred of mammoth powder, which 
 is equal to seventy or seventy-five of com- 
 mon powder. From the results that were 
 actually reached with only thirty-five 
 pounds of powder, it is rendered certain 
 that, if the charges had been suitably in- 
 creased, every shot and shell striking fairly 
 would have gone through the walls and the 
 fort would have been destroyed, or, at the 
 very least, it would have been so shattered 
 that none would have doubted the propriety 
 of a second attack, for it could be seen that 
 it could easily be destroyed by a second 
 attack." 
 
 CAPTAIN (.VFTERWARDS KEAB-ADIIIR.AL) THOMAS TUENER. 
 
 This kind of "argument" will not stand 
 against the statement of the facts. Its pur- 
 pose was to throw on Dupont the odium of 
 failure in the attack on Charleston. 
 
 All the talk of increasing the charges of 
 the guns to obtain more breaching power 
 was sheer folly, for the charges for the guns 
 were established by the Bureau of Ordnance 
 in the Navy Department, and no officer 
 could take the responsibility of doubling the 
 charges of the guns during an action, for 
 should they burst and kill his own men he 
 would be held blamable. 
 
 The Naval historian labors in all this to 
 show that there was wanting the energy 
 in the attack on Sumter which character- 
 ized subsequent proceedings; but it must 
 be i-emembered that Rear -Admiral Dahl- 
 gren, who relieved Dupont, with the light 
 of the latter's experience to guide him, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 379 
 
 accomplished no more than his predecessor. 
 In fact, the historian admits as much, and 
 acknowledges that nothing was effected 
 until Fort Wagner, the key to the situation, 
 was attacked by the Army and Navy at the 
 same time, when, to use his words: "The 
 Monitors and ' New Ironsides ' played a most 
 conspicuous part." In fact, he says, "it does 
 not appear how Wagner could have been 
 taken without their assistance." The north 
 end of the island was in possession of the 
 Confederates, and, of course, in communica- 
 tion with Charleston and the other forts, 
 and Wagner could at any time be re-in- 
 forced, and it would have been just as easy 
 for the Confederates to have advanced by 
 sap towards Gilmore's batteries as for him 
 to approach them, had it not been for the 
 presence of the iron-clads; but the latter 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW BEAE-ADMIRAL) S, B. LUCE. 
 
 effectually prevented any operations outside 
 the walls of the fort, nor were the enemy 
 even able to make a sortie to check the 
 working-parties of Gilmore, nor use their 
 batteries with effect upon the position, for 
 the men could not stand to their guns under 
 the fire of the Monitors or "New Ironsides." 
 Day by day, and even by night, it was the 
 business of the Monitors to go up and attack 
 the forts, gradually weakening their de- 
 fence till, on the day when Gilmore ex- 
 pected to make the final assault, Rear-Ad- 
 miral Dahlgren, the successor of Dupont, 
 reported that he had knocked the fort into 
 sand-heaps under the fire of the land and 
 naval batteries; it was no longer tenable, 
 and that night Morris Island was evacu- 
 ated. 
 
 'N'a nriA w;^ill T>rfitfinrl that TTort "Wa.o-riAr 
 
 compared in strength to Fort Sumter, 
 which it was expected six Monitors would 
 knock down; the Commander-in-chief of 
 the squadron, indeed, being blamed for not 
 settling it in the first attack; and when we 
 consider all the events at Charleston, from 
 Dupont's first attack until the evacuation 
 of the place on the advance of General 
 Sherman's army, we are confirmed in our 
 idea that Rear- Admiral Dupont was right 
 in saying that "the place can only be taken 
 by a combined attack of the Army and 
 Navy; and attacking the forts with the 
 Monitors and iron-clads alone would never 
 end in any favorable results." 
 
 It was not until after the fall of Morris 
 Island, when General Gilmore could erect 
 batteries armed with heavy rifled-guns, 
 that Fort Sumter began to crumble, day by 
 day, until it became a mere heap of rubbish 
 to outward seeming, although still power- 
 ful, even in its crippled condition, and pro- 
 tecting the obstructions from the Monitors 
 and "New Ironsides," so that no one could 
 tell any more of their character than was 
 known to Dupont when he relinquished his 
 command. 
 
 To show the Confederate determination to 
 hold Charleston at all hazards, we here insert 
 the circular of General Ripley. It shows 
 that the Confederates were alive to every- 
 thing necessary to circumvent an enemy. 
 [circular.] 
 Headquarters First Military District, ) 
 South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. \ 
 Charleston, December 26, 1863. ) 
 In case the proposed attack on this harbor is 
 known beforehand, special directions will be given 
 for the service of the different batteries. As, how- 
 ever, it may happen that a surprise may be at- 
 tempted, or that the intervening time between the 
 knowledge of the intention and the event maybe 
 too short, the instructions hereinafter contained 
 will be carefully attended to. 
 
 Each commanding ofBcer of a fort or battery will 
 give his attention immediately to the strengthening 
 of his carriages and the complete preparation of his 
 material. Besides making the proper requisitions 
 on the staff departments, let him endeavor to do as 
 much as possible from his own resources. While 
 staff departments are to a great extent crippled for 
 want of material and workmen, much can be ac- 
 complished by ready expedients without their aid 
 Every carriage must be kept carefully screwed up 
 and, if any defects, made at least temporarily effi- 
 cient. All the elevating screws, eccentric wheels, and 
 traversing gear must be put in order and kept so, 
 and especial care must be taken to see that a full 
 supply of small implements is constantly on hand. 
 
 Ammunition should be examined, and immedi- 
 ately apportioned to the several guns, reference be- 
 mg had to the orders heretofore given on that sub- 
 ject; but where the quantity is not sufficient, the 
 greater portion should be given to the heavier guns 
 as on them principally the success of the defence 
 must depend. 
 
 Officers and men of each command must be kept 
 on the alert, and instructions given to go to each 
 battery at once, upon an alarm; and especial care 
 must be taken that each battery is in readiness for 
 instant action as the men arrive at their suns. 
 
380 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 are habitually attended to ; but, as constant vigi- 
 lance is our only security, they cannot be too forcibly 
 insisted upon. 
 
 Upon observing a disposition to attack on the 
 part of the enemy, the nearest fort or battery will 
 give the alarm. By day a shotted gun and dipping 
 the flag will communicate the danger to the other 
 fortifications and head-quarters. All commands will 
 go at once to battery, and the circumstances of the 
 alarm communicated to the head-quarters by tele- 
 graph or signal. 
 
 By night a shotted gun and a rocket will give the 
 intelligence. 
 
 In whatever way the attack is made by the en- 
 emy, he is to be engaged as soon as ijossible, to do so 
 eflfectually, with a few long-range guns from every 
 fort that will bear. The number of guns must 
 be left to the discretion of the commanding offi- 
 cer, who must see that the fire is as accurate as pos- 
 sible. They must not engage too great a number, 
 and be careful not unduly to excite their men, or 
 strain their guns and carriages. While the long- 
 range fire is valuable, if accurate, to annoy the en- 
 emy and force him to develop his attack, it is not 
 to Vie depended on for more. Other things being 
 equal, it will be well that the guns to leeward are 
 first engaged. The remaining guns of the batteries 
 will be trained by battery on different points where 
 the enemy must pass, care being taken to have the 
 fire of each battery concentrated. 
 
 As the enemy approaches, let the distance he will 
 be in passing be accurately estimated by the dis- 
 tance-buoys, and the elevation made to correspond, 
 making it too little rather than too great for direct 
 fire. If the vessels are passing rapidly the guns 
 should be discharged by battery, just as the prows 
 of the vessels come across the line of sight. 
 
 In the case of wooden vessels, the object will be 
 to hit them near the water line, just abaft the 
 smoke-stack. In the case of iron-clad vessels, to hit 
 the deck or turrets at the intersection with the 
 deck, and especially to let all the shots strike at 
 once. 
 
 The first fire will be concentrated upon the lead- 
 ing vessels, and will be continued upon them as 
 long as the guns by battery will bear well, and 
 especially if they become entangled in obstructions, 
 even if certain vessels engage to draw off the atten- 
 tion of the outermost batteries and remain behind. 
 
 Should some of the vessels succeed in passing, the 
 action must then pass into the hands of command- 
 ing officers of batteries. They will pour in their fire 
 as far as practicable by battery, and as fast as it can 
 be done with accuracy, on whatever vessels of the 
 enemy may be nearest them. 
 
 The guns of Beauregard Battery, Fort Moultrie, 
 Battery Bee, and the eastern, north-eastern, and 
 north-western faces of Fort Sumter, will be used to 
 form the first circle of fire to which the enemy must 
 besubjected, the centrebeinga little to the eastward 
 of a line between the forts and midway. Every ef- 
 fort must be made to crush his vessels and repel his 
 attack within this circle, and especially while he is 
 entangled in the obstructions. 
 
 All the mortars of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 
 will be trained on the centre above indicated. The 
 fuses will be of the full length, and the shells have 
 large bursting charges, it being better to have the 
 fuses fail than the shells to burst in the air, and 
 the full effect of the explosions being desirable if 
 successful. The mortar batteries will be fired by 
 battery when the enemy's vessels are about two 
 ships' length from the point on which they are 
 trained. 
 
 If the fleet is large, the mortars will be kept trained 
 on the same point and fired by battery as rapidly as 
 possible while the fleet is passing. If small, and a 
 portion has passed the first circle of fire, the mor- 
 tars of Fort Sumter will be trained to operate on the 
 second circle, the centre of which will be at a point 
 
 about midway between Forts Sumter and Ripley, 
 and to the southward of the middle-ground shoal. 
 It will be formed by the heavy guns of Fort John- 
 ston, Fort Ripley, Castle Pinckney, Battery Bee, the 
 north-western and western faces of Fort Sumter. 
 
 The guns of Forts Johnston and Ripley and Castle 
 Pinckney will open on the leading vessels as they 
 come within easy range, care being taken that every 
 shot finds its mark. Those of Fort Sumter and Bat- 
 tery Bee will continue upon the leading vessels as 
 Jong as they are close ; but, if they elongate their 
 distance, the fire will concentrate on the vessels 
 nearest them. 
 
 Should any vessel succeed in passing the second 
 circle of fire, the third will be formed and put into 
 action by the guns of White Point Battery and Bat- 
 tery Glover, with such guns of Forts Johnston and 
 Ripley and Castle Pinckney as will bear. Concen- 
 tration on the leading vessels will be the object, as 
 before. 
 
 During the action care will be taken, as far as 
 possible, to prevent the chances of shot from the 
 batteries taking the direction of our own works. 
 The best way of doing this will be to let none miss 
 the enemy, and when he is between the works most 
 especial accuracy will be striven for. 
 
 The vessels of the Confederate navy will engage 
 during the action, and they may often pass our 
 batteries. In this case officers and gunners cannot 
 be too careful to avoid hitting them. The fire by 
 battery, as a general thing, will be discontinued at 
 those vessels of the enemy which our ships engage 
 closely; but, if occasion offers, endeavors will be 
 made to hit the ports of the revolving turrets on 
 the enemy's vessels when turned from our ships, to 
 disarrange and throw out of gear the machinery 
 for closing the ports. 
 
 Accurate fire by single guns will be concentrated 
 on the enemy's vessels, if two or more attack one of 
 ours ; and should the distance admit, then it will be 
 advisable to pour upon one of them a heavy fire by 
 battery. 
 
 The plunging fire from Fort Sumter is expected 
 to be particularly effective, and when single-rifled 
 guns are fired from the barbettes of that fort, it will 
 be well to hit the grated roofs of the turrets with 
 square-headed bolts, followed by shells filled with 
 molten iron. 
 
 The square-headed bolts for the 10-inch colum- 
 biads and the heavier guns will be fired by battery 
 when the enemy is within close range. Solid shot 
 and bolts will be used generally against iron-clads 
 during the action. 
 
 The furnaces for melting iron and heating shot 
 will be kept in heat, and heated projectiles will be 
 used whenever occasion offers advantage. 
 
 Should it happen that any of the enemy's vessels 
 become disabled and endeavor to get out of fire, the 
 outermost batteries must pay particular attention 
 to prevent them; and in case other of the enemy's 
 ships come to the assistance of the disabled, let 
 every gun and mortar which will bear be turned 
 upon them by battery. 
 
 The great object of the enemy will probably be 
 to run by, and every effort umst be made to crush 
 him in each successive circle of fire which he en- 
 counters. 
 
 Hog Island Channel will be obstructed, and the 
 obstructions must be guarded by the long-range 
 guns of Fort Sumter and the columbiads of Battery 
 Bee nearest it. 
 
 It is doubtful whether the enemy will attempt to 
 pass by Folly Channel. If he does, a circle of fire 
 will be formed by the guns of Fort Ripley, Castle 
 Pinckney and White Point Battery. 
 
 The position of torpedoes will be communicated 
 to commanding officers, and the effort made to 
 drive the enemy's vessels upon them if he is taking- 
 other courses. 
 
 The obstructions will also be designated, and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 381 
 
 under no circumstances will the enemy be permitted 
 to reconnoitre them. 
 
 The headquarters of the undersig:ned will be at 
 Port Sumter, and directions will be sent by tele- 
 graph and signal to different posts, should anything 
 require special directions. 
 
 Batteries Marshall and Wagner will be worked to 
 the extent of their capacity for injuring the enemy, 
 by their commanding officers, without unduly ex- 
 posing their commands. 
 
 The directions given above relate, generally, to 
 the defeat of an attack by the enemy's fleet alone 
 Should a combined attaclt be made by land and 
 water, other orders can be issued, as nothing of that 
 kind can be done by surprise. 
 
 The present circular will be studied and reflected 
 upon by all officers who will be engaged in this 
 honorable duty of the coming defence. With careful 
 attention, coolness and skillful gunnery, success is 
 far more than possible. 
 
 R. S. RiPLBT, 
 
 Brigadier- General Co m manding. 
 Official : 
 
 Wm. F. Nanee, Acting - Assistant Adjutant- 
 General. 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW BEAR ADMIRAL) JOHN H. UPSHUR. 
 
 We think we have established tliat Ad- 
 miral Dupont vs^as right in the conclusions 
 which he submitted to the Navy Depart- 
 ment immediately after the engagement of 
 the 7th of April. The public, knowing that 
 he retired from his command directly after 
 this affair, might suppose that some blame 
 was attached to him. 
 
 Dupont was too popular an officer to be 
 treated with injustice, and in the course of 
 a month it was seen by the Secretary of the 
 Navy that his views were correct, and that 
 the siege of Charleston by the Navy still 
 continued with no better results than before. 
 
 Overtures were then made to the Admiral 
 
 and he could have had any command he de- 
 sired, but Dupont was a proud man and 
 would not listen to terms from those whom 
 he thought had censured him for doing his 
 duty and forced him fi-om his command at 
 Charleston. To accept another command, 
 Dupont thought, would imply that he con- 
 curred in the views of the Department. 
 
 The following letters will explain in a 
 measure the reasons for the misunderstand- 
 ing between the Secretary of the Navy and 
 Rear -Admiral Dupont. The Secretary's 
 letter is an implied order for Dupont to suc- 
 ceed at all hazards, while the Admiral's 
 undertakes to show the Department how 
 little prospect there was of meeting its ex- 
 pectations: 
 
 Secretary Welles to Rear-Admiral Dupont. 
 
 Navy Department, ) 
 April 11, 1863. j 
 Sir — It has been suggested to the Department 
 by the President, in view of operations elsewhere, 
 and especially by the Army of the Potomac, that 
 you should retain a strong force off Charleston, even 
 should you find it impossible to carry the place. 
 You will continue to menace the rebels, keeping 
 them in apprehension of a renewed attack, in order 
 that they may be occupied; and not come North or 
 go West to the aid of the rebels, with whom our 
 forces will soon be in conflict. Should you be suc- 
 cessful, as we trust and believe you will be, it is ex- 
 pected that General Hunter will continue to keep 
 the rebels employed and in constant apprehension, 
 so that they shall not leave the vicinity of Charles- 
 ton. This detention of the ironclads, should it be 
 necessary, in consequence of a repulse, can be but 
 for a few days. 
 
 I trust your success will be such that the iron-clads 
 can be, or will have been, dispatched to the Gulf 
 when this reaches you. There is intense anxiety in 
 regard to your operations. 
 
 This day is the anniversary of the assault on Sum- 
 ter, and God grant that its recurrence may witness 
 the destruction of that fortress by our naval forces 
 under your command. 
 
 I am very respectfully. 
 Tour obedient servant, 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Rear-Admiral S. F. Dupont, 
 
 Commanding B. A.B. Squadron, Port Royal, S. C. 
 
 President Lincoln was greatly disturbed 
 at the want of success at Charleston, and 
 sent the following communications to Ad- 
 miral Dupont: 
 
 Executive Mansion, / 
 (Telegram.) Washington, April 13, 1863. ) 
 
 Hold your position inside the bar near Charleston ; 
 or, if you shall have left it, return to it and hold it 
 till further orders. 
 
 Do not allow the enemy to erect new batteries or 
 defences on Morris Island. If he has begun it, drive 
 him out. 1 do not herein order you to renew the 
 general attack. That is to depend upon your own 
 discretion or a further order. 
 
 A. Lincoln. 
 
 Admiral Dupont. 
 
 Executive Mansion, ] 
 Washington, April 14, 1863. f 
 This is intended to clear up an apparent incon- 
 sistency between the recent order to continue oper- 
 ations before Charleston, and the former one to re- 
 move to another point in a certain contingency. No 
 
382 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 censure upon you or either of you is intended ; we 
 still hope that by cordial and judiciousoo-operation 
 you can take the batteries on Morris Island and 
 Sullivan's Island and Fort Sumter. But whether 
 you can or not, we wish the demonstration kept up 
 for a time for a collateral and very important ob- 
 ject ; we wish the attempt to be a real one (though 
 not a desperate one , if it affords any considerable 
 chance of success. But if prosecuted as a demon- 
 stration only, this must not become public, or the 
 whole effect will be lost. Once again before Charles- 
 ton, do not leave till further orders from here ; of 
 course, this is not intended to force you to leave un- 
 duly exposed Hilton Head, or other near points in 
 your charge. Yours truly, 
 
 A. Lincoln. 
 General Hunter and Admiral Dupont. 
 
 P. S. — Whoever receives this first, please send a 
 copy to the other Immediately. A. L. 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW BEAR-ADMiaAL) CHAELES STEEDMAN, 
 COMMANDING PLANKING DIVISION, BATTLE OF POET KOYAL. 
 
 kear-admiral dupont to secrbtary welles 
 Flag-ship "Wabash,' 
 Port Royal Harbor, S. C, April 16, 1863 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 
 ceipt this morning, by the "Freeborn," of your 
 communication of the 11th instant, directing tlie 
 maintaining of a large force off Charleston to 
 menace the rebels and keep them in apprehension 
 of a renewed attack in the event of our repulse. 
 
 I have also to acknowledge the receipt of a copy 
 of a telegraphic desjjatch of the 13th instant, from 
 the President of the United States, sent from 
 Fortress Monroe. 
 
 The Department will probably have known, on 
 the 12th instant, the result of the attack. In my 
 dispatch of the 11th instant, dated oflf Charleston, 
 the department was made aware of my withdrawal, 
 with the iron-clads, from the very insecure anchor- 
 age inside the bar, and just in time to save the 
 Monitors from an easterly gale, in which, in mv 
 
 opinion and that of their commanders, they would 
 have been in great peril of being lost on Morris 
 Island Beach. Their ground-tackling has been 
 found to be insufficient, and from time to time they 
 have dragged even in close harbors. 
 
 I have since been doing all in my power to push 
 forward their repairs in order to send them to the 
 Gulf as directed: but I presume that your dispatch 
 of the 11th instant, and the telegraphic message 
 from the President, revoke your previous order. 
 
 1 shall spare no exertions in repairing, as soon as 
 possible, the serious injuries sustained by the Moni- 
 tors in the late attack, and shall get them inside 
 Charleston bar with all dispatch, in accordance 
 with the order of the President. I think it my 
 duty, however, to state to the Department that this 
 will be attended with great risk to these vessels 
 from the gales which prevail at this season, and 
 from the continuous fire of the enemy's batteries, 
 which they can neither silence nor prevent the 
 erection of new ones. 
 
 The "New Ironsides " can only cross the bar with 
 certainty at spring-tides, which are twice a month. 
 She is more vulnerable than the Monitors, and at 
 the distance she must necessarily anchor could not 
 elevate her guns sufficiently to reach any batteries 
 of the enemy, while at the same time she would be 
 liable to injury, particularly in her wooden ends, 
 from a fire which she could not return. If this ves- 
 sel is withdrawn from the blockade and placed in- 
 side, the blockade may be raised by the rebel rams 
 coming out of Charleston harbor at night by 
 Maffit's Channel, in which case she could give no 
 assistance to the fleet outside. But for the "New 
 Ironsides," the raid of the 31st of January would 
 have been repeated with more serious effect. 
 
 The lower and greater part of Morris Island ex- 
 hibits a ridge or row of sand-hills, affording to the 
 enemy a natural parapet against the fire of shipping 
 and facilities for erecting batteries in very strong 
 position. The upper part of the island is crossed 
 by Fort Wagner, a work of great strength, and cov- 
 ered by the guns of Fort Sumter. The island is ui 
 full communication with Charleston, and can, in 
 spite of us, draw fresh re-inforcements as rapidly as 
 they may be required. Shoals extend from the 
 island, which prevent the near approach of the 
 Monitors, and our experience at Fort McAllister 
 does not encourage me to expect that they wiU re- 
 duce well-defended sand batteries, where the damage 
 inflicted by day is readily repaired by the unstinted 
 labor of the night. The ships, therefore.can neither 
 cover the landing nor afterwards protect the ad- 
 vance of the small force of the army available for 
 operations in this quarter, which will meet fresh 
 troops at every sand-hill, and may look also for a 
 reverse fire from the batteries on James Island. 
 
 As it is considered necessary to menace Charleston 
 by a demonstration of land and naval forces. North 
 Edisto will afford a better point from which to 
 threaten an advance, and a concentration of troops 
 and ships in that quarter would accomplish the pur- 
 pose of the Government mentioned in your dispatch 
 of the 11th instant, as it is a military point from 
 which Charleston could be attacked now, James 
 Island bemg fully occupied by the enemy's bat- 
 teries. 
 
 I have deemed it proper and due to myself to make 
 these statements, but I trust I need not add that I 
 will obey all orders with the utmost fldelitv even 
 when my judgment is entirely at variance with 
 them.suchas the order to re-occupy theunsafe anch- 
 orage for the ironclads off Morris Island, and an 
 intimation that the renewal of the attack on Charles- 
 ton may be ordered, which, in my judgment, would 
 be attended with disastrous results, involving the 
 loss of this coast. 
 
 For eighteen months in these waters I have given 
 whatever of professional knowledge, energy and zeal 
 1 possess to the discharge of my duties, and to the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 383 
 
 close study of our military and naval position in the 
 tenure of the sea-coasts within the limits of my com- 
 mand, and I claim to know what best pertains to 
 the disposition of my fleet in carrying out the in- 
 structions of the Department. 
 
 I know not yet whether the confidence of the De- 
 partment so often expressed to me has been shaken 
 by the want of success in a single measure which I 
 never advised, though intensely desirous to carry 
 out the Department's orders and justify expecta- 
 tions in which I could not share. 
 
 I am, however, painfully struck by the tenor and 
 tone of the President's order, which seems to Imply 
 a censure, and I have to request that the Depart- 
 ment will not hesitate to relieve me by an officer, 
 who, in its opinion, ismore able to execute that serv- 
 ice in which I have had the misfortune to fail — the 
 capture of Charleston. No consideration for an in- 
 dividual officer, whatever his loyalty and length of 
 service, should weigh an instant if the cause of his 
 country can be advanced by his removal. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 S. P. DUPONT, 
 
 Rear- Admiral, Commanding S. A. B. Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 
 
 CAPTAIN (NOW BEAB-ADMIRAL) WM. EOGEES TAYLOR. 
 
 After the attack on Charleston, Rear- Ad- 
 miral Dupont returned to Fort Royal and 
 the blockade continued as before with the 
 wooden gun-boats. 
 
 In the latter part of April, Major-General 
 Hunter applied for a gun-boat to assist a 
 land force in an expedition against Buffing- 
 ton, on May River, which town had been 
 the head-quarters of Confederate marauders 
 for some time. 
 
 The army force numbering one thousand 
 men, under Colonel Barton, embarked on 
 board the gun-boat "Mayflower" and a 
 transport, and were landed near Buffington 
 under cover of the guns of the " Commodore 
 McDonough," and took possession of the 
 town from which the Confederates had re- 
 treated. By order of Colonel Barton the 
 
 town was destroyed by fire, the church 
 alone being spared. The enemy returned 
 and made several charges on the Federal 
 troops, but were driven back by the shells 
 of the "McDonough," which burst in their 
 ranks. 
 
 The burning of the town seems to have 
 been an unnecessary act of severity, but 
 such is the tendencj^ of civil war. The 
 inhabitants of a town are held responsible 
 for the acts of lawless guerillas, and pun- 
 ished for aiding and abetting the enemy, 
 when perhaps they may not have been to 
 blame. 
 
 While the blockade of Charleston still 
 continued, the Confederates, with the per- 
 sistent energy by which they were distin- 
 guished, were constructing iron-clads at 
 Savannah. They had been for some time 
 past engaged in altering the blockade-run- 
 ner "Fingal" into a casemated vessel of 
 the same type as the "Merrimac" and 
 others so popular in the South. 
 
 The fancy for this description of iron- 
 clad arose doubtless more from necessity 
 than from anything else. The Confederates 
 had few machine-shops, and it was hardly 
 practicable to roll out a sufficiency of wide 
 plates, but they had a plenty of railroad 
 iron, and of this they made liberal use. 
 The Southern iron-clads were very formid- 
 able vessels when brought into conflict with 
 wooden ships-of-war of the old type. It 
 is only necessary to recall to the reader's 
 memory the two small iron-clads which 
 slipped out of Charleston and did such 
 damage to the Federal gun-boats, not to 
 mention other instances, to show the value 
 of the Confederate war machines. 
 
 The slanting roof was the Southern idea 
 pitted against the Monitor plan, which was 
 that of the North. These represented the two 
 most powerful types of fighting-ships in ex- 
 istence, and, if the "Merrimac" had de- 
 stroyed the " Monitor," the former would 
 no doubt have been the type of Vessel used 
 for coast and harbor defence the world 
 over. 
 
 The Confederates never conceded the 
 Northern claim that the "Monitor" drove 
 the " Merrimac " back to Norfolk. The Con- 
 federate naval authorities knew how the 
 Federal Navy Department was abused and 
 criticised throughout the North for adopt- 
 ing the Ericsson principle instead of some 
 of the numerous other devices that were 
 offered, and the South took the view of the 
 question which coincided with their own 
 preconceived ideas. They believed in their 
 plan of vessel with rifled guns, and rather 
 derided the Monitors with their slow-moving 
 turrets and short-range guns. 
 
 The want of success of the Monitors at 
 Charleston also lowered their prestige, 
 though this was unjust to the vessels, for 
 
384 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 they certainly showed their endurance at 
 that place sufficiently to prove that they 
 could stand the attack of the "Atlanta."' 
 
 The "Atlanta," then called the " Fingal," 
 had succeeded in running the blockade and 
 getting into Savannah soon after the cap- 
 ture of Port Royal. She had since been 
 closely watched, and finding it would be al- 
 most impossible to get out of port again as 
 a blockaderrunner, she was sold to the 
 Confederate Government and converted into 
 an iron-clad, supposed to be one of the best 
 that had been built in the South. 
 
 The "Weehawken," Captain John Rod- 
 gers, and the "Nahant," Commander John 
 Downes, were employed blockading the 
 "Atlanta" at the mouth of Wilmington 
 River. 
 
 Early in the morning of June 17th, 1863, 
 
 the " Nahant. " At this time the " Atlanta 
 lav across the channel waiting the attack of 
 the Monitors. Commander William A. 
 Webb, her commanding officer, showed 
 more courage than judgment, as he was 
 not called upon to await the attack of two 
 vessels which together were superior in 
 force. 
 
 The "Weehawken" approached withm 
 three hundred yards of the enemy and at 
 5.15 A. M. opened fire. In fifteen minutes 
 the " Atlanta's " colors were hauled down 
 and a white flag was hoisted. The "Wee- 
 hawken" fired but five shots altogether, but 
 that number was quite sufficient. 
 
 As soon as the Confederate steamer struck 
 her colors, Captain Rodgers steamed close 
 to her and ordered a boat to be sent on 
 board the "Weehawken." Lieutenant 
 
 lEON-CLAD 'ATLANTA." CAPTUKED VA WAESAW SOUND^JUNE 17, 18C3. 
 
 CONFEDERATE IRONCLAD "ATLANTA," C.\.PTUEED IN WAESAW SOUND. 
 
 it was reported to Captain Rodgers that a 
 Confederate iron-clad was coming down 
 the river. The "Weehawken" was im- 
 mediately cleared for action, the cable 
 slipped, and the Monitor steamed slowly 
 towards the northeast end of Warsaw Isl- 
 and, then turned and stood up the Sound, 
 heading for the enemy, who came on with 
 confidence, as if sure of victory. Two steam- 
 ers followed the Confederate iron - clad, 
 filled with people who had come down to 
 see the Union vessels captured or driven 
 away. The " Nahant," having no pilot, 
 followed in the wake of the " Weehawken." 
 When the "Atlanta" was about a mile 
 and a half from the "Weehawken" she 
 fired a rifled shot which passed across the 
 stern of the later vessel and struck near 
 
 Alexander, of the Confederate Navy, went 
 on board to surrender the " Atlanta," 
 which he informed Captain Rodgers was 
 aground on a sand-spit. Soon after. Com- 
 mander Webb of the "Atlanta" repaired 
 on board the " Weehawken " to deliver up 
 his sword, and a prize crew, under Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander D. B. Harmony, was 
 sent to take charge of the prize. 
 
 The " Weehawken" received no damage 
 from the " Atlanta's " shot, the only injury 
 she received was from her consort run- 
 ning foul of her. The "Nahant" took no 
 part in the battle, which was ended before 
 she could obtain a position to use her guns. 
 
 The " Atlanta " was struck four times by 
 the " Weehawken's" shot, first on the in- 
 clined side by a 15-inch cored shot, which 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 385 
 
 "broke through the armor and wood-backing, 
 ■strewing the deck with splinters, prostrating 
 about forty men by the force of tlie concus- 
 sion, and wounding several by splinters and 
 fragments of armor. The second shot — 11- 
 inch solid — struck the "knuckle" or edge 
 of the overhang, and did no damage except 
 breaking a couple of plates. The third shot 
 — 15-inch — struck the top of the " Atlanta's " 
 pilot-house, knocking it off, wounding the 
 pilots and stunning the man at the wheel. 
 The fourth shot — 11-inch — struck a port- 
 stopper in the centre, breaking it in two 
 and driving the fragments through the 
 port. 
 
 The " Atlanta " had sixteen wounded, one 
 of whom died from the effects of his 
 
 we have before stated, viz., that the 15-inch 
 shot could not penetrate four inches of iron 
 with the ordinary backing at a distance of 
 800 yards. 
 
 The "Atlanta" was considered by the 
 Confederates the best iron-clad they had 
 built, and in the capture was verified the 
 statement we have made, that either of the 
 Monitor-built vessels, armed with 15-inch 
 guns, could have destroyed the "Merrimac " 
 in half an hour. The "Weehawken" 
 defeated a better ship than the "Merrimac " 
 in half the time mentioned. 
 
 It was probably the intention of the com- 
 manding officer of the " Atlanta " to get 
 out where he could have plenty of sea- 
 room and choose his distance — which the 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE BAM "ATLANTA" BY THE MONITOR "WEEHAWKEN.' 
 
 wounds, but there is no mention of any one 
 being killed outright. 
 
 The armament of the Confederate vessel 
 was two 6-inch rifles in broadside, and two 
 7-inch rifles working on pivots, either as 
 broadside or bow and stern guns. The 
 " Atlanta " had a complement of 145 officers 
 and men, including marines. 
 
 The fact that the vessel was aground 
 when she struck her colors does not ac- 
 count for the feeble defence she made after 
 running down so defiantly and engaging 
 two Monitors, whose strength must have 
 been well known to the Confederates. Only 
 two of the shots which struck the ''At- 
 lanta" did any great damage, and the 
 armor and backing, though much shattered, 
 were not penetrated. This confirms what 
 
 26 
 
 great speed of the " Atlanta" would have 
 enabled him to do — and attack the Moni- 
 tors at long range, which would only have 
 ended in the expenditure of a large amount 
 of ammunition without any result, except 
 that the " Atlanta " might have escaped to 
 do harm elsewhere. 
 
 It seemed to be the fate of all the Confed- 
 erate iron-clads to be either captured, or 
 destroyed by their officers to prevent them 
 from falling into the hands of the Federals, 
 and the "Merrimac" was about the only 
 one of them which effected much previous 
 to her destruction. 
 
 The " Atlanta " had a speed of ten knots, 
 and her officers had confidently counted on 
 capturing both the Monitors. From the 
 nautical instruments on board the Conf ed- 
 
38G 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 erate vessel, her commanding officer evi- 
 dently intended to go to sea or cruise along 
 the coast, and her excellent engines and 
 equipments and good model would have 
 justified such an attempt. The 15-inch shot 
 which struck the "Atlanta" dispelled all 
 these illusions and demoralized the crew, 
 and, although the vessel fired some shots, 
 they all went wide of the mark. 
 
 When it was determined to fit the "At- 
 lanta " as an iron-clad, she was cut down so 
 as to have the deck two feet above the 
 water. Upon this deck was built a casemate 
 with inclined sides similar to the"Merri- 
 mac," with ports in which to mount four 
 heavy rifle-guns of the Brooke pattern. Her 
 armor was four inches thick, composed of 
 two layers of plates seven inches wide 
 placed horizontally and vertically to each 
 other. 
 
 The vessel was two hundred and four feet 
 
 CAPTAIN (NOW HEAE-ADMIEAL) J. F. GEEEN. 
 
 long, forty-one feet breadth of beam, and 
 about sixteen feet draft of water. The bow 
 terminated in an iron beak for ramming, 
 and the vessel carried a torpedo apparatus 
 on the bow, to be used when opportunity 
 offered. The "Atlanta" was, in fact, an 
 improved "Merrimac." 
 
 This is a general description of a vessel 
 from which so much was expected and so 
 little realized, and which instead of captur- 
 ing two Monitors, was captured by one of 
 them in fifteen minutes. 
 
 There was a good deal of ingenuity dis- 
 played in the construction of the "Atlanta," 
 but the question of the superiority of the 
 Monitor type over the flat or angular type 
 of vessel may be considered set at rest by 
 her capture. 
 
 Notwithstanding the battle of the original 
 "Monitor" with the "Merrimac," many 
 people declined to believe in the superiority 
 
 of the turret system. The English, even 
 after the news reached them, commenced 
 building armed ships with plated sides like 
 the "Warrior" class, judging from the ef- 
 fect of the " Monitor's " shot on the " Mer- 
 rimac," that they could build vessels with 
 teak or oak backing and four inches of iron 
 that would resist the most powerful Amer- 
 ican gun. But here was a new and more 
 powerful gun, of which they had taken no 
 account, and which, exceeding in size any- 
 thing in the ordnance line heretofore manu- 
 factured, might smash in the sides of the 
 " Warrior " class, even if the shot did not 
 pass clear through them. 
 
 This fight with the "Atlanta," therefore, 
 set Europe to thinking, and convinced the 
 Navy Department it had taken a step in the 
 right direction. If their little floating bat- 
 teries could not demolish the heaviest forti- 
 fications, they could break up and send to 
 the bottom the heaviest ships. 
 
 The battle between the "Weehawken" 
 and the "Atlanta" satisfied the United 
 States Government that it could safely in- 
 timate to the governments of Europe that 
 we would submit to no interference in our 
 domestic concerns so long as we complied 
 with the law of nations. There was es- 
 tablished a more hopeful feeling for the 
 speedy suppression of the rebellion, now 
 that we had demonstrated that we could 
 build vessels that were more than a match 
 for the war-ships of Europe. 
 
 The news of this engagement was received 
 in Europe with great interest. It was a 
 contest between English and American 
 ideas. The American idea was the Monitor- 
 built vessel with the 15-inch gun; the Eng- 
 lish idea was the "Atlanta " with her plated 
 sides and rifled guns. No persons were 
 more interested in the result of the conflict 
 than the Lords of the British Admiralty, 
 ever alive to what might exercise an influ- 
 ence upon their navy. They had com- 
 menced the plating system and seemed to 
 cling to the idea, but the success of the 
 " Weehawken " shattered their faith. The 
 Monitor system remained master of the 
 field and has so continued to this day. 
 
 On this occasion the Secretary of the 
 Navy was eloquent in his praise of Captain 
 Rodgers, recognizing in the handsomest 
 manner his services not only on the present 
 occasion, but also on the Mississippi at the 
 commencement of the war and at Drury's 
 Bluff on the James, where Rodgers at- 
 tacked the enemy's fortifications in the so- 
 called iron-clad " Galena." The Secretary 
 also dwelt on the moral courage exhibited 
 by Captain Rodgers in putting to sea in the 
 face of a violent storm to test the sea-going 
 qualities of the " Weehawken "—one of a 
 class of vessels so unjustly decried by many 
 persons. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 387 
 
 For his important services, the Secre- 
 tary informed Captain Rodgers that he had 
 presented his name to Congress for a vote 
 of thanks, and certainly the distinction was 
 well deserved, for John Rodgers was one of 
 the most gallant officers in the Navy. He 
 had that cool courage which would flinch 
 from no danger, and his capacious mind 
 was ever ready to meet emergencies which 
 might have unnerved many clever officers. 
 All of Rodgers' friends and associates in 
 the Navy felt that his honors were fairly 
 earned, and they were worn with the mod- 
 esty which distinguished him. 
 
 The capture of the "Atlanta" was the 
 last important event that occurred while 
 the South Atlantic squadron was under 
 the command of Dupont, and he was well 
 pleased to terminate his official communi- 
 cations to the Navy Department with such 
 gratifying intelligence; and on the 4th of 
 July, 1863, at his own request, he was re- 
 lieved from the command of the squad- 
 ron by Rear-Admiral John A. Dahlgren. 
 
 In the later communications which 
 passed between Rear- Admiral Dupont and 
 the Secretary of the Navy, some asperity 
 may be observed on both sides; but the cap- 
 ture of the " Atlanta " seemed to have 
 smoothed all this away, and Admiral Du- 
 pont's friends hoped on his arrival in Wash- 
 ington he would be appointed to some im- 
 portant command where he could give the 
 country the benefit of his talents and ex- 
 perience. On his retirement from the com- 
 mand of the squadron, Mr. Secretary Welles 
 
 wrote the Admiral the following letter, 
 which would seem to indicate that if he had 
 ever had any feeling against Dupont he 
 had outgrown it: 
 
 Navy Department, \ 
 June 2G, 1863. j 
 
 Sir — The Department has received your several 
 dispatches announcing the capture of the rebel iron- 
 clad steamer " Fingal," alias "Atlanta," and en- 
 closing the detailed reports of Captain John Rodgers 
 and Commander John Downes of the affair. 
 
 I take occasion to express the Department's ap- 
 preciation of your prompt measures to prepare for 
 the expected appearance of the rebel iron-clad by 
 sending off Savannah two of our own ably com- 
 manded ships, and congratulate you on the acquisi- 
 tion of so powerful a vessel, which promises to be of 
 important service on the station. 
 
 To your ceaseless vigilance and that of the offi- 
 cers under your command were we indebted some 
 months since for the destruction of the steamer 
 "Nashville," which the enemy had armed and fruit- 
 lessly endeavored to send out to destroy our com- 
 merce, and now to your timely measures and to the 
 effloient means provided do we owe the capture of 
 one of the most powerful iron-clads afloat, a vessel 
 prepared after several months of toil and great ex- 
 penditure of money, and sent forth with confidence 
 to disperse our blockading fleet and overcome our 
 Monitors. 
 
 You may well regard this, and we may with pleas- 
 ure look upon it, as a brilliant termination of a com- 
 mand gallantly commenced and conducted for 
 nearly two years with industry, energy and ability. 
 
 The Department desires you to recommend to it 
 an officer of the South Atlantic Blockading Squad- 
 ron to command the "Atlanta." 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 Gideon Wellbs, 
 
 Secretary of theNavy. 
 Rear-Admiral 8. F. Dupont, 
 Commanding iS. A. B. Squadron, Port Royal, S. C. 
 
 SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY, 1863. 
 List of Vessels and Officers under Rear-Admiral Samuel F. Dupont. 
 
 CAPTAIN C. R. p. rodgers, CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET. 
 
 STEAM-FRiaATB " WABASH," FLAG-SHIP. 
 Commander, Thomas G. Corbin ; Lieutenant- 
 Commander, John Irwin; Lieutenant Alexander 
 S. Mackenzie, Ordnance-Officer; Lieutenant Samuel 
 W. Preston, Flag-Lieutenant; Lieutenants, Lloyd 
 Phenix, John H. Rowland and James P. Robertson; 
 Fleet Surgeon, George Clymer; Assistant Surgeons, 
 Henry F. McSherry and Theoron Woolverton; Pay- 
 master, John S. Cunningham; Chaplain, George 
 W. Dorrance ; Acting-Master, Townsend Stiles ; 
 Marine Officers: Captain, James Lewis ; First-Lieu- 
 tenant, H. B. Lowry; Ensigns, James Wallace, M. 
 L. Johnson, Philip W. Lowry, La Rue P. Adams 
 and Frederick Pearson; Acting- Master's Mates, Wm. 
 A. Duer, W. F. Horton and Joel R. Hinman; En- 
 gineers: Chief, Robert W. McCleery, Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, J. B. Hathaway; Third-Assistants, J. S. 
 Green, Thomas Crummey; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. L. Marshall, J. B. Place and J. T. Dennett; Boat- 
 swain, Zachariah Whitmarsh ; Gunner, Thomas 
 Stewart; Carpenter, Charles Bordman; Sailmaker, 
 G. T. Lozier 
 
 IRONCIiAD STEAMER "NEW IRONSIDES." 
 
 Captain, Thomas Turner; Lieutenant-Command- 
 
 Surgeon, MariusDuvall; Assistant Surgeons, W. T. 
 Plant and Edward Kershner; Paymaster, Alex. W. 
 Russell; Marine Officers : First-Lieutenant, H. A. 
 Bartlett ; Second-Lieutenant. J. B. Young ; Act- 
 ing-Masters, G. W. Domett, J. M. Skillings and J. 
 M. Butler ; Acting-Master's Mates, C. W. Howard, 
 G. H. Bradley, S. S. Hand, T. E. Harvey, B. F. 
 Morris and Robert Shepherd; Engineers : Chief, 
 Harmon Newell; First-Assistant, N. B. Littig; Sec- 
 ond-Assistants, O. H. Lackey, R. L. Harris ; Third- 
 Assistants, Edward Battelle, H. C. Beckwith and 
 W. S. Wells; Boatswain, Thomas Bennett; Gunners, 
 Charles Stuart and R. J. Hill; Carpenter, Theodore 
 Bishop; Sailmaker, J. B. Birdsall. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "NANTUCKET." [jAN. 1864.] 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, 8. B. Luce; Lieutenant, 
 H. L. Howison; Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Jud- 
 son ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster^ L. L. Brigham; 
 Acting-Master, W. H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, J. T. 
 Otis, C. C. Starr and John Meyers; Engineers: Sec- 
 ond-Assistants, Geo. H. White, Isaac McNary; 
 Third-Assistants, W. W. Buckhout, J. K. Smedley 
 and Acting - Third - Assistant A. L. Grow. [Com- 
 mander Donald McN. Fairfax commanded the 
 
388 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 IBON-CLAD STBAMEB " CATSKILL." [JAN. 1864] 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, F. M. Bunce; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, Robert Willard; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, G. F. Barker; Acting-Master, G. W. Parker; 
 Acting-Ensigns, C. P. Walters and George M. Prin- 
 dle ; Engineers : Second-Assistant, G. D. Emmons; 
 Tliird -Assistant, J. F. Booth; Acting-Tliird- Assist- 
 ants, Frank Marsh and James Plunkett; Acting- 
 Master s Mate, Peter Trescott. [Commander George 
 "W. Rodgers commanded the " Catskill " at Charles- 
 ton.] 
 
 STEAM-SLOOP "POWHATAN." 
 
 Captain, S. W. Godon; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 E. P. Williams; Lieutenants, A. R. McNair and F. 
 J. Higginson; Surgeon, Henry O. Mayo; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Edw. D. Payne; Paymaster, L. J. Brown; 
 First-Lieutenant of Marines, P. C. Pope; Acting- 
 Masters, Jas. Ogilvie, Lothrop Baker, C. R. Wil- 
 kinsandE. L. Haines; Acting-Ensign, C. P. Wal- 
 ters; Acting-Masters' Mates, W. S. Curtis, Wm. 
 Frost and C. H. Howland; Engineers : Chief, John 
 A. Grier ; First Assistant, H. B. Nones; Second-As- 
 sistant. Henry Brown; Third- Assistants, W. H. Gla- 
 ding, R. A. Wright, G. W. Carrick, John Franklin 
 and M. Cuthbert ; Boatswain, Wm. Long; Gunner, 
 G. W. Omensetter; Carpenter, Amos Chick; Sail- 
 maker, W. S. L. Brayton. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " PASSAIC." 
 
 Captain, Percival Drayton; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, Joseph N. Miller; Assistant Surgeon, Ed- 
 gar Holden; Assistant Paymaster, J. P. Woodbury; 
 Acting-Ensigns, H. B. Baker and L. G. Emerson ; 
 Engineers: First-Assistant, G. S. Bright; Second- 
 Assistant. H. W. Robie ; Third-Assistants, W. A. 
 Dripps and Joseph Hoops. 
 
 STEAM SLOOP "CANANDAI&UA." 
 
 Captain, Joseph F. Green; Lieutenant-Command- 
 er, J. J. Cornwell; Lieutenant, H. De H. Manley; 
 Surgeon, James Suddards; Paymaster, C. H. El- 
 dredge; Acting-Master, Samuel Hall; Ensign, Ben- 
 jamin H. Porter; Acting-Ensign, John L. Gifford; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, A. 8. Eldridge, J. N. Pease, 
 W. T. Vincent and C. S. McCarty; Engineers: Chief, 
 Wm. 8. Stamm; First-Assistant, H. C. Victor; Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, G. W. Rogers ; Third-Assistants, 
 Albert Jackson, Alfred Hedrick, Philip Miller and 
 E. S. Philllppi ; Boatswain, Thomas Smith ; Gun- 
 ner, John Gaskins ; Carpenter, S. N. Whitehouse ; 
 Sailmaker, David Bruce. 
 
 IBON-CLAD STEAMER "WEEHAWKEN." 
 
 Captain, John Rodgers; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 L. H. Newman; Assistant Surgeon, E. M. Stein, 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Pynchon; Act- 
 ing-Master, B. W. Loring ; Acting-Ensigns, J. C. 
 Cox and Stephen Balles; Engineers: Second -Assist- 
 ants, J. H. Bailey and David Hardie; Third-Assist- 
 ants, H. W. Merian and Augustus Mitchell. 
 
 STBAM-SLOOP "HOUSATONIC." 
 
 Captain, Wm. Rogers Taylor; Lieutenants, M. S. 
 Stuyvesant and E. T. Brower; Surgeon, 8. F. Coues; 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Woolson, Acting-Mas- 
 ters, J. W. Congdon and J. K. Crosby ; Acting En- 
 sign, Weston Gregory, Acting-Master's Mates, C. D. 
 Bordman, B. A. JButler, G. A. Harriman and B. F. 
 Jacobs; Engineers: Chief, John S. Albert; Second- 
 Assistant, P. A. Rearick ; Third-Assistants, I. R. 
 McNary, F. L. Cooper, G. W. Geddesand J. H. Har- 
 many; Boatswain, H. P. Grace; Gunner, Benjamin 
 Roberts. 
 
 STEAMER "MBRCEDITA." 
 
 Captain, Henry 8. Stellwagen ; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Trevot Abbott: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 C. H. Mason ; Acting- Assist ant Paymaster, T. C. 
 Stellwagen; Acting- Masters, C. B. Wilder, F. J. 
 Gover and T. J. Dwyer; Master's Mates, Edward 
 Rogers and G. A. Steins ; Engineers : Acting-First- 
 Assistant. Alexander Doig; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 
 Simon Rockefellow, E. F. Martin and J. A. Hun- 
 ger; Gunner, Jacob Amee. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT '■ PAUL JONES." 
 
 Commander, Charles Steedman, Lieutenant, Ed- 
 ward A. Walker; Acting-Masters, Wm. Buckholdt ; 
 C. H. Boutelle and J. O. Ormond ; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. H. Hazleton; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. A. Berry; Acting-Master's Mates, C. V. Kelly, 
 Jeremiah Potts and Charles Weidenbine; Engineers: 
 First-Assistant, Alexander Greer; Second-Assistant, 
 James Sheriden; Third- Assistants, J. H. Chassmar, 
 W. H. G. West and E. D. Weems; Acting-Gunner, 
 O. B. Holden. 
 
 STEAMER "SOUTH CAROLINA." 
 
 Commander, John J. Almy ; Acting -Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. A. Bright; Assistant Paymaster, A. S. 
 Kenny; Acting Masters, J. W. Magune, G. A. 
 Crabb, W. H. Garfield and F. W. Baury ; Acting- 
 Ensign, C. T. Taylor ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 Eliphalet Hoi brook, Wm. C. Nye, A. S. Hitch and 
 S. 8. Withington; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ants, B. B. Carney, B. D. Mulligan and J. H. Rowe; 
 Acting Third-Assistants, Henry Gormley and James 
 Jamison. 
 
 STEAMER "flag." 
 
 Commander, James H. Strong; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, C. W. Sartori; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Lynford Lardner ; Acting - Master, Wm. H. 
 Latham; Acting- Master's Mates, E. G. Welles, G. 
 W. VeacockandC. 8. Lawrence: Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistant, L. H.Flowry; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ants, John Harris, W. W. Tunis and M. Dandreau; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, J. S. Johnson and Edw. 
 Aljn; Acting-Gunner, B. F. Ritter. 
 
 STEAMER "QUAKER CITY." 
 
 Commander, James M. Frailey; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, S. Livingston Breese; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. J. Brownlee; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, H. J. BuUay: Acting Master, H. 8. Blanchard ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, T. F. DeLuce, A. Delano, Jr., and 
 J. H. Bennett; Acting-Master's Mates, E. H. Dewey 
 and E. W. Hale; Engineers; Acting-First-Assistant, 
 G. W. Farrer ; Acting - Third - Assistants, James 
 Barnes, E. F. McGinniss, Henry Wauklin, J. F. 
 King and John Proshero ; Gunner, Daniel Duns- 
 more. 
 
 STORE-SHIP "TERMONT." 
 
 Commander, William Reynolds; Surgeon, Charles 
 Eversfield; Assistant-Surgeon, I. H. Hazleton; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. Isaacs; Second-Lieu- 
 tenant Marines, Alfred Devereaux; Acting-Masters, 
 Howard Tibbatts and C. C. Kingsbury; Acting En- 
 signs, C. A. Pettit and R. T. Westcott; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, W. Van Wyck, O. F. Wixen, J. G. Rose, 
 Sidney Gray, Arthur Taffe and J. 8. Griscom; 
 Boatswain, William Winchester ; Acting-Gunners, 
 G. W. Allen and J. G. Bills; Carpenter, C. W. Ba'o- 
 bitt; Sailmaker, John Joins. 
 
 STEAMER "keystone STATE." 
 
 Commander, Wm. E. Le Roy; Lieutenant Com- 
 mander, T. H. Eastman, Assistant Surgeon, J. H. 
 Gotwold; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. 8tim- 
 son; Acting-Masters, C. H. Corser, Curtis Redman 
 and L. E. Degn; Acting-Ensign, C. M. Bird; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. C. Murphy, J. E. Jones and J. 
 T. Ridgeway ; Engineers: Acting- First- Assistant, 
 A. K. Eddowes ; Acting-Seeond-Assistant, James 
 Doran; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. F. Warbur- 
 ton, John Smith and Pearson L. Fry; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, David L. Briggs. 
 
 STEAMEB "CIMMEBONE." 
 
 Commandei- Maxwell WoodhuU ; Lieutenant- 
 Commander, B. B. Taylor; Acting-Masters, G. E. 
 Thurston, Edwai-d D. March and Samuel A. Water- 
 bury; Assistant Surgeon, Eugene 8. Olcott; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, D. W. Hale; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, John F. Miller. Peter .1. Marp.oe. Wni. H. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 389 
 
 Herring and Augustus Lippitt; Engineers: First- 
 Assistant, B. A. C. Du Plaine; Second- Assistant, 
 Reynold Driver; Third Assistants, G. J. Burnap, 
 George W. Beard and David Jones; Gunner, John 
 Caulk. 
 
 STEA.MEB "BIENVILLE.'' 
 
 NoTB. — List of officers not given in the Navy 
 Register. 
 
 IRON-CIiAD STEAMBB " MONTAUK." 
 
 Commander, John L. Worden; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, C. H. Cushman; Assistant Surgeon, 8. N. 
 Brayton ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, S. T. 
 Browne; Acting - Master, Pierre Giraud; Acting- 
 Ensigns, I. J. McKinley and Geo. A. Almy ; Engi- 
 neers : Second- Assistants, Robert Potts and T. A. 
 Stephens ; Third-Assistants,D. P. McCartney and 
 Geo. M. Greene. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT ' CONEMAUOH." 
 
 Commander, Reed Werden, Lieutenant, B. J. 
 Cromwell: Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Allingham; Pay- 
 master, George Lawrence ; Acting-Masters, J. W. 
 Stapleford and J. L. Lee ; Acting-Ensigns, W. F. 
 Reading and G. F. Morse; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. H. Wainwright, A. R. Bashford, John Brown 
 and G. H. French; Engineers: Second-Assistant, 
 L. J. Allen; Third- Assistants, C. P. Gardner, P. H. 
 Hendrickson, John Lloyd and J. W. Boynton. 
 
 SIEAMEE "JAMES ADGEB." 
 
 Commander, Thomas H. Patterson ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, R. N, Atwood; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. W. T. Green way; Acting - Master, 
 R. O. Patterson; Acting-Ensigns, C. F. Keith and 
 J. T. Chadwell; Acting-Master's Mates, W.W. Reed, 
 George Couch and Wm. B. Dyer, Jr.; Engineers: 
 Acting-First-Assistant, E. A. Whipple; Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, John Carren; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, Andrew McTurk, Wm. Moranand W. R. Nutz; 
 Acting-Gunner, J. H. Pennington. 
 
 IBON-OLAD STEAMER "PATAPSOO." 
 
 Commander, Daniel Ammen; Lieutenant, Henry 
 Erben, Jr.; Assistant Surgeon, W. L. Wheeler; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Daniel Leach, Jr. ; Acting- 
 Master, William Hamilton; Acting- Ensigns, J. T. 
 Ross and Henry Kloeppel ; Engineers: First- Assist- 
 ant, B. B. H. Wharton; Second-Assistant, John B. 
 Carpenter; Third- Assistants, J. W. Huxley and G. 
 C. Cook. 
 
 STEAM-SLOOP ' ' PAWNEE. " 
 
 Commander, G. B. Baloh ; Lieutenant, P. M. 
 Bunce; Surgeon, W. T. Hord; Assistant-Paymaster, 
 F. R. Curtis; Acting-Masters, J. C. Champion and J. 
 P. Lindsay; Acting-Ensign, Thomas Moore; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, C. J. Rogers, J. G. Bache and A. A. 
 Franzen ; Engineers : Second - Assistant, Alfred 
 Adamson; Third-Assistants, H. D. Sellman, Ben- 
 jamin Bunce, W. J. Clark, jr., John G. Brosnahan 
 and Arthur Price; Boatswain, James Brown. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMEB "NAHANT." 
 
 Commander, John Downes ; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, D. B. Harmony; Assistant Surgeon, C. E. 
 Stedman ; Assistant Paymaster, Edwin Putnam; 
 Acting-Master, Wm. W. Carter; Acting-Ensigns, C. 
 C. RiokerandC. E. Clark; Engineers: First-Assist- 
 ant, F. J. Lovering; Second- Assistant, T. H. Bord- 
 ley ; Third-Assistants, Abram Michener and W. S. 
 Neal. 
 
 STEAMEB "NOBWICH." 
 
 Commander, James M. Duncan; Ensign, A. H. 
 McCormick ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. E. Mc- 
 Pherson; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. C. Board- 
 man; Acting-Masters, C. F. Mitchell and R. B. Ar- 
 rants; Acting-Master's Mates, Peter Mookler, A. J. 
 L. Baker and G. M. Smith; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, Nicholas Coyle ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, A. A. Odell, Benjamin Cobb, Jr., and W. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "SEBAGO. 
 
 Commander, .John C. Beaumont; Lieutenant, H. 
 M. Blue; Assistant Surgeon, John P. Quinn; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, S. G. Thorn ; Acting- 
 Masters, Thomas M. Gardner, Wm. C. Mallard and 
 J. F. Anderson; Acting-Ensign, C. B. Dorrance ; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, E. D. Martin ; Engineers: 
 First-Assistant, S. F. Savage ; Third-Assistants, 
 G. E. Tower, W. H. De Hart, O. W. Alhson and 
 J. A. Bullard. 
 
 STEAMEB "MOHAWK." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Aaron K. Hughes; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, Geo. W. Woods; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. H. Andrews; Acting-Masters, G. R. 
 Durand, Anthony Smally and Alex. TiUinghast ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, T. Holland and T. J. 
 Speights; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, Alfred 
 Lapoint; Aeting-Third-Assistants, William King, 
 Geo. E. Whitney and R. K.Morrison. 
 
 STEAM OUN-BOAT " HURON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Geo. A. Stevens; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, C. H. White; Acting -Assistant Pay- 
 master, Charles Stewart; Acting Masters, J. W. Gill, 
 W. H. Baldwin and Wm. A. Mills; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Peter O'Conner, Sam'l Delano, J. M. Blake 
 and Wm. Henderson ; Engineers : Acting - First- 
 Assistant, Wm. Craig ; Third-Assistants, Sylvanus 
 Mclntyre, J. P. Kelley, John Lowe and F. C. 
 Russell. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "UNADILLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, S. P. Quackenbush; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, C. T. Hubbard; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Geo. B. Tripp; Acting-Masters, Edw. 
 Van Sice, W. L. Tuttle and P. N. Cruse; Acting- 
 Ensign, R. M. Cornell; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. 
 E. Thomas, C. N. Hall and Wm. Field; Engineers: 
 Second-Assistant, R. S. Talbot ; Third- Assistants, 
 R. H. Thurston, Fred'k Bull, Jr., and M. N. Knowl- 
 ton. 
 
 STEAMER "FLAMBEAU." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Upshur; Lieu- 
 tenant, Fred'k R. Smith; Acting - Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. R. Lay ton; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. 
 V. D. Horton; Acting-Masters, W. B. Sheldon, A. 
 C. Megathlinand Wm. L. Kempton; Acting-Ensign, 
 Gardner Cottrell; Acting-Master's Mate, J. F. Bur- 
 rows; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. G. Pem- 
 ble ; Acting-Second- Assistant ; Alex. Gillanders ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistaut, Wilham Richardson. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "OTTAWA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. D. Whiting; Lieu- 
 tenant, Geo. B.White; Assistant Surgeon, C. O. Car- 
 penter; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Noyes; 
 Acting-Master, Samuel Hanes; Acting-Ensigns, J. 
 L. Gamble and B. Mitchell; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 E. M. Dimon, A. W. Tripp and David McKewan; 
 Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. P. Sprague; Third- 
 Assistants, E. W. Koehl, F. C. Prmdle and R. B. 
 Hine. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "SENECA." 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, William Gibson; Lieu- 
 tenant, Thomas G. Bowen; Assistant Surgeon, J 
 H. Macomber; Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Beaman; 
 Acting- Masters, J. H. Rodgers, Henry Vaughanand 
 G. W. Ewen; Acting-Master's Mates, E. W. Fiske, 
 J. W. Paine and C. E. Culver; Engineers: Second- 
 Assistant, J. W. De Kraflft; Third-Assistants, H. H. 
 Burritt, Thomas Lynch and R. T. Bennett. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT " WISSAHICKON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis; Lieuten- 
 ant, Silas Casey; Assistant Surgeon, Henry Ackley; 
 Acting-Assistant Paj'master, A. W. Kelsey; Acting- 
 Masters, Geo. W. Parker and T. S. Steel; Acting- 
 Ensign, J. W. Hathorn; Acting-Master's Mates, R. 
 B. Crapo, G. E^Senter and A. L. Pendleton; Engi- 
 
390 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Third-Assistants, J. J. Newton, C. A. Stuart and 
 H. J. Tarr. 
 
 STEAM GUNBOAT " MAKBLEHEAD." 
 
 Lieutenant-Coininander, R. W. Scott; Lieutenant, 
 Geo. C. Remey; Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Kidder; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Mulford; Acting- 
 Masters, Greo. Martin and B. Allen; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, D. S. Gross, B. O. Low, (J. R Winslow and 
 Harry West ; Engineers : Second-Assistant, Clark 
 Fisher; Third-Assistants, W. L. Niooll, James Long 
 and H. W. Bulkley. 
 
 STEAMEE "WATER WITCH." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Austin Pendergrast ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, L. G. Billings; Acting-Masters. 
 C. W. Buck and H. S. Kimball; Acting-Ensign, J. 
 M. Forsyth; Acting-Masters' Mates, J. J. Bigley 
 and E. D. Parsons ; Engineers: Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant Samuel Genther; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. P. 
 Cooper, John Hawkins and John Overn. 
 
 STEAMEB "COMMODOEE M'DONOUGH." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Gibson; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. F. Quintard; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. 
 Knapp and J. A. Buxton; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. K. Winn, J. W. Goodwin and D. B. Hallett; En- 
 gineers : Acting-Third-Assistants, T. O. Reynolds, 
 J. T. Booth and S. 8. Hetrick. 
 
 STEAMER "ISAAC SMITH." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, F. S. Conover ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, G. H. Marvin; Acting- Assistant- 
 Paymaster, F. C. Hills; Acting-Masters, J.W. Dicks 
 and Robert Tarr; Acting-Ensigns, Whitman Chase, 
 
 F. J. Brentonand H. S. Borden; Engineers: Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Jacob Tucker ; Acting-Seeond-As- 
 sistant, J. S. Turner ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. 
 Ross and Erastus Barry. 
 
 STEAMER "DAWN." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, John S. Barnes ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, A. R. Holmes ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, R. C. Pierce; Acting-Masters, James 
 Brown and J. W. Saunders; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. Hartshorn, P. W. Morgan and Charles Myers; 
 Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, N.D. Bates; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, Sam'l Tomlinson, M. V. B. 
 Darling find W. P. Ayres. 
 
 STEAMER "WHITEHEAD." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Chas. A. French; 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. M. Holmes and J. R. Dickinson; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, T. E. Quayle and T. M. Nel- 
 son ; Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, Moses 
 Petersen; Acting-Third- Assistants, R. H. Ryan and 
 
 G. B. McDermoft. 
 
 BARK " GEM-OF-THE-SEA." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. B. Baxter; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, B. (i. Walton; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, H. A. Strong; Acting-Masters, 
 P. F. Coffin and H. B. Carter; Acting - Ensign, 
 Samuel Bliss. 
 
 STEAMER "POTOMSKA." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lie utenant, William Budd; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, S. G. Smith; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, F. H. Swan; Acting-Masters, R. P. 
 Walter, B. W. Leary and Abni-r West; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. D. Wells and Woodward Cai'ter; 
 Engineers: Acting-Seeond-Assistant, G. H. Guyer; 
 Acting - Third - Assistants, C. A. Marline, Edwin 
 Vaughan and W. L. McKay. 
 
 STEAMER " MEMPHIS. " 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, P. G. Watmough; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, S. H. Brown; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. E. Foster ; Acting-Master, C. A. 
 Curtis; Acting-Ensigns, B. A. Magone and J. B. 
 Childs ; Acting-Master's Mates, N. P. Dickinson, 
 Silas Owens and J. M. Moore; Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistant, J. L. Peake; Acting-Secoud-Assist- 
 
 ant, C. H. MoCarty; Acting-Third-Assistants, H. L. 
 Churchill, Chas. Hardwick and J. H. VaUe. 
 
 STEAMER ' ' STETTIN. " 
 
 Acting-Master, C. J. Van Alstine; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, J. S. Cohen; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, E. P. Heberton; Acting-Master, G. P. Lee; 
 Acting-Ensigns, G. R. Bailey and Joseph Frost; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, G. E. Short, Marcus Baird 
 and G. N. Ryder; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, J. B. Edwards; Acting-Third- Assistants, P. B. 
 Robinson, Thomas Slater and S. B. Cornell. 
 
 BARK "EESTLE.SS." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. R. Brown; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. B. Calkins; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, W. 8. Cushman; Acting - Masters, Maurice 
 Digard and J. B. Rogers; Acting-Ensigns, Henry 
 Eason, J. J. Russell and C. N. Hicks; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. W. Mackie and Henry Oakley. 
 
 STEAMER ' ' MADGIE. " 
 
 Acting-Master, F. B. Meriam; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, Louis Michel; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, B. Huscull; Acting-Ensign, W. C. Underhill- 
 Acting-Master's Mates, E. H. Vail, E. P. Blague and 
 Jason Ryan ; Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 G. L. Palmer; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. F. Rock- 
 feller, Maurice McCarty and C. M. Goodwin. 
 
 BARK "MIDNIGHT." 
 
 Acting-Master, Nicholas Kirby; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. G.Bacon; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 F. Miller; Acting-Masters, S. D. Joy and Edwin 
 Coffin; Acting-Ensign, ZeraL. Tanner; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, A. K. Noyes, Nicholas Pratt and Thos. 
 Hollins. 
 
 SHIP "VALPARAISO." 
 
 Acting-Master, A. S. Gardner; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, A. B. C Sawyer; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, Tracy Coit; Acting-Masters, J. W. Godfrey 
 and Wm. Haffords ; Acting-Master's Mates, John 
 Blitz and Charles Cooke. 
 
 STEAMER "UNCAS. ' 
 
 Acting-Master, William Watson; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. H. Van Deusen; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. E. Taylor; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. L.Pavy; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Geo. Newlin ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, C. Dandreau ; Acting- 
 Third -Assistant, Paul Dandreau. 
 
 STEAMER "WAMSUTTA." 
 
 Acting-Master, S. C. Gray; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geon, S. F. Quimbv; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Sam. Jorden; Acting-Master's Mates, G. F. Good- 
 rich, Chas. Cravton and Thomas Kennedy; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-Third -Assistants, Wm. A. Andress, 
 John Seaman and W. J. Carman. 
 
 SHIP "COURIER." 
 
 Acting-Master, W.K.Cressy; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, W. R. Bonsall, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 M. W. Blake; Acting-Master, W. B. Stoddard; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns. W. P. O'Bi-ien and Wm. McDermott; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, C. J. Hill and E. H. Shee. 
 
 BAKK " PEBNANDIKA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Edward Moses; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, 8. P. Boyer; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 T. N. Murray; Acting-Masters, R. B. Hines and C. 
 C. Childs; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. H. Thomas; Acting- 
 Master's JIntes, J. B. Henderson, W. C. Gibson and 
 Alonzo Townsend. 
 
 BARK "KINGFISHER." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. C. Dutch; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, A. N. Blakeman; Acting-Ensigns, 8. W. 
 Rhodes and T. E. Chapin; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Tom. Nelson, H. G. Seaman and Frank Jordan. 
 
 BARK "BEAZILIERA." 
 
 Acting-Master, W. T. Gillespie; Acting-Assistant 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 391 
 
 Surgeon, S. N. Fisk; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 C. H. Longstreet; Acting-Masters, J. J. N. Webber 
 and Jeremiah Chadwick; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 W. N. Smith, J. B. P. Smith and W. H. Roberts. 
 
 STEAMEB " COLITMBINE." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. S. Dennis; Acting-Ensign, C. 
 S. Flood; Acting-Master's Mates, Edwin Daly and 
 F. "W. Sanborn; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, W. H. Ogden ; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. H. 
 Lawrence and S. C. Clark. 
 
 TOG "DAPPODIIi." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. M. Baldwin; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Francis Such and S. C. Bishop ; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant Engineer, J. P. Rossman; Acting- 
 Third-Assistant Engineer, Geo. Cunningham. 
 
 TUG " DANDELION " 
 
 Acting-Master, A. S. Gardner; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John Brittingham; Engineers : Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, J. M. Case; Acting-Third-Assistant, E. F. 
 Hedden. 
 
 SOHOONEB "C. p. WILLIAMS." 
 
 Acting-Master, S. N. Freeman; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, F. W. Towne, John Gunn and F. E. Dag- 
 gett. 
 
 SOHOONBE • NOEPOLK PACKET." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, G. W. Wood ; Assistant-Surgeon, 
 A. B. Judson ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. 
 Merritt; Acting - Master's Mates, Leaken Barnes, 
 Jackson Kingsley and Tim. Ryan. 
 
 SCHOONER "HOPE." 
 
 Acting- Master, J. E. Rockwell ; Acting-Master's 
 
 Mates, J. B. Williamson, J. C. Sanborn and Jacob 
 Cochrane. 
 
 SCHOONEB "PAEA." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. C. Furber; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Edward Ryan, John MoDonough and W. H. 
 Morse. 
 
 YAOHT "AMERICA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Jonathan Baker; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, G. H. Wood, August Adler and W. H. 
 Thompson. 
 
 SCHOONER ''G. W. BLUNT " 
 
 Acting - Master, J. R. Beers; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, B. D. Reed, A. H. Comstock and G. W. 
 Cleaves. 
 
 STEAMER "RESCUE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, C. A. Blanchard; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, E. D. Smith; Engineers: Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, M. C. Heath and G. W. Howe. 
 
 TUG " O. M. PETTIT." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, T. E. Baldwin; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, Reuben McClenahan ; Acting- 
 Third-Assistant, Augustus Wandell. 
 
 IRON-CLAD "KEOKUK." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. C. Rhind; Lieutenant, 
 Moreau Forrest; Acting-Master, James Taylor; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, W. H. Bullis, IraT. Halstead and Alex 
 Mcintosh; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Geo. D. Slo- 
 cum; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, John Read ; First- 
 Assistant Engineer, Wm. H. King; Second-Assistant 
 Engineer, J. H. Hunt; Third-Assistant Engineers, 
 J. M. Emanuel and H. A. Smith. 
 
 LETTERS RELATING TO THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL AND OCCUPATION 
 
 OF THE CONFEDERATE FORTS. 
 
 FROM FLAG - OFFICER DUPONT, COMMANDER STEEDMAN, AND LIEUTENANTS - COMMANDING 
 
 C. R. P. RODGERS. AMMEN, STEVENS AND WATMOUGH— MAJOR JOHN G. REYNOLDS, U. S. M. C. 
 
 —COMMENDATORY LETTERS OP SECRETARY WELLES— GENERAL ORDERS, ETC 
 
 report of flag-officer dupont: 
 Flag-ship "Wabash," off Hiltom Head, \ 
 Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 8, 1861. \ 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to inform you that yester 
 day I attacked the enemy's batteries on Bay Point 
 and Hilton Head (.Forts Beauregard and Walker), 
 and succeeded in silencing them after an engage- 
 ment of four hours' duration, and driving away the 
 squadron of rebel steamers under Commodore Tat- 
 nall. The reeonnoissance of yesterday made us 
 acquainted with the superiority of Fort Walker, 
 and to that I directed my especial efforts, engaging 
 it at a distance of, first, eight, and afterwards six, 
 hundred yards. But the plan of attack brought 
 the squadron sufficiently near Fort Beauregard to 
 receive its fire, and the ships were frequently fight- 
 ing the batteries on both sides at the same time. 
 
 The action was begun on my part at twenty-six 
 minutes after 9, and at half-past 3 the Ameri- 
 can ensign was lioisted on the flag-staff of Fort 
 Walker, and this morning at sunrise on that of 
 Fort Beauregard. 
 
 The defeat of the enemy terminated in utter rout 
 and confusion. Their quarters and encam[)ments 
 were abandoned without an attempt to carry away 
 either public or private property. The ground over 
 which they fled was strewn with the arms of private 
 soldiers, and officers retired in too much haste to 
 submit to the encumbrance of their swords. 
 
 Landing my marines and a company of seamen, I 
 took possession of the deserted ground, and held 
 the forts on Hilton Head till the arrival of General 
 Sherman, to whom I had the honor to transfer its 
 
 We have captured forty -three pieces of cannon, 
 most of them of the heaviest calibre and of the most 
 improved description. 
 
 The bearer of these dispatches will have the 
 honor to carry with him the captured flags and two 
 small brass field pieces, lately belonging to the 
 State of South Carolina, which are sent home as 
 suitable trophies of the day. I enclose herewith a 
 copy of the general order, which is to be read in the 
 fleet to-morrow morning at muster. A detailed 
 account of this battle will be submitted hereafter. 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 8. F. DuPojTT, 
 Mag-Offieer, Commanding 
 South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 P. S. — Bearer of dispatches will also carry with 
 him the first American ensign raised upon the soil 
 of South Carolina suice the rebellion broke out. 
 
 S. F. D. 
 
 general order no. 2. 
 
 Flag-ship "Wabash," Hilton Head, { 
 Port Royal Bay, Nov. 8, 1861. \ 
 It is the grateful duty of the Commander-in-chief 
 to malie a public acknowledgment of his entire 
 commendation of the coolness, discipline, skill and 
 gallantry displayed by the officers and men under 
 his command in the capture of the batteries on 
 Hilton Head and Bay Point, after an action of four 
 
392 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 The flag-oflicer fully sympathizes with the officers 
 and men of the squadron in the satisfaction they 
 must feel at seeing the ensign of the Union flying 
 once more in the State of South Carolina, which 
 has been the chief promoter of the wicked and 
 unprovoked rebellion they have been called upon 
 to suppress. 8. P. DuPont, 
 
 Flag-Officer, Commanding 
 South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. 
 
 report of flag-officbb dupont. 
 United States Flag-ship "Wabash," ) 
 Port Royal Harbor, 8. C, Nov. 11, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to submit the following 
 detailed account of the action of the 7th of No- 
 vember : 
 
 From the reconnoissance of the 5th we were led to 
 believe that the forts on Bay Point and Hilton 
 Head were armed with more than twenty guns 
 each, of the heaviest calibre and longest range, and 
 were well constructed and well manned, but that 
 the one on Hilton Head was the strongest. The 
 distance between them is two and two-tenths nau- 
 tical miles — too great to admit of their being advan- 
 tageously engaged at the same time, except at long 
 shot. I resolved, therefore, to undertake the reduc- 
 tion of Hilton Head (or, as I shall hereafter call it. 
 Fort Walker) first, and afterwards to turn my atten- 
 tion to Port Beauregard — the fort on Bay Point. The 
 greater part of the guns of Port Walker were pre- 
 sented upon two water-fronts, and the flanks were 
 but slightly guarded, especially on the north, on 
 which side the approach of an enemy had not been 
 looked for. 
 
 A fleet of the enemy — consisting of seven steam- 
 ers, armed, but to what extent I was not informed 
 further than that they carried rifle-guns — occupied 
 the northern i^ortion of the harbor, and stretched 
 along from the mouth of Beaufort River to Scull 
 Creek. 
 
 It was high water on the 7th instant at llh. 35m. 
 A. M. by the tables of the Coast Survey. 
 
 These circumstances — the superiority of Port 
 Walker and its weakness on the northern flank, the 
 presence of the rebel fleet, and the flood-tide of the 
 morning— decided the plan of attack and the order 
 of battle. 
 
 The order of battle comprised a main squadron 
 ranged in line ahead, and a flanking squadron, 
 which was to be thrown off on the northern section 
 of the harbor, to engage the enemy's flotilla and 
 prevent them taking the rear ships of the main 
 Dne when it turned to the southward, or cutting off 
 a disabled vessel. 
 
 The main squadron consisted of the frigate " Wa- 
 bash," Commander C. R. P. Rodgers, the leading 
 ship; the frigate "Susquehanna," Captain J. L. 
 Lardner ; the sloop "Mohican," Commander 8. W. 
 Godon; the sloop "Seminole," Commander J. P. 
 Gilhs ; the sloop "Pawnee," Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing R. H. Wyman; the gun-boat " UnadUla," 
 Lieutenant-Commanding N. Collins ; the gun-boat 
 "Ottawa," Lieutenant-Commanding T. H. Stevens; 
 the gun-boat "Pembina," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 J. P. Bankhead ; and the sailing sloop " Vandalia,' 
 Commander P. S. Haggerty, towed by the "Isaac 
 Smith," Lieutenant-Commanding J. W. A. Nichol- 
 son. 
 
 The flanking squadron consisted of the gun-boat 
 "Bienville," Commander Charles Steedman, the 
 leading ship; the gun-boat "Seneca," Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Daniel Ammen ; the gun-boat "Cur- 
 lew," Lieutenant Commanding P. G. Watmough ; 
 the gun-boat "Penguin," Lieutenant Commanding 
 T. A. Budd ; and the gun-boat "Augusta," Com- 
 mander E. G. Parrott, the closing ship of that line. 
 The plan of attack was to pass up mid-way 
 between Ports Walker and Beauregard (receiving 
 and returning the fire of both) to a certain distance, 
 about two and a half miles north of the latter. At 
 
 that point the line was to turn to the south arountf. 
 by the west, and close in with Port Walker, encoun- 
 tering it on its weakest flank, and at the same time 
 enfilading, in nearly a direct line, its two water- 
 faces. While standing to the southward the vessels 
 were head to tide, which kept them under command,, 
 whilst the rate of going was diminished. 
 
 When abreast of the fort, the engine was to be' 
 slowed and the movement reduced to only as much 
 as would be just sufficient to overcome the tide, to- 
 preserve the order of battle by passing the batteries 
 in slow succession, and to avoid becoming a fixed 
 mark for the enemy's fire. On reaching the ex- 
 tremity of Hilton Head and the shoal ground 
 making off from it, the line was to turn to the north 
 by the east, and, passing to the northward, to en- 
 gage Fort Walker with the port battery nearer than 
 when first on the same course. These evolutions 
 were to be repeated. The accompanying plan will 
 explain the preceding description. 
 
 The captains of the ships had been called on 
 board and instructed as to the general formation of 
 the lines and their own respective places. 
 
 At 8 o'clock the signal was made to get under 
 way. At 8h. 10m. the ship, riding to the flood, 
 tripped her anchor ; and at 8h. 30m. the ship 
 turned, and was headed in for the forts. At 9 the 
 signal was made for close order. At 9h. 26m. the 
 action was commenced by a gun from Fort Walker, 
 immediately followed by another from Fort Beau- 
 regard. This was answered at once from this ship, 
 and immediately after from the "Susquehanna," 
 At 10 o'clock the leading ship of the line turned to 
 the southward, and made signal to the "Vandalia" 
 (which ship, in tow of the "Isaac Smith," was 
 dropping astern, and was exposed, without support, 
 to the fire of Port Beauregard) to join company. 
 At lOh. 15m. the signal was made for closer action, 
 the "Wabash" slowly passing Port Walker at a. 
 distance, when abreast, of eight hundred yards. 
 At 11 the signal was made to get into and preserve 
 stations, and at llh. I5m. to follow the motions of 
 the Commander-in-chief. 
 
 Standing to the northward, nearly In the line 
 shown in the diagram, the ship's head was again 
 turned to the southward, and she passed the guns 
 of Port Walker at a distance less than six hundred 
 yards (the sights were adjusted to five hundred and 
 fifty yards). At llh. 30m. the enemy's flag was 
 shot away. 
 
 The second fire with the starboard guns of the 
 " Wabash," and Captain Lardner, in the " Susque- 
 hanna," my second in command, who always kept 
 so near as to give me the entire support of his 
 formidable battery, seems at this short distance 
 to have discomforted the enemy. Its effect was 
 increased by the shells thrown from the smaller 
 vessels at the enfilading point. It was evident 
 that the enemy's fire was becoming much less fre- 
 quent, and finally it was kept up at such long 
 intervals and with so few guns as to be of httle 
 consequence. 
 
 After the "Wabash" and "Susquehanna" had 
 passed to the northward, and given the fort the 
 fire of their port battery the third time, the enemy 
 had entirely ceased to reply and the battle was 
 ended. 
 
 At Ih. 15m. the "Ottawa" signalled that the 
 works at Hilton Head were abandoned. This in- 
 formation was, a few minutes later, repeated by the 
 "Pembina." As soon as the starboard guns of this 
 ship and the " Susquehanna" had been brought to 
 bear a third time on Port Walker, I sent Com- 
 uiander John Rodgers on shore with a flag of truce. 
 The hasty flight of the enemy was visible, and was 
 reported from the tops. At twenty minutes after 
 two Captain Rodgers hoisted the flag of the Union 
 over the deserted post. At forty-five minutes after 
 two I anchored and sent Commander C. R. P. 
 Rodgers on shore with the marines and a nartv of 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 393: 
 
 seamen to take possession and prevent, if necessary, 
 the destruction of public property. 
 
 Tlie transports now got underway, and came 
 rapidly up, and by nightfall Brigadier -General 
 "Wright's brigade had landed and entered upon the 
 occupation of the ground. 
 
 I have said, in the beginning of this report, that 
 theplan of attack designed making the reduction 
 of roxt Walker the business of the day. In passing 
 to the northward, however, we had improved every 
 opportunity of firing at long range on Fort Beaure- 
 gard. As soon as the fate of Port Walker was 
 decided, I dispatched a small squadron to Fort 
 Beauregard to reconnoitre and ascertain its condi- 
 tion, and to prevent the rebel steamers returning 
 to carry away either persons or property. 
 
 Near sunset it was discovered that the flag upon 
 this fort was hauled down, and that the fort was 
 apparently abandoned. 
 
 At sunrise the next day the American ensign was 
 hoisted on the flag-staff at Fort Beauregard by 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Ammen. 
 
 The "Pocahontas," Commander Percival Dray- 
 ton, had suffered from the gale of Friday night so 
 badly as not to be able to enter Port Royal until 
 the morning of the 7th. He reached the scene of 
 action about 12 o'clock, and rendered gallant ser- 
 vice by engaging the batteries on both sides in suc- 
 cession. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanding H. L. Newcomb, of the 
 "R. B. Forbes,'' which vessel had been employed 
 in towing in the "Great Republic," arrived in time 
 to take good part in the action. 
 
 And, finally, the tug "Mercury," Acting-Master 
 Martin commanding, employed his single Parrott 
 gun with skill and effect. 
 
 After congratulating you upon the success thus 
 far of our expedition, which had its origin in the 
 counsels of the Department, and which the Depart- 
 ment has fostered and labored to render efficient, 
 the gratifying duty remains to be performed of 
 according to each and all their due share of praise 
 for good conduct in their encounter with the en- 
 emy. This duty, though most welcome, is still 
 delicate. 
 
 I am well aware that each one did his part in his 
 place, and when I discriminate it is in cases that 
 necessarily fell under my own immediate observa- 
 tion. I have no doubt that all would have 
 embraced and improved the same opportunities of 
 distinction ; and in noticing those who were made 
 prominent \>y their stations, or who were near me 
 during the action, I am showing no invidious pref- 
 erence. 
 
 The General Order No. 2, already forwarded to 
 the Department, expressed in general terms my 
 commendation of the gallantry and skill of the 
 officers and men. 
 
 The reports of the commanding officers of the 
 several ships, herewith enclosed, do justice to those 
 under them ; while the results speak for the com- 
 manding officers themselves. The names of the 
 latter are mentioned in the beginning of this dis- 
 patch. I refer with pleasure to them again. They 
 did their duty to m'y satisfaction, and 1 am most 
 happy to bear testimony to their zeal and ability. 
 
 The officers of this ship, to whom 1 am deeply 
 indebted, will be mentioned by her commander, 
 C. R. P. Rodgers, in his special report. 
 
 It affords me the highest gratification to speak of 
 the manner in which this ship was handled during 
 the engagement, owing, in a great nieasui-e, to the 
 professional skill, the calm and rapid judgment and 
 the excellent management of Commander C. R. P. 
 Rodgers. His attention was divided between this 
 duty and the effective service of the guns, which 
 involved the estimation of distances, the regulation 
 of fuses and the general supervision of the divisions. 
 His conduct and judicious control of everything 
 
 was to be expected from his established reputation, 
 impressed me with a higher estimation than ever 
 of his attainments and character. 
 
 I had also an opportunity to remark the admirable 
 coolness and discrimination of the first-lieutenant, 
 T. G. Corbin. The good order, discipline and effi- 
 ciency, in every respect, of this ship are, to a great 
 extent, the results of his labors as executive officer, 
 and they were conspicuous on this occasion. Acting- 
 Master Stiles, acting as pilot, was devoted and in- 
 telligent in the performance of his duties ; and the 
 third-assistant engineer, Missieveer, who attended 
 the bell, was prompt and always correct. 
 
 Acting-Master S. W. Preston, acting as my flag- 
 lieutenant, displayed throughout the day an undis- 
 turbed intelligence and a quick and general obser- 
 vation, which proved very useful. His duties as 
 signal -officer were performed without mistake. 
 This gentleman and the young officers — Mr. R. H. 
 Lamson, Mr. J. P. Robertson and Mr. J. H. Row- 
 land, who were also under my eye, in immediate 
 command of the pivot -guns and spar-deck divisions 
 — sustained the reputation and exhibited the bene- 
 fits of the Naval Academy, the training of which 
 only could make such valuable officers of such 
 young men. 
 
 Commander John Rodgers, a passenger in this 
 ship, going to take command of the steamer "Flag," 
 volunteered to act upon my staff. It would be 
 difficult for me to enumerate the duties he per- 
 formed, they were so numerous and varied, and he 
 brought to them all an invincible energy and the 
 highest order of professional knowledge and merit. 
 I was glad to show my appreciation of his great 
 services by allowing him the honor to hoist the 
 first American flag on the rebellious soil of South 
 CaroUna. 
 
 My secretary, Mr. Alexander McKinley, was by 
 my side throughout the engagement, making mem- 
 oranda under my direction. He evinced the same 
 cool bravery which he once before had an oppor- 
 tunity of showing under fire in a foreign land. It 
 gives me pleasure to mention him here as a gentle- 
 man of intelligence, of great worth, and of heartfelt 
 devotion to his country. 
 
 I have yet to speak of the chief of my staff and 
 fieet-captain. Commander Charles H. Davis. In 
 the organization of our large fleet before sailing, 
 and in the preparation and systematic arrangement 
 of the duties of our contemplated work — in short, 
 in all the duties pertaining to the flag-officer — I 
 have received his most valuable assistance. He 
 possesses the rare quality of being a man of science 
 and a practical officer, keeping the love of science 
 subordinate to the regular duties of his profession. 
 During the action he watched over the movements 
 of the fleet, kept the official minutes, and evinced 
 that calmness in danger, which, to my knowledge, 
 for thirty years has been a conspicuous trait in his 
 character. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully. 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 S. F. DuPoNT, 
 Flag- Office i\ Commanding 
 Sotith Atlantio Blockading Squadron. 
 
 Hon. Gibbon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy^ 
 
 Washington. 
 
 EEPOBT OP LIBUTBNABrT -COMMANDING C. B. P. 
 RODGERS. 
 
 United States Steamer "Wabash," ) 
 Port Royal, Nov. 10, 1861. S 
 Sir — Although I know that the conduct of the 
 officers and crew of the "Wabash" are warmly 
 oommended by you in the action of the 7th instant, 
 yet, in obedience to your demand for a special re- 
 port, I respectfully submit the following 
 
 ju 4-1,^;,, ^., 
 
 
394 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 seamen, with calmness, precision and resolute 
 earnestness. They fought their guns with energy, 
 and pointed them with admirable coolness. 
 
 The three gun -deck divisions of 9 inch guns, 
 under Lieutenants Luce, Upshur and Barnes, were 
 commanded by those officers in a manner which 
 illustrated the highest power of both men and 
 guns, and exhibited the greatest effect of manhood 
 and training. I beg leave to commend these officers 
 in terms of "the warmest praise, both for skill and 
 conduct ; and also Lieutenant Irwin, who, in com- 
 mand of the powder division, did everything that a 
 brave and earnest man could do to make his ship 
 efficient. 
 
 Acting-Masters Lamson, Rowland and Robert- 
 son, in command of the spar-deck guns, followed 
 the example of their seniors on the gun-deck, and 
 did honor to the Naval School, which had, at their 
 early age, trained them to do such efficient service 
 in Isattle. 
 
 Acting-Masters W H. West, Rockwell, Gregory 
 and Palmer, stationed at the various divisions, 
 evinced patriotic zeal and courage. 
 
 Mr. Coghlan, the boatswain, not only did his 
 duty in the sixth division, but also skillfully served 
 the rifled boat-guns, with which he did good service. 
 The gunner, Mr. Stewart, in the magazine, and 
 the carpenter, Mr. Boardman, with his shot-plugs, 
 did their duty manfully. 
 
 The engine and steam, during the whole action, 
 were managed with consummate skill, which did 
 great credit to Chief Rngineer King and his assist- 
 ants. Third-Assistant Engineer Missieveer, who 
 stood upon the bridge by my side during the action, 
 impressed me very favorably by his cool intelligence 
 and promptness. 
 
 All the other officers, in their various depart- 
 m.ents, did their whole duty faithfully. 
 
 Acting-Master Stiles rendered most valuable ser- 
 vice by his careful attention to the steerage and 
 soundings of the vessel, and by his skill and vigi- 
 lance in keeping the ship clear of the shoals. I 
 desire to commend him especially to your notice. 
 
 My clerk, Mr. Blydenburgh, acted as my aide, and 
 did prompt and good service. 
 
 The two oldest seamen in the ship, John Dennis 
 and Henry L. Coons, both quartermasters — the one 
 at the wheel and the other at the signals — well rep- 
 resented the gallantry of their class and generation. 
 The marines were used as a reserve, and, when- 
 ever called upon, rendered prompt assistance at 
 the guns, with the good conduct that has always 
 characterized their corps. 
 
 It only remains for me to speak of the executive 
 officer. Lieutenant Corbin, who has filled that post 
 since the "Wabash" was commissioned. The ad- 
 mirable training of the crew may, in a high degree, 
 be attributed to his professional merit ; and his 
 gallant bearing and conspicuous conduct through- 
 out the whole action were good illustrations of the 
 best type of a sea-officer. 
 
 At the close of the action the "Wabash'' was en- 
 gaged with Fort Walker at a distance of six hun- 
 dred yards or less, and her officers and men may 
 well feel sa,tisfied with the precision of their aim 
 and the overwhelming power of their rapid Are. 
 Eight hundred and eighty shells were fired from 
 her guns, chiefly with 5-second fuses Some grape 
 was flred witli good effect from the 10-inch gun, hi 
 the latter i)art of the action. 
 
 I have to thanic that most brave and distinguished 
 officer. Captain C. H, Davis, the captain of the 
 fleet, for the aid he gave me when not engrossed by 
 the important duties of his sp(>cial station ; and I 
 desire to pay the same tribute to Coinmander John 
 Rodgers, who, being a passenger on board, had 
 volunteered to serve on your staff, and never failed 
 to give me most valuable assistance. Nor must I 
 fail to bear witness to the gallant bearing and 
 striking coolness of your young flag-lieutenant, Mr. 
 
 Preston. I thank you, sir, in the name of the 
 officers and men of your flag-ship, for the example 
 you gave us. 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 C. R. P. Rodgers, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding U. S. Steamer "Wabash.'' 
 
 Flag-Officer S. P. DuPoat, 
 Commanding South Atla ntic Blockading Squadron. 
 
 report of commander charles steedmax. 
 United States Steamer " Bienville," / 
 Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 8, 1861. ( 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to report that in the ac- 
 tion of yesterday with the forts this vessel was 
 struoli several times, one shot passing through and 
 through her, another striking bulwarks, forward, 
 unfortunately mortally wounding two men, Pat- 
 rick McGuigan and Alexander Chambers i since 
 dead), and slightly wounding three others, Peter 
 Murphy, Alexander Finey and WiUiam Gilchrist, 
 whUe gallantly fighting at their guns. 
 
 The other shots did but little damage. It affords 
 me the utmost gratification to bring to your notice 
 the excellent conduct of the officers and men. It 
 would be impossible to particularize the bearing of 
 any one officer or man, such was their gallant con- 
 duct. 
 
 During the engagement, we fired from this vessel 
 eighty-four 33 solid shots, thirty -nine 33 pound 
 shell, and sixty-two rifle-shell. 
 
 I aai, sir, very respectfully, yourobedient servant, 
 Charles Steedman, 
 
 Commander. 
 Flag-Officer S. F. DuPont, 
 
 Commander-in-Chief of Naval Force.t, etc., etc. 
 
 report of Lieutenant-commanding daniel 
 ammen. 
 United States Gun-boat "Seneca," } 
 Port Royal, S. C, Nov. 15, 1861. \ 
 
 Sir— In obedience to your order of this date, I 
 nave the honor to make the following report : 
 
 On Monday, the 4th, this vessel entered Port 
 Royal, and sounded the channel until within three 
 miles of Bay Point, when we were signalled from 
 the "Ottawa" to return and anchor, which we did 
 at 4 r, M., near her, about a mile further out and a 
 cable's length nearer the batteries. The fleet gen- 
 erally, at this time, was standing in and anchoring. 
 An hour later, three rebel steamers approached us 
 and opened fire with rifled guns, but at a distance 
 which i^roved ineffective. The "Ottawa," "Pem- 
 bina" and this vessel got underway, and, standing 
 in at an angle, allowing our heavy guns to bear, 
 drove them before us. At sunset we returned, and 
 anchored as before. 
 
 At daylight on Tuesday several rebel steamers 
 again attacked us. AVe got underway, and, obey- 
 ing signals from the "Ottawa,"' accompanied her, 
 with the "Pembina," "Curlew," "Isaac Smith," 
 and afterwards the "Pawnee," drove them until we 
 were within a cross-fire of the batteries of Hilton 
 Head and Bay Point, both opening upon us. No ma- 
 terial damage was sustained. A heavy shell — or 
 shot, probably — struck the vessel on the port-side, 
 but I have been unable to find it, and probably 
 will not until we get in a sea-way. (_)ur rigging was 
 struck three times. The object being effected— that 
 of ascertaining the strength of the rebel batteries— 
 we returned and anchored, as before, about half- 
 past 8. 
 
 Two or three hours after, the rebel steamers again 
 approached us, and, finding that they were within 
 range, I had the satisfaction ■ of firing an 11-inch 
 shell at the flag-ship, which was seen from aloft, as 
 well as by several persons on deck, to strike just 
 abaft the starboard wheel-house. The vessel put 
 into Bay Point, and on returning, or rather show- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 395 
 
 ing herself, in the afternoon, had a large white 
 plank forward of the port wheel house, probably 
 where the shell went out. On the morning of the 
 7th, obeying signal, we took position assigned us in 
 the line, and, passing up, delivered our fire at Bay 
 Point, and on arriving out of fire of the batteries, 
 made chase — as directed by instructions — to the 
 rebel steamers. They, being river boats, soon left 
 us, and I had the chagrin of having wasted several 
 shells at them at ineffective distance. 
 
 Returning to the attack on Hilton Head, we 
 passed so near to the shore as to be fired upon by 
 riflemen, who kept quiet on being fired on by our 
 Parrott 20-pounder. From an enfilading position 
 we began with 10-second fuses, and, closing up, 
 found ourselves within effective 5-second range. 
 As to the latter part of the action, we were within 
 howitzer range, and were using both howitzers 
 effectively, as well as 11-mch gun and Parrott 20- 
 pounder. 
 
 D uring the engagement we fired sixty-three 11 inch 
 shells, 9 with lo-second fuses, 38 with iO-second fuses 
 and 28 with 5-second fuses. Thirty-three projectiles 
 from the Parrott-gun were also fired, and twelve 
 34-pounder shrapnel. 
 
 I am sorry to say that the Parrott shell appears 
 defective ; its flight was wild and range short. As 
 I fired once myself, I know they were not to be de- 
 pended on, and the captain of the gun was much 
 disappointed at his results. 
 
 During the engagement an officer was kept at the 
 mast-head, whose duty it was to report our firing, 
 by which we were governed. I have, therefore, 
 reason to believe that our fire was effective. 
 
 Few of our crew have served before in a vessel-of- 
 war, and as we went into commission only three 
 weeks before the engagement, Mr. Sproston, the 
 first-lieutenant of the vessel, fired nearly all the 11- 
 Inch shells with his own hands. Of him, as well as 
 of the officers and crew generally, I have to express 
 my warmest commendations, and my surprise that 
 amidst such a shower of shot and shells we received 
 no damage. 
 
 I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Daniel Ammen, 
 Lieutenant- Commanding " Seneca.'''' 
 
 Flag-Offlcer Samuel F. DuPont, 
 
 Commanding South Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OF LIEUTENAXT-COMMANDHSTG T. H. 
 STEVEXS. 
 
 United States Gun-boat " Ottawa," ) 
 Off Hilton Head, Nov. 8, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, as soon as 
 the "Ottawa," under my command, could take up 
 her position in the order of battle, I weighed anchor, 
 following in the wake of our leading vessel. When 
 abreast of Bay Point battery, finding that our 11- 
 inch gun was doing good execution, I stopped the 
 engine to engage it, and threw about a dozen shells 
 In and about the fortifications. Discovering, how- 
 ever, that we were under a cross-fire, I steamed up 
 to talie distance, in the order assigned. About tliis 
 time a 33-pound shot struck the Ottawa" in the 
 port- waist, just abaft the pivot-gun (11 -inch), 
 wounding severely Mr. Kerne, one of the acting- 
 masters who subsequently lost his leg by amputa- 
 tion), one other man seriously, and four others 
 slightly, and doing considerable damage to the 
 deck of the vessel, the coamings of the forward 
 coal-bunker hatch, and splitting two of the upper- 
 deck beams. 
 
 Discovering, as we ranged up with the fort on 
 Hilton Head, that we occupied an enfilading posi- 
 tion, I continued to occupy it until the enemy 
 deserted their batteries, when, being nearest to 
 
 stopped firing, about 500 yards from the fort. 
 While engaging at a distance of about 1,000 yai'ds, 
 and when within 300 yards of the beach of Hilton 
 Head, some of the riflemen of the enemy commenced 
 firing upon us, when we opened with tlie howitzers 
 charged with shrapnels, and quickly dispersed 
 them. 
 
 It only remains for me to notice the good con- 
 duct, coolness and gallantry of both officers and 
 men upon the occasion, wido behaved with the 
 steadiness of veterans, and to commend them to 
 your favorable notice, and the notice of the Depart- 
 ment, as worthy supporters of the cause we have 
 espoused. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 T. H. Stevens, 
 Lieutenant-Commanding, TJ. S. iV. 
 Flag-Offlcer S. F. DuPont, 
 
 Commanding South Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 order for " unadilla " and other ships to 
 take possession op beaufort, s. c. 
 
 Flag-ship, "Wabash,") 
 Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 10, 1861. | 
 
 Sir — It has been reported to me by Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Ammen that, on taking possession of 
 the town of Beaufort, under my orders of tlie 8th 
 instant, he found that most of the white inhab- 
 itants had abandoned the town, and that the ne- 
 groes were committing excesses and destroying pri- 
 vate property. 
 
 You will proceed with the most convenient dis- 
 patch in the gun-boat "Unadilla," under your 
 command, to Beaufort, where you will find tlie 
 gun-boat "Pembina" (Lieutenant - Commanding 
 Bankhead), and the gun-boat "Curlew" (Lieuten- 
 ant-Commanding VVatmough\ and assume com- 
 mand of the station. 
 
 You will employ your forces in suppressing any 
 excesses on the part of the negroes; and you will 
 talce pains to assure the white inhabitants that 
 there is no intention to disturb them in the exer- 
 cise of their private rights, or in the enjoyment of 
 their private property. 
 
 Actmg on this principle of conduct, you will pur- 
 sue any other measures that may tend to create 
 confidence, to bring back the people to their houses 
 and to re-establish order. 
 
 You will please send Lieutenant - Commanding 
 Watmough to report to me to-morrow morning in 
 person upon the actual state of things, and upon 
 the steps you may have found it expedient to 
 take. 
 
 Any information you may have it in your power 
 to collect, concerning the state of the surrounding 
 country, will be valuable. 
 
 S. F. DuPont, 
 Flag-Officer, Commanding South Atlantic 
 Blockading Squadron. 
 Lieutenant Napoleon Collins, U. S. N., 
 United States Gun-boat " TJnadilla,''^ Port 
 Royal Harbor. 
 
 letter commending the officers of the 
 "curlew' by acting-lieutenant- 
 commandinq watmough. 
 United States Gunboat "Curlew, ) 
 Port Royal, 8. C, Nov. 17, 1861. \ 
 Sir — It affords me great pleasure to speak with 
 praise of the general gallantry, coolness, and cheer- 
 fulness of the officers and men under my command 
 during the several actions with the rebel squadron 
 and batteries on the 4th, 5th, and 7th instants. 
 Master H. E. MuUan, acting executive officer, ren- 
 dered efficient service by his readiness and zeal. 
 Acting-Master C. A. Curtis, in charge of the bat- 
 tery of 33s, is deserving of all praise for the spirit 
 
396 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 curacy of the divisional firing. Acting-Master 
 Spavin's steadiness at tlie wheel merits commenda- 
 tion. Acting-Master H. N. Parish, who had charge 
 of the Parrott pivot-gun, disabled early in the ac- 
 tion of the 7th by the enemy's shot, afterwards as- 
 sisted with his crew at the broadside battery. 
 
 The paymaster, Wm. A. A. Kerr, acting as signal- 
 officer, by his coolness and watchfulness was of 
 material assistance; he also kept a careful record of 
 the incidents of the several actions. Messrs. Emory, 
 Swasey, McConnell and Lloyds, engineers of the 
 vessel, with great difficulties to contend against, in 
 the general unfitness of the engine, boilers and con- 
 densing apparatus toi- such rough service, managed 
 to carry us through the action, for which I was 
 thankful. 
 
 Fortunately, the readiness of our medical officer, 
 Mr. Perucer, was not called upon. Master's Mate 
 Duncan, acting as gunner, provided a bountiful sup- 
 ply of ammunition for the battery. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
 Pen. G. Watmough, 
 Aoting-Lieutenant-Commanding. 
 Flag-Officer S. F. DuPoxt, 
 
 Commanding South Atlantic Sqtiadron. 
 RespeotfuUy forwarded, S. F. DuPont, 
 
 Flag-Officer. 
 
 COMMENDATORY LETTER TO FLAG-OFFICER 
 DUPONT. 
 
 Navy Department, \ 
 November 16, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir — It is with no ordinary emotion that I ten- 
 der to you and your command the heartfelt con- 
 gratulations and thanks of the Government and the 
 country for the brilhant success achieved at Port 
 Royal. In the war now raging against the Govern- 
 ment in this most causeless and unnatural rebellion 
 that ever afflicted a country, high hopes have been 
 indulged in the Navy, and "great confidence reposed 
 in its efforts. 
 
 The results of the skill and bravery of yourself 
 and others have equalled and surpassed our highest 
 expectations. To you and your associates, under 
 the providence of God, we are indebted for this 
 great achievement by the largest squadron ever 
 fitted out under that flag, which you have so gal- 
 lantly vindicated, and which you will bear onward 
 to continued success. On the receipt of your dis- 
 patches announcing the victory at Port Royal, the 
 Department issued the enclosed general order, 
 which, with this letter, you will cause to be read 
 to your command. 
 
 I am, respectfully, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 Flag-Officer Samuel F. Dupont, 
 
 Commanding /South Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 general order. 
 
 Navy Department, ) 
 November 13, 1861. j 
 
 The Department announces to the Navy and to 
 the country its high gratification at the brilliant 
 success of the combined Navy and Army forces, 
 respectively commanded by Flag-officer S. F. Du- 
 Pont and Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman, in the 
 capture of Forts Walker and Beauregard, com- 
 manding the entrance of Port Royal harbor. South 
 Carolina. 
 
 To commemorate this signal victory, it is ordered 
 that a national salute be fired from each Navy Yard 
 at meridian on the day after the receipt of this order. 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 FLAG-OFFICER DUPONT'S REPORT CONCBRNING 
 
 the marine battalion, nov. 15. 
 
 Flag-ship "Wabash,"/ 
 Port Royal Harbor, S. C, Nov. 15, 1861. ) 
 Sir— I avail myself of the first moment of leisure 
 to transmit to you the report of Major John George 
 Reynolds, commanding the battalion of marines 
 attached to my squadron, in which he relates all 
 the circumstances attending the loss of the chart- 
 ered steamer " Governor," and the rescue of him- 
 self and his command by the frigate "Sabine," 
 Captain Ringgold. 
 
 The Department will find this report exceedingly 
 interesting, and will be gratified to learn that the 
 conduct of the officers and of nearly all the men 
 of the battalion was such as to command Major 
 Reynolds' approval, as it will, I doubt not, receive 
 the favorable notice of the Department. The es- 
 tablished reputation and high standing of Major 
 Reynolds might almost dispense with any observa- 
 tions of my own upon the bravery and high sense 
 of honor which he displayed in disputing with Mr. 
 Weidman (though not a seaman) the privilege of 
 being the last to leave the wreck. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 S. F. DuPoNT, 
 Flag-Officer, Commanding South Atlantic 
 Blockading Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington. 
 
 report of major JOHN GEO. REYNOLDS, U. S. M. C. 
 
 United States Ship " Sabine," I 
 At Sea, November 8, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that the marine 
 battalion under my command left Hampton Roads 
 on transport steamboat "Governor," on the morn- 
 ing of Tuesday, the 29th of October, with the other 
 vessels of the fleet, and continued with them, near 
 the flag-ship "Wabash," until Friday, the 1st of 
 November. 
 
 On Friday morning, about 10 o'clock, the wind 
 began to freshen, and by 13 or 1 blew so violently 
 that we were obliged to keep her head directly to 
 the wind, and thereby leave the squadron, which 
 apparently stood its course. Throughout the after- 
 noon the gale continued to increase, though the 
 ' ' Governor" stood it well tUl about 4 o'clock. About 
 this time we were struck by two or three heavy- 
 seas, which broke the port hog-brace in two places, 
 the brace tending inward. This was immediately 
 followed by the breaking of the hog-brace on the 
 starboard side. By great exertions on the part of 
 the officers and men of the battalion, these braces 
 were so well stayed and supported that no imme- 
 diate danger was apprehended from them. Up to 
 this time the engine worked well. Soon after, the 
 brace-chains, which supported the smoke-stack, 
 parted, and it went overboard. Some three feet of 
 it above the hurricane-deck remained, which ena- 
 bled us to keep up the fires. Soon after the loss of 
 the smoke-stack, the steam-pipe burst. After this 
 occurrence we were unable to make more than four- 
 teen pounds of steam, which was reduced, as soon 
 as the engine commenced working, from three to 
 five pounds. The consequence was, we had to stop 
 tlie engine frequently in order to increase the head 
 of steam. At this period the steamer was making 
 water freely, but was easily kept clear by the 
 pump of the engine, whenever it could be worked. 
 About 5 o clock we discovered a steamer with a ship 
 in tow which we supposed to be the "Ocean 
 yueon. To attract attention, we sent up rockets, 
 which signals she answered. When our rockets, 
 SIX m all, were gone, we kept up a fire of musketry 
 lor a long time, but the sea running high and the 
 wind being violent, she could render us no assist- 
 ance. Ohe continued nn bpr nnnvoa n'n cir.r.i' ^\,o. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 397 
 
 greater part of the night. About 3 o'clock Saturday 
 morning the packing around the cylinder - head 
 blew out, rendering the engine totally useless for 
 some time. The engine was finally put in running 
 order, although it went very slowly. The rudder- 
 chain was carried away during the night, the water 
 gaining constantly on us, and the boat laboring 
 violently. At every lurch we apprehended the hog- 
 braces would be carried away, the effect of which 
 would have been to tear out the whole starboai-d- 
 side of the boat, collapse the boiler, and carry away 
 the wheel-house. Early in the morning the rudder- 
 head broke, the engine was of very little use — the 
 water still gaining on us rapidly — and we entirely 
 at the mercy of the wind. It was only by the un- 
 tiring exertions of our men that we were kept 
 afloat. Nearly one hundred of them were kept 
 constantly pumping and bailing, and the rest were 
 holding fast to the ropes which supported the hog- 
 braces. Towards morning, the weather, which 
 during the night had been dark and rainy, seemed to 
 brighten and the wind to lull. At daybreak two 
 vessels were seen on our starboard-bow, one of which 
 proved to be the United States steamer " Isaac P. 
 Smith," commanded by Lieutenant J. W. A. Nichol- 
 son, of the Navy. She descried our signal of dis- 
 tress — which was ensign half-mast, union down — 
 and stood for us. About 10 o'clock we were hailed 
 by the "Smith," and given to understand that, if 
 possible, we would all be taken on board. A boat 
 was lowered from her, and we were enabled to take 
 a hawser. This, through the carelessness of Cap- 
 tain Litchfield, of the " Governor," was soon cut off 
 or unavoidably let go. The water was still gaining 
 on us. The engine could be worked but little, and 
 It appeared our only hope of safety was gone. The 
 " Smith" now stood off, but soon returned, and by 
 1 o'clock we had another hawser from her, and 
 were again in tow. A sail (the propeller - bark 
 "Young Rover" , which had been discovered on 
 our starboard-bow during the morning, was soon 
 within hailing-distance. The captain proffered all 
 the assistance he could give, though at the time he 
 could do nothing, owing to the severity of the 
 weather. The hawser from the "Smith" again 
 parted, and we were once more adrift. The "Toung 
 Rover" now stood for us again, and the captain said 
 he would stand by us to the last, for which he re- 
 ceived a heartfelt cheer from the men. He also 
 informed us a large frigate was ahead, standing for 
 us. He then stood for the frigate, made signals of 
 distress, and returned. The frigate soon came into 
 view, and hope once more cheered the hearts of all 
 on board the transport. Between 3 and 3 o'clock 
 the United States frigate "Sabine" (Captain Ring- 
 gold) was within hail, and the assurance given that 
 all hands would be taken on board. After a little 
 delay, the ■' Sabine " came to anchor. We followed 
 her example, and a hawser was passed to us. It 
 was now late in the day, and there were no 
 signs of an abatement of the gale. It was evident 
 that whatever was to be done for our safety must 
 be done without delay. About 8 or 9 o'clock the 
 " Sabine" had payed out enough chain to bring her 
 stern close to our bow. Spars were rigged out over 
 the stern of the frigate, and every arrangement 
 made for whipping our men on board, and some 
 thirty men were rescued by this means. Three or 
 four hawsers and an iron stream-cable were parted 
 by the plunging of the vessels. The "Governor," 
 at this time, had three feet of water, which was 
 rapidly increasing. It was evidently intended by 
 the commanding ofBeer of the "Sabine" to get the 
 " Governor" alongside, and let our men jump from 
 the boat to the frigate. In our condition this ap- 
 peared extremely hazardous. It seemed impossible 
 for us to strike the frigate without instantly going 
 to pieces. We were, however, brought alongside, 
 and some forty men succeeded in getting on board 
 
 XT, „ J_i „ 
 
 4.« . ^„^ ,^.,^ «„,.ir,"U^^ i-r. 
 
 ^+V. U^+,..^«„ +U^ 
 
 frigate and the steamer in attempting to gain a 
 foot-hold on the frigate. 
 
 Shortly after being brought alongside the frigate, 
 the starboard quarter of the "Sabine" struck the 
 port -bow of the "Governor," and carried away 
 about twenty feet of the hurricane-deck from the 
 stem to the wheel-house. The sea was running so 
 high, and we were being tossed so violently, it was 
 deemed prudent to slack up the hawser and let the 
 "Governor '' fall astern of the frigate with the faint 
 hope of weathering the gale till morning. All our 
 provisions and other stores — indeed, every movable 
 article — were thrown overboard, and the water- 
 casks started, to lighten the vessel. From half -past 
 3 till daylight the "Governor" floated in com- 
 parative safety, notwithstanding the water was 
 gaining rapidly on her. At daybreak, preparations 
 were made for sending boats to our relief, although 
 the sea was running high, and it being exceedingly 
 dangerous for a boat to approach the guards of the 
 steamer; in consequence, the boats laid off, and the 
 men obliged to jump into the sea and then hauled 
 into the boats. All hands were thus providentially 
 rescued from the wreck, with the exception, I am 
 pained to say, of one corporal and six privates, who 
 were drowned or killed by the crush or contact of 
 the vessels. 
 
 Those drowned were lost through their disobedi- 
 ence of orders in leaving the ranks or abandoning 
 their posts. After the troops were safely re-em- 
 barked, every exertion was directed to securing the 
 arms, accoutrements, ammunition and other prop- 
 erty which might have been saved after lightening 
 the wreck. I am gratified in being able to say 
 nearly all the arms were saved and about half the 
 accoutrements. The knapsacks, haversacks and 
 canteens were nearly all lost. About ten thousand 
 rounds of cartridges were, fortunately, saved, and 
 nine thousand lost. Since being on board this ship 
 every attention has been bestowed by Captain 
 Ringgold and his officers towards recruiting the 
 strength of our men, and restoring them to such 
 condition as will enable us to take the field at the 
 earliest possible moment. Too much praise cannot 
 be bestowed upon the officers and men under my 
 command — all did nobly. The firmness with which 
 they performed their duty is beyond all praise. 
 For forty-eight hours they stood at ropes and passed 
 water to keep the ship afloat. Refreshments in 
 both eating and drinking were passed to them at 
 their posts by non-commissioned ofQcers. It is im- 
 possible for troops to have conducted themselves 
 better under such trying circumstances. The trans- 
 port continued to float some hours after she was 
 abandoned, carrying with her when she sunk, I am 
 grieved to say, company books and staff returns. 
 In order to complete WiQ personnel of the battalion, 
 I have requested Captain Ringgold to meet a re- 
 quisition for seven privates, to which he readily as- 
 sented. I considered this requisition in order, as I 
 have been informed by Captain Ringgold it is his 
 intention, or orders were given, for his ship to repair 
 to a Northern post, in which event he can be easily 
 supplied, and my command, by the accommodation, 
 rendered complete, in order to meet any demand 
 you may make for our services. 
 
 Under God, we owe our preservation to Captain 
 Ringgold and the officers of the " Sabine," to whom 
 we tender our heartfelt thanks for their untiring 
 labors while we were in danger, and their unceas- 
 ing kindness since we have been on board the 
 frigate. 
 
 This report is respectfully submitted. 
 
 I am, Commodore, very respectfully, your obedi- 
 ent servant, John Geo. Reynolds, 
 Commanding Battalion Marines, Southern 
 Dimsion. 
 Flag-Officer Samuel F. DuPont, 
 
 Commanding United States Naval Expedition, 
 
398 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 THE CAPTURE OP TTBEB ISLAND, GEORGIA. 
 
 Flag SHIP "Wabash," ) 
 Port Royal Harbor, Nov. 25, 1861. S 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to inform the Department 
 that the flag of the United States is flying over the 
 territory of the State of Georgia. 
 
 As soon as the serious injury to the boilers of the 
 "Flag" had been repaired, I dispatched Com- 
 mander John Kodgers to Tybee entrance, the mouth 
 of Savannah River, to report to Commander Miss- 
 roon, the senior officer, for a preh'minary examina- 
 tion of the bars, and for the determination of the 
 most suitable place for sinking the proposed ob- 
 structions to the navigation of the river. 
 
 Captain Rodgers was instructed to push his re- 
 connoissance so far as to "form an approximate esti- 
 mate of the force on Tybee Island, and of the possi- 
 bility of gaining access to the inner bar ; " and 
 further, 'if the information acquired by this re- 
 eonnoissance should be important, to return and 
 communicate it to me immediately." 
 
 I was not surprised when he came back and 
 reported that the defences on Tybee Island had 
 probably been abandoned. Deeming it proper, 
 however, to add the "Seneca," Lieutenant Com- 
 manding Ammen, and "Pocahontas," Lieutenant- 
 Commanding Balch, to his force, I directed him 
 to renew his approaches with caution, and, if no 
 opposition was met with, to occupy the channel. 
 
 I am happy now to have it in my power to inform 
 the Department that the "Flag," the "Augusta," 
 and the "Pocahontas," are at anchor in the harbor 
 abreast of Tybee beacon and light, and that the 
 "Savannah" has been ordered to take the same 
 position. 
 
 The abandonment of Tybee Island, on which 
 there is a strong Martello tower, with a battery at 
 its base, is due to the terror inspired by the bom- 
 bardment of Forts Beauregard and Walker, and is 
 a direct fruit of the victory of the 7th inst. 
 
 By the fall of Tybee Island, the reduction of Fort 
 Pulaski, which is within easy mortar distance, be- 
 comes only a question of time. 
 
 The rebels have themselves placed sufficient ob- 
 structions in the river at Fort Pulaski, and thus by 
 the co-operation of their own fears with our efforts, 
 the harbor of Savannah is effectually closed. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your 
 most obedient servant, 
 
 S. F. DuPoNT, Flag-Officer, 
 Commanding South A tlantio Blockading Squadron. 
 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Note. — The reports of the other commanding 
 officers do not contain any statements of historical 
 interest, being general in their character, and are 
 therefore omitted. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Further Operations op Flag-Officbr Goldsborough in the Sounds op Forth Caro- 
 lina. — Importance op Gun-boats in Co-operating Expeditions op the Army and 
 Navy. — Commander S. C. Rowan's General Order to the Opficbrs and Men under 
 HIS Command. — Operations in the Blackwater River under Lieutenant Flusser. 
 — The Gun-boats Extricate Themselves from a Dilemma. — Notice op Lieutenant 
 CusHiNG, HIS Attack on the Town op Jacksonville and his Gallant Defence op 
 THE " Ellis." — Capture op Fort Macon by the Army and Navy. — Surrender op 
 Yorktown, May 5, 1862. — Co-operation of the Navy. — Attack on Sewell's Point 
 BY Flag-Oppicer Goldsborough. — Evacuation op Sewell's Point and Craney 
 Island — " Merrimac " blown up by the Confederates, June 11. — " Susquehanna," 
 " Seminole " and " Dakota " anchor before Norfolk. — The Retreating Enemy set 
 Fire to the Navy Yard.— Attack on Drury's Bluff by Commander John Rodgers 
 WITH the "Galena," the "Monitor," and other Vessels. — Remarks on the 
 Services op the North Atlantic Squadron. — Flag-Oppicer Goldsborough and 
 Commander Rowan receive the Thanks of Congress. — Attack on Hamilton by 
 Lieutenant Flusser. — Attack on Confederate Troops at Washington, N. C., by 
 Lieutenant R. T. Renshaw. — Blowing up op the Army Gun-boat "]?icket." — 
 Exhibit op the Work done by the North Atlantic Squadron under Flag-Oppicer 
 Goldsborough. 
 
 AS soon as Flag-officer Goldsborough 
 received the news of the battle of 
 the "Monitor" and "Merrimac," 
 he returned to Hampton Roads to 
 superintend matters in that quar- 
 ter, leaving Commander S. C. Rowan in 
 charge of the sounds of North Carolina. 
 
 The gallant service performed by Com- 
 mander Rowan, in the capture of Newburn 
 and Elizabeth City, has already been re- 
 lated, though complete justice has not been 
 done to the officers and men who embarked 
 in frail vessels never intended to go under 
 the fire of a battery, and who exhibited as 
 much courage as if they were fighting be- 
 hind the bulwarks of stout frigates. The 
 manner in which the little flotilla in the 
 sounds of North Carolina operated is worth j^ 
 of all praise, and confers the highest honors 
 on the able commander and his officers, who, 
 scorning all the dangers of an intricate 
 navigation, concealed riflemen, and masked 
 batteries, pushed on up the sounds and 
 rivers wherever a Confedei-ate flag could 
 be heard of or a Confederate gun was 
 mounted, and who never failed to achieve 
 
 victory when there was an enemy to en- 
 gage. 
 
 There was a large army force in the 
 sounds, commanded by brave and energetic 
 officers, but it is no disparagement to them 
 to say that, without the hearty co-operation 
 of the gun-boats, they would not have 
 achieved half the success they did. It be- 
 came evident, at a very early period of the 
 war, that no army operations along rivers 
 or sounds could be successful unless aided 
 by gun-boats. Most of these vessels carried 
 guns of heavy calibre which could not have 
 been dragged along by an army, and these 
 guns always proved to be more than a match 
 for the lines of defence thrown up by the 
 Confederates all along the rivers and sounds. 
 The Federal Army could not have held these 
 works unless the gun-boats were at hand to 
 drive off or capture the improvised vessels- 
 of-war, which it has been seen were equally 
 as well armed as the Union vessels, and for 
 a time made a sturdy opposition to the ad- 
 vance of the Navy. 
 
 It must not be supposed that the Federal 
 officers and men conquered the enemv with- 
 
400 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 out a struggle, or that their victories were 
 easy ones; if they were, it was because the 
 enemy were not prepared for the bold dashes 
 that were made upon them, and did not 
 suppose that any officer would lead a weakly 
 built flotilla right up to the mouths of heavy 
 batteries, around which the enemy's gun- 
 boats had assembled for safety and protec- 
 tion. 
 
 The good account his officers and men 
 gave of themselves in their various en- 
 counters with the enemy drew from Com- 
 mander Rowan the folio wing General Order, 
 whicli is as remarkable for the handsome 
 compliments it pays to all who served under 
 him, as for its brevity and truthfulness; he 
 could have said no moi'e had he used a 
 folio of words: 
 
 [order.] 
 United States Steamer "Delaware." 
 Off Elizabeth City. 
 February 11th, 1863. 
 
 The commander of the flotilla in Albemarle 
 Sound avails himself of the earliest moment to 
 make a public acknowledgment of the coolness, 
 gallantry and skill displayed by the oflficers and 
 men under his command in the capture and de- 
 struction of the enemy's batteries and squadron at 
 Cobb's Point. 
 
 The strict observance of the plan of attack and 
 the steady but onward course of the ships, without 
 returning a shot until within three-fourths of a 
 mile of the fort, excited the admiration of our 
 enemies. 
 
 The undersigned is particularly gratified at the 
 evidence of the high discipline of the crews in re- 
 fraining from tresijassing in the slightest degree 
 upon the private property of defenceless people in 
 a defenceless town; the generous offer to go on shore 
 to extinguish the flames applied Ijy the jiands of a 
 vandal soldiery to the houses of their own defence- 
 less women and children, is a striking evidence of 
 the justice of our cause, and must have its effect in 
 teaching our deluded counti-ymen a lesson in hu- 
 manity and civilization. 
 
 S. C. Rowan, 
 Commanding Flotilla, Albemarle Sound, 
 
 For the present we must discontinue the 
 narrative of operations in the sounds of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 As has been seen, there was scarcely a 
 large gun left in the hands of the enemj^ of 
 the many that were mounted when the lit- 
 tle naval flotilla entered the sounds through 
 Hatteras Inlet, January 19, 1862, and the 
 preparations which were made by the Navy 
 Department for carrying on the war in this 
 important section of the Confederate strong- 
 holds had been carried out with a judgment 
 and success which entitled all concerned to 
 the highest praise. 
 
 In the latter part of September, 1863, a 
 joint expedition of the Army and Navy 
 was prepared to operate against Franklin, 
 a small town on the Blackwater River. It 
 was agreed between the military command- 
 er, General Dix, and the commander of the 
 gun-boats, that the attacic should be made 
 on the 3d of October. 
 
 The expedition was under the command 
 of Lieutenant C. W. Flusser, on board the 
 steamer "Commodore Perry." Acting-Lieu- 
 tenant Edmund R. Colhoun commanded the 
 "Hunchback." and Acting-Master Charles 
 A. French the "Whitehead." 
 
 On the morning of October 3d, 1863, the 
 three above-mentioned steamers got under- 
 way and proceeded up the river, which was 
 so crooked and narrow in some places that 
 these vessels, small as they were, could not 
 turn the bends without the aid of hawsers. 
 At 7 o'clock the " Perry," being ahead, came 
 to one of three short turns, and, while en- 
 gaged in running out a line, a heavy fire was 
 opened upon her from a steep bluff, almost 
 overhead, by a body of the enemy's con- 
 cealed riflemen. 
 
 The guns of the steamer could not be 
 brought to bear, and the only way to escape 
 the fire of the riflemen was to work by the 
 point and obtain a position where the great 
 guns could be brought into play. This was 
 attempted, but the vessel ran ashore. At 
 this moment, a daring color-bearer of the 
 enemy started towards the gun-boat, try- 
 ing to get his companions to follow him and 
 board her. But he was instantly shot down 
 and the enemy were driven back to their 
 cover. 
 
 In a few moments the gun-boat was off 
 the bottom, and pushed ahead until she 
 could bring her guns to bear, and from this 
 position cover the passage of the other two 
 steamers. Having passed the turn in 
 safety, these vessels joined the " Com- 
 modore Perry'" above, where they were still 
 fired upon from the bluff, without being able 
 to make any effective return. 
 
 To make their position more critical, they 
 now came upon a barricade which they 
 found it impossible to pass. The enemy 
 soon noticed the dilemma of the gun-boats, 
 and began to fiatter themselves that they 
 were about to have an easy victory. A 
 large body of men collected below the Fed- 
 eral vessels and commenced felling trees 
 across the narrow stream to cut off their 
 retreat, after which they calculated to cap- 
 ture them all bj' driving the men from the 
 decks with their rifles. 
 
 In his anxiety to get ahead, Lieutenant 
 Flusser had not waited for the troops, and 
 he now found himself caught in a trap. He 
 had got into the difficulty through an error 
 of judgment, and the only way to get out 
 of it seemed to be to fight" until the troops 
 came up. 
 
 It was most difficult to work the guns un- 
 der such a terrific fire from concealed rifle- 
 men without a great loss of life, but there 
 was no alternative. Flusser threw 1 1-inch 
 shells towards the town of Franklin, while 
 with the forward 33-pounder he poured 
 grape and canister into the woods on his 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 401 
 
 left. With the after 33-pounder and a field- 
 gun he fought the enemy on the right and 
 with his 9-inch guji aft he shelled the bluff, 
 from whence the weight of the enemy's fire 
 proceeded. Thus he fought on like a lion 
 at bay, scattering shell, grape and canister 
 on all sides, while his men were exposed to 
 a deadly fire from marksmen no one could 
 see. 
 
 The other steamers were not idle, but fol- 
 lowed the tactics of their leader, and their 
 rapid fire disconcerted the aim of the rifie- 
 men. 
 
 When a lull occurred, the steamers made 
 a dash down the river, and although their 
 decks were still swept by the enemy's 
 fire, they succeeded in passing the bluffs. 
 During this movement the Union com- 
 manders kept their men under cover, and 
 thus saved many lives. When they came 
 to the fallen timber they put on a full head 
 of steam and pierced their way through 
 and over it. It was "neck or nothing" 
 with them, and it was only through great 
 exertions that they succeeded in getting 
 beyond the range of the enemy's fire by 
 nightfall. 
 
 The "Commodore Perry" lost two killed 
 and eleven wounded (a severe loss for so 
 small a vessel). The " Hunchback " had two 
 killed and one wounded. 
 
 This was not a great battle, but it was 
 more trying than some great battles have 
 been, and was accompanied by much more 
 danger. It shows that the gun-boat com- 
 manders were of good metal, determined to 
 sell their lives as dearly as possible. There 
 is nothing in the world so harassing as to 
 be caught in a narrow river under such cir- 
 cumstances, and there is scarcely anything 
 to justify it, unless the vessels are sup- 
 ported by a land force. In the above case 
 the land force unfortunately did not come 
 up. 
 
 Flusser was a cool and daring officer, and 
 his name has already been mentioned sev- 
 eral times in the course of this narrative. 
 He was always to be found where fighting 
 was going on. 
 
 There was another young officer in the 
 JSTorth Atlantic squadron at this time. Lieu- 
 tenant William B. Gushing, who made a 
 name for himself by his total disregard of 
 danger. 
 
 He would undertake the most desperate 
 adventures, where it seemed impossible for 
 him to escape death or capture, yet he 
 almost always managed to get off with 
 credit to himself and with loss to the enemy. 
 He commanded the small gun boat " Ellis," 
 and in November, 1862, it struck him that 
 he would enter New Eiver Inlet, push up 
 the river, sweep it clear of vessels, capture 
 the town of Jacksonville or Onslow Court- 
 house, take the Wilmington mail and de- 
 
 stroy any salt-works he could find on the 
 banks. He expected to surprise the en- 
 emy on going up, and then fight his way 
 out. 
 
 Five miles from the mouth of the inlet he 
 came in sight of a vessel bound out with a 
 load of cotton and turpentine. The enemy 
 set fire to her in order to prevent her falling 
 into Cushing's hands ; but this officer did 
 not waste time over her. After assuring 
 himself that she was thoroughly ignited, 
 and that the owner could not return and 
 extinguish the flames, he proceeded on his 
 way up the river. He reached the town of 
 Jacksonville, landed, threw out pickets and 
 placed guards over the public buildings. 
 
 Jacksonville was the county-seat of Ons- 
 low County, and quite an important place. 
 Here he captured 25 stand of arms in the 
 Court-house, and a large mail in the post- 
 office. He also took two schooners and con- 
 fiscated the negroes of the Confederate post- 
 master. 
 
 Jacksonville being situated on the main 
 road to Wilmington, it was not long before 
 the news of Cushing's performances reached 
 the latter place, and the Confederates at 
 once took measures to prevent his escape. 
 
 As soon as he had finished with the town, 
 Gushing dropped down with his two prizes 
 until he came in sight of a camp on the river- 
 bank, which he shelled very thoi'oughly. 
 The enemy opened fire on the " Ellis " with 
 rifies, but they were soon dispersed. Night 
 coming on, the pilots declined to take the 
 vessels out of the river until daylight next 
 morning. In consequence. Lieutenant Gusli- 
 ing anchored five miles from the outer 
 bar, took his prizes alongside and prepared 
 for an attack. All night the signal fires of 
 the enemy could be seen on the banks, and 
 the Union commander had very little doubt 
 that he would be attacked at daylight. 
 
 As soon as possible next morning Gush- 
 ing got underway, and had nearly reached 
 the most dangerous place in the river when 
 the enemy opened upon him with two field- 
 pieces. He placed his vessels in position, 
 hoisted the battle-flag at the fore, his crew 
 gave three cheers and he went into action. 
 In one hour he had driven the enemy from 
 his guns and from the bluff, and he passed 
 on within a hundred yards of their position 
 without being fired at. 
 
 Up to tliis time the fortune of the Federal 
 party had been in the ascendant, but they 
 were destined to meet with an accident 
 which changed the fortunes of the day, and 
 resulted in the destruction of the "Ellis." 
 About 500 yards from the bluff, the pilots, 
 making a mistake in the channel, ran the 
 steamer hard and fast aground. AH hands 
 set to work at once to lighten her and every 
 effort was made to get lier afloat, but with- 
 out avail. When the tide fell, Gushing sent 
 
402 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 a party on sliore to take posses- 
 sion of the artillery which had 
 been abandoned by the enemy, 
 but found it gone. There was 
 nothing now left but for Gush- 
 ing to save his crew from the 
 overwhelming force which he 
 knew would soon be brought to 
 bear upon the gun-boat. So, " all 
 hands " were ' ' called to muster " 
 and told that they could go on 
 board the schooners and get off 
 down the river and over the bar. 
 He called for six volunteers to 
 stay with him and defend the 
 steamer until the last. The vol- 
 unteers came forward at once; 
 also two Master's Mates, "Valen- 
 tine and Barton. 
 
 The schooners were ordered to 
 drop down the channel out of 
 range of any guns the enemy 
 might mount on the bluff, and 
 there to wait the termination of 
 the action, and if the "Ellis" 
 was destroyed to proceed to sea. 
 Early in the morning the 
 enemy opened fire upon the 
 steamer with three heavy guns 
 and one Whitworth. It was a 
 cross-fire and very destructive. 
 Gushing replied as well as he 
 could, but in a short time the en- 
 gine was disabled and tlie ves- 
 sel so much cut up that the only 
 alternative was surrender or a 
 pull of a mile and a half in an 
 open boat under the enemy's 
 fire. 
 
 The last expedient was adopt- 
 ed. The "Ellis" was set on 
 fire in five places, and leaving 
 the battle-flag flj-ing. Gushing 
 trained his guns upon the enemy 
 so that the vessel could fight to 
 the last, started down the river, 
 reached the schooners and put 
 to sea. A party of Gonf ederates 
 attempted to cut off his retreat, 
 but they were unsuccessful, and 
 the sailors gave three cheers and 
 hoisted the Union flag as they 
 sailed out over the bar. 
 
 Gushing brought away all his 
 men, his rifled howitzer and am- 
 munition, the ship's stores and 
 clothing, the men's bags and 
 hammocks, and most of the 
 small-arms. As he crossed the 
 bar the "Ellis " blew up and the 
 enemy were disappointed in get- 
 ting her. 
 
 Gushing was famous for this 
 kind of adventure, and he will 
 be heard of frequently here- 
 
 -4 
 _] 
 
 O 
 
 Ixl 
 
 X 
 
 >- 
 
 PQ 
 
 o 
 
 < 
 
 OS 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 403 
 
 after. He was what might be called a " Free- 
 lance," who was always ready to perform 
 any act of daring; and although he was not 
 always successful, the honor of the flag 
 never suffered at his hands. 
 
 There were plenty of young officers in 
 the Navy who were equally brave, and with 
 more judgment, but Gushing was of a pe- 
 culiar temperament, always doing some- 
 thing to astonish his commanders, and 
 whether fortunate or not in his undertak- 
 ings, he was sure to create a sensation. 
 
 The account of the loss of the "Ellis" 
 is given as an illustration of this young 
 officer's character and his fancy for seek- 
 ing adventures. There was nothing par- 
 ticularly to be gained by his trip up New 
 Inlet River, and there was a chance of 
 losing his vessel. He lost her, but, in doing 
 so, showed his spirit of adventure, risking 
 his life and the lives of his men, and then 
 escaping with his crew, arms, provisions 
 and clothing, setting fire to his vessel and 
 training her guns upon the enemy so that 
 she might give them a broadside as she 
 went out of existence. 
 
 Among the captures made by co-operating 
 vessels of the North Atlantic squadron was 
 that of Fort Macon, Beaufort Harbor, N C. 
 A combined expedition of the Army and 
 Navy attacked this place on April 25, 1862, 
 and after a bombardment of some hours, by 
 land and sea, the American flag was hoisted 
 over the fort. 
 
 The naval part of the expedition consisted 
 of the following vessels under the com- 
 mand of Commander Saimuel Lockwood: 
 
 Steamer "Daylight" (flag-ship). 
 
 Steamer "State of Georgia." ^ Com- 
 mander J. F. Armstrong. 
 
 Steamer " Chippewa." — Lieutenant -Com- 
 manding A Bryson. 
 
 Bark " Gemsbok." — Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Edward Cavendy. 
 
 Steamer " Ellis." — Lieutenant-Command- 
 ing C. L. Franklin. 
 
 The gun-boats attacked the fort by pass- 
 ing it in an ellipse and firing when abreast 
 of it. 
 
 Major-General Burnside commanded the 
 land forces, and to him the fort surrendered. 
 
 The losses were small on both sides, which 
 was rather remarkable, as Commander 
 Lockwood states that the interior of the 
 fort was literally covered with fragments 
 of bombs and shells, and many of the guns 
 disabled . 
 
 Beaufort was a valuable acquisition to 
 the North Atlantic squadron, and a fine 
 rendezvous for the smaller vessels engaged 
 in blockading the coast. 
 
 With regard to the bombardment, the re- 
 ports of both Army and Navy are somewhat 
 obscure, but it aonears that a erood deal of 
 
 damage was inflicted upon the fort in spite 
 of a heavy sea, which rendered the firing 
 from the vessels somewhat uncertain. The 
 gun- boats themselves suffered little damage. 
 
 On May 5, 1862, Yorktown was evacuated 
 by the Confederates, and General McClellan 
 telegraphed to Captain Wm. Smith of the 
 "Wachusett" to assist in communicating 
 with Gloucester and to send some of the 
 gun-boats up York River to reconnoitre. 
 
 The flotilla was immediately underway, 
 and proceeded to Gloucester Point, where 
 the American flag was hoisted. The " Cor- 
 win," Lieutenant T. S. Phelps, and the "Cur- 
 rituck," Acting-Master W. F. Shankland, 
 pushed on some twelve miles further up. 
 Commander T. H. Patterson, in the "Cho- 
 cura," proceeded up the river as far as 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) T. S. PHELPS. 
 
 West Point, which had been deserted by 
 the enemy. White flags were flying all 
 along the river. A few small vessels were 
 captured, but the enemy had fled from that 
 quarter. 
 
 About the 7th of June, Flag-officer Golds- 
 borough was ordered by the President to 
 make an attack on Sewell's Point and to 
 ascertain the possibility of landing a body 
 of troops thereabouts. The wooden vessels 
 were to enfilade the works, while the " Mon- 
 itor," accompanied by the " Stevens," went 
 up as far as the wrecks to engage the " Mer- 
 rimac " in case she made her appearance. 
 
 The " Monitor " had orders to fall back 
 into fair channel-way and only to engage 
 the "Merrimac" seriously in such a posi- 
 tion that the "Minnesota." too-ethpr wihh 
 
404 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the merchant-ships prepared for the occa- 
 sion, could run her down if an opportunity 
 presented itself. The ramming-vessels were 
 directed to run at the "Merrimac" at all 
 hazards, and the "Baltimore," an unarmed 
 steamer with a curved bow of light draft 
 and high speed, was kept in the direction 
 of the "Monitor," to throw herself at the 
 "Merrimac" forward or aft, as circum- 
 stances might require. 
 
 The demonstration was made, and the 
 ships shelled Sewell's Point, and ascertained 
 the fact that the number of the enemy's 
 guns had been materially reduced and did 
 not amount to over seventeen. 
 
 Whether it was this demonstration, or 
 the fact that the Confederates found that 
 they could not hold their works at Sewell's 
 Point in the face of even a small number of 
 troops, or that they did not care to stand a 
 shelling from the Federal ships, is not 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW REAB-ADMIEAL) A. L. CASE, U. S. N. 
 EEAK-ABMIRAL GOLDSBOEOUGH'S FLEET CAPTAIN. 
 
 known, but on the 10th of May, 1862, Nor- 
 folk surrendered to a Federal 'force under 
 General Wool, who had landed at Willough- 
 by's Point. All the works on Sewell's Point 
 were evacuated, and also those at Craney 
 Island, and early in the morning of the 
 11th the "' Mei-rimac" was blown up. 
 
 Thus ended the farce of the Confederate 
 occupation of Norfolk. It should never 
 have fallen into their hands, and could liave 
 been retaken at any time by a force of ten 
 thousand men and the vessels at Hampton 
 Roads. 
 
 Flag-officer Goldsborough, supposing that 
 Sewell's Point and Craney Island might 
 not have surrendered, ordered all the Heet 
 to get underway and proceed to the attack 
 of those places, but remembering that when 
 the army had got into their rear that the 
 enemy would no longer stay there, he sent 
 
 Lieutenant Selfridge in a tug to Sewell's 
 Point, and Commander Case in another to 
 Craney Island, to ascertain the position of 
 affairs. 
 
 Selfridge landed at Sewell's Point and 
 found that the enemy had departed, on 
 which he hoisted the American flag on the 
 ramparts. When Commander Case arrived 
 at Craney Island he also found the forts 
 deserted. Two Confederate flags were still 
 flying over the works, which he hauled down 
 and replaced with the American colors. 
 
 The "Susquehanna," " Seminole," "Da- 
 kota "and "San Jacinto" proceeded up to 
 Norfolk without difficulty, and cast their 
 anchors before the town. The deserting 
 Confederates played the same part that had 
 been played by the Federal forces when 
 they gave up the Navy Yard. They set fire 
 to all the useful buildings, and most of them 
 were destroyed; the commandant's and the 
 officers' quarters being left intact, in hopes 
 that the Confederate officers might have a 
 chance some day to live in them again. 
 
 Thus Norfolk became the head quarters 
 of the Navy, as it ought to have been from 
 the beginning of the war to the end. There 
 had been no good reason for deserting the 
 place, for there were as many ships in front 
 of the town at the time when the Navy 
 Yard was burned, as on May 9, 1862, while 
 the Confederates were much weaker. The 
 retreat from Norfolk was caused by a panic 
 which sometimes seizes upon people, and 
 leads thein to do things at the moment for 
 which they rebuke themselves when they 
 come to tlieir senses. 
 
 The re-occupation of Norfolk Navy Yard 
 was a great convenience to the North At- 
 lantic squadron, which had been obliged to 
 send most of its vessels to Philadelphia and 
 New York for repairs, and now the opera- 
 tions up the James River could be carried 
 on more effectivelj'. 
 
 On May 18, 1862. Flag-officer Golds- 
 borough reports to the Department an en- 
 gagement which took place on the James 
 River between some gun-boats under Com 
 mander John Rodgers and a heavy batterv 
 on Drury's Bluff (a high point commanding 
 a long reach of the river). 
 
 The vessels which attacked this strong- 
 hold were the iron-clad (so-called) •• Galena."' 
 Commander John Rodgera, the " Monitor." 
 Lieutenant W. N. Jeffers, andtheunarmored 
 steamers "Aroostook,"' "Port Royal'" and 
 "Naugatuck." 
 
 These vessels moved up the James River 
 on the 15th of May and encountered no ar- 
 tificial impediments until thev reached 
 Drury"s Bluff, eight miles below Richmond, 
 where tiie Confederates had erected bat- 
 teries and placed two separate obstructions 
 m the river. These barriers were made by 
 driving piles, and sinking vessels loaded 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 405 
 
 with stone. It was said that the enemy's 
 gun -boats, "Jamestown" and '"York- 
 town," were among the vessels sunk. 
 
 It cannot be doubted that these obstacles 
 were too formidable for the gun-boats to 
 pass, unless they could succeed in dis- 
 mounting the guns on Drury's Bluff, which 
 was not easily done. Any attempt to re- 
 move these obstructions (even if the fort 
 was silenced) without the aid of a large 
 land force would have been unavailing, 
 for the banks of the river all along, up to 
 and past the bluff, were lined with rifle-pits 
 filled with marksmen, who made it almost 
 impossible for the Federals to stand at their 
 guns. 
 
 The " Galena," leading, ran within 600 
 yards of the batteries, and as near to the 
 obstructions as it was deemed prudent to go. 
 She let go her anchor, and swinging with 
 a spring across the channel, not more than 
 twice the length of the ship, opened fire on 
 the enemy at Drury's Bluff. The wooden 
 vessels anchored aljout 1,300 yards below, 
 and the "Monitor" anchored just above the 
 "Galena," but finding that her guns could 
 not be elevated sufficiently to reach the 
 forts, she dropped to a position to enable 
 her to do so. 
 
 After an action of three hours and fifteen 
 mmutes, the "Galena" had expended nearly 
 all her ammunition, having but six charges 
 left for the rifled Parrott gun and not a 9- 
 inch shell filled. Thirteen men had been 
 killed and eleven wounded on board. Sig- 
 nal was made to discontinue the action, and 
 the vessels dropped out of fire. 
 
 The "Monitor" was unhurt, though struck 
 once squarely on the turret by an 8-inch 
 shot, and twice on her side armor. The 
 rifled 100-pounder burst on board the "Nau- 
 gatuck," and disabled her. 
 
 Commander Rodgers reported that the 
 " Galena " was not shot-proof, exactly what 
 was predicted of her when she was on the 
 stocks. The vessel was so much cut up that 
 it was reported she would have to be thor- 
 oughly repaired before she could go to sea. 
 
 It was intended to ascertain by this ac- 
 tion whether the " Monitor " or "Galena" 
 was the best vessel for fighting forts. It 
 was settled in favor of the "Monitor," 
 which was not damaged seriously. 
 
 It was a one-sided battle altogether, for 
 the forts on Drury's Bluff could not be 
 taken by a naval force alone. They could 
 only be taken by a combined attack of the 
 Army and Navy. 
 
 If it was intended to show the enemy that 
 the courage of naval officers would under- 
 take anything, this was amply demon- 
 strated by the cool manner in which the 
 vessels anchored and went at what they 
 musthaveknown was hopeless work. There 
 
 that, no matter how often they might drive 
 the enemy away from their guns by an 
 overwhelming fire, that they would just 
 step inside their bomb-proofs until a good 
 opportunity offered to return to their guns. 
 
 The Confederates knew that no naval 
 force would attempt to land and scale the 
 bluff, 200 feet high. In fact, it was simply 
 good practice for the enemy ; and whatever 
 defects their works showed were remedied 
 in twenty-four hours. 
 
 That Commander Rodgers and his officers 
 showed the greatest courage, in attacking 
 works so far superior to them in every way, 
 every one will admit. The " Galena" was 
 simply a slaughter - house, and the other 
 vessels, except the " Monitor," would have 
 fared worse than the "Galena" had not 
 the enemy been intent upon destroying the 
 vessel which carried the divisional flag at 
 her main. 
 
 Commander Rodgers still thought that the 
 "Galena" and "Monitor" could reduce the 
 works if they had plenty of ammunition; 
 but experience had by this time taught most 
 of our commanders that very few expedi- 
 tions of this kind were successful unless the 
 Army and Navy acted together, and it was 
 only the desire of a brave man to try and 
 get even with the enemy. 
 
 This expedition convinced. Commander 
 Rodgers "that an army could be landed 
 on the James River within ten miles of 
 Richmond, on either bank, and that this 
 land force with naval co-operation could 
 march into Petersburg; that such a move 
 would cause the evacuation of Drury's Bluff 
 in its then condition, and other forts along 
 the James River ; that obstructions could 
 then be removed, and perhaps the gun-boats 
 might work their way on to Richmond." 
 
 This was the hardest fight that had oc- 
 curred on the James. The duties on that 
 river were, as a rule, monotonous in the ex- 
 treme, and the officers of the Navy were de- 
 lighted with this opportunity to show that 
 the same spirit existed at this point as else- 
 where to perform the most hazardous un- 
 dertakings. 
 
 The work of the North Atlantic squadron 
 in the James and York rivers was deficient 
 in those dashing strokes which had been 
 made in other squadrons, and which so at- 
 tracted the attention of the Northern peo- 
 ple. With the single exception of the affair 
 of the " Merrimac," nothing had been done 
 by the northern portion of this squadron to 
 attract much notice, yet it was in some re- 
 spects the most important squadron afloat. 
 The security of Washington greatly de- 
 pended on its efficiency, for, in the event of 
 a move of the Confederates upon the Cap- 
 ital, a large force of gun-boats could be sent 
 up the Potomac and prevent the enemy from 
 
 TTTi avrthiii o* nirtif»rlAr nrin 
 
 n +Vi/:» /^1+T 
 
406 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 time to assemble troops enough to meet him 
 in the field. Washington City would have 
 been cut off entirely in its river communi- 
 cations with the North, in the earlier part 
 of the war, but for the presence of this 
 squadron at Hampton Roads, where it was 
 within easy reach. Without it, the Grand 
 Army of the Potomac could not have been 
 moved so successfully to the Peninsular; 
 and it is scarcely yet forgotten how, in 
 the most trying times, when that army 
 
 its great discipline, the energy of the offi- 
 cers and the skill of its commanders, it not 
 only often arrested defeat, but sometimes 
 changed defeat into victory. 
 
 It might appear to some people that there 
 was a larger number of vessels lying idle 
 in Hampton Roads than was necessary, and 
 that these might in the earlier part of the 
 war have pushed on up the James and kept 
 that river free of batteries until the Fed- 
 erals could mount guns enough afloat to 
 
 COMMANDER (AFTERWARDS REAE-ADMIEAL) JOHN RODGERS. 
 
 seemed to be in danger of annihilation, 
 the Navy was at hand to give shelter under 
 its guns to our retiring and weary troops, 
 and drive back the excited and victorious 
 foe, who would have driven our soldiers into 
 the river, or made them lay down their arms. 
 These things are mentioned not for the 
 purpose of claiming undue credit for the 
 Navy, but to show that it was always on 
 hand to perform its part of the duty in put- 
 ting down the rebellion, and that, "through 
 
 push on up to Richmond. But war cannot 
 be carried on without mistakes, and these 
 occurred in the Navy as well as in the Army; 
 but we will venture to say that there were 
 not near so many in the Navy. The sins 
 of the Navy were more those of omission 
 than commission. The situation was a new 
 one to all concerned, and the stern reality 
 could only be learned by wading through 
 battle-fields, or in the slaughter-pens of gun- 
 boats when under the fire of heavy artillery. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 407 
 
 Owing to the change of the head-quarters 
 of the North Atlantic squadron, reports of 
 naval occurrences were not always received 
 at the Navy Department in regular order, 
 and being quickly recorded as they were 
 received, it happens that many of the 
 events of the war are narrated out of their 
 proper order, and the earlier performances 
 are behind the later ones. This cannot well 
 be helped, and it would probably make 
 confusion if the writer attempted to remedy 
 the evil. 
 
 When General McClellan had captured 
 Yorktown he almost immediately moved 
 part of his army up the river in transports 
 in the direction of West Point. 
 
 On the 7th of May, 1863, Lieutenant T. H. 
 Stevens reported that, hearing the firing of 
 heavy cannon, he proceeded on board the 
 
 LIEUTENANT LEONARD PAULDING. 
 
 "Wachusett," for the purpose of joining 
 his command, which he had passed on the 
 way up; when General Franklin telegraphed 
 him that he was attacked by a superior 
 force and desired the assistance of the gun- 
 boats — "that he wanted immediate sup- 
 port," etc. 
 
 At this moment the gun-boat " Mara- 
 tanza" was engaged, two miles below, in 
 endeavoring to haul the gun-boat " Marble- 
 head" off a shoal. Receiving Captain Wil- 
 liam Smith's orders to go on board the 
 "Maratanza" and bring her into action. 
 Stevens took a boat from the "Wachusett" 
 and joined his vessel. 
 
 The " Wachusett " and "Sebago" went 
 into action with some batteries that had 
 been posted on hills to prevent the advance 
 of the Union Army. The gun-boats shelled 
 t.hfi flonf fid Pirate a.rtillerv for nearly an hour 
 
 with their heavy rifled guns, when the en- 
 emy retired. It was the opinion of General 
 Franklin's officers that the rapid and accu- 
 rate fire of the gun-boats " was greatly in- 
 strumental in saving the Army from severe 
 disaster, if not defeat." 
 
 The gun-boats followed along on the 
 flanks of the Army, ready to aid it in every 
 way, until the river became so narrow and 
 crooked that they could go no farther, and 
 in returning had to drop stern foremost. 
 
 General Franklin's object in advancing 
 on West Point was to cut off the retreat of 
 the Confederates from Yorktown. But he 
 encountered a much larger force than he 
 had expected, and but for the gun-boats 
 would have been roughly handled. 
 
 Acting-Rear-Adrairal S. P. Lee assumed 
 command of the North Atlantic squadron 
 on July 10, 1863, taking the place of Flag- 
 officer Goldsborough, who was promoted to 
 the rank of Rear-Admiral, and relieved at 
 his own request. Though the services of 
 the latter officer had not been brilliant, yet 
 his duties had been well performed and his 
 record is that of a faithful, zealous officer, 
 who, if he had been employed in a wider 
 field of operations, would no doubt have 
 made his name more conspicuous. The 
 President considered that his services in 
 the sounds of North Carolina entitled him 
 to a vote of thanks from Congress and sent 
 in his name, and afterwards that of Com- 
 mander Rowan. 
 
 Goldsborough was a Southerner by birth, 
 and although no officer deserves particular 
 credit for standing by the Government that 
 had taken care of him for fifty years, yet 
 he showed an example of live patriotism 
 which entitled him to respect and to any 
 honors his country had to bestow. 
 
 From July 11th up to November 30th, 
 1863. there was little done by the North At- 
 lantic squadron except in the sounds of 
 North Carolina, which for a time were 
 under the control of Commander Rowan. 
 
 The operations in the sounds, after the 
 time mentioned, were not of a very impor- 
 tant nature, but as they form part of the 
 history of the war we will give a brief sketch 
 of them. There was great danger in some 
 of the expeditions, and good judgment and 
 gallantry shown in all. 
 
 Lieutenant C. W. Flusser, who has al- 
 ready figured as a brave' and energetic 
 officer, was a leading spirit in every enter- 
 prise set on foot. He seemed to delight in 
 making explorations where little was to be 
 gained except hard knocks, and it is re- 
 markable that in the severe river-fighting 
 to which he was exposed he did not sooner 
 lose his life. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1863, he left Plymouth 
 for Hamilton in the steamer " Commodore 
 Perrv." bavins' taken on board Cantain W. 
 
408 
 
 IHE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 W. Hammell, Company F., 9th New York 
 Volunteers, and twenty of his men, with 
 the steamers " Shawsheen " and "Ceres" in 
 company; the latter vessel having on board 
 Second -Lieutenant Joseph A. Green and 
 ten men. 
 
 While ascending the river, at 1 o'clock 
 p. M.. the flotilla was fired upon from 
 the south bank by riflemen. Flusser re- 
 turned the fire and pushed on, expecting to 
 meet the enemy at Hamilton in force. The 
 vessels were under fire from the banks and 
 rifle-pits for two hours, during which time 
 they had to run very slowly, looking out 
 for batteries. When they reached Hamil- 
 ton, the enemy, who had been flring from 
 concealed places, retreated, being afraid to 
 meet Flusser's little force of 100 sailors and 
 soldiers in the open field. 
 
 The only reward which they received for 
 all their exposure was the capture of an 
 unimportant town and a small schooner. 
 
 The loss on board the vessels, fortunately, 
 was small (two killed and ten wounded), 
 but these casualties often repeated ran up 
 in time to a large number. In this warfare 
 not much was to be gained except gunshot 
 wounds. There was no prize - money, but 
 the officers and men of this expedition were 
 spoken of in the highest terms of praise, 
 which cheered them on in the absence of 
 other rewards. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant John Mac- 
 dearmid and Acting - Master Thomas J. 
 Woodward, who commanded the steamers 
 " Ceres " and " Shawsheen " on this expedi- 
 tion, were highly spoken of. 
 
 Acting- Lieutenant R. T. Renshaw, com- 
 manding U. S. steamer " Louisana," reports 
 that while at Washington, N. C. , on the 6th 
 of September, 1863, the enemy attacked that 
 place in force and opened on his vessel 
 " with volleys of musketry." " That he re- 
 turned the fire with grape and shell, killing 
 a number and finally driving them back." 
 
 He also followed them up with shell and 
 killed a number in their retreat. 
 
 During this action the Army gun-boat 
 " Picket" blew up, killing the captain and 
 18 men, and wounding others, who were 
 taken on board the "Louisiana" and prop- 
 erly cared for. 
 
 Acting - Master Edward Hooker is welL 
 spoken of for the manner in which he 
 managed the guns of the "Louisiana." 
 The action must have lasted some time, as 
 1.37 shot, shell, stands of grape, and howitzer 
 shell were fired from the "Louisiana;" and, 
 if less justice is done the occasion than it 
 deserves, it is because the accounts of the 
 commanding officer are so obscure. 
 
 This closes the account of the opera- 
 tions of the Navy in the sounds of North 
 Carolina up to November 10th, 1862, at 
 which time these waters were in charge of 
 Commander H. K. Davenport. The sounds 
 at this time were virtually in possession of 
 the Federal Army and Navy, though the 
 enemy would make useless raids along the 
 banks of the rivers for the purpose of firing 
 on the gun-boats. 
 
 During the command of Flag - officer 
 Goldsborough all the sounds had been taken 
 possession of under the admirable manage- 
 ment of Commander Rowan, Lieutenant 
 Flusser and others. Newbern, Plymouth, 
 Elizabeth City, and every important place, 
 was in charge of a gun-boat or was garri- 
 soned by soldiers, and most of the Confeder- 
 ate troops that had been sent to resist the 
 Union forces had returned to Richmond, 
 where at that time an attack was expected. 
 
 The harbor of Beaufort was in the hands 
 of the Federals and part of the coast of 
 North Carolina was under blockade. 
 
 All of which, when closely examined, ex- 
 hibits as much gallantry, energy and hard 
 work, in proportion to the means at hand 
 and the objects in view, as appears else- 
 where. 
 
 LIST OF VESSELS AND OFFICERS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING 
 SQUADRON, UNDER REAR-ADMIRAL L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH. 
 Commander A. Ludlow Case, Captain of the Fleet. - 
 
 OBTAINED from THE SECRETARY'S REPORT OF 1863, AND NAVY REGISTER OF SEPT. 1862. 
 
 STEAM-FRIGATE " MINNESOTA"— FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Commander, A. L. Case; Lieutenant-Commanders, 
 E. C. Grafton and John Wattei-s; Lieutenant, Adol- 
 phus Dexter; Midsiiipman, R. S. Cliew; Fleet Sur- 
 p:eon,W. M.Wood; Surgeon, J. S. Kitchen; Assistant 
 Surgeons, S. J. Jones, Edgar Holden and E. R. 
 Dodge; Paymaster, Robert Pettit; Chaplain, T. Ct. 
 Salter ; Captain of Marines, W. L. Shuttleworth ; 
 First-Lieutenant of Blarines, W. H. Cartter; Chief 
 Engineer, C H. Loring; Assistant Engineers, J. H. 
 Bailey, E. J. Whittaker, Alfred Colin, L. A. Haverly, 
 T. W. Rae and G. W. Thorn; Acting-Masters, D. A. 
 Campbell, W. G. Saltonstall andWm. Wright; Boat- 
 
 swain.Paul Atkinson; Gunner,C. W. Homer; Carpen- 
 ter, Ebenezer Thompson; Sailmaker, A. A. Warren. 
 
 STEAMER " MARATANZA." 
 
 Commander, G. H. Scott; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 Wm. P. McCann- Assistant Surgeon, Job Corbin; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; Acting- 
 Masters, Charles Cortney, Jacob Kimball and J. B. 
 Wood Jr. ; Acting-Engineers, Edward Scattergood, 
 Wni. H. Kdpatrick, L. H. Harvey and R. L. Webb; 
 Actmg- Master's Mates, J. Creighton and B. W. 
 Flowers. 
 
 STEAMER "MORSE." 
 Acting-Masters. Peter Haves and ft TXT r!n=wol1. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 409 
 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Henry Russell, Acting- 
 Assistant Engineers, Thomas Divine, Tim. Flanders 
 and George West; Acting-Master's Mates, William 
 Dunne and C. E. Rich. 
 
 IRON-CI/AD "monitor." 
 
 Commanders, John L. Worden, Wm. N. Jeflers 
 and T. H. Stevens [commanding at different times]; 
 Lieutenant, 8. Dana Greene; Acting- Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant, Wm. Flye; Acting- Assistant Surgeon^ D. C. 
 Logue; Acting -Asssistant Paymaster, W. F. Keeler; 
 Acting-Master, L. M. Stodder; Assistant Engineers, 
 A. B. Campbell, Geo. H. White, R. W. Hands and 
 M. T. Sunstrom; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. Fred- 
 erickson and Peter Williams. 
 
 STEAMER " JACOB BELL.'' 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, E. P. MeCrea; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, O. J. Bissell; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, Samuel Anderson; Acting- Assistant En- 
 gineers, Arthur Clements, Nelson Ross and R. H. 
 Buel; Acting-Master's Mate, E. McConnell. 
 
 STEAMER "port ROYAL." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George U. Morris, Act- 
 ing -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. P. Randall [com- 
 manding at different times] ; Lieutenant, H. D. 
 Todd ; Assistant Surgeon, W. S. Fort ; Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. A. Bates, Jr.; Assistant Engineers, 
 W. C. Selden, G. W. Sensner, O. C. Lewis, F. B. Allen 
 andE. M. Breese; Acting-Masters Mates, W. F. Rey- 
 nolds, Jr., E. V. Tyson and Ben,]. Woods. 
 
 STEAMER " SUSQUEHANNA." 
 
 Captain, R. B. Hitchcock ; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, J. H. Gillis; Surgeon. Joseph Beale; Pay- 
 master, W. H. Thompson; Assistant Surgeon, H. C. 
 Nelson ; Captain of Marines, P. R. FendaLl ; Chief 
 Engineer, George Sewell; Assistant Engineers, J. M. 
 Hobby, James Renshaw, James Butterworth and 
 E. R. Arnold; Acting-Masters, W. L. Churchill and 
 G. B. Livingston; Boatswain, Chas. Miller; Gunner. 
 Wm. Summers ; Carpenter, G. M. Doughty; Sail- 
 maker, J. C. Herbert. 
 
 STEAMER "AROOSTOOK.'' 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, S. R. Franklin; Lieuten- 
 ant, T. S. Spencer; Acting-Masters, Eben Hoyt and 
 W. A. Maine ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. L. 
 Pynohon; Assistant Engineers, W. G. Buehler, Geo. 
 R. Holt, James Entwistleand Samuel Gragg; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, C. F. Palmer, Louis Hammersley 
 and Edw. Culbert. 
 
 STEAMER "DACOTAH." 
 
 Captain, J. P. McKinstry ; Lieutenant, G. C. 
 Wiltse; Surgeon, Delavan Bloodgood; Acting Mas- 
 ters, Wm. Earle and W. Moslander; Assistant Pay- 
 master, Richard Washington; Chief Engineer, P. G. 
 Peltz; Assistant Engineers, Elijah Laws, G. P. Hunt, 
 Geo. W. Melville and Jas. H. Perry; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Charles Trathen, Paul Borner, C. H. Chase 
 and C. H. Davidson; Boatswain, G. C. Abbott; Gun- 
 ner, Geo. Edmond. 
 
 STEAM-FRIGATE " SAN JACINTO." 
 
 Commander, Wm. Rockendorff; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Ralph Chandler; Lieutenant, B. P. Smith; 
 Assistant Surgeon, I. W. Bragg; Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, T. C. Masten; Acting-Masters, John Baker, H. 
 J. Coop and D. G. McRitchie; Captain of Marines, 
 L. L. JDawson ; First-Lieutenant of Marines, Rob- 
 ert Kidd ; Chief Engineer, M. Kellogg ; Assistant 
 Engineers, G. W. Hall, H. 8. Davids, H. C. Mcllvaine, 
 Edwin Wells, H. W. Scott. Edm. Lincoln and N. P. 
 Towne; Boatswain, John Marley; Carpenters, J. W. 
 North and R. A. Williams ; Gunner, C. A. Stephen- 
 son; Acting-Master's Mates, J. D. Weed, H. T. Keen 
 and A. H. Fuller. 
 
 TUG "dragon." 
 An.f,inD'-ARRiR<:n,nt Rnfl^ineer. .Tohn .Torda.n. 
 
 IRON-CLAD "GALENA," 
 Captain, John Rodgers; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 L. H. Newman; Assistant Surgeon, R. E.Van Giesen\ 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Sellman; Acting- 
 Masters, S. B.Washburn and B.W.Loring; Assistant 
 Engineers, J. W. Thompson, T. T. Millholland, P. 
 
 A. Breman, James Dodd and A. S. Chipman; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, J. H. Jenks, Andrew McCleary, 
 Alex. Meldrum and E. A. Galindo; Gunner, J. D. 
 Boorom; Boatswain, Rob't Dixon. 
 
 STEAMER "STEVENS." 
 
 Lieutenant, D. C. Constable. 
 
 STEAMER "daylight." 
 
 Commander, Samuel Lockwood; Acting-Master, 
 J. D. Warren, (commanding at different times]; 
 Acting-Masters, J. R. Dickinson and J. H Gleason; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Dearborne; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, A. J. Clark; Acting- Assistant 
 Engineers, C. D. Kiersted, Wm. Emmons and T. 
 Mcintosh ; Acting-Master's Mates, Chas. Attmore 
 and James Corlace. 
 
 STEAMER "GENESEE." 
 
 Commander, Wm. H. Macomb; Lieutenant- Com- 
 mander, Wm. H. Dana ; Assistant Surgeon, G. B. 
 Slough ; Acting-Masters, Wm. Hanson, C. M. Mer- 
 chant and R. 'T. Wyatt ; Acting-Engineers, W. H. 
 Green, C. H. Harrab, G. H. Griggs, M. McLoughlin 
 and C. Moulton ; Acting - Master's Mates, W. J. 
 Crosby, John Connor, G. M. Fludder and E. W. 
 Halcro. 
 
 STEAMER, " ELLIS.'' 
 
 Lieutenant, C. L. Franklin; Acting - Master's 
 Mate. Omar Smith; Midshipman, B. H. Porter; 
 Acting-Assistant Engineer, F. A. Whitfield. 
 
 STEAMER "HUNCHBACK.'' 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, E. R. Colhoun; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, Rio'd Pasquell; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Henry Cushing; Acting-Assistant Engineers, Henry 
 Armstrong and John Wall; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Wm. Weaver and Chas. Weaver. 
 
 STEAMER "HENRY BRINKER." 
 
 Acting-Master, John E. Giddings; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, W. B. Miles; Acting-Engineers, J. W. Kelsey, 
 Robt. Ross and W. H. Yates. 
 
 SLOOP " GRANITE." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. Boomer. 
 
 STEAMER "HETZEL." 
 
 Commander, H. K. Davenport; Lieutenant, C. L. 
 Franklin; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Camp- 
 bell; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Morton ; 
 Acting-Assistant Engineers, Joshua Eddowes, J. 
 
 B. Dick, T. B. Cole, J. H. Paget and W. H. Tower; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, John Rudrow and Benj. 
 Walker. 
 
 STEAMER "l. N. SEYMOUR." 
 
 Acting-Master, F. S. Wells; Acting-Assistant En- 
 gineers, N. Eggleston, Stephen Mealeus, Philip 
 Hublitz and J. A. Whittaker. 
 
 STEAMER "MONTICELLO." 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, Daniel L. Braine ; Act- 
 ing-Masters, L. A. Brown and Richard Hustace ; 
 Acting-Ensign, A. G. Stebbins ; Acting- Assistant 
 Engineers, W. S. Montgomery, John Pick, C. O. 
 Morgan, Thomas MoGough, J. Thomas and H. 
 Webster, Acting-Master's Mate, E. A. Nassau. 
 
 STEAMER "MYSTIC." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, H. N. T. Arnold; Acting- 
 Masters, R. 8. Coffin, B. W. Loring and S. B. 
 Meaders; Acting- Assistant Siu-geon, W. F. Browne; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. E. Smith; Acting- 
 Assistant Engineers, J. B. Lovell, J. B. Allen, H. 
 
410 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ing-Master's Mates, G. R. Durand, J. M. C. Reville 
 and J. B. Swett. 
 
 STEAMER "LOUISIANA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Alex. Murray, and Act- 
 ing-Lieutenant, R. T. Renshaw [commanding at dif- 
 ferent times] ; Lieutenant-Commander, Alfred Hop- 
 kins; Acting-Master Edward Hooker; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, Michael Bradley; Assistant Paymaster, W. W. 
 Williams; Assistant Engineers, J. M. Lay, D. P. 
 McCartney, J. H. Huxley and T. J. McK. Daniels. 
 
 STEAMER "MT. VERNON." 
 
 Commanders, O. 8. Glisson and A. G. Clary [com- 
 manding at different times] • Acting-Masters, J. W. 
 Simmons and E. W. White; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geons, 8. B. Hoppin and Joseph McKnight; Acting- 
 Ensign, O. L. 8. Roberts; Acting Assistant Engi- 
 neers, J. H. Hosford and John Lardner; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, G. C. Kellogg and Lloyd Rogers. 
 
 STEAMER "MAHASKA." 
 
 Lieutenant, N. H. Farquhar; Acting- Master, C. 
 L. Moses; Assistant Surgeon, J. C. Spear; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Chas. Fairchild ; Midshipman, 
 E. C. V. Blake; Engineers. B. B. H. Wharton, Elisha 
 Harsen, Thos. Le Blanche, J. C. Stevens and E. L. 
 Hewitt; Acting Master's Mates, N. W. Black, G. E. 
 French, Thomas Smith and B. F. Trask. 
 
 STEAMER "SABAGO." 
 
 Commander, Daniel Ammen ; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, E. W. Henry; Acting- Masters, BenJ, Dyer, 
 J. F. Anderson, T. M. Gardner and W. H. Mallard ; 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. P. Quinn ; Assistant Engi- 
 neers, G. F. Savage, G. E. Tower, W. H. DeHart, 
 O. W. Allison and J. A. Bullard; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Wm. Manning and E. D. Martin. 
 
 STEAMER "OCTORARA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George Brown; Acting- 
 Master, L. G. Cook; Surgeon, James Laws; Assist- 
 ant Paymaster W. S. Higbee; Midshipman, Chas. 
 W. Tracy; Acting-Ensign, G. F. Hollis; Assistant 
 Engineers, «Jackson McElwell, E. J. Brooks, C. R. 
 Morgan, J. G. Cooper and E. W. Clark. 
 
 STEAMER '"WHITEHEAD." 
 Acting-Master, Charles A. French; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Engineers, Morris Petersen and W. W. Baker. 
 
 STORK-SHIP " WIIiLIAM BADGER." 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Reuben Rich ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. M. Whittemore. 
 
 MORTAR SCHOONERS, " ARLETTA'' AND "PARA." 
 FRIGATE "ST. LAWRENCE." 
 
 Captain, H. Y. Purvianoe, and Commander J. F. 
 Schenck [at different times in command] ; Lieu- 
 tenant, H. F. Picking; Acting-Masters, G. L. Allyn, 
 G. J. Murray and Wm. H. Smith ; Second-Lieuten- 
 ant of Marines, R. S. Collum; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 John Fisher, V. W. Jones and T. W. Jones ; Boat- 
 swain, J. A. Briscoe; Gunner, C. De Bevoise; Car- 
 penter, J. A. Krim; Sailmaker, L. Rogers. 
 
 STEAMER "DELAWARE." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander. 8. P. Quackenbush; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, Lorenzo Traver; Assistant Pay- 
 master, F. R. Curtis ; Acting-Ensign, J. H. Kerens; 
 Acting-Engineers, J. D. Williamson, T. J. Brown, 
 
 A. Dunbar and James Mellen ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, J. H. Springman. 
 
 SLOOP-OP-WAR "CUMBERLAND." 
 
 Commander, William Radford ; Lieutenants, 
 George U. Morris, T. O. Selfridge, and M. S. Stuy- 
 vesant; Chaplain, J. H. Lenhart; Acting-Masters, 
 W. P. Randall and W. W. Kennison ; Surgeon, 
 Charles Martin; Assistant Surgeon, Edward Kersh- 
 ner; Lieutenant of Marines, Charles Haywood; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, Henry Wyman, E. V. Tyson, 
 Chas. O'Neil and J. M. Harrington; Boatswain, E. 
 
 B. Bell; Gunner, Eugene Mack; Carpenter, W. M. 
 Leigh ton; Sailmaker, David Bruce. 
 
 STEAMER "JOHN L. LOCKWOOD." 
 
 Acting-Masters, G. W. Graves and W. F. North ; 
 Acting-Assistant Engineers, J. T. Newton, W. W. 
 Whiting and J. T. Miller; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 Samuel Horton. 
 
 STEAMER "WACHUSBTT." 
 
 Commander, Wm. Smith and Capt. T. A. Jen- 
 kins [commanding at different times]; Lieutenant- 
 Commanders, C. A. Babcock and C. E. Fleming; 
 Surgeon, J. H. Otis; Assistant Paymaster, F. K. 
 Moore; Lieutenant Wm. Whitehead; Acting-Masters, 
 Edm. Kimble, S. P. LathropandP. Leach; Midship- 
 man, H. C. Tallman ; Chief Engineer, W. C. 
 Wheeler ; Assistant Engineers, W. D. Pendleton, 
 W. H. Messinger, C. J. Coney, H. Holmes and M. 
 H. Knapp; Acting-Master's Mates, A. Ellwell, Wm. 
 McCreary and C. A. Stewart ; Boatswain, John 
 Burrows; Gunner, Samuel Cross. 
 
 FRIGATE "congress." 
 
 Lieutenants, Joseph B. Smith and Austin Pen- 
 dergrast ; Acting- Master, Thomas Moore ; Master's 
 Mate, Peter J. Hargous; Pilot, Wm. Rhodes. 
 BARK "gemsbok." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy ; 
 Acting-Masters, J. E. Giddings, O. Thatcher. T. 
 Werthofl" and Samuel Very; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, Thomas Welch; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 E. H. Roberts. 
 
 SHIP "supply." 
 
 Commander, Geo. Colvocoresses ; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, W. L. Wheeler; Paymaster, Edw. Foster; 
 Acting-Masters, Zac. Kempton and J. D. Wood ; 
 Acting-Ensign, A. B. Axtell; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 Peter Faunce. 
 
 steamer "stars AND STRIPES." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Reed Werden and Lieu- 
 tenant, R. 8. MoCook [commanding at different 
 
 times]. 
 
 steamer "state of GEORGIA." 
 
 Commander, J. F. Armstrong ; Acting-Masters, 
 A. D. Littlefield and J. J. Rogers; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. W. Hamilton ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, T. H. Haskell ; Acting-Engineers, James 
 Wilkinson, David Pyke, Wm. H. Miller, Thomas 
 Nesbitt and J. D. Rogers ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. T. Hughes and Isaac Halleck. 
 
 steamer " southfield." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, C. F. W. Behm ; 
 Acting-Master, W. F. Pratt; Acting-Assistant Engi- 
 neers, George Ashby and James Kennedy. 
 steamer "shawsheen." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, T. C. Woodward; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, G. W. Barrett and G. C. 
 Williams; Acting-Assistant Engineers, Richard An- 
 derson and M. Smith. 
 
 steamer "PENOBSCOT." 
 
 Commander, J. M. B. Clitz ; Lieutenant, F. M. 
 Bunce; Assistant Surgeon, E. C. Ver Meulen; Assist- 
 ant Engineers, T. J. Jones, Thos. Petherick, G. P. 
 Wilkinson, G. W. Hall; Acting-Master's Mates, G. 
 H. Smith, J. P. Semple. S. H. Daman, H. P. Ed- 
 wards and 8. K. Luce; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Addison Pool. 
 
 STEAMER " PHILADELPHIA." 
 
 Commander, S. C. Rowan, Flag-oflBcer ; Acting- 
 Master, Silas Reynolds, Commanding ■ Assistant 
 Surgeon, Sam'l J. Jones; Carpenter, H. M. Griffith. 
 
 STEAMER "RESCUE." 
 
 Acting- Assistant Engineers, W. H. Capen and B. 
 D. MuUigan. 
 
 STEAMER "UNDERWRITER." 
 
 Lieutenant, Alfred Hopkins and Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Wm. N. Jeffers [commanding at different 
 times]; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Dan'l Harjuan; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 411 
 
 Acting -Assistant Engineers, John Cohill, John 
 Morse and John Whittaker; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 Wm. K. Engell and Daniel Ward. 
 
 STEAMER "valley CITY."' 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. C. Chaplin and Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, H. K. Furniss [commanding 
 at different times]; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, F. E. 
 Martindale; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. W. 
 Moore ; Acting- Assistant Engineers, Perry Short , 
 James Hitchcock and B. Hildebrand; Acting-Mas 
 ter's Mates, C. W. Campbell, John Cullaton, H. 
 Dickenson and T. Langton; Gunner, John Davis. 
 
 STEAMER "VICTORIA." 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, G. A. Stevens ; Acting- 
 Masters, Alfred Everson and H. A. Phelan- Acting- 
 Ensign, W. H. Mayer; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. G. Parke ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. S. 
 Bradford; Acting- Assistant Engineers, J. M. Barron, 
 E. A. Hurd and T. D. Webster ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, G. B. Howard. 
 
 STEAMER "CAMBRIDGtB." 
 
 Commander, Wm. A. Parker ; Acting-Masters, 
 J. A. J. Brooks ; W. H. Males, F. W. Strong; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Ezra Pray; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. C. Canning; Midshipman, C. L. Hun- 
 tington ; Acting- Engineers, G. B. Orswell, C. C. 
 Pennington, S. B. Ellis, H. F. Hayden and James 
 Powers; Acting- Master's Mate, W. F. Durgin ; 
 Gunner, W. Ferguson; Carpenter, T. D. Wilson. 
 
 STEAMER "CHOCURA." 
 
 Commander, T. H. Patterson ; Lieutenant Com- 
 mander, R. F. Bradford; Assistant Surgeon, Charles 
 . <!:!arter ; Acting-Masters, P. S. Borden and T. B. 
 Sears; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. L. Turner ; 
 Assistant Engineers, Z. Talbot, W. H. Harrison, 
 Theo. Cooper and Andrew Blythe; Acting-Master's 
 Mate. A. P. Atwood. 
 
 STEAMER "CURRITUCK." 
 
 Acting-Master, W. F. Shankland; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Henry Johnson; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, L. S. Yorke ; Acting-Assistant Engineers, 
 Alfred Clum, W. H. Boreum and Wm. Godard ; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, T. H. Strong. 
 
 STEAMEB "COMMODOBE PERRY.'" 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, Charles W. Flusser; Act- 
 ing-Masters, F. J. Thomas and W. B. Cushiug; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Henry Anderson; Acting 
 Assistant Engineers, J. W. Cross, J. L. Bowers and 
 G. W. Richards ; Acting-Master's Mates, R. Dolly, 
 John Lynch and H. C. Webster. 
 
 STEAMER " CORWIN." 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, T. S. Phelps. 
 
 STEAMER " COMMODORE BARNEY." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, R. T. Renshaw; Acting-Master, 
 J. R. Grace; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. R. Mann; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Benj. Page ; Acting- 
 Assistant Engineers, Strong Conklin and Lemuel 
 Albert ; Acting-Master's Mates, J. Aspinwall, Jr., 
 Wm. Betts, John HiU and C. Washburn. 
 
 STEAMER " COHASSET." 
 
 [Commander not found]; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Wm. P. Burke and Jacob Daggett; Acting-Assistant 
 Engineers, Sidney Smith and Chas Robinson. 
 
 STEAMER " CEEES. " 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, John Macdearmid; 
 Acting-Master, G. B. Thompson. 
 
 STEAMER "A. C. POWELL." 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, A. P. Matthews ; Acting- 
 Engineer Wm. Mahan. 
 
 STEAMER " W. G. PUTNAM." 
 
 Acting- Master, W. J. Hotchkiss; Acting- Assistant 
 Engineers, James Osborne and John Henry. 
 
 STEAMER "YOUNG AMERICA. " 
 
 Acting-Master, G. W- Graves ; Acting- Assistant 
 Engineers, James Hamilton, C. E. Rainer and W. 
 B. Whitmore. 
 
 STEAMER "ZOUAYE. " 
 
 Acting-Assistant Engineers, John Badgely and 
 Isaac Buck. 
 
 Note. — The above list of officers is necessarily in- 
 complete and not strictly correct, from the fact that 
 the Navy Register for September, 18G3, does not fur- 
 nish the information usually given. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, 1863. 
 
 Successful Expedition off Yorktown and up Neuse River. —Loss of "Monitor." 
 —Gallant Rescue of Greater Portion of "Monitor's" Crew by the "Rhode 
 Island." — Serious Loss to the Government. — Operations op Lieutenant Flusser. 
 ON the Chowan River.— Attack on Plymouth, N. C— The " Southfield "' Dis- 
 abled. — Achievements of Gener.\l J. G. Foster. — Army and Navy Co-operate. 
 IN Expedition against Goldsborough, N. C— Lieutenant Cushing's Expedition 
 against Wilmington Pilots. — Gushing Captures a Fort and puts Enemy to 
 Flight. — Other Adventures. — Lieutenant Flusser's Expedition to Hertford, 
 N. C. — Confederates Attack Fort Anderson. — Assistance Rendered by Gun-boats. 
 — Enemy Withdraws. — Letter of Col. Belknap. — Great Havoc Committed by 
 Steamer " Hbtzel." — Vessels Dispatched to Occupy Nansemond River. — Gun- 
 boats IN Demand. — Lieutenant Lajison Distinguishes Himself at Hill's Point. — 
 Gushing Prevents Longstreet and Forces from Crossing River. — Repulse of 
 Confederates AT Suffolk. — General Getty acknowledges Merit. — The "Mount 
 Washington" Fights her Way out of Mud. — The "Barney" Engages Enemy. 
 — Bravery of Officers and Men. — Noble Acts. — Lieutenant Lamson Runs his Ves- 
 sels UNDER Enemy's Guns. — Capture of Confederate Artillery. — Commendation 
 OP Lamson and Gushing by Secretary Welles. — Capture and Destruction of- 
 Blockade-runners. — Operations in Sounds of North Carolina. — Confederates- 
 invest Washington, N. C. but Compelled to Retire. — Gun-boats Engage and 
 Silence many Batteries on Pamlico Riv^er. — Names of Officers and Men who- 
 Received Commendations. — General Spinola's Testimony in Regard to Gal- 
 lant Conduct op Navy. — Lieutenant French's Expedition. — Important Cap- 
 tures. — General Dix Evacuates West Point, Covered by Gun-boats. — Expe- 
 ditions UP North, York, and Mattapony Rivers. — Cutting out of Confederate; 
 Steamer "Kate" prom under Guns of Fort Fisher. — Acts of Bravery Dis- 
 played. — Attempt to Destroy Steamer "Hebe." — Lieutenant Gushing "Cuts"' 
 out and Destroys Blockade-runner "Alexander Cooper." — Destruction or 
 THE "Venus."— Miscellaneous. 
 
 WHEN Acting-Rear- Admiral S. P. From September 1st up to Januarv there 
 Lee succeeded Rear- Admiral was but little of moment to report' in the 
 Goldsborough in the command North Atlantic squadron, beyond the opera- 
 of the North Atlantic squadron tions in the sounds of North Carolina and 
 there was not much left to be the naval expedition under Commander 
 done except keeping up a strict blockade of Foxhall A. Parker, off Yorktown, which 
 the coast and keeping the Albemarle and proved successful, the Navv being of much. 
 Pamlico Sounds under subjection. service to the Army contingent under Gen- 
 All the naval force of the enemy between eral Negley : also a successful military ex- 
 Norfolk and Howlet batteries had either pedition up the Neuse River under Geaeral 
 been destroyed or made its escape to Rich- Foster, in which the Navv participated,, with 
 mond, enabling the Navy Department to much credit to its commander. Commander 
 decrease the large force kept in and about Alexander Murray. 
 Hampton Roads. On December 31st, 1863, the Governmeat 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 413 
 
 met with a serious loss by the sinking at 
 sea of the famous little " Monitor," which 
 had set the huge ' ' Merrimac " at defiance 
 and driven her back to Norfolk. This was 
 not only the great actual loss of a fighting 
 vessel, but in addition there were associa- 
 tions connected with this little craft which 
 made her name dear to every Union-loving 
 man, and it was hoped by all those who 
 had faith in her that she might be long 
 permitted to float the flag of the Union at 
 her staff and become a terror to its enemies. 
 But it seems that she was only permitted 
 to perform the great service for which she 
 was built, an event that made her name as 
 famous as that of the old "Constitution," 
 and then she sank from sight in the depth 
 of ocean, leaving behind her not as much 
 of her hull as would serve to make a small 
 memento of the past. 
 
 The " Monitor " left Hampton Roads in 
 tow of the U. S. steamer " Rhode Island," on 
 the 29th of December, 1863, at 2.30 p. M., 
 with a light southwest wind, and clear, 
 pleasant weather, with a prospect of its con- 
 tinuance. At 5 a. m., the next morning, a 
 swell set in from the southward with an 
 increase of wind from the southwest, the 
 sea breaking over the pilot-house forward 
 and striking the base of the turret, but not 
 with sufficient force to break over it. But 
 it was found that the packing of oakum 
 under and around the base of the turret had 
 worked out, as the "Monitor" pitched and 
 rolled, and water made its way into the ves- 
 sel, though for some time the bilge pumps 
 kept her free. 
 
 The wind hauled to the south, increasing 
 all the time, the vessel towing badly and 
 yawing about very much. By 8 p. m., the 
 wind began to blow heavily, causing the 
 " Monitor " to plunge deeply, the sea wash- 
 ing over and into the turret, and at times 
 into the hawse-pipes. Commander J. P 
 Bankhead, of the " Monitor," signalled sev- 
 eral times to the " Rhode Island " to stop 
 towing, in order to see whether that would 
 prevent the influx of water into his vessel, 
 but she only fell off into the trough of the 
 sea and made miatters worse, the water 
 coming on board so rapidly that it became 
 necessary to start the centrifugal pumps. 
 
 It was quite evident to many on board 
 that the last days of the • ' Monitor " had come 
 unless the wind should abate and the sea go 
 do wn, which did not seem at all likely ; but the 
 enthusiasm of the commander, officers and 
 men kept them at their posts until it be- 
 came necessary to signal to the "Rhode 
 Island " for assistance, which was promptly 
 given. The officers and men of the " Rhode 
 Island" (Commander Stephen D. Trenchard) 
 did not hesitate to jump into their boats in 
 that tempestuous weather and go to the 
 relief of their comrades. The Commander 
 
 of the "Monitor," in order to keep his ves- 
 sel afloat as long as possible, cut the large 
 cable by which she was towed and ran 
 down to the " Rhode Island," which enabled 
 him to use all the pumps. 
 
 Two boats reached the "Monitor" from 
 the "Rhode Island," and the Commander 
 ordered Lieutenant S. Dana Green (who had 
 been flrst-lieutenant during the fight with 
 the "Merrimac") to put as many of the crew 
 in them as they would safely carry. This 
 was a very dangerous operation, and it 
 brought into play that cool courage which is 
 more admirable than that shown in battle. 
 A heavy sea was breaking entirely over the 
 deck and there was great danger of the 
 boats being crushed by the overhang, if not 
 pierced by the sharp prow which was first 
 high above the waves, then completely sub- 
 merged by the crushing billows. The 
 "Rhode Island " herself was in great dan- 
 ger, as she was lying close by and liable at 
 any moment to be struck by the "Moni- 
 tor's " bow. 
 
 THE "MONITOR" LOST IN A GAIE. 
 
 The first two boat-loads safely reached the 
 " Rhode Island" amid the storm and dark- 
 ness, and again returned on their mission 
 of mercy to rescue the remaining persons, 
 the vessel being most difficult to find in the 
 gale. In the meantime the captain and the 
 remnant of his crew retired to the turret 
 and there held on, though several of the 
 men were washed overboard and lost. 
 Fortunately the vessel was on soundings, 
 and the captain gave the order to let go an 
 anchor in hopes it would bring the ' ' Moni- 
 tor's " head to wind, and that the chain 
 would hold her there long enough to get 
 the crew out. At this moment the water 
 was over the ash-pans and increasing 
 rapidly, and the engine-room had to be 
 abandoned. 
 
 Fortunately the " Monitor " came head to 
 wind, when the cable brought her up. By 
 this time the vessel was filling rapidly, the 
 deck was on a line with the water, and all 
 the men left on the turret were ordered bv 
 
414 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the captain to gain the deck and endeavor 
 to reach the two boats that were again ap- 
 proaching. At that time there were twenty- 
 five or thirty men left on board. 
 
 The boats had to approach the "Moni- 
 tor " very carefully. She was as dangerous 
 as a reef of rocks just above the water 
 over which the sea was breaking furiously. 
 Several men were washed overboard in 
 their attempt to reach the boats, and only 
 one of them was picked up. With great 
 difficulty one of the boats succeeded in get- 
 ting into a position where a number of the 
 crew could get into her, but there were 
 several persons still on the turret who 
 would not come down, either being un- 
 manned, or not supposing the vessel would 
 sink so soon. These went down in her. 
 
 The captain had done all a good officer 
 could do to save his vessel and his crew. 
 He had stood at his post like a hero, help- 
 ing the men into the boats, and now finding 
 that he could be of no more use he jumped 
 into the already deeply laden boat and 
 shoved off, the heavy, sluggish motion of 
 the" Monitor" giving evidence that she 
 would soon go down. 
 
 The boats had scarcely reached the 
 "Rhode Island" when the gallant little 
 craft that had done so much to save the 
 honor of the nation, and had by her one 
 battle destroyed the prestige of the best 
 fighting ships in Europe, sank to the bottom, 
 the wild winds howling a requiem over her 
 resting-place! 
 
 While regrets remain that not all her 
 crew were saved (many of whom had served 
 in the fight with the " Merrimac"), it is 
 wonderful, considering the dangerous con- 
 dition of the " Monitor," that so many were 
 rescued. 
 
 In mustering the crew of the " Monitor," 
 on the deck of the "Rhode Island," two 
 officers and twelve men were found to be 
 missing. All honor to their memories ! 
 Two great battles had they fought in a short 
 time, one with the Confederate monster, 
 the other with the wrath of the ocean, and 
 in both cases had they shown that indomita- 
 ble courage and skill which are among the 
 highest attributes of the American sailor. 
 
 There was no instance during the war 
 where greater courage, skill and coolness 
 were exhibited than on this ever-to be-re- 
 membered occasion, and it is due to the 
 officers and men of the ill-fated " Monitor" 
 that this small tribute should be paid them 
 for standing so manfully by the historic 
 vessel which had added some of the greenest 
 laurels to the fame of the American Navy. 
 The position of the vessel on that dark 
 and tempestuous night was enough to appall 
 the stoutest heart, but neither officers nor 
 men quailed before the dangerwhich seemed 
 to cut off all hope of rescue. Lieutenant S. 
 
 Dana Greene and Acting-Master L. N. Stod- 
 der stood by Commander Bankhead to the 
 last, and Acting-Master's Mate Peter Wil- 
 liams, and Richard Anjier, Quartermaster, 
 showed conduct entitling them to all praise. 
 The quartermaster remained at his post 
 until the vessel was sinking, and when or- 
 dered by the captain to get into the boat, 
 said, "No, sir, not until you do so." 
 
 This may seem to be a long and tedious 
 description of an event the like of which 
 happens so often in peace or war, and fre- 
 quently without grave comment ; but the 
 "Monitor" was an historic vessel whose 
 name and fame should be handed down to 
 posterity, and as the memorable event of 
 her great battle is known to almost every 
 school-boy, it is but fitting that the story of 
 her tragical end should be told also. 
 
 One of the boats of the " Rhode Island," 
 which had been successful in taking off a 
 load from the " Monitor," was driven off 
 by the storm and supposed to be lost. 
 Search was made for her all the following 
 day, but without success, and she was given 
 up. But, fortunately, after many perils, she 
 was picked up by the schooner " Colby," 
 of Buckport, Maine, and restored to the 
 steamer "' Rhode Island." The poor fellows 
 in this boat suffered great hardships, and 
 their adventures would form by themselves 
 an interesting chapter of incidents. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Flusser, so prom- 
 inent under the command of Rear-Admiral 
 Goldsborough, continued to hold his repu- 
 tation under Rear-Admiral Lee. He was 
 a terror to the marauding troops of the 
 enemy, who made a note of all his move- 
 ments. 
 
 On December 9th, 1862. he left Plymouth 
 to operate on the Chowan River, leaving the 
 " Southfield," Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant 
 C. F. W. Behm, to protect the place. He 
 had not much more than started when the 
 enemy appeared and commenced a heavy 
 musketry fire from the shore. Lieutenant 
 Behm immediately beat to quarters and 
 trained his guns so as to command the Ply- 
 mouth shore The river-bank was lined with 
 people flying before the Confederates, who 
 were firing alike on friend and foe, and it 
 was difficult for the "Southfield" to open 
 fire, for fear of harming those citizens who 
 had proved themselves friendly and favor- 
 able to the Union cause. The steamer im- 
 mediately got underway and stood up the 
 river where her guns could be Ijrought to 
 bear upon the enemy, who now opened upon 
 her with their artillery, and succeeded in 
 putting a shell through her steam-chest and 
 filling the gangways and hold so full of 
 hot steam that the powder - passers could 
 not get to the magazines. Of course, the 
 "Southfield" could no longer use her guns, 
 and the boats had to be lowered to tow 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 415 
 
 her down the river. In the meantime the 
 enemy committed all the mischief possible 
 and then decamped. 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander Flusser hove in 
 sight a short time after, and taking the 
 " Southfield" in tow returned to Plymouth, 
 where his presence restored confidence and 
 quiet. 
 
 Thus the Confederate marauding parties 
 continued, on every favorable opportunity, 
 to molest the citizens in the sounds of North 
 Carolina, determined that no loyal feeling 
 should exist among them, or, if it did, that 
 the citizens should pay the penalty for their 
 allegiance to the North. The mistake of 
 the Navy Department at that moment was 
 that it did not keep a larger force of ves- 
 sels in the sounds to gain the confidence of 
 the inhabitants and secure them against 
 the raids of the Confederate troops. 
 
 COMMANDEB (ATTEEWAKDS CAPTAIN) J, P. BANKHEAD. 
 
 One of the most energetic of the military 
 commanders in this neighborhood was 
 General J. G. Foster, who was always on 
 the alert to circumvent the enemy in his 
 movements. 
 
 The war in North Carolina was not prose- 
 cuted on a scale that could accomplish any 
 decisive results. The military force in that 
 region was only sufficient to keep down the 
 Confederate raids, which were made with 
 forces consisting of five or six hundred 
 men. These seldom accomplished anything 
 beyond oppressing the inhabitants of towns 
 along the rivers where Federal troops were 
 stationed, covered by the gun-boats. Not- 
 withstanding the apparent insignificance 
 of these small bands, if they could have 
 united they would have driven the Federal 
 troops out of the country. The difficulty of 
 the Confederates was that the naval vessels 
 
 were always at hand, and they had received 
 so many proofs of the effectiveness of their 
 "batteries'" that they seldom attacked the 
 military posts except in the absence of the 
 gun-boats. 
 
 General Foster was fully alive to the value 
 of the naval branch of the forces, and availed 
 himself on all occasions of its services. 
 In December, 1802, he planned an attack 
 upon the Confederate fortifications of Kin- 
 ston and the railroad at or near Golds- 
 borough, and asked the co-operation of the 
 naval flotilla, at that time commanded by 
 Commander A. Murray. 
 
 The following gun-boats were assigned 
 to this expedition: "Delaware," Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant A. P. Foster; "Shaw- 
 sheen," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. C. 
 Woodward; "Lockwood," Acting - Master 
 G. W. Graves ; ' ' Seymour, " Acting-Master F. 
 S.Wells, and the Arnay transports, "Ocean 
 Wave," Major Uliam; "Allison," Gunner, 
 E. A. McDonald, U. S. N.; "Port Royal," 
 Acting-Master G. B. Thompson, U. S. N. ; 
 "Wilson," Captain Rodgers, and "North 
 State," Captain Berry. 
 
 This flotilla left Newbern on the evening 
 of the 12th of December. The "Allison," 
 "Port Royal," "Ocean Wave" and " Wil- 
 son" were in the advance, under Colonel 
 Manchester of the " Marine Artillery," with 
 orders to push ahead and reconnoitre, and 
 in case of an attack, or the discovery of the 
 enemy's batteries, to fallback on the heavier 
 vessels. 
 
 Colonel Manchester, in charge of the mili- 
 tary expedition, anchored his steamers for 
 the night and made preparations to ascend 
 the Neuse River. At daylight next morning 
 he got underway and with great difficulty 
 forced his way up to within two miles of 
 Kinston, meeting with but slight opposition 
 from the guerilla bands which infested that 
 neighborhood, and only losing one man. 
 
 About two miles from Kinston the officers 
 of the vessels, on turning a bend, suddenly 
 found themselves faced by a 10-gun bat- 
 tery, while they were penned within the 
 river with a space of only a hundred feet 
 in which to move their boats. The " Port 
 Royal," Ocean Wave" and "Wilson" were 
 ordered to back out, and the " Allison " was 
 interposed between them and the battery, 
 which now opened a rapid fire. It took 
 some minutes to back the vessels down the 
 river, it was so narrow. The "Allison" 
 replied to the enemy's fire with her Parrott 
 gun, the first fire being within canister 
 range. Three shells were exploded within 
 the enemy's batteries with good effect and 
 the Confederates were silenced. 
 
 It was sunset when the firing commenced, 
 and darkness came on so rapidly that the 
 vessels could hardly see their way, the en- 
 emy's shell exploding around them all the 
 
416 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTUHr 
 
 time. The " Allison " received three shell in 
 her upper works. The vessels dropped be- 
 hind the bend of the river and there anch- 
 ored in double line, hay, beef, bread, etc., 
 being packed along the sides; the guns put 
 in battery ready for service, and bags of 
 oats spread over the decks. In this manner 
 the commander of the expedition waited 
 until daylight, in expectation of an attack 
 from the enemy, who could move about 
 unseen and ascertain where the flotilla was 
 stationed. Several attempts were made at 
 early morn to reconnoitre the position, but 
 the enemy were driven off by the fire of the 
 Federal outposts. 
 
 The active force had to return down the 
 river, owing to the falling water, and half 
 the night was spent in hauling over the 
 steamers that had grounded in the mud. 
 After proceeding about five miles, Colonel 
 Manchester heard of a force concentrating 
 about a mile below, with the intention of 
 disputing his passage. The "North State " 
 was sent ahead to ascertain the enemy's 
 position, while the other vessels followed 
 prepared to shell them out. A mile further 
 on, the flotilla was attacked by sharp- 
 shooters, who kept up a galling fire during 
 the next five miles. 
 
 At a place called Old Dam the enemy had 
 assembled in force, with the intention of 
 obstructing the river, and both banks 
 seemed to be well manned with sharp- 
 shooters. The position of the Confederates 
 was well chosen, as they were enabled 
 to rake the vessels with artillery as they 
 turned the river-bend. The steamers now 
 underwent a running fire from unseen foes, 
 to which they answered as best they could 
 with grape and canister, and with such good 
 effect that the last gun - boat could find 
 nothing to fire at. The distance of the gun- 
 boats was from one to two hundred feet 
 from the Confederates and their guns did 
 serious injury to them. 
 
 The vessels were much shattered by shot 
 and falling trees, but by good luck and good 
 management they worked their way out of 
 the net in which they had injudiciously be- 
 come entangled. Yet these were the services 
 in which both Army and Navy were called 
 upon frequently to embark, where, in nine 
 out of ten times, the loss and capture of the 
 expedition might have been counted upon. 
 Fortunately, in this expedition, only two 
 men were killed and six wounded. 
 
 Commander Murray says, in his report : 
 "This expedition was partially strategic 
 and was very successful. The attack on 
 the batteries and the falling-back of the 
 light boats, the shelling of the woods, and 
 the feint to land a force on the north bank, 
 had the desired effect." [!] 
 
 What the desired effect was, history does 
 not say, and it seems to the writer that this 
 
 was simply an expedition where men's lives 
 were sacrificed without any apparent good. 
 The Army was frittering away its forces in 
 these small attempts to score a point, while 
 the true course to pursue would have been 
 to concentrate all the troops, drive the en- 
 emy out of the State of North Carolina, 
 tear up the railroads leading to Richmond, 
 and destroy all the means of subsisting an 
 army in the State. 
 
 Though it may have been said that the 
 Federals held North Carolina, yet it was by 
 a most precarious tenure; and this section, 
 which should in the beginning have been 
 completely conquered, remained simply a 
 skirmishing - ground for the contending 
 forces throughout the war. 
 
 On January 5th the indefatigable Lieu- 
 tenant Cushirig started on an expedition to 
 capture some Wilmington pilots, and hav- 
 ing heard that there was a pilot station at 
 "Little River," thirty miles below Fort 
 Caswell, he made sail for that point, and 
 reached it on the morning of January 5th, 
 1863. He crossed the bar at S o'clock at 
 night with twenty-five men, in three cut- 
 ters, and proceeded up the river. He was 
 in hopes of finding pilots above and also 
 some schooners. 
 
 About a mile from the mouth of the river 
 the expedition received a volley of mus- 
 ketry from a bluff on the left. Cushing 
 beached his boats the moment he was fired 
 upon, without returning the fire, and formed 
 his men about 200 yards from the point of 
 attack, and gave the order : •' Forward — 
 double-quick — charge .'" 
 
 The fearless fellow never stopped to con- 
 sider whether he was charging fifty men or 
 a thousand. It seemed immaterial to him, 
 when his blood was up. how many of the 
 enemy faced him: and his men. inspired by 
 his intrepid example, followed him without 
 hesitation. 
 
 There was a wood in front of the charg- 
 ing party, through which they passed, and 
 on getting into the clearing Cushing found 
 himself before a fort plainly to be seen by 
 the light of the camp-fires, which were 
 burning freely. Knowing- that the enemy 
 were ignorant of his numbers, he charged 
 with the bayonet, giving three cheers, and 
 as he went over one side of the works the 
 enemy went out of the other. 
 
 The fort was an earthwork surrounded 
 by a ditch ten feet wide and five deep, with 
 a block-house inside pierced for musketry. 
 No guns were mounted on the work. If 
 tliere had been, the daring and impetuosity 
 of the attack would have captured them. 
 The enemy left in such haste that all their 
 clothes, amnrunition, stores, and the larger 
 portion of their arms were left in the hands 
 of the sailors, and all that could not be 
 brought away was destroyed. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 417 
 
 Notwithstanding that there was a possi- 
 l)ility of the enemy returning with increased 
 numbers, Gushing pushed on up the river, 
 where he met another party of Confeder- 
 ates, and a skirmish took place in which 
 the sailors used up all their ammunition 
 and had to return to their boats, with only 
 the loss of one man. 
 
 This was not an important affair, but it is 
 selected as showing the indomitable cour- 
 age of a young officer who received a share 
 of honor during the war that seldom falls 
 to the lot of one holding so subordinate a 
 position; his performances in the face of 
 the enemy had already attracted the notice 
 of his commander; and, finally, the Govern- 
 ment, having confidence in his valor and 
 judgment, intrusted him with duties of a 
 hazardous character, which he always per- 
 formed with credit to himself. 
 
 Not to be outdone by Gushing, that gal- 
 lant and efficient officer, Lieutenant-Gom- 
 mander Flusser, started on the 29th of 
 January for Jamesville, hearing that a 
 regiment of Confederates were fortifying 
 that place, it being one of the best points on 
 the river for annoying the gun-boats; and 
 was too important a position and too near 
 Plymouth to allow the enemy to hold it. 
 
 On the 30th, Flusser took on board his 
 vessel (the " Gommodore Perry ") fifty sol- 
 diers of the 37th Massachusetts, under Cap- 
 tain Sanford, landed them at Hertford with 
 about ninety sailors, marched into the coun- 
 try eight or ten miles, destroyed two bridges 
 over the Purquimenous River, and returned 
 that same night to Plymouth. Thus was 
 cut off one of the mieans by which the enemy 
 had supplied themselves with goods from 
 Norfolk and Richmond, by the south side 
 of the Chowan River, enabling the Navy 
 to guard that ford with a gun-boat; for a 
 large amount of contraband traffic had 
 been carried on from the Albemarle Sound 
 and its rivers by means of small boats 
 which kept along the shore and could slip 
 into the small creeks if a gun-boat hove in 
 sight. 
 
 These little expeditions, though not very 
 damaging to the enemy, showed the spirit 
 of the naval officers and their determina- 
 tion to give the enemy no rest. 
 
 On the 14th of March, 1863, the Confed- 
 erates made an attack on Fort Anderson, a 
 work built by the Union troops opposite 
 Newbern, and occupied by a regiment of 
 volunteers. The enemy bombarded the 
 works with field-pieces, and kept up the 
 fire all night. In the morning they made 
 a spirited attack in force, with masked bat- 
 teries on the right. The gun-boat " Hunch- 
 back" and an armed schooner were brought 
 up to strengthen the Federal position; when 
 Lieutenant-Commander McCann, bringing 
 his batteries to bear, and keeping up a well- 
 
 directed fire, with the aid of the schooner, 
 silenced the enemy's guns. 
 
 There was an intermission of an hour on 
 the enemy's part, who made a demand for 
 the surrender of the fort; but this was evi- 
 dently to give them time to bring up more 
 guns. (The fort had no guns mounted.) 
 Perceiving that their demand received no 
 attention, they brought up fourteen more 
 guns and renewed the attack, the " Hunch- 
 back" and armed schooner throwing in 
 their shells until the enemy drew off. 
 Before doing so, they were attacked by the 
 gun-boats "Hetzel" and "Shawsheen," 
 which vessels, being in a disabled condi- 
 tion, had to be towed into action by tugs. 
 
 The firing of the Federal vessels was ex- 
 cellent, and so well aimed were their guns 
 that the enemy was unable to use his artil- 
 lery with much effect. The " Hunchback " 
 was only struck twice, but the schooner was 
 placed in a sinking condition. 
 
 Had it not been for the prompt assistance 
 rendered to Fort Anderson by the gun boats, 
 it would certainly have fallen into the ene- 
 my's hands. From the fact that the Army 
 undertook to hold several places with skele- 
 ton regiments and few or no guns, it re- 
 quired the utmost watchfulness on the part 
 of the Navy to prevent disastrous results. 
 
 This affair was a surprise on the part of 
 the Confederates, for which the Union 
 troops were not at all prepared, and they 
 thanked their stars that so watchful a 
 friend as the Navy was at hand to succor 
 them in their hour of need. The Army 
 were not unmindful of the service rendered 
 by the Navy on this occasion, and their 
 feeling of gratitude is well expressed by 
 Colonel J. C. Belknap, as follows: 
 
 Headquarters First Brioade, 
 
 WBSSEiy's Division, 
 Newbern, N. C, March 15, 1863. , 
 Commodore— When, on the 14th of March, 1863, 
 General Pettigrew, with eighteen pieces of artillery 
 and over three thousand men, made his furious 
 assault on Fort Anderson, an unfinished earth-work 
 garrisoned by three hundred men of my command 
 (the 92d New York Volunteers \ the capture or 
 destruction of the brave little band seemed inevit- 
 able, but the gun-boats under your command, the 
 pride of loyal men and the terror of traitors, came 
 promptly to the rescue. 
 
 Your well-directed lire drove the enemy from the 
 field, covered the landing of the 85th New York, 
 sent to the relief of the garrison, and the repulse of 
 the rebel army was complete. 
 
 Allow me, Commodore, in the name of the officers 
 and members of my command, to express to you 
 my admiration for the promptitude and skill dis- 
 played by your command on that occasion. 
 The Army is proud of the Navy. 
 I remain your most obedient, 
 
 J. C. Belknap, 
 Colonel 85th Regiment, New York Volunteers, 
 Commanding 1st Brigade. 
 ■ Commander Davenport, 
 Newbern, N. C. 
 
 The steamer "Hetzel" committed great 
 
418 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 havoc among the enemy on this occasion 
 by the accuracy of her fire. One of her 
 shells struck a Parrott gun and destroyed 
 it.; bursting, it killed a number of the 
 enemy, scattering their bones and frag- 
 ments of their clothing over the ground. 
 
 The army on the Newbern side of the 
 river had to be lookers-on during this fight, 
 and could give no assistance to their com- 
 rades, consequently it v?as altogether a 
 naval affair; but no one doubted what the 
 result would be when they saw the rapidity 
 and accuracy of the naval fire. In this 
 action the revenue-cutter "Agassiz" also 
 took part at close quarters, embarrassing 
 the enemy in his retreat. 
 
 As the enemy retreated, the gun-boats 
 " Lockwood" and "Allison" hung upon his 
 rear for ten miles up the river, inflicting 
 severe punishment; all these gun-boats, be 
 it understood, being flimsy vessels, that 
 could not encounter a naoderate gale of 
 wind at sea without danger of foundering. 
 
 This was one of the most gallant affairs 
 that had occurred in the North Atlantic 
 squadron since Rear - Admiral Lee took 
 command, and was an instance of how 
 necessary was the aid which the Navy 
 stood always ready to afford the other 
 branch of the service. Moreover, it was 
 not an assistance that was sought by the 
 Army, but one which the Navy anticipated 
 by being on hand at the right moment. 
 
 In April the Confederates seemed to be 
 making more zealous efforts to obtain a 
 firm footing in North Carolina, and the naval 
 oificer in command of the Sounds urged the 
 commander of the North Atlantic squad- 
 ron to increase liis flotilla, suggesting that, 
 if the Army also was not re-enforced, that 
 the Union forces would be driven out of the 
 State. 
 
 The policy of keeping small detachments 
 of troops at the different towns on the 
 rivers, with the gun-boats to look after 
 them, had no permanent effect towards 
 bringing the State under subjection, for the 
 roving bands of Confederates were ever on 
 the alert to gain some advantage over the 
 Union forces, which may be said to have 
 been kept penned up under the protection 
 of the gun boats. 
 
 About the same time the enemy seemed 
 to be making a move upon Williamsburg, 
 Va., and on the morning of April lltli they 
 attacked that place, and commenced con- 
 centrating a heavy force on Fort Magruder, 
 which was not far from Williamsburg. 
 
 Gun-boats were immediately required by 
 the Army to move up and down between 
 Yorktown and Queen's Creek, and also to 
 lie near Jamestown Island. Every effort 
 was made to comply with the demands 
 made upon the Navy, and on an announce- 
 ment being made to Rear- Admiral Lee by 
 
 General Peck that the enemy were advan- 
 cing in an attempt to surround the Federal 
 forces at Suffolk, the Admiral dispatched 
 the following vessels under the command 
 of Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, with instruc- 
 tions to occupy the Nansemond River be- 
 tween Suffolk and the bar, at the mouth of 
 the western branch, and to render all pos- 
 sible assistance to the Army: 
 
 "Mount Washington" (river steamer), 
 with a 30 pounder Parrott, 3 howitzers, and 
 a detachment from the " Minnesota." 
 
 "Cohasset" (tug), 20-pounder Parrott and 
 a 34-pound howitzer. 
 
 "Alert" (tug), one 12 and one 34-pound 
 howitzer. 
 
 "Stepping Stones" (light ferry-boat), with 
 a battery ot howitzers. 
 
 The " Commodore Barney," Lieutenant W. 
 B. Cushing, was also detached from other 
 duty and sent to Jamestown Island. 
 
 COMMANDER (ATTEEWARDS EEAE-ADMIRAI.) STEPHEN D. 
 TRENCHAKD. 
 
 The above list of vessels will show to 
 what shifts the Navy was put to meet the 
 calls made upon it by the Army. Gun-boats 
 were called for everywhere, and these de- 
 mands were more than the naval com- 
 mander could comply with. 
 
 On the 11th, Major-General Keyes tele- 
 graphed that the Federal troops in the 
 neighborhood of Williamsburg were being 
 driven by a large force of Confederates 
 down towards the mouth of Queen's Creek, 
 and that, if a large force of gun-boats was 
 not sent to Yorktown, even Yorktown itself 
 might fall. « The "Commodore Morris" (the 
 only available vessel) was sent immediately 
 to the York River to co-operate with the 
 "Crusader," then there. 
 
 Any one can imagine the embarrassment 
 the commander-in-chief laboredunder to sat- 
 isfy all these demands, first in the Sounds, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 419 
 
 then on the Nansemond, James, or York 
 rivers. After all, most of these gun-boats 
 were merely improvised for the occasion, 
 and the Army transports, armed with field- 
 artillery, would have answered the same 
 purpose. But the soldiers were not used to 
 managing steamers up the narrow streams 
 or handling guns behind the frail bulwarks 
 of wooden gun-boats. Only sailors could do 
 that kind of work, and the Army were only 
 too glad to have them do it. 
 
 During the demonstrations made by the 
 enemy on this occasion there was much 
 hard service performed, frequent attacks 
 from and repulses of the enemy. Some 
 clever young officers were employed in this 
 service, among them Lieutenant Lamson 
 and the indomitable Gushing — both brave, 
 energetic men — Lamson with the capacity 
 of one older and more experienced, and 
 Gushing with dash and vigor never ex- 
 ceeded. Lamson especially distinguished 
 himself by planning, and with the co-oper- 
 ation of troops under Brigadier-General 
 Getty, effecting the capture of five guns 
 and 130 men on Hill's Point. This position 
 commanded the communication between 
 the Upper and Lower Nansemond, and the 
 Gonfederates had, from it, greatly harassed 
 the flotilla. Here Lamson captured a 34- 
 pound howitzer and the sword of the Con- 
 federate commander. 
 
 Lieutenant Gushing again, on this occa- 
 sion, exhibited those high qualities which 
 he was known to possess in so remarkable 
 a degree, being in a fight of some kind from 
 the time the expedition came in sight of the 
 enemy until the latter retreated. 
 
 The enemy's forces were under the com- 
 mand of General Longstreet, a brave and 
 able officer, who with 10,000 men on the left 
 bank of the river and a large force on the 
 right bank, including strong field and siege 
 batteries, was attempting to combine his 
 forces and surround General Peck at 
 Suffolk. 
 
 It was Gushing who prevented the Gonfed- 
 erates from crossing the river, and kept up 
 the communication with the Union troops. 
 The enemy were given no rest by the flotilla. 
 They were frequently driven from their rifle- 
 pits, but continually returned to them with 
 indomitable courage whenever the flre of 
 the gun-boats slackened for a moment. 
 
 While Gushing was operating with his 
 vessel, he also kept pickets on shore to pre- 
 vent a surprise, and a party of these men 
 captured the engineer-in-chief on the staff 
 of the Gonfederate General French, who 
 had come down near the gun-boats with the 
 intention of locating batteries. 
 
 General Peck and General Getty both re- 
 lied very much on the aid of the Navy in 
 repulsina: the Confederate attack on Suffolk, 
 
 -1^1 
 
 „1„ ,* ]^U*-^^ +^+1-.,- 
 
 ^flR«^« 
 
 and men of the vessels for the hearty co- 
 operation which they afforded, either by 
 scattering the enemy with their guns or 
 carrying the batteries on shore by assault. 
 This latter work was done on several occa- 
 sions in the most handsome manner, the 
 assaulting party being always led by Lieu- 
 tenant Lamson. General Getty, that brave 
 old soldier, who never failed to acknowl- 
 edge merit when it came under his notice, 
 was profuse in his acknowledgments of 
 Lieutenant Lamson's conduct in the man- 
 agement of the flotilla. 
 
 It would require too long an account to 
 tell the whole story of this expedition, where 
 fighting was carried on from the 12th of 
 April to the 23d, where the sailors took their 
 share of the fighting on shore, and where 
 the gun-boats, under the incessant fire of 
 the enemy, were nearly knocked to pieces. 
 
 But General Getty shall speak for him- 
 self. On April 20th he writes as follows: 
 
 Headquarters, 3d Division, 9th Corps, ) 
 U. S. 8. "Stepping Stones," \ 
 Nansemond River, April 20th, 1863. ) 
 Admiral, : 
 
 I beg to express my most sincere thanks to Cap- 
 tain Lamson, U. S. N., his officers and crews, for 
 the gallantry, energy and ability displayed by them 
 in the operations of yesterday, restilting in the cap- 
 ture of one of the enemy's batteries of five guns, on 
 the west side of the Nansemond, and a number of 
 prisoners. 
 All did their duty most handsomely. 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 George W. Gettt, 
 BHgadier-&eneral, U. 8. Volunteers. 
 Rear-Admiral Lee. 
 
 Also the following letters: 
 
 u. s. grun-boat "stepping stones," , 
 Sleepy Hole Landing, 
 Nansemond River, AprU 31st, 1863. 
 Admiral : 
 
 I have again to express my obligation to Lieuten- 
 ant R. H. Lamson, commanding gun-boats in upper 
 Nansemond, for the admirable disposition of gun- 
 boats during the withdrawal of the troops, etc., last 
 night, from Hill's Point, and for the efficient aid ren- 
 dered by him, his officers and crews in effecting the 
 withdrawal, which was successfully aecomphshed, 
 the last man having recrossed the river at 12 o'clock . 
 All was aecomphshed without confusion or acci- 
 dent. 
 
 The artillery, trophies, material, etc., have been 
 landed from the " Stepping Stones " at this point, 
 and are now on the way to Suffolk. 
 
 The prisoners were landed on the right bank of 
 the Nansemond immediately after the battery was 
 carried, and sent to Suffolk. 
 I remain. Admiral, etc., etc., 
 
 George W. Getty, 
 
 Brigadier-General, etc. 
 To Rear-Admiral Lee, etc., etc. 
 
 Headquarters 3d Division, 9th Corps, ) 
 In the Field, \ 
 
 Nansemond River, April 29th, 1863. ) 
 Admiral : 
 
 1 deem it proper to state that all the arrange- 
 ments made by Captain Lamson, U. S. N., com- 
 manding gun-boats in the upper Nansemond 
 during the operations of the 19th and 20th instants, 
 
 '1 
 
 3. i 
 
420 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 The conduct of Captain Lamson, his officers and 
 men, was bold and gallant in the extreme. 
 I remain, Admiral, etc., 
 
 George W. Getty, 
 Brigadier-Oeneral, Commanding. 
 
 Rbar-Admibal S. p. Lek, etc., etc. 
 
 The operations to which these brief let- 
 ters alluded were those which took place 
 between April 12th and April 23d, in which 
 Lieutenant Lamson, commander of a small 
 flotilla, co-operated with Generals Peck 
 and Getty for the protection of Suffolk, 
 Virginia. 
 
 During this time the fighting was hard 
 and incessant, and but for the aid of the 
 naval force Suffolk would, without doubt, 
 have fallen into the hands of General Long- 
 street, who, with a large army, attempted 
 unsuccessfully to cross the river and sur- 
 round the Union works. 
 
 That little fleet of gun -boats was under 
 a constant fire for days without once flinch- 
 ing from the post of duty. Often ground- 
 ing while under a heavy pelting from the 
 enemy's field-pieces (which seemed to know 
 no fatigue), they were almost cut to pieces. 
 The commander expressed it, in his modest 
 way, when he on one occasion said: "The 
 enemy soon obtained our range, and his 
 artillery told with fearful effect on the 
 timbers and machinery of these lightly- 
 built vessels." But his reports all end with 
 a cheering account of having silenced the 
 enemy's batteries, and scattered the sharp- 
 shooters. 
 
 One who knows anything about such 
 matters can imagine what targets these 
 quasi gun-boats must have been to Long- 
 street's well -trained gunners, and how 
 hardly pummelled these veterans must 
 have been, when they were obliged to re- 
 treat again and again before the well- 
 directed fire of these "paper-clad" vessels. 
 
 The Confederate artillery was no sooner 
 silenced in one position than it opened from 
 another upon the vessels, which had not 
 the option of choosing their position in 
 these narrow rivers. At times they would 
 lie in the mud, bow on to the enemy, who 
 was too intelligent not to take advantage 
 of their apparently helpless condition. But, 
 with a brave energy that never flagged, 
 Lamson would hoist his guns to the upper 
 or hurricane deck, without considering 
 whether the deck would bear their weight, 
 and open fire upon the enemy until they 
 were driven off. 
 
 The guns so mounted were often struck 
 by the expert artillerymen of the enemy, 
 and the decks were plowed up by their 
 shot and shell; but the gun-boats never 
 gave in, and only changed their positions 
 for the purpose of bringing more guns to 
 bear. 
 
 The Confederates would yell with delight 
 when they could get one of the larger ves- 
 
 sels, like the "Mount Vernon," f ast_ in the 
 mud, where they could bring all their artil- 
 lery and sharpshooters to bear on her; but 
 the " Stepping Stones," or some other spir- 
 ited little craft, would get alongside, and tow 
 her into deeper water, and receive without 
 flinching the shot and shell intended for 
 her helpless companion. 
 
 General Getty might well say that the 
 officers and men did their duty. From such 
 a liberal old soldier, as he was, this was 
 but faint praise. It may be that the Army 
 commanders considered brevity to be a vir- 
 tue when dealing with such matters, for, 
 as a rule, the Army was not eulogistic of 
 the Navy at any time during the war. We 
 should not attach much importance to the 
 mere brevity of these dispatches, for some- 
 times much may be expressed in a very 
 few words; but the "Eecords of the War" 
 show to-day that, on almost all occasions 
 where the Army and Navy co-operated, the 
 reports of army operations were very volu- 
 minous, and even concerning points which 
 could not have been held except by the guns 
 of the Navy, the Army came in for the 
 largest share of praise. 
 
 An affair which occurred on the 14th of 
 April in the Nansemond River, where Lieu- 
 tenant Lamson in the "Mount Washing- 
 ton," and Acting-Master T. A. ^Harris in 
 the "Stepping Stones," fought the enemy's 
 batteries for six hours under the most ad- 
 verse circumstances, was one of the most 
 gallant affairs of the "war. 
 
 The reports of these actions are long and 
 voluminous, and only a condensation of 
 them can be given in this history. But 
 they can all be found in the Report of the 
 Secretary of the Navy for 1863, where may 
 be seen the most faithful and interesting 
 account of these events that has yet been 
 written ; in fact, a better story of the doings 
 of the Navy throughout the war is given in 
 these official reports than any historian can 
 ever compile. They were written by the 
 men who did the work; and who can so well 
 describe, not only the acts that were done, 
 but the motives that inspired them? 
 
 Now and then a paragraph forcibly strikes 
 our attention, and, though it lengthens this 
 work beyond bounds, we cannot leave it 
 out. On the Uth, when the " Mount Wash- 
 ington" was fighting her way out of the 
 mud, and was getting out hawsers to bring 
 her broadside to bear, Lamson says: 
 
 * * * The hawser slipped, and the channel 
 being so narrow, she was obliged to run down some 
 distance before she could turn, when the enemv's 
 artillery was again turned on the "Mount Wash- 
 ington." Captain Harris soon ran up to me again, 
 and I was towed out of the enemy's range. The 
 "Barney " still remained engaging the enemy, and 
 continued to fire till their artillery ceased and with- 
 drew. 
 
 Towards the close of the action the "Mount 
 Washington's " flag-staff was shot away even with 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 421 
 
 the upper deck, when Mr. Birtwistle and seaman 
 Thielberg assisted me to haul it up out of the water 
 by the ensign halliards, raise it, and lash it along- 
 side the stump. 
 
 And further— 
 
 I cannot find words to express my admiration of 
 the courageous conduct of my officers and men, who 
 fought the guns for six hours, aground in a disa- 
 bled vessel, under such a fire of artillery and mus- 
 ketry, and who did not flinch even from working a 
 gun on the open hurricane deck, or from going out 
 in boats to carry hawsers. I wish through you to 
 express my thanks to Captain Haynes, of the 
 "Mount Washington," and his executive officer, Mr. 
 Griffith, who nobly refused to leave the vessel when 
 his crew were sent away, and who rendered the 
 most valuable assistance during the action. 
 
 Master's - Mate Birtwistle, of the "Minnesota," 
 behaved in the most gallant manner, and I respect- 
 fully recommend him to you as a most brave and 
 efficient officer. 
 
 There was much heroic conduct displayed 
 on this occasion: 
 
 A seaman, Joachim Sylvia, was instantly killed 
 and knocked overboard by a shell from the enemy, 
 when Samuel Woods, captain of the gun, jumped 
 overboard to rescue the body, but, before he reached 
 it, it sank to rise no more. This gallant seaman 
 then swam back to the vessel, went again to his 
 gun, and fought it to the close of the action, in a 
 manner that attracted the attention of every one. 
 
 How many noble acts of this kind occur 
 in war without any notice being taken of 
 them ! The smaller glories are swallowed 
 up by the greater and apparently more 
 brilliant events, while, if the aggregate 
 minor affairs were summed up, they would 
 show an amount of gallantry far outweigh- 
 ing that of some of the grandest sea-fights. 
 
 We would gladly chronicle all these Tittle 
 events, but our space will not permit it. It 
 is seldom that the sailors, who are so much 
 exposed, have their nanaes handed down in 
 history, and it is a mistake commanders of 
 vessels commit in failing to notice the gal- 
 lant tars who, in all the wars which the 
 United States has had with foreign nations, 
 have performed acts of heroism that could 
 not be excelled by the bravest officers. 
 
 Lieutenant Lamson shows a praiseworthy 
 example by commending the deeds of his 
 gallant sailors as well as those of his offi- 
 cers. Henry Thielberg, Eobert Jourdan 
 and John Sullivan, seamen; Robert Woods, 
 boatswain's-mate; Quartermaster De Lunn; 
 Third - Assistant Engineer, John Healey; 
 William Jackson and James Lody (both 
 colored), are all handsomely spoken of. 
 They, no doubt, received medals (the high- 
 est reward a sailor can aspire to), but let 
 their names go down in history as part of 
 the gallant band who so nobly sustained 
 the reputation of the Navy on April 14th, 
 1863, the anniversary of the day when 
 Sumter, battered and torn, had to lower 
 her flag to those who gave the first stab to 
 our free institutions. 
 
 Another one of the events of this expe- 
 dition, which General Getty alludes to, oc- 
 
 curred on April 19th, when Lieutenant Lam- 
 son received on board the ' ' Stepping Stones" 
 a portion of the 89th New York Volunteers, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel England, and the 
 8th Connecticut, under Colonel Ward, the 
 whole consisting of 300 men. Lieutenant 
 Lamson had four 13-pound howitzers ready 
 for landing, manned by sailors. 
 
 Near 6 o'clock a. m., at a preconcerted 
 signal from the steam-whistle, a heavy fire 
 was opened from all the gun-boats on the 
 Confederate batteries, and from General 
 Getty's two batteries on Colham's Point, 
 opposite, under Captains Morris and 
 Valler, U. S. A. 
 
 When all was in position, Lamson steamed 
 slowly down the river, as if about to run 
 the batteries (which he had done several 
 times before), until he got nearly abreast of 
 the enemy's works, when he signalled to 
 the gun -boats and Federal batteries to 
 cease firing, and putting his helm hard-a- 
 starboard, ran into the bank immediately 
 under the upper end of the enemy's works, 
 and so close to them that the Confederates 
 could not bring a gun to bear. The screens 
 that had been used to hide the troops were 
 triced up, gang-planks were launched, and 
 with a cheer from all the boats and Union 
 batteries the 89th New York rushed ashore, 
 followed by the naval howitzer-battery and 
 the 8th Connecticut. 
 
 The Confederate works consisted of two 
 lines, with an impassable ravine between 
 them. The Federal troops carried the first 
 line at once, but while the 89th New York 
 were running around the head of the ravine, 
 the enemy swung round some of their guns, 
 and poured a charge of grape into the 
 assaulting party, which was immediately 
 answered by a discharge of canister from 
 the naval battery, that had been judi- 
 ciously planted on the crest of the ravine, 
 overlooking the inner line of defences. The 
 brave 89th were into the works by this 
 time, and the Confederates did not fire 
 another shot. 
 
 The victory was a complete one. The 
 Federals captured 161 prisoners and 5 
 pieces of artillery (13 and 24 pound field- 
 guns, captured by the Confederates at 
 Harper's Ferry or from Western Virginia), 
 with a large amount of ammunition. Not 
 a Confederate escaped. 
 
 Owing to the decisive charge made upon 
 the enemy and the fortunate position occu- 
 pied by the naval battery, the loss to the 
 Federal side was small ; but never was 
 there a better commanded affair, and Lam- 
 son gives due credit to those of his officers 
 and men who were engaged in it. 
 
 Though the work of the Navy in this 
 affair is lightly spoken of by the Army 
 authorities, the Secretary of the Navy saw 
 in it something worth noticing, and he 
 
422 
 
 THE NAVAL Hl^TUKr 
 
 issued the following communication, which 
 in part repaid Lieutenant Lamson for the 
 hard work he had performed throughout 
 the campaign: 
 
 Navy Department, April 4, 1863. 
 
 Sib— Your recent important and meritorious ser- 
 vices on the upper Nansemond deserve the special 
 commendation of the Department. The ability 
 displayed In the discharge of the important and 
 responsible duties which devolved on the naval 
 force during the late demonstration of the enemy 
 reflected the greatest credit upon yourself and the 
 officers and men under your command. Their zeal 
 and courage in the hazardous positions in which 
 they were placed have not failed to receive the 
 approbation of both the naval and military 
 authorities. 
 
 General Getty, with whom you have been co- 
 operating, has expressed his obligations to you and 
 your command for gallantry and energy displayed, 
 especially in the capture of a rebel battery on the 
 Nansemond, and for valuable assistance rendered 
 to him during his operations in repelling the enemy ; 
 and your immediate commanding officer. Acting 
 Rear-Admiral Lee, has reported in terms of admira- 
 tion of your discretion and valor. 
 
 The Department congratulates you on your suc- 
 cess, and is proud to see in the younger members of 
 the corps such evidence of energy and gallantry 
 and execution and ability, scarcely surpassed by 
 those of more age and experience. 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Gushing also came in for a share of com- 
 mendation for his success on the Nanse- 
 mond, and Secretary Welles was no less 
 enthusiastic in his praise than in the case 
 of Lieutenant Lamson: 
 
 Navy Department, May 4, 1863. 
 
 Sir — Your gallantry and meritorious services 
 during the recent demonstrations of the enemy on 
 the Nansemond, and in co-operating with the 
 Army, are entitled to the especial notice and com- 
 mendation of the Department. Tour conduct on 
 this occasion adds additional lustre to the character 
 you had already established for valor m the face of 
 the enemy. 
 
 The energy and ability displayed by yourself and 
 the officers and men under your command in defence 
 of the lower Nansemond are most creditable, and 
 are appreciated by the Department. 
 
 The Department desires to express to you more 
 especially its admiration of your gallantry and en- 
 terprise, in conducting an important armed recon- 
 naissance with a party from the gun-boats, some 
 miles into the enemy's country to the village of 
 Chuckatuck, and putting to flight a party of the 
 enemy's cavalry, and safely returning to your vessel. 
 
 Accept my congratulations for yourself and the 
 officers and men who were under your command. 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, 
 
 Commanding Steamer "Commodore Barney. ^^ 
 
 These were very complimentary words, and 
 should have made these officers proud of the 
 distinction that had been shown them — dis- 
 tinctions superior even to those received by 
 officers who had commanded fleets and per- 
 formed services that hadamost decisive bear- 
 ing on the war. Without doubt, these young 
 officers deserved all that was said of them, 
 and their performances in after service show 
 that the commendations were not misplaced. 
 
 The result of this expedition was the re- 
 pulse of the enemy and the security of the 
 Federal forces in the intrenched works at 
 Suffolk. But this was not war on a grand 
 scale, such as should have been inaugurated 
 by the Federal Government at that time, 
 when its troops were almost numberless, 
 and great armies were posted from Wash- 
 ington to Missouri. These little skirmishes 
 and reconnaissances had no material effect 
 upon the war. It was a great waste of men 
 on shore and a great destruction of gun- 
 boats afloat. 
 
 It was quite evident to those who could 
 judge, that, under such a system as the Gov- 
 ernment was pursuing, the war must lan- 
 guish for want of one efficient leader, who 
 could arrange and direct the great armies 
 which were scattered from one end of the 
 States to the other, without apparently 
 working for one common object. These 
 comparatively small demonstrations had 
 no actual value beyond making the troops 
 familiar with the duties of soldiers in the 
 field, and the establishment of positions at 
 places like Sufliolk (which they could not 
 liold without a force of improvised gun- 
 boats carrying the heaviest guns) gave evi- 
 dence that the art of war had not progressed 
 much, in 1863, when such small operations 
 were held in such high estimation. There 
 was a great waste of military force, and in 
 most cases waste of time, frequently with- 
 out any effect (one way or the other), beyond 
 demonstrating the zeal, energy and courage 
 of the two arms of the service. 
 
 If one good-sized army had been stationed 
 upon the Peninsula, its lines gradually clos- 
 ing in the direction of Eichmond, with its 
 centre resting upon the principal river, as it 
 advanced, and covered by a large flotilla of 
 well-constructed gun-boats, all the rivers in 
 that part of Virginia would have been so 
 completely under the Federal control that 
 the Confederates would have had no oppor- 
 tunity to keep up their incessant raids, 
 which seemed to keep the Army and Navy 
 in a continual state of excitement. 
 
 Ill some cases the Army had hardly got 
 possession of some point and made them- 
 selves warm in it, when the strategy of 
 war turned it over to the hands of the Con- 
 federates, who would erect batteries after 
 their mode of defence, and then abandon 
 it in as summary a manner as the Federals 
 had done before them. The same course 
 seems to have been taken in Virginia as 
 was tried in North Carolina — small bodies 
 of men detailed to hold prominent positions, 
 with a few ill - built and worse - equipped 
 gun-boats to protect them. 
 
 There was no want of activity, courage 
 and zeal on the part of the officers of the 
 North Atlantic squadron, but there was so 
 small a field of operations, with the excep- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 433 
 
 tion of such as has been mentioned, that 
 the oflScers and men had not the same op- 
 portunity for distinction as was enjoyed on 
 other stations; though in war the true 
 secret is to make the opportunity. It is 
 what seldom comes to any one. It must be 
 sought for, and though it is a shy spirit, not 
 easily wooed and won, yet it puts itself in 
 the way of those who are determined to 
 pursue and overtake it in spite of all obsta- 
 cles. The proof of this was demonstrated 
 in the case of Lieutenants Lamson and 
 Cushing, two daring young fellows, who 
 lost no opportunity of bringing their names 
 before the Navy Department, and who were 
 as well known in the Navy as the most 
 successful commanders of fleets. 
 
 A great many of the vessels of the North 
 Atlantic squadron were employed in the 
 blockade of the coast from the mouth of the 
 Chesapeake to below Cape Fear shoals. 
 The Cape Fear Eiver had (since the com- 
 plete blockade of Charleston) become the 
 principal ground for blockade-runners, that 
 river having two entrances, by either of 
 which blockade-runners could enter, pro- 
 tected by Fort Caswell on the south side 
 of Cape Fear, and by strong earth-works 
 (which finally grew to be Fort Fisher) on 
 the north side. 
 
 Many reports are made of the capture or 
 destruction of blockade-runners, and in 
 chasing up these vessels great activity was 
 displayed. On the 6th of May, Lieutenant- 
 Commander Braine reports a boat expedi- 
 tion from the steamer "Monticello" and the 
 mortar schooner "Matthew Vassar" (Act- 
 ing-Master L. A. Brown), mentioning the 
 destruction of one of the vessels in Morrell's 
 Inlet, an English schooner called the 
 "Golden Liner," of Halifax, with a large 
 cargo, and also the burning of two large 
 store-houses. Destruction of this kind of 
 property always caused serious loss to the 
 enemy, and it could not be replaced. 
 
 On May 2?th, Rear- Admiral Lee reports 
 the operations in the sounds of North Car- 
 olina. It appears that the Confederates 
 had invested Washington, on the Pamlico 
 Hiver, which investment lasted eighteen 
 days, and after a fruitless effort to take the 
 place (which would have been of no use to 
 them if they had succeeded), the enemy re- 
 tired on the 15th of April. 
 
 Washington, N. C, had been pretty ex- 
 tensively fortified by the Confederates 
 while they held it, but they had been driven 
 away from it by the Federal forces. 
 
 On the morning of March 31st the ene- 
 my appeared in force, and took possession 
 of their old works (seven miles below the 
 town), which had been built to cut off the 
 water communication. The "Commodore 
 Hull " and " Louisiana " (two light-built and 
 vulnerable gun-boats) were at the time sta- 
 
 tioned at Washington, and, on the appear- 
 ance of the Confederates, opened fire upon 
 them with their great guns. 
 
 At 5:45, the enemy took position at Rod- 
 man's Point, and opened fire with artillery 
 upon the " Commodore Hull," which vessel 
 had been stationed at that point to prevent 
 their occupying it. The fire was returned 
 with vigor, and, after a smart action of one 
 hour and a half, the " Commodore Hull," in 
 changing her position, got aground, where 
 she remained until eight p. m. exposed to 
 a continuous and accurate fire. Her com- 
 mander (Acting -Master Saltonstall) de- 
 fended her most gallantly until all his 
 ammunition was expended. The vessel 
 was much cut up, but received no vital 
 injury. 
 
 Meantime the "Ceres," Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant J. Macdearmid ; " Lockwood," 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant G.W. Graves; 
 the sloop "Granite," Acting - Master E. 
 Boomer, and, finally, the "Hunchback," 
 Lieutenant-Commander McCann, were dis- 
 patched by Commander Davenport to the re- 
 lief of the besieged forces at Washington, 
 but they were stopped below Hill's Point by 
 the re-establishment of the enemy's batteries 
 there, and by the removal of the buoys at 
 the old obstructions. This prevented the 
 steamers from going ahead, for fear of 
 being grounded on the old wrecks, in which 
 case they would easily have been destroyed. 
 It was not possible to send out boats and 
 place other buoys on account of the ene- 
 my's sharpshooters and flying artillery, 
 which would have destroyed the boats. 
 Under the circumstances there was no 
 remedy, and the above-mentioned steamers 
 had to remain outside; but during the siege 
 communications were opened at great risks 
 between the vessels above and below the 
 batteries, thus conveying ammunition and 
 dispatches. 
 
 On the 3d of April, the flotilla below Hill's 
 Point was reinforced by the "Southfield," 
 "Whitehead" and "Seymour," from Ply- 
 mouth. In the meantime the " Commodore 
 Hull" and "Louisiana," and an armed 
 transport called the " Eagle," under charge' 
 of Second- Assistant Engineer J. L. Lay and 
 AssistantPaymaster W.W.Williams, of the 
 "Louisiana," as volunteers, were almost 
 continually engaged with the enemy's bat- 
 teries opposite Washington, until the morn- 
 ing of the 4th, when the "Ceres" made a 
 gallant dash past the forts, with a full sup- 
 ply of ammunition, and joined the besieged 
 force above. 
 
 On the 6th, a snaall naval battery of two 
 light guns was established on shore, com- 
 manding the channel from above, to repel 
 any attempt on the part of the enemy to 
 attack the gun-boats from that quarter by 
 water. 
 
424 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 On the 7th inst. 112, on the 8th 107, and 
 on the 9th 55 shot and shell were fired by 
 the enemy at the gun-boats without inflict- 
 ing any serious damage. 
 
 On the 10th, Acting - Ensign J. B. De 
 Camarra succeeded in getting a schooner 
 til rough from the lower fleet, loaded with 
 naval ammunition. 
 
 On the 12th, the gun-boats silenced and 
 destroyed by their fire a battery which the 
 enemy had erected with sand-bags and 
 cotton-bales, abreast of the town, and which 
 for seven days previously had maintained 
 an active and dangerous fire on them. 
 
 On the 13th, the Confederate boats filled 
 with infantry, as pickets on the river below 
 the forts, were driven ashore by Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant Macdearmid, with a 
 howitzer on a small schooner. On the same 
 night the army transport " Escort" gallantly 
 ran the blockade, with reinforcements for 
 the Federal troops at Washington, having 
 safely passed Hill's Point under cover of 
 the gun-boats below. 
 
 On the 14th and 15th, the enemy kept up 
 a vigorous fire with their artillery, which 
 was returned by the gun-boats. 
 
 An opportunity occurred about the time 
 mentioned for the Army and Navy to score 
 a strong point on the Confederates. There 
 were a number of troops in transports below 
 Hill's Point waiting the opportunity to re- 
 inforce the troops above, either by running 
 the batteries or turning them by land 
 marches. Under cover of the gun-boats 
 the troops could easily have carried the 
 enemy's works at Hill's Point, but it was 
 not attempted. The Confederate batteries 
 were behind strong natural banks of earth- 
 works, perforated at points with embra- 
 sures. The gun-boats had attacked them 
 several times without any apparent effect. 
 The position was deemed too strong to 
 carry by assault with a limited number of 
 troops, so the gun-boats and transports had 
 to lie at anchor before it and make no sign, 
 until troops could be marched overland 
 from Newborn. 
 
 On the morning of the 15th, the steamer 
 "Escort" arrived with General Foster on 
 board, who seemed to think the situation so 
 serious that his presence was demanded. 
 Tlie day after his- arrival the enemy sud- 
 denly disappeared, and the siege was raised. 
 
 The commander of the North Atlantic 
 squadron seemed to be well satisfied with 
 the conduct of those under his command, 
 and reported that the credit of the Navy 
 had been well maintained throughout. 
 
 Commander Renshaw, at Washington, 
 and Lieutenant-Commander McCann, be- 
 . low on the river, conducted affairs with 
 prudence and zeal. The former held a 
 position of great responsibility and severe 
 trial, and he met the various emergencies 
 
 with promptness and decision. He had the 
 direction of naval matters, and would have 
 been held responsible if the town had fallea 
 into the enemy's hands. 
 
 On the 3d inst., the enemy had established 
 their batteries abreast of the town, one of 
 them a rified 12-pounder, distant 600 yards. 
 The batteries succeeded in firing only five 
 shots before they were silenced by the Fed- 
 eral shell, which fairly demolished the 
 works. 
 
 During the siege (if it may be so called) 
 there was an incessant peal of artillery, 
 and the enemy seemed determined to carry 
 the place, no matter what the cost might 
 be to them; but, whether aground on the 
 river-bed or lying in the stream, the fire of 
 the gun -boats was incessant and well 
 directed — so well directed, indeed, that the 
 enemy frequently seemed to be firing at 
 random. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Macdearmid 
 is spoken of in the highest terms for his 
 coolness and valor. This is not the first 
 time that his name has appeared in this 
 narrative, and it will not likely be the last. 
 
 Acting-Master Saltonstall was promoted 
 by the Department for the steady gallantry 
 with which he fought his disabled vessel 
 for nearly a day against great odds, and for 
 his good conduct during the siege. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Graves and 
 Acting-Master Welles were commended for 
 faithful and efficient service, and were pro- 
 moted in consequence. 
 
 Acting-Ensign De Camarra, Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates E. MacKeever, A. H. Hicks and 
 Edward S. Austin were commended for 
 their good conduct and bravery in battle. 
 
 Acting -Master F. Josselyn, Acting- 
 Ensigns J. O. Johnson and J. B. De Cam- 
 arra, Acting-Master's Mates A. F. Haradea 
 and Henry W. Wells, Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant Engineers H. Rafferty and John E. 
 Harper, and Paymaster's Steward John 0. 
 Cross, were recommended to especial notice 
 for their bravery in battle. 
 
 These commendations were probably 
 only known to the parties who secured 
 them; and, as their names have not been 
 handed down in history, it may be some 
 compensation to them at this late day to 
 know that they are remembered. De Cam- 
 arra, Johnson, Wells and Hicks were recom- 
 mended for promotion. 
 
 That the Navy performed excellent ser- 
 vice in defending the garrison at Washing- 
 ton, N. C, there can be little doubt. The 
 naval force appeared promptly on the scene 
 of action, and was so well handled that it 
 saved the garrison from capture; yet all 
 this zeal, gallantry and efficiency is merely 
 mentioned by General Spinola as follows: 
 
 I cannot close this report without bearing testi- 
 mony to the gallant conduct of the Navy while 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 435 
 
 acting in conjunction with my command, particu- 
 larly Captain Macdearmid, of the gun-boat "Ceres." 
 The conduct of the lieutenant-commanders of the 
 gun-boats engaged was all that could have been ex- 
 pected of them ; they manifested great bravery, 
 coupled with a willingness to do all in their power to 
 relieve the garrison. 
 
 These are not the hearty expressions that 
 should come from the pen of a gallant sol- 
 dier, who should have felt and expressed a 
 warmer gratitude for the services rendered 
 to his army; but this seems to have been 
 the style of noticing the work of the Navy 
 throughout the war. Very few cases oc- 
 curred where the Army could help the 
 Navy; but, when such was the case, the lat- 
 ter acknowledged the obligation in a most 
 eulogistic manner. 
 
 This affair on the Pamlico River was very 
 much like that on the upper Nansemond — 
 there were too few troops for the occasion. 
 These scattered garrisons, in badly-built 
 and poorly-armed earth-works, offered great 
 temptations to the Confederate roving 
 bands, who, through their spies, watched 
 the Federal movements closely, and when 
 the military commanders grew less watch- 
 ful, or the gun-boats were out of the way, 
 pounced upon them, expecting an easy 
 victory. The enemy would often fight with 
 a pertinacity bordering on desperation, and, 
 after firing away all their ammunition, 
 would retire as suddenly as they appeared. 
 
 What the Federals needed in order to 
 break up these raids was a large force of 
 cavalry, moving from one part of the State 
 to the other with such rapidity and ener- 
 getic action that the Conf«ederates could 
 make no headway against them. This 
 course would have placed the Army in a 
 more independent position, and they would 
 not have become impressed with the idea 
 that "every soldier ought to carry a gun- 
 boat in his pocket." 
 
 On May 37th, Lieutenant Flusser reports 
 an expedition under Acting-Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant Charles A. French, who went in the 
 steamer " Whitehead" to cruise in the east- 
 ern end of Albemarle Sound, and break up 
 the contraband trade, a great deal of which 
 was carried on in that vicinity. Lieutenant 
 French reports the capture of a large two- 
 masted boat, containing 600 barrels of to- 
 bacco. In Alligator River he captured or 
 destroyed several boats engaged in illicit 
 trade, and also along the shore a large 
 quantity of pork, bacon, leather, tobacco 
 bags, lard and tallow ready for shipment 
 to the enemy. Many grist mills, grinding 
 corn for the enemy, were burned by the 
 officers of the "Valley City." 
 
 At this time the Confederate commis- 
 saries were out in great force gathering 
 stores for the Army near Suffolk, and it was 
 desirable to destroy as much provisions as 
 possible — even though the non-combatants 
 
 suffered considerably. Such is the law of 
 war — no distinction can be drawn in such 
 cases, and on this occasion the duty was 
 performed very thoroughly. 
 
 On May 31st, 1863, General Dix concluded 
 to evacuate West Point, at the head of York 
 River, and on that day the Federal Army 
 marched out, covered by the gun-boats 
 "Commodore Morris," "Commodore Jones," 
 " Morse" and " Mystic," under the command 
 of Lieutenant-Commander Gillis. The oper- 
 ation was effected without the slightest ac- 
 cident, and without any demonstration on 
 the part of the enemy. Everything belong- 
 ing to the United States Government was 
 safely removed, the gun-boats taking on 
 board the forage, provisions and ammuni- 
 tion, and landing them safely at Yorktown. 
 
 In the latter part of May, Lieutenant- 
 Commander James H. Gillis participated 
 in an expedition with Brigadier-General 
 Kilpatrick in Matthews County. The object 
 of the expedition was to mount all the dis- 
 mounted men in Kilpatrick's command. 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander Gillis took on 
 board the "Commodore Morris" 100 men 
 from the 4th Delaware Volunteers, under 
 Major La Mott, and with the "Winnissim- 
 met" in company proceeded to North River, 
 where he arrived at half -past five p.m. Here 
 were captured 300 horses, 150 head of cattle 
 and a large number of sheep. At the same 
 time the troops destroyed all the property 
 that could be of any use to the Confederates. 
 
 A large amount of property was destroyed 
 in these raids. It was impossible to dis- 
 criminate, and, in consequence, a great 
 many innocent people suffered. 
 
 One of the mail-boats (the "Swan") was 
 fired upon by a party of Confederate raid- 
 ers, on York River, below West Point, the 
 result of which was the burning by the 
 gun-boat "Morse" of twelve houses, in 
 front or behind which the enemy had 
 placed their batteries. The object evidently 
 was to have these houses burned, in order 
 to embitter the inhabitants against the 
 Union troops. The justification given for 
 firing the buildings was that an unarmed 
 mail-boat, which was in the habit of carry- 
 ing women and children as passengers, had 
 been fired upon by the Confederates. 
 
 It was rather a severe -punishment to in- 
 flict on an unoffending people, because the 
 Confederates would not stay to be captured, 
 and it certainly was not the best method of 
 gaining the confidence of the citizens, whom 
 the Army and Navy claimed to protect. 
 The amenities of war were entirely forgot- 
 ten on this occasion, and such wantonness 
 could only insure retaliation on the first 
 favorable opportunity. 
 
 On the morning of June 4th, an expedi- 
 tion of 400 soldiers embarked at Yorktown 
 on board the United States steamers " Com- 
 
426 
 
 THE NAVAL tlliiTUKr 
 
 modore Morris" (Lieutenant - Commander 
 Gillis), "Commodore Jones" (Lieutenant- 
 Commander Mitchell), the army gun-boat 
 " Smith Briggs" and the transport " Win- 
 nissimmet." 
 
 These vessels proceeded to Walkertown, 
 about twenty miles above West Point, on 
 the Mattapony River. Here the troops 
 were landeHand marched to Aylett's, where 
 the object of the expedition was success- 
 fully accomplished: a large foundry, with 
 all its machinery, grist mills, and a quantity 
 of grain were destroyed, and a number of 
 horses captured. 
 
 The affair was carried through without 
 any accident, the gun -boats keeping the 
 river open, though several attempts were 
 made by the enemy to annoy them at dif- 
 ferent points. This expedition was fitted 
 out (as appears from a general order of Gen- 
 eral Keyes) with the purpose of "striking 
 an effective blow at the enemy," but the 
 results were only as above stated. 
 
 These events do not appear very striking 
 on paper, but in a campaign which did not 
 offer a very large scope for military and 
 naval operations, they hold a place worthy 
 of being mentioned, as exhibiting the zeal, 
 bravery and enterprise of the Federal offi- 
 cers, who showed a determination to annoy 
 and cripple the enemy in every possible way. 
 
 But still this was not war, in the true 
 sense of the word — it was simply raiding — 
 when we had quite a respectable force that 
 should have been gaining victories over the 
 enemy, who did not seem unwilling to meet 
 the encounters of the Federal troops, and 
 who held their own positions and checked 
 the advance beyond the upper Nansemond 
 whenever it was attempted. 
 
 The records of the times, in speaking of 
 the military movements on the Peninsula, 
 have constant accounts of the Federal's get- 
 ting possession of West Point and then evac- 
 uating it, to fall back on Yorktown, which 
 latter place seems to have been kept for a 
 harbor of safety, or a resort from whence the 
 Army could, by aid of the gun- boats, malce a 
 dash, carry off some heads of beef and horses, 
 and return with little or no loss. But at that 
 moment it was the only field of adventure 
 which offered itself to the North Atlantic 
 squadron, and the Navy was glad of the 
 opportunity to share with the Army the 
 dangers (if there were any) of these expe- 
 ditions. 
 
 We are aware that the doings of the 
 North Atlantic squadron afford dry reading, 
 in comparison with the more brilliant 
 achievements enacting elsewhere; but it is a 
 part of the history of the war, in which the 
 Navy bore its part, if not with any impor- 
 tant success, yet with patience, zeal and 
 gallantry, under circumstances which were 
 ofttimes more trying than was the case in 
 
 other squadrons, where a wider field of 
 action was offered. 
 
 It may seem to the reader that we have 
 dwelt longer than necessary on what might 
 be considered unimportant events, but the 
 small matters are the links in the chain of 
 history, which, if omitted, would leave the 
 story incomplete. Officers themselves have 
 attached so much importance to some of 
 these events, and have made such minute 
 reports of them, that they possess more in- 
 trinsic value than appears upon their face. 
 
 A good many of the later reports are 
 taken up with accounts of small expeditions 
 in the sounds of North Carolina, the gun- 
 boats being evidently constantly employed 
 attacking small bodies of the enemy in 
 narrow and crooked streams, destroying 
 granaries, and detecting Confederate sym- 
 pathizers. But with all our desire to do 
 justice to the praiseworthy efforts of the 
 officers and men of the North Atlantic 
 squadron, and to mention all those who in 
 any way distinguished themselves or scored 
 a good point on the enemy, we feel obliged 
 to omit many accounts of expeditions which 
 would take up the place of more important 
 matters having a greater bearing on the 
 war. Therefore, we will confine ourselves 
 to such expeditions as accomplished im- 
 portant results. Our pages are limited, and 
 we desire to make them as bright as pos- 
 sible. 
 
 On the 31st of July, 1863, the steamer 
 "Kate," belonging to the Confederates, 
 while going into Wilmington, was driven 
 on Smith's Island Beach by the gun-boat 
 " Penobscot," But was eventually floated 
 off by the enemy, and towed under the 
 batteries at New Inlet. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 1st of August, 
 the blockading vessels, "James Adger," 
 "Mount Vernon" and "Iroquois," ap- 
 proached, and the "Mount Vernon," dis- 
 covering the condition of the Confederate 
 steamer, reported it to Captain Case, of the 
 "Iroquois." This officer immediately or- 
 ganized an expedition to cut the vessel out 
 from under the guns of Fort Fisher (which 
 had not at that time assumed such formid- 
 able proportions as it did later on). 
 
 The Confederates were at this time towing 
 the " Kate " in towards New Inlet, and Com- 
 mander Patterson, in the "James Adger," 
 was ordered to assist the " Mount Vernon " 
 in cutting her out, and prevent her reaching 
 the protection of the batteries. 
 
 At seven o'clock, the "Mount Vernon" 
 opened fire upon the steamer, when her 
 commander ( Acting-Volunteer- Lieutenant 
 James Trathen) received orders from Cap- 
 tain Case to "drag the 'Kate' out." Two 
 boats were called away from the "Mount 
 Vernon" and sent to board the "Kate," 
 while the vessel herself went alongside, and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 427 
 
 sent another party on board at the same 
 time. A hawser was made fast to the 
 prize, and she was towed out. 
 
 The Confederate batteries at New Inlet 
 opened with great vigor, and a masked 
 battery of Whitworth guns on Smith's 
 Island kept up a furious fire. The enemy 
 did not seem to be particular in his aim, 
 as an 80 - pounder Armstrong rifle - shot 
 passed through the port-side of the " Kate," 
 and out through the starboard bulwarks, 
 just as the "Mount Vernon " and her boats 
 boarded her. Several shots from heavy 
 Armstrong guns and Whitworth 13-pound- 
 ers struck the "Mount Vernon." One 
 Whitworth projectile passed through the 
 engine-room, instantly killing Edwin H. 
 Peck, first-class fireman. This shot lodged 
 in the engineer's tool-chest, demolishing 
 the contents. An Armstrong rifle-shot cut 
 away all the shrouds of the port fore-rig- 
 ging. A Whitworth shot cut away the 
 fore-topmast rigging, and another the fore- 
 gaff. A shot from the mound battery car- 
 ried away the stock of the port-anchor. 
 Many shot passed over the vessel and all 
 around her, and the firing from the enemy's 
 work was lively enough to make the affair 
 very exciting. But the commander of the 
 ' ' Mount Vernon " did not abandon his prize ; 
 he towed her out, and delivered her to the 
 " Iroquois," which vessel took her to Beau- 
 fort. _ 
 
 This cutting - out was gallantly done, 
 and the parties concerned deserve great 
 credit. Captain Case speaks handsomely 
 of the manner in which Lieutenant Trathen 
 boarded the "Kate" and towed her off 
 shore. It was not only the coolness and 
 bravery with which this affair was con- 
 ducted, but also the professional skill with 
 which the " Mount Vernon" was managed 
 by her commander that gives it special 
 merit. 
 
 There were lively times when a blockade- 
 runner was sighted. Starting a hare with 
 a pack of hounds would not create a greater 
 excitement than when a long, lean, English- 
 built steamer, with a speed of sixteen knots 
 an hour, suddenly found herself almost 
 in the grip of the blockaders, which, being 
 usually on the alert, would give her a hard 
 chase, if they did not capture her outright. 
 
 To look at the beautiful lines of one of 
 these small steamers (which often carried 
 cargoes worth half a million) as she 
 skimmed over the water, it would seem im- 
 possible that our improvised cruisers could 
 overtake her. These vessels, built in Eng- 
 land with all the science known to English 
 ship-builders, were sent fearlessly upon our 
 coast, with a certainty that nothing we had 
 could overtake them. Yet how mistaken 
 the British builders were with regard to 
 Yankee watchfulness and naval pluck ! 
 
 Every mail would carry the news to Eng- 
 land of their fastest vessels having been 
 picked up by Federal cruisers — though 
 they may have made several successful 
 runs ere they came to grief. It is said that 
 if one blockade-runner out of three could 
 make a successful passage, it would more 
 than cover the cost of all. 
 
 On August 18th, one of these clippers, the 
 "Hebe," attempted to run into Wilmington 
 by the New Inlet channel. There were 
 several blockaders on the alert, and among 
 them the "Niphon" — which vessel, being 
 in-shore of the " Hebe," attempted to head 
 her off. But, instead of surrendering when 
 he saw that his vessel was cut off, the com- 
 mander of the "Hebe" beached her, and 
 escaped in his boats, with his crew and 
 passengers. 
 
 It was then blowing a gale from the 
 northeast, with a heavy sea on, and the 
 waves broke over the doomed vessel. 
 
 Lieutenant W. B. Gushing commanded 
 one of the vessels present on this occasion 
 (the "Shokokon"), and from the two vessels 
 a boarding-party was formed which started 
 through the breakers to destroy the " Hebe." 
 
 There were always companies of Confed- 
 erate artillery moving up and down the 
 coast to prevent vessels driven on shore 
 from being destroyed by blockaders. The 
 boarding-party had no sooner landed and 
 boarded the steamer, with the intent to fire 
 her, than they were opened upon by Con- 
 federate artillery, well posted behind the 
 sand-hills, and these kept up a warm fire, 
 not only on the boarders, but on the two 
 gun-boats, which the latter were unable to 
 return with any certainty, owing to the 
 heavy sea running. The result was that 
 the "Niphon" lost two boats, which were 
 swamped in the breakers, and fifteen per- 
 sons by capture, four of whom were offi- 
 cers. One ensign (E. H. Dewey) and three 
 men were saved by the boats of the two 
 gun-boats. 
 
 On this occasion, though there was a 
 good deal of gallantry displayed, there was 
 bad luck for the blockaders, and the enemy 
 succeeded in getting a large part of the 
 damaged cargo on shore. 
 
 Later in the month the Federal vessels 
 came in for a share of the cargo, and de- 
 stroyed the steamer, but not until the ene- 
 my had shown a strong determination to 
 hold on to all of the "Hebe" that they 
 could. 
 
 On the 23d of August, Commander T. H. 
 Patterson, in the "James Adger," was di- 
 rected to proceed to the " Hebe," and try to 
 destroy her. When within 500 yards of her, 
 he opened fire upon the vessel's hull and 
 upon the enemy's artillery, which was 
 located behind the sand-hills on the beach, 
 about 100 yards from the "Hebe." This 
 
428 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 fire was kept up until the steamer was 
 pretty well cut to pieces. (A boat had been 
 sent in before the firing commenced to see 
 if it were practicable to get the vessel 
 afloat, but it was opened upon by the en- 
 emy with musketry and a Whitworth gun, 
 and all hopes of saving her were aban- 
 doned.) The enemy also concentrated the 
 fire of their field-pieces on the " James Ad- 
 ger," striking her three times in the hull, 
 one shot passing through the air-jacket of 
 the donkey-engine, and another cutting the 
 rim of the starboard-wheel. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fire of the enemy, 
 the boats of the blockading vessels brought 
 off some Whitworth guns that had been 
 abandoned; and the "Hebe," being now 
 practically of no use, was left upon the 
 beach to "be broken up by the winds and 
 waves. A great deal of ammunition was 
 expended upon this vessel — 163 shot and 
 shells from the "James Adger," and 145 
 from the flag-ship " Minnesota." 
 
 On the 22d of August, 1803, quite a gal- 
 lant affair took place, when Lieutenant 
 Gushing cut out and destroyed the block- 
 ade-running schooner " Alexander Cooper." 
 On the 12th, Gushing made a reconnais- 
 sance, in the boats of the " Shokokon," of 
 " New Topsail Inlet." and was driven off by 
 the fire of four Gonfederate field-pieces sta- 
 tioned near the entrance of the inlet. But 
 before he was driven back he discovered a 
 schooner at anchor at a wharf about six 
 miles up the sound. This schooner he de- 
 termined to destroy. 
 
 On the evening of the 22d the " Shoko- 
 kon " anchored close to the sea - beach, 
 about five miles from the inlet, and sent 
 on shore two boats' crews — who shouldered 
 the dinghy, and carried it across the neck 
 of land that divided the sea from the sound 
 (this was half a mile in width, covered with 
 a dense thicket). This crossing placed the 
 landing party some miles in the rear of the 
 artillery force guarding the entrance. The 
 dinghy being launched on the inside waters, 
 six men, under the executive officer, Acting 
 Ensign J. S. Cony, started, with orders to 
 capture or destroy anything that might be 
 of use to the enemy. 
 
 A 13-pound howitzer was stationed at the 
 point towards which the expedition was 
 bound, and the smoke-stack of the " Sho- 
 kokon" having been seen over the trees, 
 Captain Adams (the Confederate officer in 
 charge of tlie post) went over to see that 
 a bright look-out was kept. While the 
 Confederates at the schooner's mast-heads 
 were straining their eyes in looking to the 
 southward, the boat was approaching them 
 from another direction, and the Federals 
 succeeded in landing fifty yards from the 
 wharf without being discovered. 
 The master -at arms (Robert Clifford) 
 
 creeping into the Confederate camp, counted 
 their men ; when, having returned to his 
 shipmates, a charge was ordered, and the 
 seven men bore down upon the enemy with 
 three cheers. In a moment the Confed- 
 erates (who out-numbered our sa,ilors three 
 to one) were routed, leaving in Ensign 
 Cony's hands ten prisoners (including 
 Captain Adams and Lieutenant Latham), 
 one 12-pound howitzer, eighteen horses, one 
 schooner and some extensive salt-works. 
 Mr. Cony then threw out two pickets, de- 
 tailed two men to guard the prisoners, and, 
 with the remaining two, fired the schooner 
 and salt-works, which were entirely con- 
 sumed. 
 
 The object of the expedition having been 
 accomplished, the men returned to their 
 vessel, taking with them three prisoners, 
 all that the boat would hold. The Confed- 
 erate officers and men were all dressed 
 alike, and Mr. Cony could not tell them 
 apart, so he was at a loss to know which to 
 retain. He settled the matter by picking 
 out the three best-looking, who all turned 
 out to be privates ! 
 
 This performance almost sounds like ro- 
 mance, but Cushing's officers were all ani- 
 mated with his spirit, and were always 
 ready to undertake anything, no matter 
 how hazardous. As many risks were run, 
 and as many dangers faced, as fell to Deca- 
 tur's lot when he cut out the "Philadelphia" 
 in Tripoli harbor. 
 
 The later operations of the North Atlantic 
 squadron, in 1863, were merely attempts to 
 co-operate with the Army up the shoal 
 rivers within the limits of the command, 
 keeping down the Confederate raiders, and 
 intercepting dispatches between Virginia 
 and Maryland, in which every light-draft 
 vessel was continually employed. It was 
 not a very brilliant service, but it was a 
 useful one. Without it the Confederates 
 would have seriously harassed the impor- 
 tant Army posts, and driven in the smaller 
 ones. They dreaded those frail vessels, 
 with their heavy guns and fearless seamen, 
 and a gun-boat was often worth more to 
 the Army than two or three stout regi- 
 ments. 
 
 The last act chronicled in the records of 
 the North Atlantic squadron for this year 
 is the destruction of the blockade-runner 
 "Venus." on October 21st. 
 
 The " Venus " was from Nassau, bound to 
 Wilmington, and, while attempting to run 
 the blockade, was chased by the steamer 
 "Nansemond," Lieutenant Lamson, and 
 overtaken. As the chase did not comply 
 with his orders to heave-to. Lieutenant 
 Lamson opened fire upon her. One shot 
 struck her foremast, another exploded in 
 her ward-room, a third passed through the 
 funnel and killed one man, and a fourth. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 439 
 
 striking an iron plate near the water line, 
 caused her to leak so badly that it was 
 necessary to run her on shore, where (as it 
 was found impossible to save her) she was 
 set fire to and burned, her boilers blown up, 
 and her machinery destroyed. 
 
 The " Venus " was a splendid vessel of 
 1,000 tons burden, and, had she not been 
 destroyed, would have made a useful addi- 
 tion to the gun-boat fleet. 
 
 During all this time, be it remembered, 
 many vessels of this squadron were engaged 
 in that dreary blockade duty, which, though 
 
 somewhat wanting in incidents of a despe- 
 rate character, was continually adding his- 
 tory to the Navy by successful captures of 
 arms and munitions of war, and creating 
 great astonishment abroad at the ability of 
 the Federals to keep up such an effective 
 blockade, contrary to the predictions of 
 able statesmen and experienced admirals. 
 This duty was relieved somewhat of its 
 monotony, as it paid well in prize-money, 
 which amply compensated officers and 
 sailors for any hardships they had to un- 
 dergo in winter storms or summer heats. 
 
 NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY 1, 1863. 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral Samuel P. Lee. 
 
 COMMANDER PIERCE CROSBY, FLEET CAPTAIN, JULY, 1863. — LIEUTENANT R. H. LAMSON, 
 
 FLAG LIEUTENANT, APRIL, 1863. 
 
 STEAM-FRIGATE " MINNESOTA —FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Commander, N. B. Harrison; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, E. C. Grafton; Lieutenant, Adolphus Dex- 
 ter; Fleet Surgeon, W. Maxwell Wood ; Surgeon, 
 John S. Kitchen; Assistant Surgeons, S. J. Jones 
 and E. R. Dodge; Paymaster, C. C. Upham; Chap- 
 lain, T. tr. Salter; Marines: Captain, W. L. Shuttle- 
 worth, Second-Lieutenant, C. F.Williams ; Acting- 
 Masters, D. A. Campbell and AVm. Wright; Ensigns, 
 J. H. Porter, R. S. Chew, C. S. Cotton and 8. W. 
 Terry; Acting Ensigns, F. R. Webb and Amos 
 Urown; Master's Mates, Wm. Hunter, C. W. Camp- 
 bell, W. R. Hunter, James Birtwistle and P. B. 
 Doran; Engineers: Chief, Philip G. Peltz; Second- 
 Assistant, G. W. Sensner; Third-Assistants, Alfred 
 Colin, T. W. Ray, G. W. Thorn, Webster Lane and 
 Guy Samson; Boatswain, Wm. Bunker; Gunner, 
 C. W. Homer; Carpenter, E. Thompson; Sailmaker, 
 T. O. Fassett. 
 
 STBAMEB " 0S3IPEE." 
 
 Captain, John P. Gillis ; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, Robert Boyd, Jr.; Lieutenant, John A. 
 Howell; Surgeon, Thomas T. Turner, Paymaster, 
 Edward Foster ; Acting- Master, C. E. Bunker ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, H. 8. Lambert and C. W. Adams; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Knapp, Jr., Charles 
 Putnam, Wm. Wingood, W. W. Gregg and W. W. 
 Black; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, J. M. 
 Adams; Second-Assistants, Jas. Renshaw and John 
 Wilson ; Third - Assistants, C. S. Maurice, W. W. 
 Vanderbilt and Monroe Murphy ; Acting - Third - 
 Assistants, J. R. Webb and G. W. Kidder ; Boat- 
 swain, Andrew Milne ; Acting - Gunner, John. Q. 
 Adams. 
 
 STEAMBB "DAOOTAH." 
 
 Captain, Benj. P. Sands ; Lieutenants, G. C. 
 Wiltse and S. D. Ames; Surgeon, Delavan Blood- 
 good; Paymaster, Richard Washington; Acting- 
 Masters, Wm. Earle and Wm. Moslander ; Acting- 
 Ensign, Isaac Francis; Acting-Master's Mates, Paul 
 Borner, Charles Trathen, John McMillen and C. 
 H. Chase; Engineers: Chief, Wm. W. Dungan; Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, Wm. H. Dobbs; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, G. R. Bennett, Wm. Best and Charles 
 Cranston; Acting-Third- Assistants, J. H.Perry and 
 G. W. Wilkinson; Acting-Gunner, Geo. Edmond. 
 
 STOBE-SHIP " BEANDYWINE." 
 
 Commander, Benj. J. Totten; Acting-Lieutenant, 
 S. J. Shipley; Paymasters, C. J. Emery and Thos. 
 H. Looker; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Sow- 
 
 W. B. Newman, J. F. D. Robinson and Wm. H. 
 Hubbs; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Bryant, J. J. 
 Everhardt, J. L. Robins and J. B. Cawood. 
 
 STEAMEB "IBOQUOIS." 
 
 Commander, A. Ludlow Case; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Wm. E. Fitzhugh; Lieutenants, H. E. 
 Mullan; Surgeon, Wm. E. Taylor; Assistant Pay- 
 master, John A. Bates ; Acting-Ensigns, Joseph 
 Avant, Thos. Stothard and J. D. Dexter; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, John Roberts, Horace Dexter, W. 
 F. Halsall and Matthew Crimmen; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, J. W. Storms ; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Warren Ewen and W. J. Howard; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, J. H. Mathews, W. J. Bar- 
 rington and H. S. Short; Boatswain, J. H. Downs; 
 Acting-Gunner, J. C. Clapham. 
 
 STEAMEB "MAEATANZA." 
 
 Commander, Gustavus H. Scott; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Chas. S. Norton; Assistant Surgeon, Job 
 Corbin; Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; Acting- 
 Masters, Chas. Courtney, Jacob Kimball and J. B. 
 Wood, Jr. ; Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Gibney and Geo. 
 Smith ; Acting-Master's Mate, Henry Wheeler; En- 
 gineers: Acting-First- Assistant, C. L. Carty; Second- 
 Assistant, Edward Scattergood; Third-Assistants, 
 W. H. Kilpatrick, L. R. Harvey and R. L. Webb. 
 
 STEAMEB "STATE OF GBOEGIA." 
 
 Commander, James F. Armstrong ; Acting - As- 
 sistant Surgeon, W. W. Myers; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, T. H. Haskell; Acting-Masters, J. 8. 
 Rogers and A. D. Littlefleld ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 David Mason and N. Broughton; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Isaac Halleck, J. W. Buck and Wm. B. Mix, 
 Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, James Wilkin- 
 son; Acting-Second- Assistant, David Pyke; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, J. D. Rodgers, Thomas Nesbit and 
 E. F. Maxfield; Acting-Gunner, Andrew Hannen. 
 
 STEAMEB " CAMBEIDGE." 
 
 Commander, Wm. A. Parker; Acting-Master, P. 
 W. Strong ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Ezra Pray; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Canning; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, E. A. Small, S. H. Meade, Jr., and D. 
 W. (rlenny; Acting-Master's Mates, W. T. Dungin, 
 H. B. Niekerson and G. K. Knowiton; Engineers: 
 Aoting-First-Assistant, Geo. B. Orswell ; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, J. F. Powers; Acting-Third -As- 
 sistants, H. F. Hayden and John Whitaker; Acting- 
 Gunner, Wm. Fisk; Carpenter, Theo. D. Wilson. 
 
 STEAMEB "MAHASKA." 
 
430 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 N. H. Farquhar and E. C. V. Blake; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, John C. Spear ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 Chas. Fairchild; Acting Master, Benj. Dyer; Acting- 
 Ensigns, N. W. Black and Frederick Elliott; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, G. E French and F. M. Drake; 
 Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. E. Ashby; 
 Third-Assistants, Elisha Harsen, Thomas La Blanc, 
 J. C. Stevens and E. L. Hewitt. 
 
 STBAMEE "HETZEL." 
 
 Commander, H. K. Davenport; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, G. W. Morton; Acting -Masters, G. B. 
 Thompson and G. W. Caswell; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Benj. Walker and John Rudrow; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, J. B. Dick; Third-Assist- 
 ants, J. H. Padgett, T. B. Cole and Eli Tempeny. 
 
 SLOOP-Or-WAE '■ TANDAMA." 
 
 Lieutenant, M. B. Woolsey ; Surgeon, A. C. 
 Gorgas; Paymaster, Rufus Parks; First-Lieutenant 
 of Marines, C. H. Nye; Acting-Masters, E. M. King, 
 C. Folsom and A. Washburn; Acting- Ensign, F. H. 
 Bacon; Acting-Master's Mate, Richard Burk; Boat- 
 swain, P. J. Miller; Gunner, Wm. Cheney; Sail- 
 maker, Wm. Rogers. 
 
 STEAMER "MTSTIO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, H. N. T. Arnold; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Wm. F. Brown; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, T. E. Smith; Acting-Masters, S. B. 
 Meader and R. F. Coffin; Acting-Ensign, A. F. 
 Hamblin; Acting-Master's Mate, J. M. C. Reville ; 
 Engineers : Acting-Second- Assistants, J. B. Lovell 
 and J. B. A. Allen; Acting-Third- Assistants, H. F. 
 Loveaire, George W. Shank and Isaac Buck. 
 
 IKONCIAD STEAMER "GALENA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Leonard Paulding; Act- 
 ing-Lieutenant, James Parker; Assistant Surgeon, 
 R. E. Van Gieson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. 
 H. Sellman; Acting - Masters, I. D. Seyburn and 
 Edmund Kemble; Acting-Master's Mates, Andrew 
 McCleary, J. H. Jenks and E. A. Galindo; Engi- 
 neei's: Acting-First-Assistant, J. G.Young; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, B. F. Beckett and A. S. Chip- 
 man; Acting-Third-Assistants, Thomas MillhoUand, 
 Wm. Deaver and C. W. Kenyon; Boatswain, J. H. 
 Polly; Gunner, William Hardison. 
 
 STEAMER 'PENOBSCOT." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, .J. E. de Haven; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Edw. A. Pierson; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Addison Poole; Acting-Master, Charles 
 E. Jack; Acting-Ensigns, S. K. Luce and H. D. Ed- 
 wards; Acting-Master's Mate, G. H. Smith; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. W. Cobb; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, Wm. M. Rodes, Wm. C. Bur- 
 rett and G. W. Hall. 
 
 STEAMER " CHOOTJEA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. T. Truxton; Lieu- 
 tenant, John McFarland; Assistant Surgeon, Chas. 
 Carter; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. L. Turner; 
 Acting Masters, P. S. Borden and T. B. Sears; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, D M. Carver, Wm. Leonard 
 and A. P. Atwood; Engineers: Second - Assistant, 
 Zeph. Talbot; Third - Assistants, Andrew Blythe, 
 Theodore Cooper and Wm. H. Harrison. 
 
 STEAMER "MONTICEIiliO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, D. L. Braine; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, Wm. Gale; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, G. de F. Barton ; Acting-Masters, J. F. 
 Winchester, L. A. Brown and Richard Hustace. 
 Acting-Ensign, A. G. Stebbins ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Henry Baker and T. J. Gildersleeve; Engi- 
 neers: Acting Second-Assistants, John Pick and W. 
 S. Montgomery; Acting-Third- Assistants, Thomas 
 McGough and A. L. Koories. 
 
 STEAMER " COMMODORE PEREY." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Charles AV. Flusser, Aet- 
 inc-Assistant Surgeon, Geo. W. Gale; Acting-Assist- 
 
 ant Paymaster, W. H. Anderson; Acting-Master, 
 H. A. Phelon; Acting-Ensign, Wm. P. Burke ; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, George B. Howard and Daniel 
 Laken; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. 
 Richards; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. L. Bowers 
 and F. A. Whitfield. 
 
 STBAMEE "HtTNCHBACK." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Wm. P. McCann; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, George B. Mann; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Henry Gushing; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, Richard Pasquell; Acting- Master's Mates, W. 
 L. Weaver, C. H. Weaver, R. P. Boss, John Mad- 
 dock and T. C. Barton; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Henry Armstrong; Acting Third-Assist- 
 ants, John Wall, James Dodd and Bryce Wilson. 
 
 STEAMEE "COMMODORE MORRIS." 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, James H. Gillis; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, M. H. Henry; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, C. G. Hutchinson; Acting Master, A. A. 
 Lewis; Acting-Ensigns, P. B. Low and H. M. Pierce; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, R. C. J. Pendleton, W. H. 
 Otis and C. E. Blanchard; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Volney Cronk; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 
 B. F. Harris, Heiiry Harbinson and H. J. Watkins. 
 
 STEAMER "COMMODORE BAENET." 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, J. C. Chaplin; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, James Kinnier; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Benj. Page; Acting - Ensigns, Wm. 
 Betts, Cornelius Washburn and B. P. Trask ; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, David Fader and John As- 
 pinwall, Jr. ; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 Thos. Pemblett; Acting - Third - Assistants, L. M. 
 Kensil and Hiram Warner. 
 
 STEAMER "MOESB." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. A. Babcock; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Henry Russell; Acting-Ensigns, 
 
 C. F. Russell and J. F. Merry; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, C. E. Rich, J. W. Thompson and Wm. 
 Dunne; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. 
 Devine; Acting - Third - Assistants, Geo. West and 
 Tim. Flanders. 
 
 STEAMER "VICTOEIA." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Hooker; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John G. Parke; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, H. S. Bradford; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, Alfred Everson; Acting-Ensign, Wm. H. Meyer; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, B. W. Tucker and Wm. 
 Moodey; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, T. D. 
 Webster; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. M. Berron, 
 John Haversfield and J. E. Robinson. 
 
 STEAMEE "TJNDEEWEITEB." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. Flye; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, L. R. Boyce; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, C. H. Brown; Acting-Masters Mates, 
 W. K. Engell, W. B. Griffith and Daniel Ward; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Third- Assistants, John Morse, S. B. 
 Ellis and H. R. Steever. 
 
 MEE "COLUMBIA." 
 
 Ac ting- Volunteer-Lieu tenant, Jas. P. Couthouy; 
 Acting-Masters, J. W. Balah and E. A. Howell; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, J. S. Williams and E. T. Manter; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, E. Morse, E. L. Bourne andE. M. 
 Clarke; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Passmore Tread- 
 well; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, T. Q. Hill; En- 
 gineers : Acting - First - Assistant, G. M. Bennett ; 
 Second-Assistant, W. W. Shipman; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Samuel Lemmon; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, J. H. Pelton and W. H. Crawford. 
 
 STEAMEE "MIAMI." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, Robei-t Townsend; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Wm. B. Mann; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, Frank W. Haokett; Acting-Masters. W. N. 
 Welles, Milford Rogers and John' Lear; Acting- 
 Ensign, R. W. Rountree; Acting Master's Mate, 
 John Quevedo; Eiiffinpers- Ant.irio-- Spr-nnrl - AsKifit- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 431 
 
 ant, L. W. Simonds; Acting-Third-Assistants, C. C. 
 Davis, H. D. Heiser, W. A. Windsor and J. W. Sav- 
 ille. 
 
 STEAMEB " DELAWARE. " 
 
 Aeting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Amos P. Foster; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Lorenzo Traver; Acting- 
 Assistant- Paymaster, G. T. Benedict; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, H. H. Poster; Acting- Ensign, J. H. Kerens; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Sprigman and Wm. 
 Thompson ; Engineers : Acting Second - Assistant, 
 J. D. Williamson; Acting-Third-Assistants, T. J. 
 Brown, James Mellon and R. O. Dennett. 
 
 STBAMBK "VALLEY OITT." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Hartman K. Pur- 
 niss; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. B. Martinsdale; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. T. Whitmore; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. A. J. Brooks; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 John Cullaton and Thos. Langton; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant - Engineers, B. Hilderbrand and Joseph 
 Peddle. 
 
 STEAMEB "SOUTHFIELD." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, C. P. W. Behm; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Holmes; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, W. Goldsborough; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, Kichard Vevers, W. P. Pratt and W. Gr. Nut- 
 ting; Acting-Ensign, Thos. B. Stokes; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, C. A. Stewart, Gr. W. Pratt and John 
 Woodman; Acting-Third-Assistant Engineers, Wal- 
 ter Bradley, H. M. Tuell and J. B. Perrand. 
 
 STEAMER "MOUNT VEBNON." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, James Tathern; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Hoppin; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, H. Y. Glisson; Acting-Masters, 
 E. W. White and W. T. Buck; Acting-Ensign, P. M. 
 Page; Acting-Master's Mates, Lloyd Rogers, Ernest 
 Hodderand G. 0. Kellogg; Engineers: Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, Jos. McKnight; Acting - Third - As- 
 sistants, J. H. Horsford, Wm. Emmons and Esubius 
 Minne. 
 
 STEAMER "CBBES." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Macdearmid ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, M. Tallmadge Ryan and H. 
 
 A. Hudson; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 Hugh Raflferty; Third- Assistant, John S. Harper. 
 
 SCHOONER "SAMUEL ROT AN." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, W. W. Kennison; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, Thos. Moore, C. H. Packer 
 and D. M. Gaskins. 
 
 STEAMER "JOHN L. LOOKWOOD." 
 
 Acting-Master, G. W. Graves; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, A. H. Hicks and Edw. Austin; Engineers: 
 Acting-Seoond-Assistants, J. T. Newton and W. W. 
 Whiting; Acting-Third- Assistant, J. T. Miller. 
 
 STEAMER "GENERAL PUTNAM." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. J. Hotchkiss; Acting-Ensign, 
 Wm. Jennings: Acting-Master's Mates, H. C. Haw- 
 kins, A. P. Kirkham and C. A. Jones; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, James Osburn and R. A. 
 Copeland; Acting - Third - Assistants, John Henry 
 and W. P. Higgins. 
 
 STEAMEB "HENEY BBINKER." 
 
 Acting-Master, James H. Hardesty; Acting-En- 
 sign, H. S. Livermore; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. 
 
 B. Miles; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, J. 
 W. Kelsey; Acting - Third - Assistants, Robert Ross 
 and W. H. Tate. 
 
 STEAMEB "YOUNG ROVER." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Ira B. Studley and T. W. Dodge; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Rob't Cowie; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Geo. W. Stone; Acting-Ensigns, 
 D. S. Thompson, J. A. Edgren and E. M. Ryder; 
 Acting -Master's Mates, W. P. Gragg and Joshua 
 Simmons ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 James Patterson; Acting-Third-Assistant, Samuel 
 McAvov. 
 
 STEAMER "PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Acting-Master, Silas Reynolds; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second -Assistant, C. A. Norris; Acting -Third -As- 
 sistants, W. H. Capin and Robert Mulready. 
 
 STEAMEB "STEPPING STONES.' 
 
 Acting-Master, T. A. Harris; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 G. M. Lawrence: Engineers: Aeting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, James A. Brown; Acting-Third- Assistant, Edw. 
 Aspald. 
 
 SHIP "SOMAN." 
 
 Acting-Master, Francis P. Allen. 
 
 STEAMER "DAYLIGHT." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Joshua D. Warren and J. H. Glea- 
 son ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, P. M. Dearborne; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; Acting- 
 Ensigns, Wm. H. Brice. J. W. Willard and W. H. 
 Penfleld; Acting-Master's Mates, A. E. Barrett and 
 Charles Attmore; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, C. D. Kiersted: Acting Third-Assistants, C. O. 
 Morgan and J. M. Battin. 
 
 STEAMER "SEYMOUR." 
 
 Acting-Master, Francis S Wells; Acting-Ensign, 
 Chas. Ringot; Acting-Master's Mate, Edwin Smith; 
 Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, Newton Bg- 
 gleston; Acting - Third - Assistants, J. A. Whittaker 
 and Philip Hublitz. 
 
 STEAMER "WYANDOTTE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Wright; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, James Pennoyer; Assistant-Paymaster, 
 Alex. McC. Bishop; Acting-Ensigns, S. A. Hodge, 
 Ben,i. Wood and Wm. Henry; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 M. E. Wandell and Wm. Chandler; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, G. R. Dunkley, Wm. Veitch and John 
 Heaney. 
 
 STEAMER " COMMODORE HULL." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Wm. G. Saltonstall and Francis 
 Josselyn; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. P. P. Hil- 
 dreth; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Jonathan Chap- 
 man; Acting-Ensigns, J. O. Johnson and J. B. da 
 Camera; Acting - Master's Mates, E. P. Bowen, J. 
 H. Wilkinson and A. P. Haradon; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, B. P. Bell; Acting- Third- 
 Assistants, D. R. Wylee, M. O. Stimson and Wm. 
 Lannan. 
 
 STEAMEB " CBUSADEE " 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Andrews; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, B. A. Arnold; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, T. McC. Brower; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. 
 Nelson, T. W. Sheer and T. S. Smythe; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Albert Buhner, Henry Parsons and E. 
 D. Edmunds; Engineers: Acting Second -Assistant, 
 P. O. Brightman; Acting-Third-Assistants, S. T. 
 Strude and W. T. Waterman. 
 
 SLOOP "GBANITE." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. Boomer. 
 
 SCHOONER "WM. BAOON." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. P. Rogers; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, C. D. Thompson, H. E. Ripley and Daniel 
 McLaughlin. 
 
 SHIP " CHARLES PHELPS." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. F. North. 
 
 SHIP "BEN. MORGAN." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. Shankland. 
 
 STEAMEB "ZOUAVE " 
 
 Pilot, John A. Phillips; Acting-Master's Mate, P. 
 B. Doran; Acting-Third-Assistant Engineer, H. N. 
 Ames. 
 
 TUG "COHASSET." 
 
 Pilot, Thomas Eveans; Acting-Master's Blate, J. 
 P. Doggett; Engineers: Acting -Second -Assistant, 
 Sydney Smith ; Acting - Third - Assistant, Charles 
 Robinson. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVl 
 
 Rear- Admiral Dahlgren succeeds Rear- Admiral DuPont.—Dahlgrens Difficult 
 Task.— General Gillmore requests Naval Co-operation.— Charleston Harbor.— 
 Plan of General Gillmore.— Attack on Enemy's Works by Army and JSf avy.— 
 Capture op Confederate Works on South End of Morris Island.— Assault on 
 Fort Wagner.— Gillmore Repulsed.— Second Attack on Fort Sumter.— Capture 
 of Enemy's Defences.— The Catskill Severely Handled. —Another combined At- 
 tack on Fort Wagner.— The Fort Silenced.— Army badly Repulsed in an Assault. 
 Active Operations Suspended.— Bravery of Troops under General Strong and 
 Colonel Putnam.— Dreadful Hand-to-hand Conflict.— Earth -works Erected by 
 Gillmore.— The "Swamp Angel."— Gun-boats Engage Batteries in Stono River. 
 —The "Commodore McDonough" Silences Confederate Artillery near Seces- 
 sionville.— Lieutenant Robeson Plants the Flag on Morris Island.— Landing of 
 Troops at Folly and James Islands.— Attack on Forts Sumter and Wagner.— 
 Results of Bombardment.— Gillmore Demands Surrender of "Sumter."— Letter 
 of Beauregard.— Gillmore's Reply.— Death of Commander George W. Rodgers.— 
 Great efforts made to reduce Wagner, Sumter and Gregg.— Effect of the 
 Fire on Charleston.— The Monitors again Open Fire on Forts Sumter and Moul- 
 trie.— Engineering Work.— Dahlgren and Gillmore differ.— Forts Wagner and 
 Battery Gregg Evacuated.— The " Weehawken" Grounded.— Disastrous Naval 
 Assault on Sumter. —Great Gallantry Displayed by Boat-Crews.— Ensign 
 Wallace's Report.— Torpedo-boat.— Attempts to destroy '-New Ironsides."— 
 Praise of Dahlgren and Officers.— The Monitors and "New Ironsides" Con- 
 trasted. — Boynton's Criticisms, etc. 
 
 REAR-ADMIRAL DAHLGREN suc- 
 ceeded Rear- Admiral DuPont, at 
 Port Royal, on July 4th, 1863, the 
 latter having been relieved at his 
 own request, owing to a difference 
 of opinion between himself and the Secre- 
 tary of the Navy in regard to the opera- 
 tions before Charleston and the attempt to 
 take the Confederate works with the Moni- 
 tors. 
 
 Dahlgren had a difficult task before him. 
 In the first place, he had relieved an officer 
 who maintained as high a prestige as any 
 in the Navy, at home and abroad, for skill 
 and bravery. The attack upon and capture 
 of Port Royal had given DuPont a foreign 
 reputation in addition to that he bore at 
 home, and European officers of distin- 
 guished merit did not hesitate to say that 
 the battle of Port Royal was one of the best 
 exhibitions of naval tactical skill that had 
 been seen for years. Compare it, even now. 
 
 with the late English attack in Egypt, with 
 their heavy iron-clads and monstrous guns, 
 and note the rapidity with which DuPont's 
 squadron captured the works at Hilton 
 Head, etc., in comparison with the long- 
 drawn-out battle at Alexandria against 
 forts only a trifle superior to those at Port 
 Royal, and the palm will be given to the 
 American squadron as an exhibition of 
 skill. That affair did a great deal to impress 
 foreign Governments with the power of our 
 guns, and the indomitable energy of our 
 officers and seamen; and though Great 
 Britain, about that time, or shortly after, 
 did threaten us in a manner that was any- 
 thing but agreeable to the American people, 
 yet that Government would have entered 
 upon the fulfillment of their threats with 
 misgivings — the growth of former disap- 
 pointments in the War of 1813. Aside from 
 his recently acquired renown, there was no 
 officer in the United States Navy better 
 
 («;) 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 433 
 
 !known abroad than Rear- Admiral DuPont. 
 Many years of his life had been passed in 
 the Mediterranean Squadron, where he trav- 
 eled and made many European friends. 
 He had commanded one of our best squad- 
 rons in China and Japan, and his bland 
 manners, high standing as an officer, gen- 
 eral knowledge on all subjects, in and out of 
 his profession, made him an authority to 
 whom foreign officers deferred. He was as 
 well posted in all naval matters as any offi- 
 cer at home or abroad, and his opinions, 
 which did not in 1863 run in accord with 
 those of the Navy Department, were adopted 
 by his friends and acquaintances in every 
 quarter. DuPont had said that the forts 
 in Charleston harbor could not be taken 
 by the force with 
 which he had at- 
 tacked them, and 
 his opinion was ac- 
 cepted as that of 
 an expert who had 
 tried the matter to 
 isatisfy the Navy 
 Department, and 
 had failed, and who 
 considered that to 
 attempt it again, 
 under the same cir- 
 cumstances, with 
 the same force, 
 would only entail 
 a loss of men and 
 material, if not a 
 loss of naval pres- 
 tige. The victory 
 at Port Royal had 
 settled the question 
 of the future use- 
 fulness of Charles- 
 ton and Savannah / 
 to the Confeder- 
 ates, for it offered 
 the means, if we 
 had properly used 
 them, of sealing up 
 those two harbors 
 as effectually as if we had actual possession 
 of them, which we now know fully. The 
 capture of Port Royal included in its direct 
 consequences all that was essential to the 
 occupation of adjacent places — -as far as 
 their value to the Confederate cause was 
 concerned, they could be rendered useless if 
 the proper steps were taken, without lead- 
 ing to a loss of vessels and men, a sacrifice 
 not at all called for by the circumstances 
 of the case. 
 
 Therefore, when Rear- Admiral Dahlgren 
 entered upon his command, it must have 
 been with the consciousness that he had a 
 diffi.cult task before him, and that he could 
 scarcely hope to succeed with the force that 
 
 EEAE-ADMIEAL JOHN A, DAHLGEEN. 
 
 Dahlgren had no sooner taken command 
 than he received a letter from Brigadier- 
 General Gillmore, informing him that he 
 (Gillmore) was about to commence military 
 operations against Morris Island, and looked 
 for naval co-operation. 
 
 This should have been the first step taken 
 at Charleston on the arrival of the Moni- 
 tors, and the operations carried on should 
 have been by an able and hearty co-opera- 
 tion of the Army and Navy, with well- 
 digested plans drawn up, and an exact 
 knowledge of the difficulties to be encoun- 
 tered and overcome. The capture of 
 Charleston necessitated a somewhat long 
 and patient siege by naval and military 
 forces, as was the case during the war with 
 
 places superior in 
 strength to Charles- 
 ton. In such cases, 
 the Confederates 
 had to succumb, 
 owing to the great- 
 er resources of the 
 Federal Govern- 
 ment; for the well- 
 known advantage 
 besiegers in force 
 have over a beleag- 
 uered place is that 
 the latter must 
 eventually fall un- 
 der the accumulat- 
 ed power that is 
 concentrated 
 against it. 
 
 Rear-Admiral 
 Dahlgren must 
 have congratulated 
 himself when he 
 saw that the Army 
 was at once coming 
 to his aid, and that 
 he would not be 
 obliged to repeat 
 the attack made by 
 DuPont upon the 
 uninjured forts in 
 with the same Monitors 
 so badly, and left one of 
 
 V,r.^ V, 
 
 r\i~iin ^ r\ iTn mn i^v*rk-\ 
 
 fnlltr tr-iorl Vnr ■nnPnr>+. 
 
 Charleston harbor, 
 
 that had failed 
 
 their number resting on the bottom. 
 
 Dahlgren was not an engineer, but he 
 must have known that the method about 
 to be pursued by General Gillmore was the 
 only feasible way of getting possession of 
 Charleston, and he at once assured the Gen- 
 eral that he was ready to assist him with all 
 his resources, if required. In making this 
 announcement to the Navy Department, 
 Rear - Admiral Dahlgren remarks : "Of 
 course, the most that is expected from the 
 action of these vessels is to relieve the 
 troops as much as possible, and is to be 
 considered of no other consequence." Thus, 
 
434 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the Navy Department not to expect as 
 much from the Monitors as was required of 
 DuPont; as, with others, he had made up 
 his mind that operations against tlie whole 
 circle of forts should not be undertaken 
 with a force that had proved itself totally 
 inadequate on a former occasion. 
 
 Charleston harbor, in its general config- 
 uration, may be likened to that of New 
 York, the city being on a neck of land 
 somewhat resembling Manhattan Island; 
 Cooper River, on the east, may be compared 
 to the East River; while the Ashley River, 
 on the west, resembles the Hudson. Morris 
 and Sullivan Islands may pass for the de- 
 fensive points at the Narrows, though the 
 channel between them is much wider; and 
 the interior fortifications — Sumter, Moul- 
 trie, Cumming's Point, Battery Gregg, 
 Fort Johnson, etc. — were all within the 
 lines of Morris and Sullivan Islands. An 
 attack on Fort Wagner could be made by a 
 naval force without bringing the ships com- 
 posing it within range of the heavy bat- 
 teries which successfully resisted the attack 
 of the Monitors on the first occasion. 
 
 The plan of General Gillmore was to dis- 
 possess the enemy of Morris Island by 
 opening batteries placed on the north end 
 of Folly Island, to command those of the 
 enemy on Morris Island, and by occupying 
 the sandy eminences that form the southern 
 portion of that island for a mile south of 
 Light-house Inlet. It would require an ac- 
 curate map of the harbor and forts to give 
 one a good idea of the enemy's defences. 
 A hostile force approaching from the sea, 
 with the intention of attacking the 
 Charleston batteries, would be obliged to 
 pass between Sullivan's Island on the north 
 and Morris Island on the south, both of 
 which had heavy batteries, including Moul- 
 trie and Wagner; while above Moultrie, and 
 forming a triangle with it and Battery 
 Gregg, stands Sumter. These works and 
 the accessories within this line of defence 
 remained pretty much the same after Dahl- 
 gren's accession as they were on the day 
 DuPont attacked them. 
 
 " The circle of fire," and the plan of meet- 
 ing an advancing enemy, is minutely de- 
 scribed in the circular issued by the Confed- 
 erate Brigadier-General to all the officers in 
 command of the forts, a copy of which will 
 be found in the chapter entitled, "First At- 
 tack on Sumter." 
 
 A squadron, making an attack on the 
 Morris Island works (Fort Wagner), would 
 be two and one-quarter miles from Fort 
 Moultrie, two miles from Sumter, one mile 
 from Battery Gregg, and half a mile from 
 Wagner; therefore, a squadron of Monitors 
 would not be subjected, as they were in Du- 
 Pont's battle, to a cross-fire from five or six 
 heavy batteries, but would be open only to 
 
 the fire of Battery Gregg, Moultrie and 
 Wagner at long range, with the Monitors 
 presenting their bows to the enemy (the 
 least vulnerable point, and the most diflB- 
 cult for gunners to strike). 
 
 This was the only way Charleston could 
 be taken. Why was not this course pursued 
 in the first instance ? The question is easily 
 answered. The Navy Department was so 
 fully impressed with the power of the Mon- 
 itors (those before Charleston being great 
 improvements in strength over the original) 
 that they had urged upon DuPont the ne- 
 cessity of making a grand stroke at the 
 first trial of these formidable vessels. This 
 was more for the purpose of making a great 
 impression upon the French and English 
 Governments, which were, it is said, at that 
 moment watching for a favorable excuse to 
 recognize the independence of the Southern 
 States. At the same time, the Secretary of 
 the Navy would have considered it a great 
 triumph to have the Navy conquer this nest 
 of secession; and though he did not demand 
 success, he felt so assured of it that his 
 expressed wishes amounted to almost an 
 order. 
 
 Seeing the ill-success of the first attack, 
 and having been somewhat surprised at 
 Rear-Admiral DuPonfs hint that he was 
 willing the Department should send some 
 one to undertake the capture of Charles- 
 ton in whom the Secretary had more con- 
 fidence, it was determined not to hamper 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren with specific in- 
 structions, but allow him and the military 
 engineers to work out the problem after 
 their own plans. 
 
 At the same time, it must be said, in jus- 
 tice to the Navy Department, that Secretary 
 Welles represented to the War Depart- 
 ment that "a second attack was pre- 
 paring against the forts in Charles- 
 ton harbor, and that its success re- 
 quired the military occupation of Morris 
 Island, and the establishment of land bat- 
 teries on that island, to assist in the reduc- 
 tion of Sumter," and, as this was a task 
 requiring engineering skill of the highest 
 ability, Brigadier-General Q. A. Gillmore 
 was assigned to the command of the De- 
 partment. 
 
 General Gillmore commenced his advance 
 upon Charleston by the movement of troops 
 to Folly Island on July 3d, 1863, where they 
 remained concealed as much as possible, 
 and erected batteries to command those of 
 the enemy on the south end of Morris 
 Island. 
 
 With the foregoing explanations, we will 
 proceed to relate what followed, namely, 
 the attack on the enemy's works by the 
 Army and Navy. 
 
 At 4 A. M. of July 10th, 1863, four iron- 
 clads—the " Catskill," Commander George 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 435 
 
 W. Rodgers, "Montauk," Commander Don- 
 ald McN. Fairfax, "Nahant," Commander 
 John Downes, and the " Weehawken," 
 Commander E. R. Colhoun, passed over the 
 bar, the flag of Rear- Admiral Dahlgren 
 flying on the "Catskill." One hour later, 
 at 5 A. M., General Gillmore made an attack 
 on the Confederate fortified positions on the 
 south end of Morris Island, and after an en- 
 gagement of three hours and a quarter he 
 had captured all the enemy's works upon 
 that part of the island, and pushed forward 
 his infantry to within six hundred yards of 
 Fort Wagner. 
 
 As the fleet of Monitors passed the bar, 
 General Gillmore commenced the attack 
 with his batteries, and as soon as the Moni- 
 tors could get sufficiently near to fire with 
 effect, they opened with shell upon the 
 Confederate works, which were replying to 
 
 beach, the iron-clads steamed parallel to the 
 low, flat ground that extended northward 
 from the sand-hills toward Fort Wagner, 
 and as near to it as the depth of the water 
 would allow, sending shells in every direc- 
 tion over its surface to clear away any 
 bodies of troops that might be gathered 
 there. Gillmore's troops pushed on, and, as 
 they reached Fort Wagner, two or three 
 buildings standing apart from each other 
 were seen to be in flames, supposed to be the 
 work of the enemy to unmask the guns of 
 Fort Wagner bearing down the beach. 
 
 The iron-clads at this time were laid 
 abreast of Fort Wagner. This was an open 
 sand-work about two and three-quarter 
 miles from the southern end of Morris Isl- 
 and, and lying about one and three-quarter 
 miles north of the sand-hills, and command- 
 ing the intervening level. 
 
 FOKT WAGNEE DDEING THE BOMBARDMENT. 
 
 General Gillmore's guns, and dispersed the 
 enemy wherever they were seen to assem- 
 ble. 
 
 At 8 o'clock, being nearly abreast the 
 northern end of the ridge of sand-hills, Gill- 
 more's batteries ceased firing, and his troops 
 were seen from the Monitors making their 
 way upon Morris Island. The assaulting col- 
 umn, led by Brigadier-General Strong, had 
 passed the waterway between Folly and 
 Morris Islands in small boats, under cover 
 of his batteries. He then held all the island, 
 except a mile on the north end, including 
 Fort Wagner and the battery on Cumming's 
 Point, which, as near as could be judged, 
 contained fourteen or fifteen heavy guns. 
 Rear- Admiral Dahlgren speaks of an as- 
 saulting party of troops that were landed 
 on Morris Island by Lieutenant McKenzie, 
 but General Gillmore leads one to infer that 
 these were landed in small army-boats. 
 
 As the troops moved rapidly along the 
 
 It was 9 o'clock before the first shot was 
 fired from the Monitors at Wagner, the 
 Rear- Admiral desiring to get close enough 
 to use grape shot, but the state of the tide 
 would not permit his vessels to approach 
 nearer than twelve hundred yards. The fire 
 from the Monitors was promptly met, and 
 was kept up vigorously until noon, when 
 the vessels dropped down out of range to en- 
 able their men to get dinner, after which 
 the previous position was re-occupied, and 
 the attack continued until 6 p. m. Then 
 the signal was made to "cease action," for 
 the men had been at work for fourteen 
 hours, and the weather was excessively hot. 
 
 The four iron-clads fired during this ac- 
 tion five hundred and thirty-four shell and 
 shrapnel, making excellent practice, while 
 the vessels themselves proved their endur- 
 ance. The flagship "Catskill" was struck 
 sixty times, a large percentage of the hits 
 being very severe. The pilot-house, turret, 
 
436 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 side-armor and decks were all more or less 
 damaged. Some of the projectiles were 
 large. One, found on deck, where it fell 
 after striking the turret, proved to be of 10- 
 inch calibre. "When these heavy shot struck 
 the turret the concussion was very great. 
 The iron of the pilot-house was broken en- 
 tirely through, a nut from one of the bolts 
 being driven against the lining so as to break 
 it also. The deck-plates were cut through 
 in so many places as to make the entrance 
 of water troublesome. Though the test 
 was a severe one, the " Catskill," after fir- 
 ing one hundred and twenty-eight rounds, 
 came out of action in good working order, 
 as was proved by her renewal of the fight 
 on the following day. Naturally, the enemy 
 made a mark of the '• Catskill," that vessel 
 carrying the Rear-Admiral's flag. The 
 "Nahant" was onlj^ struck six times, the 
 "Montauk" twice, while the "Weehaw- 
 ken " escaped altogether. 
 
 On the following morning, July 11th, 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren received a note 
 from General Gillmore statingthat he " had 
 made an assault on Fort Wagner at early 
 daylight, and had been repulsed." At the 
 same time he stated that he learned the 
 enemy were about to throw reinforcements 
 into Wagner, and asked for some action to 
 prevent it. The four Monitors were again 
 moved into position near Fort Wagner, 
 and scoured the ground in the direction from 
 which the expected reinforcements would 
 approach. 
 
 So far the acquisitions of the combined 
 forces had not been of a very important 
 nature ; still, a foothold was gained on 
 Morris Island, and the officers in command 
 felt satisfied that it would eventually lead 
 to the possession of Sumter. 
 
 When General Gillmore made his at- 
 tempt to carry Wagner, the parapets were 
 gained, but the supports recoiled under the 
 fire to which they were exposed, and could 
 not be got forward. The loss of the army 
 was about one hundred and fifty in killed, 
 wounded and prisoners. In the morning 
 they captured in the defences of the enemy 
 eleven pieces of heavy ordnance and a 
 large quantity of camp equipage. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren issued his first 
 general order, thanking the commanders, 
 officers and crews of the Monitors, and the 
 members of his personal staff: Fleet-Cap- 
 tain William Rogers Taylor, Flag-Lieuten- 
 ant S. W. Preston, and Ensign La Rue P. 
 Adams, for the zealous and efficient man- 
 ner in which they had performed their du- 
 ties during the attacks of the 10th and 11th 
 of July; also the ordnance officer, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander 0. C. Badger, for the sys- 
 tematic promptness with which he had sup- 
 plied the iron-clads with all requisite ord- 
 nance stores. 
 
 This battle was a strong endorsement of 
 Rear-Admiral DuPont's opinion regarding 
 another attack on the enemy's works. With- 
 in the " circle of fire " were seventy-five 
 guns, that being about the number the Con- 
 federates stated were used in DuPont's at- 
 tack. On the 10th of July four Monitors 
 were brought up with their guns bearing on 
 only fourteen of this number; yet, after 
 fourteen hours of severe firing, the works 
 not only remained " practically uninjured," 
 but a heavy assaultmg party were driven 
 off, and the "Catskill" was struck sixty 
 times by the shot from Fort Wagner. The 
 whole fire of the fort, however, was evi- 
 dently concentrated on this vessel, the en- 
 emy having soon learned that this was the 
 only way to disable the fleet. 
 
 The report of Commander G. W. Rodgers 
 goes to show that the " Catskill " was very 
 severely handled, the chief injury being in- 
 flicted by the 10-inch smooth-bores of the 
 enemy, their rifle-shot glancing. 
 
 It can readily be imagined, if the four- 
 teen guns of Wagner did so much damage, 
 how the seventy-five guns of Sumter and 
 adjacent works would have cut up DuPont's 
 small squadron after fourteen hours of 
 cross-fire ! Under the circumstances, they 
 would have been literally knocked to pieces. 
 At this day DuPont's opinion on these mat- 
 ters have been endorsed by a large majority 
 of the officers of the Navy; and, as the siege 
 of Charleston is related, it will be seen that 
 he followed the path of wisdom in declining 
 to risk the loss of his vessels and their 
 crews without adequate compensation. 
 
 On the 18th of July another combined at- 
 tack of the Army and Navy was made on 
 Fort Wagner. After the failure of the as- 
 sault by the troops. General Gillmore pro- 
 ceeded to bring his heaviest guns into posi- 
 tion to play upon the besieged earth-work, 
 as well as to throw his shot and shell into 
 such of the enemy's works as he could 
 reach, and, if possible, to throw shells into 
 Charleston itself. The plan of the contest 
 now consisted in pushing the siege-works 
 up as close as possible to Wagner, and to 
 annoy the enemy as much as possible with 
 sharp-shooters and bursting shells, which 
 plan the latter were not slow to follow. 
 
 On the 18th of July, General Gillmore had 
 succeeded in getting into position, to bear 
 on tlie opposing works, twelve heavy guns 
 and eight mortars, within eight hundred 
 j'ards of Wagner; and when his arrange- 
 ments were all completed he notified Rear- 
 Admiral Dahlgren that he was ready to 
 open fire. 
 
 The naval commander was not averse to 
 an engagement, and at 11:30 a. m. of the 
 above date led up to Fort Wagner with his 
 flag flying on the "Montauk," followed by 
 the "New Ironsides'" — which had crossed the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 437 
 
 bar— the " Catskill," "Nantucket," "Wee- 
 hawken," "and "Patapsco." Upon arrival 
 abreast of the fort, the " Montauk " was an- 
 chored and fired the first gun, whicli was 
 immediately followed by the other vessels 
 — a nearer approach than twelve hundred 
 yards, however, being prevented by an ebb- 
 tide. Meanwhile, the gun-boats " Paul 
 Jones," Commander A..C. Rhind, " Ottawa," 
 Lieutenant - Commander W. D. Whiting, 
 "Seneca," Lieutenant - Commander Wil- 
 liam Gibson, '• Chippewa, "Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander T. C. Harris, and "Wissahickon," 
 Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis (all 
 under charge of Commander Rhind), were 
 detailed to use their great guns at long 
 range, which they did with good effect ; at 
 the same time the batteries were delivering 
 a very steady and deliberate fire. 
 
 At 4 p. M. the tide changed to flood, and 
 the iron-clads got underway and closed in 
 with the fort to a distance of three hundred 
 yards, when the vessels opened fire again. 
 Wagner was speedily silenced, and did not 
 fire another shot or shell at the vessels dur- 
 ing the day; neither was there a man of the 
 enemy's force to be seen on or about the 
 works. No troops in open earth- works could 
 stand the terrible cross-fire on Fort Wagner 
 from the vessels and General Gillmore's 
 batteries, and the Confederates all went to 
 cover, biding their time when the assault 
 should come. This they knew was pretty 
 sure to follow the bombardment. 
 
 The iron-clads continued their fire until 
 it became too dark to distinguish friend 
 from foe, when they ceased from neces- 
 sity. 
 
 Very soon after, the rattle of musketry 
 and the flashes of light artillery announced 
 that the Federal troops were mounting the 
 parapets of Fort Wagner. This continued 
 without intermission until 9:30 p. m., then 
 died away gradually, and finally ceased 
 altogether. The Army had been badly re- 
 pulsed a second time. 
 
 One gun in Wagner was known to have 
 been dismounted, and another had burst, 
 and General Gillmore, supposing from the 
 terrible fire which had been poured upon 
 the fort that the Confederates must be very 
 much demoralized, determined upon a sec- 
 ond assault without having men enough to 
 overcome so powerful a work and its nu- 
 merous and hardy defenders. 
 
 It may be desirable, perhaps, to know what 
 kind of a work this was that endured such 
 a tremendous cross-fire from thirty-seven 
 heavy guns on shore and afloat. It was 
 seldom that an earth-work so situated could 
 stand the fire of naval vessels, much less a 
 combined attack. 
 
 All that part of Morris Island not taken 
 by General Gillmore was well fortified; it 
 
 were the outposts of Fort Wagner. This 
 work, though not mounting many guns, 
 was built with remarkable care and skill; it 
 was in shape partly a lunette, with one end 
 fortified with guns looking down the beach, 
 the other end commanding the upper beach. 
 The whole work was constructed of im- 
 mense timbers, forming bomb-proofs, and 
 these were covered with sand-bags to a thick- 
 ness of over twenty feet. Its air-line dis- 
 tance from Sumter was one and three-quar- 
 ter miles, and from Battery Gregg less than 
 one mile, and by these two works it might 
 be said to be covered. It was very plain to 
 a mere tyro in engineering that Wagner 
 was the key to the destruction of Sumter 
 and the acquisition of the enemy's works 
 on Sullivan's Island. 
 
 A new era had dawned in engineering, 
 and the clever enemy, with sand-bags and 
 timber, had built a work far excelling any- 
 thing in the shape of mortar, brick and 
 stone, and had armed it with the heaviest 
 
 funs at that time known in the United 
 tates. This was the fort (Wagner) which 
 so far had defied the forces of both the 
 Army and the Navy. 
 
 It now became necessary to prosecute the 
 siege of Wagner with patience and perse- 
 verance, as it was felt that the number of 
 Union troops was inadequate to carry the 
 work without throwing away the lives of 
 the men and the useless expenditure of ma- 
 terials, therefore active operations were for 
 the moment suspended. 
 
 It was very evident that the fire of the 
 naval vessels could silence Wagner's guns 
 at any time, but General Gillmore could 
 only raise one single column for attack, 
 while the Confederates could throw into 
 Wagner at night any number of men that 
 mi^ht be required to fill up vacancies by 
 casualties. These points had been made 
 known to the War Department; but, with 
 a degree of negligence that cannot be ac- 
 counted for, the notice was so slow in being 
 heeded that it gave the enemy opportunity 
 to strengthen their weak points, and repair 
 damages to such an extent that the com- 
 bined operations would have to be repeated. 
 If General Gillmore had been furnished with 
 five thousand more troops, Wagner, with- 
 out doubt, would have fallen at the first 
 assault. It is not the writer's intention to 
 criticise the action of the Government — he 
 only states facts — but it is, nevertheless, 
 very remarkable, considering the great de- 
 sire of the American people to see Charles- 
 ton (the hot-bed of secession and the pioneer 
 in the revolution) fall into Union hands, 
 that prompter measures were not taken to 
 strengthen the Army corps and the Navy 
 when required. Here, again, was demon- 
 strated the necessity for having at the head 
 
438 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 would know how to direct such important 
 operations. 
 
 While giving credit to the Navy for the 
 part it took in this affair, we deem it a 
 duty we owe to the gallant army under 
 General Gillmore to give an account of the 
 more desperate adventures that befel the 
 brave corps, which, after keeping up an 
 energetic fire for so long a time, undertook 
 the assault of Wagner. For this purpose 
 two brigades were selected, consisting of 
 the 7th Connecticut regiment, the 3d New 
 Hampshire, the 9th Maine, the 76th Penn- 
 sylvania and the 48th New York, under 
 Brigadier-General Strong; and the 7th New 
 Hampshire, the 6th Connecticut, the 63d 
 Ohio, the 100th NewYork, and the 64th Mas- 
 sachusetts (colored), under Colonel Putnam. 
 
 The brigades were formed in line on the 
 beach, with the regiments disposed in 
 columns, the colored regiment being in the 
 advance. This movement was observed 
 from Sumter, and fire opened on the troops 
 from that work, but without effect. 
 
 At dark the order was given for both 
 brigades to advance, General Strong lead- 
 ing and Colonel Putnam within supporting 
 distance. The troops went forward in quick 
 time, preserving the greatest silence, until 
 the 54th Massachusetts, led by Colonel 
 Shaw, was within two hundred yards of 
 Wagner, when the men gave a cheer and 
 rushed up the glacis, closely followed by 
 the other regiments of the brigade. 
 
 The enemy — hitherto silent, but aware of 
 all transpiring — opened upon the advancing 
 columns a most furious fire of grape and 
 canister, as well as a rapid fire of musketry. 
 The negro troops plunged on, and some of 
 them crossed the ditch, though it contained 
 four feet of water, and reached the parapets. 
 They were dislodged, however, in a few 
 minutes, with hand-grenades, and re- 
 treated, leaving more than half their num- 
 ber on the field. The 6th Connecticut, 
 under Lieutenant -Colonel Rodman, was 
 next in support of the 54th Massachusetts, 
 and they also suffered a terrible repulse. 
 The next in line — the 9th Maine — was 
 broken up by the retiring colored troops 
 (who rushed through their lines), and re- 
 tired in confusion, with the exception of 
 three companies, which stood their ground. 
 
 It now devolved upon the 3d New Hamp- 
 shire regiment to push forward, and, led 
 by General Strong and Colonel Jackson in 
 person, they dashed up against the fort. 
 Three companies gained the ditch, and, 
 wading through the water, found shelter 
 against the embankment. Here was the 
 critical point of the assault, but the second 
 brigade, which should have been up and 
 ready to support the leading troops, were, 
 for some unknown reason, delayed. Gen- 
 eral Strong, finding that he was not sup- 
 
 ported, gave the order to fall back and lie 
 down on the glacis, which was obeyed 
 without confusion. While waiting, in this 
 position, under a heavy fire. General Strong 
 was wounded. Finding that the supports 
 still failed to come up, lie gave the order to 
 his brigade to retire, and the movement 
 was effected in good order. 
 
 Soon after this the other brigade came 
 up, much impeded by the retreating troops; 
 but they made up for their tardiness by 
 their valor, rushing in impetuously, unde- 
 terred by the fury of the enemy, whose fire 
 had continued without intermission. Sev- 
 eral of the regiments succeeded in crossing 
 the ditch, scaling the parapet, and getting 
 inside the fort. Here a terrible hand-to- 
 hand conflict ensued; the Union troops 
 fought with desperation, and were able to 
 drive the enemy from one side of the work 
 to seek shelter between the traverses, while 
 the former held possession for something 
 more than an hour. This piece of gallantry 
 was, unfortunately, of no avail. The en- 
 emy rallied, and, having received reinforce- 
 ments, made a charge, and, by the force of 
 numbers, drove the Union troops from 
 their position. 
 
 One of the regiments engaged in this 
 brilliant dash was the 48th New York, 
 Colonel Barton, and it came out of the con- 
 flict almost decimated. The 48th was 
 among the first to enter the fort, and was 
 fired upon by a Union regiment that had 
 gained the parapet, under the impression 
 that it was the enemy. About midnight, 
 seeing that it was impossible to hold what 
 had been gained of the fort, an order was 
 given to the Union troops to retire, and 
 they fell back to the rifle-pits outside their 
 own works, with a loss, in killed, wounded 
 and missing, of 1,630 men. 
 
 After this most gallant but unsuccessful 
 attack, General Gillmore came to the con- 
 clusion that Wagner could not be taken in 
 that way by his depleted forces, and he de- 
 cided to bombard that fort. Fort Sumter, 
 and even Charleston, to either cause a sur- 
 render or to lay them in ruins. 
 
 Had the enemy been in great force at 
 that moment, they could have massed all 
 their troops, landed them on Morris Island, 
 and captured Gillmore's army and every- 
 thing belonging to it. But they were quite 
 satisfied with the position as it was; they 
 held the great chain of works which blocked 
 the way to Charleston, and were verv glad 
 to see the Federals apparently wasting 
 their strength in futile efforts to obtain 
 possession of their strongholds. 
 
 In this last dreadful assault on Wagner, 
 the ground in and around the fort was cov- 
 ered with the Union killed and wounded, 
 and the naval force could not continue the 
 fire the following day, nor until they were 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 439 
 
 removed. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren sent a 
 communication to the commander of Fort 
 Wagner, offering to bury the dead and to 
 remove and care for the wounded. This 
 proposition was politely declined, the Con- 
 federate commander sending word that he 
 would bury the dead and see the wounded 
 cared for. Judging from the manner in 
 which he had defended his fort, his chival- 
 ric character no doubt caused him to keep 
 his word. 
 
 The first thing General Gillmore did 
 toward securing possession of Morris 
 Island, which he determined to hold, was 
 to construct parallels. These extended 
 from the beach on the right to the marsh 
 on the left. The first was distant from 
 Wagner 1,200 yards. The second, and prin- 
 cipal one, was so constructed that its left 
 was 600 yards from the fort, and its right 
 750 yards. The third parallel was 425 yards 
 from Wagner. The parallels were built in 
 a direction diagonal to the length of Morris 
 Island, having the highest points resting 
 on the marsh. The rifle-pits, forming the 
 foundation of the first parallel, were thrown 
 up shortly after the troops gained pos- 
 session of the lower part of the island. 
 These pits were thrown up in a single 
 night, and were first used on the 17th of 
 July in the attack on Wagner. The inter- 
 stices were subsequently filled, and the 
 first parallel constructed. The moment 
 this parallel was finished, the enemy were 
 preparing to make a sortie on the work; 
 but Rear-Admiral Dahlgren got underway 
 with the iron-clads, assisted by the gun- 
 boats at long range, and opened fire on 
 Wagner, soon silencing that work and 
 driving the men to cover. 
 
 At that time General Gillmore reported 
 his advance position had been secured. 
 The length of this parallel was 220 yards. 
 The length of the second parallel was 325 
 yards. The siege-guns used for the offen- 
 sive were mounted in the rear of this paral- 
 lel. Its distance from Sumter was 3,350 
 yards. The third parallel was 100 yards in 
 length. On the left, earth-works were con- 
 structed containing some of the heaviest 
 siege -guns. Their mean distance from 
 Sumter was 4,100 yards. Still further to 
 the left, on the marsh, was another earth- 
 work, facing Fort Sumter. On this work 
 was mounted that celebrated gun, called 
 the "Swamp Angel," which sent its shells 
 into the city of Charleston — a distance of 
 five miles. 
 
 This work was built on a spot inaccessi- 
 ble to the enemy's troops. At low water it 
 was a deep bog; at high water the tide cov- 
 ered the ground to a depth of four feet, 
 enabling scows to approach the spot and 
 supply all the material necessary for the 
 erection of earth-works. Sand-bags, and 
 
 everything else used in the construction of 
 the work, sank out of sight in the soft ooze, 
 at first, until a good foundation was secured. 
 At each succeeding tide the scows brought 
 their loads of material, which produced, in 
 the end, a great mound above the marsh. 
 This was an engineering feat worthy of the 
 clever officer, General Gillmore, who exe- 
 cuted it. Strong traverses were erected on 
 this bank, and, after due time given every- 
 thing to settle, the " Swamp Angel " was 
 floated to the point on one of the scows, 
 and mounted. The work was all done at 
 night, as it was in full view of Fort Johnson 
 and the James Island batteries. 
 
 In reference to the last two engagements 
 with Wagner, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren does 
 not speak of any casualties or damage to 
 the Monitors or other vessels of the fleet, 
 and it is presumed that the cross-fire from 
 shore and afloat drove the Confederate 
 gunners to cover before damage could be 
 inflicted. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren had a 
 great adjunct in these affairs in the staunch 
 " New Ironsides," Captain Rowan, whose 
 11-inch guns, rapidly flred, did more to 
 silence Wagner than any three Monitors 
 in the fleet. 
 
 While General Gillmore was perfecting 
 his plans, the vessels of the fleet were not 
 idle. A smart affair came off in the Stono 
 River, in which the " Pawnee" (Commander 
 Balch), "Marblehead" (Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Scott), and the "Huron" were 
 engaged. The "Pawnee" and "Marble- 
 head" were at anchor near Fort Grimball, 
 when they were hotly attacked by batteries 
 of the enemy posted six hundred yards away, 
 the first shot striking the "Pawnee," and 
 the others admirably directed by the enemy. 
 The position of the "Pawnee" was such that 
 she could bring no guns to bear, and she 
 was obliged to drop down stream until a 
 point was reached whence the guns could 
 be trained on the enemy. The "Marble- 
 head " was requested to do likewise, and, 
 meeting the "Huron" in this position, they 
 all opened fire on the hostile batteries, 
 which had been cutting them up severely 
 while shifting their berths, resulting in 
 the retreat of the enemy. The "Pawnee" 
 was struck thirty-three times in the hull, 
 three times in the smoke-stack, had three 
 boats damaged, and six shot in the rig- 
 ging. Fortunately, the "Pawnee" had 
 chain-cables triced up and down her sides, 
 or the boilers would have been perforated. 
 Those South Carolina artillerymen were 
 just as spunky and annoying as were those 
 on the Mississippi, and never lost an oppor- 
 tunity to attack the wooden gun-boats, fre- 
 quently with effect. There were but four 
 persons wounded in this affair, and it is 
 remarkable that a number were not killed, 
 considering the precision of the enemy's fire. 
 
■14tU 
 
 ± ijLiii 4. y '"1 f .^^ -i^ ±±±t^ J. \^ ±\.j. 
 
 Commander Balch, the senior officer on 
 the Stono River, speaks in the handsomest 
 terms of the conduct of Lieutenant -Com- 
 mander Bacon for his unremitting atten- 
 tion to duties in that locality, where, for a 
 period of five months, he had been co-oper- 
 ating with the Army. On the 16th of July 
 the Confederates commenced an artillery 
 fire on General Gillmore's pickets at Seces- 
 sionville, but were speedily silenced by 
 Lieutenant-Commander Bacon moving up 
 the river with the "Commodore McDon- 
 ough," and firing into their camp with his 
 rifled gun. 
 
 In a report by Lieutenant A. S. McKenzie, 
 referring to the landing of the brigade, 
 which was transported, under his charge, 
 on the boats of the " Weehawken " for the 
 assault on Fort Wagner, he mentions the 
 fact that Lieutenant H. B. Robeson, of the 
 " New Ironsides," was the first to plant the 
 American flag on Morris Island, Brigadier- 
 General Strong landing with him. 
 
 During the operations for the possession 
 of Morris Island, Commander Balch, with 
 the " Commodore McDonough," Lieutenant- 
 Commander Bacon and Lieutenant F. M. 
 Bunce, in charge of boats with howitzers 
 mounted, were employed in landing troops 
 on Folly Island, which had to be done at 
 night. By the inost active exertions of 
 these officers the duty was fully accom- 
 plished, every effort being made to effect a 
 successful landing ; and the Army was in 
 a great measure indebted to them for the 
 perfect manner in which all the troops were 
 debarked. 
 
 While part of General Gillmore's forces 
 were being landed on Folly Island, General 
 Terry, commanding a division, was dii-ected 
 to proceed up the Stono in transports, pre- 
 ceded by the "Pawnee," " Nantucket " and 
 the " Commodore McDonough," and make a 
 landing on James Island, which was done. 
 This manoeuvre — a part of the programme 
 of attack on Morris Island — was success- 
 fully accomplished under cover of the ves- 
 sels mentioned. 
 
 While General Gillmore was making his 
 advances the Confederates were increasing 
 and improving their defences, and among 
 other things were laying torpedoes and 
 planting obstructions to prevent the ad- 
 vance of the fleet, and the greatest watch- 
 fulness was required to avoid them; but 
 these measures did not affect the move- 
 ments of General Gillmore, who, on August 
 17th, opened fire on Sumter with all his 
 guns, over Wagner and the intervening 
 space. 
 
 About the same time Rear-Admiral Dalil- 
 gren, with the "Weehawken," carrying his 
 flag, moved forward with the entire naval 
 force. The " Catskill," " Nahant " and 
 "Montauk" following the flag -ship, the 
 
 "Passaic" and "Patapsco" being held in-, 
 reserve for an attack on Sumter. The- 
 "New Ironsides," Captain Rowan, moved 
 up abreast of Wagner, and the following 
 sloops and gun-boats fired at long range: 
 "Canandaigua," Captain J. F. Green, "Ma- 
 haska," Commander J. B. Creighton, "Cim- 
 marone," Commander A. K. Hughes, " Ot- 
 tawa," Commander W. D. Whiting, "Wis- 
 sahickon," Lieutenant - Commander John 
 L. Davis, "Dai Ching," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander J. C. Chaplin, " Lodona," Acting- 
 Lieutenant E. Broadhead. 
 
 As the tide rose, the " Weehawken" closed 
 to four hundred and fifty yards from Wag- 
 ner; the other three Monitors followed, and 
 the " New Ironsides " lay as near as her 
 great draft of water would permit. Tlie 
 fort was silenced after a steady and well- 
 directed fire. 
 
 General Gillmore had opened with his bat- 
 teries soon after daylight, in answer to a- 
 fire from Wagner, Battery Gregg and Sum- 
 ter, which was continued with great vigor 
 for several hours. A 200-pounder rifled guu 
 was brought to bear on Sumter for the pur- 
 pose of testing the powder intended for use- 
 in these guns. Seven shots were fired, the 
 distance being two and five-eighths miles. 
 The first three fell short, but, of the remain- 
 ing four, two went directly through the 
 gorge wall a short distance above the sally- 
 port, and two struck the parapet, sending 
 a large amount of brick and mortar into the 
 ditch and into the fort. The solid shot that 
 passed through made holes from four to five 
 feet in diameter. 
 
 General Gillmore had sixty guns of differ- 
 ent calibres mounted, and with these he 
 kept up an incessant fire on Sumter, while 
 the fleet kept its guns playing rapidly on 
 Wagner until there was no answer from 
 that work. Then the flag was shifted to- 
 the " Passaic," that vessel and the "Pa- 
 tapsco " having rifled guns, and these twa 
 steamed up the channel to within twa 
 thousand yards of Sumter, when fire was- 
 opened on the gorge angle and southeast 
 front of the work. The guns of the "Pa- 
 tapsco" were well aimed, and their project- 
 iles struck the southeast front nine times- 
 in succession. To all this fire Sumter only- 
 replied now and then ; Wagner was si- 
 lenced, and Battery Gregg alone kept up an 
 obstinate fire on the "Passaic" and "Pa- 
 tapsco." 
 
 At noon the iron-clads drew off to let the 
 men go to dinner. This was, no doubt, a 
 deliberate movement; but a better one 
 would have been to have divisions of the 
 fleet relieve each other, and never to cease 
 fire on Wagner, even at night, until it lay 
 a heap of ruins. The fertility of the Con- 
 federates, and their pertinacity in repairing 
 damages, were too well known to suppose 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 441 
 
 that they would lose an opportunity to act 
 when the guns stopped firing on them. 
 
 All the afternoon of the 17th the shore 
 batteries continued to fire upon Sumter, 
 with little or no reply. The " Passaic " and 
 "Patapsco " were sent up again in the af- 
 ternoon to open on Wagner, and prevent 
 the repairing of damages. The fort an- 
 swered actively for awhile, but in a short 
 time ceased its fire. 
 
 On the whole, the day's work was satis- 
 factory to the combined forces. The Army 
 had demonstrated the feasibility of reach- 
 ing Sumter and inflicting serious damage 
 on the work ; the Navy had shown that it 
 could silence Wagner whenever it pleased 
 to do so. It was not possible yet to ascertain 
 what damage had been done to Sumter by 
 the combined fire, but enough was known 
 to assure the respective commanders that 
 they had not yet demonstrated their full 
 power, and that the enemy's works would 
 be so seriously damaged in a short time that 
 they woiild not be able to repair them. 
 
 The bombardment of Fort Sumter may 
 be said to have commenced in earnest from 
 this date, August 17th, with what result 
 can be better judged from the bulletins that 
 were issued day after day in Charleston, 
 as the following: 
 
 Charleston, Thursday, August 30tli, 1863. 
 
 The firing of the Parrott guns on Sumter to-day 
 was exceedingly heavy, but not so accurate as 
 heretofore. About noon the flag was shot away, 
 but soon replaced; no casualties are reported. Col. 
 Alfred Rhett is commanding, and the garrison is 
 stout-hearted. 
 
 The battery of Parrott guns is distant from Sum- 
 ter %% miles. The missiles used aie 300 - pdr. bolts, 
 eight inches in diameter and two feet long, with 
 flat heads of chilled iron. Shells of the same di- 
 mensions are also used. 
 
 Up to Wednesday night, the third day of the at- 
 tack, 1,973 of these missiles struck Sumter, and, in- 
 cluding to-day, 2,500 have struck. The damage is, 
 of course, considerable, and for the last two days 
 all the guns on the south face of the fort have been 
 disabled. 
 
 Yesterday the iron-clads formed in line of battle 
 to renew the attack, but the fort opened at long 
 range from the east face, and they retired without 
 attacking. 
 
 To-day the "Ironsides" and two Monitors kept 
 up a flre on Wagner at intervals, and the Yankee 
 sappers have begun to make approaches on that 
 battery from the nearest work. A shot from Wag- 
 ner disabled one of the Parrott guns ; and the James 
 Island batteries, under Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, 
 exploded two of the enemy s ammunition chests. 
 
 Thus, at last, Charleston was reaping 
 some of the whirlwind it had sown, and re- 
 tribution came for the dishonor it had done 
 the flag that had once waved on Sumter. 
 Through Sumter, the Union was being 
 avenged for the flrst blows the Confederates 
 had struck. This once sturdy old fort, in a 
 few days after Gillmore opened his batteries, 
 began to show signs of great weakness. Its 
 great distance from the Federal batteries 
 could not save it; science had surmounted 
 
 all the difficulties, and, if the American flag 
 did not float over it, it would remain but 
 a heap of ruins — a mere memento of the 
 past. 
 
 Charleston, Friday, August 21st, 1863. 
 
 The fire of the enemy's land batteries has been 
 heavier to-day than ever. A new battery of Parrott 
 guns opened on Sumter this morning, and the fire 
 has been concentrated upon the east battery audits 
 guns. 
 
 The south side of the fort is now a pile of rubbish. 
 
 On the south the wall is also cruinbling into a 
 heap of ruins. The flag has been shot away twice 
 to-day, and six times during the attack. The flag- 
 staff is shot off, and the flag flies from the ruins of 
 the south wall. 
 
 Just before sunset Sumter fired several shot at 
 the iron-clads which were engaging Wagner. 
 
 A Monitor this morning fired at Sumter while 
 making a reconnaissance, but was not replied to. 
 
 There is no report of casualties. The sappers are 
 making a regular approach on Battery Wagner. 
 
 Charleston, Saturday, August 32d, 1863. 
 
 Prom 5 o'clock A. M. until 7 o'clock p. m. the ene- 
 my's fire on Fort Sumter was very heavy ; 923 shots 
 were fired, and 704 struck the fort, either outside or 
 inside. The eastern face of the fort was badly bat- 
 tered ; some guns on the east face and on the north 
 end were disabled. The flag was shot down four 
 times. Five privates and two negroes were 
 wounded. 
 
 The enemy's flre on Wagner caused five casual- 
 ties, including Captain Robert Pringle, killed. 
 
 Last night a communication from the enemy (un- 
 signed) was sent to General Beauregard, demand- 
 ing the surrender of Sumter and the Morris Island 
 batteries, with a notification that the city would 
 be shelled in four hours if the demand was not com- 
 plied with. General Beauregard was on a recon- 
 naissance, and General Jordan returned it for the 
 signature of the writer. 
 
 About 3 o'clock this afternoon the enemy began 
 throwing shells into the city from a battery on the 
 marsh between James and Johnson's Islands, and 
 distant five miles from the city. Twelve 8-inch 
 Parrott shells fell into the city, but caused no casu- 
 alties. The transaction is regarded as an outrage 
 on civilized warfare. The shelling had a good effect 
 in hastening the exodus of the non-combatants. 
 
 At daylight this morning the enemy opened 
 again vigorously on Sumter. The " Ironsides " has 
 since opened on Wagner. Sumter is replying. 
 Wagner is firing briskly on the enemy's advance 
 works, four hundred and fifty yards from the bat- 
 tery. 
 
 Charleston, August 32d. 
 
 The fire of the enemy's land batteries has been 
 kept up on Sumter, and more guns disabled. There 
 was only one casualty. 
 
 There was also a heavy fire opened on Battery 
 Wagner from the fleet ; also on Battery Gregg. 
 The casualties at Wagner were one officer and five 
 privates. General Gillmore's demand for the sur- 
 render of Sumter and Morris Island was a threat to 
 shell Charleston in foui- hours from the delivery of 
 the paper at Wagner. It was signed and returned 
 at 7 o'clock this morning. 
 
 General Beauregard, in his reply, charges inhu- 
 manity and a violation of the laws of war, and 
 affirms that, if the offence be repeated, he will 
 apply stringent measures of retaliation. 
 
 Up to this time the threat to shell the city has 
 not been executed. 
 
 There seems to be a discrepancy between 
 these two bulletins about General Gillmore 
 shelling the city. 
 
443 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ChabJjBSTON, Friday, August 23d. 
 
 To-day the land batteries opened from south to 
 north, and the Monitors from east to west, coming 
 close up ; the fire was very damaging. The east 
 wall was crushed and breached, and the shot swept 
 through the fort. A shell burst, wounding Lieu- 
 tenant Boylston, Colonel Rhett and three other 
 officers. 
 
 The fort (Sumter) is now in ruins. Colonel Rhett 
 is ordered to hold this outpost, even as a forlorn 
 hope, until relieved or taken. 
 
 Colonel Gaillard was killed. 
 
 General Gillmore sent a communication at 11 
 o'clock, giving notice that at 11 o'clock to-morrow 
 he would open fire again on Charleston. 
 
 Charlbston, August 34th. 
 
 The enemy's fire on Sumter slackened to-day. 
 The fleet has not participated. 
 
 At 12 o'clock last night the enemy's guns opened 
 on the city, firing fifteen 8-inch Parrott shells. No 
 casualties resulted. Non-combatants are leaving 
 the city in continuous streams. 
 
 I deem it unnecessary at present to continue the 
 fire upon the ruins of Fort Sumter. 
 
 I have also (under a heavy flre from James Island) 
 established batteries on my left, within effective 
 range of the heart of Charleston city, and have 
 opened with them, after giving General Beauregard 
 due notice of my intention to do so. 
 
 My notification to General Beauregard, his reply 
 thereto, with the threat of retaliation and my re- 
 joinder, have been transmitted to Army head- 
 quarters. 
 
 The projectiles from my batteries entered the 
 city, and General Beauregard himself designates 
 them as the most destructive missiles ever used in 
 war. * * * * 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Q. A. GXLLMOBE. 
 
 Colonel John W. Turner, Chief of Artil- 
 lery, reports to General Gillmore as follows: 
 
 The gorge wall of the fort is almost a complete 
 mass of ruins for the distance of several casemates 
 about midway of this face, the ramparts are re- 
 
 APPEAEANCE OF FORT SUMTER AT THE CLOSE OF THE ATTACK. 
 
 On the 24th of August General Gillmore 
 wrote the following dispatches to Wash- 
 ington: 
 
 Headquarters, Department op the South 
 n. ,/^.°^^^^ Island, S. C, August 24th, 1863. ' 
 ToMajor-GeneralH. W. Halleck, Qeneral-in-chief : 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to report the practical 
 demohtion of Fort Sumter as the result of the seven 
 days bombardment of the work, during two days 
 of which a powerful northeasterly storm most se- 
 verely affected the accuracy of our flre. 
 
 Fort Sumter is to-day a shapeless and harmless 
 mass of rums. My chief of artillery, Colonel J W 
 Turner reports its destruction so far complete that 
 It IS no longer of any avail in the defence of Charles- 
 ton. He also says that by a longer flre it could 
 be made more completely a ruin and a mass of 
 broken masonry, but could scarcely be made more 
 powerless for the defence of the harbor. 
 
 My breaching batteries were located at distances 
 varying froni between 3,320 yards and 4,240 yards 
 Irom the works, and now remain as efficient as ever 
 
 moved nearly, and in places quite to the arches, 
 and but for the sand-bags with which the case- 
 mates are filled, and which has served to sustain 
 the broken arches and masses of masonry, it would 
 have long since been entirely cut away, and with 
 it the arches to the floor of the second tier of case- 
 mates. 
 
 The debris in this point now forms a ramp as 
 high as the floor of the casemates. The parapet 
 wall of the two northeasterly faces is completely 
 carried away, a small portion bemg left at the angle 
 made with the gorge wall, and the ramparts of these 
 faces are also a total ruin. . . . The ruin ex- 
 tends around, taking in the northeasterly face as fax 
 as can be seen. . . . The ramparts in this an- 
 gle, as well as in the southeasterly face, must be 
 ploughed up and greatly shattered, the parapet 
 in this latter face being torn off, as could be seen 
 and it was thought that the platforms of these re- 
 maining faces could not have escaped the universal 
 destruction. 
 
 With the assistance of powerful glasses 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 443 
 
 all the damages could be accurately ascer- 
 tained, even to the injury done to the gun- 
 carriages. Colonel Turner ends his report 
 by recommending that no more shot be 
 wasted on Sumter, as it was practically of 
 no further use in the defence of the harbor. 
 
 When all these facts were fully ascer- 
 tained to the satisfaction of General Gill- 
 more, that officer wrote to General Beaure- 
 gard demanding the immediate evacua- 
 tion of Morris Island and the surrender of 
 Sumter, otherwise he would proceed "to 
 open fire on Charleston from batteries al- 
 ready established within easy range of the 
 city." To this, General Beauregard re- 
 plied, using the following language, which 
 may be interesting from the fact that he 
 tries to place the Federal soldiers in the light 
 of barbarians, while, at that very time, the 
 harshest treatment was imposed upon the 
 Union prisoners of war, and the Confeder- 
 ates themselves did not in all cases observe 
 war's amenities. "What General Gillmore 
 proposed to do was according to the rules 
 of war, he having given notice that he 
 was about to bombard the city, six hours in 
 advance — quite time enough for the non- 
 combatants, women and children, to leave 
 the place. 
 
 We cut down General Beauregard's let- 
 ler owing to its length, but the following 
 gives the substance of it : 
 
 Among nations, not barbarous, the usages of 
 ■war prescribe that, when a city is about to be at- 
 tacked, timely notice shall be given by the at- 
 tacking commander in order that non-combatants 
 shall have an opportunity for withdrawing beyond 
 the limits. Generally, the time allowed is from 
 one to three days. That is time for the withdrawal 
 in good faith of the women and children. You, 
 sir, give only four hours, knowing that your notice, 
 under existing circumstances, could not reach me 
 in less than two hours, and then, not less than the 
 same time would be required for an answer to be 
 conveyed from this city to Battery Wagner. 
 
 With this knowledge, you threaten to open Are 
 on the city — not to oblige its surrender, but to force 
 me to evacuate those works which you, assisted by 
 a great naval force, have been attacking in vain for 
 more than forty days. 
 
 Battery Wagner, Gregg and Port Sumter are 
 nearly due north from your batteries on Morris 
 Island, and in distance therefrom varying from half 
 a mile to two and a quarter miles ; the city, on the 
 other hand, is to the northwest, and distant quite five 
 miles from the battery opened on us this morning. 
 
 It would appear, sir, that, despairing of reducing 
 those works, you now resort to the novel measure of 
 turning your guns against the old men, the women 
 and children and hospitals of a sleeping city — 
 an act of inexcusable barbarity from your own con- 
 fessed point of sight, inasmuch as you allege that 
 the complete demolition of Fort Sumter within a 
 few hours, by your guns, seems to you " a matter 
 of certainty." 
 
 I am only surprised, sir, at the limits you have 
 set to your demands. If, in order to attain the 
 abandonment of Morris Island and Tort Sumter, 
 you feel authorized to fire on this city, why did you 
 not also include the works on Sullivan and .Tames 
 Islands — nay, even the city of Charleston — in the 
 fame dispatch ? 
 
 Since you have felt warranted in inaugurating 
 this matter of reducing batteries in your imme- 
 diate front, which were found otherwise impregna- 
 ble, and a mode of warfare which I confidently 
 pronounce to be atrocious and unworthy of any 
 soldier, I now solemnly warn you that if you fire 
 again from your batteries upon this city without 
 giving a somewhat more reasonable time to re- 
 move non-combatants, I shall feel compelled to 
 employ such stringent means of retaliation that 
 may be available during the continuance of 
 this attack. Finally, I reply that neither the 
 works on Morris Island nor Port Sumter will be 
 evacuated on the demand you have been pleased to 
 make. However, I am making preparations to re- 
 move all non-combatants, who are now fully alive 
 to what they may expect at your hands. 
 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 G. T. Beauregard. 
 
 General Gillmore answered the different 
 points of this letter, and concluded with the 
 following pertinent remarks: 
 
 If, under the circumstances, the life of a single 
 non-combatant is exposed to peril by the bombard- 
 ment of the city, the responsibility rests with those 
 who have first failed to apprise the non-combat- 
 ants, or secure the safety of the city, after having 
 held control of all the approaches for a period of 
 two years and a half in the presence of a threaten- 
 ing force, and who afterwards refuse to accept the 
 terms on which the bombardment might have been 
 postponed. 
 
 From various sources (official and otherwise) I 
 am led to believe that all the women and children 
 of Charleston have long since been removed from 
 the city; but, upon your assurance that the city is 
 still full of them, I shall suspend the bombardment 
 until 11 o'clock P. M. to-morrow, thus giving you two 
 days from the time you first acknowledged to have 
 received my communication of the 31st inst. 
 Very respectfully, etc., etc., 
 
 Q. A. Gillmore, 
 Brigadier-Qeneral, etc., etc. 
 
 In the naval bombardment of the 17th, 
 the Navy lost the services of a brilliant 
 young officer through the death of Com- 
 mander George W. Rodgers, commanding 
 the Monitor " Catskill." Commander Rod- 
 gers had more than once asked the rear- 
 admiral if he should go with him as usual 
 or take command of the "Catskill." In 
 each instance the commander-in-chief an- 
 swered, "Do as you choose." Rodgers 
 finally concluded to go in the "Catskill." 
 He got his vessel underway, and, while en- 
 deavoring to get a berth closer to the enemy, 
 and inside the " Weehawken's " position, 
 the "Catskill" was struck by a snot from 
 Wagner, and Rodgers was instantly killed. 
 This shot first struck the top of the pilot- 
 house, fracturing the outer plate and tear- 
 ing off an irregular piece of the inside plate 
 about one foot in area, and forcing out sev- 
 eral of the bolts by which the pieces were 
 held together, fragments of which struck 
 Commander Rodgers and Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster J. G. Woodbury, killing both in- 
 stantly, besides wounding the pilot, Mr. Pen- 
 ton, and Acting-Master's Mate Trescott. 
 When the commander fell, Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Charles C. Carpenter hove up the 
 
444 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 anchor, steamed down to the tug "Dande- 
 lion." and, depositing the bodies in her, re- 
 turned to his station and continued the 
 action. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren pays the highest 
 tribute to Commander Rodgers, whose 
 death was regretted by all who knew him. 
 The latter's relations to the commander-in- 
 chief (as fleet-captain) were so close that 
 the rear-admiral felt his loss very sorely, 
 and could ill supply the place of so efficient 
 an officer. He was one of those to whose 
 gallantry there were no bounds. 
 
 In the action of August 17th, the iron- 
 clads, though frequently hit, suffered no 
 material injury. The " Catskill " was 
 struck thirteen times, with the casual- 
 ties already mentioned. The '-'Ironsides," 
 Captain S. C. Rowan, was hit thirty- 
 
 COMMANDER GEORGE W. EODGEES. 
 
 one times, exclusive of some shots sup- 
 posed to have struck her under water. 
 Most of the hits were from 10-inch solid 
 shot, which seemed to have been fired with 
 extra heavy charges ; and, when the shot 
 struck, they cut and broke everything to 
 pieces. There are no reports of damage to 
 other vessels, hence it is probable that the 
 enemy concentrated their fire on the " Iron- 
 sides "and "Catskill." 
 
 No mention is made in Rear-Admiral 
 Dahlgren's report of the establishment of a 
 naval battery against Sumter, but there 
 was one under command of Commander 
 Foxhall A. Parker, and it performed good 
 service. That battery fired, on the 17th of 
 August, 170 shells and 125 solid shot against 
 the exposed face of Sumter, doing much 
 damage. Commander Parker .was assisted 
 in this service by Lieutenant E. T. Brower, 
 
 Ensign James Wallace and Acting-Ensign 
 Owens, who deserve great credit for the 
 work they performed for fifteen hours under 
 a burning sun. 
 
 Though great efforts were made to reduce 
 Wagner. Sumter and Gregg, these strong 
 works stood apparently as defiant as ever, 
 notwithstanding the great shot seams that 
 could be seen in Sumter's side. It was 
 pretty well ascertained from Gillmore's bat- 
 teries, bv the aid of good glasses, that it 
 had been rudely dealt with; yet, though 
 sixty more heavy guns were brought against 
 it than were used in DuPont's attack, the 
 Federal naval forces did not seem any 
 nearer to the attainment of their wishes 
 than DuPont was. 
 
 The effect of the fire on Charleston had 
 not, up to the 24th of August, proved of a 
 serious nature. Twelve 8-inch shells had 
 fallen into the city, thirteen having been 
 fired altogether. These shells fiew in the 
 direction of St. Michael's steeple, and fell 
 either in the vacant lots in the burnt dis- 
 trict on King Street, or in Queen and Rut- 
 ledge Streets. Some loose straw was set on 
 fire by them, and the firemen turned out to 
 extinguish the flames. The pieces of shell 
 picked up in the city caused great curiosit j 
 and wonder, that such large missiles should 
 have been thrown to such a distance from 
 the point where the Federal battery was 
 located in the swamp. 
 
 On August 2.3d, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren 
 got underway and moved the Monitors to 
 within eight "hundred yards of Sumter, and 
 opened fire. During a portion of the time 
 a clear sight of the fort was prevented by 
 fog. When the Monitors opened, Sumter 
 only replied with six guns; but Moultrie, 
 with its extended lines, opened heavily, ac- 
 cording to reports, and struck the Moni- 
 tors frequently with heavy shot. The 
 "Weehawken" received two heavy and 
 damaging blows on the pilot-house. There 
 was a good deal of difficulty in working the 
 Monitors in the narrow channels, and they 
 drew off under the fire of Moultrie, which 
 being as yet intact was more than a match 
 for them. No casualties in the fleet were re- 
 ported in this action. 
 
 In this reconnaissance — which it will be 
 well to call it — the injuries to Fort Sumter 
 were clearly observed, but it did not yet 
 come under the head of "useless ruin." 
 Fort Wagner is spoken of in the reports as 
 being "quite as strong as ever, perhaps 
 more so;" so that in this state of affairs the 
 naval forces were about as far from the 
 central prize as ever. 
 
 Sumter was now considered "useless to 
 the Confederate system of defence," only 
 it yet remained to be turned fully to account 
 as a Union acquisition, and this advantage 
 could not be realized because the Federal 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 445 
 
 forces could not occupy the work. Such 
 occupation, if possible, would have made a 
 great difference in the plans of the besieg- 
 ing forces, but could not be likely to occur 
 until the works on Sullivan's Island were 
 invested simultaneously with those on Mor- 
 ris Island, and here was the great defect in 
 the plan of this campaign. There was, no 
 doubt, good engineering skill displayed, as 
 far as it went, but what use could Sumter 
 have been to the Federals while Moultrie — 
 one of the heaviest woi-ks in Charleston 
 harbor — and others stood ready to drive 
 out of Sumter any Federal force that might 
 undertake to enter it, which could only be 
 by assault? It was, we may say, a heap of 
 rubbish that had all fallen inside, but which 
 could still afford a tremendous defence 
 against any assaulting party brought 
 against it. The true plan would have been 
 for our forces to land on Sullivan's Island 
 and Morris Island at the same time, and 
 pursue the same methods that had been 
 carried out at the latter. Of course, this 
 would have required a greater number of 
 troops and guns, but it was the only way 
 to take Charleston. 
 
 While the Federals were making the most 
 assiduous efforts to get into Sumter by the 
 way of Wagner and Gregg, they overlooked 
 entirely the obstacles still remaining on Sul- 
 livan's Island to prevent their holding it 
 after capture; while Fort Johnson, Fort Rip- 
 ley, Castle Pinckney and the iron batteries 
 stood ready to pour in their cross-fire, as they 
 had done when their attack on Sumter 
 opened the Rebellion. The capture of 
 James Island and the occupation of the 
 works upon it, which was feasible, would 
 have been a greater military feat than the 
 capture of Wagner. In such event, Charles- 
 ton would have been obliged to surrender 
 or be destroyed, and, in consequence, its 
 forts would have been obliged to follow her 
 example. 
 
 The engineering work accomplished was 
 of a splendid order, and the greatest 
 bravery was displayed in its performance; 
 yet engineers often become so absorbed in 
 some favorite plan, which seems to promise 
 all they desire, that they overlook other 
 points which are the real keys to the situ- 
 ation. So it was at Sebastopol: all the best 
 Russian, French and English engineers had 
 overlooked the hill on which the Malakoff 
 Tower stood, until the great Todelben ap- 
 peared, and with his practiced eye dis- 
 covered that to be the key. If either the 
 French or the English had seized it, Sebas- 
 topol would not have stood a day before the 
 fire of the allied batteries. 
 
 Four months had now passed since the 
 first attack on Charleston, and many hun- 
 dreds of heavy shells had been fired, with- 
 out any great advance of the Federal forces 
 
 toward their objective point; and this not 
 from any want of skill in the naval or mili- 
 tary commanders, but from the fact that 
 the authorities at Washington did not have 
 a comprehensive idea of what was required 
 to carry out so great a work, and from their 
 absurd supposition, in the first instance, 
 that the whole net-work of forts could be 
 taken by a small fleet of Monitors, armed 
 principally with guns of small penetrative 
 power, when, moreover, the endurance of 
 these vessels had scarcely been tested. 
 
 It is very easy, though, to see all that 
 was required when what was considered to 
 be the best means had failed ; but herein 
 lies the ability of the engineer and the 
 naval officer co-operating : they should be 
 able to see the best points ere the opera- 
 tions have advanced too far to allow of 
 retraction. 
 
 General Gillmore was of the opinion that 
 Sumter could not be taken possession of 
 until Wagner was subdued, and all his 
 siege-guns were advanced as close as pos- 
 sible to the north end of Morris Island, 
 while Rear- Admiral Dahlgren thought he 
 could pass the batteries with his fleet, and 
 go on to Charleston. 
 
 Here the naval officer and the military 
 commander began to differ. Gillmore de- 
 sired that the Monitors and the " Ironsides" 
 should move pari passu with him. Dahl- 
 gren thought he could go alone, regardless 
 of the obstructions which had to be forced, 
 and which were defended by at least seventy 
 guns, under the full range of which the 
 fleet would be exposed, even as far as Sum- 
 ter, which fort might or might not still 
 have guns mounted upon it that would do 
 serious injurj^ to the vessels. Under the 
 circumstances. General Gillmore deemed 
 that the assistance of the Navy, in all its 
 strength, was indispensable to success. 
 
 At midnight of September 1st, and just 
 before slack high water, the "Ironsides" 
 and the Monitors were moved up the chan- 
 nel. The primary purpose of this move- 
 ment was to make certain that Sumter had 
 no guns remaining in service. It was be- 
 lieved that the Confederates had remounted 
 a few guns on the northeast and northwest 
 faces. On the same evening. General Gill- 
 more's batteries had opened fire on Sumter, 
 and the general had informed Rear-Admi- 
 ral Dahlgren that he had knocked down 
 some four or five pieces that were observed 
 on the more remote fronts, and this encour- 
 aged Dahlgren to attack. The nearest ap- 
 proach of the Monitors to Sumter was five 
 hundred yards, the flag being carried on the 
 "Weehawken;" but the ebb-tide was now so 
 strong that it was nearly 12 o'clock before 
 the first shot was fired from the flag-ship. 
 
 Two shots were fired from the fort, when 
 the "Weehawken" was laid off the angle 
 
446 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 of the northeast and southeast fronts. The 
 "Ironsides" was brought up to an easy 
 range, and joined in the action which fol- 
 lowed, the vessels all firing steadily and 
 accurately. Meanwhile, Moultrie opened 
 a rapid and well-sustained fire from its ex- 
 tended lines, which told on the vessels, 
 though the obscurity of the night interfered 
 with the accuracy of the enemy's aim at 
 such small targets as the turrets of the 
 Monitors. 
 
 The fire of the Monitors was also directed 
 against the floating obstructions which had 
 been reported from day to day. At day- 
 light the fleet withdrew without being able 
 to ascertain the effect of their fire. This 
 engagement lasted five hours, during which 
 time the fleet fired 245 shots, and received 
 in all 71 hits, of which numbers the " Iron- 
 sides " fired 50 shots and received 7 hits. 
 
 From all accounts there was no serious 
 damage done to the vessels, notwithstand- 
 ing all the pounding, and the " Ironsides " 
 stood the brunt of the battle as well as the 
 Monitors. Fleet-Captain Badger was struck 
 by a fragment of the turret knocked off by 
 one of the enemy's shot, and his leg broken 
 by it. This was the third fieet- captain 
 Dahlgren had had injured or killed in the 
 short space of two months. He speaks 
 of Captain Badger in the warmest terms of 
 praise, and as an officer whose place it 
 would be very difficult to fill. 
 
 The commanders of the iron-clads, Cap- 
 tain S. C. Rowan, Commander T. H. Stevens, 
 Commander Andrew Bryson, Commander 
 E. R. Colhoun, Lieutenant - Commander 
 Edward Simpson, Lieutenant-Commander 
 John L. Davis and Lieutenant-Commander 
 J. J. Cornwell, are spoken of in terms of 
 high commendation for their gallantry and 
 the ability they displayed in handling their 
 vessels in the narrow channel on an ob- 
 scure night. 
 
 On September 7th, arrangements were 
 made to open fire upon Wagner from the 
 trenches, and from all the iron-clads, which 
 fire was to be followed at 9 o'clock at night 
 by an assault. A steady cannonade had 
 been maintained against the work on the 
 6th from the trenches and from the " Iron- 
 sides;" but in the meantime a deserter had 
 gone over to General Grillmore with the in- 
 formation that the Confederates were 
 evacuating the works; they had stood the 
 siege as long as they could, had gone 
 through fire enough to drive out any but 
 American troops, and now evacuated to es- 
 cape the assault which they knew would 
 come at night. We cannot help but admire 
 the courage of these brave fellows, though 
 they were fighting against us in a bad 
 cause. We cannot help thinking how those 
 men would fight against a foreign foe! 
 
 On the 7th of September, General Gill- 
 
 more made the following report to General 
 Halleck : 
 
 Genbral— I have the honor to report that Fort 
 Wagner and Battery Gregg are ours. Last night 
 our sappers mined the counterscarp of Fort Wag- 
 ner in its sea-point, unmasking all its guns, and the 
 order was given to carry the place by assault at 
 9 o'clock this morning, that being the hour of low 
 tide. 
 
 About 10 o'clock last night the enemy commenced 
 to evacuate the island, and all but seventy -five of 
 them made their escape from Cumming's Point in 
 small boats. 
 
 Captured dispatches show that Fort Wagner was 
 commanded by Col. Keitt, of South Carolina, and 
 garrisoned T)y 1,400 effective men, and Battery 
 Gregg by from 100 to 200 men. 
 
 Fort Wagner is a work of the most formidable 
 kind. The bomb-proof shelter, capable of contaia- 
 ing 1,800 men, remains intact after the most terri- 
 ble bombardment to which any work was ever sub- 
 jected. 
 
 We have captured nineteen pieces of artillery 
 and a large supply of excellent ammunition. 
 
 The city and harbor of Charleston are now com- 
 pletely covered by my guns. 
 
 I have the honor to be, etc., etc., 
 
 Q. A. GiLLMORE, 
 
 Brigadier-Qeneral, Commanding. 
 
 After the evacuation of Wagner and 
 Gregg, Rear -Admiral Dahlgren, having 
 ineffectually demanded the surrender of 
 Fort Sumter, on the ground of its indefensi- 
 bility, determined to try a plan by which 
 that work might be captured ; and, as a 
 preliminary, ordered the "Weehawken" 
 to pass in by a narrow channel winding 
 about Cumming's Point, so as to cut of all 
 communication in that direction. In so 
 doing, the "Weehawken" grounded, and, 
 though at low water, did not succeed in 
 floating on the next high tide. Later 
 in the day, the rear-admiral moved up in 
 the "Ironsides," with the Monitors, to feel 
 and, if possible, pass the obstructions north 
 of Sumter. Moultrie, Battery Bee and Fort 
 Beauregard quickly opened on the iron- 
 clads, which returned the fire very warmly, 
 and continued to do so until it becanae 
 necessary to pay attention to the "Wee- 
 hawken." Steam-tugs and hawsers were 
 provided for getting her off. but without 
 success, even at high water, as already 
 stated. At 7 a. m. the enemy perceived 
 her condition, and began to fire upon her 
 from Moultrie, about 3,000 vards distant. 
 The iron-clads were ordered up to cover the 
 grounded Monitor, which meanwhile re- 
 plied to the enemy's fire, and, in less than 
 half an hour, blew up one of the Confed- 
 erate rhagazines. At the next high water 
 the "Weehawken" was fortunatelv floated, 
 after the most strenuous efforts" of Com- 
 mander Colhoun, officers and crew. The 
 only casualties on board the "Weehawken" 
 on this occasion were three men wounded 
 by a shot from Battery Bee. 
 
 Up to this time the operations of the 
 Navy had been well conducted. There was 
 
OF THE CIVIL -WAR. 
 
 447 
 
 a perfect co-operation between the com- 
 manders of the respective forces; and, as 
 the Army advanced its parallels and breach- 
 ing batteries toward Wagner, the ' ' Iron- 
 sides" and the Monitors advanced on the 
 water, keeping up a well-directed fire, the 
 effect of all which is shown by its evacua- 
 tion on the 7th of September. 
 
 General Gillmore and his chief of artillery 
 had given the most satisfactory account of 
 the damage done to Sumter by the breach- 
 ing of the gorge wall and the dismounting 
 of most of the guns, and had also asserted 
 " that it was no longer of any practical 
 use to Charleston harbor as an offensive 
 work." This was pretty well demonstrated 
 when the " Weehawken" got hard and fast 
 aground in the channel, between Sumter 
 and Cumming's Point, and Sumter could 
 not fire upon her for lack of guns. Sumter 
 was now, in fact, nothing but an outpost to 
 be held by the enemy as a matter of pride — 
 nothing more — and without power to in- 
 flict a particle of injury on any one, unless 
 it might be a party that attempted to gain 
 admission over the debris that blocked the 
 entrances, and afforded no footing for a 
 party of boarders. A small party within, 
 however, could easily bar the way or inflict 
 serious injury upon an attacking-party that 
 might attempt to take the work by assault. 
 AH these matters had been very fully dis- 
 cussed, but it does not appear that General 
 Gillmore was consulted as to the feasibility 
 of an attempt to take Sumter by assault, or 
 applied to for the assistance of his steady 
 and practiced assaulters, who had had con- 
 siderable experience in attacking forts. 
 Brave and dashing as sailors may be, for 
 this kind of business they lack that steady 
 movement and discipline which makes an 
 attacking force a unit, and carries every- 
 thing before it ; while sailors, drilled to 
 board a ship with a cheer and a rush, have 
 a less methodical way, which may succeed; 
 if checked for one moment by regulars and 
 steady troops in an operation of the kind 
 on shore, the chances are that they will be 
 driven back and cut to pieces or captured 
 in the retreat. 
 
 Whether Rear- Admiral Dahlgren consid- 
 ered these matters or not is not known, but 
 he nevertheless determined to make a naval 
 assault on Sumter on the night of Septem- 
 ber 8th, The supposition is that he did not 
 consider military assistance requisite. 
 Viewed as a military move, the attempt to 
 assault Sumter was a grave mistake; there 
 was no necessity for it, and General Gill- 
 more was already moving forward his 
 heavy breaching-guns to cover Charleston 
 and all the forts in the upper harbor; and 
 would, in a few days, have made Sumter a 
 still more useless heap of rubbish than it 
 was already. Again, it is questionable 
 
 whether the military etiquette properly ob- 
 servable on such an occasion was not vio- 
 lated in attempting to take possession of a 
 work destroyed principally by army guns, 
 without extending an invitation to the gen- 
 eral commanding to participate in the pro- 
 jected assault. 
 
 Dahlgren claimed that, if successful, the 
 assault would enable him to pass the ob- 
 structions in the main channel with his 
 fleet. He therefore directed that a storm- 
 ing party should be formed, and called for 
 volunteers. No matter what may be the 
 danger for officers and sailors to face, there 
 is never any difficulty in getting volunteers 
 in the American Navy, and such was the 
 case on this ocasion. The following offi- 
 cers came forward and offered their services 
 at once: Commander T. H. Stevens, Lieu- 
 tenant Moreau Forrest, Lieutenant -Com- 
 mander E. P. Williams, Lieutenant George 
 C. Remey, Lieutenant S. W. Preston, Lieu- 
 tenant F. J. Higginson, Ensign Charles H. 
 Craven, Lieutenant -Commander F. M. 
 Bunce, Lieutenant E. T. Brower, Ensign 
 James Wallace and Ensign B. H. Porter; 
 also the following officers of the Marine 
 Corps : Captain C. G. McCawley, First- 
 Lieutenant Charles H. Bradford, First- 
 Lieutenant John C. Harris, Second -Lieu- 
 tenant R. L. Meade, Second - Lieutenant 
 Lyman P. Wallace and Second-Lieutenant 
 L. E. Fagan. 
 
 Of these officers. Commander T. H. Ste- 
 vens was selected to command the expedi- 
 tion, while the following were appointed to 
 command divisions of tlie assaulting force: 
 First division. Lieutenant-Commander E. 
 P.Williams; 2d division. Lieutenant George 
 C. Remey; 3d division, Lieutenant S. W. 
 Preston ; 4th division. Lieutenant F. J. 
 Higginson; and 5th division. Ensign Charles 
 H. Craven. 
 
 Upon applying to General Gillmore for 
 more boats to carry the sailors and marines. 
 Rear- Admiral Dahlgren learned/or the first 
 time that Gillmore was about to make an 
 assault on Sumter the same night. It is 
 stated that when this information was re- 
 ceived by Dahlgren it was late in the 
 evening, and, owing to the want of inter- 
 service signals, there was no concert with 
 the Army contingent in the further move- 
 ments. It was 10 o'clock at night when the 
 boats started off for Sumter in tow of a tug. 
 On the way, the party communicated with 
 the " Passaic " and " Montauk," giving or- 
 ders to their respective commanders to 
 move up to their support. When within 
 eight hundred yards of the fort, the tug 
 cast off the boats, and the orders regarding 
 the operations of the night, as well as the 
 watchword, were given out 
 
 Lieutenant Higginson was ordered to 
 move up to the northwest front of the fort, 
 
448 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 with his division, for the purpose of making 
 a diversion, wliile the remainder of tlie di- 
 visions were ordered to close up and wait 
 for the order to advance upon the southeast 
 point. The intention of Commander Ste- 
 vens was to wait until he had the full bene- 
 fit of Lieutenant Higginson's diversion; but 
 mistaking his movement, no doubt, as a 
 general one, and with a true spirit of emu- 
 lation and gallantry, many of the other 
 boats dashed on to the fort. Finding it 
 impossible to stop them, the order was 
 given along the line for all to advance. 
 
 The Confederates were quite prepared for 
 this adventure, as was natural for good 
 soldiers who had received orders to hold 
 Sumter at all hazards, and as soon as the 
 boats came within good range they were 
 met with a fire of musketry and hand- 
 grenades, lighted shells and grape and can- 
 ister; and simultaneously, at a signal from 
 Sumter, Moultrie, together with the gun- 
 boats and rams, opened fire on the base of 
 the fort, where all the boats were landing 
 
 Eell-mell, each man of the crew wantmg to 
 e the first to scale the walls. 
 This is exactly what ought to have been 
 anticipated under the circumstances, for 
 to suppose that the Confederates, having 
 such a commanding position, with all the 
 means of offence and defence for such an 
 occasion, would' not avail themselves of 
 them, would be underrating that gallantry, 
 energy and fertility of purpose for which 
 they had been remarkable in defending 
 these fortifications from the very begin- 
 ning. 
 
 It must have been mere sport to the Con- 
 federates to see those boats rushing on 
 heedlessly to destruction or capture, for 
 only a miracle — something that never oc- 
 curs in war — could save such an assault 
 from anniliilation. That there was great 
 gallantry exhibited in this attempt to cap- 
 ture Sumter no one will deny; but there was 
 not a ghost of a chance of success from the 
 very commencement. 
 
 Several of the boats, among them two 
 from the "Powhatan," had gained a land- 
 ing; but the evidences of the garrison's 
 preparation were so apparent, as well as 
 the impossibility of scaling the walls or 
 even effecting a permanent landing, that 
 orders were given for the boats to be with- 
 drawn, which was done under a withering 
 fire. All who succeeded in leaving the 
 boats were either killed or taken prisoners; 
 boats were smashed by the fire of the ene- 
 my's batteries and gun-boats, and it was 
 as much as the survivors could do to get 
 clear of the base of the fort. 
 
 In this affair there was naturally great 
 confusion when the officers and men dis- 
 covered that a fort they had been led to be- 
 lieve lay a heap of ruins and powerless was 
 
 filled with men armed with breech-loading 
 rifies, plenty of hand-grenades and shells 
 ready for lighting, besides having grape 
 and canister to fire from selected positions 
 into crowded boats. The defences only re- 
 quired a dozen or more Gatling guns to 
 make them complete. 
 
 As it was, all the sailors in the fleet could 
 not have taken Sumter, even with the as- 
 sistance of the contingent General Gillmore 
 intended to supply. We know that now; 
 we ought to have known it then. But, with 
 all the disaster which followed this unfor- 
 tuate assault, there was exhibited the most 
 unflinching courage, the sternest devotion 
 to a duty which, at the outset, must have 
 seemed to many beyond the possibility of ex- 
 ecution. 
 
 To show the difficulties attending night • 
 operations of this kind, we will give part 
 of the report of Ensign Wallace, in which 
 that officer explains how, in the meUe, he 
 followed the leading boat around the fort, 
 pulled back and examined the sea-face in 
 search of a landing; then, on coming to the 
 right bastion of the sea-face, he found the 
 marines firing from boats. He could find 
 no officer to report to, and no one could tell 
 him whether the men had landed, or where 
 they were. Seeing a sinking boat, he pulled 
 toward it, but found that all its crew had 
 been removed or were drowned. ITpon re- 
 turning to the fort, he examined the sea- 
 face and gorge wall; he observed all the 
 boats retreating, and, on inquiring from 
 one of them, was told that Commander 
 Stevens had given the order to retreat. En- 
 sign Wallace could obtain no information 
 upon which to act, and seeing no boats 
 between him and the fort, he pulled back 
 to the flag-ship, where he first learned that 
 Lieutenant Remey, with his boat's crew, 
 had landed on Sumter. 
 
 This report is a fair example of all. and 
 the affair was like many night expeditions, 
 which generally end unfortunately, especi- 
 ally when not well planned beforehand. A 
 further unhappy feature of this expedition 
 was the delusion, under which the assault- 
 ing party labored, that it was going to an 
 easy victory. Instead, a well-manned fort 
 was found, supplied with all the disagree- 
 able missiles known in war, and well sup- 
 ported by powerful batteries within easy 
 range. 
 
 The less said about this expedition the 
 better ; it was a most unfortunate failure, 
 and its acts of gallantry and daring cannot 
 compensate for the repulse. Certain it is, 
 however, that no blame could attach to the 
 members of the expedition, who could not 
 be expected to achieve success under condi- 
 tions so adverse, and who could not for 
 the darkness even see the difficulties they 
 were obliged to contend with. The Coii- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 449 
 
 federates, it appears, knew all about the at- 
 tempt that was to be made on Sumter, and 
 met it with every precautionary measure 
 that ingenuity could devise. Had the army 
 of General Gillmore joined in the assault 
 there would have been the same result, 
 with the addition of a longer list of casual- 
 ties. 
 
 A flag of truce notified Eear- Admiral 
 Dahlgren on the following morning that 
 "there were one hundred and thirty prisoners 
 in the enemy's hands, besides three of the 
 killed. Among tne prisoners were the fol- 
 lowing officers: Lieutenants S. W. Preston 
 and E. T. Brower, Ensigns B. H. Porter and 
 Charles H. Craven, Third- Assistant En- 
 gineer J. H. Harmany, Sail-maker D. C. 
 Brayton, Acting-Master's Mates E. Butler, 
 C. P. Hovey and C. S. McCarty. Captain 
 McCawley, of the Marine Corps, reports 
 that there were two lieutenants (C. H. Brad- 
 ford and R. L. Meade), two sergeants, two 
 corporals and twenty-six privates missing, 
 and that great confusion existed at the 
 landing. 
 
 Thus ended, for the time, the offensive 
 operations against Charleston, with the ex- 
 ception that the vessels of the fleet remained 
 at their posts, ready for any service required 
 of them, and in no way disabled from con- 
 tinuing the attacks in conjunction with the 
 Army or otherwise. The iron-clads had 
 bravely sustained their reputation as good 
 fighting machines, and all the officers had 
 fairly earned the title of gallant men and 
 able seamen, which was demonstrated time 
 a,fter time in the shallow and difficult chan- 
 nel leading up to Wagner and Sumter. 
 
 Among the vessels of the fleet, the "New 
 Ironsides," which was not considered com- 
 parable with the Monitors in invulnerability, 
 took more than her share of the pounding, 
 and came out of the contest with Wagner 
 with as many honorable scars as any vet- 
 eran in the fleet could boast of. The hand- 
 some manner in which her gallant com- 
 mander. Captain S. C. Eowan, handled her 
 and took her into action, always elicited the 
 applause of the fleet; and it was only neces- 
 sary for her to get her broadside guns prop- 
 erly ranged on the enemy's ponderous earth- 
 works for their defenders to go to cover 
 after a few well-directed shots, only to 
 renew their flre, however, when her bat- 
 teries were silent. 
 
 It was remarkable how much hammering 
 this good old ship could bear, even from the 
 heaviest of the enemy's batteries. When 
 the "Weehawken" went ashore in the 
 channel, between Sumter and Cumming's 
 Point, Captain Rowan placed his ship right 
 between the batteries of Moultrie and the 
 Monitor, on which they had opened fire. 
 As Rowan anchored and swung head-on to 
 the fort, the enemy opened a rapid fire upon 
 
 him, which was soon replied to from the 
 "Ironsides'" port battery. By this time 
 the enemy had succeeded in getting the 
 ship's range. The sturdy old "Ironsides" 
 opened slowly at first for range, but soon 
 increased the rapidity of her fire, until its 
 spirit forced Moultrie to slacken. Two guns 
 from each of the 10-inch batteries between 
 Moultrie and Beauregard, however, still 
 caused the "Ironsides" to suffer, and only 
 after one of the heaviest guns was seen to 
 be dismounted did the forts slacken their 
 fire again. Having quieted her enemies, 
 the "Ironsides" now fired an occasional 
 gun to keep them under cover. This cessa- 
 tion, however, immediately brought them 
 from behind their sand-bags to their guns, 
 from which a rapid flre was opened, show- 
 ing that the "Ironsides'" practice was too 
 accurate to suit them. Rowan then re- 
 newed his rapid fire, and the forts were 
 silenced again — it was but a repetition of 
 what had been done at Wagner. By this 
 time there were but thirty shells left in the 
 ship, and the order was given to weigh the 
 anchor. Under a rapid flre, the "Iron- 
 sides" quietly went out of action, after 
 having been engaged two hours and a half 
 in an artillery duel such as was never sus- 
 tained by any ship in the Navy, and against 
 batteries that would have sunk the heaviest 
 three-decker then afloat. 
 
 In this action Lieutenant H. B. Robeson, 
 Acting - Masters George W. Domett and 
 John M. Skillings, Ensign B. H. Porter and 
 Acting - Ensign Charles W. Howard are 
 spoken of in terms of the highest praise for 
 their coolness and manly bearing; while 
 Lieutenant-Commander George E. Belknap, 
 the executive officer of the "Ironsides," is 
 highly lauded for his zeal and ability in 
 putting the vessel in such an efficient fight- 
 ing condition, and for the hearty manner 
 in which he had carried out Captain 
 Rowan's orders as commander of the gun- 
 deck during the /owr^eew times the "Iron- 
 sides " had been under fire. Encounters of 
 this kind were well calculated to develop 
 the highest qualities of young officers, and 
 the names of those above mentioned will 
 be found prominent wherever an opportu- 
 nity to distinguish themselves was offered. 
 
 There was no vessel in the fieet the en- 
 emy so heartily dreaded as the "Ironsides." 
 Her well-drilled crew and expert gunners 
 made her anything but welcome when she 
 brought her broadside to bear upon any of 
 the forts. The Confederates made several 
 attempts to destroj' her with torpedoes, but 
 without effect. On the night of the 5th of 
 October, 1863, however, they very nearly 
 succeeded. 
 
 An ingenious torpedo-boat — for the day — 
 was fitted out at Charleston, and placed in 
 charge of Lieutenant W. T. Glassell, of the 
 
450 
 
 THE JSAVAE m^blUlil 
 
 Confederate navy, with orders to operate 
 against and destroy as many of the iron- 
 clads as possible. Glassell was assisted by 
 Captain Theodore Stoney as first-officer, J. 
 H. Toombs, engineer, and Charles Scemps 
 and Joseph Abies as assistants. The vessel 
 belonged to a class known as "Davids," 
 and was shaped like a cigar, being supplied 
 with a small engine and propeller, and was 
 of the following dimensions : Length, fifty 
 feet; beam (or diameter), nine feet. For 
 offence, a torpedo was carried at the end of 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW COMMODORE) GEORGE E. 
 BELKNAP, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE "IRONSIDES." 
 
 a stout spar, extending some fifteen feet 
 ahead of the sharp bow. 
 
 When the attempted destruction of the 
 " Ironsides " occurred, that vessel was an- 
 chored off Morris Island, and the time, 9:15 
 p. M., was one at which a ship's deck is apt 
 to be deserted except by the look-outs. A 
 small object on the dark water, close at 
 hand, was suddenly discovered by the sen- 
 tinels, and hailed by them, and the officer 
 of the deck, Acting-Ensign C. W. Howard. 
 No response being made, the officer of the 
 deck ordered the sentries to fire into the ob- 
 ject. The sentries delivered their fire, and, 
 simultaneously, the ship received a severe 
 shock from the explosion of a torpedo, which 
 
 threw a large column of water into the air, 
 whence it descended upon the spar-deck 
 and into the engine-room. Acting-Ensign 
 Howard was mortally wounded by a shot 
 from the torpedo-boat, dying five days 
 later. The proximity of the " David " and 
 the limited target presented by its only 
 visible part— a hatch ten feet by two— pre- 
 cluded the use of great guns upon it; but a 
 brisk musket fire was kept upon it by the 
 marines until it drifted out of sight. Two 
 of the Monitors soon came under the stern 
 of the "Ironsides" in pursuit of this new 
 device of the enemy, but, although two 
 boats were lowered to assist in the search, 
 nothing was seen. 
 
 Fortunately, no damage to the "Iron- 
 sides " resulted from this explosion, and her 
 salvation was, no doubt, due to a miscalcu- 
 lation of the distance of the torpedo from 
 the hull. Lieutenant Glassell was afterward 
 picked up by a coal schooner, and stated 
 that the explosion had swamped the torpedo- 
 boat, and that he and the two officers with 
 him had been obliged to leave her and swim, 
 for their lives. 
 
 Here was a new danger for the fleet to 
 contend with, and even more than the cus- 
 tomary watchfulness would have to be ob- 
 served. The North, with all its resources, 
 had not then developed a torpedo-boat (nor 
 are we yet, in 1886, possessed of an efficient 
 one), while the fleet at Charleston should 
 have been supplied with at least twenty of 
 them I T/ie?/ would have removed all ob- 
 structions much faster than our energetic 
 enemy could have put them down, and the 
 way to Charleston would have been open to 
 the fleet. 
 
 The 5th of October was memorable for 
 the advent of this new device of the enemy, 
 and we were no nearer Charleston than we 
 were on April 7th, when DuPont attacked 
 the circle of forts without success. Wagner 
 and Gregg had, indeed, been taken, but 
 Sumter, that had been pronounced a harm- 
 less heap of rubbish, had not only repulsed 
 the naval assaulters, but had captured one 
 hundred and thirty prisoners, whom, under 
 the circumstances, the Confederates dealt 
 with very tenderly, considering the fact 
 that they had them in a trap, and might 
 have destroyed the whole of them. This 
 leniency gives a proof that, as the war con- 
 tinued, both sides were learning to conduct 
 it on civilized principles, and the bitterness 
 with which it had commenced was subsid- 
 ing, so far that it was not considered un- 
 warlike to capture prisoners instead of kill- 
 ing them, and that it was to the advantage 
 of all concerned to observe the amenities 
 of war as practiced by all civilized nations. 
 In considering the attacks of Dahlgren 
 with his little fleet of iron-clads on Charles- 
 ton's defences, too much cannot be said in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 451 
 
 praise of the persistent gallantry and untir- 
 ing energy of the commander-in-chief and 
 his officers; but in the work accomplished 
 there was the strongest endorsement of 
 Rear- Admiral DuPont and of the views of his 
 officers — that the naval force was not strong 
 enough to contend successfully with the 
 well-built and formidable forts included in 
 the great " circle of fire," to say nothing of 
 the submarine and other obstructions bar- 
 ring the way to Charleston. 
 
 With all Dahlgren's incessant fighting, 
 from the time of his first attack to the 8th 
 of September, 1863, he had not advanced be- 
 yond the line whence DuPont had engaged 
 the batteries on the 7th of April previously. 
 True, some of the Confederate force had 
 been broken in the fall of Wagner and 
 Gregg, but only after the junction of Gill- 
 more's sixty guns with those of the iron- 
 clads in cross-fire. It was the same result 
 that obtained on the Western rivers, success 
 always attended a hearty co-operation be- 
 tween the military and naval forces, and 
 failure as surely met the single - handed 
 siege operations of either. 
 
 Too much was expected of the Monitors 
 in the first instance. The conception of such 
 vessels was a grand one, and for it the 
 inventor and his supporters will live long in 
 the memory of the American people; but 
 the vessels did not possess all the qualities 
 required of them, since much had to be 
 sacrificed in their design. Against wooden 
 ships or vessels more lightly clad than them- 
 selves, they would have proved perfectly 
 destructive — premising equality of speed 
 for all — but against forts they lacked quali- 
 ties possessed by the "Ironsides." They 
 could not concentrate the rapid fire possible 
 for a broadside-ship upon the enemy's em- 
 brasures, and while they were slowly load- 
 ing — harmless for five or more minutes at a 
 time — the guns of their opponents could be 
 concentrated upon them with destruc- 
 tive effect, as on the 7th of April. It was a 
 matter of frequent observation during the 
 attacks on the batteries, that the rapid fire 
 of the " New Ironsides " always relieved the 
 Monitors after she had settled into position, 
 and fairly obtained the range. 
 
 There was one great mistake made in the 
 armament of the Monitors : they should 
 have been armed throughout with the 
 heaviest rifled guns they could carry. With 
 these they could have taken position be- 
 tween four and five thousand yards from 
 Sumter and cut it down at their leisure, 
 without receiving a shot in return. This was 
 exactly what Gillmore did with his sixty 
 breaching-gunSjlodging over three thousand 
 shells in the devoted fort, and making it a 
 ruin in seven days. The 15-inch guns of the 
 Monitors would, no doubt, have breached 
 the walls and have effected the same results. 
 
 but the short range necessary would have 
 subjected these vessels to a combined fire 
 of all the batteries, which they were not 
 fitted to endure for any protracted period. 
 
 The disappointment felt at the Navy 
 Department over the failure of the first at- 
 tack, and the resulting controversies, no 
 doubt, prevented a calm investigation of 
 the facts, from which the iron-clads might 
 have profited. If a careful study of the 
 case had been made by unprejudiced men, 
 or if DuPont had been listened to, the Moni- 
 tors would have had their batteries changed 
 for the 200-pounder rifles. The author saw 
 enough of. the firing of the Monitors — at 
 pretty short ranges — at sand-bags, to know 
 that the effect was trifling compared with 
 the more rapid flre of the " Ironsides' " fl- 
 inch guns with their higher velocity, and 
 these were greatly exceeded by the larger 
 rifled guns made for the Navy. The age of 
 smooth-bores departed with the advent of 
 iron-clad vessels, and the most probable 
 reason for their retention during the war 
 was the treacherous character of the rifled 
 substitutes of large calibre, besides the fact 
 that the Dahlgren shell-guns were favorite 
 weapons, the 11-inch standing next in effi- 
 ciency to the heavy rifles. The earlier use 
 of rifles might have followed from the ex- 
 ample shown at Pulaski, a fort built by 
 Colonel Totten, a veteran chief of engineers, 
 to resist any fleet that could be brought 
 against it. With a few 30-pdr. and 60-pdr. 
 rifles, the work was bored through and 
 through its masonry until honeycombed, 
 when a few shot from 10-inch guns brought 
 the disintegrated structure down about its 
 defenders' ears. 
 
 The naval historian Boynton attempts to 
 show that the 15-inch guns of the Monitors 
 had great smashing eff ect.because two of the 
 shells passed through the walls of Sumter, 
 " one exploding in a casemate, another ex- 
 ploding on the parade ground; other lo-inch 
 shells exploded against the wall, making 
 great craters." And this, the historian 
 thought, settled the point that these guns 
 were of great smashing power. He, how- 
 ever, fails to mention what number of the 
 many that struck the walls did not go 
 through, and how little damaged Sumter 
 was when the iron-clads drew off. Mr. 
 Boynton, though a very pleasant historian, 
 was not good authority upon the matter of 
 which he wrote, and, with all his desire to 
 do justice, he allowed himself to be guided 
 in his opinions by those riding a hobby, and, 
 unfortunately, a defective one. 
 
 Concerning the siege of Charleston : at this 
 day, when men can sit down coolly, and 
 untrammeled by prejudice, read over'all the 
 operations of the naval force, there can be 
 but one conclusion resulting — there was too 
 great a hurry in the effort to capture a posi- 
 
453 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 tion particularly strong, and in which all 
 the arts of war had been exercised for abil- 
 ity to hurl defiance at the Federal forces. 
 
 Notwithstanding the actual strength of 
 Charleston, exaggerated accounts have been 
 given out stating the number of guns to be 
 as high as three hundred and thirty. The 
 Confederate accounts, which there seems 
 no reason to doubt, gave the armament of 
 the woj-ks as follows: Sumter 44, Moultrie 
 21, Battery Bee G, Fort Beauregard 3, Cum- 
 ming's Point 2, and Wagner 19; total 94. 
 To these must be added the batteries at Fort 
 Ripley, Castle Pinckney, Mount Pleasant, 
 Fort Johnson, Battery Gregg, and the Creek 
 batteries. 
 
 Altogether, the naval commanders, and 
 all with them, deserve high commendation 
 for accomplishing what they did before 
 Charleston; their efforts, though not success- 
 ful in capture, rendered the place of not the 
 slightest use to the Confederacy even as a 
 resort for blockade-runners, whence sup- 
 plies from abroad could be received. On 
 the contrary, its possession was a drawback 
 to them, for its defence necessitated the re- 
 tention there of a large number of troops, 
 elsewhere sadly needed by the enemy in the 
 field, and it may be said that the place was 
 only held as a matter of pride, that the spot 
 where secession first took root and sprouted 
 should be the last to surrender. 
 
 By some persons the conduct of the war by 
 the naval commanders has been criticised, 
 on the ground that they did not rush through 
 the obstructions and go right on to the 
 wharves of Charleston. As if, indeed, the 
 Confederates would plant obstructions with- 
 out due care that they should stop any 
 vessel attempting to pass them under the 
 guns of the forts ! What a predicament for 
 the commander of a squadron to be in, to get 
 his vessels entangled in a network of piles, 
 ropes, chains, and torpedoes — all the while 
 under a terrific cross-fire — and then to be 
 blamed for his stupidity! 
 
 Mr. Boynton admits that, on the 7th of 
 April, DuPont's fleet " was huddled together 
 helplessly in the very focus of a hundred 
 guns, and held there during the stress of 
 the fight." How it was to be otherwise the 
 historian does not say, but further along 
 remarks: " A short time only was needed to 
 show that Admiral DuPont was mistaken in 
 all his main opinions; the subsequent use of 
 the Monitors by Admiral Dahlgren proved 
 that they could safely have endured another 
 fight with the forts. He found that the 
 broadsides of the "New Ironsides" could 
 sweep the Confederates from their guns 
 whenever she was brought in proper range, 
 and that she was a valuable co-worker with 
 the Monitors. Dahlgren also demonstrated 
 that the " Ironsides " and Monitors could 
 
 lie safely within the bar, and that with his 
 iron-clads the harbor of Charleston was ef- 
 fectually closed." 
 
 The iron-clads, under Dahlgren, never 
 came within the "great circle of fire of the 
 forts," and though it is true that the fire of 
 the "Ironsides" would silence Wagner's 
 guns, yet she was not brought into close 
 contact with that fort until she had the as- 
 sistance of Gillmore's batteries. Firing at 
 Wagner, and forcing the passage of all the 
 forts entangled in obstructions, are two 
 different things altogether, as would have 
 been ascertained by a practical comparison. 
 
 Fortunately, the representations made at 
 the close of the war have been carefully ex- 
 amined, and, in most cases, found un- 
 worthy of record. In this case, for instance, 
 how could it be expected that a man who 
 had no naval training, and had failed to 
 post himself from official documents, could 
 write a true history of naval operations ? 
 Throughout his account of the naval work 
 before Charleston he has labored most ar- 
 duously to take from a gallant ofiicer the 
 high reputation he had so fairly won, while 
 endeavoring to elevate another at his ex- 
 pense. 
 
 Dahlgren himself must have seen, from 
 DuPont's first attack, that all efforts in that 
 particular direction would be futile ; he 
 wisely concluded to avail himself of the ad- 
 vantages to be gained by a close co-opera- 
 tion with the Army. If he did not succeed 
 in all he hoped for, he at least demonstrated 
 that a naval force alone could have no ef- 
 fect on the capture of Charleston. 
 
 The most remarkable piece of assurance 
 in connection with the Charleston affairs 
 was that of an engineer in the Navy, who, 
 in view of DuPont's failure, addressed the 
 Navy Department, and criticised the con- 
 duct of the fleet in a manner that should 
 have brought him before a court-martial. 
 How could any commander-in-chief hope 
 to possess the confidence of his Government 
 while officious subordinates were allowed 
 to give their views directly in opposition to 
 his plans, and suggesting what, in their 
 opmion, should be the mode of attack ? Yet 
 this man not only stated that the passage 
 of the forts was possible, but that the squad- 
 ron could go up to the Charleston wharves. 
 
 Again, we say, that the best endorsement 
 of DuPont's opinions is the hard work of 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren from the first co- 
 operation with General Gillmore, July 10th, 
 to the unfortunate assault of September 8th 
 on bumter, two months in which the fleet 
 never succeeded in passing the fort that 
 was '• useless for all offensive purposes " 
 
 With this chapter ends the operations of 
 the Navy before Charleston to October, 
 1863. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIl. 
 
 OPERATIONS OF THE EAST GULF SQUADRON TO OCTOBER, 1863. 
 
 Acting-Rear- Admiral Bailey Appointed to Command East Gulp Squadron. — Vessels 
 Captured or Destroyed. — Places of Safety. — Destruction of Confederate Salt 
 Works A Necessity. — Attempt to "Cut" out Schooner in Mosquito Inlet. — 
 Expedition up Indian River and other Points. — Capture of Schooner and 
 Sloop. — Lieutenant - Commander English in Gun-boat "Sagamore" Explores 
 Coast. — Value of Property Seized. — Violation of Blockade. — The Sloop 
 " Helen " Burnt. — Brisk Engagement with Confederate Batteries. — Destruc- 
 tion op Schooner. — River Expeditions under Lieutenant-Commander McCauley. 
 — Disastrous Reconnaissance at St. Andrew's Bay. — Flag of Truce used as 
 Decoy by the Natives. — The " Tahoma" Shells a Town. — Boat's Crew from Bark 
 "Amanda" Cut out Schooner " Forward." — Loss of Prize." — Heroic Conduct of 
 Master Hoffneb and Men. — Tribute to Gallant Volunteers. — Destruction op 
 Important Salt Works by Boat's Crew from Steamer "Somerset." — "Tahoma" 
 AND "Adela" Shell Confederate Batteries. — Destruction op Two Blockade- 
 running Steamers in Hillsboro River. — Blockade-running Broken Up. — List of 
 Vessels Composing East Gulf Squadron under Acting- Rear-Admiral Bailey. — 
 List of Officers. 
 
 ACTING Rear -Admiral Theodorus 
 Bailey was appointed to the com- 
 mand of the East Gulf squadron 
 on the 4th of June, 1862. 
 The Navy Department had found 
 an opportunity to reward this gallant offi- 
 cer for his services at New Orleans, and 
 although no important military or naval 
 movements were going on within the limits 
 of this command, it was the only way in 
 which the Secretary of the Navy could show 
 his high appreciation of Bailey's gallantry 
 and devotion to his country's service. 
 
 The limits of this command extended 
 along the Florida Peninsula from Cape 
 Canaveral on the east, to Pensacola on the 
 west. 
 
 Up to December, 186.3, the little squad- 
 ron under Bailey had exercised the great- 
 est watchfulness along the coast, had 
 captured many prizes, and had apparently 
 broken up the illicit traffic by which the 
 Confederates had been supplied with mu- 
 nitions of war. Lying adjacent to Cuba, 
 and at no srreat distance from the Ene-lish 
 
 possessions of Nassau and Bermuda, the 
 coast of Florida presented many available 
 points for the introduction of all kinds 
 of material by means of small vessels 
 that could enter the shallow harbors, 
 streams and inlets with which this State 
 abounds. 
 
 But notwithstanding the advantages these 
 small craft possessed for eluding the block- 
 aders, they could not carry on their trade 
 with impunity. From the time that Bailey 
 took command, up to the end of the year, 
 more than 100 vessels were captured or 
 destroyed by the squadron. 
 
 From Cape Canaveral, all along the east- 
 ern shore of Florida to Cape Sable, are 
 numerous passages and inlets where ves- 
 sels could with safety land their cargoes 
 of amis or provisions in a night and be 
 out of sight of the blockaders when day- 
 light came. 
 
 Following the coast up to the northward 
 were the Ten Thousand Islands, Charlotte 
 Harbor, Tampa Bay, Crystal River, Cedar 
 Kevs. Suwanee River. AoDalache Bav. St. 
 
454 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 George's Bay, Appalachicola, St. Andrew's 
 Bay, and a thousand other places of refuge 
 too numerous to mention. Arms and muni- 
 tions of war of all kinds could have been 
 landed but for the watchfulness of the naval 
 vessels. 
 
 Florida, with its inaccessible and tortu- 
 ous channels, and numerous islands sur- 
 rounded by impenetrable swamps, was just 
 the place to tempt smugglers, they being 
 led there by the quantity of game and the 
 romantic scenery, and a delicious cli- 
 mate that harbored no diseases and ren- 
 dered the shelter of houses unnecessary. It 
 was a hard place to find smugglers, and 
 the Federal sailors had great difficulty in 
 breaking up the traffic; but it was done in 
 spite of all obstacles, and no more disagree- 
 able and at times dangerous duty was per- 
 formed anywhere. 
 
 Florida (especially the west coast) was 
 one of the great depots where the Confeder- 
 ates made their salt. This was an article 
 without which they could not exist, and it 
 could only be made in certain localities 
 near salt water. It may have been noticed 
 in the naval reports of the war that certain 
 vessels were mentioned as having destroyed 
 salt works, and persons may have ex- 
 claimed, "Why distress the poor by destroy- 
 ing their salt works? What good can it do 
 to destroy salt?" It was the life of the 
 Confederate army which they were destroj-- 
 ing. They could not pack their meats 
 without it. A soldier with a small piece of 
 boiled beef, six ounces of corn-meal and 
 four ounces of salt, was provisioned for 
 a three days' march. And though we 
 might have pitied the Confederate army 
 in the straits to which it was often re- 
 duced, yet the Federal officers, by way of 
 shortening the war, did all they could 
 to destroy salt works wherever they found 
 them. This distressed the soldiers more 
 than the loss of blockade-runners, for al- 
 though these vessels generally brought 
 plenty of guns and powder, their owners 
 were rarely thoughtful enough to lay in a 
 supply of salt. The history of these salt- 
 destroying expeditions may appear tame, 
 but they are part of the history of the war, 
 and if possible a place must be found for 
 them. 
 
 Early in the year 18G3, Acting-Master J. 
 A. Pennell reports the destruction of large 
 salt works near St. Joseph. He commanded 
 the bark " Ethan Allen " (a sailing vessel), 
 and, on the morning of the 9th of January, 
 got underway and stood up St. Joseph's 
 Bay. He anchored at daylight abreast of 
 where he supposed the saltworks to be, and 
 sent three armed boats (in charge of Acting- 
 Master A. Weston, his executive officer), 
 witJi forty men, to destroy them. The men 
 in charge of the works fled when the boats 
 
 landed, and everything was set on fire and 
 destroyed. 
 
 This establishment could make 75 bushels 
 of salt daily, and it was the fourth of the 
 kind that Master Pennell had destroyed 
 within a short time. At the same rate of 
 doing work, these four manufactories could 
 have turned out for the Confederate army 
 110,000 bushels of salt in a year. (The 
 Confederates had their agents in every State 
 where salt could be made, and in those days 
 the wants of the Army were first considered.) 
 
 Sometimes the boats of the squadron 
 would have something more interesting to 
 report than the capture of a salt crop. Late 
 in February, Lieutenant-Commander Earl 
 English, in conmiand of the gun-boat "Saga- 
 more," received information that a schooner 
 was in Mosquito Inlet, Florida, loading up 
 with cotton, the captain being of the opin- 
 ion that there was no blockading vessel in 
 the vicinity. 
 
 English proceeded to that point at once, 
 arriving there on the 28th, when the 
 schooner was discovered inside. An ex- 
 pedition was organized to cut her out or 
 burn her. 
 
 It was placed under the command of 
 Acting -Master's Mate J. A. Slamm, a very 
 young officer, but one who was full of 
 zeal. He took the ship's launch, with 
 Third - Assistant Engineer F. G. Coggin, 
 thirteen men and a howitzer; the first cutter 
 in charge of Acting-Master's Mate Frank E. 
 Ford with seven men; the second cutter in 
 charge of Acting- Master's Mate C. R. 
 Fleming with eleven men, and the gig in 
 charge of Acting-Master's Mate George B. 
 Sidell, five men; in all, forty -one officers 
 and men. 
 
 The boats proceeded up the river and 
 sighted the schooner without meeting any 
 resistance, when suddenly she was set on 
 fire by a party that ran "on board of her. 
 The cutters were then ordered to board, 
 extinguish the fire and bring the schooner 
 out, while the launch shelled the banks 
 and bushes with her howitzer. 
 
 While boarding, the sailors were fired 
 upon by a party of twenty-five men con- 
 cealed in the bushes behind the embank- 
 ment. Finding that the schooner was hard 
 and fast on the bottom, and that it was 
 impossible to extinguish the fire, the young 
 officer, having accomplished the object of 
 the expedition, determined to return to his 
 vessel. 
 
 Unfortunately, while in the act of board- 
 ing,Hugh Maguire, a seaman, was shot dead, 
 and most of the crew of the first cutter were 
 wounded. Acting-Master's Mate Ford, of the 
 first cutter, though wounded himself, shot 
 one of the enemy who was in the act of 
 firing upon the boarding party. 
 
 While the boats were returning, the enemy 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 455 
 
 continued to fire upon them, but a heavy 
 return fire of musketry and shrapnel was 
 kept up by the men, and some punishment 
 Avas, no doubt, inflicted. 
 
 The schooner was of 150 tons burden, all 
 ready to sail, but instead was given to the 
 flames by the advent of this brave little 
 party, which lost one killed and five 
 wounded. So it will be seen that this 
 affair, which lasted only twenty minutes, 
 was gallantly managed and was not with- 
 out danger. 
 
 On March 4th , Acting-Master's Mate Henry 
 A. Crane reports the results of an expedi- 
 tion up Indian River, under the instructions 
 of Lieutenant-Commander Earl English. 
 
 On the morning of February 33d, he started 
 in a boat and reached a cove five miles 
 above the mouth of St. Sebastian River, 
 and at 3 o'clock p. m. discovered a schooner 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMJMANDEE (NOW EEAB-ADMIRAL) EABL 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 "bearing down, apparently filled with men. 
 Prom their number and appearaiice it was 
 supposed that they were Confederates pre- 
 pared to act on the offensive. Mr. Crane's 
 boat was so disguised as to look like a boat 
 from a merchantman, so that the Confeder- 
 ates passed him unsuspiciously and went 
 on down the river. 
 
 He allowed the schooner to get well ahead 
 and then followed in her wake, until night 
 came on and she got into shoal water. 
 While her crew were employed in getting 
 her over the bar, the Union boat dashed 
 alongside and captured her. There were 
 twelve men on board, who no doubt would 
 have made a good fight if they had not been 
 taken by surprise. 
 
 Ordering the schooner's sails hoisted, 
 Mr. Crane started down the river, when he 
 discovered a sloop ahead, which he deter- 
 
 mined to run into and capture, but was in- 
 formed by one of his prisoners that she had 
 no crew and was full of cotton. He placed 
 two men in her, tlius reducing his party to 
 five, and ran down for the inlet (some eigh- 
 teen miles), reaching there on the morning 
 of the 27th, having been seventy-two hours 
 on the expedition with no sleep and very 
 little food. He took his prizes off to the 
 "Gem of the Sea," where he obtained assist- 
 ance to secure his prisoners and take care 
 of his vessels. 
 
 This was a small party, but of inflexible 
 firmness, to which they were indebted for 
 securing two vessels that netted them a 
 nice little sum in prize-money. Even so 
 small an affair, when well executed, is more 
 creditable than a great one poorly managed. 
 
 The only way of reaching the Confeder- 
 ates up the crooked and shallow streams 
 in Florida was by boat expeditions, and 
 Rear- Admiral Bailey kept his officers and 
 men well employed, giving all those who 
 deserved it an opportunity to distinguish 
 themselves. 
 
 On March 24th, 1863, he directed Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Earl English to proceed to 
 Cedar Keys with the gunboat " Sagamore," 
 taking with him two armed launches from 
 the fiag-ship "St. Lawrence," under the im- 
 mediate command of Acting - Lieutenant 
 E. Y. McCauley, for the purpose of scour- 
 ing the coast between the Suwanee River 
 and the Anclote Keys, where it was reported 
 a number of small craft were engaged in 
 violating the blockade. 
 
 There was no end to this kind of traffic 
 wherever there was a slip of land to haul a 
 boat upon, or a shallow stream where a 
 schooner could scrape her keel over the sand- 
 bar and proceed inland. When one con- 
 siders that this was going on all along 3,000 
 miles of coast, it will appear wonderful 
 how, even with the force the Federals had 
 on hand, they were able to put a stop to 
 the traffic which alone kept the Confederate 
 armies in the field. 
 
 During the war, over $30,000,000 worth of 
 this kind of property was seized and turned 
 into the Treasury — not a tithe of its value, 
 for a large portion of it went into the pos- 
 session of land -sharks, who rarely gave a 
 fair account of the money which passed 
 through their hands. But when the big 
 holes and the small leaks on the blockade 
 were all closed up, the tale was told at 
 Appomattox, where General Grant had to 
 serve out rations to Lee's soldiers and give 
 them enough to enable them to reach their 
 homes. 
 
 A launch and cutter from the " Saga- 
 more " and others from the "Fort Henry," 
 including an ambulance boat, were added 
 to this expedition and the whole force pro- 
 ceeded direct to Bavnort. -whilft tho " Sao-a.- 
 
456 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 more" remained in the offing to prevent the 
 escape of Confederate vessels. 
 
 Great difficulties attended this expedition, 
 as the weather was very imfavorable, but 
 the main object was handsomely carried 
 out. 
 
 The sloop "Helen," of Crystal River,loaded 
 with corn, was burnt, and the boats pushed 
 on for a large schooner on the inside, loaded 
 with cotton and said to contain three hun- 
 dred bales. 
 
 As they pulled for the schooner the boats 
 were opened upon by a battery of two guns 
 on shore, and by quite a number of rifle- 
 men concealed in the woods. A brisk en- 
 gagement of half an hour ensued and the 
 bushwhackers were driven from their works 
 and rifle-pits, with one killed and three 
 wounded. Unfortunately, the howitzers in 
 the launches were partly disabled, by their 
 recoil, from rapid use, but they kept up such 
 a fire, while they could, with shrapnel and 
 
 LIEUTENAl^T-COMMANDEB (NOW EEAR-ADMIBAL) EDWARD 
 YORK MoCAULEY. 
 
 grape, that the enemy's flre was very wild, 
 and went over the boats. 
 
 This little afl'air was conducted with cool- 
 ness and judgment, and also with the right 
 spirit. 
 
 When the Confederates found that the 
 boats could not be driven off, they set fire 
 to the schooner. The engagement was still 
 continued from the boats until there was 
 no chance of extinguishing the flames, and 
 it is quite probable the Confederates were 
 delighted to think the attacking party 
 would secure no prize. The object of the 
 expedition having been effected, the party 
 in the boats returned, after seeing the ves- 
 sel and cargo totally consumed. 
 
 This boat expedition then proceeded to the 
 Chassahowitzka, thence to Crystal River, 
 the Homosassa, the Withlacoochee and the 
 
 Wakassa — beautiful Indian names, that sig- 
 nified anything rather than the lawless, 
 scenes that were carried on in their waters. 
 
 The expedition had, however, been so de- 
 layed by head-winds and currents, and by 
 the sluggishness of one of the launches, 
 that they only made seventy-five miles in. 
 five days, so that the news of their coming 
 preceded them, and, on the appearance of 
 the boats, everything had been moved out 
 of the way. This expedition was well man- 
 aged by Lieutenant-Commander McCauley. 
 
 An expedition fitted out on March SOtli 
 by Acting-Master John Sherrill, command- 
 ing bark "■ Roebuck," did not fare so well. 
 Sherrill sent a launch up St. Andrew's- 
 Bay on a reconnaissance; but, on the return 
 of the boat, they were attacked by a party 
 of fifty men, with rifles, one man killed 
 and six severely wounded, including the 
 officer in charge, Acting-Master Jas. Folger. 
 
 Two brave seamen, Thomas Wylie and 
 James Kitchen, brought the boat off, all 
 the rest being killed or wounded. The fire 
 from the bushwhackers was very severe, 
 and most of the men shot were mortally 
 wounded. These were dangerous enemies 
 to encounter. They were not soldiers, but, 
 more properly speaking, smugglers. 
 
 There was not a particle of loyalty in 
 these parts and the only object of the 
 inhabitants was gain. They were fighting, 
 not to preserve the independence of the 
 South, but to make rich harvests by smug- 
 gling and to set the laws at defiance. This- 
 region at that time could boast of the worst 
 and most reckless set of men in the South, 
 and they would have been just as willing to 
 put to death a Confederal e party as a Union 
 one, if it should attempt to interfere with 
 their vocation. 
 
 They had no military notions of honor, 
 and would not respect a flag of truce if the 
 bearer of it had anything on his person 
 worth taking. As a proof of this we relate 
 the following incidents, which are officially 
 reported: 
 
 On the 27th of March, as the bark " Pur- 
 suit " was lying in Tampa Bay, a smoke 
 was discovered on the beach and three per- 
 sons made their appearance with a white 
 flag. The commanding officer, supposing 
 them to be escaped contrabands, sent a boat 
 in charge of Acting-Master H. K. Lapham 
 with a flag of truce flying. On nearing the 
 beach, two of the parties were seen to be 
 clothed in women's apparel with their faces 
 blackened and seemed to be overcome with 
 joy at the idea of obtaining their freedom, 
 exclaiming, •' Thank God, thank God, I am 
 free!" 
 
 When the boat touched the beach the 
 female apparel was thrown off. and it then 
 became evident that these were white men 
 disguised, and using a flag of truce to decoy 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 457 
 
 the boat on shore. Immediately after, a 
 hundred armed men rose from the bushes 
 where they had been concealed, and de- 
 manded the surrender of the boat, which 
 being refused, the enemy opened fire, wound- 
 ing the officer in charge and three of the 
 crew. But the brave fellows who were left 
 unwounded returned the fire and the attack- 
 ing party took to the trees. Some of the 
 men in the boat kept up a rapid fire with 
 their breech-loading guns, while the others 
 pushed oflf the boat, and they finally got 
 out of range. 
 
 As soon as the first volley was fired, the 
 broadside of the " Pursuit" was opened on 
 the bushwhackers, and the shells bursting 
 among them sent them scampering away. 
 Next day the gun-boat "Tahoma" arrived, 
 and her commander, having heard of the 
 outrage committed, brought two vessels up 
 and threw some shells into the town, which 
 was called barbarous at the time, but it was 
 the only way to prevent the indiscriminate 
 slaughter that would have been inflicted on 
 a boat's crew that attempted to land on 
 any part of that coast unsupported by gun- 
 boats. 
 
 It is dreadful to think of the bitter feel- 
 ing that sprang up among the lower classes 
 of men against the flag which they once 
 thought they honored; but the rough life 
 led in that section of the country, the 
 years spent in hunting the Indian in dis- 
 mal swamps and forest fastnesses, had pro- 
 duced a class of people far more barbarous 
 than the Indians themselves — men without 
 any sentiment but a love of plunder, who 
 placed no more value on human life than 
 on the life of a dog. Yet they were in- 
 trepid and defled all laws, human and di- 
 vine, and the only way to touch their un- 
 derstanding was by the most severe retalia- 
 tion. 
 
 On Friday, March 20th, an expedition 
 left the United States bark "Amanda," for 
 the purpose of proceeding to the Ocklockon- 
 nee River, to cut out the schooner " For- 
 ward," supposed to be loaded with cotton. 
 The expedition was under the charge of 
 Acting-Master R. J. Hoffner, and consisted 
 of two boats and twenty-seven men, with a 
 boat howitzer. 
 
 Great difficulty was encountered in find- 
 ing the mouth of the river, and the boats 
 constantly grounded on oyster beds, over 
 which they had to be hauled in the night 
 for fear of discovery, but at daylight the en- 
 trance of the river was found and the boats 
 proceeded up. At 8 a. m., of the 33d, a dis- 
 masted schooner was discovered lying close 
 to the starboard bank. At the same time 
 the expedition was discovered by some peo- 
 ple on the schooner, who jumped into the 
 small boat and made their escape, no doubt 
 carrvinar news of its arrival. 
 
 The boats boarded the schooner and took 
 possession, hove up the anchor and com- 
 menced towing her down the river, having 
 two hours' tide left. They anchored when 
 the tide was too low to proceed, got under- 
 way again at 5 o'clock in the morning, and 
 by 8 o'clock were clear of the entrance to 
 the river. They steered for the bay chan- 
 nel, and again grounded when nearly over 
 all the difficulties of the navigation. Again 
 the tide served and the vessel was got under- 
 way, but this time they followed the wrong 
 channel and grounded again, and all their en- 
 deavors to get her afloat proved unavailing. 
 
 These brave fellows had worked for 
 twenty-four hours with an energy unsur- 
 passed, hoping to receive a large share of 
 prize-money, but now they saw that all 
 their work had been in vain, and prepared 
 to set flre to the vessel. The arms were 
 all put in order in case they should be 
 needed suddenly; the howitzer was loaded 
 with canister and every preparation made 
 to repel the attack which Mr. Hoffner con- 
 fidently expected. At about noon, a party 
 of forty horsemen was discovered approach- 
 ing at some distance. They turned and ap- 
 peared to be going off, but soon re-ap- 
 peared with some squads of infantry (about 
 200 in all) jumping from tree to tree, and 
 taking position to attack the sailors. The 
 boat howitzer was brought to bear upon 
 the Confederates, and fired with grape and 
 canister, but without marked effect, as the 
 enemy was protected by the trees. At the 
 same time ten sailors with muskets (behind 
 such defences as they could throw up on 
 board the vessel) kept up a continuous fire 
 whenever anything could be seen to shoot 
 at. Once a squad of twenty exposed them- 
 selves, and a shrapnel was exploded in their 
 midst, and a number of them seemed to 
 have been hurt. 
 
 A rapid fire was kept up on both sides, 
 each party protecting themselves behind 
 their barricades, until the tide began to run 
 flood, and the boats floated. Then Mr. 
 Hoffner determined to fire the vessel, as an 
 attempt to save her would involve too great 
 a loss of life. The schooner was only two 
 hundred yards from the shore, and directly 
 under a galling fire from the enemy's rifies. 
 The howitzer was hoisted into the boat, 
 while the enemy fired rapidly (though not 
 accurately), and the boats were kept on the 
 off-side until the sailors were able to shove 
 off with safety. In an hour and a half the 
 tide was supposed to be high enough, and 
 the boats' crews embarked and shoved off; 
 but, with the weight of the crews, the boats 
 grounded, and the enemy opened upon 
 them again. The sailors jumped overboard, 
 and, taking hold of the boats, commenced 
 dragging them over the bottom — slow work 
 under a heavy fire. 
 
468 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 James Mooney, a seaman, was killed in- 
 stantly, shot through the heart. At the 
 same moment, the officer in charge, Mr. 
 Hoffner, received a rifle-ball in the right 
 side of the neck, passing around the back 
 and lodging in the left side, deeply im- 
 bedded m the muscles. Other men were 
 struck at the same time, but only one 
 of them so seriously that he could not 
 work. Every one was doing his best to get 
 the boats over the bottom, or else firing at 
 the pursuers, who were keeping up with 
 them along the banks. Mr. Shaffer, the 
 second officer, was conspicuous in setting 
 an example of gallantry very much to be 
 commended. 
 
 At length, after being nearly exhausted 
 by the hard work, the sailors got their boats 
 afloat in deep water, jumped in, and, giving 
 the enemy a parting volley and a cheer, 
 they sprang to their oars, and soon put 
 themselves out of range. 
 
 The bushwhackers had kept themselves 
 so well protected by the trees that they 
 could be detected only by the flashes of 
 their guns. Under such circumstances and 
 with so greatly a superior force, some offi- 
 cers would have felt themselves justified in 
 surrendering to save the lives of their men. 
 But there was not a word said about surren- 
 dering in this party. The commanding 
 officer, Mr. Hoffner, though dangerously 
 wounded, stuck to his work like a hero and 
 brought his boats off safely, with one man 
 killed and six (besides himself) seriously 
 wounded. 
 
 During this engagement, which lasted 
 several hours, some heroic acts occurred, 
 which would have done credit to any ser- 
 vice, and the determination shown not to 
 be captured proved the stuff the officers and 
 men were made of. These gallant fellows 
 abhorred the idea of letting their flag (which 
 was kept flying in the boat all the time) fall 
 into such an enemy's hands, for though the 
 people, who performed the part of soldiers 
 on shore, were at the farthest extreme of the 
 Confederacy, and not inspired by the excit- 
 ing scenes which were daily taking place 
 between the Federal and Confederate forces, 
 yet they were as bitter in their hostility to 
 everything Union as if they had received 
 some great injury at the hands of the 
 Government. 
 
 These people, no doubt, considered it an 
 outrage for the Federal naval forces to in- 
 terfere with their smuggling articles con- 
 traband of war, but they never stopped to 
 reflect that war could not be ended merely 
 by the Navy sailing up and down the coast of 
 Florida and looking at them violating the 
 laws. Hence all this talk of the Confeder- 
 ates about the inhuman treatment to these 
 smugglers (for they were nothing more) is 
 simply absurd. War is not a pleasant pas- 
 
 time. Its object is to bring about law and 
 order, and the most stringent measures are 
 those most likely to succeed. There was 
 no way of arresting this war but by sacri- 
 ficing every object that would tend to keep 
 it going on. 
 
 Let it be understood that most of these 
 little expeditions, which were fitted out and 
 did so well, were commanded and officered 
 by those gallant volunteers from the mer- 
 chant marine, who, sacrificing all their 
 interests in commercial affairs, joined the 
 Navy to devote life and all they held dear to 
 the defence of their country's rights and 
 honor. They gave such a guarantee, by 
 their matchless adaptation to the rules and 
 
 LIEUTENANT (AFTERWAEDS COMMODORE) A. A. SEMME3. 
 
 regulations of the Navy, of their ability to 
 learn the science of war from officers edu 
 cated for tlie naval service, that the country 
 must not forget, while awarding credit to 
 the Navy proper, to allow a full share of 
 the honor to fall upon the volunteer oflficers 
 from the American mercantile marine. 
 
 On July 6th, Rear- Admiral Bailey reports 
 the destruction of important salt works, 
 under the direction of Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander A. F. Crosman, of the steamer 
 "Somerset." 
 
 This duty was well performed by Acting- 
 Master Thomas Chatfield, who landed in 
 boats under the guns of the "Somerset," 
 and, with sixty-five sailors and marines, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 459 
 
 destroyed four distinct stations. Sixty-five 
 salt-kettles were demolished, over two hun- 
 dred bushels of salt destroyed, and thirty 
 houses, with all their appurtenances, were 
 burned. The whole establishment was 
 completely blotted out without the loss of a 
 man, in which these expeditions were not 
 always so fortunate. 
 
 On the 16th of October an expedition was 
 fitted out to destroy two blockade-running 
 steamers in Hillsboro River. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander A. A. Semmes, in 
 the gun-boat "Tahoma" (assisted by the 
 "Adela"), was directed to divert attention 
 from the expedition by shelling the town 
 and fort and to land men under cover of 
 the night at a point in Old Tampa Bay, 
 some distance from the fort, to proceed 
 overland to the point on the Hillsboro River 
 where the blockade-runners lay, and destroy 
 them. 
 
 On the date mentioned, the "Tahoma" 
 and "Adela" ran in abreast of the bat- 
 teries, and shelled them slowly during the 
 day, their fire being unusually accurate. 
 As soon as the moon went down that even- 
 ing, a force of sixty men, under Acting- 
 Ensigns J. P. Randall and J. G. Koehler, 
 from the " Tahoma," and forty men, under 
 Acting-Ensigns F. A. Strandberg and Ed- 
 ward Balch, and Acting- First -Assistant 
 Engineer G. M. Bennett, from the "Adela," 
 with Acting-Master's Mate Crane and Mr. 
 J. A. Thompson as guides, was landed at 
 Ballast Point. The whole expedition was 
 under the immediate command of Acting- 
 Master T. R. Harris, executive officer of the 
 "Tahoma." 
 
 The line of march was quietly taken up 
 under guidance of Mr. Thompson (who, be- 
 ing too ill to walk, was carried in a litter). 
 A march of fourteen miles brought the 
 party, before daylight, to the river-bank. 
 
 As soon as it was light the two steamers 
 were discovered on the opposite side. The 
 force was assembled abreast of the steamers, 
 and those on board brought under aim of 
 the rifles, and ordered to send a boat, which 
 was done. A detachment was then sent to 
 bring over the vessels and to make pris- 
 oners of their crews. 
 
 At this time two men succeeded in es- 
 caping from the steamers, and carried the 
 alarm to the garrison. The prizes were 
 meantime set on fire effectually, and the 
 Union force set out on its return. 
 
 Encountering an armed party near the 
 beach, a charge was made and two of the 
 Confederates were captured. The beach 
 was finally reached without loss, pickets 
 were stationed, and the party rested, wait- 
 ing the arrival of their boats. 
 
 While so resting (after a twenty-eight- 
 mile march), word was brought the com- 
 Tna.ndfir of thf> fixnfidition that a detach- 
 
 ment of cavalry and one of infantry were 
 advancing, and the party was formed to 
 resist an attack; the boats, however, hav- 
 ing arrived, the embarkation commenced ; 
 and while this was going on the Confeder- 
 ates opened fire. 
 
 The first and second divisions of sailors, 
 with seven prisoners, proceeded in an or- 
 derly manner to the boats; the third divis- 
 ion deployed as skirmishers and returned 
 the fire of the enemy with great spirit ; the 
 " Adela" in the meantime shelled the woods 
 and drove the Confederates from cover. 
 The first two divisions having embarked, 
 the rear guard followed, after having stood 
 at their posts and protected the retreat with 
 the coolness of veteran soldiers. Finally, 
 they, at the order, entered the boats, taking 
 their wounded with them. 
 
 The Confederate troops were under the 
 command of Captain Westcott, and were 
 the so-called regulars, who could act as 
 smugglers or bushwhackers as suited their 
 purpose; but they did not seem inclined on 
 this occasion to come out boldly and " try 
 conclusions" with the sailors. 
 
 The retreat to the boats was conducted by 
 Acting-Master Harris, with the most admir- 
 able coolness, and the expedition through- 
 out was characterized by a degree of disci- 
 pline, courage and energy not often met 
 with even among the best trained troops. It 
 shows how carefully the men of the Navy 
 were drilled and how well commanded. On 
 this occasion, although the Union force suf- 
 fered a good deal while on the beach, they 
 never swerved for one instant. Three of 
 the sailors were killed, and their names are 
 mentioned as an inducement for others to 
 show an equal bravery. 
 
 They were James Warrall, John Roddy 
 and Joseph O'Donnell, all seamen. 
 
 Ten men were wounded severely, and 
 we are sorry not to be able to chronicle 
 their names also, for no seamen ever de- 
 served better! Acting Ensigns Randall and 
 Koehler were wounded, and four men were 
 made prisoners. 
 
 This is the last of Rear-Admiral Bailey's 
 operations up to October, 1863, and although 
 they were not remarkably important, they 
 show a determination to break up the 
 blockade-running, and it was done effectu- 
 ally. Of fifty-two vessels that attempted 
 to run the blockade, only seven succeeded, 
 the rest being taken into the port of Key 
 West. Nearly one hundred were captured 
 in the space of six months. 
 
 The command of this station, although a 
 compliment to Admiral Bailey, was scarcely 
 a reward commensurate with his character 
 and services. He was not a man whose 
 appearance would attract attention, except 
 from those who could appreciate tJie honest 
 and simnle character of an old-time nava.l 
 
460 
 
 THE NA VAL HIS TOR V 
 
 officer, but he was a man who had no supe- 
 rior in the Navy in point of dash, energy and 
 courage, and, if he had ever had the oppor- 
 tunity of commanding a fleet in action, he 
 
 would have done it with the coolness and 
 bravery of Nelson. 
 
 No higher compliment could be paid 
 him. 
 
 LIST OF VESSELS COMPOSING THE EAST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADKON. 
 
 Under Acting-Rear- Admiral Theodorus Bailey; Lieutenant-Commander 
 William G. Temple, Fleet-Captain. 
 
 as obtained from the navy register of JANUARY, 18G3, with names of commanding 
 
 AND OTHER OFFICERS. 
 
 FRIGATE "ST. IjAWEENCE — FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Commander, James F. Schenck; Fleet Surgeon, 
 G. R. B. Horner ; Paymaster, Washington Irving ; 
 Assistant Surgeon, W. K. Van Reypen ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Poor; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, A. Shirk; Acting-Masters, Wm. H. Smith, 
 John Puller, Chas. DeBevoise and George J. Mur- 
 ray; Acting-Master's Mates, E. Pavys, E. S. D. 
 Howland, John Boyle, V. W. Jones and T. W. 
 Jones ; Marine Corps : Second - Lieutenant, R. S. 
 CoUum; Boatswain, J. A. Briscoe. 
 
 STEAMEE "SAN JACINTO." 
 
 Commander, Wm. Ronckendorff ; Lieutenant- 
 Commander, Ralph Chandler; Assistant Surgeon, 
 I. W. Bragg; Paymaster, Cramer Burt ; Marine 
 OflBcers.Capt. J. Schermerhorn; Second-Lieutenant, 
 L. W. Powell; Acting-Masters, D. G. McRitchie, H. 
 J. Coop and John Baker, Acting-Master's Mates, 
 H. H. Fuller, H. T. Keene, J. D. Weed and T. C. 
 Jones; Engineers: Chief, Mortimer Kellogg; Assist- 
 ants, H. S. Davids, H. C. Mcllvaine, Edwin Wells, 
 H. W. Scott, Edmund Lincoln and N. P. Towne ; 
 Boatswain, John Marley; Acting-Gunner, C. A. 
 Stevenson ; Carpenter, R. A. Williams ; SaUmaker, 
 J. H. North. 
 
 STEAMEB "PENGUIN." 
 
 Commander, J. C. Williamson ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. B. Higginbotham; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. C. Cook ; Acting-Masters, T. Dur- 
 ham, S. B. Rathbone, G. V. Cassedy and C. H. 
 Rockwell; Acting-Master's Mates, W. E. Anderson, 
 8. E. Poote, W. A. Beattie and W. A. Randlett; 
 Engineers, F. W. Warner, M. P. Randall, A. B. 
 Kinney and John Webster 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "SAGAMOHE." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Earl English; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, W. K. Scofleld; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, J. F. Wood; Acting-Masters, Wm. Fales and 
 Edwin Babson ; Acting- Master's Mates, J. A. 
 Slamm, C. R. Fleming, F. E. Ford and G. B. Sidell; 
 Engineers, Henry Snyder, W. H. Harris, F. G. 
 Coggin and G. J. Lamberson. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT " TAHOMA " 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. A. Semmes; Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. H. Gunning; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Wm. Hennesy ; Acting - Ensigns, W. H. Harri- 
 son, D. W. Jackson and J. C. Hamlin ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. G. Koehler, C. H. Tillinghast and R. 
 G. Richards; Engineers, J. N. Cahill, J. K. Bots- 
 ford, John Fornance and A. M. Rankin. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT " POKT BOYAL." 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, George U. Morris; Lieu- 
 tenant. C. J. McDougal; Acting- Volunteer-Lieuten- 
 ant, Wm. P. Randall; Assistant Surgeon, H. D. 
 Burlingham; Assistant Paymaster, Geo. A. Sawyer; 
 Acting-Masters, Edgar Van Slyek and L. D. D.' 
 Voorhees ; Acting-Master s Mates, Wm. F. Rey- 
 nolds, B. V. Tyson, H. D. Baldwin and Wm. A. 
 Prescott; Engineers, Wm. C. Selden, E. M. Breese 
 O. C. Lewis, F. B. Allen and Henry Snyder. ' 
 
 STEAMEB "SOMERSET." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. F. Crosman; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, James Mecray, Jr. ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, S. W. Adams; Acting-Masters, 
 W. E. Dennison, J. S. Higbee, E. C. Healy and 
 Thos. Chatfield ; Acting - Master's Mates, C. H. 
 Brantingham, T. M. Toombs and J. H. Stotsen- 
 burg; Engineers, W. D. Peters, W. H. Smith, E. 
 Choppell and John Doyle. 
 
 STEAMEB " IiODONA." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, E. R. Colhoun; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, T. W. Meckley Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, A. M. Stewart; Acting-Masters, Lewis West 
 and J. P. Carr; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. McKenna 
 and N. W. Rathbone; Acting-Master's Mates, Le 
 Grand B. Brigham, W. A. Byrnes and F. E. Brecht; 
 Engineers, F. A. Bremen, I. B. Hewett, S. D. Lor- 
 ing, O. B. Mills and James Mollineaux. 
 
 STEAMEB "FOET HENET." 
 
 Acting-Lieutenant, Edward T. McCauley; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Joseph Stevens ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Pajinaster, Daniel Whalen ; Acting-Masters, 
 R. B. Smith, P. W. Partridge and Geo. Leinas; 
 Acting-Ensign, Geo. W. Bogue ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, John Hancock, W. J. Haddock and W. E. 
 Rice; Engineers, F. H. Fletcher, James Ward and 
 Chas. Minnerly. 
 
 STEAMEB " HUNTSVILIiE.'' 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. C. Rogers, 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. J. Sweet ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, E. M. Hart ; Acting-Masters, 
 T. R. Harris, J. H. Piatt and G. A. Smith; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, E. B. J. Singleton, Charles Labden 
 and C. R. Seoffln; Engineers. J. L. Parry, N. N. 
 Buckingham, W. A. Leavitt and John Kaiiealy. 
 
 BAEK "PURSUIT " 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, David Gate; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, H. K. Wheeler, Acting As 
 sistant Paymaster, D. P. Shuler; Acting-Masters, 
 Robert Spavin, H. K. Lapham and C. R. Harris ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Barry and Van Buren 
 Blum. 
 
 BAEK " GEMSBOK ' 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Welsh; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. H. Roberts ; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, O. Thatcher and Theo. Werlhop ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, T. J. Pray, M. W. Stone and N. W. 
 Wait. 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAB "DALE." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. O. Barclay ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, F. B. Lawson; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, R. B. Rodney; Acting-Master, B. F. Cook; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, J. A. Denman and J. T. Mendall; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, D. C. Kiersted, M. Jackson and 
 Wm. Morris. 
 
 STEAMEB "MAGNOLIA." 
 
 Acting- Master, Chas. Potter; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, E. D. G. Smith; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 461 
 
 ter, W. J. Coite ; Acting-Masters, Francis Burgess 
 and Alex. Wallace ; Acting-Master's Mates, David 
 Scyler, Peter McGuire and 0. Sundstroin; Engi- 
 neers, Edward Eldridge, E. D. Leavitt, Jr., and R. 
 H. Shultis. 
 
 STBAMBB " STABS AND STBIPBS." 
 
 Acting-Master, C. L. Willcombe : Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Benj. Marshall: Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. J. Pratt; Acting-Masters, L, W. Hill, 
 Geo. Ashbury, Thomas Smith and Gr. H, Cole ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, H. B. Conklin, C. P. Turner 
 and Alex. Cushman; Engineers, John Briggs, T. D. 
 Coffee, John Burns and H. F. Brown. 
 
 BABE "JAMBS Ii. DAVIS." 
 
 Acting-Master, John West; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, E. B. Jackson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 B. S. Price; Acting-Masters, Alex. Waugh and Geo. 
 F. Hammond; Acting-Master's Mates, A. J. Lyon, 
 S. E. Willetts and G. H. Disley. 
 
 BABE " EOEBTJCE." 
 
 Acting-Master, John Sherrill; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, M. G. Raefle ; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Wm. Sellew; Acting-Masters, H. F. Coffin, Jas. 
 Folger and A. M. Newman; Acting-Ensign, Timo- 
 thy Delano; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Brad- 
 ford and C. F. Dunderdale. 
 
 BABE "JAMES S. CHAMBERS." 
 
 Acting- Master, Luther Nickerson; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Wm. Clendaniel ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, C. H. West; Acting- Masters, A. B. 
 
 Pierson and Wm. H. McLean; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, W. J. Eldredge, W. A. Smith and David 
 Axe. 
 
 BAKE "AMANDA." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenants, Geo. E. Welch 
 and Samuel Howard: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. 
 H. Hershey ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, E. B. 
 South worth; Acting-Masters, R. J. Hoffner and J. 
 B. Jones ; Acting Master's Mates, G. C. Campbell 
 and N. L. Ledyard. 
 
 BABE "BTHAN ALLEN." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. A. Pennell ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. M. FUnt, Acting- Master, Alfred Wes- 
 ton; Acting-Ensign, Samuel McCormick ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. E. Stickney, John Wilcox and E. 
 R. Davidson. 
 
 BABE "HOUOHTON." 
 
 Acting-Master, Newell Graham; Acting Assistant 
 Paymaster, O. F. Browning. 
 
 SCHOONEB "EUGENIE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. McClintock; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, W. C. Blackwell. 
 
 SOHOONEB "BEAUEEGABD." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. A. Arthur ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, W. H. Melson. 
 
 SCHOONEB "WANDEBEE." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. S. Turner ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, Thomas McHenry; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 L. H. Livingston and Ezra Robbins. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 EEVIEW OF THE WORK DONE BY THE NAVY IN THE YEAR 1863. 
 
 A SUMMARY of the events of 18C3 
 may serve to keep in mind the de- 
 tails of the several squadrons that 
 were operating along a sea-coast 
 of over 3,500 miles in extent, and 
 in the Western rivers, a further distance of 
 4,000 miles. The harbors and indentations 
 of the Atlantic coast, which afforded refuge 
 for blockade-runners, or points for landing 
 their munitions of war, amounted to at 
 least 180 in number. 
 
 Thus the Navy had to guard a line of 
 coasts and rivers over 7,500 miles in extent, 
 a task compared with which the famous 
 blockade of the French coast by the British, 
 during the wars with Napoleon, was a mere 
 bagatelle. 
 
 Day by day the blockade of the Southern 
 sea-coast became more stringent, and as 
 Congress was made to feel the urgent ap- 
 peals of Mr. Secretary Welles for an in- 
 crease of the Navy, and became aware that 
 the resources of the enemy diminished in 
 proportion as those of the Navy increased, 
 and realized that, without an adequate force 
 of war-vessels, the Rebellion would never be 
 conquered, it showed due liberality, and 
 success began to attend the Federal arms in 
 all quarters. 
 
 By increasing the stringency of the block- 
 ade, the enemy were driven from the coast, 
 as they realized the uselessness of contend- 
 ing against combined military and naval 
 operations. The great rivers and their 
 tributaries were no longer safe resorts for 
 marauders, as the capture of the principal 
 towns in the West, and the occupation of 
 the surrounding country by the Union 
 forces, had relieved a large number of 
 troops from siege-duty, who could now be 
 employed from Tennessee to Louisiana. 
 
 The power of the Navy at the same time 
 was largely increased on the Western rivers 
 by the addition of some 800 guns mounted 
 in war-vessels improvised from merchant 
 
 steamboats; and these aided in transporting 
 the Army from one point to another where- 
 ever the enemy showed himself. 
 
 The operations of the Navy up to the end 
 of the year 1863 had borne with great 
 severity on those who had risen in arms 
 against the National Government, and the 
 idea has been suggested that the almost 
 superhuman efforts of this arm of the ser- 
 vice to crush the Rebellion has been a seri- 
 ous embarrassment to its advance since the 
 close of the civil war; that the Southern in- 
 fluence in Congress has, in a great measure, 
 prevented the rebuilding of the Navy and 
 bringing it to a condition befitting a great 
 nation. Certain it is, the Navy has been 
 brought to so low an ebb that it almost 
 seems as if this state of affairs had been 
 produced by some concert of action. 
 
 The best "^illustration of what the Navy 
 had accomplished up to the close of the 
 year 1863 is afforded by the official reports 
 of the commanding officers of squadrons 
 and single ships; but, as these cannot be em- 
 bodied in a narrative of this kind, we must 
 content ourselves with an abstract from the 
 records. 
 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, in com- 
 mand of the North Atlantic squadron, ably 
 seconded by the zeal of his officers, had 
 penetrated the waters of Virginia wher- 
 ever his gun-boats could reach, and had oc- 
 cupied the sounds of North Carolina to such 
 an extent that the Confederates could be 
 said to have no foothold in that quarter. 
 Wilmington, near the mouth of the Cape 
 Fear River, was really the only point in 
 North Carolina where the enemy could 
 boast that they had defied the Federal arms, 
 and this point was found extremely diffi- 
 cult to close owing to two separate en- 
 trances to the river some thirty miles apart, 
 both protected by the heaviest description 
 of land defences and obstructed by shallow 
 bars. These obstacles at the time were 
 
 (462) 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, 
 
 463 
 
 considered such as to preclude any attempt 
 to capture Wilmington from the sea. 
 
 Many reasons existed why the Army 
 could not co-operate in an attack upon Wil- 
 mington, which thus remained upwards of 
 a year longer than it should have done the 
 great depot of supplies for the Confederate 
 armies. Many fast steamers from the 
 Clyde, and other parts of Great Britain, 
 continued to elude the utmost efforts of the 
 blockading squadron, and reached Wil- 
 mington with valuable cargoes of arms 
 and munitions of war, though numbers 
 were captured or driven on shore and de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 In all the operations of the North Atlan- 
 tic squadron its officers and men exhibited 
 bravery and zeal second to no other organi- 
 zation in the Navy. There was no field for 
 great achievement except the capture of 
 Fort Fisher and the other defences of Wil- 
 mington, which might have been taken 
 earlier in the war, but the task was post- 
 poned until it required nearly half of the 
 Navy to overcome the obstacles then pre- 
 sented. 
 
 The South Atlantic squadron, during the 
 year 1863, had performed most valuable 
 service in blockading the Southern coast, 
 and had succeeded in maintaining a force 
 in Charleston harbor which completely 
 closed that port as a refuge for block- 
 ade-runners, and prevented the Confeder- 
 ates from obtaining further supplies in that 
 quarter. 
 
 The Navy Department had made great 
 efforts to capture the heavy defences inside 
 Charleston bar, and Rear- Admiral DuPont 
 had made a vigorous attack with his iron- 
 clads and Monitors on the heaviest line of 
 works ; but, owing to the destructive fire 
 of the enemy and the insufficiency of his 
 force of vessels, DuPont very properly 
 withdrew. The wisdom of his course was 
 subsequently shown during the combined 
 Army and Navy operations against Charles- 
 ton, under Rear - Admiral Dahlgren and 
 Brigadier-General Gillmore. On the later 
 occasion, sixty siege-guns were brought to 
 bear on the enemy, and Fort Sumter was 
 "reduced to pulp," yet the difficulties of an 
 advance of the naval vessels were so great 
 owing to the obstructions in the channel, 
 that notwithstanding the energy and brav- 
 ery of the commander-in-chief, his officers 
 and men, at the end of 1863 Charleston still 
 remained in possession of the Confederates, 
 although practically useless to the latter. 
 
 If the Federal Government could not boast 
 of having captured the hot-bed of secession, 
 it had at least the satisfaction of knowing 
 that Charleston was only held at vast ex- 
 pense to the enemy, merely from a senti- 
 ment of pride, and a wish to keep the Fed- 
 eral soldiers and sailors ignorant of the suf- 
 
 ferings the citizens had undergone in their 
 mistaken zeal for a desperate cause. As 
 Charleston was the first place to take up 
 arms against the Union, its leading men 
 considered that it should be the last to lay 
 them down. Their gallantry was unques- 
 tionable, but their policy, in a military 
 point of view, was open to criticism, and 
 the city had finally to surrender on the ap- 
 proach of General Sherman's indefatigable 
 soldiers, who did not always extend to con- 
 quered cities that consideration they would 
 have received from the Navy. 
 
 The Eastern Gulf squadron had no import- 
 ant military operations to co-operate with, 
 Acting-Rear Admiral Bailey being engaged 
 in blockading the entire east and west 
 coasts of Florida, capturing many prizes, 
 annihilating the illicit traffic in that quar- 
 ter, and preventing all supplies from reach- 
 ing the Confederate armies by way of the 
 Florida coast. 
 
 The duties of Rear- Admiral Farragut, in 
 command of the West Gulf squadron, had 
 been extremely harassing, but they gave 
 that gallant officer an opportunity to ex- 
 hibit the highest qualities as commander-in- 
 chief. 
 
 Soon after the memorable battle below 
 New Orleans and the surrender of that city, 
 Farragut made a junction with the squad- 
 ron of Flag-officer Davis above Vicksburg, 
 and, had the Army contingent that was sent 
 to support him been as large as it should 
 have been, Farragut would have had the 
 satisfaction of capturing Vicksburg. The 
 military part of the expedition, however, 
 though commanded by a most able and 
 gallant general, was too small to ■ effect 
 anything by an attack on the city; and 
 Farragut, after subjecting his squadron to 
 the fire of the enemy's guns, which were 
 daily increasing in number and power, and 
 finding it was a mere waste of tinae and 
 strength to lay before the city, returned to 
 New Orleans to co-operate with the Army 
 in maintaining order in Louisiana. 
 
 This omission of a proper military force 
 to co-operate with the Navy gave the Con- 
 federates time to render Vicksburg the 
 Gibraltar of the West, and for a long period 
 it bade defiance to the Army and Navy 
 combined. The Vicksburg miscarriage en- 
 abled the enemy to fortify Port Hudson and 
 Grand Gulf, which thus became two for- 
 midable barriers against the advance of 
 the Navy. 
 
 When Vicksburg was invested in 1863 by 
 the Army under Major General Grant, and 
 a large naval force under Rear- Admiral 
 Porter, many efforts were made by the 
 latter officer to send vessels down to block- 
 ade the mouth of the Red River, and thus 
 cut off supplies from Port Hudson and 
 Vicksburg; but, owing to casualties in the 
 
464 
 
 IHK 1\A VAL UISIUKr 
 
 vessels sent on this duty, there was a failure 
 to bring about the desired result. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Farragut tlien attempted 
 to push up past Port Hudson with his 
 squadron, and met with serious loss. How- 
 ever, with the " Hartford" and "Albatross," 
 he reached the mouth of Ked River, and 
 established so stringent a blockade that the 
 Confederates in Port Hudson and Vicks- 
 burg could no longer obtain supplies from 
 that quarter. 
 
 Farragut was engaged a part of the sea- 
 son with his ships below Port Hudson in 
 bombarding that place. In these opera- 
 tions the Mortar vessels bore a conspicuous 
 part, until Port Hudson fell, with Vicks- 
 burg, on the 4th of July, 1863, and the Mis- 
 sissippi was once more opened to the sea. 
 
 The blockade of the Southern coast, within 
 the limits of Admiral Farragut's command, 
 had, in the main, been efficient and success- 
 ful, although reverses at Galveston and 
 Sabine Pass gave the enemy something on 
 which to congratulate themselves. These 
 reverses, however, of the Union arms were 
 of no permanent advantage to the Confed- 
 erates, as the whole coast, from the mouth 
 of the Mississippi to that of the Rio Grande, 
 was so closely guarded by the Union Navy 
 that blockade-running was reduced to very 
 insignificant proportions. 
 
 The Mississippi squadron, under Rear- 
 Admiral Porter, had been actively engaged 
 in the work of suppressing the Rebellion, 
 and co-operated zealously with the Army 
 whenever its services were needed. The 
 capture of Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas 
 River, and the constant effective attacks 
 on the batteries of Vicksburg, the bombard- 
 ment of the city and its defences, the battle 
 of Grand Gulf and the landing of Grant's 
 army at Bruensburg, and the final reduc- 
 tion of the great stronghold on July 4th, 
 1863, are among the successful achieve- 
 ments of the Mississippi squadron in co- 
 operation with the Army. 
 
 It is simple justice to the officers and men 
 of this squadron that their heroic exertions 
 should receive proper credit, and we cannot 
 better do justice to the occasion than by 
 repeating the eulogistic terms in which Mr. 
 Secretary Welles speaks of them : 
 
 "In the appendix to this report (1863) -will be 
 found correct records of the extraordinary adven- 
 tures attending the efforts to get control of the 
 Yazoo, by sweeping from the channel the net-work 
 of torpedoes, explosive machines, and contrivances 
 of submarine warfare, near its confluence with the 
 Mississippi. These efforts were followed by the 
 novel and singular Yazoo Pass expedition and the 
 expedition of Steele's Bayou and Deer Creek. On 
 the right bank of the Mississippi scenes of Interest 
 were enacted by the hardy sailors and boatmen in 
 the rivers of Arkansas and northern Louisiana. The 
 Cumberland and Tennessee have been actively pa- 
 trolled by our vigilant and skillful naval ofBcers ; 
 and the exciting chase of Morgan, by our steamers 
 on the Ohio, over a distance of five hundred miles, 
 
 intercepting him and his band -when attempting 
 to escape, naturally attracted the attention of the 
 country. 
 
 But the great and important exploits of this squad- 
 ron were in the vicinity of Vicksburg, where the 
 main strength of the naval as well as the military 
 forces were centred. The magnitude of the defences 
 of the place — which were intended to repulse any 
 force, naval or military, that could be brought 
 against them — made the siege formidable, and 
 seemed for a time to defy all attempts at their 
 reduction. In overcoming them, the Navy necessa- 
 rily performed a conspicuous and essential part. 
 For forty-two days, without intermission, the mor- 
 tar-boats were throwing shells into all parts of the 
 city, and even the works beyond it. 
 
 Heavy guns mounted on scows commanded the 
 important water batteries, and for fourteen days 
 maintained an incessant tire on them. Thirteen 
 heavy guns were landed from the vessels [the Sec- 
 retary should have said twenty-two], and oflaoers 
 and men— when they could be spared — were sent to 
 man them. 
 
 The gun-boats below the city, in co-operation 
 with the Army, were continually engaged in shell- 
 ing the place. 
 
 During the siege sixteen thousand shells were 
 thrown from the mortars, gun-boats and naval 
 batteries upon the city and its defences before it 
 capitulated. 
 
 The creation and organization of this huge squad- 
 ron, which has done such effective service on the 
 upper Mississippi and its tributaries, extending 
 over a distance of more than 3,500 miles, may justly 
 be considered among the most wonderful events of 
 the times. It is but little over two years since we 
 had not a naval vessel on all those waters, where 
 we now have a squadron of 100 vessels, carrying 
 463 guns, with crews amounting, in the aggregate, 
 to about 5,500 men. 
 
 Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, the upper 
 portions of Mississippi and Louisiana, and the 
 southern portions of those States which border on 
 the Ohio River on the north, have been relieved 
 and liberated through the instrumentality of the 
 gun-boats, acting by themselves or in earnest and 
 cordial co-operation with the armies. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Porter has well sustained the re- 
 nown which the gallant and lamented Foote so 
 nobly earned, and has carried forward to successful 
 results a larger and more powerful force than was 
 ever at the disposal of that heroic ofiflcer. [The 
 Honorable Secretary does not make his meaning 
 quite clear at this point, but it is presumed he wished 
 to be complimentary.] 
 
 In creating and organizing this squadron, and 
 arming and manning the vessels, it must not be for- 
 gotten that the service labored under many and 
 great disadvantages, for the Government had no 
 Navy Yard or establishment of its own on which the 
 Department could depend. In the absence of any 
 Government shops, yards, store-houses, and other 
 necessary facilities and aids for a naval establish- 
 ment, and also of mechanics and laborers, it became 
 necessary to collect and send out and receive sup- 
 plies from some central and secure position. This 
 work has been chiefly performed at Cairo," etc., etc. 
 
 The Honorable Secretary might have said 
 that the then commander-in-chief of the 
 Mississippi squadron, finding only the ghost 
 of a squadron and the skeleton of a Navy 
 yard in the West, had built up a naval sta- 
 tion, with shops and machinery, to meet the 
 wants of the occasion, had increased the 
 squadron from 21 vessels, all out of repair, 
 to 121, mounting 680 guns, with which 
 force, co-operating with the Army, the Mis- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 465 
 
 sissippi was opened to the sea, and all its 
 tributaries brought under control of the 
 Federal Government. 
 
 Mr. Welles, in his official report, is almost 
 as chary of praise for the services of the 
 Navy before Vicksburg as was the military 
 commanding officer in the West, who, only 
 in his last days, in the year 1885, in a few 
 words, gave the officers and men of the 
 Navy full credit for their services on that 
 occasion. 
 
 The result of the herculean efforts of the 
 Mississippi squadron was the establishment 
 of Federal rule along the banks of the 
 
 f;reat river and its tributaries. The Con- 
 ederacy was cut in twain, never to be 
 reunited ; and from this time the cause of 
 the Rebellion began rapidly to sink. 
 
 While the Federal Government was sup- 
 posed to be almost overwhelmed with the 
 severe pressure brought to bear on it at 
 home, the Navy was sustaining its reputa- 
 tion abroad, and closely guarding American 
 interests whenever an opportunity offered. 
 The Confederate cruisers were still pursu- 
 ing their destructive career ; but ships-of- 
 war had been sent in pursuit of them in 
 every direction, and their end was near. 
 
 In the East Indies and the China seas, 
 the respect due to the American flag was 
 exacted by Commander David McDougal, 
 commanding the IT. S. S. " Wyoming," who, 
 learning of some injustice suffered by an 
 American vessel at the hands of the Japan- 
 ese, repaired to the locality (Simonosaki), 
 and inflicted severe punishment on some 
 forts and vessels-of-war. 
 
 These people were taught that while the 
 Federal .Government had a gigantic task to 
 perform at home in putting down the 
 Rebellion, yet its naval officers were just 
 as ready as ever to resent an insult to the 
 flag. This prompt vindication of the honor 
 of the country abroad had the happy effect 
 of convincing people tliat the strength of 
 the American Republic only increased when 
 it seemed to be threatened with destruc- 
 tion, and that it was quite competent to 
 guard its interests abroad as well as at 
 home. 
 
 It will be remembered that, at the com- 
 mencement of the civil war, the naval 
 force consisted of about forty-two effective 
 vessels, scattered over the world, with 
 about thirty-four more at the Navy Yards 
 available for service after undergoing ex- 
 tensive repairs. Up to the end of 1863 the 
 Navy Department had exhibited great en- 
 ergy, and, for the first time in its history, 
 the United States had a Navy commensu- 
 rate with its importance as a maritime 
 power. 
 
 The following table exhibits the progress 
 made in increasing: the Navy since Decem- 
 
 ber, 1862, and shows what the country was 
 capable of achieving under a pressure that 
 would have almost crushed any other na- 
 tion : 
 
 COMPAEATIVE EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY, DEC, 1862, AND 1863. 
 
 
 No. or 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 No. OF 
 Guns. 
 
 4,443 
 3,268 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Navy at date of present Report — Dec, 1863. 
 Navy at date of last Report — Dec. 1862 
 
 688 
 427 
 
 467,967 
 340,036 
 
 Total increase 
 
 161 
 
 1 175 1 197 931 
 
 
 
 
 
 VESSELS OF THE NAVY LOST SINCE DEC, 1862. 
 
 In What Manner Lost. 
 
 No. OF 
 Vessels. 
 
 No, OF 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Captured 
 
 Destroyed to prevent falling into hands of 
 
 Confederates 
 
 Sunli in battle or by torpedoes . ... , , . 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 4 
 13 
 
 48 
 
 29 
 28 
 61 
 
 6,947 
 
 2,983 
 2,201 
 4 864 
 
 Shipwreck, fire and collision 
 
 Total 
 
 32 
 
 IGO 
 
 16,985 
 
 VESSELS PLACED UNDER CONSTRUCTION SINCE DEC, 1862. 
 
 Desukiption. 
 
 Double-end iron steamers, 1,030 tons each. , 
 
 Single turret iron-clads, 614 tons each. 
 
 Double turret iron-clada, 3,130 tons each... . 
 
 Clipper screw-sloops, 2,200 tons each 
 
 Screw-sloops, spar-deck, 2,200 tons each . 
 Screw-sloops of great speed, 3,200 tons each 
 Screw-sloops of great si^eed, 3,000 tons each 
 
 Total 
 
 No. of 
 
 No. of 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 7 
 
 84 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 12 
 
 96 
 
 8 
 
 160 
 
 6 
 
 40 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 58 
 
 452 
 
 Tons. 
 
 7,210 
 12,280 
 12,620 
 20,400 
 17,600 
 16,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 98,010 
 
 GENERAL EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY WHEN THE VESSELS UNDER 
 CONSTRUCTION ARE COMPLETED. 
 
 Iron-clad steamers coast service. . 
 Iron-clad steamers, inland sei-vice,. 
 
 Side-wlieel steamers 
 
 Screw steamers 
 
 Sailing vessels 
 
 Total. , 
 
 No. OF 
 
 No. OF 
 
 Vessels. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 46 
 
 160 
 
 29 
 
 152 
 
 203 
 
 1,240 
 
 198 
 
 1,578 
 
 112 
 
 1,323 
 
 688 
 
 4,443 
 
 Tons. 
 
 62,518 
 20,784 
 126,517 
 187,892 
 70,266 
 
 467,967 
 
 There were added to the Navj- during the 
 year 186.3, by purchase, some thirty tugs, 
 over fifty steamers for blockading and sup- 
 ply purposes, and over twenty other vessels 
 for tenders and store-ships. At least twenty 
 of the steamers were captured in endeavor- 
 ing to violate the blockade. 
 
 It will be noticed that the additions to the 
 Navy compi-ised vessels of the most formid- 
 able kind, and far more powerful than those 
 of European navies. 
 
 It is due to history to state that this addi- 
 tion to the Navy was owing the energy 
 and ability of Mr. G. V. Fox, Assistant 
 Secretary of the Navy, who had the super- 
 vision of all improvements and additions 
 of ships, Mr. Welles wisely approving all 
 his suggestions; while the able Chief Con- 
 structor, Mr. John Lenthall, brought all his 
 ability to bear on the models of the vessels, 
 and Mr. B. F. Isherwood, the talented Chief 
 of the Bureau of Steam Engineering, de- 
 vised the engines, which, even to the pres- 
 ent day, have scarcely been equalled. 
 
 The consequence of all this was that Gov- 
 ernments disposed to be meddlesome failed 
 to interfere when they saw that the Re- 
 public was not only determined to crush 
 
466 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 the Rebellion, but to resent any outside in- 
 terference. 
 
 The year 1804 opened hopefully for the 
 success of the Union arms by land and sea, 
 and it will be seen that the history of the 
 American Navy was enriched by many 
 brilliant actions, which stand high in the 
 annals of maritime war. 
 
 It must not be supposed that during the 
 year 1 863 the Navy Department was indiffer- 
 ent to the ravages committed by the Con- 
 federate cruisers fitted out in England for 
 the destruction of Federal commerce. The 
 prompt recognition of the Confederates as 
 belligerents by foreign powers, on the 
 breaking out of the Rebellion, gave to the 
 insui-rection a character and strength it 
 could never otherwise have obtained. It 
 encouraged the Confederates to persevere, 
 and assured them of support abroad in any 
 measures they might think proper to under- 
 take, and gave them an opportunity to 
 strike a blow at the most vulnerable point of 
 the North — its commerce. 
 
 The apparent intention of the declaration 
 of neutrality by the powers of Europe was 
 to exhibit a semblance of fairness, a decep- 
 tion of which the Confederates naturally 
 took advantage, and which operated very 
 unjustly against the United States. The 
 Government was obliged to acquiesce in 
 this acknowledgment of belligerent rights, 
 and assume all the consequences resulting 
 therefrom. 
 
 While the United States had a large 
 mercantile marine scarcely second to that 
 of Great Britain, the Confederates had 
 actually none whatever. In a short time 
 the latter were able by various means to get 
 afloat and at sea several very formidable 
 cruisers. The United States had squadrons 
 on every foreign station representing a bona 
 fide Government, while the insurgents, at 
 the time of their receiving belligerent 
 rights, had not a single man of-war, a fact 
 well understood by the Governments which, 
 in proclaiming their "neutrality" and de- 
 sire to treat both parties alike, seriously 
 crippled the American Navy and well-nigh 
 destroyed its mercantile marine. 
 
 The cruising of Federal ships-of-war was 
 limited and all sorts of obstacles thrown in 
 the way of their capturing the Confederate 
 cruisers. The maritime powers of Europe, 
 after granting belligerent rights to the Con- 
 federates, declared that both belligerents 
 should be treated alike in their ports, that 
 the public armed vessels of neither should 
 remain longer than twenty-four hours in 
 their harbors, nor receive supplies or as- 
 sistance except such as might be abso- 
 lutely necessary to carry them to their own 
 coasts, and for three months thereafter 
 they should not again receive supplies in 
 any of the ports of those Governments. 
 
 While this proclamation did not at the 
 time of its issue affect the Confederates, 
 for the simple reason that they had then 
 no vessels afloat, it excluded the naval ships 
 of the United States from the principal ports 
 of the world. As to the fairness which as- 
 sumed to be the motive of the proclamation 
 of neutrality, that must be judged from the 
 history of the times, which will show that 
 these proclamations were merely excuses 
 to allow Confederate cruisers to prey upon 
 American commerce and then find protec- 
 tion from United States vessels - of - war 
 within the jurisdiction of the great Euro- 
 pean powers that were professedly in close 
 amity with the United States. 
 y' The "Sumter," the very first Confederate 
 cruiser fitted out, affords a fair sample of 
 how this acknowledgment of belligerent 
 rights operated, and how much fairness 
 there was on the part of Great Britain in 
 carrying out the proclamation she claimed 
 to have issued to insure equal treatment to 
 both the contending parties. The " Sum- 
 ter," after escaping to sea from New Or- 
 leans through the carelessness of the officer 
 on blockade, and capturing many American 
 merchant-vessels, was chased into the har- 
 bor of Gibraltar, where she was permitted to 
 remain twelve months — instead of twenty- 
 four hours — under the protection of British 
 guns. Not daring to venture to sea, as she 
 was closely watched by several Federal 
 cruisers, the "Sumters" officers finally 
 transferred the vessel to an English sub- 
 ject, who took her to another British port, 
 where she was refitted, loaded with a con- 
 traband cargo, and ran the blockade, carry- 
 ing supplies to the Confederates. 
 
 The "Alabama," "Georgia" and "Flor- 
 ida" were fitted out in England, and sup- 
 plied with an English armament. Their 
 crews Avere mostly Europeans, and they 
 sailed sometimes under the British, some- 
 times under the Confederate, flag, dealing 
 destruction to Federal commerce wherever 
 it could be found. 
 
 As soon as the existence of these Confed- 
 erate cruisers was known to the Secretary 
 of the Navy, ships were sent in pursuit. 
 While in the West Indies, the Confederate 
 cruisers were protected whenever they were 
 able to escape into a " neutral port " — an op- 
 portunity which was offered on every hand 
 —or get within a marine league of a neutral 
 island. Strange to say, most of the colonial 
 authorities in various parts of the world 
 were in sympathy with the Confederates 
 and hostile to the war-vessels of the United 
 States; and, while giving aid and comfort 
 to those quasi vessels-of-war, threw every 
 obstacle in the way of Federal cruisers ob- 
 taining supplies of coal and provisions. Not 
 only that, the "neutrals" all through the 
 West Indies furnished the commanding offi- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 467 
 
 cers of the Confederate cruisei-s (by means 
 of the mail-steamers plying between the 
 different ports) with information of the in- 
 tended movements of every United States 
 vessel-of-war in those waters. Worse than 
 all, the most unfriendly feelings were mani- 
 fested by the officials generally, from gov- 
 ernor down to the lowest subordinate, in 
 regard to the lawful operations of United 
 States vessels. 
 
 It can easily be imagined, under such 
 circumstances as these, how difficult it 
 would be for a United States vessel-of-war 
 to capture one of these sea-rovers, especially 
 in the West Indies. The islanders, not sat- 
 isfied with transmitting information to the 
 Confederates, in some cases assumed an 
 intimacy with the commanders of United 
 States vessels, and deceived them with 
 false reports. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Successful Military Operations. — Prospects of Southern Independence. — Confed- 
 erate Commissioners. — Completeness and Discipline of U. S. Navy, 1863. — Posi- 
 tion and Strength of Opposing Forces. — Combined Army and Navy Expedition 
 UP James and Nansemond Rivers. — Destruction of Blockade-runners "Bendigo," 
 '■Ranger," '"Venus" and "Dare." — Capture and Destruction of U. S. Steamer 
 "Underwriter." — Destruction of Blockade-runners "Wild Dayrell," "Nut- 
 field," "Dee," "Emily," and "Fannie and Jennie." — Boat Expedition up Cape 
 Fear River to Smithville. — Joint Army and Navy Expedition up Pamunky 
 River. — Boat Expedition up Chuckatuck Creek. — Attack on "Minnesota" by 
 Torpedo-boat. — Landing of Army at City Point and Bermuda Hundred. — De- 
 struction OF U. S. Gun-boat "Commodore Jones." — Confederate Torpedo De- 
 fences. — Monitors ENCiAGE Howlett's Battery. — Picking up Torpedoes. — Repulse 
 OF Attack on Wilson's Wharf by Gun-boats. — Confederate Iron-clads and 
 Gun-boats below Drury's Bluff. — Sinking of Obstructions in James River. — 
 Letter from General Butler to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee. — Grant's Opera- 
 tions. — Hulks Sunk at Trent's Reach. — Attack on Petersburg. — Engagement 
 WITH Confederate Iron-clad at Mouth of Cape Fear River. — Daring Adventures 
 of Lieutenant Cushing. 
 
 THE year 186-1: opened with flatter- 
 ing prospects for the Union cause, 
 owing to the important successes 
 gained over the enemy in 1863, and 
 tlie constantly increasing losses in 
 material by the Confederates in conse- 
 quence of the stringent blockade of the 
 coast. The Federal Navy had been so far 
 strengthened with a class of vessels su- 
 perior to anything of which the powers of 
 Europe could boast, that it was no longer 
 anticipated that England or France would 
 interfere in our domestic affairs. 
 
 The battle of Gettysburg, which caused 
 General Lee to fall back upon Richmond, 
 and the surrender of Port Hudson and 
 Vicksburg, which opened the Mississippi to 
 the sea, were the severest blows the Con- 
 federacy had received. In the opinion of 
 many persons well qualified to judge, the 
 possession of the Mississippi and its trilDu- 
 taries by the Federals was the death-blow 
 to the Southern cause, and the final col- 
 lapse of the Rebellion was simply a matter , 
 of time, and a short time at that. 
 
 The Northern people gave the Adminis- 
 tration continued support, while the Con- 
 federates could not repair the rapid waste 
 
 (-168) 
 
 of their armies, notwithstanding their most 
 vigorous efforts. In Washington the opin- 
 ion prevailed that, before the year had 
 elapsed, the authority of the Government 
 would be everywhere restored. This opin- 
 ion also prevailed in the Navy, which had 
 been strongly reinforced by a class of ves- 
 sels able to overhaul the swiftest blockade- 
 runners built on the Clyde ; so that hardly 
 one out of three vessels succeeded in get- 
 ting into Wilmington or Mobile— the two 
 principal ports where these illicit traders 
 congregated. The Southern coast was so 
 closely invested by the Navy that it was with 
 great difficulty the blockade-runners could 
 get in or out. although a certain proportion 
 of them managed to elude pursuit, and carry 
 out cargoes of cotton, which served to keep 
 up the financial credit of the Confederacy 
 abroad. 
 
 The Confederates, as a matter of course, 
 felt the want of the munitions of war they 
 had been accustomed to receive in such 
 quantities through the blockade-runners, 
 particularly great guns and small arms 
 manufactured in England. Every port, 
 from Virginia to Texas, was watched with 
 a zeal that had never before been exerted 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 469 
 
 on such an occasion ; for it was felt by the 
 officers of the Navy that this watchfulness 
 would be well rewarded, and the informa- 
 tion gained from the crews of the captured 
 vessels confirmed them in the opinion that 
 the end was not far off. 
 Meanwhile the Confederate authorities 
 
 Erofessed to think that the prospects for 
 outhern independence were brighter than 
 ever, and that, before the end of the year 
 1864, their object would be accomplished, 
 and the following year see them acknowl- 
 edged as a separate Government by all the 
 world. Upon what such an opinion was 
 founded is not clear, and it seems impossi- 
 ble to account for the confidence which ex- 
 isted in the hearts of the Southern leaders, 
 and with which they entered so confidingly 
 on the campaign of 1864. Any other people 
 in the world, under the circumstances in 
 which they were placed, would have laid 
 down their arms, and accepted terms from 
 their conquerors. 
 
 It was pitiable to witness the distress of the 
 Southern people which came under the notice 
 of naval officers, and which was caused by 
 the determination of their leaders to con- 
 tinue the contest to the bitter end ; for a 
 large proportion of them felt that there was 
 no hope of their succeeding. It was plain 
 to them all that tliere was no hope of as- 
 sistance from the Democratic party of the 
 North. The re-election of President Lincoln 
 convinced many, who had been hitherto 
 blind to the state of affairs, that the Union 
 cause was as heartily supported by the Dem- 
 ocrats as by the Republicans. 
 
 Even while the Confederacy was in the 
 throes of dissolution, the mass of the South- 
 ern people had been hugging the delusion 
 that there was a strong peace party in the 
 North that would make itself felt in the 
 Presidential election of 1864 ; that there 
 was such a feeling of impatience at the 
 prolongation of the war that no Adminis- 
 tration could stand up under it. All that 
 was required of the South, therefore, was 
 to make one final effort, and they would 
 gain the rights for which they were con- 
 tending—exactly what those rights were, 
 the majority of "the people seemed to have 
 little idea. 
 
 It was proclaimed in Richmond that the 
 impatience and dissatisfaction of the North 
 were so great that the people of that sec- 
 tion were determined to have peace on any 
 terms. All that the South had to do was 
 simply to hold its own ; and, merely by 
 securing negative results in the ensuing 
 campaign, the Democratic party would be 
 able to overthrow the Administration, and 
 open negotiations for peace with the Con- 
 federacy. 
 
 In accordance with this idea. President 
 Davis nrenared to open communication 
 
 with the Democratic party of the North, 
 and to conduct political negotiations with 
 that party in accordance with the military 
 movements in the coming campaign. The 
 commissioners appointed for this purpose 
 were Messrs. Thompson, of Mississippi, 
 Holcombe, of Virginia, and Clay, of Ala- 
 bama, who were to proceed to a convenient 
 spot on the northern frontier of the United 
 States, and to use whatever political oppor- 
 tunities the military events of the war 
 might disclose. The commissioners suc- 
 ceeded in running the blockade from Wil- 
 mington, and reached Canada, only to find 
 that the Northern sentiment in regard to 
 the Confederacy was practically unani- 
 mous, and that all parties were determined 
 to bring the seceding States back into the 
 Union. 
 
 The Federal Army and Navy in the West 
 maintained the superiority they had won, 
 and kept open the rivers the enemy had 
 fought so hard to close against them. By 
 the possession of the Mississippi, the Con- 
 federacy was cut in twain. The Union 
 Army was constantly increasing, and, in 
 place of the raw volunteers of 1861, who 
 could hardly handle a musket, the Union 
 could boast of nearly a million of veteran 
 soldiers. Grant was now called East to 
 command, as Lieutenant - General, all the 
 armies of the United States; while his most 
 able coadjutor. General Sherman, with an 
 army of veterans famous on many a field, 
 was to commence his march through the 
 South, and join Grant before the defences 
 of Richmond. 
 
 The military history of the year 1864 will 
 show the delusion under which the South- 
 ern leaders rested — that it was "only neces- 
 sary for the South to remain in statu quo, 
 winning no victories in the field, and to 
 demonstrate their endurance, to gain the 
 desired end." The Federal Army was most 
 complete in all its equipments, and its dis- 
 cipline was established. How, then, could 
 the South hope to contend against such an 
 organization? 
 
 The Navy was in no respect behind the 
 Army in completeness and discipline. At 
 the end of the year 1863, the number of 
 guns afloat amounted to 4.443, the tonnage 
 of the vessels to 467,967, manned by 50,000 
 seamen. Among the vessels already built 
 or in process of construction, in 1864, there 
 were 75 iron casemated and turreted vessels, 
 carrying 303 powerful guns, that could de- 
 stroy any fortress the Confederates could 
 build on the sea-coast, and bid defiance to 
 any force sent by foreign powers to their 
 assistance. 
 
 It may have been chivalric in the South 
 to attempt a contest with such a power as 
 was brought against them, but it was hardly 
 wise or just to the people on the part of 
 
470 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 those who ruled the Confederacy. It cost 
 great waste of life, with no gain in the end 
 to the South, except the satisfaction of feel- 
 ing that they only submitted when over- 
 come by greatly superior numbers. 
 
 The whole country, although it lost men 
 enough to have made a dozen large armies, 
 gained greatly in prestige, and taught 
 Europe that our people united were a 
 match for all their powers combined. 
 
 In February, 1864, Acting-Rear- Admiral 
 S. P. Lee, commanding the North Atlantic 
 squadron, was in co-operation with Major- 
 General B. F. Butler, who commanded the 
 army of the James with his headquarters 
 at Fortress Monroe. General Meade com- 
 manded the Army of the Potomac, with his 
 headquarters south of the Rapidan, while 
 the headquarters of the Army of the Shen- 
 andoah, under command of Major-General 
 Sigel, were at Winchester. 
 
 An important part of the North Atlantic 
 squadron, under the immediate command 
 of Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee, was at Hamp- 
 ton Roads; some of the vessels were on the 
 James, others on the York River, ready as 
 heretofore to co-operate with the Army 
 when the great movement on Richmond 
 should be made, which was to bring the 
 civil war to a termination. 
 
 The available strength of the Federal 
 army on the Potomac, including the Ninth 
 Corps and the reinforcements that were 
 held in Washington, was not less than 
 170,000 men. The force which the Confed- 
 erates had to oppose was much inferior, ac- 
 cording to their own account. The Confed- 
 erate Army of the Rapidan, at the begin- 
 ning of the campaign of 1864, consisted of 
 two divisions of Longstreet's corps with 
 8,000 men, Ewell's corps of 14,000, Hill's 
 corps of 13,000, three divisions of cavalry, 
 and the artillery. So that, according to 
 Confederate historians, Lee's effective force 
 of infantry did not exceed 40,000 men. The 
 cavalry divisions did not each exceed the 
 roper strength of a brigade, and the artil- 
 ery was in proportion to the other arms, 
 altogether not over 80,000 men of all arms. 
 But it will not do to rely upon Confederate 
 figures, and General Grant's estimate placed 
 Lee's force at 130,000 men, including the 
 militia and local forces in and about Rich- 
 mond and Petersburg. This was the con- 
 dition of affairs when Grant assumed com- 
 mand of all the armies of the Union, when 
 a move was being made upon Richmond, 
 and Lee was collecting all his available 
 forces to meet the emergency. 
 
 The battles of the Wilderness were fought 
 and a terrible resistance was made by the 
 Confederates, but in vain, and the great 
 Union column, after overcoming the great- 
 est obstacles, marched on its way towards 
 Richmond. 
 
 I 
 
 While General Grant was occupied on 
 the Rapidan he had not lost sight of other 
 forces which were to be used in combina- 
 tion with the Army of the Potomac, which 
 forces were to operate in conjunction with 
 the Navy as near Richmond as it was pos- 
 sible to get. This was the Army of the 
 James, under Major-General Butler, num- 
 bering 20,000 men. General Grant directed 
 Butler to operate on the south side of the 
 James River in conjunction with the Army 
 of the Potomac, the objective point of both 
 being Richmond. 
 
 To Butler's force was to be added ten 
 thousand men from South Carolina under 
 Major-General Q. A. Gillmore, while Major- 
 General W. F. Smith was ordered to report 
 to General Butler to command the troops 
 sent into the field from his Department. 
 
 General Butler was directed, when his 
 forces were able to move, to seize and hold 
 City Point. Grant intended that, in case the 
 Confederates should be forced by his ad- 
 vance into their intrenchments at Rich- 
 mond, the Army of the Potomac should 
 follow them up, and by means of trans- 
 ports the two armies would become a unit. 
 It would seem from this that Grant ex- 
 pected to fight Lee between Culpeper Court 
 House and Richmond, and in case he should 
 not defeat him he could make a junction 
 with Butler, already established on the 
 James, and be in a position to threaten 
 Richmond on the south side, with his left 
 wing resting on the James, above the city. 
 
 In accordance with his instructions. Gen- 
 eral Butler moved his forces up the James 
 River, where he had the assistance of the 
 Navy to cover his landing, which was ac- 
 complished without diflficulty. Having been 
 joined by General Gillmore on the 4th of 
 May, Butler occupied City Point and Ber- 
 muda Hundred on the 5th ; on the 6th he 
 was in position with his main force and 
 intrenched, and on the 7th made a recon- 
 naissance of the Petersburg and Richmond 
 Railroad, and destroyed a bridge a few 
 miles from Richmond. 
 
 From this. General Butler formed the 
 opinion that he had succeeded in getting in 
 the rear of the Confederates, and held the 
 key to the back-door of Richmond. He 
 accordingly telegraphed to Washington: 
 "We have landed here, intrenched our- 
 selves, destroyed many miles of railroad, 
 and got a position which, with proper sup- 
 plies, we can hold against the whole of 
 Lee's army." Butler was. in fact, under the 
 impression that he could capture Richmond 
 before General Grant arrived. General 
 Butler's dispatch caused great satisfaction 
 in Washington, which was soon dispelled 
 by an unforeseen occurrence. 
 
 In the month of April General Beaure- 
 gard had been ordered to proceed from 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 471 
 
 Charleston to strengthen the defences of 
 Eichmond. He passed through Wilming- 
 ton with a large body of troops, receiving 
 constant accessions on the march, and as- 
 sumed command of the district on the 
 south and east of Richmond. 
 
 On the 16th of May Beauregard attacked 
 Butler's advanced position in front of Dru- 
 ry's Bluff, and Butler was forced back into 
 his intrenchments between the James and 
 the Appomattox Rivers; thereupon Beaure- 
 gard intrenched himself strongly in his 
 front, covering the city of Richmond from 
 any further attempts of Butler in that direc- 
 tion. This predicament of Butler gave rise 
 to the celebrated letter of General Grant, 
 in which he speaks of Butler's being as 
 completely h,ors du combat as if he were en- 
 closed in a bottle with the cork in. General 
 Butler held his position, although he had 
 the naval vessels on the James and Appo- 
 mattox Rivers to cover his retreat to his 
 transports, in case of further molestation 
 from Beauregard. 
 
 These military movements are mentioned 
 merely to show the position of affairs in 
 May, 1864, when the Army and Navy were 
 brought into co-operation before Richmond, 
 and not with any intention of criticising. 
 
 The operations of the North Atlantic 
 squadron in the beginning of the year 1864, 
 although not brilliant, were none the less 
 important, as tending to cripple the Con- 
 federacy. 
 
 The blockade of the Southern coast had 
 "been closely maintained, and many block- 
 ade-runners captured or destroyed. On the 
 3d of January, while the " Fah Kee " (tem- 
 porary flag-ship) was standing up the coast 
 from Little River Inlet towards Wilmington 
 bar, a steamer was discovered at the en- 
 trance of Lockwood's Folly Inlet, appar- 
 ently ashore. Smoke was issuing from 
 the vessel, and she was evidently aban- 
 doned. Boats were sent from the "Fah 
 Kee," and great efforts made to get the 
 ■vessel off, under an incessant fire from 
 sharp-shooters on the shore. Finding it was 
 impossible to get her afloat, she was riddled 
 with shot and shell to destroy her boilers 
 and machinery, and abandoned. This ves- 
 sel had been a successful blockade-runner, 
 and was called the '"Bendigo." 
 
 On the 11th of January another blockade- 
 running steamer, the "Ranger," was chased 
 on shore by the "Daylight" and "Aries," 
 and was set on fire by her crew after land- 
 ing her passengers and mail. The com- 
 manding oflScer of the "Governor Bucking- 
 ham," aided by the "Daylight" and "Aries," 
 attempted to extinguish the flames and haul 
 the "Ranger" off, but the enemy, posted in 
 force behind the sand-hills, kept up such 
 an incessant fire that the boats' crews could 
 not work. The "Ranger" was therefore 
 
 riddled with shot and shell, and destroyed. 
 In the meanwhile, black smoke was seen 
 in the direction of Topsail Inlet, and the 
 "Aries "was ordered to chase. She soon 
 returned, and her commanding officer. 
 Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant Edward F. 
 Devens, reported a fine-looking double-pro- 
 peller blockade-runner, called the "Venus," 
 beached and on fire, between Tubb's and 
 Little River Inlets. The enemy's sharp- 
 shooters prevented the "Aries'" boats from 
 boarding the vessel, which had been beached 
 and set on fire to prevent her capture. 
 This was the twenty-second steamer lost to 
 the Confederacy and the blockade runners 
 within the last six months, representing a 
 loss to the enemy of five and a half millions 
 of dollars. 
 
 These mishaps of the blockade-runners 
 greatly lessened the means of the Confed- 
 erates, and increased the difficulties of 
 exporting cotton — the Confederate sinews 
 of war — and obtaining arms and equip- 
 ments in return. 
 
 On the 9th instant the blockade-runner 
 "Dare" was chased on shore and destroyed 
 by the "Aries" and "Montgomery," as 
 the surf was running so high on the beach 
 that there was no chance of getting her 
 off. On these occasions many acts of gal- 
 lantry were performed. Acting-Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Devens mentions, in his report 
 of the ' ' Dare " affair, that, while in the 
 breakers, his boat capsized, and the crew 
 were washed on shore and fell into the 
 hands of the enemy. Acting Master J. W. 
 Balch, seeing his commanding officer strug- 
 gling in the water, swam ashore, with two 
 men, and brought Lieutenant Devens off 
 on his back, and placed him in the "Mont- 
 gomery's " launch. Twenty-five officers and 
 men on this occasion, after having a hard 
 struggle for their lives in the breakers, fell 
 into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 The service in which the blockaders were 
 engaged was arduous and dangerous, but 
 both officers and men performed their duty 
 unflinchingly. 
 
 In the latter part of January the "Iron 
 Age," one of the gun -boats, got fast 
 aground while attempting to get afloat the 
 hull of the blockade-runner " Bendigo," 
 and, through a mistaken order, was blown 
 up and destroyed. She was, however, no 
 great loss, being a poor vessel. 
 
 It could not be expected that, operating 
 along such an extensive line of coast and 
 confronted by an active and intelligent 
 enemy, the North Atlantic squadron could 
 be invariably successful. On the night of 
 the 2d of February the U. S. steamer "Un- 
 derwriter" was lying in the Neuse River 
 above the line of army works, when several 
 boats filled with men were seen coming 
 down the stream towards her. Th'e night 
 
472 
 
 ma i\i/±y^j-j j^i,3 i.\ji\. jl 
 
 was very dark, and the boats were close on 
 board before they were discovered and 
 hailed. The crew'sprang to quarters, and 
 made a stout resistance ; but the enemy, 
 with great gallantry, boarded the vessel, 
 and overpowered the crew, driving part of 
 them below, where they were obliged to 
 surrender, as there was no longer a chance 
 of successfully resisting. The officers and 
 crew were ordered into the boats, the vessel 
 was stripped of everything portable and 
 set on fire, when the enemy departed with 
 their prisoners and plunder. 
 
 This was rather a mortifying affair for the 
 Navy, however fearless on the part of tiie 
 Confederates. The most pleasant circum- 
 stance connected with the affair was the 
 conduct of Acting-Third-Assistant Engineer 
 G. E. Allen. The captured crew of the " Un- 
 derwriter" were in the enemy's boats, and 
 proceeding up the stream, when Mr. Allen 
 discovered that, in the hurry to get away 
 from the "Underwriter," on which the Fed- 
 erals on shore had opened fire, the enemy 
 had left but two guards in his boat. One of 
 the other boats was turning back to assist 
 their comrades in Mr. Allen's boat, when 
 the latter snatched a cutlass from one of the 
 guards, and told the men to pull for their 
 lives. Some of the men, including the other 
 guard, jumped overboard, and swam ashore, 
 while Allen headed the boat towards the 
 river-bank, landed at the foot of the line of 
 breastworks, and delivered his one prisoner 
 to the commanding officer of the fort. A 
 short time afterwards, the fire reached the 
 " Underwriter's " magazine, andshe blew up. 
 
 This gallant expedition was led by Com- 
 mander John Taylor Wood, of the Con- 
 federate Navy, who was accompanied by 
 Lieutenants Gardner, Hogue, Carr, and 
 Wilkinson. Acting-Master Jacob Wester- 
 velt, commanding the "Underwriter," was 
 killed on board that vessel, as also several 
 of his crew. 
 
 In this expedition fifteen boats, including 
 three large barges, with three hundred men, 
 came down the river with the intention of 
 making a simultaneous attack on the forts 
 and the gun-boat ; but, finding the latter 
 above the forts, where she ought not to 
 have been, she was boarded and captured, 
 witli little loss to the enemy. It was to be 
 expected that, with so many clever officers 
 who had left the Federal Navy and cast 
 their fortunes with the Confederates, such 
 gallant actions would often be attempted. 
 They frequently failed, as they would in 
 this instance, in all probability, had the 
 "Underwriter" been anchored below the 
 forts. Had the enemy attacked the forts, 
 the chances are they would have been suc- 
 cessful, as the garrison were unprepared 
 for an attack from the river, their most 
 vulnerable side. 
 
 About the middle of February the destruc- 
 tion of tlie blockade-runners, " Wild Day- 
 rell," "Nutfield," "Dee," "Emily," and 
 "Fannie and Jennie," was reported. All 
 these were fine vessels, and their cargoes, 
 consisting of munitions of war, etc., were 
 worth at least a million of dollars, a sum 
 which by no means represented their loss 
 to the Confederacy. Many of the vessels 
 destroyed would have made valuable addi- 
 tions to the Navy for the purpose of catch- 
 ing blockade -runners, as they were very 
 fast; but their commanders, rather than be 
 captured, ran them ashore, after throwing 
 overboard what munitions of war they had 
 on board; and the Federal officers, finding 
 it impossible to get them afloat, set them 
 on fire to prevent the enemy receiving any 
 benefit from them. The officers who made 
 themselves particularly active in the per- 
 formance of blockading duties, and who 
 aided in the desti'uction of these steamers, 
 were Commanders Pierce Crosby and Wil- 
 liam F. Spicer, and Lieutenant-Commander 
 Francis A. Roe. 
 
 Now and then, amid these exciting scenes, 
 the indomitable Lieutenant Gushing came 
 forward with some remarkable feat, more 
 daring than important. Cushing was brave 
 to recklessness, not seeming to care for 
 danger, and his superior officers rather en- 
 couraged his wild adventures. 
 
 In the month of February an idea struck 
 Cushing that he would make an expedition 
 to Cape Fear River, and capture the Con- 
 federate commander at Smithville, where 
 there was a strong fort and a garrison of 
 a thousand men. On the night of the 29th 
 Gushing passed the forts at the south inlet 
 of Cape Fear River under cover of the dark- 
 ness, and proceeded to Smithville, about six 
 miles above, his force consisting of two 
 boats and twenty men. Smithville was a 
 famous resort for blockade - runners, and 
 Cushing intended, if he found any of these 
 vessels at anchor, attempt their capture. 
 
 Finding no vessels at Smithville, Cushing 
 landed directly in front of the hotel, which 
 was the headquarters of the commanding 
 officer, concealed his men under the bank, 
 captured some negroes, and obtained from 
 them such information as he required. 
 Leaving some men in charge of the boats, 
 Cushing, with Acting-Ensign J. E. Jones, 
 Acting - Master's Mate W. L. Howorth, 
 and one seaman, proceeded to the head- 
 quarters of tlie commanding officer of the 
 defences, General Herbert. Cushing cap- 
 tured the chief-engineer, but ascertained 
 that the general had gone to Wilmington. 
 Tlie adjutant-general was slightly wounded, 
 and made his escape to the woods, without 
 stopping to put on his clothes, under an im- 
 pression that the garrison had mutinied. 
 Cushing s boats were about fifty yards from 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 473 
 
 the regular landing-place at the fort, and 
 not so far from the sentinel on the wharf, 
 yet he succeeded in carrying off his pris- 
 oners. By the time the alarm signal-lights 
 were shown Gushing was abreast of Fort 
 Caswell, on his way back to the squadron. 
 The blockade-runner " Scotia" passed from 
 the anchorage just before Gushing got into 
 the river, or he might have made a good 
 night's work of it. 
 
 Cushing's hazardous undertakings were 
 sometimes criticised as useless, but there 
 was more method in them than appeared 
 on the surface, and important information 
 was sometimes obtained, to say nothing of 
 the brilliant example of courage and enter- 
 prise which they afforded to others. 
 
 On March 8th Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee 
 accompanied General Butler to Yorktown 
 to arrange a joint military and naval expe- 
 dition, to operate, first, up the Pamunky 
 River against the Confederate forces near 
 King and Queen Court House, which had 
 attacked the party under command of 
 Colonel Dahlgren, and killed that officer; 
 and, second, against a force of the enemy 
 reported as about to make an expedition 
 from the peninsula. Owing, however, to 
 constant fogs, the gun-boats could not co- 
 operate with the Army, and the Confed- 
 erates, finding themselves about to be 
 surrounded, retreated from the peninsula. 
 
 A few nights later, a boat expedition, 
 under Acting-Masters Williams and Wilder, 
 of the "Commodore Barney" and " Minne- 
 sota," respectively, ascended the Chucka- 
 tuck Creek, and captured a party of twenty 
 Confederate soldiers. 
 
 While these small affairs were being 
 transacted, the Confederate naval officers 
 were preparing to retalia.te on the vessels 
 of the North Atlantic squadron lying in 
 Hampton Roads. Lieutenant Hunter Da- 
 vidson, of the Confederate navy, had given 
 much study to the subject of torpedoes, and 
 had perfected what he considered an excel- 
 lent torpedo-boat. It was a small steam- 
 launch, with a torpedo on the end of a pole 
 projecting some twenty feet from the bow 
 of the vessel. 
 
 Up to this time both the Union and Con- 
 federate Governments had been singularly 
 oblivious to the torpedo as a means of 
 offence and defence. Had the Federal Gov- 
 ernment made proper use of the torpedo, it 
 would have soon put an end to the business 
 of blockade - running. Electric batteries 
 could have been established, if necessary, 
 three or four miles outside the entrance to 
 a harbor, and the majority of blockade- 
 runners would not have ventured to run the 
 gauntlet of such dangerous affairs. There 
 would have been no difficulty in planting 
 any number of torpedoes in the channels, 
 made to explode on contact with a vessel. 
 
 Humanitarian ideas probably had origin- 
 ally a good deal to do with the neglect of 
 the Federal Government to avail them- 
 selves of these frightful adjuncts ; but the 
 Confederates were not governed by any 
 such sentimental feelings. Later in the war 
 they used the torpedo freely, and blew up a 
 number of Federal vessels-of-war — whicli 
 was as justifiable as any other hostile act. 
 
 On the night of April 8th, 1864, while the 
 "Minnesota," flag-ship of Acting-Rear- Ad- 
 miral Lee, was lying at anchor off Fortress 
 Monroe, a dark object was seen, about two 
 hundred yards distant, slowly passing the 
 ship. It was thought to be a row-boat; and, 
 in reply to the hail from the " Minnesota," 
 the answer came, "Roanoke." By this time 
 the object was nearly abeam, and appar- 
 ently motionless. 
 
 The officer of the deck sent orders for a 
 tug, which was lying astern, to go and ex- 
 amine the floating object ; and while he 
 was endeavoring to get the men in the tug 
 to attend to his orders, the torpedo-boat 
 struck the ship, exploded a torpedo, and 
 made off in the direction of Nansemond 
 River. Several shots were fired at the tor- 
 pedo vessel, but she escaped in the dark- 
 ness. The concussion caused great excite- 
 ment on board the frigate. The drums beat 
 to quarters, and the men hurried to their 
 stations, and stood by to lower the boats ; 
 but it was soon found that no serious dam- 
 age had been done. But for the fact that 
 the torpedo, which weighed fifty pounds, 
 was not placed in contact with the ship, 
 but was prematurely exploded, the "Min- 
 nesota's" bottom would have been shat- 
 tered, and the Federals would have lost one 
 of their finest frigates. 
 
 This daring exploit was performed by 
 Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, who has, no 
 doubt, since rejoiced that he did not suc- 
 ceed in sending many of his old friends 
 and shipmates to the bottom. 
 
 It demonstrated the necessity of keeping 
 a brighter look-out for the enemy's torpedo 
 corps, and it also showed the determination 
 with which the Confederates carried on the 
 war. They were first in the field with this 
 new method of warfare, and managed it 
 with great dexterity. It was not until they 
 had blown up a dozen or so Federal vessels 
 that the Government undertook to employ 
 torpedo - boats ; but this was at so late a 
 period in the war as to be of comparatively 
 little use. 
 
 One torpedo-boat, under cover of the 
 "Monitor," would have settled the " Mer- 
 rimac " in a very short time, and a Moni- 
 tor fitted with a torpedo would have de- 
 stroyed the "Tennessee" with equal facil- 
 ity. But it requires time to become recon- 
 ciled to a system that was looked upon with 
 horror for many years after its invention. 
 
474 
 
 J. 1211, l\/±V.n.J^ XJ.J<3L\^£\.X 
 
 Such is the progress of ideas that, now-a- 
 days, so far from being struck with horror 
 at the idea of knocking a hole in a vessel's 
 bottom, all Christian Governments are seek- 
 ing with avidity the most powerful subma- 
 rine weapons of destruction. 
 
 Early in April, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee 
 wascalled upon by General Butler to co-oper- 
 ate with him in putting down what he called 
 the "pirates of the creeks," which were, in 
 fact, the irregular forces of the enemy 
 employed along the river to inflict all pos- 
 sible injury on Union vessels, and keep the 
 Federals from landing along the rivers and 
 capturing Confederate property. Various 
 expeditions were fitted out, consisting of 
 forces from the Army and Navy, but no 
 great results were obtained. It was not 
 the kind of warfare calculated to be of any 
 permanent benefit to the Union cause ; and 
 it demonstrated the fact that only large 
 bodies of troops could break up the system 
 adopted by the Confederates of harassing 
 Federal Army posts with constant attacks. 
 
 Some boat expeditions were undertaken, 
 in which great gallantry was displayed and 
 a few men killed, terminating in a retreat 
 from under the enemy's fire, after inflicting 
 the usual damage on him. The only satis- 
 faction gained on the expedition to Pagan 
 Creek was a temporary scattering of the 
 Confederate troops, and the fact ascertained 
 that the Davidson torpedo-boat had arrived 
 at Sraithfield on the 9th inst., and had gone 
 thence to Richmond. 
 
 On the 6th of May, the army, under Gen- 
 eral Butler, landed at City Point and Ber- 
 muda Hundred, covered by five iron-clads 
 and ten other vessels, without opposition. 
 The river had been carefully dragged for 
 torpedoes, to assure the safety of the gun- 
 boats and transports; but, notwithstanding 
 all the care taken, the gun-boat " Commo- 
 dore Jones" was blown up while dragging 
 for these hidden enemies. The vessel, it 
 seems, rested directly over an infernal ma- 
 chine, which was fired by a galvanic bat- 
 tery hidden in a pit on the shore. The 
 destruction of the steamer was complete, as 
 the torpedo, supposed to have contained 
 four hundred pounds of powder, was ex- 
 ploded directly under her bottom. So great 
 was the concussion that the vessel was 
 lifted bodily out of the water, and her crew 
 hurled into the air, killing and wounding 
 more than half of the ship's company. 
 
 This shocking casualty demonstrated the 
 power of the torpedo, when properly nian- 
 aged. The arrangements in this quarter 
 were under the direction of Lieutenant 
 Hunter Davidson; and the man who ignited 
 the torpedo which blew up the "Commo- 
 dore Jones" was killed by a musket-ball 
 fired by the coxswain of one of the boats 
 dragging for these infernal machines. 
 
 There were three of these torpedo-pits, 
 from which men were ready to act as soon 
 as a vessel should get into the desired posi- 
 tion; and it seems as though a few marines 
 as skirmishers, marching along the banks, 
 might have prevented any attempt of the 
 enemy to operate the wires. In one of the 
 pits two men were captured, ready to ex- 
 plode a torpedo should any vessel pass over 
 it. These were Acting-Master P. W. Smith, 
 of the Confederate navy, and Jeffries John- 
 son, private in the Submarine Corps. In 
 those days such adventurers stood a chance 
 of being shot as soon as captured, though 
 now the case would be different. These 
 men were quite communicative, and said 
 they had adopted this service to remain 
 near their homes. Some of their torpedoes 
 would explode by contact, others by lines 
 from the shore, and others \>j various in- 
 genious contrivances. All of them could 
 be put' down in one day by a torpedo-boat 
 arranged for the purpose by Lieutenant 
 Davidson, who had been watching the 
 movements of the Federals since the trans- 
 ports first assembled in Hampton Roads. 
 
 The investigations of the naval officers 
 soon disclosed a system of defence embrac- 
 ing all the navigable rivers. The torpe- 
 does were followed up, their positions 
 located, and, wherever practicable, they 
 were destroyed, making the waterways 
 comparatively safe, and enabling General 
 Butler to reoccupy his line from Trent's 
 Beach to Appomattox. 
 
 On the 18th of May the enemy com- 
 menced fortifying the heights about Hew- 
 lett's House, commanding Trent's Reach, on 
 the James ; and although the gun-boats 
 kept up a steady fire on their position, thej' 
 persevered, and that night mounted a suffi- 
 cient number of guns to keep the Federal 
 gun-boats in check. The charts indicating 
 less water in the channel than the Monitors 
 drew, it was not considered advisable to 
 move them too close to the batteries. 
 
 The enemy seemed to be prepared all 
 along the river to meet the advance of the 
 Navy. The pickets of the latter were 
 driven in at Dutch Gap heights, and the 
 Army pickets at City Point ; and Acting- 
 Rear- Admiral Lee considered that his com- 
 munications were seriously threatened. 
 
 By the 19th the Monitors were advanced 
 nearer Hewlett's Battery, on which they 
 opened Avith seemingly great accuracy of 
 fire, but with no appearance of arresting 
 the progress of this formidable work. The 
 artillery practice was kept up until the 24th, 
 without any result except that for a time 
 the enemy stopped working. On the y4th 
 the enemy made an attack on a body of 
 troops stationed at Wilson's wharf, which 
 attack had been anticipated by the naval 
 commander-in-chief, who had placed the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 475 
 
 following vessels in position to meet it : 
 "Pequot," Lieutenant - Commander S. P. 
 Quackenbush ; "Dawn," Acting-Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant J. W. Simmons; "Atlanta "(iron- 
 clad), and tug "Young America" — all un- 
 der Lieutenant-Commander Quackenbush. 
 At 12 : 30, on the 34th, the enemy made a 
 vigorous attack at the wharf ; the move- 
 ment was, however, supposed to be a feint 
 to draw the Union forces from Fort Pow- 
 hatan. The enemy were met by the fire of 
 the gun-boats, particularly the "Dawn"; 
 and although their decks were swept by 
 musketry, such was the terrible effect of 
 their shells on the Confederates that the 
 latter were obliged to retreat. But for the 
 service rendered by the "Dawn," Lieuten- 
 ant Simmons, the Confederates would have, 
 no doubt, accomplished their object and 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEE (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAL) S. P 
 QUACKENBUSH. 
 
 carried the Union position. The engage- 
 ment lasted upwards of five hours, and de- 
 monstrated the value of the Navy in pro- 
 tecting the fl-anks of the Federal Army. 
 
 About the 30th of May, the Confederate 
 naval forces came down below Drury's 
 Bluff, and prepared to attack the Union 
 squadron. Their plan was to send down 
 fire-ships with the current, and, following 
 with their vessels, attack those of the Fed- 
 erals. The Confederate squadron consisted 
 of three iron-clads, with batteries of heavy 
 rifled guns, and six gun -boats partially 
 plated with iron. For some reason, no im- 
 mediate onset was made by the Confederate 
 rams, which caused them to lose the oppor- 
 tunity of seriously damaging the Federal 
 squadron, and perhaps driving it away. 
 
 In the meantime. General Butler, as part 
 of his campaisrn, proposed to obstruct the 
 
 James River by sinking vessels a mile or so 
 below Hewlett's Battery. This would make 
 his positions at Bermuda Hundred and at 
 City Point perfectly secure. Part of the 
 vessels to be used for this purpose were re- 
 ceived by Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee on the 
 2d of June, consisting of a bark and three 
 large schooners loaded with shingle ballast. 
 
 It is due to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee to 
 say that he objected to this plan of obstruct- 
 ing the river, as the force of vessels at his 
 disposal was stronger than had been origi- 
 nally proposed. General Grant had only 
 asked for two iron-clads, but the Navy De- 
 partment furnished Acting - Rear - Admiral 
 Lee with four, although one of them, the 
 " Tecumseh," was soon to leave the James 
 River for other service. Acting-Rear-Ad- 
 miral Lee took the ground that it was 
 not the duty of the Navy to protect itself 
 in this manner; on the contrary, where ob- 
 structions existed, they should be removed, 
 if possible; any other course would be ad- 
 mitting the superiority of the enemy and a 
 dread of his naval force. On the other 
 hand, it was argued that obstructing the 
 river would lessen the chance of injuring 
 the Federal vessels, on which depended the 
 security of the Army at the points below. 
 The obstructions would keep off fire-rafts 
 and infernal machines, and a smaller force 
 of vessels would be required in Trent's 
 Reach to prevent the advance of the Con- 
 federate iron-clads. This latter view of the 
 case was accepted ; for, as the operations 
 against Richmond would be altogether mili- 
 tary, and as the naval forces could not get 
 to that city with the land and naval bat- 
 teries opposed to them, the obstruction pro- 
 posal was decided upon. 
 
 At that time General Grant was expected 
 to cross the James and operate against 
 Richmond from the south side, and, under 
 the circumstances, it was absolutely neces- 
 sary to hold the river secure against the 
 contingencies of a naval engagement. 
 There were many reasons why it was not 
 desirable to bring on an engagement with 
 the enemy's squadron, the strength of 
 which was unknown. The river was too 
 narrow to manoeuvre in, and the channel 
 was very shoal in places. If a battle was 
 won, the Army would be no nearer Rich- 
 mond than before. The Navy made no 
 headway when Hewlett's Battery had but 
 four guns, and it was not likely that, with 
 the addition of the works at Drury's Bluff, 
 armed with the heaviest ordnance, and 
 with the river guarded by lines of torpe- 
 does, that the squadron could force its way 
 up the James River. 
 
 There seems to have been a little diplo- 
 macy as to whether General Butler or Act- 
 ing-Rear- Admiral Lee should assume the re- 
 sponsibility of placing the obstructions in 
 
476 
 
 THE NAVAL HlHTUlir 
 
 Trent's Reach, although why there should 
 have been any dispute in such a matter it is 
 difficult to see. It was certainly distasteful 
 to the Confederates, who saw all their 
 schemes of fire-rafts, torpedo-boats and iron- 
 clad raids completely circumvented. The 
 following letter from General Butler to 
 Acting Rear -Admiral Lee will show the 
 General's views on the subject: 
 
 Headquarters in the Field, \ 
 June 3d, 1864. ) 
 
 Admiral : 
 
 Your conimunioation dated June 3d, in regard to 
 the obstructions, is received. The five vessels sent 
 up were procured by my order for the purpose of 
 being used as obstructions to the river, if, in the 
 judgment of the naval commander, they would add 
 to the security of his fleet. 
 
 I have no difficulty as to the point at which we 
 desire to secure the river. It is at the right of my 
 line, near Curtis' House, at the ravine; but whether 
 the river should be secured by obstructions or by 
 vessels, or a disposition of your obstructions or of 
 the vessels of your Navy, neither myself nor my 
 engineers haveanyrighttofeelcompetentto give an 
 opinion. The vessels are wholly at your service, but 
 upon your judgment, not mine, must rest their use. 
 
 In accordance with your request, as I informed 
 your officer, I will visit you this afternoon, and des- 
 ignate the spot we desire to be held ; but whether 
 by means of obstructions or by your ships, or by 
 both combined, must be solely for you to deter- 
 mine. 
 
 While I know you would not undertake to give 
 directions to my engineers as to the situation of the 
 earth-works on land, so we ought not to presume 
 to advise you as to your means of defending the 
 water. 
 
 I have not consulted the War Department on the 
 subject, whether I should procure these obstruc- 
 tions. I supposed that was fairly within my discre- 
 tion, and 1 venture respectfully to add that the 
 question whether you should use them is entirely 
 within yours. The Navy Department cannot know 
 the emergencies as you know them, and, I am cer- 
 tain, must leave that question to the good judg- 
 ment of the rear-admiral commanding the fleet. 
 
 I am aware of the delicacy naval gentlemen feel 
 in depending upon anything but their ships in a 
 contest witli the enemy ; and if it was a contest 
 with the enemy's ships alone, I certainly would not 
 advise the obstructions, even at the great risk of 
 losing the river ; but in a contest against such un- 
 christian modes of warfare as fire-rafts and tor- 
 pedo-boats, I think all questions of delicacy should 
 be waived by the paramount consideration of pro- 
 tection for the lives of the men and the safety of 
 the very valuable vessels of the squadron. 
 
 Pardon me if I have overstepped any line of duty 
 or courtesy in this latter suggestion. 
 I have the honor to be. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Benj. F. Butler, 
 Major Qeneral Commanding. 
 Rear-Admiral 8. P. Lee, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 This diplomatic communication of Gen- 
 eral Butler led to a long correspondence 
 between Acting Rear-Admiral Lee and him- 
 self, which ended, as it should have done, in 
 putting the obstructions in the channel. 
 
 During the time this discussion of a quite 
 simple matter was pending, from the 1st to 
 the 15th of June, General Grant had fought 
 
 the battle of Cold Harbor, in which he 
 found General Lee's army less weakened 
 than had been expected by its losses in the 
 battles from the Rapidan to the James. 
 He did not feel that his own army was in 
 condition to operate further against a well- 
 commanded army of veterans posted be- 
 hind five miles of strong intrenchments. 
 
 In the first attack on the Confederates at 
 Cold Harbor, Grant's army was severely 
 handled. General Hancock's attack, al- 
 though at first successful, was finally re- 
 pulsed, and Warren and Burnside were 
 brought to a stand at the edge of the en- 
 emy's rifle-pits. 
 
 In writing of this battle General Grant 
 says: "Our loss has been heavy, while I 
 have reason to believe that the loss of the 
 enemy was comparatively light." The loss, 
 in fact, in three days' operations on the 
 Chickahominy, was 7,500 men. 
 
 No doubt Grant often wished he could 
 have the aid of the gun-boats that had 
 given him so much help in the West ; but 
 that was an impossibility. 
 
 Realizing the fact that he could not oper- 
 ate with any advantage north and east of 
 Richmond, General Grant determined to 
 make another movement — throw his army 
 across the James River, capture Petersburg, 
 and place himself in communication with 
 the Navy. 
 
 Grant had had too much experience in 
 the West not to know what valuable aid a 
 naval force could afford an army under 
 certain circumstances, not to wish to take 
 advantage of it in the present instance. 
 In consequence of this resolution Grant 
 moved by Lee's right flank, and threw his 
 army across the James River, with the hope 
 of seizing Petersburg, while his cavalry 
 could destroy the railroad communication 
 between Richmond and the Shenandoah 
 Valley and Lynchburg. The movement was 
 skillfully executed, and, on the 14th of June, 
 the Army was safe on the opposite bank of 
 the James, and in communication with the 
 Army of the James and with the Navy. 
 
 The day General Grant passed the James 
 he gave an order to sink the obstructions in 
 Trent's Reach, and on the 15th General 
 Butler wrote to Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee, 
 informing him of Grant's order, and saying 
 that he would be glad if the admiral would 
 assist him in carrying it out. 
 
 On the 15th of June General Grant estab- 
 lished his headquarters at City Point. The 
 obstructions were sunk in the river, and 
 offered a complete barrier to the enemy's 
 fire-rafts and torpedo- vessels. "The general- 
 in-chief had now time to breathe and look 
 about him, and observe the new condition 
 of affairs. 
 
 By June 20th Commander T. A. M. Craven, 
 of the Navy, had sunk in the main channel 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 477 
 
 at Trent's Reach four hulks filled with stone. 
 There was also stretched across the chan- 
 nel a heavy boom, supporting a chain cable, 
 well secured on each side of the river. 
 Across the flats was extended a heavy boom, 
 secured by six anchors, and in the channel, 
 along the right bank, was sunk a large 
 schooner loaded with stone, from which a 
 strong boom extended to the shore. The ob- 
 structions were very complete, and were in- 
 tended to be under the fire of General Butler's 
 guns as well as those of the iron-clads. 
 
 The enemy probably was well pleased at 
 the Federals obstructing the channel ; for, 
 notwithstanding his forts at Howlett's and 
 Drury's Bluff, his fire-rafts, sunken torpe- 
 does, and torpedo-boats, he felt more secure 
 when he knew that his position could not 
 be assailed by a naval force; while General 
 Grant was equally satisfied now that the 
 
 COMMANDEK (NOW EEAR-ABMIEAI,) EDMUND R. COLHODN. 
 
 enemy's iron-clads could not get down to 
 City Point under any circumstances. 
 
 The enemy, in order to ascertain the 
 character of the obstructions, made a re- 
 connaissance in the neighborhood of Dutch 
 Gap ; while Howlett's Battery, which had 
 been greatly strengthened by the erection 
 of new works, opened upon the vessels be- 
 low the obstructions. 
 
 These were the iron-clads "Tecumseh," 
 Commander T. A. M.Craven; "Saugus," 
 Commander E. R. Colhoun ; " Onondaga," 
 Lieutenant-Commander C. H., Cushman ; 
 "Canonicus," Commander E. S. Parrott, 
 and gun-boat "Agawam," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander A. C. Rhind. They returned the 
 fire of the enemy's batteries with consider- 
 able effect, receiving little damage in return; 
 while the Confederate iron-clads, from their 
 position behind a wood, opened a straggling 
 fire, of which no notice was taken. Ac- 
 cording to one Confederate account, the 
 
 battery at Howlett's consisted of but four 
 guns — one large rifle, one large smooth- 
 bore, and two smaller pieces. 
 
 Notwithstanding the general impression 
 that the obstructions in the river were im- 
 passable, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee judged 
 it expedient to apply for an increase of the 
 force of iron-clads, and that he might be 
 authorized to detain the "Tecumseh." 
 
 This is the history of the obstruction of 
 the James River, the credit of which was 
 given to General Butler, who simply ap- 
 proved the proposition when it was men- 
 tioned to him, and received General Grant's 
 order to sink the vessels. 
 
 General Grant's arrival before Peters- 
 burg, which he attacked on the 14th of 
 June, and the ci'ossing of the James by 
 General Meade's army, gave quite a differ- 
 ent aspect to affairs at City Point, and the 
 time had arrived when the Navy stood a 
 chance of making itself very useful. 
 
 Petersburg was one of the strongest out- 
 posts of the Confederate capital, and a for- 
 midable resistance in that quarter was, of 
 course, expected. Part of General Butler's 
 command commenced the attack on the 
 works covering the approaches to the town, 
 and succeeded in occupying them; but, by 
 waiting the arrival of Hancock's division 
 and failing to push their advantage, the 
 Confederates were strongly reinforced, so 
 that, when Hancock's and Burnside's di- 
 visions assaulted them, the Federals were 
 repulsed with considerable loss. Next day 
 another attempt was made and repulsed, 
 with the capture by the enemy of part of a 
 Federal brigade. 
 
 About the same time. General Butler sal- 
 lied forth from his intrenchments to tear up 
 the railroad leading to Richmond; but the 
 enemy sent out an army corps from their 
 capital, and Butler was defeated, after send- 
 ing intelligence of a splendid victory which 
 he had won! 
 
 The result of these attempts on Peters- 
 burg, which had caused great losses to the 
 Federal Army, convinced General Grant 
 that his best course was to envelop the town 
 with his forces, without attacking the out- 
 works. Attempts were made to destroy 
 all the railroads leading to Richmond, but 
 the enemy was so strongly posted that 
 these efforts were generally of no benefit 
 to the Union cause. 
 
 Thus the month of June closed with no 
 immediate results favorable to the Federals, 
 except that the Army was transported to 
 the south of Richmond, and was in com- 
 munication with the Navy; while the Con- 
 federates continued to strengthen daily the 
 fortifications of Richmond and Petersburg. 
 In fact, General Grant had encountered ob- 
 stacles far greater than he had anticipated. 
 
 A large portion of the naval forces on the 
 
478 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTOKV 
 
 James naturally assembled at City Point, 
 where General Grant had established his 
 headquarters, while other portions of the 
 North Atlantic squadron were employed in 
 the sounds of North Carolina and in the 
 blockade of the coast. 
 
 About the middle of May, the "North Car- 
 olina," an iron-clad resembling the "At- 
 lanta," appeared off Fort Fisher, at the 
 mouth of Cape Fear River, accompanied by 
 tv/o tugs. This vessel commenced an at- 
 tack at long range on the blockading ves- 
 sels then employed off the north inlet, 
 which, with the exception of the " Tusca- 
 rora," were improvised gun-boats, without 
 sufficient strength to contend with armored 
 vessels. The little flotilla returned the fire 
 of the iron-clad, and after a desultory en- 
 gagement which lasted two days, with 
 little damage on either side, the iron-clad 
 and her consorts disappeared over the bar 
 of Cape Fear River. 
 
 It was doubtless the intention of the Con- 
 federates to disperse the few Union vessels 
 then off the entrance to Wilmington, and 
 start the cry of " raised blockade," as had 
 been attempted on a previous occasion at 
 Charleston ; but in this design they failed, 
 and the iron-clad returned to Wilmington, 
 where her career soon afterwards ended. 
 
 The vessels that stood their ground so 
 faithfully, in presence of this apparently 
 formidable iron -clad, were the " Tusca- 
 rora," Commander W. A. Parker; "Britan- 
 nia," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants. Huse; 
 ' ' Mount Vernon," Acting - Volunteer - Lieu- 
 tenant James Trathen ; "Houquah," Act- 
 ing-Master J. W. Balch, and " Nansemond," 
 Acting-Ensign J. H. Porter. From subse- 
 quent developments, it appears that the 
 rams " Raleigh" and " North Carolina" were 
 constructed at Wilmington under the direc- 
 tion of Commodore W. F. Lynch, but were 
 hardly considered fit to go into battle, 
 although they served to keep the blockaders 
 on the look-out. 
 
 Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, with his usual 
 zeal and enterprise, volunteered to attempt 
 the destruction of the vessel that came out 
 to attack the blockaders, and at the same 
 time make a reconnaissance of the defences 
 of Cape Fear River — a very desirable pro- 
 ject, as an expedition for the capture of 
 Wilmington was then in contemplation. 
 Cushing was always attempting what no 
 one else would think of, and in this case 
 it seemed that he was almost certain to be 
 killed or captured. 
 
 Obtaining permission from Acting-Rear- 
 Admiral Lee to attempt the destruction of 
 the "Raleigh," Cushing proceeded in the 
 "Monticello" to the western entrance of 
 Cape Fear River. On the night of June 
 23d he left the vessel in the first cutter, ac- 
 companied by Acting-Ensign J. E. Jones, 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate William L. Howorth, 
 and fifteen men, crossed the western bar, 
 and passed the forts and town of Smithville 
 without discovery. Near the Zeke Island 
 batteries, Cushing came very near being 
 run down by a steamer — doubtless a block- 
 ade-runner, bound out, with a load of cotton 
 — and also narrowly escaped the notice of 
 a guard-boat. 
 
 As Cushing came abreast of the Bruns- 
 wick batteries, fifteen miles from his start- 
 ing-point, the moon came out from the 
 clouds, and disclosed the party to the senti- 
 nels on the river-bank, who hailed the boat, 
 and then opened fire upon her. The people 
 in the fort were roused, and the confusion 
 seemed to be general. Cushing pulled for 
 the opposite bank, and along up the other 
 shore, until he got out of sight. When 
 within seven miles of Wilmington both 
 men and boat were secreted in a marsh. 
 
 When the sun rose, Cushing watched for 
 an opportunity to capture some one from 
 whom he could obtain information. Nearly 
 a dozen steamers passed, three of them fine 
 blockade-runners, and one of them Com- 
 modore Lynch's flag-ship, yet there was no 
 suspicion of Cushing and his men hidden 
 within a stone's throw. The Confederates 
 felt so secure in the river, with its powerful 
 defences, that they never dreamed of the 
 possibility of a boat's crew running the 
 gauntlet. 
 
 Just after dark two boats were seen 
 rounding a point near by, and, supposing 
 it to be an attacking party, Cushing pre- 
 pared for resistance. It was simply a fish- 
 ing party returning to Wilmington. Both 
 boats were captured, and the necessary 
 information obtained from them, and the 
 occupants were made to act as guides for a 
 further exploration of the river. 
 
 Cushing made mental notes of all the 
 obstructions, forts and guns he met along 
 the Cape Fear River, which were useful at 
 a later date, when Fort Fisher and the 
 other defences at the entrance of the river 
 were attacked. Coming to a very narrow 
 creek, Cushing poled his boat along through 
 it for some distance, till he reached a road, 
 which was the main highway from Fort 
 Fisher to Wilming:ton. Here he divided 
 his little party, leaving half of them behind, 
 and marching the rest two miles further on 
 the main road, where they halted and con- 
 cealed themselves. 
 
 About noon, a mounted soldier, with a 
 mail -bag from Fort Fisher, came along, 
 and was much astonished when halted by 
 Cushing, and ordered to dismount and de- 
 liver up his mail. Two hundred letters 
 were captured, and much information ob- 
 tained in regard to the enemy's plans. 
 Cushing then waited for the mail-carrier 
 from Wilmington to appear with dispatches 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 479 
 
 for Fort Fisher, but, just as the courier 
 hove in sight, a blue-jacket incautiously 
 exposed himself, and the fellow took to 
 flight instanter, pursued by Gushing on the 
 captured horse; but after a chase of several 
 miles, finding that the enemy was better 
 mounted, and that there was no chance of 
 overtaking him. Gushing gave up the pur- 
 suit. All this took place on a traveled high- 
 way, where squads of soldiers might have 
 been expected to pass along at any moment. 
 
 The party captured several prisoners, and, 
 at length, becoming hungry, Master's Mate 
 Howorth dressed himself in the courier's 
 clothes, and, mounting the horse, started 
 into town to market. After a time he re- 
 turned with a supply of milk, eggs and 
 chickens, having excited no suspicion, 
 though conversing with many persons. 
 
 After destroying the telegraph as com- 
 pletely as possible. Gushing returned to the 
 creek where he had left the rest of his party, 
 reaching the river by dark. Then he at- 
 tempted to land his prisoners on an .island, 
 as he had more than he could accommodate, 
 and a steamer coming down the river 
 passed so close that the boat's crew jumped 
 into the water and kept their heads under 
 for fear of being seen. 
 
 Finally Gushing put his prisoners in the 
 small boats he had captured, and sent them 
 adrift on the river, without oars or sails, to 
 get home the best way they could; while 
 he proceeded down the river with his party 
 in the cutter, retaining one prisoner as a 
 pilot to show him where the ram "Raleigh" 
 lay a wreck. He hoped also to fall in with 
 and destroy some of the Gonfederate vessels 
 by setting fire to them. 
 
 Gushing found that there was nothing 
 left of the "Raleigh" above water — like 
 most of the Gonfederate rams, she had been 
 destroyed in a panic. As for the other iron- 
 clad, the "North Garolina," his prisoners 
 had told him she was then at anchor off 
 Wilmington under Gaptain Wm. T. Muse, 
 but that little confidence was placed in her, 
 and that she would not cross the bar. 
 Gushing was also informed that the two 
 torpedo-boats built at Wilmington had been 
 destroyed some time previous in the great 
 cotton fire. 
 
 As Gushing neared the forts, at the east 
 bar of the river, a boat was seen and cap- 
 tured after a short chase. It contained 
 four soldiers and two civilians, who were 
 taken into the cutter, and their own boat 
 sent adrift. On questioning his prisoners. 
 Gushing found that there was a large 
 guard-boat, with seventy-five musketeers, 
 stationed in the narrow passage between 
 Federal Point and Zeke Island. Notwith- 
 standing the disparity of force, Gushing 
 prepared to attack the guard-boat. 
 
 Just then the moon shone out briffhtlv; 
 
 but when a few yards from the guard-boat, 
 three boats pulled oat from the battery and 
 five more from the other end of the passage, 
 completely blocking up the avenue to es- 
 cape. The cutter at the time was under 
 sail, and the helm was put down; but a 
 large sail-boat filled with soldiers appeared 
 on the scene to windward and close aboard. 
 This was a trying position, but every one 
 in the cutter behaved with the utmost cool- 
 ness, relying on the bravery and ingenuity 
 of their young commander to extricate 
 them from the difficulty, for there was not 
 the least idea of surrendering. 
 
 Suddenly turning the cutter's head, as if 
 for the west bar, the men shipped their 
 oars, and, pulling vigorously, the enemy 
 soon lost sight of the boat, but they dashed 
 off in pursuit, expecting to intercept Gush- 
 ing near the bar. The latter, however, 
 doubled on his pursuers, and, thanks to the 
 extraordinary pulling of liis sailors, gained 
 the passage of the island, and dashed 
 into the breakers on Garoline Shoal, a most 
 dangerous place, where the enemy — who 
 doubtless thought the Federals were lost — 
 dared not follow. 
 
 Fortunately, their boat, though so deeply 
 laden, carried Gushing and his party safely 
 through the breakers; and, just as day 
 broke, they reached the gun-boat " Ghero- 
 kee," after an absence from the squadron 
 of two days and three nights. 
 
 There was not a more daring adventure 
 than this in the whole course of the war. 
 There were ninety-nine chances in a hun- 
 dred that Gushing and his party would be 
 killed or captured, but throughout all his 
 daring schemes there seemed to be a 
 method, and, though criticised as rash and 
 ill-judged, Gushing returned unscathed 
 from his frequent expeditions, with much 
 important information. In this instance it 
 was a great source of satisfaction to the 
 blockading vessels to learn that the " Ral- 
 eigh" was destroyed, and that the other 
 iron -clad ram was not considered fit to 
 cross the bar. 
 
 Had Gushing learned in time that there 
 was a Gonfederate war -vessel lying at 
 Wilmington, he would, no doubt, have at- 
 tempted her destruction, but he only heard 
 of it when on his return down the river. 
 
 This young officer was always cool and 
 collected when in the midst of dangers, 
 and, although they were plenty of others 
 equally brave, there was something par- 
 ticularly dashing in Gushing's character. 
 He seemed more like a free-lance than a 
 regular officer of the Navy, educated in the 
 school of routine, and, in fact, the re- 
 straints of discipline were irksome to him, 
 and his career at the Naval Academy gave 
 little promise of the fame he subsequently 
 acquired. 
 
CHAPTER XL. 
 
 General Grant's Intentions.— Confederate Batteries at Four Mile Creek.— Gen- 
 eral Grant Utilizes the Navy.— The Gun-boats Engage Batteries at Wilcox's 
 Wharf and Harrison's Landing. — Shelling Sharp-shooters. — Operations at 
 Dutch Gap. — Attack on Laborers at Dutch Gap by Confederate Fleet and 
 Batteries.— Manceuvres of Generals Grant, Sherman and Butler, and of Con- 
 federate Armies. -Speech of Jefferson Davis. — General Grant on Neces- 
 sity OF Retaining Ironclads on James River.— Expedition Under Lieutenant- 
 Commander Flusser to Windsor, N. C— Attack on Plymouth, N. C— Confeder- 
 ate Ram "Albemarle" Attacks "Southfield" and "Miaml"— The "Southfield" 
 Sunk. — Death op Lieutenant-Co.mmander Flusser. —Capture op Plymouth by 
 Confederates. — Communication of Secretary Welles on Loss op Plymouth. — 
 General Peck to Gener.\l Butler.— Casualties at Plymouth.— Attack on New- 
 bern.— Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee's Instructions to Captain Smith.— Capture of 
 Confederate Steamer -'Bombshell." — Second Engagement Between Ram '-Albe- 
 marle" and Gun-boats.— Appalling Scenes on Board the " Sassacus."— Incidents 
 of Fight.— Fruitless Attempts to Destroy the '-Albemarle." — Laying Torpe- 
 does AT Mouth of Roanoke River — Flotilla in Sounds Reinforced by Addi- 
 tional Vessels, etc. 
 
 FROM the time General Grant fixed 
 his headquarters at City Point, the 
 naval vessels in that vicinity, under 
 Captain Melancton Smith, were em- 
 ployed in guarding the river or in co- 
 operating with the Army in raids upon the 
 enemy along the shores of the James and 
 adjacent rivers. 
 
 it was sufficiently evident that it was 
 Grant's intention to envelop the enemy's 
 works, destroy his communications, and 
 cut off supplies. Military and naval expe- 
 ditions were sent to destroy all grain-fields 
 and other sources of supply within reach, 
 and to pick up deserters from the enemy's 
 ranks. Among the latter were workmen 
 who had been employed on board the 
 " Merrimac," from whom interesting infor- 
 mation was obtained in regard to that and 
 other Confederate vessels. Signal stations 
 were destroyed, their operators captured, 
 and instruments brought away. 
 
 In these expeditions the gun-boats were 
 constantly exposed to the attacks of Con- 
 federate artillery, which was continually 
 on the alert to get a shot at tJiem. So 
 active were the enemy, that, about the 
 middle of July, they constructed a battery 
 
 mounting 30-pounder Sawyer guns on Mal- 
 vern Hill, and for a time interrupted the 
 navigation of the James River. 
 
 The Confederates were, in fact, untiring 
 in their efforts to make the Federal troops 
 and gun-boats uncomfortable. On the 28th 
 of July the enemy commenced the erection 
 of batteries at Four Mile Creek, where they 
 had assembled a large force for the purpose 
 of covering the men at work in the trenches, 
 and making a demonstration against Gen- 
 eral Foster's front. The gun-boats were 
 brought into requisition, and the "Aga- 
 wara," Commander A. C. Rhind, and the 
 '-Mendota," Commander E. T. Nichols, 
 shelled the enemy's works for some time, 
 rendering very effective service in con- 
 nection with General Hancock's military 
 operations. 
 
 The following night, in view of the mili- 
 tary movements ordered by General Grant, 
 all the troops, except General Foster's orig- 
 inal command, were ordered to move from 
 Deep Bottom, under cover of the gun-boats. 
 Here, again. General Grant had an oppor- 
 tunity of utilizing the Navy. 
 
 As an instance of the activity of the Con- 
 federates in presence of the strong forces 
 
 (480) 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 481 
 
 of the Federals, which almost enveloped 
 them, on August 3d they established a 6-gun 
 rifled 13-pounder battery at Wilcox's Wharf, 
 and opened fire on passing transports. The 
 firing being heard on board the "Miami," 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant G. W. Graves, 
 that vessel pushed ahead and engaged the 
 battery, which was driven away after a 
 spirited resistance, the " Miami" losing but 
 one man killed and one wounded. 
 
 On the 4th of August another battery 
 opened on the transports near Harrison's 
 Landing, which was driven away, after a 
 sharp action, by the "Miami" and "Os- 
 ■ceola." 
 
 On the same day, the "Pequot" and the 
 " Commodore Morris" were engaged during 
 a greater part of the time in shelling sharp- 
 shooters out of the woods, who were en- 
 gaged in picking off the men on board 
 passing transports. These Confederate ar- 
 tillerymen were remarkably active and 
 energetic, but they found the people in the 
 gun-boats equally so ; and the light artil- 
 lery and bushwhackers soon came to the 
 ■conclusion that attacking gun-boats was a 
 losing business. The gun-boats now so 
 rigidly patrolled the James River that they 
 were in close proximity to all transports 
 passing up or down. So seldom did the 
 enemy get a chance to fire unmolested on 
 a, transport, that they even took occasion 
 to attack a hospital steamer, without re- 
 gard to her sacred character, killing one 
 man and mortally wounding two others; 
 hut they were soon driven away by the 
 watchful "Pequot," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander S. P. Quackenbush, and the "Com- 
 modore Morris," Acting-Master R. G. Lee. 
 
 At this time operations were going on at 
 Dutch Gap for the purpose of opening a 
 new route from below Howlett's Battery to 
 the upper reach of the James River. This 
 scheme was not favorably regarded by 
 army engineers, and was not a success. 
 The enemy planted mortars not far away, 
 which in the course of the work killed one 
 hundred and forty laborers, and wounded 
 many more. It also brought on a conflict 
 with the Confederate iron-clads. which came 
 down the river and opened upon the la- 
 horers. A long-range battle then ensued 
 between the Union and Confederate iron- 
 clads, which inflicted little or no injury to 
 either side, but showed that the Dutch Gap 
 Canal, although never likely to be of any 
 use to the Army or Navy, would be con- 
 tinually inviting attacks from the enemy, 
 which would tend to divert the attention 
 of the Army from its main object — the cap- 
 ture of Richmond. 
 
 It was evidently General Grant's design 
 to avoid any great military movement un- 
 til he heard of Sherman's arrival near the 
 Southern coast. Although Grant had no 
 
 faith in Butler's project to open the way to 
 Richmond by Dutch Gap, he was willing 
 that Butler should amuse himself, and 
 thereby be kept from interfering in more 
 important matters. 
 
 On the 2d of September Sherman entered 
 Atlanta, Georgia, as a conqueror. 
 
 General Lee had made such a persistent 
 defence against all the attacks on his lines, 
 and had succeeded so well in keeping the 
 railroads south of Richmond open, that 
 Grant saw that to push him too heavily at 
 this time would result in great loss to the 
 Federal Army, while Lee would be ulti- 
 mately forced to evacuate Richmond. 
 
 Up to the 17th of July, General J. E. 
 Johnston had severely hampered Sherman 
 in his advance through the South ; but, on 
 the above date, this able Confederate gen- 
 eral was displaced from his command owing 
 to intrigues in Richmond, and J. B. Hood, 
 who was considered a fighting general par 
 excellence, succeeded him. This circum- 
 stance, though it threw a damper on the 
 army which Johnston had so ably com- 
 manded, gave Sherman fresh spirits, and 
 he moved upon Atlanta quite certain of 
 success. 
 
 Hood had now under his command an 
 effective force of 40,000 infantry and artil- 
 lery and 10,000 cavalry, not to mention 
 other Confederate forces in the field ; but, 
 in spite of all his forces. Hood was no match 
 for Sherman, and, by capturing Atlanta, 
 the latter had a new base from which to op- 
 erate, and a certainty of cutting off the re- 
 treat of General Lee in case he should en- 
 deavor to march south with his army. 
 
 If General Lee had escaped from Rich- 
 mond with 50,000 men, and joined his forces 
 with those of Johnston, previous to the lat- 
 ter's being relieved from command, Sher- 
 man would have been confronted by an 
 army twice the size of his own, and would 
 have been obliged to retreat. The Confed- 
 erates would then have fortified Atlanta, as 
 they had previously fortified Richmond ; 
 the headquarters of the Confederacy would 
 have been in the interior instead of on the 
 coast, and the war would have been con- 
 tinued indefinitely. This was probably the 
 reason why Grant did not push matters 
 more vigorously before Richmond, where he 
 would have met with great losses, and per- 
 haps have been unable to prevent Lee's final 
 escape. 
 
 Grant had had, at Vicksburg, an example 
 of how much cheaper it was to starve out 
 an enemy, protected by the strongest forti- 
 fications, than to drive him out; and he had 
 no idea of forcing Lee south into regions 
 where he could prolong the war until the 
 patience of the North was exhausted. 
 
 The commanding general had not only to 
 consider the military situation, but also the 
 
482 
 
 THE ISA VAL lil^JUKr 
 
 political one. The two great parties in the 
 North were divided by distinct lines. One 
 party, thougli in favor of a vigorous prose- 
 cution of the war, called for a strict observ- 
 ance of the Constitution in relation to the 
 rights of the States, and severely criticised 
 certain of the measures of the Government 
 as arbitrary and unnecessary. 
 
 The numerous successes of the Union 
 arms in 1863, and the advance of the Federal 
 Army until it almost enveloped the Confed- 
 erates in Richmond, greatly increased the 
 strength of the Administration party. 
 JEverybody was now hopeful that the war 
 vsrould speedily be brought to a close, particu- 
 larly as the supreme direction of military 
 affairs was now in the hands of General 
 Grant, in whom the people had entire confi- 
 dence. The Democratic party was now a 
 war party, and the conservative or peace 
 party was in such a minority that their 
 utterances amounted to very little. 
 
 The terrible resistance Grant had encoun- 
 tered on his way to Richmond had given 
 rise to an impression that in Lee he had 
 met an antagonist whom it would be diffi- 
 cult for him to overcome, and the opposi- 
 tion to the Government in the North was 
 for a moment emboldened. 
 
 By midsummer, the numerous successes 
 which had attended the Federal arms, and 
 the adherents thereby gained to the Admin- 
 istration, had rendered the re-election of 
 President Lincoln a certainty. General 
 Grant felt that, under these circumstances, 
 it would be unwise to do anything calcu- 
 lated to imperil a condition of affairs so 
 beneficial to the country, and although he 
 determined to leave no effort untried to 
 capture Richmond, yet he resolved to suc- 
 ceed by means that would cause compara- 
 tively little loss of life. 
 
 The fall of Atlanta and the dispersion of 
 Hood's army caused a great sensation 
 throughout the South. The impending 
 doom of the Confederate cause was evi- 
 dent to all thinking men. Hood moved 
 his scattered forces to new lines, and Mr. 
 Davis, anxious to prove that he had com- 
 mitted no mistake in removing General 
 Johnston, repaired to Hood's headquarters 
 in person to encourage that general and 
 plan a new campaign that would compen- 
 sate for the loss of Atlanta. On his way 
 to Hood's army, Mr. Davis made frequent 
 speeches to cheer up the people, declaring 
 that General Sherman could be driven 
 back, Atlanta recovered, etc., etc. The 
 effect of all this was to inform Grant and 
 Sherman of the new plan of operations 
 decided on by the Confederate President 
 and General Hood ; for, of course, every- 
 thing appeared in the Southern newspa- 
 pers without regard to the injury it might 
 inflict on tlie cause. In writing on this 
 
 subject. General Grant expresses himself 
 as follows : 
 
 During this time, Jefferson Davis made a speech 
 at Macon, Georgia, which was reported in the 
 papers of the South, and soon became known to 
 the whole country, disclosing the plans of the 
 enemy and enabling General Sherman to fully meet 
 them. Mr. Davis exhibited the weakness of sup- 
 posing that an army that had been beaten and 
 decimated in a vain attempt at the defensive, could 
 successfully undertake the offensive against an 
 army that had so often defeated it. 
 
 On the 24th of September, Hood com- 
 menced his new movement to endeavor to 
 reach Sherman's rear and cut off his com- 
 munications, apparently oblivious of the 
 fact that the Union Army could live on the 
 country, and would be relieved from a 
 vast deal of trouble in keeping open com- 
 munications. Ascertaining that Hood had 
 crossed the Chattahoochie River on the 29th 
 and 30th of September. General Sherman 
 followed him; but finding that Hood was 
 bound for Nashville, he abandoned the pur- 
 suit and returned to Atlanta, where he pre- 
 pared to march to the sea across the State 
 of Georgia. Sherman's calculation was 
 that General Thomas could collect troops 
 at Nashville; which, with the two army 
 corps sent him by Sherman by way of 
 Chattanooga, would enable him to hold the 
 line of the Tennessee. Everything turned 
 out well, and General Thomas gained a vic- 
 tory that dispersed Hood's army in every 
 direction, and administered another crush- 
 ing blow to the Confederate cause. 
 
 General Sherman was the more induced 
 to hurry his movements from a telegram 
 sent to him by General Grant, in which the 
 latter says : "If you were to cut loose, I do 
 not believe you would meet Hood's army, 
 but you would be bushwhacked by all the 
 old men, little boys, and such railroad 
 guards as are left at home." With the dis- 
 positions made by the enemy. Sherman felt 
 sure he would have nothing" in his rear or 
 on his flank to disturb him, and so pursued 
 his devastating march to the sea— that 
 march which is so celebrated in the annals 
 of the civil war. 
 
 Notwithstanding all the criticisms of 
 the press on his apparent inactivitv, Grant 
 waited patiently until he should hear that 
 Sherman was in a position to prevent Lee 
 and his army from escaping southward. 
 When Sherman made a junction at Golds- 
 boro. N. C, with the forces of Generals 
 Schofield and Terry, which had marched 
 from Wilmington to meet him, the fate of 
 the Confederacy was sealed, and Grant 
 moved on Richmond. 
 
 While Grant was watching the progress 
 of events which we have detailed above, the 
 Federal naval vessels in the James River, 
 under the immediate command of Captain 
 Melancton Smith, were actively engaged in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 483 
 
 patrolling the river, guarding Trent's Reach, 
 or in any co-operative service called for by 
 General Grant. About the middle of August, 
 the Navy Department wrote to Acting-Rear- 
 Admiral Lee, inquiring if he could not dis- 
 pense with some of the iron-clads, on the 
 ground that James River was effectually 
 blocked against the Confederate squadron. 
 To this action General Grant interposed 
 an objection, which relieves Acting-Rear- 
 Admiral Lee from any imputation of desir- 
 ing to retain the iron-clads in the vicinity 
 of Trent's Reach when their services were 
 so imperatively demanded elsewhere. Gen- 
 eral Grant, in his communication to the 
 admiral, says : 
 
 While I believe we never will require armored 
 vessels to meet those of the enemy, I think it im- 
 prudent to withdraw them. At least two such 
 vessels, in my judgment, should be kept in the up- 
 per James River. They stand a constant threat to 
 the enemy, and prevent them from taking the of- 
 fensive. There is no disguising the fact that if the 
 enemy should take the offensive on the water, al- 
 though we should probably destroy his whole James 
 River navy, such damage would be done our ship- 
 ping and stores, all accumulated on the waters where 
 the conflict would begin, that our victory would be 
 dearly bought. 
 
 In consequence of General Grant's pro- 
 test, Acting -Rear -Admiral Lee made such 
 representations to the Navy Department 
 that a sufficient force of iron-clads was al- 
 lowed to remain on the James. 
 
 The army had erected a strong battery at 
 right angles with the line of fire of the 
 Monitors at Trent's Reach. This battery 
 had on several occasions opened on How- 
 lett's and completely silenced it. Hence, 
 with the obstructions under fire of the 
 Army and Navy guns, the Army stores, etc., 
 at City Point were perfectly secure against 
 any attack. 
 
 While the attention of the Commander- 
 in-chief of the North Atlantic squadron 
 was principally directed to the security of 
 Grant's army against an attack by the 
 river, the enemy in the sounds of North 
 Carolina were doing their best to make an 
 impression on the Federal posts established 
 along those waters. " Great victories" over 
 the Union forces were constantly reported, 
 which existed only in the vivid imagi- 
 nation of the Confederate reporters. To 
 show how war news was manufactured, 
 we quote the following from the Raleigh 
 Weekly : 
 
 "Colonel Griffin, Confederate forces, telegraphed 
 to the War Department from Jackson, on the 31st 
 of January, as follows: 'Yesterday morning en- 
 gaged the enemy with a force of two hundred 
 men and a rifled field piece. After a fight of two 
 hours, in which we engaged twelve hundred men 
 of the enemy and three pieces of artillery, the 
 Yankees were driven from Windsor, N. C, to their 
 boats. We lost six men ; loss of the enemy not 
 known.' " 
 
 t: i- J. /-^_,„.„ J r\ '\\T Tr'i,,„„„„ 
 
 indignant at such a report, in a communi- 
 cation to Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee, writes 
 as follows : 
 
 " The report is false from beginning to conclusion. 
 I planned the affair and we would have captured 
 the entire party had we been ten minutes earlier. 
 I had forty sailors and one 12-pounder howitzer, 
 and there were three hundred and fifty infantry. 
 We marclaed about sixteen miles. There was no fight 
 and nothing worth reporting. The rebels ran. I 
 fired three or four times at them at long range. We 
 held the town of Windsor several hours, and 
 marched back eight miles to our boats without a 
 single shot from the enemy." 
 
 In this case the Confederate commander 
 made capital out of nothing. Flusser was 
 as truthful as he was brave, and his account 
 is reliable. He was ever on the alert to 
 surprise the enemy, and his escaping death 
 for so long a period is remarkable. 
 
 The Confederates had been .employed in 
 building a powerful ram, called the "' Albe- 
 marle," on the Roanoke River, and, know- 
 ing that the Federals had no vessel that 
 could compete with her, it was arranged to 
 fit out an expedition of Confederate sol- 
 diers, which, in conjunction with the ram, 
 should make a descent on Plymouth. 
 
 The United States Government attached 
 considerable importance to the possession 
 of Plymouth as a base for Army operations. 
 Two or three fortifications had been erected 
 and well armed, and these were connected 
 by lines of intrenchments and rifle-pits, cal- 
 culated, with the aid of the gun-boats, to 
 repel any force likely to be sent to this 
 point. No one took any account of the 
 " Albemarle," then building up the river, of 
 which vessel only meagre accounts could be 
 learned, though frequent representations, 
 by naval officers in command in the sounds, 
 had been made to the Navy Department of 
 the necessity for more troops in that quar- 
 ter. 
 
 It seems to have been the general impres- 
 sion that the Confederates were cherishing 
 the idea of repossessing and regaining those 
 places which had been so gallantly wrested 
 from them early in the war by the united 
 efforts of the Army and Navy. No doubt 
 the Department rested under the opinion 
 that the Confederates could not, so late in 
 the year 1864, when they had been beaten 
 at all points, undertake to recapture the 
 towns in the sounds, or build a formidable 
 iron-clad, in face of the fact that we had 
 built numerous small Monitors, any of 
 which, lightened of their armament and 
 provisions, could have been floated into the 
 sounds. There was, in fact, an extraordi- 
 nary supineness manifested in certain quar- 
 ters in relation to defending those sounds, 
 for the possession of which so much time 
 and labor had been expended. 
 
 The object of the Confederates, at the 
 
484 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 .1 
 
 up victories in every quarter, which would 
 have their effect on the peace party in the 
 North, and influence the coming Presiden- 
 tial election. Then, too, their victories, 
 much exaggerated, would sound well abroad, 
 and perhaps bring aid from the English and 
 French Governments. 
 
 It was clearly the duty of the Federal 
 Government never to fall back from a posi- 
 tion so easily to be held with Monitors and 
 gun-boats as the sounds of North ©arolina ; 
 yet, for want of proper precautioils on the 
 part of the Government, the enemy besieged 
 Plymouth. 
 
 On the 18th of April, 1864, the Confeder- 
 ates opened with artillery upon Fort Gray, 
 and in the afternoon, directing a heavy fire 
 upon the town of Plymouth, the battle 
 became general all along the line. The 
 enemy assaulted the works with great gal- 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEE CHAELES W. FLDSSER. 
 
 lantry, but were driven back by the aid of 
 the gun-boats "Miami" and " Southfield," 
 under Lieutenant-Commander Flusser. A 
 message was sent from General Wessels to 
 Lieutenant-Commander Flusser, acknowl- 
 edging the value of the Navy's services in 
 driving back the enemy, and requesting 
 that the " Miami " might be kept below the 
 town to prevent a flank movement bv the 
 Confederates. The "Southfield," Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant Chas. A. French, an- 
 chored with the " Miami" below Plymouth, 
 and the ram, having been reported as com- 
 ing down the river, the two gun-boats were 
 chained together to meet her. At 3 : 45 p.m. 
 both steamers got underway, and stood up 
 the river as fast as possible, and in less 
 than five minutes the ram struck the " Mi- 
 ami" on the port bow, near the water line, 
 breaking through two planks for a distance 
 
 of about ten feet. Almost at the same mo- 
 ment the ram struck the "Southfield" 
 with her prow on the starboard bow, caus- 
 ing the latter vessel to sink rapidly. Both 
 vessels had opened on the ram, as soon as 
 she appeared in sight, with solid shot from 
 their 100-pounder rifles and 11-inch Dahl- 
 gren guns, without making any perceptible 
 impression on the " Albemarle's " armor. 
 Lieutenant - Commander Flusser fired the 
 first three shots himself, the third shot 
 being a 10-second Dahlgren 11-inch shell. 
 Directly after, Flusser was killed by a frag- 
 ment of a shell — whether from the ram or 
 from one of the " Miami's" rebounding from 
 the "Albemarle's" armor is doubtful— and 
 the command of the "Miami" devolved 
 upon Acting-Master William N. Wells. 
 
 The pressure of the ram between the two 
 vessels broke the fastenings with which 
 they were joined, and as many of the 
 " Southfield's " men as could do so got on 
 board the "Miami," which vessel rapidly 
 retreated down the river, followed by the 
 "Whitehead" and "Ceres," the ram not 
 appearing to make more than four knots 
 an hour in pursuit. The " Albemarle " 
 soon relinquished the chase, and returned 
 to Plymouth, where the battle was still in 
 progress. 
 
 Flusser had no superior as a gallant and 
 energetic officer, but his arrangements for 
 meeting the ram were certainly ill-judged. 
 Had the four vessels been properly dis- 
 posed, the "Albemarle" herself coulS have 
 been rammed while endeavoring to ram 
 others. Tying two vessels together gave 
 the enemy the very opportunity he desired. 
 Either of the gun-boats was twice as fast 
 as the ram, and there were chances of crip- 
 pling her that were not improved. 
 
 The "Albemarle" had with her the 
 "Cotton Planter," a strong screw-steamer, 
 barricaded with cotton and iron, and her 
 presence was, perhaps, the reason why the 
 gun-boats retreated, and left the ram mis- 
 tress of the situation. The result of this 
 unfortunate affair was the capture of the 
 town of Plymouth, with its garrison, muni- 
 tions of war, etc. 
 
 The following were the casualties in the 
 flotilla from the attack of the " Albemarle" 
 and "Cotton Planter": "Miami," command- 
 ing officer killed, eleven men wounded; 
 "Ceres," one killed, eight wounded. Out 
 of the "Southfield's" crew, seven officers 
 and forty-two men escaped to the "Miami;" 
 the rest were supposed to have been made 
 prisoners. After setting fire to the part of 
 the ' ' Southfield " that was still above water, 
 the "Albemarle" returned to Plymouth. 
 
 After the gun -boats left the ram in full 
 possession of the river, the Confederates 
 took fresh courage, and resumed their at- 
 tacks on the Federal works, from which 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 485 
 
 they had been several times repulsed with 
 loss, and, no reinforcements arriving, the 
 forts (on the 20th) surrendered. 
 
 An attempt was made to censure the 
 Navy for allowing the ram to come down 
 the river; and it does seem as though ob- 
 structions and torpedoes might have been 
 planted in the channel to prevent the "Al- 
 bemarle" from reaching Plymouth; but, al- 
 though piles were driven and the river par- 
 tially blockaded, as events proved, the ob- 
 structions had no power to delay the ad- 
 vance of the Confederate vessels. 
 
 In response to a resolution of the House 
 of Representives, calling for information in 
 regard to the capture of Plymouth through 
 want of assistance from the Navy, the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy sent to the Speaker 
 copies of a number of communications, 
 among them the following : 
 
 Navy Department, September 17, 1863. 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to present for your consid- 
 eration a subject of great importance connected 
 with the maintaining possession of the sounds of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Information received from time to time places it 
 beyond doubt that the rebels are constructing, and 
 have almost completed, at Edward's Ferry, near 
 Weldon, on the Roanoke Elver, a ram and an iron- 
 clad floating battery. It is reported that these 
 vessels will be completed in the course of five or six 
 weeks. It is further reported that an attack on 
 Plymouth is contemplated by land and water. 
 
 Our force of wooden vessels in the sounds, neces- 
 sarily of light draft and lightly armed, will by no 
 means be adequate to contend against the rebel 
 ram and battery should they succeed in getting 
 down the Roanoke, and, in that event, our posses- 
 sion of the sounds would be jeopardized. 
 
 It is impossible for our vessels to ascend the 
 Roanoke River to any great distance in conse- 
 quence of the shallowness of the water, their ex- 
 posed situation from the fire of sharp-shooters, and 
 the earth-works represented to be located at differ- 
 ent points, particularly at Rainbow Bluff. 
 
 Were our iron-clads, now completed, available for 
 service in the sounds, they could not be sent there, 
 as they draw too much water to cross the bar at 
 Hatteras. Our light-draft ones will not be com- 
 pleted for some time to come. 
 
 In view of all these facts, I deem, it proper to sug- 
 gest the importance of an effort on the part of the 
 Army to surprise and destroy the rebel ram and 
 battery referred to, or of obstructing the river by 
 torpedoes and piles, or otherwise, so as to prevent 
 their descent. 
 
 This Department will be happy to co-operate as 
 far as it may be able in adopting such steps as may 
 seem practicable and adequate to secure us against 
 threatening disaster. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 To Hon. E. M. Stanton, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 The "Albemarle" did not appear until 
 nine months after the above letter was 
 written, during which time no efforts seem 
 to have been made to hasten the prepara- 
 tion of light -draft Monitors, that might 
 have been floated over the bar at Hatteras 
 at high water. 
 
 The letter we have quoted shows that the 
 
 War Department took little interest in the 
 matter of destroying the ram when under 
 construction, which could only be done by 
 a strong military and naval force com- 
 bined. 
 
 There was great excitement among all 
 those who could by any possibility be made 
 responsible for the capture of Plymouth. 
 Both the military and naval authorities had 
 full knowledge of the building of the ram 
 and floating battery; but the naval officer 
 commanding in the sounds remained at 
 Newborn, and left the most important posi- 
 tion, Plymouth, with but four vessels, only 
 two of which were of any force, to defend 
 the place against an iron-clad represented 
 to be almost a match for the far-famed 
 "Merrimac." Although the attack com- 
 menced on the 18th, and lasted until the 
 20th, no vessels were sent from the naval 
 forces in the sounds or soldiers from the 
 military posts at other points. 
 
 Major -General Peck, commanding at 
 Newbern, writes to General Butler as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Headquarters, ) 
 
 Armt of the District of North Carolina, \ 
 Newbern, N. C, April 20th, 1864. ) 
 General : 
 
 * * * # » rpjjg enemy have appeared in force 
 in front of Plymouth, and attacked the place. The 
 ram has sunk the " Southfield," disabled the " Mi- 
 ami," and passed below Plymouth. The sound is 
 probably by this time in possession of the enemy, 
 and Roanoke Island will undoubtedly soon be 
 attacked, if it has not been already. Washington, 
 N. C, is also threatened. Firing has been heard in 
 that direction all night and this morning. Unless 
 we are immediately and strongly reinforced, both 
 by land and water, all of eastern North Carolina is 
 lost to us. Immediate action is imperatively neces- 
 sary. Captain Flusser, of the " Miami," is killed. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 John J. Peck, 
 Major-Oeneral Commanding. 
 Major-General B. F. Butler, 
 
 Commanding Department of Virginia 
 and North Carolina. 
 
 In reply to the resolution of Congress 
 asking for information in regard to the 
 capture of Plymouth, Mr. Secretary Welles 
 sent a characteristic communication, in 
 which he says: 
 
 I transmit herewith copies of correspondence on 
 the flies of this Department relating to the construc- 
 tion of the rebel ram referred to, and other matters 
 connected therewith. I also subjoin a schedule of 
 iron-clad gun-boats of light draft in process of con- 
 struction, which, in anticipation of the state of 
 things now existing, were designed for service in 
 the sounds and rivers of North Carolina, and the 
 shallow interior waters elsewhere on the coast. 
 These vessels were contracted for as soon as it was 
 possible to do so after the necessary appropriations 
 were made by Congress, and it will be seen by the 
 date given that most of them were to have been 
 completed last year, some of them as early as Sep- 
 tember. Not one has yet been delivered, and it will 
 be some weeks before one can be made available 
 for service. 
 
 I have felt it my duty on repeated occasions to call 
 the attention of Congress to the necessitv for a vard 
 
486 
 
 THE NAVAL Hl^TUKr 
 
 and establishment where iron and armored vessels 
 could be constructed for the Government, but the 
 preliminary steps tor such an establishment have 
 not yet been taken. In the meantime, the Depart- 
 ment and the Government are wholly dependent 
 on contractors, who, if they have the will, do not 
 possess the ability, to finish these vessels promptly. 
 Conflicting local controversies in regard to the place 
 which shall be selected and benefitted by the pro- 
 posed important national establishment tor an iron 
 Navy, such as the present and future necessities of 
 the Government require, have contributed to delay 
 action on this imijortant subject. 
 
 Having in view economy as well as the public 
 necessities, I have at no time recommended that the 
 numl)er of our Navy Yards should be increased on 
 the Atlantic coast; but it is my deliberate opinion 
 that no time should be wasted in establishing, at a 
 proper place, a suitable yard where iron ships can 
 be made and repaired. We feel its necessity in an 
 emergency which has called forth the present in- 
 quiry, and not a single contractor is able to fulfill 
 his engagements, even for one of this class of small 
 vessels. 
 
 In the event of a foreign war with one or more of 
 the maritime powers, our condition would be most 
 unfortunate, with no Government establishmeut 
 for the construction and repair of armored vessels 
 such as modern science and skill are introducing. 
 
 The omission to make provision for such an estab- 
 lishment, on which the Government can always 
 depend, is to be regretted. 
 
 Such incidentai aid as the Navy could render the 
 Army was cheerfully and earnestly given at Ply- 
 mouth, as it has ever been given always and at all 
 times when its aid and co-operation could be useful. 
 It has been less effective than it could have been, 
 even with such boats as we have, in consequence of 
 the unfortunate legislation of the last Congress, 
 which, in its enrollment law, ignored the Navy, 
 subjected seamen to military draft, tendered large 
 bounties to such as became soldiers, but allowed 
 no bounty to those who entered the naval service, 
 and would not even permit naval recruits to be 
 credited on the quotas required to be drafted. 
 
 The remedial legislation of the present Congress 
 has thus far effected comparatively tew transfers. 
 Some suggestions which I had the honor to submit 
 to the Senate in March last, in answer to an inquiry 
 as to what other legislation is necessary to supply 
 any deficiencies of men for the naval service, have 
 not, that I am aware, been reported upon, and 
 many of our vessels — some of which would have 
 been ordered to the sounds of North Carolina — are 
 still without crews. 
 
 The correspondence of Acting-Rear-Admiral Lee 
 and the naval officers are evidence that there has 
 been no neglect or inattention on their part at Ply- 
 mouth or elsewhere in that quarter. 
 I have, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 
 Mr. Secretary Welles, in his communica- 
 tion to Congress, plainly demonstrated that 
 the Confederates could never have captured 
 Plymouth if adequate appropriations had 
 been made when first asked for to construct 
 light-draft iron-clads, but all through the 
 war Congress required much urging from 
 the Navy Department in order that proper 
 appropriations should be made. 
 
 The same unwillingness to grant the 
 Navy money exists to-day, and the country, 
 as regards this arm of defence, is in a de- 
 plorable condition. 
 
 Following the capture of Plymouth, the 
 Confederates ea,rly in May made an attack 
 
 on Newbern, drove in the pickets, and took 
 possession of the railroad; but there was a 
 fair force of gun-boats at this point, and 
 the summons of the enemy to surrender the 
 town was refused. 
 
 On the ;(!3d of April, Captain Melancton 
 Smith assumed command of the naval 
 forces in the sounds of North Carolina, with 
 orders, if possible, to destroy the ram "Al- 
 bemarle," either by running her down with 
 the double-ender gun-boats or in such other 
 manner as his judgment might suggest. 
 The most efficient vessels at the disposal 
 of Captain Smith were the "Miami," Com- 
 mander Renshaw; "Tacony," Lieutenant- 
 Commander Truxtun; " Sassacus," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Roe; " Mattabesett," Com- 
 mander Febiger, and the " Wyalusing," 
 Lieutenant-Commander Queen. 
 
 Captain Smith was well supplied with 
 "instructions" by his commander-in-chief. 
 Acting - Rear - Admiral Lee, although it 
 seems probable that so gallant and distin- 
 guished an officer could have done equally 
 well without them. For the reader's benefit 
 they are here quoted: 
 
 Attacking the ram will, to some extent, intimi- 
 date it, and by getting alongside in or near contact, 
 aud on each side holding position, and by firing at 
 the centre of its ports, whether open or shut, and 
 on its roof, you will disable and capture it. Your 
 guns should have double breachings and be loaded 
 with heavy charges — say from fifteen to eighteen 
 pounds of powder for the 9-ineh guns, and solid 
 shot — and they should be so depressed as to fire 
 as near a perpendicular line to the slope of the 
 roof as practicable. 
 
 If all hands lie down when the guns are fired, 
 they will escaps the rebound of broken parts from 
 the shot. 
 
 At the time of this attack, if some shells were 
 thrown down the smoke-stack, she might then be 
 disabled. 
 
 The advantage of getting alongside and on each 
 side of her is that you prevent her from ramming, 
 and have a controlling fire upon her roof and 
 ports. 
 
 The ports and stern are her weak points, even if 
 her ports are kept closed, as on her attack on the 
 "Miami" and "Southfield" shows. You can, if 
 alongside of her, fire through them and into her, 
 and if her roof is, as described, of railroad iron, with 
 a thin plating over it, the mechanical diSiculty of 
 securing this is such that it will loosen and fly off 
 under the concussion of your heavy fire ; while the 
 inside bolts will act like canister on her deck; and 
 the concussion — especially if her ports are shut — 
 will shock and demoralize her crew, giving you a 
 complete victory. 
 
 Be sure and not have the neutral point of your 
 wheel-house opposite her ports Your wheel-houses 
 should be abaft or forward of her roof — better 
 abaft. 
 
 The Department seems to prefer ramming. This 
 ram is reported as being of the usual "Merrimac" 
 model- if so, heavy lagging and a knuckle would 
 make her sides strong. But ramming under high 
 speed may drive it in, or you may drive her ashore, 
 or mount her ends, and— especially in the sounds, 
 with some sea — sink her. 
 
 Entrusted by the Department with the perform- 
 ance of this signal service, I leave, with the expres- 
 sion of my views, to you the manner of executing it. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 487 
 
 All assaults are exposed service, but this assault 
 has with much real risk less than appears. 
 Wishing you success and promotion, 
 
 I have the honor to be, etc., etc., 
 
 S. P. Leb. 
 To Captain Melancton Smith, 
 
 JJ. S. Navy. 
 In the coming times, these quaint dis- 
 patches of the year 1864, issued by the old 
 salts of the Na.vy, will doubtless be looked 
 Tipon much as we now regard the lucubra- 
 tions of Admiral Benbow and his contem- 
 oraries. Whether Captain Smith benefitted 
 y the directions so liberally showered upon 
 him will appear when we chronicle his ad- 
 Tentures in the sounds of North Carolina. 
 The following vessels, arranged in the 
 order given, off Edenton Bay, were under 
 Captain Smith's command : 
 
 " Miami," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 Charles A. French. 
 
 "Ceres," Acting-Master H. H. Foster. 
 "Commodore Hull," Act. -Master Francis 
 Josselyn. 
 " Seymour." 
 
 SECOND LINE. 
 
 "Mattabesett," Commander J. G. Fe- 
 higer. 
 
 ■'Sassacus," Lieutenant -Commander F. 
 A. Roe. 
 
 " Wyalusing," Lieutenant - Commander 
 "W. W. Queen. 
 
 "Whitehead," Acting-Ensign G. W. Bar- 
 rett. 
 
 The "Miami" was fitted with a torpedo 
 to explode against the side of the ram, if 
 opportunity offered. 
 
 At 1 o'clock p. M. on the 5th of May, the 
 "Miami," "Commodore Hull," "Ceres" 
 -and army transport "Trumpeter" got un- 
 derway from the picket station off Edenton 
 Bay, bound to the mouth of the Roanoke 
 River, for the purpose of laying down tor- 
 pedoes. Within a short distance of the 
 buoy, at the mouth of the river, the " Albe- 
 marle" was discovered coming down, ac- 
 companied by the steamers '" Cotton Plant" 
 -and "Bombshell," laden with troops, and 
 doubtless bound to the attack of Newborn. 
 
 The " Trumpeter" was sent back to give 
 tidings of the approach of the ram, while 
 the other vessels steamed slowly away, 
 -endeavoring to draw the ram as far as 
 possible from the mouth of the river. 
 
 The ram followed the "Miami" and her 
 consorts until the vessels fell in with Cap- 
 tain Smith and the other division of gun- 
 boats, when signal was made to attack the 
 ■enemy. The "Mattabesett," "Wyalu- 
 sing," " Sassacus " and " Whitehead " 
 steamed towards the ram, the smaller ves- 
 sels falling into the rear according to pro- 
 gramme. 
 
 At 4:40 p. M. the ram fired the first gun, 
 which destroyed the " Mattabesett's " 
 launch, and wounded several men. A sec- 
 
 ond shot cut away some of the rigging. At 
 4:45 the Confederate steamer " Bombshell," 
 being temporarily disabled by a shot, hauled 
 down her flag and surrendered. The next 
 moment the "Mattabesett" fired a broad- 
 side at the ram from a distance of 160 
 yards. Just afterwards, the "Sassacus" 
 delivered a broadside, and the "Albemarle" 
 sheered with a port-helm with the intention 
 of ramming, but the superior speed of the 
 "Sassacus" foiled her in this attempt, and 
 the latter passed around the ram's stern, 
 with a hard port-helm. 
 
 The "Bombshell" lay off the ram's port- 
 quarter, and, having opened fire simultane- 
 ously with the "Albemarle," the "Sassacus" 
 fired on her, and her commanding ofBcer 
 was under the impression that the Confed- 
 erate vessel had surrendered to him. 
 
 As the "Mattabesett" had passed around 
 the stern of the ram and was heading down 
 the sound, the ram had turned partially 
 around, presenting her broadside to the 
 " Sassacus," which vessel was at that time 
 about three or four hundred yards distant. 
 She made for the ram, and struck her 
 fairly with a speed of five or six knots, ac- 
 cording to Captain Smith, or ten knots, 
 according to Lieutenant-Commander Roe. 
 
 The ram was struck just abaft her star- 
 board-beam, causing her to heel over, and 
 placing her after -deck under water; so 
 much so, that Lieutenant-Commander Roe 
 thought she was sinking. At the same instant 
 the "Albemarle" fired a 100-pounder rifie- 
 shot through and through the "Sassacus," 
 from starboard to port on the berth-deck. 
 The collision was heavy, and the engine of 
 the "Sassacus" was kept going in the 
 attempt to force her bow deeper and deeper 
 into the ram, so that some of the other ves- 
 sels could attack on the other side, and 
 enable the "Sassacus" to sink the enemy. 
 This position the "Sassacus" maintained 
 at least ten minutes. Hand-grenades were 
 thrown down the ram's hatches, and at- 
 tempts made to get shells into her smoke- 
 stack, besides keeping up a severe mus- 
 ketry fire on her. 
 
 At length the stern of the ram swung 
 around, and, her broadside-port bearing on 
 the starboard-bow of the "Sassacus," the 
 "Albemarle" fired a 100-pounder rifled 
 shot, which passed through the starboard- 
 side of the "Sassacus," through the empty 
 bunkers into the starboard -boiler, clear 
 through it fore and aft, and finally lodging 
 in tlie ward-room. In a moment the " Sas- 
 sacus " was filled with steam, killing and 
 wounding many of the crew, and rendering 
 all movement for the time impossible. 
 
 Only those who have witnessed the effect 
 of a bursting boiler, with the steam rushing 
 all over the ship and penetrating every 
 nook and cranny, can appreciate the condi- 
 
488 
 
 THE NA VAL tilHIUKr 
 
 tion of affairs on board the "Sassacus." 
 The stoutest nerves are scarcely proof 
 against the appalling sights which meet 
 the eye, and the cries and groans which 
 fall upon the ear. When the vapor cleared 
 away, so that the commander of the " Sas- 
 sacus," could look around him, he saw his 
 antagonist steaming away. The engine of 
 the " Sassacus" was meanwhile in motion, 
 no one being able to get into the engine- 
 room to stop it, on account of the scalding 
 steam, until the boiler was empty. The 
 helm was at once put a- port, and the " Sas- 
 sacus" headed up the sound, leaving the 
 field clear for the other vessels to operate. 
 As soon as the immediate effects of the ex- 
 plosion were over, the officers and men 
 returned to their guns, firing upon the en- 
 emy until the "Sassacus" drifted out of 
 range. 
 
 While the "Sassacus" was in contact 
 with the "Albemarle," it was impossible 
 for the other vessels of the squadron to fire, 
 for fear of injuring their consort ; but 
 they subsequently failed to take advantage 
 of the act of the gallant "Sassacus," and 
 deliver blows upon the ram while she was 
 at rest and somewhat demoralized from the 
 shock she had received. 
 
 It was by such concerted action that the 
 "Tennessee" was forced to surrender to 
 Farragut's vessels in Mobile Bay. The 
 failure of the larger vessels to ram the 
 " Albemarle" is accounted for by the indis- 
 criminate firing from the smaller ones upon 
 the enemy. These latter vessels answered 
 the signals made by the senior officer, with- 
 out obeying them. 
 
 The engagement continued until 7 :.30 p. m. , 
 when darkness supervened. The " Com- 
 modore Hull " and the " Ceres" were left to 
 keep sight of the ram, and to remain off 
 the mouth of the Roanoke River if she suc- 
 ceeded in entering it, the other vessels com- 
 ing to anchor in the sound. 
 
 During the engagement an attempt was 
 made by the " Wyalusing " to lay a seine in 
 front of the ram with the intent of fouling 
 her propeller, but the latter ran over it 
 without damage. A torpedo was rigged 
 out from the " Miami," and the attempt 
 was made to explode it against the enemy, 
 but from some unexplained cause the at- 
 tempt failed. The ram, during the attacks 
 of the different vessels, kept moving about 
 delivering an accurate fire, apparently un- 
 harmed, although the shot and shell rattled 
 upon her slanting roof like hail. When the 
 shots struck her armor they fairly sparkled, 
 and flying up into the air fell into the water 
 without doing any perceptible damage. 
 The ram moved through the water at the 
 rate of six knots an hour, and turned quickly 
 to meet her adversaries. 
 
 When the "Sassacus" struck the "Albe- 
 
 marle," and directly afterwards was coverei 
 with vapor fore and aft, many supposed 
 that this catastrophe was brought about by 
 the collision, and the impression prevailed 
 that it would not be prudent to repeat the 
 experiment for fear the whole flotilla would 
 be disabled by their own exertions. There 
 does not seem to have been that system in 
 manceuvering the vessels of the flotilla, 
 which should have prevailed ; but Captain 
 Smith had only been in command a few 
 days, and the officers of the vessels were 
 quite unpracticed in fleet manceuvering. 
 Signals, though made and answered, were 
 not carried out. It seems to have been the 
 object to fire into the enemy at a distance of 
 from two to three hun4red yards, although, 
 it was soon evident that the ram was invul- 
 nerable in her hull against any shot from 
 the Federal vessels. 
 
 The "Mattabesett" (flag-ship) was well 
 handled, and her fire was remarkably ac- 
 curate. She was not in the least disabled 
 during the action. 
 
 While passing the ram in the " Wyalu- 
 sing," at a distance of one hundred and fifty 
 yards, Lieutenant-Commander Queen says: 
 "It was my intention to run the 'Bomb- 
 shell ' down, but discovered in time that 
 she had surrendered, when I immediately 
 backed clear of her and again opened 
 fire on the ram." Lieutenant-Commander 
 Queen claims to have cut away the signal 
 halliards of the "Albemarle" when her 
 colors came down, and he supposed she had 
 surrendered, though he was soon convinced 
 to the contrary by a 6-inch rifie-shot crash- 
 ing through the side of his vessel. Soon 
 after, the executive officer of the "Wyalu- 
 sing" reported the ship as sinking, audit 
 seemed as if the ram was about to clear the 
 field, as she moved about, firing her two 
 6-inch rifles, almost every shot taking effect 
 on some of the vessels. As it was found 
 on examination that the " Wyalusing" was 
 making no more water than usual, another 
 start was made to run the ram down, pass- 
 ing around her and throwing in broadsides 
 which did no harm, and it was only at the 
 close of the action one of the pieces of plat- 
 ing forward on the port side was seen to fly 
 oft'. At 7:40 the "Wyalusing" ceased firing, 
 agreeably to signal from the flag-ship. 
 
 The reports of the different commanding 
 officers show that as rapid a fire was kept 
 up as circumstances would admit; yet, 
 after the attack of the " Sassacus," there 
 was no concerted action, which is to be re- 
 gretted, since one or two heavy blows in 
 the stern of the "Albemarle" would have 
 sealed her fate; for her rudder once disa- 
 bled, the ram would have been obliged to 
 surrender. Even if she had been repeat- 
 edly rammed, without piercing her sides, 
 her crew would have become demoralized,. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 489 
 
 as always happens in such cases. A great 
 deal of gallantry was shown on this occa- 
 sion; but a mistake was made in not carry- 
 ing out the Department's directions, to de- 
 pend upon ramming. 
 
 The " Albemarle" had no opportunity to 
 use her ram; or, if she had, failed to take 
 advantage of it. It is probable that the 
 commanding officer of the ram, who fought 
 his vessel with so much Judgment and gal- 
 lantry, would not have lost an opportunity 
 to use his prow if one had offered. 
 
 This remarkable engagement continued 
 from 4:40 until 7:40 P. M., when the signal 
 was made to cease firing, and the ram made 
 off towards the mouth of Roanoke River. 
 It afterwards appeared that she was not 
 materially injured, but could have continued 
 the contest for some time, in spite of the 
 reports to the contrary brought by refugees 
 from Plymouth. There were fired from the 
 different vessels at the "Albemarle" 392 
 one-hundred-pounder shot and shells, 239 
 nine-inch shells, 60 thirty-pounder Parrott 
 shot and shells, 59 twenty-four-pound howit- 
 zers, and some 12-pound rifle-shots — in all, 
 648 shot and shells. 
 
 The following damages were sustained 
 by the vessels of the flotilla: 
 
 " Mattabesett" — one shot through water- 
 ways abaft port- wheel. 
 
 "Bassacus" — a 6-inch solid shot through 
 the starboard-side of the ship five feet above 
 the berth-deck, through the starboard boiler, 
 and exploding it; wheel badly damaged by 
 coming in contact with the ram's stern. 
 
 "Wyalusing" — shell exploded in star- 
 board wheel-house, cutting away two of 
 the water-rims of the starboard wheel, etc. ; 
 one shot knocking out the gig's bottom; 
 one shot through starboard-side of berth- 
 deck, doing much damage; one shot on the 
 starboard quarter above the water line, 
 doing much damage. 
 
 " Miami" — struck three or four times, all 
 but one shot unimportant. 
 
 This was not a great deal of damage, con- 
 sidering the number of targets the ram had 
 to fire at, and seemingly nothing to disable 
 any of the flotilla except the "Sassacus," 
 which vessel was put hors de combat early 
 in the action. The fire of the ram was, 
 doubtless, much interfered with by the tre- 
 mendous hail of shot and shell which fell 
 upon her, obliging her to keep her shutters 
 almost constantly closed. 
 
 The engagement showed conclusively the 
 immense advantage of an iron-clad ram 
 over any number of vulnerable wooden 
 vessels such as were employed in the waters 
 of North Carolina, and that the money spent 
 to build " double-enders " would have been 
 much better applied in the construction of 
 fast rams, each with one or two heavy guns. 
 It would have taken little more time to build 
 
 light iron-clads than it did to construct the 
 double-enders, which, on the whole, were 
 not well suited for their intended purpose. 
 
 The engagement with the "Albemarle," 
 although not successful in sinking or dis- 
 abling her, yet answered the valuable pur- 
 pose of preventing her from doing further 
 mischief. Her intended attack on Newbern, 
 in co-operation with the Confederate land 
 forces, was given up, and the ram was only 
 seen once more after the engagement. A 
 day or two afterwards, the "Albemarle" 
 came to the mouth of the Roanoke River 
 with the apparent object of putting down 
 torpedoes; but when fired upon retreated up 
 the stream. She was then tied to the bank 
 under the guns of Plymouth, and heavy 
 booms placed around her to keep off tor- 
 pedo-boats, there to undergo such repairs 
 as were found necessary. Her command- 
 ing officer was evidently satisfied that with 
 his limited speed it was not prudent to en- 
 counter so many vessels without further 
 strengthening the "Albemarle." The blow 
 given by the " Sassacus " admonished him 
 that two or three successive shocks would 
 disable his vessel. 
 
 The commanding officer of the "Albe- 
 marle " was Lieutenant A. F. Warley, late 
 of the United States Navy, who commanded 
 the "Manassas" at the forts below New 
 Orleans. In the command of the "Albe- 
 marle" he certainly showed great skill and 
 gallantry, the credit for which we do not 
 propose to withhold because it was ex- 
 ercised against the flag under which he had 
 been trained to service. The attack on the 
 flotilla was a bold stroke, doubtless intended 
 to make a point for the Confederate cause, 
 which was just then threatened with a col- 
 lapse. 
 
 The " Albemarle" was constructed on the 
 same general plan as the "Merrimac." The 
 slanting roof and other exposed parts were 
 covered with five inches of pine and the 
 same thickness of oak surmounted with 
 railroad iron, over which was an inch of 
 plating secured through all with bolts and 
 nuts. The ram had a cast-iron prow and 
 carried two 6-inch Brooke rifled guns, 
 pivoted on the bow and stern, so that the 
 guns could be worked from the bow and 
 quarter ports. Her overhanging sides, con- 
 nected with a "knuckle," made it difficult to 
 ram her with an ordinary gun-boat. She was 
 driven at a speed of six knots by a propeller 
 and drew not exceeding eight feet of water. 
 
 The Confederates throughout the war ad- 
 hered to this class of vessel, which was the 
 most convenient for them to build with 
 their limited facilities. Considering the 
 number the enemy constructed, and the 
 gallantry and ability of their naval officers, 
 it is remarkable that they should not have 
 accomplished more. 
 
490 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 While the Federals may be liable to criti- 
 cism for allowing the enemy to get ahead of 
 them in the construction of iron-clads, there 
 was no want of gallantry on the part of the 
 Navy in attempting their destruction, and 
 the attempts were generally successful. The 
 "Merrimac" was the only Confederate 
 iron-clad which really accomplished much, 
 and she bade fair at one time to change the 
 aspect of affairs in favor of the Confederates, 
 and overwhelm the Union people in morti- 
 fication and disaster. 
 
 An effort was made to destroy the "Albe- 
 marle " by torpedoes. A party of five vol- 
 unteers from the "Wyalusing" left that 
 vessel at 2 p. m. on the aoth of May, having 
 made a reconnaissance two days previously, 
 and ascended the middle channel of the 
 Roanoke River in a dinghy. Tlie party car- 
 ried two torpedoes, each containing one 
 hundred pounds of powder, with their ap- 
 pendages, which were transported on stretch- 
 ers across tlie swamps. John W. Lloyd, 
 coxswain, and Charles Baldwin, coal- 
 heaver, swam the river witli a line and 
 hauled the torpedoes across to the Plymouth 
 shore close to the town. The torpedoes 
 were then connected by a bridle floated 
 down with the current, guided by Charles 
 Baldwin, who designed to place them across 
 the "Albemarle's" bow, one on either side, 
 and Allen Crawford, fireman, who was 
 
 stationed in the swamps on the opposite side 
 of the river, was to explode them on a given 
 signal. 
 
 Everything worked well until the torpe- 
 does were within a few yards of the ram, 
 when Baldwin was seen and hailed by a 
 sentry on the wharf. The sentry then fired 
 two shots, which was soon followed by a 
 volley of musketry, which induced Lloyd 
 to cut the guiding line, throw away the co'il, 
 and swim the river again to join John 
 Laverty, fireman, who was left in charge 
 of the arms and clothes. These two men, 
 with tlie boat-keeper, returned to the ship, 
 after an absence of thirty-eight hours, nearly 
 exhausted with their arduous and perilous 
 labors. The other two men were found, after 
 a two days' search in the swamps, almost 
 worn out with hunger and fatigue. Al- 
 though their design was defeated by the ac- 
 cidental fouling of the line with a schooner, 
 these men deserve none the less credit for 
 undertaking so perilous an adventure. 
 
 After this episode the "Albemarle " was 
 strictly guarded, and remained at Ply- 
 mouth, a constant source of anxiety to our 
 naval authorities. 
 
 The flotilla in the sounds was reinforced 
 by some additional vessels and placed under 
 the command of Commander William H. 
 Macomb, an officer fully competent to per- 
 form the duties required of him. 
 
 NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY 1, 1864. 
 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral, Samuel P. Lee. Fleet- Captain, Lieutenant-Commander 
 
 John S. Barnes. 
 
 STEAM FEIQATE "MINNESOTA" — FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John H. Upsliur; Lieu- 
 tenant, Jos. P. Fyffe; Fleet Surgeon, W. Maxwell 
 "VVoofl; Assistant Surgeons, G. S. Franklin, W. S. 
 Fort and A. Mathewson; Fleet Paymaster, Chas. P. 
 Upham; Chaplain, Thomas Gr. Salter ; Marine Offi- 
 cers: Captain, John Schermerhorn; Second-Lieuten- 
 ant, C. F. Williams; Acting-Masters, Robert Bar- 
 stow, A. B. Pierson and W. H. Polly; Actinsr-En- 
 signs, J. W. Grrattan, E. R. Olcott, Richard Bates, 
 John M. Cowen and James Birtwistle; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, F. A. O'Conner, John Brann, J. 
 M. Skarden, tl-. W. Kellogg and S. A. Tabor; 
 Engineers : Chiefs, Benj. F. (iarvin and John H. 
 Long; Assistants, G. W. Sensner, .James Renshaw, 
 Jr., Guy Samson, R. D. Taylor, P. W. Nyman, Wm. 
 Bond and J. D. Lee; Boatswain, Wm. Bunker; Gun- 
 ner, C. W. Homer; Carpenter, J'. W. Stimson; Sail- 
 maker, T. O. Fassett. 
 
 IBON-CLAD STBAMEB "KOANOKE." 
 
 Captain, Guert Gansevoort ; Lieutenant, Clark 
 Merchant; Surgeon, Robert Woodworth; Assistant 
 Surgeon, A. A, Hoehling • Paymaster, James I). 
 Murray ; Marine Corps : First-Lieutenant, Franii 
 Monroe ; Acting Masters, .James French, Chas. De 
 Bevoise, H. J. Coop and T. A. Wyatt; Ensigns, B. 
 
 D. Wemple and H. B. Rumsey; Acting-Ensign, E. 
 
 E. Taylor; Acting-Master's Mates, H. HL Collamore, 
 J. 8. Young and John Dow; Engineers: Chief, Ed- 
 
 ward Fithian; Assistants, T. J. MoK. Daniels, H. 8. 
 Leonard, H. D. Sellman, Webster Lane, Henry 
 Blye, E. P. Rank and J. C. Cross; Boatswain, John 
 A. Selmer; Gunner, John Caulk; Carpenter, J. H. 
 Owens. 
 
 STEAMEB "rOKT JACKSON." 
 
 Captain, B. F. Sands; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 Chas. S. Norton; Surgeon, PhiMp S. Wales; Pay- 
 master, Clifton Hellen; Acting-Masters, W. E. Denni- 
 son and R. P. Swann; Ensign, S. H. Hunt; Acting- 
 Ensigns, H. F. Moffat, 8. R. Hopkins and F. P. B. 
 Sands; Acting-Master's Mates, J. D. Moore, G. W. 
 Smoot, W. M. Mann and H. S. Eytinge; Engineers, 
 Rodney Smith, J. E. Fox, Jared Day, John Herron, 
 C. H. ^Vakefield, W. M. Prentiss aiid J. H. Eppes; 
 Boatswain, P. A. Cliason; Acting-Gunner, Thomas 
 Reise; Carpenter, E. Thompson. 
 
 STEAMEB " SHENANDOAH." 
 
 Captain, Daniel B. Ridgely; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, R. R. Wallace; Lieutenant, S. W. Nichols ; 
 Ensigns, H. C. Taylor and Yates Sterling; Surgeon, 
 James McMaster; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. 
 M. Guild; Acting-Master, J. W. Bentlev; Acting- 
 Ensigns, W. H. Briee and J. A. BuUard; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Harrison Miller, L. H. White, 
 Charles Tangwell and W. Moore; Engineers: Chief, 
 J. W. Thomson; Assistants, J. M. Hobbv, J. T. 
 Keleher, D. P. McCartney, D. M. Fulmer, J. W. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 491 
 
 Gardner and F. W. Towner ; Boatswain, J. H. 
 Polly; Gunner, Wm. Hardison. 
 
 STEAMEB "CONNECTICUT." 
 
 Commander, John J. Almy; Lieutenant, Louis 
 Kempff; Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Little; Assistant 
 Paymaster, Arthur Burtis, Jr.; Acting-Master, F. 
 Hopkins, Jr. ; Acting -Ensigns, P. Wallace, S. Hard- 
 ing, Jr., and J. M. C. Reville; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Charles Hall. E. P. Blayne, E. S. D. Howland, 
 John Williams and Thos. Stanfield; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, Alex. McCausland ; Acting Second- 
 Assistant, David McArthur; Aeting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, James CampbeU, John Quinn and Wm. Mc- 
 Gratb; Gunner, Wm. Mowbry. 
 
 STEAMEB « QtTAKEE OITT." 
 
 Commander, James M. Frailey; Lieutenant, Silas 
 Casey, Jr.; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Brown- 
 lee ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. J. Bullay; 
 Acting-Chief-Engineer, G. W. Farrer; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, Edmund Kenible; Acting-Ensigns, C. J. Hill, 
 E. M. Seaver and Richard Wilkinson ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, G. C. Sanborn, J. B. Tew; C. H. 
 Thome and J. C. Constant; Engineers : Acting- 
 Second- Assistants, W. J. Howard and J. K. Hickey; 
 Acting - Third - Assistants, J. H. Mathews, J. R. 
 Peterson, E. Prest, E. E. Porter and Fred'k Fries ; 
 Acting Gunner, Joseph Furlong. 
 
 ORDNANCE STOEE-SHIP "ST. LAWBENCB." 
 
 Commander, Dominick Lynch; Acting-Master, E. 
 S. Goodwin ; Acting-Ensigns, Robert Merchant, 
 Alonzo Small and C. E. Buck; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Thomas Welsh, "W. 8. Cammett and E. M. 
 Hemsley; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Warner ; 
 Acting -Assistant Paymaster, W. Goldsborough ; 
 Acting-Gunner, W. E. Webber. 
 
 STEAMEB "KEYSTONE STATE." 
 
 Commander, Edward Donaldson ; Lieutenant, J. 
 P. Robertson; Acting-Masters, O. H. Corser, L. E. 
 Degn and W. T. Buck; Acting-Ensigns, C. M. Bird 
 and J. C. Murphy ; Acting-Master's Mate, J. T. 
 Ridgway; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. E. Emery ; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. S. Stimson; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, A. K. Bddows; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, P. L. Fry; Acting-Third- Assistants, .1. 
 H. Smith, C. A. Blake, W. H. Brown and J. B. 
 Wilbur; Acting-Gunner, D. L. Briggs. 
 
 STEAMEB "HETZEIi. ' 
 
 Commander, H. K. Davenport; Acting-Masters, 
 G. B. Thompson and Milford Rogers ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, R. P. Boss, John Rudrow, W. H. 
 Leavitt and TullyMcEntyre; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, G. W. Wilson; Acting Assistant Paymaster, 
 G. W. Morton; Engineers : Aeting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, J. H. Padgett; Acting-Third-Assistants, T. B. 
 Cole, W. B. Whitmore and A. D. Witherell. 
 
 STEAMEB "PIjOBIDA." 
 
 Commander, Pierce Crosby; Acting-Lieutenant, 
 E. C. Merriman ; Acting Assistant Surgeon, B. H. 
 Vose; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. F. Keeler; 
 Acting-Master, John McGowan, Jr.; Acting En- 
 signs, Peter WUliams, C. E. Rich andC. Washburn; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Knowlton, T. W. 
 Rock, Robert Clifford and David Fader; Engineers: 
 Acting-First- Assistant, William McLean; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, John Mason and D. M. Lane ; 
 Acting- Third-Assistants, G. F. Smith and J. W. 
 Hockett. 
 
 STEAMEB "LOUISIANA." 
 
 Commander, Richard T. Renshaw ; Acting-En- 
 sign, E. S. McKeever; Acting- Masters Mates, Edw. 
 Cassady, Chas. Fisher and PaulBoyden; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, T. W. Jamison ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. N. Simpson, Jr.; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, Wm. Mara and Hiram Parker, 
 Jr. ; Acting-Third- Assistants, C. S. Servoss and R. D. 
 Faron; Carpenter, John Mills. 
 
 STEAMER "CAMBRIDGE." 
 Commander, William F. Spicer; Acting-Master, 
 
 F. W. Strong; Acting-Ensigns, S. H. Mead, Jr., E. 
 A. Small, S. K. Luce and J. K. Barker ; Acting- 
 Master s Mates,. J. S. Bradbury, R. 8. Sheperd 
 and P. U. Northup; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, L. 
 C. Granger; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. C. 
 Canning; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, G. B. 
 Orsewell ; Acting-Second- Assistants, J. F. Powers, 
 H. F. Hayden and John Whitaker; Acting-Gunner, 
 Wm, Scott. 
 
 STEAMER "STATE OF GEORGIA." 
 
 Commander, Somerville Nicholson ; Lieutenant, 
 George B. White; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. H. 
 Greene; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. F. Griffiths; 
 Acting-Master, Benj. Whitmore; Acting - Ensigns, 
 Chas. Trathen, 8. L. Griffin and Wm. Shultz- Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, Frank Papanti, Peter Hayes 
 and G. E. Kidder; Engineers: Aeting-First-Assist- 
 ant, John Bloomsbury ; Acting-Second- Assistants, 
 W. A. Andress and A. N. Gilmore ; Acting Third- 
 Assistants, Wm. Madden, J. A. Patterson and F. 
 R. Shoemaker; Gunner, Wm. Griffiths. 
 
 STEAMEB "MEBCEDITA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, H. N. T. Arnold; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. K. Walsh ; Acting - Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. S. Mallary; Acting-Master, D. E. 
 Taylor; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. Marcy, Wm. Young, 
 
 G. W.Williams and E. D. Pettingill; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Isaac Hallock and H. C. Robertson ; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First-Assistant, B. F. Becltett; Aet- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, F. E. Porter; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants. D. J. Lanahan, J. H. Hopkins, Wm. 
 Ellis, W. A. Steinrook and Wm. McComb; Acting- 
 Gunner, James Addison. 
 
 STEAMEB " MABATANZA." 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, Milton Haxtun ; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, D. D. Gilbert; Assistant Paymaster, 
 
 C. 8. Perley; Acting - Masters, Chas. Courtney. 
 Jacob Kimball and J. B. Wood; Acting-Ensign, R. 
 
 D. Eldridge; Acting-Master's Mates, A. F. William- 
 son and G. E. Chipman; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, O. L. Carty; Second - Assistant, Edw. 
 Scattergood ; Third-Assistants, W. H. Kilpatrick, 
 L. R. Harvey and R. L. Webb. 
 
 STEAM GUN-BOAT "MIAMI." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Chas. W. Flusser; Act- 
 ing- Masters, W. N. Wells and John Lear; Acting- 
 Ensigns, J. W. Bennett and T. G. Hargis; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Wm. B. Mann; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, F. W. Hackett; Engineers: Third-Assistants, 
 H. D. Heiser, C. C. Davis and J. W. Saville; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, David Newell and Dennis Har- 
 rington. 
 
 STEAMER "morse." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, C. A. Babcock; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Henry Russell; Acting-Ensigns, A. 
 Dennett, J. F. Merry and R. M. Wagstaff ; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, Wm. Dunne ; Engineers : Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Thomas Di\'ine ; Aoting-Third-As- 
 sistants, Timothy Flanders, Thomas McNellis and 
 G. C. Rogers. 
 
 STEAMEB "NANSEMOND." 
 
 Lieutenant, R. H. Lamson; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, Edgar 8. Smith : Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, R. M. Gillette; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Porter, 
 Wm. Hunter, J. B. Henderson and Henry Waring; 
 Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, Fred'k Sny- 
 der; Acting-Third-Assistants, Edw. Aspald, C. M. 
 Goodwin, J. T. Earl and E. A. Reilly. 
 
 STEAMEB "SOUTHFIEiD." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A. French; 
 Acting-Masters, W. B. Newman and W. F. Pratt ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, T. B. Stokes and J. R. Peacock ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, G. W. Pratt and J. J. Allen, 
 
492 
 
 THE NAVAL Hl^TUKX 
 
 Jr.; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Wm. H. Holmes; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Addison Pool; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Wm. F. GofT ; Aot- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, J. B. Farrand, J. A. Strieby 
 and Joseph Watts. 
 
 STBAMEB "NIPHON." 
 
 Acting Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. B. Breok ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, H. S. Borden, E. N. Seaman, J. J. 
 Reagan and Niels Larsen; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. R. Arey and G. W. Barnes; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Theo. Barker; Engineers: Aoting-Tliird- 
 Assistants, T. L. Churchill, J. J. SulUvan, Wm. 
 Norie and T. T. Sanborn. 
 
 STEAMER "DAYIilGHT." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Francis S. AVells: 
 Acting-Masters, J. H. Gleason and T. Werlhof 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Willard and W. H. Penfield 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon,F. M. Dearborne; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Chas. Attmore and J. M. Simms; Engineers: 
 Acting-First Assistant, Wm. H.Best; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, P. O. Brightman and O. O. Morgan ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, W. H. Crawford, J. E. 
 Hilliard and J. T. Smith. 
 
 STEAMER "MONTGOMERY." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, E. A. Faucon; Act- 
 ing-Master, G. H. Pendleton; Acting-Ensigns, W. 
 O. Putnam, Rob't Wiley and W. P. Burke; Acting - 
 Master's Mates, J. D. Gossick, T. J. Walker and F. 
 C. Simonds; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. F. Lin- 
 coln: Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Joseph Watson; 
 Engineers : Acting-First -Assistant, G. H. Wade; 
 Acting - Second -Assistant, James Pollard; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, John MoEwan, James Allen and 
 G. M. Smith. 
 
 STEAMER "COMMODORE PERRY." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Thos. J. Wood- 
 ward; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. J. Healy ; 
 Acting-Master, J. E. Stammard; Acting Ensign, 
 Wm. H. McLean; Engineers : Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, J. L. Bowers, Charles Hickey and Horace 
 Whitworth. 
 
 STEAMER "MOUNT VERNON." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, James Trathen; 
 Acting-Slaster, Edw. W. White; Acting-Ensigns, F. 
 M. Paine, H. F. Cleverly and C. G. Walstrom; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, Jason Ryan and Henry 
 Rogers; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Oswald War- 
 ner; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. Y. Glisson ; 
 Engineers: Acting - Second -Assistant, J. H. Hors- 
 ford; Acting-Third -Assistants, H. S. Short, W. H. 
 Smith and George Ducker. 
 
 STEAMER "BRITANNIA." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Huse; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. S. Coney; Acting-Ensigns, F. C. Ford, 
 A. J. Lowell and M. E. Wandell; Acting Master's 
 Mate, R. L. M. Jones ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, C. B. Culver ; Engineers: Second- Assistant, P. 
 A. Rearick ; Acting - Second - Assistant, Joseph 
 Fernald; Acting - Tliird - Assistants, J. M. Barron, 
 Wm. Hifferon and H. F. Loveaire. 
 
 STEAMER "GOVERNOR BUCKINGHAM." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. G. Salton- 
 stall; Acting-Master, John S. Watson: Acting-En- 
 signs, Wm. C. Gibson, J. W. Crowell and W. B. 
 Mix; Acting-Master's Mates, James Auld, F. H. 
 Poole and J. W. Gardner ; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, R. C. Tuttle, Acting - Assistant, Paymaster, 
 E. G. Musgrave; Engineers : Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ants, C. W. Doten, Thomas Usticks, Wm. Collier; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, Thomas Harrison and O. 
 L. Smith. 
 
 SUPPLY STEAMER "NEWBERN." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer- Lieutenant,, T. A. Harris ; Act- 
 ing-Masters, R.Y. Holly and J. K. Richardson; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, Chas. Millett, C. H. Sawyer and Milton 
 
 Webster; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, John E. Cobb; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. H. Cashing; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. P. Jones, O. F. Wixon and A. 
 Landergren ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, 
 Isaac Maples; Acting - Second - Assistant, J. B. 
 Cooper; Aoting-Third-Assistants, C. B. Rainier, P. 
 C. Lomas and S. J. Hoffman. 
 
 STEAMER " HOUQITAH." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, J. Macdearmid; 
 Acting-Master, C. B. Wilder; Acting- Ensigns, G. 
 P. St. John and John Duly ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 R B. Smith and F. B. Haskell; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, B. W. Brooks ; Engineers : Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, Wm. McLane and D. R. Wylie; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, J. B. Rice and Thomas 
 Dobbs. 
 
 STEAMER " LOCKWOOD, 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, G. W. Graves; Act 
 ing-Ensigns, J. Q. A. Davidson and Abram Hicks; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, E. S. Austin ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, J. T. Miller and Samuel 
 Dean. 
 
 STEAMER "UNDERWRITER." 
 
 Acting-Master, Jacob Wester velt; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, L. R. Boyce ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, E. H. Sears; Acting-Master's Mates, W. K. 
 Engell, Daniel Ward, C A. Stewart and John Me- 
 Cormick; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, J. 
 B. Dick; Acting-Third- Assistant, S. B. Ellis. 
 
 STEAMER "CALYPSO." 
 
 Acting-Master, Fred'k D. Stuart; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Chas. Sturtevant; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. H. Nelson ; Acting -Ensigns, W. 
 Jameson, J. A. French, G. W. Comer and B. H. 
 Maeintire; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Alger, 
 Isaac Sawyer and P. M. Topham; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, B. F. Haines, F. V. Holt and Samuel 
 Bolson; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. Minne andW. 
 Y. Schneider. 
 
 STEAMER " COMMODORE BARNEY." 
 
 Acting - Master, James M. Williams; Acting-En- 
 signs, Jos. Avant, C. J. Goodwin and C. W. 
 Leekins ; Acting-Master's Mates, John Aspinwall 
 and W. H. Richmond ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 James Kinnier; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Thos. 
 Jernegan ; Engineers : Acting - Second -Assistant, 
 Hiram Warner ; Acting-Third- Assistants, Charles 
 Culver, D. S. Leffer and F. G. Shannon. 
 
 STEAMER "COMMODORE HULL." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Francis Josselyn and J. O. John- 
 son; Acting-Master's Mates, D. A. Simmond and 
 Geo. Van I5uzer ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. F. 
 T. Hildreth; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Jonathan 
 Chapman; Engineer: Acting-Second-Assistant, B. 
 F. Bee; Acting Third-Assistants, W. Lannan, M. 
 O. Stimson and A. C. Stuart. 
 
 STEAMER "WYANDOTTE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas W. Sheer ; Acting-En- 
 signs, Benj. Wood, Wm. Henry, Andrew McCleary 
 and J. W. Thompson; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. 
 Chandler ; Ac ting- Assistant Surgeon, James Pen- 
 noyer, Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. A. Purse; 
 Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, J. W. Farrell; 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, Geo. R. Dunkly. 
 
 STEAMER "MT WASHINGTON." 
 
 Acting - Master, H. H. Haynie; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, G. B. Griffin ; Engineers : Acting-Second-As- 
 sistants, Sidney Smith and Wm. Veitch; Acting- 
 Third -Assistant, Joseph Jamieson. 
 
 STEAMER "COMMODORE JONES." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. O. Barclay ; Acting-Ensign, 
 Geo. W. Adams; Acting-Master's Mates, C. P. Lus- 
 oomb, B. L. Deane and P. M. Nye ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, E. T. Chapman; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, Timothy McCarthy; Acting- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 493 
 
 Third - Assistants, J. B. McKenzie, Malcolm Sin- 
 clair and I. L. Sawtelle. 
 
 STEAMER "STEPPINQ STONES." 
 
 Acting-Master, D. A. Campbell; Acting-Ensign, E. 
 A. Roderick; Acting-Master's Mate, O. P. Knowles; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, J. A. Brown; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, M. MoCarty and G. A. 
 Whittington. 
 
 STEAMER " LILAC." 
 
 Acting-Master, John A. Phillips; Acting-Ensigns, 
 C. B. Staples and F. B. Owens ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, D. S. Ingersoll ; Engineers : Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Wm. T. WrafC ; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 L. L. Copeland and J. C. Garner. 
 
 STEAMER "YOUNG ROVER." 
 
 Acting - Masters, John B. Studley and T. 
 W. Dodge; Acting -Ensigns, D. S. Thompson and 
 E. N. Ryder; Acting- Assistant -Surgeon, Robert 
 Cowie ; Acting - Assistant - Paymaster, George W. 
 Stone; Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, James 
 Patterson ; Acting-Third- Assistant, Wm. D. Butts. 
 
 STEAMER "MYSTIC." 
 
 Acting - Masters, Wm. Wright and Samuel B. 
 Meader ; Acting -Ensigns, A. F. Hamblen and W. 
 H. Otis ; Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Kelleher and 
 John Rigg ; Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, Alex. Mac- 
 kenzie; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Augustus Fer- 
 ret; Engineers: Acting-First -Assistant, J. B. Lowell; 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, Isaac Buck. 
 
 STEAMER "EMMA. ' 
 
 Acting-Master, Geo. B. Livingston; Acting-Assist- 
 ant-Paymaster, C. H. Hammatt; Acting-Ensigns, 
 A. Buhner, R. W. Elwell and C. A. Stewart; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, I. S. Sampson and T. M. Webh; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second-Assi8tants,W- T.Worrell 
 and W. S. Sillman; Acting-Third- Assistants, Eras- 
 tus Barry, John Ross, A. L. Churchill and George 
 Foster. 
 
 STEAMER " GENERAL PUTNAM." 
 
 Acting-Master, H. H. Savage ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Wm. Jennings and H. R. Fovvle; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, W. F. Gregg, J. H. Gilley and B. H. Spear ; 
 Engineers : Acting - Second-Assistant, J. Henry ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, A. F. Rockefeller and Wm 
 P. Higgins. 
 
 STEAMER "VICTORIA." 
 
 Acting Masters, Chas. W. Lee and Alfred Ever- 
 son; Acting-Ensign, Paul Borner ; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, B. W. Tuclser and Wm. Moody ; Acting- 
 Assistant-Surgeon, John G. Parli; Acting- Assistant- 
 Paymaster, Samuel Thomas ; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ant Engineer, John Haversiield. 
 
 STEAMER "HUNOHBACK." 
 
 Acting-Master, Robert G. Lee ; Acting-Ensign, E. 
 K. Valentine ; Acting-Master's Mates, John Mad- 
 dock and J. F. Sias ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 
 Henrv Gushing; Acting-Second- Assistant Engineer, 
 M. Smith. 
 
 STEAMER "SHAW8HBEN." 
 
 Acting-Master, Henry A. Phelon; Acting-Ensign, 
 Charles Ringot; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. Rush- 
 more; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Richard 
 Anderson; Acting-Third- Assistant, John Wall. 
 
 SHIP "RELEASE." 
 
 Acting Master, Jonathan Baker; Acting-Ensign, 
 
 F. A. Gloss; Acting-Master's Mate, F. T. Baldwin; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, John Spare; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, G. L. Ely. 
 
 STEAMER "SAMUEL ROT AN." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. G. Nutting; Acting-Ensigns, 
 T. W. Spencer and W. H.Jennings; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, C. H. Packer and W. L. Lindley. 
 
 SLOOP "GRANITE." 
 
 Acting- Master, Ephraim Boomer; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Wm. B. Miles. 
 
 STEAMER "WHITEHEAD." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Geo. W. Barrett; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, T. E. Quayle, T. M. Nelson and W. S. Bald- 
 win ; Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, Moses 
 Peterson; Acting-Third-Assistants, R. H. Ryan and 
 
 G. B. McDermott. 
 
 STEAMER " COHASSET." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, P. C. Asserson; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, E. H. Schmidt; Engineers: Acting-Third-As- 
 sistants, J. A. Spaulding and J. H. Tinn. 
 
 STEAMER "PAH-KEE." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, F. R. Webb, D. W. Carroll, E. W. 
 Pelton, J. W. Luscomb and John Williams; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, H. A. Winslow and A. W. Harvey: 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Thornton; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. Foster; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, E. F. Lewis, J. H. Button, 
 Gilbert Webb and Andrew Harris. 
 
 STEAMER "SEYMOUR.'' 
 
 Acting - Ensign, J. L. Hayes; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Edwin Smith and J. B. Bailey; Engineers : 
 Aeting-Seoond-Assistant, Newton Bggleston ; Act- 
 ing-Thir "-Assistants, John Whittaker and Philip 
 Hubletz. 
 
 TUG "ALERT," 
 
 Acting-Ensign. John Bishop; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, Wm. Mahan; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, S. D. Edmund and Eli Simpson. 
 
 TUG "ZOUAVE." 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates. J. F. Daggett and T. H. P. 
 Gross ; Engineers : Acting-Third-Assistants, S. M. 
 Van Clief, Richard Wareham and J. W. Cross. 
 
 STORE-SHIP "ALBEMARLE." 
 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, E. Mellach; Gunner, 
 E. A. McDonald; Carpenter, M. W. Paul. 
 
CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION, 
 
 Under Major-Qeneral N. P. Banks, assisted by the Navy under Rear-Admiral 
 
 David D. Porter. 
 
 The Origin, Objects and Plan of the Expedition. — The Naval Vessels and Troops 
 Assemble at the Mouth of the Red River. — Removal of Obstructions. — 
 Capture of the Confederate Camp at Simmsport. — Attack and Capture of 
 Fort De Russy.— Arrival of the Fleet and Troops at Alexandria. — Up the 
 Falls. — The Abominable Cotton Traffic. — General A. J. Smith's "Ragged 
 Guerillas." — Bridge of Cotton. — Advance on Shreveport. — Banks Meets a 
 Reverse near Pleasant Hill. — Battle at Sabine Cross Roads. — Confederates 
 MAKE Good Use of Banks' Cannon and Army Wagons. — Battle at Pleasant 
 Hill. — Banks Victorious, but Orders a Retreat to Grand Ecore. — Retreat 
 of the Fleet Impeded. — Engagement between the "Osage "and "Lexington" 
 AND 3,500 Confederates under General Green. — Reports of Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Selfridge and General Kilby Smith. — The Army and Navy' at Grand 
 Ecore. — Minor Engagements. — Battle at Cane River. — The "Eastport" Blown 
 Up. — The Attack on the Little "Cricket.'" — Fearful Scene of Carnage. — The 
 "Juliet" Disabled. — Batteries Engaged Along the River. — Dissatisfaction of 
 the Army. — The Squadron in a Bad Position. 
 
 NO official account detailing the par- 
 ticulars of this unfortunate expe- 
 dition was forwarded by General 
 Banks until long after the expedi- 
 tion failed. 
 A question has been standing for many 
 years as to who originated it, and this has 
 been settled by the highest authority. Gen- 
 eral Grant, in his Memoirs, says that the ex- 
 pedition originated with General Halleck, 
 who urged General Banks, with all his au- 
 thority, to undertake it. This is, without 
 doubt, the origin of the affair. 
 
 After the fall of Vicksburg and Port 
 Hudson, General Sherman proposed to Ad- 
 miral Porter an expedition to Shreveport, 
 La., via Red River; but on careful inquiry 
 it was found that the water was unusually 
 low for the season of the year, and there- 
 fore the expediency of a movement was 
 doubted. But, as General Sherman was 
 anxious to undertake the expedition, and 
 promised to be in Natchez in the latter 
 
 (491) 
 
 part of February, 1864, Admiral Porter 
 ordered the following vessels to be ready 
 near the mouth of Red River to accompany 
 the Army whenever the latter should com- 
 mence its march : the " Essex," " Benton," 
 "Lafayette," "Choctaw." " Chillicothe. 
 " Ozark," " Louisville," " Carondelet. 
 "Eastport," "Pittsburg,'' "Mound City, 
 "Osage," "Neosho." "Ouichita." "Fort 
 Hmdman." "Lexington." "Cricket." "Ga- 
 zelle," "Juliet," and "Black Hawk" (flag- 
 ship). This squadron comprised the most 
 formidable part of the Mississippi fleet, only 
 the lighter vessels being left to protect the 
 Mississippi, the Ohio, and their tributaries; 
 for, supposing that the Arinv would send a 
 large force into the interior of Louisiana, 
 Admiral Porter determined there should be 
 no want of floating batteries for the troops 
 to fall back on in case of disaster. 
 
 The Admiral had written to General 
 Sherman that lie did not think the time 
 propitious for ascending Red River, and 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 493 
 
 when he arrived in Natchez he found that 
 Sherman had gone to New Orleans to see 
 General Banks. The impression was that 
 he went there to obtain Banks' co-operation 
 in the great raid through the South, which 
 Sherman afterwards so successfully accom- 
 plished without Banks' assistance. 
 
 By looking at the map, it will be readily 
 seen how valuable a position Mobile would 
 have been at sucti a time if held by the 
 Union troops, its railroad system connect- 
 ing with all the Southern roads, by which 
 Sherman could have been supplied with pro- 
 visions and stores, as well as reinforce- 
 ments of men in case of necessity, while 
 the straggling forces of the enemy between 
 him and the Gulf would have been cut off. It 
 would strike the military observer that to 
 insure complete success Mobile should have 
 been captured at the time Sherman started 
 on his raid, which would have placed the en- 
 tire country be- 
 tween him and 
 the sea at the 
 disposal of the 
 Federal forces. 
 
 Fortunately, 
 as matters turn- 
 ed out, General 
 Sherman was 
 able to overcome 
 all obstacles 
 that impeded his 
 progress, and to 
 subsist his army 
 on the country 
 through which 
 he passed. 
 
 At the time 
 Sherman went 
 to New Orleans 
 to see General 
 Banks, the lat- 
 ter had under his command at least 50,000 
 men, and could have easily captured Mo- 
 bile, then garrisoned by only about 10,000 
 troops; but this place, so easy of access and 
 so easily captured from the land side, was 
 left unnoticed until the latter part of the 
 war. Its capture was then undertaken by 
 Rear- Admiral Thatcher and General Canby. 
 The result was the loss of several vessels 
 blown up by torpedoes, which the Confed- 
 erates were able to lay down with impu- 
 nity. 
 
 General Banks had been writing to Ad- 
 miral Porter up to the latter part of Febru- 
 ary, 18(34, to co-operate with him in an ad- 
 vance into the Red River region, and in his 
 answers the Admiral had tried to impress 
 on the General the impropriety of such a 
 movement at the then low stage of water, 
 recommending him to wait until there was 
 a prospect of a rise. 
 
 The General, however, insisted that he 
 
 THE "BLACK HAWK," ADMIRAL PORTER'S FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 had certain information of a rise in Red 
 River, and hinted that if he failed in his ex- 
 pedition it would be for want of assistance 
 from the Navy. The Admiral therefore de- 
 termined that, if Sherman gave up the enter- 
 prise, he would co-operate with Banks. The 
 former had never allowed the military au- 
 thorities to wait for him when anything 
 was to be done to carry on their work, and 
 did not propose to do so on this occasion, 
 although he felt that he was being entan- 
 gled in an embarrassing predicament, from 
 which it would require all his energies to 
 extricate himself. 
 
 When Sherman returned from New Or- 
 leans, he informed the Admiral of his pro- 
 posed advance into the interior of the 
 South, and having abandoned the idea of 
 undertaking the Red River expedition, he 
 had promised General Banks to lend him 
 10,000 men, under the command of Gen- 
 eral A. J. Smith, 
 whom he felt 
 sure would co- 
 operate with the 
 Navy in the 
 most energetic 
 manner. And 
 now, finding 
 that Banks was 
 determi n e d to 
 start on this ex- 
 pedition regard- 
 less of conse- 
 quences, Admi- 
 ral Porter re- 
 solved to do 
 everything in 
 his power to as- 
 sist his military 
 operations. 
 
 To make his 
 success certain, 
 General Halleck had determined to send an 
 army into Arkansas under General Steele. 
 This force reached Little Rock early in 
 March, and, after providing themselves with 
 stores and munitions of war, departed from 
 that place on the 34th, and, after a hard 
 march, arrived at Arkadelphia, March 29th, 
 where, for the present, we will leave them. 
 General Banks had informed the Admiral 
 that he would march an army of 36,000 men 
 to Alexandria, La., and would meet him at 
 that place on the 17th of March. On the 10th 
 of March the naval vessels had assembled 
 at the mouth of Red River, and, on the 
 11th, General A. J. Smith arrived with 
 10,000 excellent soldiers in transports. After 
 inspecting the forces on shore, the Army 
 and Navy moved up the river on the 13th, 
 the fleet of gun - boats followed by the 
 Army transports. As the largest vessels 
 could barely pass the bar at the mouth 
 of Red River, owing to the low stage of 
 
496 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 water, the Admiral could not cherish any 
 very favorable hopes for the future; but 
 the party were fairly embarked on the 
 expedition, and the only course was to 
 continue and do the best that could be 
 done. 
 
 The Confederates, having been notified 
 that a movement would soon be made up 
 Red River, had used all their energies in 
 preparing to repel the invaders. Some 
 eight miles below Fort De Russy they com- 
 menced a series of works near the Bend of 
 the Rappiones, commanding a difficult pass 
 of the river, and placed formidable obstruc- 
 tions to prevent the passage of the gun- 
 boats. 
 
 therefore, that it was best to land the 
 troops; so the Admiral turned off into the 
 Atchafalaya River with the "Benton," 
 "Lexington," " ChiUicothe," "Louisville," 
 "Mound City," " Carondelet," "Ouichita," 
 "Pittsburg," and "Gazelle," followed by 
 the troops in transports; while the rest of 
 the gun-boats pushed on up Red River, with 
 instructions to remove the obstructions, but 
 not to attack Fort De Russy until the flag- 
 ship's arrival, or until General Smith's 
 troops came in sight. 
 
 The enemy had at this place some 5,000 
 men, and the only chance of capturing 
 them was by a combined movement of the 
 Army and Navy. 
 
 THE FLEET OF GUN-BOATS, UNDER REAE-ADMIRAL PORTER, STARTING OUT, FOLLOWED BY THE 
 ARMY TRANSPORTS, HAVING ON BOARD 10,000 SOLDIERS, UNDER GEN. A. J. SMITH, MAY 12, 1864. 
 
 (FKOM AN OEIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWING BY REAR-ADMIRAL H. WALKE.) 
 
 These obstructions consisted of a line of 
 heavy piles driven deep into the muddy bot- 
 tom, and extending quite across tlie river, 
 supported by a second tier of shorter ones 
 below, on which rested braces and ties 
 from the upper line. Immediately below 
 the piles, a raft of heavy timber, well se- 
 cured, extended across the river, a portion 
 of the logs resting on the bottom. Finally, 
 a forest of trees had been cut from the 
 banks and floated down upon the piles, mak- 
 ing an apparently impassable obstruction. 
 
 When the Admiral found the character of 
 these obstructions, he feared that they 
 would delay the vessels so long that the 
 enemy would escape from Fort De Russy, 
 and destroy all their stores and munitions 
 of war. General Smith and he agreed, 
 
 At about noon, on the 12th of March, the 
 Federal forces arrived at Simmsport, and 
 found the enemy posted in force some three 
 miles back of that place. The commanding 
 officer of the "Benton," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander James A. Greer, was ordered to land 
 his crew and drive in the enemy's pickets; 
 and. General Smith's transports coming 
 up, the troops landed and took possession 
 of the Confederate camp, the enemy re- 
 treating towards Fort De Russy. 
 
 That night General Smith concluded to 
 follow the enemy by land, while the Ad- 
 miral agreed to proceed up the Red River, 
 with all tl\e gun-boats and transports, and 
 meet the Army at Fort De Russy. 
 
 In the meantime, the gun-boats that had 
 been sent on in advance had reached the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 497 
 
 obstructions, and their crews were endeav- 
 oring to force a passage. It was a hercu- 
 lean job. but the energetic sailors had had 
 "too much experience in the strange episodes 
 of the civil war to quail before such ob- 
 stacles. The piles near the banks were 
 first removed, and a rush of water came 
 through, carrying away the sides of the 
 banks; then, by pulling up piles and ram- 
 ming the obstructions with the iron-clads, 
 an opening was made in twelve hours for 
 the passage of the fleet. 
 
 The "Eastport," "Osage," " Fort Hind- 
 man," and "Cricket" proceeded up within 
 a short distance of Fort De Russy, where 
 the advance of General Smith had arrived, 
 and there was quite a brisk firing of artil- 
 lery and small arms. The gun-boats, how- 
 ever, could not take part in this skirmish 
 without risking the safety of the Federal 
 soldiers. A 100-pound rifle-shell was fired 
 at the water battery, which burst over it, 
 and drove the enemy out; but to have con- 
 tinued the fire upon the main fort would 
 have injured friends more than foes, the 
 former being in a direct line with the fire 
 of the gun-boats. 
 
 The progress of the fleet around from 
 the Atchaf alaya had necessarily been slow, 
 encumbered with so many transports, and 
 the barricade had partly filled up again, so 
 that it took several hours to pass through 
 the obstructions; but the flag-ship reached 
 the fort in time to see the enemy evacuating 
 it, and the Union soldiers taking posses- 
 sion. 
 
 The fort was originally garrisoned with 
 5,000 men, under General Walker, who had 
 marched out to meet the Federal Army, 
 leaving 34 officers and 300 men to defend 
 it ; but, if Walker wished to meet Smith's 
 forces, he was disappointed, for the latter 
 saw nothing of him. 
 
 On his march from Simmsport, General 
 Smith was greatly annoyed by sharp- 
 shooters, and was compelled to bridge 
 innumerable bayous. When he reached 
 Monksville, within three miles of the fort, 
 he was informed that a strong force of the 
 enemy would dispute his passage. The 3d 
 Indiana Battery was placed in position, and 
 General Mower formed his men for the 
 attack. The first line was under the im- 
 mediate command of Colonel W. J. Shaw, 
 14th Iowa Infantry, commanding 2d Brig- 
 ade, 3d Division, 15th Ai'my Corps, com- 
 posed of the 13th and 33d Iowa and the 3d 
 Indiana Battery. The space intervening 
 between the Union troops and the fort was 
 obstructed with fallen trees; on the left of 
 the line, a thick wood afforded an excellent 
 cover for riflemen. 
 
 It was now 4 p. M., and, although the 
 Union troops had been marching and build- 
 ing bridges all day, they came up to their 
 
 work as fresh as if they had just broken 
 camp. Part of the 14th Iowa wei'e de- 
 ployed as skirmishers to within three hun- 
 dred yards of the enemy's works, occupy- 
 ing some rifle-pits which had been thrown 
 up by the Confederates, and during the 
 progress of the fight did good execution 
 as sharp-shooters. 
 
 In the meantime, the 58th Illinois, 8th 
 Wisconsin and 39th Iowa, who had come 
 up from the rear, were advancing to obtain 
 position for attack. The fire from the fort 
 all this time was rapid, but did little execu- 
 tion. Shot, shell and musketry were pass- 
 ing between the combatants for two hours, 
 while the naval vessels were unable to fire 
 for fear of killing their friends. At the end 
 of that time, all of Smith's troops having 
 got into position, they advanced and car- 
 ried the works without difficulty, capturing 
 34 officers, 375 men and 10 pieces of artillery. 
 
 This affair was well managed on the part 
 of the Army, whose loss was small; General 
 Smith was an able commander, and his 
 soldiers were veterans — each man, as it 
 proved afterwards, was a host in himself. 
 
 It was pleasant to see the United States 
 flag floating over a work which had been 
 built with so much trouble and expense to 
 the Confederates, and the Navy regretted 
 that it could not take a more important 
 part in the affair. 
 
 Their operations at Fort De Russy showed 
 the fortitude of the Federal soldiers; and, if 
 the rest of Banks' men were of the same ma- 
 terial, there was no reason why the army 
 should not reach Shreveport in triumph. 
 
 An order had been sent to Lieutenant- 
 Commander S. L. Phelps to push on with 
 the fastest and lightest - draft gun -boats 
 to Alexandria, as soon as the army should 
 reach the fort, in order to seize any steam- 
 ers that might be lying there with steam 
 down. Owing to obstructions in the river, 
 the dispatch-boat carrying the message was 
 delayed five hours, and Phelps reached Al- 
 exandria just thirty minutes too late, the 
 swiftest of the naval vessels arriving just in 
 time to see six steamers escaping up "the 
 Falls." One of them, the " Countess," hav- 
 ing grounded, was burned by the enemy. 
 
 The fleet had thus reached Alexandria 
 on the 15th of March, two days earlier than 
 had been promised General Banks. On the 
 day following, there were nine gun-boats 
 lying off the town, and one hundred and 
 eighty sailors were landed, to occupj^ the 
 place and take possession of any Confed- 
 erate Government property that might be 
 stored there. The inhabitants were respect- 
 fully treated, and everj^thing was as quiet 
 as a New England village. 
 
 General Smith remained behind a few 
 days to destroy the formidable works which 
 he had captured, and a gun-boat was left 
 
498 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORF 
 
 at Fort De Russy to try some experiments 
 with rifle-guns on three casemated water 
 batteries covered with several thicknesses 
 of railroad iron. A little experience satis- 
 fied the experimenters that such works 
 could not resist the heavy naval artillery, 
 and orders were given to blow them up ; 
 thus destroying the formidable barrier in- 
 tended to close Red River against the fleet. 
 For their dimensions, these works were as 
 strong as any ever built in the Confederacy. 
 After 3,000 pounds of powder had been ex- 
 ploded, there remained three huge excava- 
 tions, while the whole vicinity was strewn 
 with broken timbers and twisted iron, pre- 
 
 progress up the river. This was General 
 Mower's idea, apparently forgetting that 
 the gun-boats could, in a very short time, 
 have destroyed forts, troops and all, with 
 their 100 guns. The Admiral endeavored to 
 show General Mower, who was a fearless 
 man, and in favor of pushing on regardless 
 of obstacles, that the 5,000 troops were too 
 few in number to defeat the 20,000 Confed- 
 erates in the advance, who were well sup- 
 plied with artillery. Besides, he urged that 
 it would be very discourteous to General 
 Smith to go forward without consulting 
 him, and leave him, with only 5,000 men, 
 unprotected by the gun -boats. Desperate 
 
 Masked Battery. 
 
 " Renton." 
 
 FLAG-gHIP. 
 
 Gen. a. J. Smith's Akmt 
 Assailing the Fort. 
 Monitor "Osage." 
 
 Fort. 
 
 Gun-boat. 
 
 " Fort Hindman." 
 
 Iron-clad. 
 Ram "Eastport." 
 
 Casemated Forts 
 
 AND 
 
 EiFLE Pits. 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORT DE RUSSY. 
 
 senting a scene more easily imagined than 
 described. 
 
 On the leth, General Mower reached Alex- 
 andria with about 5,000 men. in transports; 
 and, having formed a rather low estimate' 
 of the enemy's forces in this region, he 
 urged Admiral Porter to push on at once 
 with the force they then had, and try and 
 get to Shreveport in advance of the main 
 army. 
 
 The Confederate general, Walker, had 
 exhibited very little enterprise; for, with 
 the 5,000 men under his command, he 
 might have seriously impeded the Federal 
 advance, and then at Fort De Russy have 
 offered a stubborn resistance to further 
 
 as this scheme of Mower's appeared, we 
 think it would have succeeded better than 
 General Banks' movement on Shreveport a 
 short time afterwards. 
 
 General Taylor had occupied Alexan- 
 dria with 15,000 men, and had hurriedly 
 decamped on the approach of the Army and 
 Navy, leaving three pieces of artillery be- 
 hind. 
 
 On the 18th of March, General A. J. 
 Smith arrived, ready to march at a mo- 
 ment's notice when Banks should give the 
 order. Meanwhile, there was no news what- 
 ever of General Banks' whereabouts. His 
 cavalry arrived on the 19th, and on the 
 25th, eight days after he had agreed to 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 499 
 
 meet the Admiral at Alexandria, he ap- 
 peared upon the scene. Then commenced 
 a series of delays, which culminated in dis- 
 asters, that have left a reproach upon the 
 Red River expedition which time cannot 
 efface; for, no matter how gallant the offi- 
 cers and men may have been, they share in 
 the humiliation brought upon them by an 
 unmilitary commander, who, at the head 
 of nearly 40,000 men, fully equipped, was 
 driven out of a country they could have 
 held forever had their leader been posses- 
 sed of the qualifications of a military man. 
 We sincerely believe that, had (ieneral 
 A. J. Smith undertaken this expedition 
 with only his 10,000 well-tried soldiers, sup- 
 
 Eorted by the fleet of gun-boats, they would 
 ave all been in Shreveport by the 5th of 
 April; for there was no reason to entertain 
 much fear of General Taylor and his troops, 
 already greatly demoralized by the Union 
 success so far. 
 
 If Taylor could not, with 15,000 men and 
 heavy fortifications, hold the entrance to 
 his country, how could he expect to resist 
 the march of 10,000 veterans, supported by 
 more than 100 heavy guns on board the 
 war-vessels? There were never better sol- 
 diers than those under General Smith, and 
 both he and General Mower were worthy 
 to lead them. 
 
 When Smith's command joined the ex- 
 pedition they had just finished a long 
 march, were greatly in want of clothing, 
 had few wagons, and were without tents, 
 yet they were the happiest-looking soldiers 
 ever seen under arms. It was astounding 
 how these men had learned to live upon 
 the enemy. They seemed to be independent 
 of the commissary department, every soldier 
 was himself a commissary; and as for tents 
 or barracks, they did very well without 
 them. In less than twenty-four hours after 
 their arrival in Alexandria, they had rum- 
 maged the country for ten miles up and 
 down the river, one of the most fertile dis- 
 tricts in the United States, where all their 
 wants could be supplied without expense to 
 the Government. 
 
 Here Colonel Shaw luxuriated with his 
 brigade on the plantation of ex-Governor 
 Moore, the prime mover in the secession of 
 Louisiana, who now had ample opportu- 
 nity of seeing for himself how the seces- 
 sion matter worked. It was a just retribu- 
 tion, for, notwithstanding the hospitality 
 of the South, we have no doubt the ex- 
 governor begrudged the soldiers the good 
 things they were enjoying at his expense. 
 Notwithstanding the Federal soldiers were 
 scattered in all directions, they were not 
 troubled by the Confederates, who hovered 
 around in detached bands of a few hundred 
 men, apparently as much demoralized as 
 
 The Federal forces were on the qui vive, 
 however, for anything that might happen, 
 and one dark, rainy night. General Mower, 
 with a party of his men, fell in with a 
 courier bearing dispatches to General Tay- 
 lor, who was encamped some nine miles in 
 the rear. Mower, assuming the character 
 of a Confederate officer, threatened to hang 
 the courier as a Yankee spy, when the lat- 
 ter, to show his good faith, led the supposed 
 Confederate troops right into the enemy's 
 camp, which was captured with 22 officers, 
 260 privates, 4 pieces of artillery, 150 horses, 
 and all the arms and munitions. Had there 
 been an opportunity to capture the other 
 outlying parties. General Mower would have 
 accomplished it, but the Confederate com- 
 mander-in-chief was a wary old soldier, dis- 
 posed to act on the defensive. 
 
 It was not until the 25th of March that 
 General Banks' infantry commenced arriv- 
 ing under the command of General Frank- 
 lin, It was as fine a body of troops as were 
 ever seen, and the best dressed and equipped 
 of any soldiers in the Southwest. Not- 
 withstanding a march of twenty-one miles, 
 they came in quite fresh and full of spirits. 
 But more than a week of valuable time 
 had been lost since the 17th instant, the 
 day on which General Banks promised to 
 meet the Navy at Alexandria, and the con- 
 clusion arrived at was that the General did 
 not possess the military virtue of punctual- 
 ity which the Navy had recognized in Gen- 
 erals Grant, Sherman, A. J, Smith, and other 
 officers with whom they had hitherto co- 
 operated. 
 
 As soon as the Admiral reached Alexan- 
 dria, he commenced getting the vessels 
 above the " Falls," although the water was 
 falling in the river at the rate of an inch a 
 day, and the larger vessels had not more 
 than six inches to spare. He trusted to 
 good fortune to get the vessels down again, 
 or to that great rise in the water which 
 General Banks had been informed would 
 certainly come in May or June. 
 
 General Banks had apparently come into 
 the Red River country intending to stay, 
 for he was provided with everything neces- 
 sary to maintain a large army. Transports 
 with provisions, clothing and munitions of 
 war were daily arriving, and large buildings 
 in Alexandria converted into store-houses 
 were rapidly filled up. 
 
 By the 29th of March, the Admiral had 
 all his vessels over the " Falls," except the 
 '■ Eastport," a long, heavy iron-clad, which 
 detained the fleet two days. As soon as she 
 was over. Lieutenant -Commander Phelps 
 was directed to proceed to Grand Ecore and 
 be ready to cover the army when it should 
 arrive there. The following named vessels 
 were under his command: the "Eastport," 
 
600 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 "Fort Hindman," "Lexington," "Osage," 
 and "Neosho." 
 
 The week lost caused the expedition irre- 
 parable injury, for the enemy was not only 
 enabled to recruit his forces, but the river 
 had fallen six inches, which was a great 
 deal for vessels having so little to spare. 
 
 The general tried to lay the blame for his 
 detention on the gun-boats, but this would 
 hardly answer, since the light-draft vessels, 
 mounting over fifty guns, had passed the 
 "Falls " and were ready to ascend the river 
 before Banks reached the rendezvous. The 
 six days General Banks passed in Alex- 
 andria prior to his onward movement were 
 frittered away. He moved into comfortable 
 quarters and spent his time in ordering an 
 election in the parish of Rapides, establish- 
 ing people in power who professed to be 
 Union men — a proceeding to which there 
 could have been no objection if the objects 
 of the expedition had not thereby been neg- 
 lected. 
 
 General Banks came from New Orleans 
 to Alexandria in a large steamer called the 
 "Black Hawk." This vessel, known as 
 "General Banks' flag-ship," was of the same 
 name as Admiral Porter's flag-ship, an un- 
 pleasant circumstance, since it happened 
 that the Navy incurred some of the odium 
 which attached to the transport steamer. 
 She was loaded with cotton bagging, rope, 
 etc., and became the rendezvous of a motley 
 collection of people, cotton speculators, and 
 camp followers. Everybody began to sur- 
 mise that this expedition was intended for 
 other purposes than the conquest of the Red 
 River country. The story then told has 
 since proved to have had some foundation, 
 and is a hitherto unwritten piece of his- 
 tory. 
 
 Soon after General Banks took command 
 at New Orleans, he had given several passes 
 to get cotton from the Red River country, 
 but it had been seized by the gun-boats 
 along the river, and turned over to the 
 agents of the Treasury, or sent to an Ad- 
 miralty Court for adjudication. 
 
 Many persons had urged upon President 
 Lincoln the importance of getting out of 
 Red River all the cotton possible for the 
 use of Union manufacturers, instead of 
 forcing the Confederates to sliip it abroad, 
 which, perhaps, was a wise idea, if it could 
 have been done under proper restrictions; 
 but such a course opened the door to a 
 great deal of dishonesty, besides affording 
 an opportunity for supplying the Confed- 
 erates with arms and munitions, of which 
 they stood greatly in need. 
 
 Two naval officers captured parties of 
 Confederates— military men— in the act of 
 loading steamers with cotton for New Or- 
 leans, the said persons being supplied with 
 passes Durnortina- to be bv anthoritv nf 
 
 General Banks. No doubt, they expected 
 to receive, in return, money or articles of 
 value, when the naval officers arrested them, 
 and would have seized the steamers had 
 not the latter shoved off and left their friends 
 in the lurch. 
 
 We do not mean to say that General 
 Banks exceeded his autliority in these mat- 
 ters, but we know that it was calculated to 
 prolong the war ; and, as the naval com- 
 mander had not been notified by the Gov- 
 ernment that facilities for getting out cot- 
 ton would be granted to private citizens, he 
 took upon himself the responsibility of put- 
 ting a stop to the practice. 
 
 It was evident that this sort of traffic 
 would soon demoralize the whole expedi- 
 tion, and probably defeat its every object. 
 A gun-boat was stationed at the mouth of 
 Red River, whose captain had orders not to 
 permit any except naval vessels and Army 
 transports to ascend. This, however, diid 
 not keep out the cotton agents, who man- 
 aged to get up in the transports, not always 
 to the satisfaction of General Banks. 
 
 On one occasion, a steamer loaded with 
 stores of all kinds, and furnished with a per- 
 mit from Washington to trade within the 
 military lines, appeared at the mouth of the 
 river. The Admiral refused to recognize 
 the owner of this permit and ordered him 
 to depart, which he was obliged to do, leav- 
 ing a message to the effect that he would 
 make it so hot for the naval officer in Wash- 
 ington that the latter would have to resign 
 his command, etc., etc. On receiving this 
 message, the commanding officer of the 
 gun-boat at the mouth of the Red River was 
 directed to seize the vessel and send her to 
 Cairo. He chased her to Memphis, where, 
 on arriving, he found the steamer had un- 
 loaded all her contraband of war, otherwise 
 she would have been condemned. 
 
 We mention these things to give some 
 idea of the rush for the cotton region of 
 Louisiana, and the demoralization likely to 
 ensue had every speculator been allowed 
 to go where he pleased under permits, or in 
 any other way. There were Treasurv 
 agents enough authorized by Government 
 to seize cotton, and there was nothing to 
 warrant the presence of cotton purchasers 
 on an expedition which had for its osten- 
 sible object the redemption of this region 
 from secession. 
 
 It was only when the Army was in retreat, 
 after the battle of Mansfield, that the sup- 
 posed objects of the expedition were learned. 
 It was stated that before Banks' army left 
 New Orleans there was an arrangement 
 that the General should go up Red River 
 with a force before which the Confederates 
 would retreat; that Banks would seize all 
 the cotton in the countrv, for which he 
 
 il,l 
 
 (Tivn Viirij^in^-fo 
 
 . ,^.1 +1, ^i 
 
 ,., xl- - - _ 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 501 
 
 of the cotton in New Orleans, the holders 
 of the receipts were to receive five or six 
 cents a pound as their share. General 
 Banks' conduct gave some corroboration to 
 these reports, and no evidence he after- 
 wards gave before the Committee on the 
 Conduct of the War eradicated the impres- 
 sion that they were true. 
 
 It was attempted to divert attention from 
 Banks by trying to throw the responsibility 
 on President Lincoln for giving pernaits to 
 Butler and Casey ; but those men derived 
 little benefit from their license to trade — 
 their cotton was taken from them, and they 
 returned from the expedition wiser and 
 poorer men. 
 
 As long as Admiral Porter had been as- 
 sociated with Generals Grant and Sherman 
 in the midst of intricate and embarrassing 
 operations, he had never to complain of the 
 least want of courtesy on their part, and 
 never had the slightest dispute with either of 
 them. Now he was sorry to see a prospect 
 of difficulties at the very outset of the ex- 
 pedition. The tone of some of the officials 
 of Banks' army was so different from what 
 he had been in the habit of witnessing that 
 it created bad feeling at once — this ex- 
 tended not only to the Navy but to the 
 corps of General A. J. Smith as well. 
 
 When Smith joined the expedition he had 
 just finished a long march through the in- 
 terior of the Confederacy, and his men were 
 without proper clothing and other neces- 
 saries, and made a poor figure beside Banks' 
 well-equipped troops; but when it came to 
 actual warfare, they were famous fighters. 
 They were men who had lain for months in 
 the trenches at Vicksburg, had gone through 
 the hardships of Chickasaw Bayou, had 
 helped win Arkansas Post, etc., etc.; yet 
 when Banks first saw these veterans, he 
 exclaimed, " What, in the name of Heaven, 
 did Sherman send me these ragged guer- 
 illas for ?" At Mansfield he found these 
 "ragged guerillas " saved the day and the 
 honor of his army ! 
 
 We have no doubt that when Banks saw 
 his fine army under General Franklin, and 
 was told how easily those troops had put 
 the Confederates along the route to flight, 
 he felt that he could do very well without 
 the corps of A. J. Smith and the Navy. For 
 this reason he treated General Smith with 
 neglect from the first, although he took care 
 to put that General in the advance. General 
 Smith was a fearless, outspoken man, who 
 felt that the cotton speculation would be 
 the bane of the expedition, and did not hesi- 
 tate to say so. He foresaw the misrepre- 
 sentations that would be made of officers 
 who would not lend themselves to the 
 schemes of the cotton speculators. 
 
 It was very aggravating for an officer to 
 find himself attacked in the newspapers at 
 
 home while devoting all his energies to 
 overcome the enemies of his country, and 
 to be reviled by a lot of people who had 
 neither the courage nor the inclination to 
 take part in putting down the Rebellion — 
 Northern " copperheads, " who did all in their 
 power to shake the confidence of the public 
 in the men at the head of the armies and 
 fleets. 
 
 General Banks, having delayed long at 
 Alexandria, directed General Smith's com- 
 mand to advance to Bayou Rapides, where 
 the latter encamped on the 27th of March, 
 1864. On the 30th, part of Banks' army 
 passed General Smith; but it was not until 
 April 2d that Smith received orders to em- 
 bark his men in the transports, and proceed 
 to Grand Ecore, where they disembarked, 
 and encamped at Natchitoches, near by. 
 No opposition had thus far been met with, 
 and one or two guns fell into the hands of 
 the Navy a few miles below Grand Ecore. 
 
 Up to this time the opinion seemed gen- 
 eral that the Confederates did not intend 
 to offer any opposition to the Federal ad- 
 vance, and that Kirby Smith, the Confed- 
 erate general, would "adhere to his agree- 
 ment" — viz., to let the Army and the 
 contractors get all the cotton they could 
 find. The very deliberate movements of 
 the Army gave color to these reports, and 
 the large number of empty steam trans- 
 ports strengthened the idea that it was in- 
 tended to load them with cotton. Besides 
 these, there were seven or eight hundred 
 army wagons, ostensibly to carry rations 
 for General Banks' division, while A. J. 
 Smith had hardly any wagons. 
 
 Anticipating the wants of the Army, the 
 Navy brought along with them two of the 
 large barges built some time before by 
 General Fremont to use in making a bridge. 
 These were turned over to the military au- 
 thorities at Grand Ecore. The second day 
 after the arrival of the expedition, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Phelps, of the "Eastport," 
 reported to the Admiral that these two 
 barges, which would hold three or four hun- 
 dred bales each, and another barge belong- 
 ing to Butler and Casey, were being filled 
 with cotton, under superintendence of an 
 officer of General Banks' staff, the cotton 
 being hauled to the bank by army wagons. 
 Lieutenant - Commander Phelps was di- 
 rected, as soon as the barges wei-e loaded, 
 to seize the cotton as prize to the Navy, 
 which was accordingly done; but, soon after, 
 the Admiral received a request from Gene- 
 ral Banks to turn the barges over to the 
 Army, that he might bridge the river at 
 Grand Ecore. This request was imme- 
 diately complied with, and a fine bridge 
 was made for the passage of wagons, al- 
 though the cotton, after a day or two's use, 
 looked much the worse for wear. The Army 
 
502 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 held the barges and the cotton, and tliey 
 finally had to be used -in the construction 
 of the great dam at Alexandria. 
 
 The Confederates had about 16,000 men in 
 the field, and the Federals about 36,000; but 
 up to this time the former had retreated 
 without resistance, leaving the Federals 
 their deserted camping-grounds, the best 
 positions, and all the cotton in the country. 
 It was so unlike anything seen before in 
 expeditions against the enemy, that people 
 could not help suspecting an understanding 
 of some kind with the Confederates, other- 
 wise they would have set fire to every bale 
 of cotton rather than permit any to fall into 
 Union hands. 
 
 On the 6th of April, all arrangements for 
 an advance having been made, Banks' 
 army, composed of part of the 13th and 
 19th army corps, under Franklin and Em- 
 ory, and a cavalry division of about 3,500 
 men, under General Lee, marched from Na- 
 chitoches. General A. J. Smith followed 
 on the 7th with his division of the 16th 
 corps, excepting 2,500 men under General T. 
 Kilby Smith, who had been sent to escort 
 the transports carrying supplies. When 
 the fleet started, there were about thirty of 
 these transports in company, but their num- 
 bers were afterwards increased by the addi- 
 tion of some large empty steamers, which 
 delayed the advance owing to their too 
 great draft of water. 
 
 It was arranged that the naval vessels 
 and transports were to meet the Army at 
 Springfield Landing, about thirty miles be- 
 low Shreveport, the third day after depart- 
 ure. 
 
 The difliculties of navigation were very 
 great, as there were few pilots, and they 
 were not familiar with the river channel as 
 it then existed, it having changed very 
 much within a year or two; but the fleet 
 managed to surmount all obstacles, and 
 reached the rendezvous within an hour of 
 the time specified in the arrangement with 
 General Banks. As the General was not 
 very punctual, no one was surprised at his 
 non-appearance. It was not supposed that 
 36,000 men would be long delayed by the 
 16,000 General Taylor had at that time 
 between them and Shreveport, and the 
 Kavy wondered at not seeing the van of 
 the Army at this point. Nothing was to be 
 seen, and the solitude of the grave brooded 
 over the spot. 
 
 The further advance of the transports 
 was here prevented by a very large steamer 
 called the " New Falls City," that the Con- 
 federates had placed across the channel, 
 her ends resting on the banks, and her hull, 
 broken in the middle, resting on the bottom. 
 It required a great deal of trouble to 
 get rid of this obstruction, and while the 
 appointed oflScers were examining into the 
 
 best ways and means of removing the ves- 
 sel, the Admiral proposed to General Kilby 
 Smith that they should reconnoitre the 
 country on horseback. They had ridden 
 about a mile when they saw a party of 
 men crouching and running through the 
 high grass and coming to a halt. The 
 Admiral remarked to the General, "Banks 
 has been defeated, or we wouldn't see 
 those men here. If Banks was still ad' 
 vancing, the outposts would keep on the 
 main road to Shreveport. If defeated, the 
 enemy's look-outs would be watching for 
 our arrival, and be ready to turn their 
 whole force upon us, and it behoves us 
 to be wary." 
 
 It was then agreed upon between General 
 Smith and the Admiral to land the artillery 
 at once, and make a dash for a short dis- 
 tance, as if they intended an advance, 
 which would start the Confederate look-outs 
 off to report the landing; then the plan was 
 to turn, and, embarking, proceed down the 
 river until they could communicate with 
 some part of the main army. This was rap- 
 idly accomplished, and late in the day the 
 gun-boats and transports proceeded down 
 the river in good order, prepared to give 
 the enemy a warm reception if he should 
 attack them. It was taken for granted if 
 General Banks was defeated he would lose 
 some of his artillery, and that the fleet would 
 have it used against them sooner or later. 
 
 The movement proved to be a good one; 
 the enemy were deceived, and, expecting 
 to have the fleet at their mercy next morn- 
 ing, made no demonstration. All that 
 night the vessels moved slowly down the 
 Red River, and at 10 o'clock a courier from 
 General Banks came on board the flag-ship, 
 and informed the Admiral that the Armv 
 had met with a reverse, and was falling 
 back to Pleasant Hill, about flfteen miles 
 from the battle-ground of Mansfield, and 
 thirty-five miles from Nachitoches. This 
 point was sixty miles distant, and the vic- 
 torious enemy was between the fleet and 
 the Federal Army. 
 
 Orders came also for General Kilby Smith 
 to return with his troops and transports to 
 Grand Ecore, and the expedition proceeded 
 towards that point as rapidly as the diffi- 
 cult navigation would permit. The gun- 
 boats were placed so as to cover the trans- 
 ports, and the field-artillery was mounted 
 on the upper decks of the latter; barricades 
 were made for riflemen— in short, every 
 possible preparation for the storm which 
 was coming. 
 
 Here was a sudden collapse to what bid 
 fair at one time to be a successful expe- 
 dition, all owing to the unmilitary char- 
 acter of the commanding general, who 
 ignored the advice of the generals under 
 him. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 503 
 
 When General Banks concentrated his 
 forces at Grand Ecore, it was supposed 
 that he would take the road along the 
 river, where he could at all times be sup- 
 ported by the 100 guns carried by the vessels 
 of the Navy, and where he could be supplied 
 by the Army transports, instead of encum- 
 bering.his army with a multitude of wagons. 
 It was thought that, as Banks got further 
 into the heart of the enemy's country, he 
 would adopt precautions against an attack 
 from the 16,000 or 20,000 men under General 
 Taylor, who might not know of the ar- 
 rangements of the cotton speculators, if any 
 such understanding did exist. Instead of 
 taking precautions, General Banks started 
 on his march as if the whole country was 
 free from the enemy; and so certain was 
 he of reaching his place of destination that 
 he named Springfield Landing as the point 
 where the fleet was to meet him with sup- 
 plies. 
 
 His line of march was twenty miles away 
 from the river, along a rough and narrow 
 road, through a miserable country, covered 
 with pine woods, with few inhabitants and 
 very little water. All the knowledge Banks 
 had of the country was what he could 
 gather from Confederate sources. Instead 
 of putting the infantry in the van. General 
 Lee was sent in front with about 3,500 
 mounted infantry — badly mounted and 
 worse drilled — with 150 heavy wagons in 
 their rear, the infantry following some dis- 
 tance behind. 
 
 When General Banks' army was attacked 
 on the 8th of April at Sabine Cross Roads, 
 General A. J. Smith's division was ten 
 miles in the rear, near Pleasant Hill, and, 
 although they heard the roar of artillery, the 
 first Smith's men knew of the disaster to the 
 main army was from Colonel Clarke, who 
 had ridden rapidly to inform them that the 
 enemy had killed, wounded and captured 
 over 2,000 Federal soldiers, had taken 150 
 wagons, all the stores, and 32 pieces of artil- 
 lery. How all this was done can only be 
 understood by examining Banks' line of 
 march, which, it appears, was also his line 
 of battle. 
 
 It seems the further Banks' army ad- 
 vanced into the country the deeper became 
 the gullies and the worse became the roads, 
 while the thick woods on all sides afforded 
 a fine shelter for the enemy. 
 
 Up to the 8th of April it had rained 
 heavily. General Franklin, who left 
 Grand Ecore on the Gth, marched but seven- 
 teen miles on that and eighteen miles on 
 the succeeding day, being much impeded 
 by his large wagon train; and it seems 
 General Lee was so far in advance that 
 he could not rely on the whole of Frank- 
 lin's force for support, as should have been 
 the case. On the 7th, Lee's force had a 
 
 severe skirmish with the enemy beyond 
 Pleasant Hill, and, after some delay, a 
 brigade of Franklin's infantry was sent to 
 his assistance. Lee's cavalry were nothing 
 more than infantry soldiers whom Banks 
 had mounted, and as soon as fighting com- 
 menced they dismounted. 
 
 One can imagine how ill-arranged for 
 battle was this army, with four regiments 
 of dismounted horsemen in advance, mixed 
 up with their horses, and fighting in gullies 
 where they could be picked off by sharp- 
 shooters ensconced in the thick woods. No 
 wonder General Lee sent to Franklin for 
 assistance, who answered through Colonel 
 Clarke, of Banks' staff, that if he could 
 not hold his position he must fall back 
 upon the main body of the infantry. It 
 would have been better, however, if Lee 
 had fallen bade when he first encountered 
 the enemy's advance, and sent the wagons 
 to the rear, for a finer chance to have them 
 captured could not have been offered. 
 
 Colonel Clarke, finding that Franklin 
 was indisposed to send any troops to sup- 
 port Lee, went to General Banks, who 
 sent a verbal order to Franklin to send a 
 brigade of infantry to report to Lee at day- 
 light next morning. General Franklin then 
 ordered General Ransom to send a brigade, 
 or a division if he saw fit. The brigades 
 were so small that Franklin thought a 
 division would better carry out General 
 Banks' views; but Ransom sent a brigade, 
 with which General Lee was satisfied. 
 
 Notwithstanding the demonstrations of 
 the enemy in front. Banks did not seem to 
 think there was any likelihood of a pitched 
 battle taking place. He gave an order, 
 through Franklin, directing Lee to proceed 
 as far as possible on the night of the 7th, 
 with his whole train, in order to give the 
 infantry room to advance on the 8th. The 
 forces of General Lee only advanced one 
 mile between the 7th and 8th of April, 
 and on the latter date Lee reported by let- 
 ter to General Franklin that the enemy 
 were in stronger force apparently than the 
 day previous. He says: "I advanced this 
 morning with ten regiments of mounted in- 
 fantry (dismounted), three regiments of 
 cavalry and a brigade of infantry. We are 
 driving them, but they injure us some. I 
 do not hasten forward my trains, as I wish 
 to see the result certain first." 
 
 General Lee's idea was, perhaps, a good 
 one, but he did not seem to realize that the 
 enemy were leading him and his trains fur- 
 ther into the trap; but General Banks should 
 have seen this and withdrawn Lee in time, 
 and pushed his infantry and artillery ahead 
 to the attack. 
 
 Banks, however, does not appear to have 
 kept in any position where he could see for 
 himself what was going: on, and seems to 
 
504 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 have been influenced in a great degree by 
 an officer of his staff. Only on the night of 
 the 7th did General Banks arrive at Frank- 
 lin's headquarters from Grand Ecore, al- 
 though the fighting commenced that after- 
 noon, and Lee complained of a want of 
 troops to keep from being driven in. Banks 
 did not go to the front until late on the 8th, 
 and then sent word to Franklin that the en- 
 emy were prepared to make a strong stand 
 at the point where they were holding Lee, 
 and that he (Franklin) "had better make 
 arrangements" (! !) to bring up his infantry, 
 and pass everything on the road, and that 
 he would send him word when to move. 
 He thought Franklin had better send back 
 and push the trains forward, as manifestly 
 the Army w^ould be able to make a rest 
 there. 
 
 Now, whether General Banks wanted the 
 troops to push forward and rest, or fight, 
 does not appear ; but, as far as one can 
 learn from the reports of officers. Banks 
 seemed to be resting that army a great deal, 
 when thousands were anxious to push on 
 and join in the fray. 
 
 It seems evident that General Lee did 
 everything after he engaged the enemy that 
 a man could with the force at his command 
 — a force not suited for that particular kind 
 of service ; and when he found himself out- 
 numbered he sent for reinforcements, when 
 Banks dispatched to his assistance only 
 1,200 men. These were soon decimated, and 
 1,200 more were sent. Such small reinforce- 
 ments amounted to nothing; and it does not 
 require much military knowledge to see the 
 folly of sending one small brigade of infan- 
 try to co-operate with a large body of cav- 
 alry in such an expedition. 
 
 From Lee's report it will appear that 
 while the whole brigade of infantry was 
 engaged on the 8th, onh^ three regiments 
 out of a whole division of cavalry were in 
 action. The result, as General Lee expressed 
 it, was that the first brigade of infantry 
 "got very much embarrassed;" in other 
 words, used up, and so Lee sent for another 
 brigade. General Franklin protested strong- 
 ly against thus sending brigade after brig- 
 ade to be cut up in detail, but Banks gave 
 the orders, and finding such halfway meas- 
 ures futile, directed Franklin to advance 
 with a division of infantry, to be beaten in 
 his turn. 
 
 The state of affairs was as follows: Lee 
 some distance in advance of the wagon 
 train had fought with the two brigades un- 
 til he was cut up, had to retreat, and be- 
 came mixed up with the wagon train and 
 with the advancing division of Franklin's 
 infantry, which in turn was driven back 
 upon the train, the latter was jammed up, 
 and when the time came for the artillery to 
 retreat there was no way to get the guns 
 
 through the train, and they had to be aban- 
 doned. 
 
 Lee was not to blame for having his divis- 
 ion hampered by the wagon train. He had 
 applied to General Franklin to allow his 
 train to move to the rear of the infantry j 
 but Franklin told him he must take care of 
 his own train, that he (F.) had already 750 
 wagons to look out for, and 150 additional 
 wagons would make his train so unwieldy 
 that he could not get into camp at the end 
 of his day's march. Franklin cannot be 
 held responsible for the disaster, but the 
 Avagon-train was. 
 
 Apparently, General Banks started on this 
 expedition as if there was to be no fighting, 
 and he stayed behind in Grand Ecore until 
 the head of the army was fifty miles in ad- 
 vance, regardless of the circumstance that 
 he might have been captured by Confeder- 
 ate stragglers. This, with the fact that he 
 had so many wagons with his army, gave 
 color to the stories that Banks and the cot- 
 ton speculators were arranging about the 
 bales that were to come down from Shreve- 
 port in empty army wagons and transports. 
 The Confederates had no wagons worth 
 mentioning until Banks had supplied them. 
 A. J. Smith with 10,000 men had very few, 
 and why Banks should require 900 for 30,000 
 men, who could sleep out of doors all the 
 time much more comfortably than in tents, 
 no man can tell. Had Banks understood 
 the art of war, he would have ordered his 
 trains to be parked when he saw that a 
 battle was imminent. 
 
 It was not the intention of the enemy to 
 bring on an engagement at the time it took 
 place, but rather to draw the Federal troops 
 as far into the interior as possible, and away 
 from the gun-boats, into the marshes and 
 bayous at Wallace's Lake, between Mans- 
 field and Shreveport. In this difficult region 
 the troops would have been entangled in 
 swamps, and would have had to corduroy 
 the roads for miles to get the trains along. 
 
 Had Banks been satisfied to let the cav- 
 alry go in advance, clearing the roads of 
 outposts, and reporting the presence of the 
 enemy's main body when they encoun- 
 tered it, all might have turned out well; 
 but it appears he never gave himself much 
 concern about the management of the 
 Army until it was defeated. 
 
 He sailed up from New Orleans to Alex- 
 andria in a fine steamer, supplied with all 
 comforts. He sailed again on the same ves- 
 sel from Alexandria to Grand Ecore, and 
 did not leave the latter place until Frank- 
 lin's division had reached Pleasant Hill. 
 Then, going to the front, and being ill- 
 informed of the situation of affairs. Banks 
 determined to win a battle without Frank- 
 lin's aid. 
 
 If the cavalry had gone to the front alone 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 505 
 
 for merely its legitimate purposes, it would 
 have marched slowly and cautiously; but, 
 being reinforced by infantry, it got ahead 
 faster than was prudent. Had the cavalry 
 marched as it should have done. General 
 A. J. Smith would have been at Pleasant 
 Hill, only eight miles in the rear, the Army 
 would have been in as compact a condition 
 as could have been possible and the final 
 result would have been different. Banks 
 had probably never heard of the old rule, 
 "Choose your own ground, and let the en- 
 emy attack you." At all events, he went 
 directly contrary to the maxim; but even 
 then he would have been successful had he 
 waited a day longer. 
 
 Banks had two officers of the regular 
 army, Franklin and Emory, in command of 
 divisions, but he seemed to ignore them 
 until he got hard pushed. General C. P. 
 Stone, his chief -of-staff, was a clever officer, 
 but he set aside his opinions. He allowed 
 the enemy to bring on a battle on ground 
 over which the Army would have to pass 
 by a narrow road through a pine forest, 
 filled with a dense undergrowth, with no 
 room to handle men, much less to have a 
 dress parade of army wagons. The Army 
 could only march in very narrow columns. 
 
 General Banks cannot say he did not 
 know the position of the Army when he 
 brought on this battle, for Franklin had ex- 
 plained it all to him on his arrival at Pleas- 
 ant Hill, and he passed along the whole line 
 on his way to the front, where the cavalry 
 was fighting, and could not help seeing how 
 matters stood. 
 
 General Franklin was nominally in com- 
 mand of the Army when General Banks 
 joined him at Pleasant Hill, but the latter 
 went to the front without paying Franklin 
 the courtesy of saying he was going to take 
 command, and prepared to take all the glory 
 if he succeeded. From our knowledge of 
 the Army, it was evident that Banks was 
 not in accord with any of his generals. 
 They did not think him a good leader, to 
 commence with, and they certainly had no 
 reason to do so in the end. On his part, he 
 seemed to care little for them or for their 
 opinions. 
 
 Up to the time of Banks' arrival. General 
 Lee considered Franklin in command ; but 
 when Lee referred to some order he had re- 
 ceived from Franklin, Banks remarked, •' I 
 shall remain upon the field, General," with- 
 out saying whether or not he took command. 
 At all events, he gave such orders that his 
 presence much embarrassed Lee in making 
 arrangements. 
 
 It would appear, from evidence received 
 from different sources, that, after Banks' 
 arrival on the field. General Lee was allowed 
 the management of this affair, although 
 under the immediate command of General 
 
 Franklin. He waited for no order from the 
 latter, insisting on pushing ahead all the 
 time, though Franklin intimated that if the 
 enemy was in force in his front, he should 
 fall back upon the infantry, and that he, 
 Franklin, would not send him infantry sup- 
 port. In this Franklin was right; but it 
 would have been better had he gone to the 
 front himself, and taken a more decided 
 command in the first instance. It was not 
 desirable to bring on a general engagement 
 in the then condition of the Army ; and 
 when Franklin finally did send a division to 
 assist the fragments of brigades ordered to 
 the front by Banks, his main body of some 
 6,000 men were seven miles in the rear, and 
 fifteen miles back there were 8,000 more ; 
 while we know that, when Lee first called 
 for support, the enemy had in position 8,000 
 infantry, with some artillery, and nobody 
 could tell how many more in the back- 
 ground. 
 
 That the Federal soldiers did all that men 
 could do in this first engagement, no one 
 can deny ; but if Banks had tried to place 
 impediments in their way he could not have 
 succeeded better. Colonel W. J. Landrum, 
 commanding 4th brigade of Ransom's divi- 
 sion, in a report to that officer, says: " My 
 men have skirmished and marched through 
 bushes and thickets for eight or nine miles, 
 making in all a march of sixteen miles ; 
 they have no water, and are literally worn 
 out. Can you have them relieved soon ? 
 General Lee insists on pushing ahead." 
 
 When General Ransom arrived on the 
 field he found the road obstructed by the 
 cavalry train, and, after a great deal of 
 trouble, got through and arrived at the 
 front with his troops. He found the enemy 
 in force, a large body of infantry in line of 
 battle on the edge of the woods, and two 
 batteries of artillery about three-fourths of 
 a mile in front, while considerable bodies 
 of infantry were moving on the road lead- 
 ing to his right and rear. As Banks came 
 on the field, at 3 p. m., Ransom reported 
 to him, and from that moment Banks be- 
 came responsible for what occurred. 
 
 On the arrival of the 3d brigade, the posi- 
 tion of the 83d and 96th Ohio infantry were 
 assigned opposite to that recommended by 
 General Ransom, and in a place in which 
 they should never have been put. The in- 
 fantry on the right of the road were placed 
 in a nari'ow belt of timber, dividing two 
 large plantations, with open ground in 
 front and cultivated fields in the rear. 
 Nims' Battery was posted on a hill near the 
 road, two hundred yards to the left of the 
 belt of timber, and was supported by the 
 23d Wisconsin infantry. The 67th Indiana 
 supported the battery on the right, together 
 with the 77th and 130th Illinois, 48th Ohio, 
 19th Kentucky, 96th Ohio, a section of 
 
506 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 light artillery, and the 83d Ohio— m all, 
 ^,413 infantry. The cavalry and mounted 
 infantry under Lee were posted on the 
 flanks and rear, having Colonel Dudley's 
 brigade on the left, and Colonel Lucas' on 
 the right, with skirmishers deployed in 
 front of the infantry. 
 The enemy attacked this position at 4 
 His first line was driven back in con- 
 
 p. M. 
 
 fusion, but, recovering, he again advanced; 
 unable, however, to withstand the fire from 
 the Federal troops, the Confederates laid 
 down 200 yards in front and returned the 
 fire; at the same time a force was pressing 
 the Federal left flank and driving the 
 mounted infantry back. The 1st Indiana 
 and Chicago Mercantile Batteries had just 
 arrived on the field, and General Ransom 
 directed them to be placed near a house oc- 
 cupied as Banks' headquarters, where they 
 opened on the enemy, who had shown him- 
 self in strong force on the left flank, which 
 it was evidently his purpose to turn — a pur- 
 pose soon afterward accomplished after the 
 infantry were driven in and Nims' battery 
 captured. 
 
 This may be said to have been the turn- 
 ing-point of the battle, which was nearly 
 lost to the Federals. The infantry, gener- 
 ally, behaved with great gallantry. The 
 Chicago and 1st Indiana Batteries went 
 promptly into action, but were soon so cut 
 up that they were obliged to retreat, leav- 
 ing their guns in the hands of the enemy. 
 
 The fact is, the guns had to be abandoned, 
 because the cavalry wagon-train blocked 
 up the road against all operations from first 
 to last. Some went so far as to assert that 
 the said wagon-train was the cause of all 
 the disasters; and, although this may not be 
 literally true, the world will naturally in- 
 quire why, on the approach of a heavy en- 
 gagement, the wagons were not sent to the 
 rear. There were men enough to have 
 hauled them away had the horses been un- 
 able to do so. The fact is, the blame rests, 
 and always will rest, on General Banks' 
 conduct after he took command in person. 
 The disaster was due to his sending forward 
 small bodies of troops — which were defeated 
 in detail — to support the cavalry, which 
 should have been ordered to fall back until 
 the main army came up. 
 
 In this day's fight the Federals had but 
 7,000 men and 26 field-pieces, a very large 
 proportion of ordnance to the number of in- 
 fantry. The natural consequence was that, 
 when a retreat was ordered, the artillery 
 had to be abandoned for want of time to 
 force it through the obstructions of wagons 
 and bodies of infantry. 
 
 The 3d Division, 13th army corps, ar- 
 rived on the field in season to check the ad- 
 vance of the enemy; and General Franklin, 
 who came on the field in person, was 
 
 wounded by a fragment of a shell. This 
 check proved but temporary, and the retreat 
 of the Federals commenced. Their loss was 
 26 pieces of artillery, all the ambulances, 
 and 157 army wagons and their horses, with 
 the rations and forage of the mounted in- 
 fantry. 
 
 General Emory's corps got into action as 
 the evening was setting in, and checked 
 the advance of the enemy completely by 
 his masterly management, preventing a 
 disaster to the whole army. With their 
 superior numbers, and flushed with appar- 
 ent victory, the enemy could not dislodge 
 him from his position; while the discom- 
 fited regiments that had fallen back behind 
 'his corps were enabled to re-form. It was, 
 without doubt, Emory's corps that saved 
 the day, and prevented the Confederates 
 from gaining a substantial victory. 
 
 At about dark the enemy retired, to re- 
 joice over their success, and fill their can- 
 teens from General Lee's ample supply of 
 liquor. To make sure of their captures, the 
 Confederates unharnessed all the horses 
 from the wagons, and conveyed them and 
 the artillery to what they considered a 
 place of safety. 
 
 After this repulse. General Banks fell 
 back to Pleasant Hill with his whole force, 
 and was there joined by General A. J. 
 Smith, who had just reached that point 
 with his command. At Pleasant Hill the 
 army encamped to reorganize and repair 
 damages. 
 
 The great mistake in this battle was in 
 bringing the wagon -train to the front and 
 directing General Lee,if hard pushed, to fall 
 back on the infantry, apparently not realiz- 
 ing the danger of leaving all the train in 
 the enemy's hands. Banks had ample op- 
 portunity to redeem this error before rein- 
 forcing Lee and pushing the latter further 
 into danger, thereby bringing on a general 
 engagement, which it was desirable to avoid 
 in the then scattered condition of the Fed- 
 eral forces. General Franklin assigned this 
 as a reason for not complying with Lee's 
 request for reinforcements, and military 
 critics support him in this ; but it would 
 have been wiser to have sent a positive 
 order to Lee to send his wagon train to the 
 rear and to fall back when the main bodv 
 of the enemy was found in force. This 
 would have been sufiicient to have com- 
 pelled the obedience of this officer, who 
 was exhibiting a great deal of gallantry. 
 
 Banks says he expected the mounted 
 soldiers to be in front and the infantry close 
 behind; but there was no necessity for the 
 cavalry to have their wagons with them, 
 as each man could carry two days' rations 
 and forage on his horse, or a certain number 
 of wagons could have been dispatched each 
 night with rations for the day following. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 507 
 
 But lie the fault where it may, Banks met 
 with defeat and a loss of prestige from 
 whi«h the Army never fairly recovered in 
 that region; whereas, the Federals should 
 have gained a victory that would have ena- 
 bled them to hold that part of Louisiana un- 
 til the end of the war, and to plant the 
 Union flag in Texas — the latter a cherished 
 object of the Government. 
 
 The plan of invasion was a wild one, it is 
 true, but it came nearer success than many 
 hoped for when the expedition started. 
 
 As soon as the enemy had secured the 
 wagons and guns, they started in pursuit of 
 the Federal Army, which, having halted at 
 Pleasant Hill, was in a measure prepared to 
 receive them. At 3:30 P. M., on the 9th, the 
 enemy attacked the Federal forces with 
 great vigor. The Federal line of battle was 
 formed in the following order: 1st brigade, 
 19th corps, on the right, resting on a ravine; 
 the 3d brigade in the centre,and the 3d brig- 
 ade on the left. The centre was strength- 
 ened by a brigade of General A. J. Smith's 
 division, whose main force acted as a re- 
 serve. The enemy moved towards the 
 right flank of the army, and the 3d brigade 
 withdrew in good order from the centre to 
 support the first. A. J. Smith's brigade, in 
 support of the centre, moved into the posi- 
 tion vacated by the 3d brigade, and an- 
 other of A. J. Smith's brigades was posted 
 to the extreme left on a hill to the rear of 
 the main line. Shortly after 5 p. M., the 
 enemy had driven in the skirmishers and 
 attached in great strength, manceuvering 
 to force the Federal left. He advanced in 
 two heavy, oblique lines towards the right of 
 the 3d brigade, 19th corps, which, after a 
 determined resistance, fell slowly back to 
 the reserves. The enemy then attacked the 
 centre, which was also moved back to the 
 reserves; and the 1st and 3d brigades were 
 soon enveloped in front, right and rear. 
 By the skillful manceuvering of General 
 Emorj", the flanks of the two brigades now 
 meeting the enemy were covered, and the 
 Confederates received terrible punishment. 
 At the same moment, the latter came in con- 
 tact with the reserve under General A. J. 
 Smith ; where, already retreating, he ' was 
 met first by a volley and then a charge, led 
 by General Mower, which caused him to re- 
 treat more rapidly. All Smith's reserves 
 were ordered by Emory to join in the attack; 
 the whole Confederate army was put to 
 flight, and was followed by A. J. Smith's 
 division until night set in. 
 
 What happened at Pleasant Hill would 
 have happened at Sabine Cross Roads if 
 General Franklin on that occasion had 
 been allowed to postpone the engagement 
 until the infantry had had time to join the 
 troops in front. Had the fight at Sabine 
 Cross Roads been postponed forty-eight 
 
 hours, the Federal army would have been 
 victorious, and would, doubtless, have 
 reached Shreveport without further molest- 
 ation ; although what particular object 
 there was in going to that place does not 
 exactly appear. 
 
 General Banks was in command at Pleas- 
 ant Hill, and had acquired sufficient wis- 
 dom to send the greater part of his cavalry, 
 together with General Ransom's command, 
 which had been badly handled the day be- 
 fore, and all the baggage train that had 
 escaped, to the rear. In the hurry of the 
 moment, however, the medical train of the 
 19th corps was also sent off, much to the 
 annoyance of the medical officers, who, be- 
 fore night, had the most urgent need for its 
 contents. 
 
 The Federal position on the field of Pleas- 
 ant Hill was excellent, and the enemy should 
 not have moved the army one inch. The 
 little village of Pleasant Hill was situated 
 upon an eminence, the ground sloping in 
 all directions, and rising again to the west, 
 formed another eminence half a mile from 
 the village. On and about the crest of this 
 latter eminence, among trees and bushes 
 and behind fences, the Federal troops were 
 stationed in line of battle; the reserves in 
 waiting joining the village on the left — just 
 such a place as a general would like to 
 select on such an occasion. 
 
 General A. J. Smith's reserves at this 
 time, owing to absentees and the 3,500 
 men with the fleet of transports under Gen- 
 eral T. Kilby Smith, amounted to only 5,800 
 men, under the immediate command of 
 General Mower. "When the division ap- 
 peared upon the field under Mower, the 
 army had been forced back a considera- 
 ble distance and was in some confusion. 
 Colonel W. J. Shaw, commanding the 14th 
 Iowa infantry, 16th corps, had been brought 
 up in the. first place to reinforce the 19th 
 corps, and had been badly handled. As 
 Mower broke through the ranks of the re- 
 treating troops, the enemy's cavalry was 
 seen on the edge of a wood, where they had 
 been concealed, forming for a charge. They 
 swept rapidly forward across the field in 
 one of the most perfect cavalrv charges 
 seen during the war, and met as fatal a re- 
 ception as ever befel such a movement. 
 Colonel Shaw ordered his men to reserve 
 their fire until the horsemen were near 
 enough to receive the full force of it, and 
 the result was that fully half of the enemy 
 were dismounted and many horses dis- 
 abled. The remainder pressed headlong 
 on under a close and rapid fire until some 
 of them fell from their horses into the 
 Federal ranks. By this time the cavalry 
 regiment was liors du combat, and only a 
 small proportion of the men got back' to 
 their lines. 
 
608 
 
 THE NAVAL HISIVKV 
 
 After this the Confederate infantry ad- 
 vanced in double hne of battle with perfect 
 order, but with the result we have before 
 mentioned. 
 
 Notwithstanding the action at Pleasaiit 
 Hill was a victory for the Union Army, it 
 came near being a defeat, and would have 
 been so but for General Emory's strong 
 stand. "When the enemy's infantry ad- 
 vanced across the open field, Shaw's brigade 
 opened on them at a distance of 300 yards. 
 The enemy replied vigorously, and caused 
 a heavy loss. The first line of the enemy 
 retreated in disorder under Emory's fire, 
 while fighting continued on the Federal 
 left, which fell back so far as to allow the 
 Confederates to pass almost to its rear and 
 to nearly outflank the l)rigades of Benedict 
 and Shaw, driving Benedict's right into the 
 gap and inflicting severe loss. Benedict 
 was killed, and Shaw lost 500 men. 
 
 For a short time these brigades were 
 almost in the hands of the enemy, who 
 had pushed far in their rear. Had he been 
 bold enough to overwhelm the Federal 
 forces with his masses, which were steadily 
 pressing on, he could have done so. 
 
 Much of the fighting, where the Federal 
 troops were stationed, was in the midst 
 of a thick undergrowth, where the com- 
 manding oflBcers could hardly see what was 
 going on. At one time part of the troops 
 were between two bodies of the enemy, 
 and, with the latter in their rear, found it 
 better to hold their position than to attempt 
 a retreat. 
 
 General Emory, in his official report, says: 
 " The enemy emerged from the woods in all 
 directions and in heavy columns, completely 
 outflanking and overpowering my left 
 wing — composed of the 3d brigade and a 
 brigade of General Smith — which broke in 
 some confusion. My right stood firm and 
 i"epulsed the enemy handsomely, and the 
 left would have done so but for the great 
 interval between it and the troops to the 
 left, leaving the flank entirely exposed." 
 
 One might naturally inquire, why was 
 not all the artillery, which General Banks 
 sent to the rear, posted so as to protect these 
 exposed flanks of a long line of battle ? We 
 hear very little of artillery in connection 
 with the engagement at Pleasant Hill — only 
 where the 35th New York battery, of the 
 19th corps, opened upon the enemy's artil- 
 lery that commenced firing on Shaw's brig- 
 ade at the beginning. 
 
 The Federal troops fell back upon the re- 
 serves, being hard pressed by the rush of 
 Confederates, who seemed to get through 
 gaps and outflank tlie brigades in almost 
 every instance. The Union forces gener- 
 ally fell back in good order; and, if it was 
 intended that the enemy should be fought 
 in that way, the experiment turned out well 
 
 in the end, although the plan seems to have 
 been a hazardous one. 
 
 The reserves quietly waited for the time 
 when they should be called into service; 
 and, when the order was given, poured in 
 such a murderous fire that the Confed- 
 erates were checked immediately. Then 
 General Mower charged with Smith's men 
 into their midst, the other Union forces 
 keeping up a fire all along the line. This 
 was a great surprise to the enemy, who ap- 
 parently supposed they were carrying 
 everything before them, and, panic-struck, 
 they turned and fled in the utmost confu- 
 sion, throwing away their arms and accou- 
 trements. General Smith's victorious troops 
 followed close upon their heels, capturing 
 prisoners, arms and several pieces of artil- 
 lery, until darkness prevented any further 
 pursuit. 
 
 Had the mounted force been kept in re- 
 serve to act in conjunction with Smith's in- 
 fantry reserves, they would have killed or 
 captured half the Confederate army ; but 
 here was another great military blunder 
 committed. When most needed, they were 
 in the rear; and when little needed, as in 
 the previous engagement, they were sent 
 to the front to battle with infantry posted 
 in a thick wood ! 
 
 During part of this battle General Banks 
 had his headquarters at a large building in 
 the village, called "The Academy," while 
 General Franklin was senior oflBcer in the 
 field ; and, on the falling back of the Fed- 
 eral troops. Banks gave the order for the 
 trains in the rear to retreat; but, being soon 
 after informed of the complete victory the 
 troops had gained, he countermanded the 
 order, and directed everything to be pre- 
 pared for an early advance on the enemy 
 and on Shreveport. So the soldiers laid 
 down, amidst the groans of their wounded 
 comrades, to take a short repose preceding 
 their arduous labors of the following day. 
 
 General Emory's and A. J. Smith's com- 
 mands had entire possession of the field, 
 the enemy having retreated sixteen miles 
 without stopping, leaving the road strewn 
 with their arms and accoutrements. Some 
 of the best Federal artillery had been re- 
 captured, and the wagons were again in 
 Smith's possession, although the enemy had 
 carried off horses and harness. All that 
 was needed were some of the useless cav- 
 alry horses to drag the wagons within the 
 Federal lines to a place of safety. 
 
 The enemy had evidentlj^ retreated out- 
 right, as the victory was complete, and they 
 had thrown away such a quantity of arms, 
 etc., that it would be useless to try and 
 harass the Federals this side of Shreve- 
 port. Their first day's success against Lee's 
 mounted men and meagre supports of in- 
 fantry had given them an overweening esti- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 509 
 
 mate of their prowess, which was com- 
 pletely taken out of them at Pleasant Hill. 
 The falling-back of the Federal Army was 
 considered by them a plan for enveloping 
 them in a trap, and a more demoralized 
 army never left the field ; while the Federal 
 soldiers, with renewed prestige, were ready 
 to follow the enemy at all hazards. 
 
 What, then, was the surprise of the army, 
 next morning, to learn that an order had 
 been issued by General Banks to the divis- 
 ional commander to retreat to Grand Ecore. 
 It would be impossible to describe the dis- 
 gust of officers and men on the announce- 
 ment of such an order, and it gave color to 
 the report that the commander-in-chief was 
 badly demoralized. 
 
 Franklin had managed this last affair 
 with the exception of sending cavalry and 
 artillery to the rear, and though wounded 
 at Sabine Cross Roads he kept his saddle 
 during the entire day at Pleasant Hill, over- 
 looking the movements of his soldiers, 
 while Banks did not come upon the field 
 until the reserves under General Smith com- 
 menced driving the enemy, when he rode 
 up to this last-named officer and holding out 
 his hand, said, "You have saved my army, 
 General Smith, may God bless ycu for it !" 
 "No, sir," said Smith, sarcastically, "my 
 'ragged guerillas' did it." 
 
 If General Banks was held in estima- 
 tion outside of his staff, he must have 
 ceased to be so after giving the extraor- 
 dinary order for 35,000 troops to retreat be- 
 fore a routed and demoralized enemy of 
 16,000 men, a cii'cumstance almost without 
 a parallel in the history of war. The years 
 that have passed since these events have 
 scarcely softened the feelings of those who 
 participated in the humiliation of that re- 
 treat. When General A. J. Smith received 
 the order he was occupying the battle-field, 
 gathering up his wounded and endeavoring 
 to secure the trophies of war. He protested 
 against the order and urged an advance, 
 but Banks peremptorily directed him to re- 
 treat at once. Smith then begged the privi- 
 lege of remaining on the field to bury the 
 dead and care for the wounded; but this 
 was denied him, he had to abandon the 
 wounded and all that had been recaptured 
 from the enemy. 
 
 Imperative as were the orders General 
 Smith received, to retreat and leave his 
 wounded and dying in the hands of the 
 enemy, he determined to make a final effort 
 to carry out his plan of pushing on, before 
 obeying it. Smith was a brave, impulsive 
 soldier who cared little what he said or did 
 when his spirit was outraged, as on this oc- 
 casion. He knew better than Banks what 
 would occur in case of a retreat. He had a 
 large portion of his division in transports 
 with the Navv. whom he knew were struar- 
 
 gling to get to the place of rendezvous, where, 
 without warning, they were liable to attack 
 from 16,000 exasperated Confederates, armed 
 with the very artillery captured from the 
 Federals, and which they were now about 
 to leave in their hands to be used against a 
 victorious army. Scattered along the river, 
 then at a low stage of water, the gun-boats 
 and transports would naturally suffer great 
 loss, attacked as they would be at promi- 
 nent points everywhere. 
 
 Franklin and Smith both insisted that the 
 army should march to the relief of the forces 
 on the river; that it was but twelve miles to 
 the river; where communication could be 
 opened with the commanding officer of the 
 fleet, and the troops could have constant ac- 
 cess to water, for want of which they had 
 heretofore suffered dreadfully. But all was 
 without avail— the order still came to re- 
 treat. Smith, as a last resort, proposed to 
 Franklin that the latter should assume 
 command, put Banks under arrest, take 
 care of their wounded, bury their dead, and 
 push on to the point where they were to 
 meet the fleet, and after insuring the safety 
 of that part of the expedition, march upon 
 Shreveport, if that course was found to be 
 practicable. But Franklin, although he 
 might wish to see this plan carried out, 
 would not give his consent, and Smith with 
 the rest had to turn his back upon a retreat- 
 ing foe, while Banks gave the latter the 
 post of honor in the rear, to do the fighting 
 if any was required. 
 
 The surgeons were left on the field of 
 Pleasant Hill to do their best to alleviate 
 the sufferings of the wounded ; and the day 
 the army departed, these officers state that 
 the Confederates sent a flag of truce asking 
 permission to bury their dead, and learned, 
 much to their astonishment, that the Union 
 forces had abandoned everything after gain- 
 ing a complete victory! 
 
 It would appear that General Smith was 
 the only officer high in command who in- 
 sisted on a further advance toward Shreve- 
 port. General Franklin says: "For my 
 part, the only question was, whether the 
 army should remain at Pleasant Hill, or re- 
 turn to Grand Ecore, not that we should ad- 
 vance." The idea of an advance, after what 
 he had experienced of Banks' generalship, 
 was odious to him ; and the scattered con- 
 dition of the army required, in his judg- 
 ment, a rest of several daj^s to get the 
 forces together. 
 
 About midnight, after the battle of Pleas- 
 ant Hill, when he was resting under the 
 assurances which Banks had given liim, 
 that the army would advance next morn- 
 ing, an orderly came to him with orders 
 to fall back at 3 a. m. Utterly astounded, 
 Smith went to Banks to find out what it 
 meant. Banks nleaded the necessitv of a, 
 
510 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 retreat, on the ground of the general dis- 
 couragement of the officers of one of the 
 corps, the scarcity of commissary stores, 
 and the great losses hitherto sustained ; 
 as if the Confederates, who had been so 
 badly beaten, had not suffered more than 
 the Federal Army, and, in all probability, 
 would be scattered for some time to come. 
 It was after this interview with Banks that 
 Smith proposed to Franklin that the latter 
 should assume command of the army. 
 Franklin was then in his cot suffering from 
 the wound received at Sabine Cross Roads, 
 and was quite unaware of what had trans- 
 pired at Banlis' headquarters, and replied 
 to Smith's proposition: " Will you guaran- 
 tee that I will not be hanged after the expe- 
 dition is over, if I do take command ? " So 
 there the matter dropped. 
 
 If Smith had been second in command, 
 instead of Franklin, he would, without 
 doubt, have arrested Banks, and assumed 
 command. Few people have attributed the 
 right motives to General Smith in making 
 this proposition to Franklin. We believe no 
 one was more intimate with Smith than the 
 author of this work ; and the statements 
 made to him were without reserve. It was 
 not from a spirit of insubordination that 
 General Smith made his proposition, but be- 
 cause he thought such a course necessary 
 for the safety of the army, which was suf- 
 fering from the presence of its commander- 
 in-chief. It so happened that Banks did give 
 up the command to Franklin soon after, 
 at Grand Ecore, and abandoned the army, 
 although Franklin was suffering so greatly 
 from his wound as scarcely to be able to sit 
 on his horse. 
 
 General Smith felt somewhat differently 
 from the other division commanders, for he 
 came flushed with victory from the battle- 
 field, where he had left his dead and 
 wounded, while the others had met with 
 serious reverses, although aiding largely in 
 the final defeat of the Confederates, Their 
 killed and wounded were close to where 
 they halted for the night, while Smith was 
 compelled by positive orders to leave his 
 wounded in the hands of the enemy after 
 as complete a victory as ever an army 
 won. Smith well knew what construction 
 would be put upon this shameful retreat, 
 without any attempt to aid the naval part 
 of the expedition, supposed by him to be 
 at the mercy of the Confederates, who 
 would use the captured guns against the 
 fleet, from point to point, Avith fearful ef- 
 fect. The old soldier actually shed tears 
 in his chagrin and mortification at being 
 thus forced to abandon the results of a 
 victory. 
 
 As soon as General Taylor heard of 
 Banks' retreat, he issued a general order, of 
 which the following is an extract : 
 
 "In spite of the strength of the enemy's position, 
 held by fresh troops of the 16th corps, your valor 
 and devotion triumphed over all. The morning of 
 the 10th instant dawned upon a flying foe with our 
 cavalry in pursuit, capturing prisoners at every 
 step!!" 
 
 Although in this there was a good deal 
 of that exaggeration which characterized 
 General Taylor, perhaps it was natural 
 under the circumstances, when he found 
 the Federal Army actually retreating after 
 having beaten him. The facts, however, 
 are that Taylor was some miles distant 
 from the battle-field at the time Banks 
 started to return to Grand Ecore. The Con- 
 federate army was scattered in all direc- 
 tions, and the "cavalry" he mentions, as 
 capturing prisoners, existed only in his 
 imagination. 
 
 He knew nothing of the movements of the 
 Federal Army until the return of the flag 
 of truce that had been sent to request of 
 Banks permission to bury the dead. On 
 hearing that the medical officers and the 
 dead and wounded were the only ones re- 
 maining on the battle-field, he may have 
 sent what cavalry he could muster to cap- 
 ture them; but, during its return to Grand 
 Ecore, the Union Army was not molested in 
 tlie least, moving in as good order as if on 
 an ordinary march. This circumstance 
 shows that the soldiers were not demor- 
 alized, and that Banks should, at least, 
 have remained at Pleasant Hill until the 
 dead were buried, the wounded brought in, 
 and the recaptured artillery and wagons 
 taken from the field. 
 
 On the 11th, the army reached Grand 
 Ecore, and we do not think any one was 
 much surprised to find that the gun-boats 
 and transports had not returned. The gen- 
 eral belief was that they would never 
 return, but would succumb to an army of 
 16,000 men well supplied with captured ar- 
 tillery, which could pour their fire from the 
 high banks of the narrow and shallow 
 stream right on the decks of the vessels — 
 often from positions where the guns of the 
 war vessels could not reach them. 
 
 On the 12th instant, the heavy guns of 
 the fleet were heard firing rapidly, and 
 everybody knew then that the Confeder- 
 ates were taking advantage of Banks' re- 
 treat and were falling back on the river to 
 destroy the transports. On the 13th, the 
 firing still continued, and was heard plainly 
 at Grand Ecore, every one wondering why 
 no movement was made by the Army to 
 go to the assjistance of the fleet; and the 
 indignation at Banks' inactivity was ex- 
 treme, especially among the 16th corps, 
 A. J. Smith's command, who, having been 
 for some time associated with the Navy, 
 felt great sympathy for their old friends. 
 
 Colonel Shaw urged General Smith to al- 
 low him to go to the Navy's assistance, if 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 511 
 
 only with a thousand men; but the Gen- 
 eral told him it could not be done without 
 an order from General Banks. No troops 
 were sent until the squadron and all the 
 transports had reached a point three miles 
 above Grand Ecore, where they had been 
 closely followed by hundreds of guerillas, 
 who, like famished wolves, hoped to obtain 
 possession of some of them. 
 
 These ferocious natives seemed to take no 
 rest by day or night while in pursuit of the 
 vessels, firing on them from high overhang- 
 ing banks, from behind levees or trees, or 
 from deep rifle-pits. From these places un- 
 erring marksmen sent their murderous bul- 
 lets, laying low almost every man who left 
 the shelter of the protecting cotton bales 
 used as barricades. 
 
 The vessels had to move slowly and in 
 order along the shallow, narrow channel, 
 enduring the perpetual fire of the sharp- 
 shooters as best they could, the flag-ship 
 bringing up the rear, to see that no trans- 
 ports were left behind or neglected. There 
 were over forty-five vessels to be looked 
 after, and, fortunately, all were brought 
 safely back to Grand Ecore, though not 
 without loss in men. 
 
 Three miles above Grand Ecore the lead- 
 ing vessels grounded, and those in the rear 
 piled up behind them, offering a fine target 
 for the enemy's sharp-shooters, who soon 
 caught up and closed in around them, firing 
 from concealed places where artillery could 
 not reach them. The booming of cannon 
 was heard from Grand Ecore, but no assist- 
 ance was sent to drive off the Confederates 
 and stop the sacrifice of life, until the flag- 
 ship " Cricket," being of very light draft, 
 passed the shoals and pushed on to Grand 
 Ecore. Only then were cavalry and infantry 
 sent to drive away the enemy's sharp- 
 shooters, who clung like wolves to their 
 prey. 
 
 Even for this relief the Navy and the 
 transports were indebted to General A. J. 
 Smith, who, being the nearest commanding 
 ofiicer at hand, dispatched his troops to the 
 aid of the Navy without waiting for orders 
 from General Banks. 
 
 We now return to the gunboats and trans- 
 ports which had started to return down the 
 river from Springfield Landing, as soon as 
 it was felt certain that Banks was retreat- 
 ing, pushing on in good order, as rapidly as 
 the intricacies of the river would permit. 
 
 The gunboats were distributed equally 
 among the transports to protect the latter 
 as much as possible, and the commanding 
 officers were directed not to permit the 
 transports to tie up to the bank without per- 
 mission. General Kilby Smith in his head- 
 quarters' steamer brought up the rear of his 
 transports, while the Admiral, in the stern- 
 
 wheel gun-boat "Cricket," moved up and 
 down along the line, as occasion required, to 
 preserve the prescribed order. 
 
 Thus the fleet proceeded at the rate of a 
 mile or two an hour, until they arrived at 
 Conchatta Chute on the 11th, where Gen- 
 eral Kilby Smith received dispatches from 
 Banks, notifying him that he was falling 
 back, and directing Smith to return at once to 
 Grand Ecore and report. General Banks did 
 not pay the Admiral the courtesy of inform- 
 ing him what had happened, although he 
 must have known that the Navy was guard- 
 ing his transports, and that they could not 
 well proceed without its aid. Before leav- 
 ing Springfield, a letter, dropped by a Con- 
 federate scout, was picked up, informing 
 General Dick Taylor that the transports 
 had from six to ten thousand soldiers on 
 board, and were accompanied by four gun- 
 boats, this force being for the purpose of 
 flanking him. 
 
 This idea of the enemy stood the expedi- 
 tion in good stead, for, perhaps, had Taylor 
 known there were only 1,800 effective 
 soldiers, the transports would have been at- 
 tacked sooner than they were. 
 
 On the way up the river, the fleet had 
 met with little opposition from the enemy, 
 although parties of soldiers were frequently 
 seen retreating. On one occasion, Colonel 
 Warren's brigade landed at a point three 
 miles above Conchatta Chute and captured 
 a captain and one private. This captured 
 officer had been charged to destroy all the 
 cotton along the Red River as the Union 
 forces advanced. 
 
 On the return it was seen that this design 
 had been carried out, for the charred re- 
 mains of many thousand bales, worth mil- 
 lions of dollars, were scattered along the 
 banks of the river, all of which the Confed- 
 erates might have saved if they had pos- 
 sessed a little practical wisdom. They 
 might have knoAvn that the Union forces 
 could not stop to collect this cotton, unless 
 successful, and that it was only in very 
 exceptionable cases that they destroyed it. 
 
 Although on the way down "the Red" River 
 the fleet had been frequently annoyed by 
 sharp-shooters, they had received no mate- 
 rial damage, as the soldiers in the transports 
 wei-e protected by bales of wet hay, bags of 
 oats, and other defences impervious to rifle 
 bullets, while the shrapnel thrown by the 
 gun-boats seemed to have a quieting effect 
 on the Confederates; but after getting be- 
 low the Chute it was evident that the en- 
 emy's forces were rapidly augmenting, and 
 the shots, which at first came not unlike the 
 light patter of rain, increased to a heavy 
 shower, and all felt that they were about to 
 experience the wrath which the enemy 
 could not expend on the army. 
 
 There was not so much fear for the gun- 
 
513 
 
 THE NAVAL JiJUlUKr 
 
 boats as for the transports, which, although 
 well protected against rifle-shots, were not 
 prepared to cope with artillery. 
 
 Pleasant Hill Landing is but ten miles 
 below Conchatta Chute, although the wind- 
 ings of the river make the distance by water 
 much greater. Ten miles back from Pleas- 
 ant Hill Landing is Pleasant Hill, then 
 occupied by the army of General Tay- 
 lor, who, notwithstanding his vainglorious 
 boasts of the operations of his cavalry, had 
 not yet assembled a corporal's guard of 
 horsemen, and very little artillery. Alto- 
 gether he may have had collected about 
 5,000 men to dispute the passage of the 
 vessels down the river. 
 
 An active Confederate officer, named 
 Harrison, had crossed the river in the rear 
 of the fleet with 1,900 mounted men and 
 four or five pieces of artillery, with orders 
 to plant his batteries in the most favorable 
 places and cripple the fieet as much as pos- 
 sible from the left bank. The Federals saw 
 this party before reaching Conchatta Chute, 
 and sending a few 11-inch shrapnel in their 
 direction, they gave no more trouble for the 
 time being ; But it was considered certain 
 that Harrison must plant his batteries three 
 miles below Pleasant Hill Landing, which 
 proved to be the case. 
 
 To this latter point the Admiral dis- 
 patched one of the heaviest iron-clads and 
 two gun-boats, mounting some ten guns, 
 under Lieutenant - Commander Watson 
 Smith, with orders to prevent the erection 
 of any batteries until all the transports had 
 passed; but Harrison, who could go across, 
 while the gun-boats had to follow the long 
 bends of the river, arrived first, and posted 
 his guns on a high bluff in a dense under- 
 growth, where he could fire down upon the 
 decks of the transports, and whence it was 
 difficult to dislodge him. 
 
 The Admiral was in the rear when he 
 heard the firing commence, and he pushed 
 ahead to superintend operations in that 
 quarter, leaving General Kilby Smith and 
 some of his transports behind, under the 
 guns of the iron-clad •' Osage," Lieutenant- 
 Commander Self ridge, and the " Lexing- 
 ton," Lieutenant Bache. 
 
 As circumstances occurred at this time 
 of which we wish to be the impartial narra- 
 tors, we will first give the report of Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Selfridge, commanding the 
 little iron-clad "Osage," who. for the time, 
 had the '■Lexington " also under his orders. 
 Selfridge reported that he had taken the 
 '■ Black Hawk " — late General Banks' head- 
 quarters' vessel — alongside the "Osage," 
 for the purpose of helping the iron-clad to 
 turn the bends of the river. The " Osage " 
 had got aground just above a turn, the 
 " Lexington " was not far oflf, and Lieuten- 
 ant Bache was visiting the " Osa>2e." 
 
 All the transports, with one exception, 
 had passed down the river ahead of him, 
 and Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge had 
 just turned the "Osage's" bow up stream, 
 when a body of troops, over 3,500 strong, 
 emerged from a dense wood near the bank. 
 Many of the men were mounted, but these 
 soon dismounted and tied their horses. 
 
 From their new blue overcoats, Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Selfridge took them for 
 Union soldiers, but he soon discovered 
 their true character, and ordered Lieutenant 
 Bache to drop down the river, in the "Lex- 
 ington," a short distance, to enfilade the 
 enemy. 
 
 The Confederates opened fire on the two 
 vessels, with several pieces of artillery, 
 from a hill about a quarter of a mile distant, 
 and forming their 2,500 men into three 
 ranks, attacked the "Osage" with the 
 "Black Hawk" lashed to her. The "Black 
 Hawk " had on board about forty soldiers 
 of General Kilby Smith's command, par- 
 tially protected by bags of oats and bales 
 of hay. The enemy's volley drove the sol- 
 diers below ; and some of them being 
 wounded, and it being useless to remain 
 where they were, Lieutenant-Commander 
 Selfridge ordered all hands on board the 
 " Black Hawk " to take refuge in the safe 
 hull of the "Osage." 
 
 Now commenced one of the most remark- 
 able conflicts on record — between a bullet- 
 proof iron-clad and a brigade of infantry, 
 which continued for an hour. At the 
 commencement of the battle, the trans- 
 port before-mentioned ran up the river to 
 avoid the enemy's fire, and the "Osage," 
 "Lexington," and "Black Hawk" were 
 the only vessels present. The latter vessel 
 was riddled with bullets, and all hands 
 would have been killed had they not made 
 their escape to the "Osage." Officers ex- 
 amined the vessel the day after, and there 
 was not a place six inches square not per- 
 forated by a bullet. 
 
 The "Osage" secured a good position 
 abreast of the main body of the enemy, and 
 poured in grape, canister, and shrapnel 
 from her 11-inch guns, mowing the enemy 
 down by the dozen at every fire. The latter 
 seemed to know no fear ; as fast as one file 
 was swept away, another took its place. 
 
 The commanding officer of the Confeder- 
 ates, General Thomas Green, of Texas, who 
 had served at San Jacinto and in the Mexi- 
 can war. mounted on a fine horse, led his 
 troops up to the bank, and encouraged 
 them to pour in their fire, which they did 
 incessantly, never less than 2,500 muskets 
 firing at once upon the "Osage."' The 
 wood-work of the latter was cut to pieces, 
 but the danger from bullets passing through 
 the iron was very little. 
 
 "While this was going on, the "Lexing- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 513 
 
 "ton " enfiladed the enemy with shell from 
 her 8-inch guns, disabling the entire gun- 
 hattery. The fight had continued nearly 
 an hour, and the determination of the en- 
 emy seemed unabated, when Lieutenant- 
 Commander Selfridge aimed one of his 
 heavy guns, loaded with grape and canis- 
 ter, and fired it within twenty yards at a 
 leading officer, whose head was blown clear 
 from his shoulders by the discharge. The 
 enemy, having had enough of this kind 
 of fighting, retreated in confusion to the 
 woods, leaving the ground covered with 
 their dead and wounded. 
 
 Four of the latter crawled to the river 
 for water, and were taken on board the 
 ''Osage," and well cared for. These men 
 informed Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge 
 that the party who had attacked him were 
 new regiments from Texas ; that they had 
 been led to believe that the gun-boats could 
 easily be captured, and that General Green 
 encouraged them so by his example that 
 they would have fought to the last man had 
 not the General fallen- 
 Lieutenant - Commander Selfridge could 
 only survey the battle-field from the river, 
 but he estimated the loss of the enemy at 
 about 700 in killed and wounded; and from 
 later information was satisfied that it even 
 exceeded that figure. 
 
 Selfridge conducted this affair in the hand- 
 somest manner, inflicting such a punish- 
 ment on the enemy that their infantry 
 gave no more trouble, having come to 
 the conclusion that fighting with muskets 
 against iron-clads did not pay. To say 
 nothing of the loss in men inflicted upon 
 the enemy, the "Osage" had killed the 
 best ofiicer the Confederates had in this 
 quarter ; who, judging from his energy on 
 this occasion, would have given no end of 
 trouble had he lived. 
 
 Lieutenant Bache managed the " Lexing- 
 ton " beautifully, and did great execution 
 with the 8-inch guns, though less exposed to 
 the infantry bullets than the " Osage." The 
 latter was a fortunate circumstance, as her 
 men might otherwise have been driven 
 from the guns, so intense was the fire. 
 Notwithstanding the heavy peppering the 
 "Osage" received, and the destruction of 
 wood-work, the vessel was just as efficient 
 for battle as before the action. 
 
 Had not General Green's brigade been 
 handled so severely, it was the intention of 
 the enemy to have attacked the transports 
 below, and the terrible punishment the 
 "Black Hawk" received is good evidence 
 of what would have happened to the 
 others. The transports would have doubt- 
 less been driven on shore and great con- 
 fusion would have prevailed. 
 This affair was considered a naval fight 
 
 the army had but a very small share. 
 Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge made a 
 report to the Admiral, stating the facts as 
 above narrated; and although General 
 Kilby Smith makes a claim of having been 
 under a very hot fire as he passed down, 
 his vessels were uninjured, and no one 
 heard of any killed or injured. Had Gene- 
 ral Kilby Smith's command been subjected 
 to a heavy fire, his vessel's hull would 
 have presented the same perforated appear- 
 ance as did that of the "Black Hawk." 
 
 It is a delicate matter to undertake to 
 call in question the report of an officer, 
 especially one belonging to a different 
 branch of the service, and it is done in this 
 instance with great reluctance. After the 
 Red River expedition, the Admiral wrote to 
 General A. J. Smith eulogizing General 
 Kilby Smith in the highest terms, giving 
 him credit, on his own showing, for a great 
 deal of bravery and hard fighting, which, 
 according to Selfridge, never took place. 
 
 In justice to General Kilby Smith, how- 
 ever, we will permit him to tell his own 
 story. All that is known of the affair is * 
 from Lieutenant - Commander Selfridge's 
 written report at the time, General Smith 
 merely makmg the Admiral a verbal report 
 sometime afterwards. 
 
 Here is what General Smith told the 
 "Committee on the Conduct of the War," 
 in regard to the battle, of which we have 
 given Selfridge's account: 
 
 ii,^^,*^® -^^^^ °^ "^P""^' ^ sailed at 7 o'clock a.m. from 
 the Chute. Upon arriving at a point ten miles below 
 the Chute, the enemy opened upon my boats doino- 
 more or less damage to all of them. I found myself 
 entirely environed. General Liddell -was on one 
 side of the river with a force of 2,500 men and a 
 battery ; on the other was a force variously esti- 
 mated at from 30,000 to 40,000, flushed with their 
 recent victory over General Banks' command The 
 river was very narrow, very tortuous, and very dif- 
 ficult of navigation at all times, and especially dif- 
 ficult at the very low stage of water which then ob- 
 tained, and with the class of steamers which I had 
 under my control. The bottom of the river was 
 snaggy, and the sides bristling with cypress logs and 
 sharp, hard points. 
 
 At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th 
 u XI Pf- ' *^? J^heel of my headquarters' boat, the 
 ^^r'^^^'^^H\^^V^^. ^°* o'^* °f order, I ran under 
 the bluff of the bank with the view of making re- 
 pairs. At that time the "Ahce Vivian," a heavy- 
 draft boat with three hundred and seventy-five 
 cavalry horses on board, was lying aground midway 
 m the stream The "Black Hawk," General Banks- 
 headquarters' boat, was (owing the gun - boat 
 " Osage " a short distance below. The "Vi^-ian" 
 signalled for assistance, and I ordered the "Clara 
 Bell" to report to her. The "Clara Bell" failing 
 to move her, I ordered up the "Emerald." At that 
 time the steamer "Rob Roy," with four heavy 
 siege-g;uns upon her forecastle, ran astern of the 
 
 Black Hawk," and at this moment the enemy 
 with a brigade about 3,000 strong, under the imme- 
 diate command of General Tlios. Green of Texas 
 with a 4 gun battery, formed upon the 'bank, and 
 put their pieces in battery withm point-blank 
 range of the "Hastings," the nearest boat. The 
 
514 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORF 
 
 ■were lying at the opposite bank, half-a-mile off. I 
 ordered the " Hastings " to oast off, and just as we 
 got underway the enemy's batteries opened upon 
 us, the first shot falling a little short, and the others 
 over us. Their practice being defective, we escaped 
 •without serious damage ; and directly getting out of 
 range, and taking a good position upon the oppo- 
 site shore, I opened upon them with one section of 
 Lieutenant Tiemeire's battery, one gun of which 
 was mounted upon the hurricane-deck of the " Em- 
 erald," the siege-guns upon the forecastle of the 
 "Rob Roy," and the howitzer from the hurricane- 
 deck of the " Black Hawk." (My guns had more 
 range than the enemy's.) Very soon we killed the 
 battery horses of the enemy, and they changed 
 position rapidly, moving their guns up by hand. 
 Meanwhile their sharp-shooters had deployed and 
 sheltered themselves behind the timber that Uned 
 the banks of the river, pouring in an incessant fire. 
 My soldiers were all upon the hurricane-decks, pro- 
 tected by cotton bales, bales of hay, and stacks of 
 oats, covered with soldiers' blankets, upon which I 
 had turned the hose of the steamboats to keep 
 them constantly wet, and which proved sufficient 
 foil against rifle-bullets, and enabled them to mark 
 the enemy with a deadly aim. After the fight com- 
 menced, the "Osage" rounded the point, and, 
 with the other gun-boats, opened upon the enemy, 
 rendering me essential service. By sundown we 
 had silenced the enemy's batteries, and, shortly 
 after, they fied from the field, leaving many of their 
 dead, among them General Green, who had his 
 head blown off." 
 
 General Kilbj^ Smith says, on offering 
 Admiral Porter's letter to A. J. Smith, prais- 
 ing his conduct, for the inspection of the 
 " Committee on the Conduct of the War :" 
 " The Admiral v^ras not thoroughly posted in 
 regard to the battle I fought at Pleasant 
 Hill Landing, because the data had not 
 come in at the time. We left 700 of the en- 
 emy dead on the ground. Green was killed 
 by a canister shot from a steel Rodman 
 (;j-inch), mounted on the hurricane-deck of 
 the 'Emerald.' " 
 
 Smith's report that he fought a battle is 
 so positive, and Selfridge's report is so posi- 
 tive that the former w^as not in the fight, 
 that it was difficult to reconcile the dis- 
 crepancy. Selfridge, who was long under 
 the Admiral's command, always made cor- 
 rect and matter-of-fact reports, giving to 
 every one a due share of praise. We can- 
 not see why he should act differently on 
 this occasion. 
 
 Unsolicited, the Admiral wrote in Kilby 
 Smith's favor as handsome a letter as he 
 could, and does not wish now to detract 
 anything from the credit justly due that 
 officer. He must leave it to him and to 
 Captain Selfridge to settle between them 
 the facts of the case The Admiral hav- 
 ing conferred with the latter officer re- 
 cently, and shown him the report of Gen- 
 eral Smith, of which he has never before 
 seen or heard, the annexed letter will speak 
 for itself : 
 
 Newport, R. I., June 2d, 1880. 
 Admiral D. D. Porter, Washington^ D. C. 
 
 Dear Sir: Fifteen years have elapsed since the 
 fatal repulse of a portion of the rebel trans - 
 
 Mississippi forces under their General Green, by the 
 gun-boats "Osage" and " Lexington " of your fleet, 
 and for the first time 1 have learned of the report of 
 General Kilby Smith, before the " Committee upon 
 the Conduct of the War,'' in which he claims for the 
 transports under his command the principal merit 
 of the victory. 
 
 The fight took place at what was known as Blair's 
 plantation, and in saying it was essentially a gun- 
 boat fight, no reflection is cast upon the portion of 
 A. J. Smith's division embarked on the transports, 
 because it was never designed they should engage a 
 powerful force from their steamers; nor were the 
 latter capable of a prolonged engagement, such as 
 actually took place, from the unprotected condition 
 of their hulls. 
 
 The facts of the fight are briefly these : On the 
 afternoon of April 11th, we first learned of the re- 
 pulse of Banks' army at Sabine Cross Roads, which 
 forced the return of the transports and of the fleet 
 under your command. You directed me (at that time 
 in command of the light-draft Monitor ' ' Osage "j 
 to bring up and protect the rear. 
 
 The river was very low, and the swift current in 
 the bends made the " Osage " almost unmanageable 
 while descending. For this reason, the next morn- 
 ing, April 12th, Unshed the transport "Black Hawk" 
 on my starboard quarter, and by her assistance 
 made the descent successfully, till late in the after- 
 noon, when we grounded on the point opposite 
 Blair's plantation Our bow was therefore pointed 
 down stream, and our starboard broadside opposite 
 the right bank, which was 30 feet high and 100 yards 
 distant. The transports had necessarily passed 
 down, as my position was in the rear. Seeing my 
 situation, Bache, of the "Lexington," which had 
 stopped near by, came on board. We had been for 
 some time vainly trying to get the " Osage " afloat, 
 when the pilot of the "Black Hawk," who, fromhis 
 elevated position, could see over the bank, reported 
 a large force issuing from the woods, some two miles 
 back. I ascended to the pilot-house, and from their 
 being dressed in Federal overcoats thought they 
 were our troops; but soon their movements — dis- 
 mounting and picketing their horses — convinced me 
 they were enemies. I accordingly descended, made 
 all preparations for battle, and directed Bache to 
 go below with the "Lexington," and take up an en- 
 filading position. 
 
 Then commenced one of the most curious fights 
 of the war, 2,500 infantry against a gun -boat 
 aground. The battery unlimbered some hundred 
 yards below and abreast of the " Lexington," which 
 opened upon it with her port broadside, while I sent 
 a few raking shells from the "Osage " in the same 
 direction. Compelled to plant their guns close to the 
 edge of the bank in order to reach us, on account of 
 the low stage of the river, they could not long main- 
 tain the situation, and soon retired with the loss of 
 one gun dismounted. 
 
 By this time my attention was wholly directed to 
 the attack upon my own vessel. The rebels came 
 rapidly across the fields in column of regiments, so 
 the pilot of the "Black Hawk " reported, who alone, 
 from his elevated position, could see beyond the 
 bank. So rapid was the advance that this pilot, in- 
 tent on watching them, stayed too long, and dared 
 not leave the protection of the iron shields of the 
 pilot-house, and so accurate was the fire, that after 
 the fight no fewer than 60 bullet marks were counted 
 upon the shield, behind which the poor fellow was 
 hiding. 
 
 1 loaded our two 11-inch guns with canister, ele- 
 vated just to clear tbe top of the right bank, and 
 as the heads of the first line became visible, fired. 
 
 One regiment would come up, deliver its fire, then 
 fall back under cover, and another advance. Itwas 
 necessary to carefully reserve our fire until the 
 rebels were about to fire, or our shots would have 
 gone over them to the rear, a condition of affairs 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 515 
 
 which made gun-boat firing very inaecui-ate at a 
 low stage of water. 
 
 The fire of 3,500 rifles at point-blank range, min- 
 gled with, the slow, sullen roar of our two great 
 guns, was something indescribable. No transports 
 of wood could have stood such a terrible fire; the 
 few soldiers on the "Black Hawk " sought refuge 
 on the " Osage," while the frightened crew of the 
 steamer stowed themselves in her hold. During the 
 three-quarters of an hour that this singular com- 
 bat lasted, I had expended every round of grape 
 and canister, and was using shrapnel with fuzes 
 cut to 1", when the firing suddenly ceased, and the 
 enemy drew off. During the latter part of the en- 
 gagement I noticed an officer on a white horse, some 
 200 yards below the troops, and aiming one of our 
 guns at him, when the smoke cleared away saw 
 him no longer. I learned after, that the officer 
 killed was their General Green. The rebel loss 
 was reported at 700, while ours was only seven 
 wounded. The destructiveness of the " Osage's " 
 fire, delivered at point-blank range, was much in- 
 creased by an ingenious device by which I could 
 personally aim the guns from the outside of the 
 turret, and thus have a clear view of the field, 
 which would have been impossible had I remained 
 inside. The wood-work of the "Black Hawk "and 
 " Osage " was so pitted with bullet holes, that it is 
 no exaggeration to say that one could not place 
 the hand anywhere without covering a shot-mark. 
 
 These are the prominent facts. It is very certain 
 no transports were in sight from my decks; they 
 may have been a little below, concealed by the bend, 
 but too far to have had any influence upon the re- 
 sult, the whole brunt of which feUupon the "Osage." 
 The battery unhmbered abreast of the "Lexing- 
 ton," and was driven off by her fire. No better 
 proof of the absence of General Smith's transports 
 from the fight can be cited than the fact that none 
 of them, except the "Black Hawk," showed any 
 marks, while she was literally riddled with bullets. 
 There might have been a small gun on the "Black 
 Hawk," but it was never fired. As to the siege-guns 
 on the exposed forecastle of the " Rob Roy," if fired, 
 it was at too long range to have been of any service. 
 
 The importance of this engagement cannot be 
 over-estimated, for though they had practically 
 possession of both banks of Red River, the rebels 
 hardly molested us during the remainder of our 
 descent as far as Alexandria, excepting the time 
 when they attempted to intercept you by planting 
 batteries against the "Cricket," bearing your flag, 
 and which were so gallantly nm by. 
 I remain, yours truly, 
 
 Thos. O. Sblpbidge, 
 
 Commander, TJ. S. If. 
 
 It was nearly dusk when the battle ended, 
 and little could be seen except the numer- 
 ous dead and wounded lying on the field. 
 From the prisoners it was learned that Gen- 
 eral Liddell, with 5,000 infantry and artil- 
 lery, was only two miles away and had held 
 back, owing to the shot and shell from the 
 
 fun-boats falling in his ranks and killing 
 is men. Had this force come up it would 
 have fared worse than the other, for the 
 Admiral had come up with a reinforcement 
 of gun-boats to enfilade the whole bend, 
 and ten thousand men would have stood 
 no chance against their fire. 
 
 The Admiral had landed above the Harri- 
 son Battery a short time before the attack 
 from above commenced, and from the top 
 
 nf Q +all i-.-rc^a ixrQC! on rloQ ^rnvin fr i.r\ maVo mit; 
 
 with his glass the position of the enemy's 
 guns and the probable number of his men. 
 At first he paid little attention to the firing 
 up river, thinking the gun-boats were shell- 
 ing the woods to drive away the sharp- 
 shooters ; but the heavy rattle of musketry 
 soon apprised him that something serious 
 was transpiring, and, descending from his 
 perch, pushed up the river in the '' Cricket "' 
 to see what was the matter. He soon met 
 General Kilby Smith coming down, and 
 knowing that Selfridge could take care of 
 himself in case of further attack, returned 
 to his original position, directing General 
 Kilby Smith to form his transports in order 
 at once, and be ready to pass the lower bat- 
 tery as soon as he was notified it could be 
 done with safety. 
 
 By 10 p. M. all the vessels were in line, 
 none of them much damaged excepting the 
 "Black Hawk," which looked as if pitted 
 with small-pox ; and from the effects of the 
 enemy's fire on this vessel it may be im- 
 agined how badly the transports would have 
 fared but for the gun-boats "Osage" and 
 " Lexington," to which General Kilby Smith 
 gives in his report the following faint 
 praise: "The 'Osage' and other gun-boats 
 opened upon the enemy, rendering me es- 
 sential service." (!) 
 
 The Red River expedition was emphatic- 
 ally a united service affair, in which Army 
 and Navy should have shared in whatever 
 credit was gained, and there was not a sailor 
 in the fleet who would have withheld one 
 iota of praise due to the soldiers, or who 
 would not have risked his life to extricate 
 them from any difficulty in which they 
 might become entangled; but even the best 
 of the Army did not always do justice to the 
 Navy on such occasions as this, and, if not 
 actually misrepresenting matters, they saw 
 them through colored glasses. 
 
 As far as could be learned, about 700 of 
 the enemy were killed in this engagement, 
 which is very likely an under - estimate, 
 considering the terrible fire to which the 
 Confederates were exposed ; and the Navy 
 esteemed themselves fortunate — as sailors 
 looked upon the matter — in the death of so 
 brave and enterprising a leader as General 
 Green, who had displayed a heroism worthy 
 of a better cause. 
 
 Had General Banks halted at Pleasant 
 Hill until the 11th, and then sent General 
 A. J. Smith's command to Pleasant Hill 
 Landing, distant but twelve miles by a good 
 road, he would have given the latter officer 
 time to bury his dead, collect his wounded, 
 and bring in the artillery and wagons re- 
 captured from the enemy, besides being on 
 hand to cover the transports at the point 
 where they were most likely to be attacked. 
 As it turned out, the affair proved a victory 
 
 fr\r tliA T^a.w • "fnr Viarl it nnt. Kaati -fm* f.bo 
 
516 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 gun-boats, not a transport would ever have 
 returned to Grand Ecore. As it was, very 
 few of the army expected to see them re- 
 turn ; and it was only by the unceasing 
 vigilance of the naval officers, in keeping 
 the transports in position and pushing them 
 on as rapidly as possible, that all were 
 taken safely down to Pleasant Hill Land- 
 ing. 
 
 We do not remember another instance 
 where a large army has retreated through 
 a hostile country, and saved their trans- 
 ports and munitions of war. On this occa- 
 sion the chances were all in the enemy's 
 favor, as there never were such obstacles as 
 were met with in the down-voyage of the 
 transports: shoals at every hundred yards, 
 snags innumerable, and sharp-shooters at 
 all the elevations. We think it not too 
 much to assert that the Navy owed its re- 
 markable preservation, under Providence, 
 to their own good management and perse- 
 verance. 
 
 After assembling the fleet above the Har- 
 rison Battery, the Admiral strengthened the 
 pass with additional gun-boats, and all the 
 transports went safely by, not a shot hav- 
 ing been fired at them. The gun-boats kept 
 up such a shower of shell, grape and can- 
 nister on the woods, that no land artillery 
 could withstand their fire. The fiag-ship 
 remained behind to bring up the rear, and 
 at daybreak in the morning it was found 
 that the " Iberville," a large transport 
 steamer that had caused much trouble by 
 frequently grounding, had been abandoned 
 and left in the inud below Pleasant Hill 
 Landing. All her stores had been removed, 
 and she was all ready for the Confederates 
 in case they required such a vessel. Soon 
 after removing her cargo, however, the 
 vessel went floating down river broadside 
 on ; and, as there was nobody on board, the 
 flag-ship took her in tow and she was safely 
 delivered to her master and crew, so noth- 
 ing was left behind for the enemy to exult 
 over. 
 
 After passing the Harrison Battery the 
 fleet experienced little trouble beyond the 
 constant fire of sharp-shooters along the 
 river. The flotilla having learned a lesson 
 from the fight at Pleasant Hill Landing, and 
 comprehending the necessity of preserving 
 a compact order, did their best to maintain 
 it, and the fleet advanced much faster — too 
 fast, in fact, for any large body of artillery 
 to overtake it, the only thing from which 
 much danger was to be apprehended. 
 
 Below Pleasant Hill Landing the trans- 
 ports grounded so frequently that it was 
 not until noon of the 13th that they reached 
 the little village of Campte, about twenty- 
 four miles by water from the Landing, aiid 
 about half as far by land. Keeping in the 
 rear to push along the stragglers, the flag- 
 
 ship did not arrive at Campte until 4 p. m., 
 and there found the gun-boats and trans- 
 ports in complete confusion, and many of 
 them aground. As the gun-boats could 
 take care of themselves, they were merely 
 directed to proceed to Grand Ecore as soon 
 as they could get afloat. 
 
 General Kilby Smith now communicated 
 with the Admiral, and informed him that 
 the Confederates were firing on his trans- 
 ports, from a hill about two miles back from 
 the river, with two pieces of artillery. 
 There was no evidence of this while the 
 Admiral was at Campte ; in General Kilby 
 Smith's evidence before the Committee on 
 the Conduct of the War, he makes the fol- 
 lowing remarkable statement: 
 
 " At noon the enemy planted two guns on the other 
 side of the river [which side ?], and opened upon 
 the fleet. We lay under shell for five hours. Admi- 
 ral Porter, with the most effective gun-boats, hav- 
 ing taken the advance, had reached Grand Ecore in 
 safety. The ' Osage ' and ' Lexington ' were the only 
 effective gun-boats left with me from the Navy. The 
 ' Lexington ' was a wooden boat of very heavy draft, 
 and of little or no service." 
 
 The facts are that the heaviest iron-clads 
 were at that very time behind the transports, 
 and not in the advance; the " Lexington " 
 and " Osage," the most efficient vessels, 
 were in good position among the trans- 
 ports, and were sufficient to silence any 
 ordinary artillery. The " Lexington " 
 mounted ten 8 -inch shell-guns and the 
 "Osage" two 11-inch, and the "Lexington," 
 so far from being, as General Kilby Smith 
 asserts, " of very heavy draft, and of little 
 or no service," was the onlj' large vessel of 
 the fleet that did not get aground. She and 
 the "Osage" were the only gun-boats in 
 the fight at Pleasant Hill Landing, against 
 2,500 men and a park of artillery, and it 
 would be strange indeed if they could not 
 take care of two pieces of artillery! The 
 Admiral was with the transports half-an- 
 hour, during which time there was no artil- 
 lery fire, and none was ever reported to him 
 by any of his officers. The first he knew 
 of any serious construction being put upon 
 the firing was from reading the above quo- 
 tation. There was some musketry fire going 
 on, but not a vessel in the fleet was struck 
 with shell or rifle-shot, notwithstanding 
 the five hours' fire to which General Kilby 
 Smith says they were exposed. 
 
 The vessels at Campte were so mixed up 
 that the fiag-ship had difficulty in getting 
 through them and alongside General 
 Kilby Smith's headquai'ters' vessel. Seeing 
 that there was no prospect of the transports 
 getting off that night, and thinking that 
 the Confederates might assemble during 
 the darkness in greater force, the Admiral 
 informed the General that he would run 
 down to Grand Ecore, which he could do 
 in half-an-hour, and induce General Banks 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 517 
 
 to send troops up on both sides of the river. 
 With this, General Kilby Smith was much 
 pleased, although he had not much idea 
 that General Banks would pay attention to 
 a message after plainly hearing an inces- 
 sant fire of musketry for hours, to which he 
 gave no heed, although only four miles 
 distant. 
 
 The "Cricket" carried every pound of 
 steam the boilers would bear, and only 
 stopped a few moments to shell out some 
 Confederates hidden in a house, who fired 
 upon her as she was passing. At 5 p. m. the 
 Admiral was on the levee at Grand Ecore, 
 where the first person he met was General 
 A. J. Smith, who shook his hand heartily 
 and exclaimed: "D — n it, old fellow, I 
 never expected to see you again !" In a few 
 words the Admiral explained to him how 
 matters stood at Campte, and requested 
 him to send up some cavalry and infantry 
 at once. The troops were ready, for Smith 
 had been expecting orders from Banks to 
 send them, so now the former dispatched 
 them at once on his own authority — 700 
 cavalry and 1,000 infantry; the latter under 
 the gallant Colonel Shaw, and they soon 
 cleared the river banks of any Confederates 
 lurking in that quarter. 
 
 On the 15th, all the vessels arrived safely 
 at Grand Ecore in good condition, excepting 
 some little damage from running into snags 
 and into each other. As the sailors say, 
 they had not lost a rope-yarn on the expe- 
 dition, and the casualties, all told, did not 
 exceed fifty men, with very few killed. So, 
 notwithstanding General Kilby Smith's ex- 
 ceptions, we are firm in our belief that 
 the vessels were well managed, and whether 
 the gun-boats were or were not "efficient" 
 must be left to the reader to decide. 
 
 As soon as the Admiral saw the troops 
 well underway up river, he mounted his 
 horse and proceeded to call on General 
 Banks. 
 
 As the Admiral entered the General's 
 tent, he was reading by the light of a lamp. 
 " Admiral," said the General, "you inter- 
 rupted me in the most pleasing occupation 
 of my life. I was just reading ' Scott's 
 Tactics.'" The Admiral could not help 
 thinking that he should have read it before 
 he went to Sabine Cross Roads. 
 
 He told the General he was sorry he had 
 been unsuccessful, and asking him what 
 were his plans for the future, found him 
 quite indignant at the idea of any one 
 hinting that he had been beaten. " Why, 
 sir," he said, "we gained a glorious vic- 
 tory, and sent the enemy fiying in all direc- 
 tions !" "Then, what are you doing here. 
 General ?" inquired the Admiral, " This is 
 not the road to Shreveport." "Why," re- 
 plied the former, " I found that there was 
 no watfir in tha.t, countrv. and I had to fall 
 
 back here to obtain water for my troops 
 and animals." 
 
 The Admiral suggested that the troops 
 could have obtained all the water they 
 wanted by marching only twelve miles to 
 Pleasant Hill Landing; but General Banks 
 seemed well satisfied with what he had 
 done, and told the Admiral he intended to 
 continue his march to Shreveport by the 
 river road, keeping the transports in sight. 
 
 The Admiral informed Banks that this 
 course was now out of the question, as the 
 river was falling so rapidly that the expedi- 
 tion would have as much as it could do to 
 get from Grand Ecore to Alexandria, and 
 then it was doubtful if the vessels could 
 pass over the " Falls ;" but the General in- 
 sisted that a rise in the river would soon 
 take place, and he would be able to march 
 on Shreveport in a few days. 
 
 Notwithstanding this conversation, he 
 commenced intrenching and fortifying his 
 camp on the 16th inst. 
 
 We must now turn to General Steele's 
 movements. On the 1st of April, General 
 Steele's army, which was intended to co- 
 operate with Banks, was at Arkadelphia, 
 waiting for General Thayer to join it. The 
 same day, the army moved fourteen miles 
 to Campte, and thence to Washington. 
 Near the latter place it encountered the 
 Confederate Generals, Marmaduke and Ca- 
 bell, with a good-sized force, and, after con- 
 siderable manoeuvring, Steele, while turn- 
 ing his army southward, was attacked in 
 the rear by General Shelby near the cross- 
 ing of the river. The enemy, although at- 
 tacking with great bravery, were repulsed 
 with heavy loss. 
 
 On the 3d of April, Steele's entire com- 
 mand crossed the Little Red River at 
 Elkins' Ferry — a movement so skillfully 
 planned and so promptly executed that the 
 enemy only by accident learned of it after 
 it was accomplished. General Thayer had 
 not yet joined Steele, having been delayed 
 by bad roads, for the heavy rains made ter- 
 rible work for the army, causing the route 
 to be almost impassable, so that it was 
 necessary to corduroy it. Thayer at length 
 arrived, and crossed the Little Red River 
 on a bridge constructed by the soldiers. 
 
 On the 10th of April the army moved 
 to Prairie, where Price, the Confederate 
 General, had determined to make a final 
 stand at the point he had chosen ; two 
 branches diverge from the main road to 
 Shreveport — one going to Washington, the 
 other to Camden. Here some artillery 
 firing took place which lasted until night- 
 fall. After dark the enemy made a desper- 
 ate effort to capture the Federal guns, but 
 were repulsed with heavy loss, and retreated 
 to their fortifications of earth and timber, 
 a mile lone:, commandinsr the Washine-ton 
 
518 
 
 THE NAVAL ±n:sruKy 
 
 road. On the 12th of April, Steele turned 
 the enemy's left flank and the latter fled 
 to Washington, followed by the cavalry 
 sent by General Steele to make the enemy 
 believe the army was following in their 
 rear, instead of which it took the road to 
 Camden. Much time was spent in crossing 
 the Terre Rouge bottom, which had to be 
 corduroyed for miles, and several bridges 
 constructed. During all this time the rear- 
 guard under General Thayer was subjected 
 to numerous attacks by the Confederate 
 General Dockray, who was always repulsed. 
 
 Fighting- their way foot by foot, with the 
 Confederate forces in front and rear, Steele's 
 army entered Camden on the 15th and found 
 the place strongly fortified, so as to be im- 
 pregnable against any force the enemy 
 could bring to bear. Steele was now only a 
 hundred miles from Shreveport, and could 
 get all the supplies necessary by boats on 
 the Washita River. In fact, he could have 
 held on here until Banks reached Mans- 
 field. 
 
 But at Camden some captured Confed- 
 erate dispatches gave the information of 
 Banks' backward movement, which was 
 soon confirmed by other intelligence. On 
 the 18th, a forage train sent out by Steele 
 was captured by the enemy, the first dis- 
 aster occurring during Steele's long march 
 through a difficult country swarming with 
 the enemy's troops. On the 20th, a supply 
 train arrived from Pine Bluff and was sent 
 back on the 22d, escorted by a brigade of in- 
 fantry, four pieces of artillery, and a proper 
 force of cavalry. On the 25th, news was 
 i-eceived that the train had been captured 
 and the colonel in command of the escort 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 Before this time the Confederates had 
 learned that Banks had retreated to stay, 
 and General Kirby Smith with 8,000 Con- 
 federates had joined General Price, and 
 the combined forces were marching upon 
 Steele's position. Under all the circum- 
 stances, with no hope of being joined by 
 Banks, General Steele wisely concluded to 
 evacuate Camden and fall back. 
 
 On the night of April 26th the army crossed 
 the Washita and marched towards Little 
 Rock, by way of Princeton and Jenkins' 
 Ferry, on the Sabine. On the 27th, a pon- 
 toon bridge was thrown across the Sabine at 
 the latter point, and the army reached Lit- 
 tle Rock, and it was learned that General 
 Fagan, with fourteen pieces of artillery and 
 a large force of infantry, was moving up 
 the river to attack Little Rock. 
 
 The combined forces of Confederates, un- 
 der Price, made the attack, and were re- 
 pulsed with great slaughter, losing a large 
 part of their artillery and munitions of 
 war. Steele held on for a few days longer 
 to see if Price would make another attack, 
 
 and then took up his line of march and 
 joined the Army of the Tennessee. 
 
 It does not require much military knowl- 
 edge to see how much better Steele's 
 expedition was managed than that of 
 Banks'. Steele's army, unaccompanied by 
 transports and depending entirely on their 
 trains for supplies, marched more than 
 three hundred miles over the worst roads 
 possible, with an active enemy harass- 
 ing them at every step. Their difficulties, 
 indeed, were far too numerous to mention 
 in this short sketch. Whenever Steele was 
 attacked, he defeated the enemy; and the 
 only mistake he appears to have made was 
 in sending back an empty wagon-train to 
 be captured instead of retaining it with the 
 army. General Steele was a soldier who 
 knew his business, and he was supported 
 by Generals Rice, Solomon, Carr, and 
 Thayer, who inspired their men with their 
 own martial spirit. They outwitted the 
 Confederates as well as outfought them on 
 every occasion ; and we only regret that the 
 dispatches sent off by General Banks in a 
 gun-boat did not reach General Steele in 
 time to save the large wagon-train captured 
 by the enemy. 
 
 But to return to affairs on Red River. 
 When it was found that Banks would prob- 
 ably retreat to Alexandria, the Admiral got 
 the "Eastport" and other large vessels 
 over the bar at Grand Ecore, and directed 
 them to proceed to Alexandria, while the 
 "Lexington" and "Osage" were detailed 
 to convoy the transports, and see them safe 
 to Alexandria, when they were ready to 
 move. 
 
 On the 16th of April, the Admiral received 
 a dispatch from Lieutenant -Commander 
 Phelps, reporting that the " Eastport" had 
 been sunk by a torpedo eight miles be- 
 low Grand Ecore. The Confederates had 
 planted numbers of these along the river, 
 but as they had hitherto done no damage, 
 the Navy paid little attention to them. 
 
 When the Admiral reached the "East- 
 port," he found her resting on the bottom, 
 with her gun-deck above water. Hasten- 
 ing to Alexandria, he sent up two pump- 
 boats, with orders to Lieutenant-Commander 
 Phelps to take out everything that would 
 lighten the vessel, and 'felt sure that the 
 "Eastport" would soon be afloat again. 
 He was detained a day in Alexandria, mak- 
 ing a new disposition of the naval forces on 
 the Mississippi and its tributaries. 
 
 During his absence up Red River the mas- 
 sacre at Fort Pillow had occurred, in conse- 
 quence of the policy pui-sued of not properly 
 garrisoning the strong points, where sc 
 much blood and treasure had been expended. 
 
 There were two small gun-boats at Fori 
 Pillow at the time, which did their part, but 
 the garrison could make but feeble resist- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 519 
 
 ance. The " Essex," " Benton," " Choctaw," 
 "Lafayette," "Ouchita." and "Avenger" 
 were sent to secure the fort against further 
 attacks. 
 
 The " Eastport " was much more shattered 
 by the explosion than had been imagined. 
 Lieutenant - Commander Phelps and his 
 officers worked with a will to save this val- 
 uable vessel, and more energy and deter- 
 mination were never evinced. Phelps was 
 satisfied, if time were allowed, that the 
 "Eastport" would be floated off all right. 
 As the Admiral had so far met with no mis- 
 haps, he did not wish to resort to blowing 
 up the "Eastport," to prevent her falling 
 into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 On his return to Grand Ecore he found 
 the army quite excited at the news that they 
 were going back to Alexandria, though the 
 different divisions were ordered "to be in 
 readiness to march against the enemy !" 
 
 At noon of the 20th, General A. J. Smith's 
 division marched out on the road to Nachi- 
 toches, and were kept for some time under 
 arms. 
 
 All kinds of rumors were flying about: 
 first that the cavalry had been driven in; 
 then that the Confederates were advancing 
 on Banks' position with 40,000 men, when 
 everybody must have known that they 
 could not assemble 16,000. 
 
 Every one was now convinced that Banks 
 had not the slightest intention of advan- 
 cing, and was planning a retreat, calling 
 forth all the objections to an advance that 
 he could in order to justify his course, and 
 to say that his desire to advance on the 
 enemy was overruled ! 
 
 Admiral Porter had already told him that 
 he could not now advance, if "he depended 
 on the gun-boats and transports ; but he 
 never advised him to leave Grand Ecore. 
 
 General A. J. Smith's division was ad- 
 vanced four miles towards the enemy, who 
 seemed to be in force, and, although not 
 strong enough to attack the Union position, 
 would, in a retreat, no doubt, harass the 
 rear. In fact, it shortly appeared that A. J. 
 Smith's "ragged guerillas," as Banks had 
 called them, were now to have the honor of 
 protecting the General in his retreat. 
 
 Seeing that some move was in contempla- 
 tion, the Admiral sent an officer to General 
 Banks to ask if the report was true that he 
 Tvas going to move to Alexandria. If so, he 
 requested one more day in which to float 
 -the " Eastport." To this message, the Gen- 
 eral sent a reply that he had no idea of 
 moving. 
 
 The Admiral then called on General 
 Franklin — sick in his cot — who asked if 
 Banks had notified the Navy that he was 
 going to retreat. The Admiral said "No,'" 
 but that he had noticed that all the trans- 
 ports were moving down river, and that 
 
 one of the largest gun-boats was aground 
 below. 
 
 Franklin then assured him that he had 
 orders to move at a moment's warning, and 
 that Banks did not wish any one to know 
 he was going, as he wanted the largest gun- 
 boats kept at Grand Ecore, so that they 
 could cover his rear as he moved off. 
 
 At first the Admiral thought that Frank- 
 lin was prejudiced against Banks and mis- 
 judged him, knowing there was no cordial- 
 ity between those officers ; but on a subse- 
 quent interview Franklin gave such assur- 
 ances that Banks intended to leave him, 
 and urged him so strongly to look out for 
 himself, that the Admiral determined to fol- 
 low his advice. 
 
 The gun-boats could take cai'e of them- 
 selves ; but the condition of the "Eastport" 
 was a great cause of uneasiness; so the Ad- 
 miral proceeded at once to that vessel and 
 informed her commander that he must get 
 away from the vicinity of Grand Ecore at 
 all hazards, as the Confederates would oc- 
 cupy it immediately on the departure of the 
 Union forces, and be able to concentrate a 
 heavy artillery fire on him while working. 
 
 The leak in the "Eastport" had been so 
 far overcome that steam was raised and the 
 vessel only rested slightly on the bottom. 
 
 The Admiral returned to Grand Ecore and 
 found that Banks had left with the advance 
 of the army in the night for Alexandria, 
 leaving General Franklin in command of 
 the main body, with orders to follow him. 
 So that Franklin was virtually in command 
 until the army reached Cane River. 
 
 The evacuation left Grand Ecore in the 
 solitude of a wilderness. A. J. Smith's 
 division marched at 7 a. m., on the 22d, so 
 hastily that they left behind a quantitj- of 
 stores and some siege-guns, which were 
 brought down by the fleet. 
 
 All the transports were gone, and the 
 flag-ship "Cricket" and another small gun- 
 boat were all that was left after the depart- 
 ui-e of the Grand Army, which had entered 
 the Red River country so joyfully and was 
 now retreating before an inferior force. 
 
 We do not think the enemy knew of the 
 departure of the Union Army until a consid- 
 erable time had elapsed, as there were no 
 signs of them at Grand Ecore, not even a 
 musket was fired at the army as it marched. 
 The Admiral had had an interview with 
 General Banks in relation to General Steele, 
 in which he reminded the former that this 
 was intended as a co-operative movement 
 between the two armies; that Steele, ad- 
 vancing in confidence to meet Banks and 
 not hearing of the latter's return, would fall 
 into a trap, as the Confederates could con- 
 centrate all their forces against him and 
 perhaps defeat his army. 
 
 Banks' army was over a hundred miles 
 
o;au 
 
 in a direct line from Steele, as the crow 
 flies, and twice that distance by the crooked 
 roads and rivers, all the intermediate coun- 
 try swarming with Confederate troops. 
 
 As it was hardly possible to communicate 
 with Steele in any other manner, the Gen- 
 eral proposed sending one of the fast naval 
 dispatch steamers down the Red River, up 
 the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers, thence 
 via Little Rock to Camden, Arkansas, a 
 distance of over live hundred miles. A mes- 
 senger was sent accordingly, but whether 
 he got to his destination is not known. 
 
 Nothing could better demonstrate the 
 absurdity of this co-operative movement 
 upon Shreveport than the fact, that at no 
 time since the expedition started had the 
 commanders of the two armies communi- 
 cated with each other. A glance at the map 
 will show that from the first these armies 
 were to advance upon Shreveport at right 
 angles with each other, and without the 
 probability of communicating until they 
 made a junction at or near that place, while 
 the points from which they started were 
 over 500 miles apart, and Steele's army had 
 to make slow marches on account of bad 
 roads and the difficulty of obtaining sup- 
 plies. 
 
 Hence it was impossible for them to move 
 in harmony as regards time, and next to 
 impossible for one to notify the other of 
 any detention that might occur. 
 
 The whole idea was in violation of the 
 rule of war that two armies co-operating 
 with each other should be in constant com- 
 munication. 
 
 This co-operation might easily have been 
 effected if Steele had marched to Columbia, 
 La., through a much better country than 
 the one he passed through. On arriving at 
 Columbia, he would have been within 
 eighty miles of General Banks, and could 
 have been supplied with stores by way of the 
 Washita River, where the gun-boats could 
 have protected his transports and added to 
 the strength of his artillery. 
 
 The two armies could have been put in 
 communication near Mansfield, one on each 
 side of the Red River, and the Confederates 
 would have retreated to Shreveport without 
 resistance. 
 
 As it was, the enemy had the opportunity 
 of attacking each army in detail, and turn- 
 ing them back whence they came, making 
 this one of the most disastrous campaigns 
 of the war. 
 
 From all we can learn, the enemy took 
 up a position to oppose the Union troops at 
 the crossing of Cane River. 
 
 Franklin gave orders to attack the enemy 
 early the following morning; but, sufl^ering 
 greatly from his wound, transferred the 
 command to General Emory, who made the 
 necessary disposition of the troops. 
 
 In the morning the 1st division attacked 
 the enemy directly in front, while the cav- 
 alry made a demonstration on the right, 
 and General Birge with a picked force pre- 
 pared to turn the enemy's left. 
 
 After some sharp fighting General Emory 
 carried the enemy's position with a loss of 
 400 men. 
 
 In the meanwhile the enemy had attacked 
 General A. J. Smith, who brought up the 
 rear; but all their efforts were frustrated by 
 the vigilance of that brave soldier, who ad- 
 ministered a severe punishment to the en- 
 emy and took many prisoners. Before 1 P. m. 
 the enemy had all been scattered. 
 The Confederates having retreated, General 
 Smith advanced four miles and camped for 
 the night, in readiness for any further at- 
 tack, the 16th corps being within support- 
 ing distance. 
 
 On the 24th of April, the enemy saluted the 
 Union troops with several shells, in order to 
 feel their position, and afterwards drove in 
 the cavalry pickets. Finally they charged 
 on the rear with a yell, but were driven, 
 back with loss. 
 
 Up to the 25th, General Emory was kept 
 busy in repulsing the numerous attacks of 
 the enemy, which he did with little loss. 
 There were skirmishes at Henderson's Hill 
 and other points, but the army was now 
 directed with intelligence by a good Gen- 
 eral, and on the 26th and 27th the whole 
 force marched into Alexandria in excellent 
 condition and went into camp. 
 
 From Cane River the road to Alexandria- 
 diverged from Red River, and, of course, 
 the transports and "Eastport" could expect 
 no further support from the Army. The 
 Admiral had, therefore, to depend upon 
 his own resources for getting back to Alex- 
 andria, but would not have cared much, 
 about it could he have moved more rapidly. 
 But he was so hampered by the " Eastport"' 
 that he felt sure of meeting resistance be- 
 fore the fleet could get down. The guns 
 and stores of the " Eastport " had been put 
 into a large lighter, the vessel fitted with a, 
 number of siphon pumps in addition to 
 those she already had, and on the 21st April 
 she started in tow of the two pump-boats. 
 
 The first day the '"Eastport" made forty 
 miles down the river, but at 6 P. M. she 
 got out of the channel and grounded ; and 
 now commenced the most serious difficul- 
 ties of forcing her over the bars and other 
 obstructions so numerous in Red River, and 
 which were so little known that there was 
 small hope of saving the iron-clad without 
 some help from the Army, which would 
 probably not be given. 
 
 It would be impossible to convey an ade- 
 quate idea of the proceedings from the 21st 
 to the 2i5th of April, during which time the 
 efforts of Lieutenant - Commander Phelps, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 621 
 
 and the officers and men of that little squad- 
 ron, were devoted to the saving of this valu- 
 able iron-clad. 
 
 Phelps and his command worked day and 
 ni^ht, almost without rest, in the hope of 
 getting the vessel to Alexandria. Once or 
 twice she sank, and had to be pumped out 
 again, then she would get aground on the 
 logs and snags. It was necessary to keep 
 her decks and those of the pump -boats 
 crowded with men to do the necessary work, 
 including carrying out hawsers at nearly 
 every bend in the river. 
 
 The party had been anticipating for sev- 
 eral days to be attacked by infantry and ar- 
 tillery, and we cannot to this day imagine 
 why it was not done, unless the enemy ex- 
 pected to get the vessels into a position 
 where no resistance could be made, and 
 capture the whole squadron. 
 
 The "Eastport" had grounded eight or 
 nine times, and at last got so hard and fast 
 upon the logs at a place called Montgomery, 
 that all efforts to move her were in vain. 
 After spending a night in useless labors, and 
 ascertaining, by sounding, that a few yards 
 ahead was another bed of logs with still less 
 water, Lieutenant Commander Phelps re- 
 luctantly admitted that there was nothing 
 to do but blow the "Eastport" up. 
 
 The Admiral had stayed by the vessel as 
 long as there was the slightest possibility 
 of getting her down, thereby risking the 
 capture of the little squadron, and he ac- 
 ceded to the proposition to destroy her. 
 Phelps had ^ot the "Eastport" sixty miles 
 down the river, and sixty more would 
 have put her at Alexandria, but the Army 
 was also that distance off, and the reports 
 were that the Confederates were harassing 
 its rear in every way, so one might naturally 
 expect when the Union troops reached Alex- 
 andria that all the Confederate forces would 
 be concentrated against the little flotilla. 
 
 To oppose them there were but three light- 
 draft gun-boats — called "tin-clads"— f or the 
 ' 'Eastport " had no guns on board. The pros- 
 pect was certainly not very encouraging. 
 
 The following extract of a letter from 
 Lieutenant-Commander Phelps will be in- 
 teresting in this connection : 
 
 "The command of the ' Eastport ' has been to me 
 a source of great pride, and I could not but deplore 
 the necessity for destroying her. The act has been 
 the most painful one of my official career. She was 
 the finest vessel of your squadron, and one of the 
 bestpossessed by the Government. 
 
 " lour order to nie to proceed to destroy her, in 
 ■which you commend the zeal displayed by myself 
 and officers and crew in our efforts to save her, not 
 only relieved me from all responsibility, but was 
 also grateful to my feelings both as a man and as 
 an officer. 
 
 "I desire, further, to express to you my grateful 
 sense of your forbearance in ordering the destruc- 
 tion of the vessel when yourself convinced of the 
 impossibility of saving her, in yielding your judg- 
 ment to my natural anxiety to exhaust every means 
 
 that seemed to offer a hope of success. I fear that 
 your forbearance led to greater difficulties, both for 
 your squadron and yourself, than ever the saving 
 of the ' Eastport ' would justify. This conscious- 
 ness added largely to my anxiety for your safety 
 when separated froin you by the accidents of the 
 action which took place on the evening after her 
 destruction, when I had every reason to apprehend 
 the worst." 
 
 The most thorough preparations to de- 
 stroy the " Eastport" were made, the boilers, 
 cylinders and engine-room being filled with 
 powder, as was also every enclosed space 
 about the hull of the vessel. Then trains 
 were laid to have a simultaneous explosion 
 in every part. When everything was ready 
 and some forty barrels of gunpowder await- 
 ing ignition, the Admiral pulled off a short 
 distance to witness the explosion, while 
 Phelps, from his boat alongside, applied the 
 match, and shoved off; but he had hardly got 
 headway on his boat before the ship blew 
 up, shattering her to fragments. 
 
 The Admiral and Phelps were fortunate in 
 escaping with their lives, for the fragments 
 fell in all directions around them, though 
 no harm was done to any one. 
 
 The Confederates, who heard the explo- 
 sion, must have thought an earthquake had 
 taken place ; for in that narrow river, in- 
 closed by high banks, the jar seemed as if 
 everything would shake to pieces, and the 
 trees bent, as if a tornado had passed over 
 them. 
 
 Of course, the enemy made for that point 
 with all dispatch ; and, although the offi- 
 cers were always on the look-out, the attack 
 came sooner than was expected. 
 
 The vessels had dropped down about 
 three hundred yards from the " Eastport," 
 and the little flag-ship, the "Cricket," was 
 lying at the right bank ; when, just after 
 the former vessel blew up, she was attacked 
 by a heavy force of infantry from the right 
 bank. From their concealed position they 
 poured a fire into all the vessels of over 
 twelve hundred muskets and rifles, and 
 then rushed to board the " Cricket." 
 
 Fortunately one watch was always kept 
 at the guns, prepared for any emergency, 
 and the men were under cover of the bul- 
 warks ; so that, with the exception of splin- 
 tering wood-work and smashing glass, little 
 damage was done by the fire. 
 
 A fire of grape, canister, and shrapnel 
 soon drove the enemy back. One man, 
 who could not get away, surrendered him- 
 self prisoner, and informed the Admiral 
 that the present force was only the advance 
 of some six thousand artillery and infantry 
 that would give him a warm reception fur- 
 ther down. The naval force now consisted 
 of the "Cricket" and "Juliet," each car- 
 rying six small guns, and the " Fort Hind- 
 man," eight guns, mixed battery — "tin- 
 clad " gun - boats only musket - proof — to- 
 gether with two pump-boats. "Champion" 
 
523 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 and " Champion No. 5," entirely unpro- 
 tected. 
 
 Tlie " Champion "' was lashed to the " Ju- 
 liet," and the "Champion No. 5" followed 
 the squadron. 
 
 They had proceeded twenty miles down 
 the river, the "Cricket" leading, and the 
 vessels in close order, when it was noticed, 
 about one hundred yards from the river, on 
 a high bluff at a bend, that some men were 
 moving in the bushes ; and the commander 
 ordered a shrapnel shell fired in among 
 them from a 12-pounder howitzer, always 
 in readiness on the upper deck. The shell 
 burst in the midst of the enemy, whom, it 
 now appeared, were posted in force ; and 
 the vessels approached within about twenty 
 yards of the shore, when nineteen shells 
 
 During this time the enemy were raking 
 the '• Cricket" fore and aft ; but, supposing 
 that she was disabled so as to be in their 
 power, thev turned their attention to the 
 •' Juliet." close behind, with such effect that 
 she drifted down under the bank, where no 
 guns could be brought to bear upon her. 
 
 In the meantime the " Cricket" had suc- 
 ceeded in getting around a long, narrow 
 neck of land, and found herself in the 
 enemy's rear. Having got a fresh crew to 
 the gun on the upper deck, and remanned 
 two of the other guns with " contrabands," 
 the fire was directed with such effect that 
 the enemy were driven from their guns, 
 and the "Juliet" escaped up the river in 
 tow of the " Champion." 
 
 In the four minutes the "Cricket" sus- 
 
 ATTACK ON THE "CEICKET" BY 2,500 CONFEDERATES, UNDER GENERAL GREEN. 
 
 crashed through the vessel from concealed 
 artillery, shattering the "Cricket" in all 
 her parts. 
 
 The Admiral immediately hastened to 
 the pilot-house, and entered the door just 
 as a bursting shell wounded the pilot, and 
 killed all the guns' crew forward. By this 
 time the engine had stopped ; but the cur- 
 rent, running at the rate of four miles per 
 hour, was bearing the "Cricket" rapidly 
 down stream. Going below, the Admiral 
 found the engineer had been killed with his 
 hand on the throttle-valve, and as he ex- 
 pired he had shut off the steam. Steam 
 was turned on, and the engine once more 
 started. 
 
 The gun-deck was covered with dead and 
 wounded, and all but one of the guns was 
 disabled. In the fire-room all the firemen 
 were Ixors du cotnbat. 
 
 tained the enemy's fire, she had twelve 
 killed and nineteen wounded, most of the 
 latter severely. She was sti'uck thirty-eight 
 times with shell, which generally burst in 
 small fragments, otherwise they would 
 probably have disabled the boilers and 
 machinery. 
 
 The whole ship's company of this little 
 vessel amounted to but fifty persons, of 
 whom one third were negroes picked up 
 along the Mississippi ; but there was no 
 flinching, although the "Cricket" had but 
 four officers, all of whom were wounded. 
 One gentleman, a guest on boai-d, said he 
 came in this expedition expecting to see 
 fighting, and had now seen all of it he 
 wanted. 
 
 As soon as the Confederates recovered 
 from the temporary surprise caused by the 
 "Cricket's" shells, and the latter had 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 523 
 
 drifted out of range, they opened upon the 
 "Champion, No. 5," and sunk her immedi- 
 ately. She had a number of negroes on 
 board who had fled from Grand Ecore, but 
 they were all killed, many of them shot 
 while struggling in the water. 
 
 General Taylor told the Admiral, after 
 the war, that he was present and in com- 
 mand on this occasion, and, besides three 
 batteries of artillery, he had three thousand 
 infantry pouring their fire into the vessels 
 all the time. The Admiral reproached the 
 General for his want of courtesy in shooting 
 at him as he passed along the upper deck, 
 but Taylor assured him that he ordered the 
 firing to cease the rnoment he recognized 
 the Admiral. 
 
 If this was so, and amid all the noise and 
 confusion, no one could pretend to recollect 
 the exact circumstances of the case, the 
 Admiral must attribute it to the chivalric 
 feeling in General Taylor's breast towards 
 one with whom he had been intimate in the 
 days when the South did not dream of shed- 
 ding Northern blood. 
 
 When Lieutenant - Commander Phelps 
 saw the difficulties ahead, he steamed down 
 in the "Fort Hindman," and opened fire 
 on the enemy's batteries, enabling the 
 " Juliet " to escape and join him. The lat- 
 ter vessel, in this short period, had lost fif- 
 teen killed and wounded, and was very 
 much cut up. Phelps concluded it would 
 be best to wait till night before trying to 
 run the batteries. Some may think he 
 should have followed the flag -ship im- 
 mediately, but the Admiral always encour- 
 aged his officers to think for themselves, 
 and had he followed, with the river impeded 
 by the sunken " Champion," he might have 
 entangled the vessels and lost all. Naturally 
 thinking that the " Cricket " had been de- 
 stroyed, Phelps had to take upon himself 
 the responsibility of commanding officer. 
 
 Two iron-clads had been ordered to meet 
 the fleet two miles below Cane River, near 
 where the flotilla was attacked, and the 
 flag-ship hastened to meet them and hurry 
 them to the scene of action ; but the 
 " Cricket" soon ran hard and fast aground 
 within reach of the enemy's guns, but, for- 
 tunately, out of their sight, and remained 
 in this position for thi-ee hours. While 
 there the vessel caught fire from the ex- 
 plosion of a howitzer caisson-box, which 
 had been struck by one of the enemy's 
 shells. 
 
 At dark, the " Cricket " fell in with the 
 "Osage," lying opposite one of the enemy's 
 field batteries, which she had been shell- 
 ing all day, and this, together with being 
 under a high point of land, prevented the 
 commanding officer from learning the di- 
 rection of the cannonading. The " Osage" 
 was dispatched at once to the scene of the 
 
 late action, as she was proof against field 
 artillery. 
 
 The " Lexington " was engaging another 
 battery near by, and had been struck fifteen 
 times in the hull during the day, with only 
 one man killed. She was too large to go up 
 the river to the enemy's batteries, so taking 
 one or two officers from her. including a 
 surgeon and some firemen, the "Cricket" 
 proceeded under her convoy to Alexandria 
 to bury the dead and care for the wounded. 
 The Confederates, it was thought, would 
 have batteries all along the river, and the 
 "Cricket,'" with so few men and only one 
 gun not disabled, was in no condition for 
 service. 
 
 The "Osage," in her anxiety to reach the 
 Confederate battery, had run ashore four 
 miles below it, when the " Fort Hindman" 
 and the "Juliet" appeared, coming down 
 the river, having left the two Champions 
 sunk. Had the iron-clad arrived in time 
 she would have been of great service, but 
 as it was, the passage from Grand Ecore 
 down could not be called a success. 
 
 The Admiral left behind him one iron-clad 
 and two pump-boats ; but had the satisfac- 
 tion of knowing that none of the trans- 
 ports had been left in the lurch, although 
 ample excuse had been afforded to do so. 
 
 Throughout the expedition there had been 
 no instance where the Navy held back when 
 called upon to support the Army and its 
 transports, and, remarkable as it may ap- 
 pear, not a transport was lost, nor any of 
 their stores, during an expedition of 300 
 miles up the river and return, although it 
 required the most strenuous exertions of 
 the Navy to keep them in place and pre- 
 vent their masters, some of them Confed- 
 erate sympathizers, from placing their ves- 
 sels where they would fall into the hands of 
 the enemy. 
 
 The Admiral certainly was under no obli- 
 gations to the Army for his escape down the 
 river, where, after the retreat of the latter, 
 every man and gun the Confederates could 
 utilize were brought to the banks to try 
 and capture a poor little squadron of " tin- 
 clads " with the commander-in-chief of the 
 naval forces on board. 
 
 Had Banks been surrounded by a superior 
 force, theNavy would never have run away 
 and left him ; but would have expended 
 every vessel, if necessary, rather than have 
 a reverse befall him. 
 
 It never seemed to strike any one in the 
 Army that the Navy was of the slightest 
 consequence beyond the service it could 
 perform for them. The loss of the "East- 
 port" was considered of no more import- 
 ance than the loss of some quartermas- 
 ter's transport, which were frequently run 
 aground and deserted during the war, 
 with full cargoes on board ; accidents which 
 
oa* 
 
 laji, i\/iy/ij^ m^i UK. y 
 
 never happened when they had the little 
 " tin-clad " gun-boats of the Navy — vessels 
 as vulnerable as themselves, but much bet- 
 ter commanded — to convoy them. 
 
 "When the flag-ship arrived at Alexandria, 
 the squadron of naval vessels, fourteen in 
 number, was found above the " Falls," with 
 the rocks below them for a mile quite bare, 
 with the exception of a channel twenty 
 feet wide and about three feet deep. Taking 
 the chances, the pilot managed to get 
 through this channel with the " Cricket," 
 after considerable thumping, and passed 
 the "Falls." 
 
 Except from that warm-hearted soldier, 
 A. J. Smith, the Navy received few congrat- 
 ulations for their successful escape down the 
 river. With this officer the Admiral con- 
 ferred seriously in relation to the condition 
 of affairs. Smith was very bitter against 
 Banks for retreating in the manner he did, 
 and again broached the idea that Franklin 
 should take command of the Army. 
 
 The A dmiral did all he could to pacify the 
 General, and recommended perfect subordi- 
 nation, telling him that nothing would 
 please General Banks better than to place 
 him under arrest, notwithstanding all the 
 services he had rendered. General Smith 
 could not bear to rest under the stigma 
 of defeat, although everybody knew that 
 he and his brave division had never been 
 beaten at any time during the expedi- 
 tion. 
 
 General Banks had moved into comfort- 
 able headquarters, and the several army 
 corps had encamped near the town. Gen- 
 
 eral McClernand had taken command of the 
 13th corps, and was posted on a road lead- 
 ing to Fort De Kussy, three miles outside 
 of Alexandria, to keep the Confederates 
 from passing down that way. 
 
 The Army was in a state of general dis- 
 satisfaction from various causes. General 
 A. J. Smith, from not being allowed to fol- 
 low the Confederates to Shreveport; Frank- 
 lin and Emory were disgusted at the way 
 the expedition had been mismanaged; while 
 Banks, though somewhat subdued, tried to 
 preserve his equanimity. 
 
 General Smith, when allowed, with his 
 command, by General Sherman, to take part 
 in this expedition, was ordered to return to 
 the latter in thirty days, at the expiration 
 of which time Banks promised to be in 
 Shreveport; but, when the time had elapsed. 
 Banks protested against Smith's leaving, on 
 the ground that the safety of the Army de- 
 pended on his remaining, as the Army could 
 not move until the naval vessels had passed 
 the " Falls " at Alexandria. 
 
 The squadron was now in a very bad 
 position above the " Falls," as there seemed 
 little chance of getting down until the river 
 should rise some fourteen feet, and the safety 
 of the vessels depended very much on the 
 Army continuing at Alexandria. The lat- 
 ter was now in a country with good roads, 
 and with the topography of which they were 
 familiar, and could make their way back to 
 the Mississippi without danger from the 
 Confederates, who had only 12,000 men 
 available in that region, although expect- 
 ing reinforcements. 
 
CHAPTER XLII 
 
 RED RIVER EXPEDITION.— Continued. 
 
 Building of the Famous Red River Dam at the Falls.— Difficulties Overcome 
 BY Colonel Bailey. — Communications between General Banks and Admiral 
 Porter.— General McClernand Attacked by the Confederates. — The "Ragged 
 Guerillas" are unexpectedly Provided with New Outfits.— Cotton Steam- 
 ers Attacked and Disabled. — Admiral Porter's Report on the Building of 
 the Dam.— The Fleet Passes the Falls.— Names of Officers and Regiments 
 Engaged in Building the Dam. — Burning of Alexandria. — The End of the 
 Red River Expedition. — Cause of Failure. — Results. — Correspondence Be- 
 tween Generals Sherman, Banks, Halleck, Grant and others. — Dispatches 
 AND Orders.— Review of the Operations of the Navy.— General Banks' Story 
 OF THE Expedition.— Letter of General Kilby Smith.— Extract from Reports 
 BY Captain Burns, Acting - Assistant Adjutant -General. — The Confederate 
 View of the Situation. — Extract from General Banks' Report. — Recapitu- 
 lation. 
 
 GENERAL FRANKLIN had men- 
 tioned to Admiral Porter at Grand 
 Ecore, on his stating that the naval 
 vessels could not pass the "Falls" 
 at the then stage of water, that 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey had suggested a 
 plan of raising the water above the Falls by 
 building wing-dams. Colonel Bailey had 
 had great experience in lumbering, and 
 had frequently resorted to this method to 
 raft timber in shallow rivers. 
 
 The Admiral paid little attention to this 
 suggestion at the time, and expressed his 
 doubts of the practicability of getting large 
 vessels down in that way. When he met 
 General Franklin again in Alexandria, he 
 recurred to this proposal of Bailey's, and 
 Franklin was so satisfied with the feasibility 
 of the scheme that the Admiral asked him 
 to send Colonel Bailey to him at once, and 
 the latter soon appeared, in company with 
 Colonel James Grant Wilson. The Admi- 
 ral was so impressed, with Bailey's plans 
 that he agreed with him that they ought 
 to be tried, and he was surprised in reading 
 General Franklin's evidence before the Com- 
 mittee on the Conduct of the War, where 
 he states as follows: 
 
 " When we returned to Grand Ecore, I sent Colonel 
 Bailey to Admiral Porter, so that he might present 
 
 his plan to the Admiral ; but it was looked upon 
 with derision as a foolish thing. I was, however, 
 convinced that Colonel Bailey knew his business 
 very well, and sent him to Admiral Porter again ; 
 and, after he got down to Alexandria, I sent him 
 two or three times. Finally, I sent him to General 
 Banks, to try and impress upon the General the 
 necessity for giving the orders for details of men to 
 build the dam. 
 
 " General Hunter was there at the time, and he 
 told General Banks that he thought, as I had rec- 
 ommended the thing, he ought to try it ; and it was 
 tried. I have the report of Colonel Bailey to my 
 adjutant-general, which gives all these facts, as I 
 have stated them here." 
 
 General Franklin's memory was certainly 
 treacherous here, for the statement above 
 quoted is incorrect in several particulars. 
 The Admiral was only too glad to grasp at 
 any plan likely to extricate his vessels from 
 their unfortunate predicament ; and this 
 will appear by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey's 
 report. 
 
 There was no objection on the part of the 
 Admiral to anything, but he had no power 
 to build a dam which would require half 
 the army to perform the work. General 
 Banks was the man to be consulted, for on 
 him depended the execution of the work. 
 
 No doubt, Franklin and Bailey worked 
 assiduously to get every one to think favor- 
 ably of the plan of damming the river, and 
 
526 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the Admiral went in person to General 
 Banks, as soon as he could leave a sick-bed, 
 and urged him to try Bailey's plan. Not 
 much time was lost in consultation, for the 
 order to build the dam was given by Gen- 
 eral Banks immediately, and the work com- 
 menced on the 30th of April. The Admiral 
 arrived in Alexandria on the evening of the 
 27th, and conferred with Colonel Bailey 
 and General Banks on the morning of the 
 28th, when the order was issued. 
 
 Where all this indisposition to adopt 
 Bailey's plan appears, we are at a loss to 
 imagine. In fact, we are not aware that 
 any one opposed the dam — if any did, 
 they were persons whose opinion had 
 no influence. The Army engineers may 
 have doubted the practicability of the 
 scheme, never having had experience in 
 that kind of engineering ; or General Banks 
 may have said, "' Wait till the Admiral ar- 
 rives." But even those who doubted the 
 feasibility of the plan were in favor of try- 
 ing it, especially as it had been recom- 
 mended by General Franklin, an engineer 
 officer. 
 
 It seems to us that so much effort to 
 show that there was a great opposition to 
 Bailey's plan, demonstrates a desire to en- 
 hance the value of the recommendations of 
 those who first favored the idea. General 
 Banks, from whom alone authority could 
 come for the employment of troops to build 
 the dam, entered into the scheme with 
 alacrity and pushed the work from begin- 
 ning .to end. 
 
 General Banks, in his testimony before 
 the committee, said : "But Admiral Porter 
 did not seem to think much of the plan, as 
 he expressed it in his way — if damning 
 would get the fleet off, he would have been 
 afloat long before" — but Banks could not 
 understand a joke. 
 
 Colonel Bailey, in his report, says: "Ad- 
 miral Porter furnished a detail from his 
 ships' crews under command of an excel- 
 lent ofiicer. Captain Langthorne, of the 
 "Mound City." All his officers and men 
 were constantly present, and to their extra- 
 ordinary exertions, and to the well-known 
 energy and ability of the A dmiral, much of 
 the success of the undertaking was due." 
 
 . A great mass of testimony was taken by 
 the "Committee on the Conduct of the 
 War" in relation to the building of the dam, 
 and an attempt was made to cast odium 
 upon the Navy in order to divert attention 
 from the real subject at issue — Banks' re- 
 treat — but the attempt was a failure. 
 
 Every man in the fleet was engaged in 
 the operations connected with the construc- 
 tion of the dam, conveying stone in boats 
 to weight the big cob-frames forming the 
 dam, moving the frames into position — a 
 tedious and dangerous duty — and floating 
 
 down the logs which were cut and hauled 
 by the soldiers to the river banks. _ Many 
 boats had to be kept lying on their oars 
 day and night ready with hawsers, and 
 at least three thousand soldiers were con- 
 stantly working up to their necks in water. 
 
 While this was going on, all the forges in 
 the fleet were employed in making long iron 
 bolts to bind the dam together. Getting 
 the iron off the sides of the vessels to lighten 
 them — a most harassing and diflftcult job — 
 employed many men. In addition, all the 
 heaviest guns had to be taken on shore. 
 
 Thus, while the dam was under construc- 
 tion, the sailors worked night and day; and 
 every four hours a report of progress was 
 made to the Admiral But General Banks, in 
 his evidence before the Committee, saj's, 
 when the right wing of the dam broke away, 
 " I immediately rode up to the fleet to see if 
 they were prepared to move by daylight in 
 the morning. It was a couple of miles 
 above the dam. When I got there, there 
 was not a light to be seen, not a man was 
 stirring, not a ship had been lightened" [I]. 
 (Army gun-wheels had already taken the 
 guns to the levee in Alexandria, and army 
 wagons had removed all stores and ammu- 
 nition, and the iron-clads had thrown their 
 iron plating into deep water up river). " I 
 could not arouse anybody there. I went 
 down to my headquarters, and wrote a 
 letter to Admiral Porter" [No such letter 
 was ever received, if it was written], "stat- 
 ing my belief that it was not possible for 
 the dam to stand, and, if it was carried 
 away, it did not seem as if we could re- 
 place it " [How did the General expect the 
 vessels to get through, unless part of the 
 dam was removed ?]; " that I had been up 
 to see his fleet, and found every one asleep, 
 and I feared they would not be ready to 
 move by morning. This letter was deliv- 
 ered to him (the Admiral) by Colonel Wil- 
 son, at 1 o'clock (a. m.) that night. Admi- 
 ral Porter said he would attend to it," etc., 
 etc. Further along. General Banks says : 
 "I went to the dam next morning, at 7 
 o'clock, just in time to see the dam swept 
 away. The gun-boats were just then mov- 
 ing, and it would have taken them all day 
 to move down. We thought the game was 
 up, but officers and men were ready to re- 
 commence the work, and suggested other 
 plans, which had been talked of before." 
 
 The fact is, what Colonel Bailey expected 
 came to pass. The three large barges, loaded 
 with cotton and iron, swung around and 
 made an opening or gate in the dam fifty 
 feet wide, just sufficient for the passage of 
 the vessels. The barges swung against the 
 rocks, and afliorded a good cushion for the 
 vessels to strike on as they passed down. 
 The opening did not diminish the depth of 
 water above the dam, and the three vessels 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 527 
 
 that had found water enough to pass the 
 upper "Falls" had gone through the gap in 
 the dam, under full head of steam, almost 
 directly after it opened. The other vessels 
 had not water enough to pass the upper 
 " Falls," and had to wait until it was fur- 
 nished them. 
 
 The Admiral was on the spot before 
 General Banks was, and had given the 
 necessary directions for the vessels to pass 
 through. Having critically examined the 
 "Falls," he saw that the break in the dam 
 was rather an advantage than a mishap. 
 Colonel Bailey was not at all dismayed, but 
 coolly went to work building wing-dams 
 above the upper Falls, which he intended to 
 do anyway, so that all the vessels passed 
 down in safety. While the wing-dams 
 were in process of construction, everything 
 that could be taken from the vessels to 
 lighten them, and had not previously been 
 removed, was hauled around the Falls by 
 army teams, and not a moment was lost that 
 could be avoided. 
 
 But General Banks, when he saw the break 
 in the dam, thought, to use his own ex- 
 pression — "the game was up" — and com- 
 menced writing the Admiral letters, inform- 
 ing him of what the latter had rather an- 
 ticipated, viz.: that Banks would have to 
 leave him, etc., etc. However, as General 
 A. J. Smith had promised to stand by the 
 Navy to the last, the Admiral did not care 
 much whether Banks went or stayed, so 
 long as he could retain Bailey and A. J. 
 Smith. He had no apprehension of not get- 
 ting through; for, with Smith's division and 
 the gun-boats, the Navy could have held this 
 position against all the Confederate forces 
 at that time on Red River. 
 
 The Admiral got very tired of General 
 Banks' letters. He at first tried to soothe 
 him, but at length sent him the following 
 communication, which put an end to the cor- 
 respondence: 
 
 Mississippi Squadron, 
 Flag-ship "Cricket,' 
 Off Alexandria, May 11th, 
 
 Major-General iV. P. Banks, Commanding Depart- 
 ment of the Ghilf, Alexandria, La. : 
 
 General — Colonel Wilson called to see me this 
 morning, and seemed to think tlie Navy were relax- 
 ing their exertions above. There is really nothing 
 that can be done to the "Carondelet" until the 
 water rises. The channel in which she lies is a cut 
 channel in the shape of an S, and when the bottom 
 of a vessel is wedged in it there is no use in attempt- 
 ing to haul her through; only water can help us, 
 and we want but one foot of that to get every ves- 
 sel through. It would be paying a very poor com- 
 pliment to Colonel Bailey to suppose him incapable 
 of supplying the desired quantity in one or two 
 days. I am as anxious as yourself to see the vessels 
 all through, and, though I have every confidence in 
 the zeal and ability of the ofHcers in command, I 
 would give all my personal attention up there, but 
 am laid up with a complaint that perfectly pros- 
 trates me when I ride on horsebacK or move about; 
 
 )R0N, I 
 CET," \ 
 
 1, 1864. ) 
 
 still, I know every hour what is going on, and give 
 directions accordingly. 
 
 Don't suppose because the vessels seem quiet that 
 nothing is being done; everything is being done that 
 can be. I hope you will look this matter patiently 
 in the face. I am sure that Colonel Bailey will have 
 every vessel through in two days; and, though you 
 are pressed for forage, two days will really amount 
 to nothing, and any loss we might sustain in horses 
 up to that time would be nothing in comparison to 
 the loss of one of those vessels. 
 
 If we have met with reverses above, the rescue of 
 this fleet from its peculiar position will redeem the 
 past. You must have seen the tendency of the 
 Northern press to cavil at our movement out here, 
 and they cannot help but admit, if we succeed, 
 that amidst our trouVjles the best piece of engi- 
 neering ever performed in the same space of time 
 has been accomplished under difficulties the rebels 
 deemed insurmountable. Now, f-reneral, I really 
 see nothing that should make us despond; you have 
 a fine army, and I shall have a strong fleet of gun- 
 boats to drive away an inferior force in our front. 
 We can, by making a united effort, open the river 
 when we please. I feel that the country is so abun- 
 dant with grass and clover just now, that there can 
 be no real danger to the stock. 
 
 I feel that you are extremely anxious to move, so 
 am I to get the boats down, and I am sure you will 
 agree [with] me when I say that there would be 
 tremendous excitement throughout the country if 
 the vessels are not all brought over, which will cer- 
 tainly be done with eight inches more of water, 
 which there will be no difficulty in getting. 
 
 The water is rising in the river below the back- 
 water from the Mississippi, which extends now to 
 this place, the water rising here. 
 
 I hope, sir, you will not let anything divert you 
 from the attempt to get these vessels all through 
 safely, even if we have to stay here and eat mules' 
 meat. There are some here who would not care if 
 gun-boats, horses, and everything are left behind, 
 as long as they could get away; but, as they have 
 none of the responsibilities resting on your shoul- 
 ders and on mine, I hope they may not meet with 
 any attention. 
 
 I feel that we are doing a splendid thing, and I 
 want to see it carried through without an accident 
 to a single vessel. Please excuse my long dispatch. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Rear- A dmiral. 
 
 General Banks had become considerably 
 demoralized on account of the Confederates 
 having gained a position on Red River, at 
 Dunn's Bayou, thirty miles below Alexan- 
 dria, and he believed the report that they 
 were preparing to hold this strong posi- 
 tion with ten to fifteen thousand men. 
 The position was really strong only against 
 light-armed vessels, but was easily turned ; 
 and the proof of this is that the enemy 
 evacuated the place as soon as the large 
 gun-boats passed the "' Falls." 
 
 It was, indeed, a great blunder to allow 
 the enemy to get between the army and 
 the Mississippi ; but for this Banks was not 
 to blame. He had assigned General Mc- 
 Clernand, with the whole of his army corps, 
 to guard the main road three miles in 
 the rear of Alexandria, with the under- 
 standing that no enemy was to be allowed 
 to pass, under any circumstances ; but Gen- 
 eral McClernand had joined the Army un- 
 
528 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 der a cloud, was in a very unamiable mood, 
 and did not seem to care whether the 
 Army and Navy got out of their difficulties 
 or not. 
 
 The enemy, on the 28th of April, attacked 
 McClernand's position with 6,000 men, tak- 
 ing him completely by surprise, and creat- 
 ing a temporary panic in his camp. During 
 the confusion they set fire to the forage 
 and clothing, and passed down the road 
 with some twenty pieces of artillery, hid- 
 den by the smoke, which was their object 
 in making the attack. 
 
 At this time the Admiral was at General 
 A. J. Smith's camp, about two miles from 
 that of McClernand. Smith immediately 
 ordered his men under arms, and they rode 
 together to the scene of action, where every- 
 thmg seemed in dire confusion. Smith 
 posted his men to the best advantage in ad- 
 vance of the 13th corps; and they remained 
 under arms until daylight next morning, 
 without hearing any more from the Con- 
 federates, who had accomplished all they 
 wanted, viz. : to pass below Alexandria to 
 Dunn's Bayou, and fortify that position 
 strongly with field artillery. 
 
 General McClernand, not satisfied with 
 the havoc committed by the enemy, ordered 
 his men to set fire to a quantity of sutlers' 
 goods and forage, which latter was ex- 
 tremely scarce ; and it would all have 
 been destroyed if General A. J. Smith 
 had not taken charge and extinguished the 
 fire. 
 
 Smith's soldiers were not in as good trim 
 as many others, and the title "ragged 
 guerillas " given them by Banks — which 
 soubriquet pleased them so much that they 
 adopted it — might, to the casual observer, 
 seem appropriate. After putting out the fire, 
 however, they marched back to camp com- 
 pletely dressed in new uniforms, leaving 
 their old ones to McClernand's chief quarter- 
 master, so as to make his accounts all square. 
 When McClernand insisted on A. J. Smith's 
 giving up the clothing, that old veteran, 
 who, from long association with the Navy, 
 was familiar with the prize laws, de- 
 clined to do so, as his naen had recaptured 
 them from the enemy, and held them ac- 
 cording to the laws of war ; so General 
 McClernand never recovered an article 
 that "the ragged guerillas " had appro- 
 priated. 
 
 McClernand allowed his pickets to be 
 driven in, and was unprepared to prevent 
 the enemy from turning his position. He 
 seems to have made no use of his cavalry 
 to acquaint him with the enemy's advance. 
 In short, McClernand was inert, and, do 
 what you might with him, you could not 
 make a military man. 
 
 We will do General Banks the justice to 
 say that he did all that a man could do to 
 
 extricate the gun-boats from their difficul- 
 ties, and, although he differed with the Ad- 
 miral on some matters, there was none in 
 this respect. Other things occurred about 
 this time to disturb General Banks. Cotton 
 had been hauled into Alexandria by army 
 teams, to the amount of some 20,000 bales, 
 and it was desirable that a portion of it at 
 least should reach New Orleans. Whether 
 this was on account of the U. S. Govern- 
 ment, or was the property of speculators, 
 does not appear. 
 
 A large steamer, the "Warner," was 
 filled with cotton at Alexandria and dis- 
 patched with 400 soldiers on board to New 
 Orleans. The Admiral was asked for a 
 convoy and sent the two best gun-boats 
 he could spare that were below the "Falls," 
 the " Signal " and " Covington." 
 
 On the 4th of May all three vessels started 
 down the river, with little thought of much 
 opposition. While passing a plantation, 
 the " Warner " was fired into by a company 
 of infantry, and one man on board of her 
 was killed. Being well protected by cotton 
 bales, infantry fire was not much dreaded. 
 The fire of the "Covington" soon drove 
 off the Confederates ; but this was only an 
 earnest of what was to follow. 
 
 Next morning, on arriving at Dunn's 
 Bayou, the " Warner" in advance, and the 
 two "tin-clad" gun-boats bringing up the 
 rear, the former vessel was attacked by a 
 battery, supported by a large force of infan- 
 try. The "Warner's" rudder became dis- 
 abled, causing her to run into the bank, when 
 another battery and some six thousand in- 
 fantry opened on the vessel, completely rid- 
 dling her. The " Signal " and " Covington " 
 opened their batteries; but the enemy were 
 in too strong force to contend against, and 
 the three vessels were soon cut to pieces 
 with a terrible cross-fire of artillery and in- 
 fantry. Acting-Volunteer Lieutenant G. P. 
 Lord, the officer in command, tried to burn 
 the "Warner" to prevent her falling into 
 the hands of the enemy ; but, when in- 
 formed by the colonel commanding the sol- 
 diers that there were 125 killed and wounded 
 on the decks. Lord gave up the idea; and 
 his own vessel, the "Covington," being en- 
 tirely disabled, he shortly afterwards re- 
 moved the dead and wounded to shore un- 
 der a heavy fire, destroj'ed the ship by set- 
 ting fire to her, and, with the remnant of 
 his gallant crew, escaped to the woods on 
 the side opposite the enemy. Out of 14 offi- 
 cers and G3 men. Lieutenant Lord could 
 only assemble 9 officers and 23 men, some 
 of whom were killed in trying to escape up 
 the bank. 
 
 The " Signal" being too much disabled to 
 reach the bank, in order to get the wounded 
 ashore, the commanding officer was obliged 
 to surrender. The "Warner" was sacked 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR, 
 
 529 
 
 and burned by the enemy, and the " Signal," 
 after her guns and amnaunition had been 
 removed, was sunk across the channel to 
 obstruct it. 
 
 The brave men in these vessels, only 
 musket-proof, defended them four or five 
 hours, and many of the actions heralded to 
 the world during the late war were much 
 less worthy of notice than this contest be- 
 tween two little gun-boats and twenty 
 pieces of artillery, most of which had been 
 captured from Banks' arnny above Pleasant 
 Hill. The attacking party of Confederates 
 was the one that had pushed past Gen- 
 eral McClernand's corps with artillery, to 
 mount it at Dunn's Bayou, on the river. 
 They succeeded perfectly ; and, selecting 
 three commanding points, they were ready 
 for any transports or light gun-boats that 
 might come along. These light-draft gun- 
 boats, belt remembered, were only the small 
 stern-wheel steamboats of the Mississippi, 
 their sides built up with light plank and 
 covered with quarter-inch iron. 
 
 No attempt to follow the Confederates 
 was made when they pushed on past Mc- 
 Clernand's corps, although a child might 
 have known where they were bound ; but 
 every preparation was made to repel an at- 
 tack on Alexandria, which the Confeder- 
 ates had not the slightest idea of making. 
 They were not foolish enough to attack 
 36,000 men, advantageously posted and 
 supplied with a large quantity of artillery, 
 when they had afar inferior force. General 
 Banks should have seized and fortified the 
 important points along the river, which, 
 with the assistance of even the light-draft 
 vessels of the Navy, could have been held 
 against all the force the enemy had in that 
 region. 
 
 The two commanders - in - chief had but 
 little personal intercourse — a state of affairs 
 which was not conducive to the perfect un- 
 derstanding which should subsist between 
 the Army and Navy in a co-operative ex- 
 pedition. This want of harmony was not the 
 Admiral's fault. He lay five days sick and 
 unable to leave his bed, during which time 
 Banks went to see him but once, and then 
 in company with General David Hunter. 
 His errand was to ascertain " which of 
 your vessels can you best afford to de- 
 stroy — for I must march — if there is any 
 chance that any of them will delay us ? " 
 The Admiral was in pain and not in the best 
 of humor, and replied: "I will destroy 
 none of them, and if you choose to march 
 you may do so, for General A. J. Smith 
 has promised to stand by me until we are 
 over the 'Falls,' after which I will take care 
 of Smith." No more was heard of General 
 Banks' marching for another day or two. 
 
 But to return to the dam. This had, in 
 common parlance, "carried awav." but in 
 
 a 
 
 reality had made a natural and safe opening 
 for the passage of the fleet. Not to make 
 the narrative too tedious, we here insert 
 Admiral Porter's report of the building of 
 the dam, etc., and it will show the credit 
 given to every one engaged. We are sure a 
 comparison of this report with the published 
 evidence of General Banks will convince 
 any one of the Admiral's impartiality: 
 
 passage of the falls by thb fleet.— report 
 of rear-admiral david d. porter. 
 Flag-Ship "Black Hawk," 
 
 Mississippi Squadron 
 Mouth of Red River, May 16, 1864 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to inform you that the 
 vessels lately caught by low water above the Falls at 
 Alexandria have been released from their unpleas- 
 ant position. The water had fallen so low that I 
 had no hope or expectation of getting the vessels 
 out this season, and as the army had made arrange- 
 ments to evacuate the country, I saw nothing be- 
 fore lue but the destruction of the best part of the 
 Mississippi squadron. 
 
 There seems to have been an especial Providence 
 looking out for us in providing a man equal to the 
 emergency. Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, acting en- 
 gineer of the 19th army corps, proposed a plan of 
 building a series of dams across the rocks at the Falls, 
 and raising the water high enough to let the vessels 
 pass over. This proposition looked like madness, 
 and the best engineers ridiculed it ; but Colonel 
 Bailey was so sanguine of success that I requested 
 General Banks to have it done, and he entered 
 heartily into the work. Provisions were short and 
 forage was almost out, and the dam was promised 
 to be finished in ten days, or the army would have 
 to leave us. I was doubtful about the time, but had 
 no doubt about the ultimate success, if time would 
 only permit. General Banks placed at the disposal 
 of Colonel Bailey all the force he required, consist- 
 ing of some three thousand men and two or three 
 hundred wagons. AH the neighboring steam-mills 
 were torn down for material, two or three regiments 
 of Maine men were set to work felling trees, and on 
 the second day after my arrival in Alexandria from 
 Grand Ecore the work had fairly begun. Trees 
 were falling with great rapidity ; teams were mov- 
 ing in all directions, bringing in brick and stone ; 
 quarries were opened ; flatboats were built to bring 
 stone down from above ; and every man seemed to 
 be working with a vigor I have seldom seen equalled, 
 while perhaps not one in fifty believed in the suc- 
 cess of the undertaking. 
 
 These Falls are about a mOe in length, filled with 
 rugged rocks, over which, at the present stage of 
 water, it seemed to be impossible to make a chan- 
 nel. 
 
 The work was commenced by running out from 
 the left bank of the river a tree dam, made of the 
 bodies of very large trees, brush, brick, and stone, 
 cross-tied with other heavy timber, and strength- 
 ened in every way which ingenuity could devise. 
 This was run out about three hundred feet into the 
 river; four large coal barges were then filled with 
 brick and sunk at the end of it. From the right 
 bank of the river cribs filled with stone were built 
 out to meet the barges. All of which was success- 
 fully accomplished, notwithstanding there was a 
 current running of nine miles an hour, which 
 threatened to sweep everything before it. 
 
 It will take too umch time to enter into the de- 
 tails of this truly wonderful work. Suffice it to 
 say, that the dam had nearly reached completion in 
 eight days' working time, and the water had risen 
 sufficiently on the upper Falls to allow the "Fort 
 Hindman,'' "Osage," and "Neosho "to get down 
 
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THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 531 
 
 ■would have been high enough to enable all the 
 other vessels to pass the upper falls. Unfortunately, 
 on the morning of the 9th instant, the pressure of 
 water became so great that it swept away two of 
 the stone barges, which swung in below the dam 
 on one side. Seeing this unfortunate accident, I 
 jumped on a horse and rode up to where the upper 
 vessels were anchored and ordered the "Lexington'' 
 to pass the upper falls, if possible, and immediately 
 attempt to go through the dam. I thought I 
 might be able to save the four vessels below, not 
 ■ knowing whether the persons employed on the 
 work would ever have the heart to renew their en- 
 terprise. 
 
 The "Lexington" succeeded in getting over the 
 upper falls just in time, the water rapidly falling as 
 she was passing over. She then steered directly 
 for the opening in the dam, through which the 
 water was rushing so furiously that it seemed as if 
 nothing but destruction awaited her. Thousands 
 of beating heai'ts looked on anxious for the result. 
 The silence was so great as the "Lexington" ap- 
 proached the dam that a pin might almost be heard 
 to fall. She entered the gap with a full head of 
 steam on, pitched down the roaring torrent, made 
 two or three spasmodic rolls, hung for a moment on 
 the rocks below, was then swept into deep water 
 by the current,and rounded-to safely into the bank. 
 Thu-ty thousand voices rose in one deafening cheer, 
 and universal joy seemed to pervade the face of 
 every man present. 
 
 The " Neosho " followed next; all her hatches bat- 
 tened down, and every precaution taken against ac- 
 cident. She did not fare as well as the "Lexing- 
 ton,'' her pilot having become frightened as he 
 approached the abyss, and stopped her engine, 
 when I particularly ordered a full head of steam to 
 be carried; the result was that for a moment her 
 hull disappeared from sight under the water. Every 
 one thought she was lost. She rose, however, swept 
 along over the rooks with the current, and, fortu- 
 nately, escaped with only one hole in her bottom, 
 which was stopped in the course of an hour. 
 
 The "Hindman"and "Osage" both came through 
 beautifully without touching a thing, and I thought 
 if I was only fortunate enough to get my large 
 vessels as well over the falls, my fleet once more 
 would do good service on the Mississippi. 
 
 The accident to the dam, instead of disheartening 
 Colonel Bailey, only induced him to renew his exer- 
 tions after he had seen the success of getting four 
 vessels through. 
 
 The noble-hearted soldiers, seeing their labor of 
 the last eight days swept away in a moment, cheer- 
 fully went to work to repair damages, being confi- 
 dent now that all the gun-boats would be finally 
 brought over. These men had been working for 
 eight days and nights up to their necks in water in 
 the broiling sun, cutting trees and wheeling bricks, 
 and nothing but good-humor prevailed among them. 
 On the whole, it was very fortunate the dam was 
 carried away, as the two barges that were swept 
 away from the centre swung around against some 
 rock on the left, and made a fine cushion for the 
 vessels, and prevented them, as it afterwards ap- 
 peared, from running on certain destruction. 
 
 The force of the water and the current being too 
 great to construct a continuous dam of six hundred 
 feet across the river in so short a time, Colonel 
 Bailey determined to leave a gap of fifty -five feet in 
 the dam, and build a series of wing-dams on the up- 
 per falls. This was accomplished in three days' 
 time, and, on the 11th instant, the "Mound City," 
 "Carondelet" and "Pittsburg" came over the 
 upper falls, a good deal of labor having been ex- 
 pended in hauling them through, the channel be- 
 ing very crooked, scarcely wide enough for them. 
 Next day the " Ozark," "Louisville," " Chillicothe," 
 and two tugs also succeeded in crossing the upper 
 
 1.1_ _ t L ■»«" _ 
 
 ji r\ii n 
 
 " Carondelet," and "Pittsburg" started in succes- 
 sion to pass the dam, all their hatches battened 
 down, and every precaution taken to prevent acci- 
 dent. The passage of these vessels was a most 
 beautiful sight, only to be realized when seen. They 
 passed over without an accident, except the un- 
 shipping of one or two rudders. This was witnessed 
 by aU the troops, and the vessels were heartily 
 cheered when they passed over. Next morning at 
 10 o'clock, the " Louisville," " Chillicothe," " Ozark" 
 and two tugs passed over without any accident ex- 
 cept the loss of a man, who was swept off the deck 
 of one of the tugs. By 3 o'clock that afternoon the 
 vessels were all coaled, ammunition replaced, and 
 all steamed down the river, with the convoy of 
 transports in company. A good deal of difficulty 
 was anticipated in getting over the bars in lower 
 Red River; depth of water reported only five feet; 
 gun-boats were drawing six. Providentially, we 
 had a rise from the back-water of the Mississippi, 
 that river being very high at that time; the back- 
 water extending to Alexandria, one hundred and 
 fifty miles distant, enabling us to pass all the bars 
 and obstructions with safety. 
 
 Words are inadequate to express the admiration 
 I feel for the abilities of Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey. 
 This is, without doubt, the best engineering feat 
 ever performed. Under the best circumstances, a 
 private company would not have completed this 
 work under one year, and to an ordinary mind the 
 whole thing would have appeared an utter impos- 
 sibility. Leaving out his abilities as an engineer, 
 the credit he has conferred upon the country, he 
 has saved the Union a valuable fleet, worth nearly 
 two million dollars. More, he has deprived the 
 enemy of a triumph which would have emboldened 
 them to carry on this war a year or two longer; for 
 the intended departure of the Army was a fixed 
 fact, and there was nothing left for me to do in case 
 that event occurred but to destroy every part of the 
 vessels, so that the rebels could make nothing of 
 them. The highest honors the Goverment can be- 
 stow on Colonel Bailey can never repay him for 
 the service he has rendered the country. 
 
 To General Banks, personally, I am much in- 
 debted for the happy manner in which he has for- 
 warded this enterprise, giving it his whole attention 
 night and day, scarcely sleeping while the work was 
 going on, attending personally to see that all the 
 requirements of Colonel Bailey was complied with 
 on the instant. 
 
 I do not believe there ever was a case where such 
 difficulties were overcome in such a short space of 
 time, and without any preparation. 
 
 I beg leave to mention the names of some of the 
 persons engaged on this work, as I think that 
 credit should be given to every man employed on 
 it. I am unable to give the names of all, but sin- 
 cerely trust that General Banks will do full justice 
 to every officer engaged in this undertaking when 
 he makes his report. I only regret that time did 
 not enable me to get the names of all concerned. 
 The following are the most prominent persons : 
 
 Lieutenant -Colonel Bailey, acting-military engi- 
 neer, 19th army corps, in charge of the work. 
 
 Colonel James Grant Wilson, of General Banks' 
 staff. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Pearcall, assistant. 
 
 Colonel Dwight, acting-assistant inspector-gen- 
 eral. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Kinsey, 161st New York 
 volunteers. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Hubbard, 30th Maine volun- 
 teers. 
 
 Major Sawtelle, provost marshal, and Lieutenant 
 Williamson, ordnance officer. 
 
 The following were a portion of the regiments em- 
 ployed : 39th Maine, commanded by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Emerson ; 116th New York, commanded by 
 
 ^^ "HT T ^.^^ 
 
 -id-i^i- TVT„ 
 
532 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 manded by Captain Prentiss ; 133d New Yorli, com- 
 manded by Colonel Currie. 
 
 The engineer regiment and officers of the 13tn 
 army corps were also employed. 
 
 I feel that I have done but feeble justice to the 
 work or the persons engaged in it. Being severely 
 indisposed, I feel myself unable to go into further 
 details. I trust some future historian will treat this 
 matter as it deserves to be treated, because it is a 
 subject in which the whole country should feel an 
 intei-est, and the noble men who succeeded so ad- 
 mirably in this arduous task should not lose one 
 atom of credit so jvistly due them. 
 
 The Mississippi squadron will never forget the ob- 
 ligations it is under to Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, 
 acting military engineer, of the 19th army corps. 
 
 Previous to passing the vessels over the falls, I 
 had nearly all the guns, ammunition, provisions, 
 chain-cables, anchors, and everything that could 
 affect their draught, taken out of them. 
 
 The commanders were indefatigable in their exer- 
 tions to accomplish the object before them, and a 
 happier set of men were never seen than when their 
 vessels were once more in fighting trim. 
 
 If this expedition has not been so successful as 
 the country hoped for, it has exhibited the in- 
 domitable spirit of eastern and western men to 
 overcome obstacles deemed by most people insur- 
 mountable. It has presented a new feature in the 
 war, nothing like which has ever been accomplished 
 before. 
 
 I regret to inform you, among the misfortunes of 
 this expedition, of the loss of two small light- 
 draught gun-boats — the "Signal" and "Coving- 
 ton.'' I sent them down from Alexandria to convoy 
 a quartermaster's boat, the "Warner,"' loaded with 
 cotton and some four hundred troops on board; not 
 knowing that the enemy had any artillery on the 
 river below us, or anything more than wandering 
 gangs of guerillas, armed with muskets, which 
 these vessels were competent to drive off. It ap- 
 pears, however, that the rebels were enabled to 
 pass our advance force at night with six thousand 
 men and some twenty-five pieces of artillery. With 
 these they established a series of batteries at a place 
 called Dunn's Bayou, thirty miles below Alexandria 
 — a very commanding position. These batteries 
 were so masked that they could not be seen in pass- 
 ing, even by the closest observation. 
 
 The first notice the vessels received of the battery 
 was a furious fire which opened on the quartermas- 
 ter's boat, the "Warner," piercing her boilers and 
 completely disabling her. At the same time six 
 thousand infantry opened with musketry, killing 
 and wounding half the soldiers on this vessel. She 
 drifted in to the opposite bank, where a number 
 managed to make their escape in the bushes, though 
 many were killed in attempting to do so. 
 
 The "Signal" and "Covington" immediately 
 rounded -to and opened their guns on the batteries, 
 and pushed up, endeavoring to rescue the " War- 
 ner" from her perilous position. They had, how- 
 ever, as much as they could do to take care of them- 
 selves, the cross-fire of the three batteries cutting 
 them up in a terrible manner. Their steam-pipes 
 were soon cut, and their boilers perforated with 
 shot, notwithstanding which they fought the bat- 
 teries for five long hours, the vessels being cut all 
 to pieces, and many killed and wounded on board. 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant George P. Lord, 
 commanding the "Covington," having expended 
 all his shot, spiked his guns, set fire to his vessel, 
 and escaped with what was left of his crew to shore, 
 and his vessel blew up. 
 
 The "Signal," Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant Ed- 
 ward Morgan, still fought her guns for half-an-hour 
 after the destruction of the "Covington." He found 
 it impossible to destroy his vessel by burning, her 
 decks being covered with wounded, and humanity 
 forbade him sacrificing the lives of the noble fellows 
 
 who had defended their vessel so gallantly. He 
 gave permission to all those who wished to escape 
 to do so. Some of them attempted to get oiT by 
 climbing up the bank. Many were killed while do- 
 ing so by the murderous fire of the musketry poured 
 in from the opposite side. The captain remained 
 by the vessel and was captured, if he remained alive, 
 but I have no information regarding him. The reb- 
 els took the guns off of her, and placed her across 
 the channel as an obstruction— sunk her. 
 
 General Banks, on hearing the news, sent out 
 cavalry to hunt for the unfortunate men, many of 
 whom were picked up and brought into Alexandria. 
 A number escaped down river, and went aboard 
 some light-draught gun-boats that were coming up 
 at the time to the scene of action, but were driven 
 back by the superior artillery of the enemy. 
 
 I feel very much for the poor fellows who fell into 
 the rebels' hands, as the latter have been very mer- 
 ciless to some of the prisoners they have taken, and 
 committed outrages at which humanity shudders. 
 
 The vessels will all return to their stations in a 
 few days, as there is no prospect, under present 
 circumstances, of renewing operations in this part 
 of Louisiana, the season having passed for operat- 
 ing with any chance of success. 
 
 I am sorry to see that the rebel guerillas have be- 
 come quite troublesome on the Mississippi since I 
 left, all of which will be rectified within the coming 
 week. I have the honor to be. 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Hon. GiDBoN Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 The " Ozark," a large iron-clad, was the 
 last vessel to pass the dam, and it was 
 feared at one time that she would have to 
 be abandoned, for General Banks took up 
 his line of march the moment he thought 
 the vessels all through, apparently forget- 
 ting that they had still to get their guns 
 and stores on board; but, as General A. J. 
 Smith remained to bring up the rear, the 
 Navy was not greatly troubled by General 
 Banks' movements. 
 
 For two or three days before the troops 
 and vessels left Alexandria, tlie army teams 
 had been employed in hauling cotton to the 
 levee, and every army transport had been 
 loaded with the staple to the amount of 
 20,000 bales. 
 
 The 13th and 19th corps began to move 
 on the 13th of May, the former under Gen- 
 eral McClernand, the latter under General 
 Emory; but as the rear of the advanced 
 corps left Alexandria, fire broke out in 
 several parts of the town. Whether the 
 fire was the work of soldiers or negroes, 
 large numbers of the latter being congre- 
 gated here in the hope of transportation out 
 of Red River by the army, has never been 
 clearly established. 
 
 Just as the fire broke out, an order came 
 from General Banks to put all the cotton 
 from the transports on the levee, a diffi- 
 cult task; and everybody wondered why, 
 after taking so much trouble to put the cot- 
 ton on board, the General should now be so 
 anxious to get rid of it. However, the cot- 
 ton was thrown ashore among the burning 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 533 
 
 fragments that were falling all around. The 
 town was seemingly in a blaze from one 
 end to the other, and the miserable inhabit- 
 ants crowded the river banks with such 
 personal effects as they could save from the 
 flames. 
 
 There was never beheld a more heart- 
 rending scene, and all felt indignant that it 
 should transpire under the eyes of the Gen- 
 eral commanding an army, without any ef- 
 fort being made to extinguish the flames. 
 The army had enjoyed such hospitality as 
 these poor people could afford while it occu- 
 pied their town, and the inhabitants were 
 fed with the delusive hope that General 
 Banks would occupy Alexandria until the 
 close of the war. All, therefore, who had 
 any Union feelings were encouraged to de- 
 clare_ themselves and benefit by the oppor- 
 tunities offered them to trade, and all such 
 were now to be left to the tender mercies of 
 the Confederates. 
 
 Out of the hundreds of negroes who had 
 been promised transportation for them- 
 selves, their families and their effects, very 
 few got away, and the last that was seen 
 of these poor wretches, they sat down in 
 despair upon the river bank, where they had 
 conveyecf their little all to try and escape 
 the conflagration. The Admiral was the 
 last one to leave Alexandria, having re- 
 mained to see that nothing belonging to the 
 Navy was forgotten, but he could do nothing 
 to help these people. The "Cricket" was 
 a very small vessel, and could not accommo- 
 date the thousandth part of those who had 
 expected to take passage in the transports. 
 The Navy was powerless to help them, an d 
 as the rear of General A. J. Smith's di- 
 vision marched out of Alexandria, the 
 " Cricket " started down the river to join 
 the gun-boats. For miles down could be 
 seen the flames of the "burning town, and 
 every now and then a fresh outbreak of 
 flre and dense smoke would occur, doubtless 
 from cotton stored in secret places igniting. 
 
 Although it was not known who set fire to 
 the town, the people were satisfied that it 
 could have been extinguished by a detach- 
 ment of soldiers, but nothing was done in 
 that direction. The Confederates could 
 have had no object ih destroying the place, 
 and the negroes had shown no disposition 
 to take advantage of their former masters 
 and plunder or destroy their property. It 
 may have been a case of " spontaneous com- 
 bustion"; but, however originating, the fact 
 that the fire was not extinguished was dis- 
 graceful to humanity, and although we can- 
 not but think the vindictive promoters of the 
 war deserved some of the misfortunes which 
 overtook them, yet the burning of Alex- 
 andria inflicted punishment on a people by 
 whom it was totally undeserved. 
 
 It is only fair to General Banks to give 
 
 his version of the burning of Alexandria. 
 On the 28th of March, 1865, nearly a year 
 after the event, in a report, wherein he seeks 
 to justify himself for the conduct of the 
 campaign and to throw the blame for his 
 mismanagement on others, he says: 
 
 "Rumors were circulated freely through the camp 
 at Alexandria, that upon the evacuation of the town 
 it would be burned. [We never heard any such 
 rumors.] To prevent this destruction of property, 
 part of which belonged to loyal citizens, General 
 Grover, commanding the post, was instructed to 
 organize a thorough police, and to provide for its 
 occupation by an armed force until the army had 
 marched to Simmsport. The measures taken were 
 sufficient to prevent a conflagration in the manner 
 in which it had been anticipated; but on the morn- 
 ing of the evacuation, while the army was in full 
 possession of the town, a fire broke out in a building 
 on the levee, which had been occupied by refugees 
 or soldiers, [what soldiers ?] in such a manner as to 
 make it impossible to prevent a general conflagra- 
 tion. I saw the fire when it was first discovered, 
 the ammunition and ordnance transports and the 
 depot of ammunition on the levee were within a few 
 yards of the fire; the boats were floated out into the 
 river and the ammunition moved from thelevee with 
 all possible dispatch. The troops labored with 
 alacrity and vigor to suppress the conflagration; but 
 owing to a high wind and the combustible material 
 of the buildings, it was found impossible to limit 
 its progress, and a considerable portion of the town 
 was destroyed." 
 
 The intelligent reader will naturally won- 
 der how a town could be destroyed with 
 such a small beginning, while so large an 
 army remained near; but General Banks is 
 as inaccurate in i-egard to this matter as in 
 many other respects in his report. 
 
 After leaving Alexandria, the advance of 
 the army was commanded by General 
 Emory, and the rear was protected by Gen- 
 eral A. J. Smith. 
 
 The flag-ship ' ' Cricket " overtook the army 
 — which followed the river road with the 
 gun-boats close by — just as they were en- 
 camping for the night. The troops had not 
 been molested, except by sharp-shooters, 
 who fell back on their main body as Gen- 
 eral Emory advanced. 
 
 No more of General Banks was seen by 
 the Navy until the flag-ship reached the 
 Atchafalaya, where the transports had as- 
 sembled, under cover of the gun-boats, to 
 embark the army, an operation which was 
 safely effected on the 31st of May. Here, 
 again, Colonel Bailey's services were called 
 into requisition to build a bridge of trans- 
 ports, and part of the army, which had to 
 march to the mouth of the Red River, 
 crossed in that way. 
 
 There was some skirmishing on the way 
 down and the gun-boats now and then 
 shelled the woods to drive away the enemy; 
 but the latter continually retreated before 
 the army and made only one dash at the 
 rear as it was crossing the bridge of trans- 
 ports. General A. J. Smith turned on 
 them and captured 350 of their number. 
 
534 
 
 THE ISA VAL HISTORY 
 
 As there was no further occasion for the 
 Admiral's presence, he left the gun-boats to 
 cover the army and embarked in a tug to 
 join his flag-ship, the "Black Hawk," at 
 the mouth of Red River. Here he found 
 General Canby, who had been sent to re- 
 lieve Banks, and was waiting the Admiral's 
 arrival before he assumed command. 
 
 Thus ended the Navy's connection with 
 the Red River expedition, the most disas- 
 trous one that was undertaken during the 
 war. 
 
 In whatever we write in relation to 
 the late war, we try to divest ourselves 
 of all prejudice, and nothing that we can 
 say will bear half so hard upon Banks and 
 his supporters as many of the articles writ- 
 ten at the time by persons serving immedi- 
 ately under the General's command. 
 
 We do not know whether the twenty-two 
 years which have elapsed since the events 
 we narrate took place, is a sufficient period 
 in whicli to write a history; but, as the 
 States have become reconstructed, and the 
 animosities of the war seem in good part 
 to have vanished, we think we have a right 
 to suppose that we can present an impartial 
 narrative, actuated solely by a desire to 
 state the truth, which has not generally 
 been told in reference to the Red River ex- 
 pedition. 
 
 Banks and his friends have told the story 
 in a manner to suit their political interests, 
 which are apparently all they care about. 
 
 No one has ever, so far as we are aware, 
 undertaken to correct the misrepresenta- 
 tions made against the officers of the Navy, 
 probably because these attacks were con- 
 sidered harmless on account of the evident 
 malice which prompted them. 
 
 Considering the ill-results attending the 
 Red River expedition and its unfortunate 
 termination, comparatively little, strange 
 to say, has been said or written about it. 
 
 Certain newspaper reporters, having ex- 
 changed their citizens' clothing for a mili- 
 tary garb, were constantly riding about 
 picking up "items" for the Northern press, 
 and doing all they could to divert attention 
 from General Banks by dwelling on what 
 they were pleased to call "the shortcom- 
 ings of the Navy." 
 
 One of their principal points was that the 
 expedition was a failure, partly because the 
 Navy commenced collecting cotton along 
 the river in violation of an understanding 
 General Banks had with the Confederates. 
 From this it would appear that the Union 
 Army entered the Red River country for 
 the purpose of securing the vast amount 
 of cotton therein for the benefit of North- 
 ern manufactories, which were suffering 
 from a scarcity of that material. The idea 
 that the Navy caused the Confederates 
 to burn their cotton and assume a hostile at- 
 
 titude, because it seized some of the staple, 
 is absurd. 
 
 If the cotton was to be taken out of the 
 country for the benefit of the United States, 
 it did not matter who took it, as long as the 
 Government received it, which it was sure 
 to do if captured by the Navy. 
 
 All the cotton seized by the Navy was 
 taken according to law, sent to the U. S. 
 Marshal at Cairo, Illinois, and every form 
 gone through with to avoid loss. Out of 
 the many thousand bales sent to Cairo not 
 a pound was lost or unaccounted for. 
 
 In seizing cotton, the naval officers acted 
 by direct authority of the Navy and Treas- 
 ury Departments; besides, the laws of war 
 authorized them to take possession of all 
 contraband goods and make a return there- 
 of to the Government. So carefully were 
 these returns made out that to this day 
 claimants for cotton seized on Red River, 
 etc., consult naval receipt-books in perfect 
 faith, knowing that the account of every 
 cotton transaction will be found carefully 
 registered. 
 
 On first entering Red River the vessels of 
 the Navy commenced taking possession of 
 cotton within half-a-mile of the banks, that 
 being as far as they could go for want of 
 transportation, and in and near Alexandria 
 they received three thousand bales, mostly 
 marked "C. S. A.," the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment having purchased at a low figure a 
 large portion of the cotton in the trans- 
 Mississippi States, hoping to get it to a 
 market some time or other. 
 
 The Admiral also ordered three thousand 
 bales, seized up the Washita River, which 
 was not considered within the limits of this 
 expedition. Nearly five hundred bales of 
 the first lot picked up near Alexandria was 
 returned to the owners on their furnishing 
 proof that it was their private property. 
 
 Some persons belonging to the Navy on 
 one occasion went back three miles into the 
 country with a couple of mule-teams, for 
 the purpose of bringing out Confederate 
 cotton ; but, as this interfered with Army 
 arrangements in the cotton business, the 
 party was turned back by the pickets, and 
 their expedition was almost barren of re- 
 sults. 
 
 What we have stated embraces all that 
 the Navy did in the way of seizing cotton. 
 Never, after leaving Alexandria to go up 
 the river, did a naval vessel interfere with 
 cotton except in some cases to pick up bales 
 floating in the stream; and as it was not de- 
 sired that the officers and men should be 
 diverted from what was considered the 
 main object of the expedition, viz., the cap- 
 ture of Shreveport, all this cotton was 
 thrown overboard. 
 
 In regard to cotton. General Banks and 
 the Admiral were playing at ci'oss purposes 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 535 
 
 from the beginning to the end of the cam- 
 paign. Had the General communicated 
 freely with him in regard to his plans, or 
 shown him any instructions which would 
 have authorized him to call upon the Navy 
 to assist in reclaiming cotton, much as the 
 Admiral would have disliked seeing the 
 Navy subordinated to so ignoble an enter- 
 prise he would still have co-operated to the 
 best of his ability. 
 
 General Banks, however, did nothing of 
 the kind. He represented that his only ob- 
 ject was to carry out the orders of General 
 Halleck, dated Washington, November 9, 
 1862, viz.: "To ascend the Red River with 
 a military and naval force as far as it is 
 navigable, and thus open an outlet for the 
 sugar and cotton of northern Louisiana." 
 
 With regard to the originators of this ex- 
 pedition and their motives we will speak in 
 another place ; our present object is to ex- 
 pose the misrepresentations made against 
 the Navy in regard to cotton, although we 
 might well rest on the statement of Hon. 
 D. M. Gooch, M. C, who drew up the report 
 of the Committee on the Conduct of the 
 War, in which he says : " Whatever there 
 may have been of feeling between the 
 Army and the Navy in relation to the seiz- 
 ure of cotton, an examination of all the 
 testimony will show that the military op- 
 erations were no^; interfered with by any 
 operation in cotton; the delays at the points 
 where those operations were carried out 
 were occasioned wholly by other causes." 
 
 Mr. Gooch, and one or two other members 
 of the committee favorable to Banks, tried 
 to draw the attention of the public from 
 the latter's mistakes to what they wished 
 to make appear as complaints against the 
 Navy. The attempt was not a success, 
 since nothing was shown by any credible 
 evidence in regard to naval cotton opera- 
 tions beyond what we have stated above 
 
 The most that could be stated by any of 
 the witnesses, some of whom were not 
 at all particular in confining themselves to 
 the truth, was that the Navy seized cotton 
 as contraband of war and refused to give 
 receipts for it ; which was not the case, as 
 receipts were given, in every instance, by 
 which those persons who established a 
 claim to any of the cotton received the 
 value of it, after the war, through the 
 United States courts. 
 
 Any one who will take the trouble to read 
 the report of tbe Committee on the Conduct 
 of the War, will see that in the vast amount 
 of evidence given, some of it by persons 
 very unfriendly to the Navy, there is noth- 
 ing to implicate the latter in anything they 
 were not in duty bound to do. 
 
 When General Kilby Smith was asked by 
 the committee what he understood to be the 
 object of the expedition, he answered : 
 
 " It has been a mystery to me, save what 
 transpired en route. In my own mind, I 
 came to the conclusion it was what might 
 be called, in military parlance, a mercantile 
 expedition, that is, an expedition for the 
 purpose of opening the country to trade, or, 
 perhaps, taking advantage of a victorious 
 march to gather up what might naturally 
 fall to the Army or Government in spoils," 
 which is, for General Kilby Smith, a pretty 
 fair way of putting it. 
 
 That the expedition was also designed 
 to hold some prominent point in Texas 
 there is no doubt; but it is no less a fact 
 that it degenerated into a cotton raid, for 
 the benefit of individuals at the expense 
 of the Government. That the expedition 
 was unwise and unmilitary no one now 
 hesitates to assert, for all can see what was 
 seen then by many, that it should never 
 have been undertaken at all. 
 
 After the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hud- 
 son, the Federals held both banks of the 
 Mississippi, and gun-boats had access to its 
 tributaries for at least a hundred miles into 
 the heart of the enemy's country. 
 
 It was desirable that everything west of 
 the Mississippi should be kept there, and it 
 was to the Federal advantage that the Con- 
 federates should be left to support the large 
 force of their troops in that quarter, who 
 were eating the inhabitants out of house 
 and home, and, with the recklessness of half- 
 disciplined soldiers, destroying twice as 
 much as they could consume. The enemy 
 had not sufficient force to attempt any seri- 
 ous offensive movements, and simply lived 
 on the inhabitants, who were heartily tired 
 of them and their cause. 
 
 If the United States Government was 
 anxious that the cotton should come out, 
 it was only necessary to proclaim to the 
 inhabitants of Louisiana that the country 
 was open to trade, and that permits would 
 be given for cotton and sugar to be shipped 
 to New Orleans. Such a course would have 
 benefitted the North much more than an ex- 
 pensive military expedition, even had the 
 latter been successful. 
 
 It may be argued that the Confederate 
 generals would have prevented the execu- 
 tion of such a project, but from the fact that 
 Gen. Kirby Smith entered into an arrange- 
 ment to let cotton go out under the auspices 
 of General Banks, and that the officers cap- 
 tured while shipping cotton to New Orleans 
 from the west bank of the Mississippi were 
 in the Confederate service, we are inclined 
 to believe there would have been little diffi- 
 culty in this connection. 
 
 The cotton and sugar in Louisiana, after 
 the Mississippi was opened, was virtually 
 lost to the Confederates, public and private. 
 Much of the cotton had been for three years 
 lying but partially protected, and some of it 
 
536 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 had rotted. We saw one pile of six hundred 
 bales so decayed as to be absolutely worth- 
 less. 
 
 The Confederates had no means of trans- 
 porting the cotton across the country to the 
 sea-coast except by wagons, a proceeding 
 that would not have paid expenses, and 
 General Banks when he arrived at Alexan- 
 dria should have recognized that fact, if he 
 did not know it before. 
 
 It would have been the simplest thing in 
 the world for General Banks to have held 
 Alexandria, which is exactly in the centre 
 of western Louisiana, and lies on a large 
 river, by which he could at all times be sup- 
 plied with stores and reinforcements. He 
 had everything to justify him in adopting 
 this course, even if his original orders were 
 to invade Texas through the Red River 
 region. 
 
 General Grant, after becoming Com- 
 mander-in-chief of the western armies, di- 
 rected Banks, on or before the 5th of May, 
 to return General A. J. Smith's command 
 to General Sherman, and that he should 
 march upon Mobile with what forces he had. 
 As Banks paid no attention to this com- 
 mand, he was guilty of disobedience of or- 
 ders. He did not move from Alexandria 
 upon Shreveport until the 29th of March, and 
 there was not time between that date and 
 the 5th of May to accomplish the campaign, 
 even with uninterrupted success, which no 
 one but Banks himself counted on. 
 
 Banks' holding Alexandria and opening 
 the country to commerce would probably 
 not have been opposed by the Confederate 
 generals; but when he attempted to move 
 into the heart of the country at the same 
 time that Steele with a large army was ad- 
 vancing to join him, the Confederates saw 
 that it was the subjugation of all Louisiana 
 and the invasion of Texas that was contem- 
 plated. 
 
 Banks finally accomplished for the Con- 
 federates more than they could have hoped 
 to do for themselves, turning their trans- 
 Mississippi department from a rather harm- 
 less affair into one of importance, provided 
 writh powerful artillery and small arms 
 captured from his army. 
 
 The Confederates thus encouraged as- 
 sembled a large army, composed of Texans 
 and others, under enterprising leaders, who 
 animated their men with their own spirit, 
 and, encouraged by their unexpected suc- 
 cess against the Federal arms, were getting 
 ready to resume that system of warfare the 
 Navy experienced so much trouble in break- 
 ing up. 
 
 If they did not put their old tactics in op- 
 eration, it was because they deemed it wiser 
 to let well alone, having driven one of the 
 best appointed of the Union armies out of 
 their country. 
 
 General Banks labored under the disad- 
 vantage not only of having some inefficient 
 staff-officers, but of not being in accord 
 with the officers of the regular Army who 
 commanded the 13th, 16th and 19th corps. 
 
 Most of the civilians who undertook the 
 command of armies were wise enough to 
 select a capable soldier as chief- of-staff and 
 surrounded themselves with as much mili- 
 tary talent as possible ; but Banks having pre- 
 viously succeeded in all that he had under- 
 taken, having been a popular Governor and 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
 thought himself equal in military abilities 
 to any army officer; and although in every 
 operation of consequence undertaken by 
 him he failed of success, yet he assumed as 
 much as Ceesar did after he had conquered 
 the world. 
 
 The duties of the chief -of-staff of a civ- 
 ilian general were much more important 
 than those of the chief -of -staff of a regular 
 officer, and the Government, recognizing 
 %\\Q possible inexperience of their volunteer 
 generals, endeavored to place with each of 
 them an officer of experience, whose duties 
 were so onerous as hardly gave him time to 
 eat or sleep. 
 
 The history of the civil war establishes 
 that, wherever these educated chief s-of-staff 
 were supported by their civilian generals, 
 the latter got along much better than those 
 who, like Banks, chose to ignore the chief- 
 of -staff altogether. 
 
 It was plain to any one from the begin- 
 ning of naval intercourse with General 
 Banks, that he and General Stone were not 
 on good terms, and that Banks relied chiefly 
 on one of his aides, who had received no 
 regular military training, and was about as 
 ignorant of the art of war as it was possi- 
 ble for a man to be. 
 
 Before the Army left Alexandria any one 
 could see that General Stone did not exer- 
 cise the influence over military movements 
 that a chief-of-staff should, and this be- 
 came more apparent in the advance to- 
 wards Shreveport in the matter of assigning 
 proper positions to the different portions 
 of the Army, and in other respects; for a 
 chief-of-staff is supposed to be on the 
 most confidential terms with the Com- 
 mander-in-chief, and is in duty bound to 
 see his plans carried out. 
 
 General Banks complains that Stone's 
 judgment was not good, and therefore he 
 had to rely on some one else. He states 
 that although General Stone was on the 
 field at Sabme Cross Roads all day, yet he 
 did not insist on the concentration of the 
 Federal forces, nor did he seem to be aware 
 that the enemy were in force in his front. 
 
 Now, Banks was on the field himself, and 
 did not do any of the things he blames 
 Stone for not doing. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 537 
 
 From all we can learn, General Stone was 
 untiring in his efforts to perform his duty 
 at Pleasant Hill, yet at the close of the en- 
 gagement he was remftved from his position 
 and General Dwight put in his place. It 
 was necessary to make a scapegoat of 
 some one ; and as Stone was unpopular 
 with the general public, on account of the 
 disaster at Ball's Bluff, he was selected to 
 bear the blame of failure. 
 
 General Stone was perfectly subordi- 
 nate and desirous to make himself accept- 
 able to General Banks, though he would 
 not lend himself to any of the doubtful pro- 
 ceedings carried on under the eye of the 
 commanding general. General Stone was 
 particularly careful that due courtesy should 
 be paid to the Navy and all proper requests 
 granted. We think he had the highest re- 
 spect of Franklin, Emory and A. J. Smith, 
 which is a creditable proof of his capacity. 
 
 We believe Colonel Clarke did everything 
 in his power to supersede General Stone in 
 General Banks' favor. Clarke, by his own 
 account, was in the advance during the 
 hardest of General Lee's fighting, having 
 joined him with orders to " press the 
 fighting." From Lee he returned to Gen- 
 eral Banks at Pleasant Hill, and gave it 
 as his opinion that Lee was in a danger- 
 ous position, at least eight miles from in- 
 fantry support, in immediate presence of a 
 superior force, and that he would be at- 
 tacked by daylight. He thought Lee should 
 be reinforced by one infantry brigade ! but 
 says nothing about Lee's being helped out 
 of the scrape until the main body of the 
 army should come up, notwithstanding 
 Banks had expressed his surprise that the 
 advance-guard had not been composed of 
 infantry, cavalry and artillery. In all the 
 evidence given by Colonel Clarke before 
 the committee, it is evident he wishes to re- 
 lieve Banks of any responsibility and throw 
 the blame on others, as if the general com- 
 manding should not know all that was go- 
 ing on and be held responsible for the bad 
 arrangements of his army. 
 
 After Stone was removed, General Dwight 
 became chief-of -staff; but if it was intended 
 to benefit by his services as a military ad- 
 viser, it was too late to do so. On general 
 subjects connected with this expedition, 
 Dwight's opinion was very clear, and we 
 think he condemned the plan as much as 
 any one. 
 
 General Dwight's opinions in regard to 
 cotton transactions are worth notice. He 
 does not hesitate to say that the object of 
 the expedition was a mercantile one, for the 
 purpose of getting out cotton; but he is 
 wrong in his assertion that, had not the 
 Navy seized the cotton, the enemy would 
 not have commenced burning it. What cot- 
 ton the Navy seized was below Alexandria. 
 
 They never touched a bale after leaving 
 that place, and the enemy never commenced 
 burning until the Army was on its march 
 to Grand Ecore, which seemed to be the 
 signal for the destruction of the cotton. The 
 enemy had no means of knowing whether 
 the Navy was seizing cotton or not. It was 
 the army trains that went ten miles into 
 the interior to pick it up, and it was a well- 
 known fact that the naval authorities sur- 
 rendered every bale which was shown to be 
 private property. 
 
 Constant applications were made to the 
 Admiral and to his officers to seize cotton 
 which had been bought up by speculators, 
 and send it to Cairo for them, which was 
 invariably declined, although all the pro- 
 tection asked for was given when their 
 cotton was on board a transport. Very 
 few of these people desired to have their 
 cotton get into the hands of the Army, for 
 they had to pay the quartermaster ten dol- 
 lars a bale for transportation, with no cer- 
 tainty of getting possession of their prop- 
 erty in the end; while hundreds of bales 
 which had been seized by the Navy were 
 returned to their owners in Cairo, Illinois, 
 without any expense for transportation. 
 These facts were proved in evidence by 
 Lieutenant-Commander K. R Breese, of the 
 Navy, and others, and many instances could 
 be cited from the books kept at Cairo. Illi- 
 nois, by Captain A. M. Pennock, Chief -of- 
 Staff. 
 
 If this expedition was intended as a com- 
 mercial one, the Army and Navy command- 
 ers should have received such instructions 
 that there would have been no clashing of 
 interests; but while Banks was sent up the 
 Red River as he supposed on a special mis- 
 sion "to let the cotton come within the 
 Federal lines," which was done by sending 
 out escorted wagons for it, the Admiral 
 was under instructions to seize it as con- 
 traband of war wherever he could find it. 
 No method of getting the cotton out of the 
 country was indicated ; and as the Navy 
 succeeded in turning over to the Govern- 
 ment 6,000 bales from the Red and Washita 
 Rivers, their plan worked better than did 
 that of General Banks. 
 
 All the inhabitants of the country cared 
 for was to get their cotton out, trusting to 
 the future for payment, for there was 
 not a single intelligent person in that re- 
 gion who did not know how the war must 
 terminate ; and, although they intended to 
 fight to the end, the Confederate mili- 
 tary authorities were willing to see the 
 people derive what benefit they could from 
 their cotton. They had almost impover- 
 ished the inhabitants by quartering troops 
 on them, and took this method to reimburse 
 them! especially as one or two of their lead- 
 ers (Kirby Smith, for instance) had a per- 
 
538 
 
 THE NAVAL tiliiiUKi 
 
 sonal interest in saving this valuable com- 
 modity from destruction. The Confederates 
 determined to destroy the cotton only when 
 they thought they could no longer share m 
 the benefits. . 
 
 That there was a tacit understandmg be- 
 tween General Banks and the enemy was 
 the general belief, and the evidence of 
 General Dwight, his own chief -of -stall, 
 corroborates this belief. It was an arrange- 
 ment in which neither the Navy nor the 
 three corps commanders had any part; and 
 we must say that disastrous as was this ex- 
 pedition to the cotton interest, we rejoice at 
 the Navy not having participated m ar- 
 rangements which were considered dis- 
 creditable to all concerned. If the Confed- 
 erates could sell all their products as they 
 pleased, and receive money or supplies in 
 return, the war might have been greatly 
 prolonged. 
 
 The question as to the origin of the Red 
 Eiver expedition has been settled by Gen- 
 eral Grant, as before stated, but that re- 
 garding the object of the same is still 
 shrouded in mystery. 
 
 General Halleck, in his testimony before 
 the "Committee on the Conduct of the 
 War," Feb. 10, 1865, says: 
 
 " The object of the expedition, as I understood it 
 at the thue, -was to form a j unction between the 
 forces under General Steele and those under General 
 Banlvs, so as to shorten the line of defence on the 
 western side of the Mississippi River, and to estab- 
 lish a position within the State of Texas which 
 should be permanently held, it being considered an 
 important object, by the executive branch of the 
 Government at that time, that a post should be held 
 at all consequences within the State of Texas." 
 
 General Halleck further remarked that 
 the Government had never received any re- 
 port from Banks in regard to the failure of 
 the expedition. 
 
 Halleck considered the Red River the best 
 line to accomplish this object, although he 
 acknowledges that the character of the 
 navigation was known to be ''precarious, 
 at times good, at other times utterly im- 
 practicable." This last happened to be 
 the condition when Banks' expedition 
 started, which is why the Admiral strongly 
 objected to going up the river at that time. 
 
 Any one who studies the map of Louisiana 
 can estimate the value of General Halleck's 
 judgment in favoring such a scheme. He 
 wanted a point in Texas to hold perma- 
 nently. With the aid of gun-boats 40,000 
 men could have been landed near Sabine 
 Pass, and all that was worth anything in 
 Texas would have been at the disposal of 
 Federal forces. Sabine Lake was there 
 to shelter any number of light-draft trans- 
 ports, with quick transportation and naval 
 protection. Instead of this, two armies 
 were started 500 miles apart, with no chance 
 
 of communicating on the way, to march 
 through vast swamps and woods, across nu- 
 merous rivers and streams, and over very 
 difficult roads. * 
 
 General Grant saw the folly of this scheme 
 and disapproved the attempt ; but, even 
 although he had taken Vicksburg, he did 
 not feel strong enough to oppose so power- 
 ful a politician as General Banks, or the 
 plans formed in Washington by General 
 Halleck, who called them the " views of the 
 Administration." General Banks himself 
 seems originally to have favored an expe- 
 dition to Sabine Pass, having some notion 
 of the difficulties that would beset an expe- 
 dition into Texas by any other route, and, 
 indeed, to have expressed himself in opposi- 
 tion to General Halleck"s "views." 
 
 A great fear seems to have possessed the 
 minds of Halleck and Banks that, after the 
 fall of Port Hudson and Vicksburg, New 
 Orleans was in danger of capture from 
 Texas, although a large portion of the 
 country is intersected with bayous, across 
 which it would take an army a long time to 
 build bridges, where no supplies could be 
 obtained, and where the enemy were as ac- 
 cessible to the Federals as the latter were 
 to them. The greatest danger to be feared 
 after the fall of Vicksburg was the army of 
 General Joseph E. Johnston, 40,000 strong, 
 which, still intact and in good discipline, 
 moved towards the coast apparently in the 
 direction of Mobile. Yet at that time, when 
 it was necessary to be on his guard against 
 such an energetic commander. Banks was 
 intent on a march on Shreveport, although 
 in a letter to Halleck he says : 
 
 "The rivers and bayous have not been so low in 
 this State for fifty years, and Admiral Porter in- 
 forms me that the mouth of the Red River, and also 
 the mouth of the Atchafalaya, are both hermetic- 
 ally sealed to his vessels by almost dry sand-bars, 
 so that he cannot get any of the vessels into any of 
 the streams. It is supposed that the first rise of 
 the season will occur early in the next month.'' (!) 
 
 AVhatever may have been Banks' plans 
 for an advance into Texas, he was evidently 
 much hampered by the orders and sug- 
 gestions he was constantly receiving from 
 General Halleck, who seemed to change his 
 opinion every time the wind shifted, a pro- 
 ceeding likelj^ to confuse Banks and compel 
 him to alter his plans as often as Halleck 
 did. 
 
 Why the Sabine Pass expedition failed 
 does not appear ; but most of Banks' ex- 
 peditions failed, and there is little on 
 record from General Banks to account for 
 these failures. While Halleck in one let- 
 ter professes to leave Banks at liberty to 
 act as he pleases, in the next holds him fast 
 by making " suggestions," which from a 
 superior officer are equivalent to positive 
 commands. The only sensible dispatch 
 from General Halleck is one dated January 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 539 
 
 4, 1864, in which, after urging the Red 
 River project, he says : 
 
 "So long as your plans are not positively decided 
 upon, no definite instructions can be given to Sher- 
 man and Steele. The best thing, it would seem, to 
 he done under the circumstances is for you to com- 
 municate with them and also with Admiral Porter 
 in regard to some general co-operation all agree 
 upon; what is the best plan of operations if the 
 stage of water in the river and other circumstances 
 should be favorable. If not, it must be modified or 
 changed." 
 
 As Captain Cuttle would say : " Here is 
 an opinion as is an opinion," and it would 
 have been well if Banks had followed Hal- 
 leck's advice; but, whatever the General's 
 consultations were with others, he never 
 deigned to consult with the Admiral, and 
 paid no attention to his opinions. 
 
 About the time that Halleck began to 
 agitate his plan for the invasion of Texas, 
 all the armies of the West had been placed 
 under command of General Grant, and the 
 latter had conceived the idea of sending 
 Sherman through the Southern States east 
 of the Mississippi, on what was called the 
 " march to the sea." 
 
 On the 31st of January, 1864, Sherman 
 wrote to Banks as follows: 
 
 " The Mississippi, though low for the season, is 
 free of ice and in good boating order, but I under- 
 stand Red River is still low. I had a man in from 
 Alexandria yesterday, who reported the "Palls " or 
 Rapids impassable except for the smallest boats. 
 
 "My inland expedition is now working, and I will 
 be off for Jackson, etc., to-morrow. The only fear 
 I have is in the weather ; all the other combina- 
 tions are good. I want to keep up the delusion of 
 an attack on Mobile and the Alabama River, and 
 therefore would be obliged to you if you would keep 
 up a foraging or other expedition in that direction. 
 
 " My orders frorh General Grant will not as yet 
 justify me in embarking for Red River, though I 
 am very anxious to operate in that direction. The 
 moment I learned you were preparing for it, I sent 
 a communication to Admiral Porter and dispatches 
 to General Grant, at Chattanooga, asking him if he 
 wanted me and Steele to co-operate with you against 
 Shreveport, and I will have his answer in time, for 
 you cannot do anything until Red River has twelve 
 feet of water on the rapids at Alexandria. That 
 will be from March till June. I have lived on Red 
 River and know somewhat of the phases of that 
 stream." 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding Sherman's warning 
 him that the rise will not take place before 
 March or perhaps June, and the Admiral's 
 repeated asseverations to that effect, Banks 
 pushes on the expedition in April, when the 
 river was falling four inches per day. 
 
 The following is an extract of a letter 
 from General Halleck to General Banks, 
 dated February 3, 1864 : 
 
 " I enclose a copy of a communication from Ad- 
 miral Porter which shows the condition of Red 
 River and the Atchafalaya. Prom this it would 
 appear that some delay would occur before any 
 extensive operations can be carried on in that 
 quarter. " 
 
 Suffice to say, all Admiral Porter's letters 
 recommended that no attempt should be 
 
 made via Red River until the water had 
 actually risen to a height sufficient to in- 
 sure the success of the expedition. He men- 
 tioned the different years in which there 
 had been no rise, and the signs of the times 
 made it probable there would not be suffi- 
 cient water that season to undertake an ex- 
 pedition to Shreveport, if the co-operation 
 of gun-boats and transports was required. 
 
 In the voluminous correspondence be- 
 tween Halleck and Banks that took place 
 in regard to the proposed expedition, each 
 evidently wishes to place the responsibility 
 on the other in case of failure to reach 
 Shreveport. On March 5, 1864, Halleck 
 Avrote to Banks : 
 
 "When General Sherman left Vicksburg he ex- 
 pected to return there by the 1st of March, to co- 
 operate with you west of the Mississippi, but he was 
 of opinion that the condition of the river would not 
 be favorable until a later period. I think it most 
 probable that before this reaches you he will have 
 returned to Vicksburg, or some other point on the 
 river. Whether he has received any recent orders 
 in regard to his movements from General Grant, I 
 am not advised, nor have I any information of Gen- 
 eral Steele's plans, further than that all his move- 
 ments will be directed to facilitate your operations 
 toward Shreveport." 
 
 Halleck was always, it would seem, 
 "harping on my daughter." On March 
 12, 1864, General Steele sent a dispatch to 
 Halleck, of which the following is an ex- 
 tract : 
 
 " General Banks with 17,000 men and 10,000 of 
 Sherman's will be in Alexandriaon the 17th. * * * * 
 Sherman insists upon my moving upon Shreveport 
 to co-operate with the above-mentioned forces with 
 all my effective forces. I have prepared to do so 
 against my own judgment and that of the best-in- 
 formed people here. The roads are mostly, if not 
 all, impracticable; the country is destitute of provis- 
 ions on the route we would have to take. I made 
 a proposition to General Banks to threaten the 
 enemy's flank and rear with all my cavalry, and to 
 make a feint with infantry on the Washington road. 
 I yielded to Sherman and Blunt as far as this plan 
 is concerned. B. wants me to move by Munroe to 
 Red River ; Sherman wants me to go by Camden 
 and Overton to Shreveport. The latter is imprac- 
 ticable, and the former plan would expose the line 
 of the Arkansas and Missouri to cavalry raids. I 
 can move with about 7,000 men. Our scouting 
 parties frequently have skirmishes with detached 
 parties all over the State, and if they should form 
 in my rear in considerable force I should be obliged 
 to fall back to save my depot. Please give me your 
 opinion immediately, as I shall march to-morrow or 
 next day." 
 
 To which Halleck answered : 
 
 "I advise that you proceed to co-operate in the 
 movement of Banks and Sherman on Shreveport, 
 unless General Grant orders differently, I send to 
 him the substance of your telegram."' 
 
 The same day Halleck telegraphed Gen- 
 eral Grant as follows : 
 
 "General Steele telegraphs that Banks with 17,000 
 men, and Sherman with 10,000, move from Alexan- 
 dria on Shreveport, and wish him to co-operate. 
 He says he can go with 7,000 effective men, but ob- 
 jects to the movement on account of bad roads and 
 eruerillas. and Drefers to remain on the defensive 
 
540 
 
 THE NAVAL HJSTOKr 
 
 line of the Arkansas. I have replied that he should 
 co-operate with Banks and Sherman, unless you di- 
 rect otherwise. His objections on account of guer- 
 illas threatening his rear will apply equally to an 
 advance at any time into the enemy's country." 
 
 On the 15th of March, General Halleck, 
 as chief-of-staff, telegraphed to General 
 Grant as follows: 
 
 "A dispatch just received from General Banks, 
 dated March 6. He expects to effect a junction 
 with Sherman's forces (Smith's Division) on Red 
 River, on the 17th. He desires that positive orders 
 be sent to Steele to move in conjunction with them 
 for Red River, with all his available force. Sher- 
 man and Banks are of opinion that Steele can do 
 much more than make a demonstration, as he last 
 proposed. A telegram from yo a might decide him. " 
 
 After reading the above dispatches, we 
 are forced to the conclusion that Generals 
 Halleck and Banks are responsible for the 
 Red River expedition, one of the wildest 
 schemes, in a military point of view, ever 
 proposed. The Navy went into the affair 
 with the knowledge that failure was almost 
 certain, yet did its best to insure success. 
 
 Notwithstanding General Halleck was 
 the author of the Red River expedition, 
 General Banks deserves the severest cen- 
 sure for the manner in which he carried 
 out the plan of campaign — if there was any 
 plan. In Halleck's letter, while he urges 
 the Red River as the only practicable route, 
 he constantly reiterates the substance of 
 one communication as follows: 
 
 ' 'While the Grovernment is desirous that Red River 
 and Shreveport should be taken possession of and 
 held as the most important objective point of the 
 operations of a campaign of troops about to take a 
 position where they could command Texas, and es- 
 tablish a better line of defence for Arkansas and 
 Missouri than now occupied by General Steele, 
 yet the Administration does not deshe in any man- 
 ner to control your actions as to the time and man- 
 ner of performing this service, and you will take 
 counsel with Generals Sherman and Steele and Ad- 
 miral Porter as to the best manner of carrying out 
 the expedition." 
 
 How far General Banks acted on these 
 suggestions the reader can judge. Both 
 Halleck and Banks were very desirous to 
 escape the responsibility of the Red River 
 failure. Halleck claims only to have made 
 "suggestions," but suggestions coming 
 from a person who was virtually Com- 
 mander-in-chief of the Army had the 
 weight of orders. They were supposed to 
 be the opinions of the President and the 
 Secretary of War. as well as of General 
 Halleck. 
 
 When the news of the failure of the ex- 
 pedition reached Washington, Banks was 
 written to by way of censure, and informed 
 that his movements regarding the Texas 
 expedition were not approved, and that 
 from the beginning, when the Sabine and 
 Rio Grande expeditions were undertaken, 
 no notice of Banks' movements were re- 
 ceived at the War Department until they 
 
 were actually undertaken. To offset this, 
 we will quote from a letter of General 
 Halleck to Banks, dated February 11, 1864 : 
 
 "If by this is meant that you are waiting for 
 orders from Washington, there must be some mis- 
 apprehension. The substance of my dispatches to 
 you was communicated to the President and Secre- 
 tary of War, and it was understood that while stat- 
 ing my own views in regard to operations, I should 
 leave you free to adopt such lines and plans of cam- 
 paign as you might after a full consideration of the 
 subject deem best. Such I am confident is the pur- 
 port of my dispatches, and it certainly was not in- 
 tended that any of your movements should be de- 
 layed to await instructions from here." 
 
 How much truth there is in this letter 
 can be inferred by comparing it with the 
 three telegrams of Halleck, one of them 
 to Grant, in which Halleck seems deter- 
 mined to manage the whole affair. Banks, 
 no doubt, considered these " suggestions " as 
 instructions, which, had he disregarded, 
 would have most probably resulted in his 
 removal from command. Banks says: 
 
 " In the instructions I received from the Govern- 
 ment, it was left to my discretion whether I would 
 join (?) in the expedition, but I was directed to com- 
 municate with General Sherman, General Steele, 
 and Admiral Porter upon the subject. I expressed 
 the satisfaction I should feel in co-operating with 
 them in a movement deemed of so much import- 
 ance by the Government, to which my own com- 
 mand was unequal, and my belief that with the 
 forces designated it would be entirely successful. 
 
 " Having received from them similar assurances, 
 both my discretion and my authority, so far as the 
 organization of the expedition was concerned, were 
 at an end." 
 
 In all this controversy it will be seen that 
 every one is disposed to ignore responsi- 
 bility, but particularly Halleck. 
 
 General Sherman and the Admiral, after 
 the capture of Vicksburg, had discussed this 
 plan of taking Shreveport by a sudden 
 movement; but they did not intend to leave 
 anything to chance, or to undertake the ex- 
 pedition without plenty of water in the river 
 and a prospect of its continuance in the fu- 
 ture. They would not have ventured in 
 case of atemporary rise — which could always 
 be told by the rapidity with which the water 
 subsided — for if the rise was owing to the 
 head waters of Red River booming, and all 
 the tributaries throwing in their supply at 
 the same time, they could feel certain of a 
 permanently full river. When full. Red 
 River is easily navigable, and any expedi- 
 tion started by Sherman and Admiral Por- 
 ter would have been as successful as the 
 Arkansas Post expedition. Sherman was 
 willing to listen to the Admiral, and the lat- 
 ter always gave that attention to Sherman's 
 opinion which was due to his experience. 
 
 It will strike any one at all conversant 
 with military matters how absurdly the war 
 at this time was conducted from Wash- 
 ington. Here was Grant, just successful in 
 one of the most difficult sieges of modern 
 times, with a great prestige, and supposed 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 541 
 
 to command all the troops in Louisiana, 
 Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, 
 Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio, yet it does not 
 appear that his opinion in regard to the Red 
 River expedition was ever asked. Grant 
 had about that time gone to Chattanooga on 
 a tour of inspection, and thought the Red 
 River expedition of so little importance that 
 he directed General Banks to send back 
 A. J. Smith's command to Sherman after 
 the 5th of May. 
 
 General Grant was opposed to making 
 any great effort to carry on the war west 
 of the Mississippi, where it would take a 
 large army and a large portion of the Navy 
 even to hold the central portion of Louis- 
 iana, which forces would soon be wanted on 
 the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers'. All 
 that was required was for Banks to hold 
 New Orleans against General J. E. John- 
 ston, who might pounce upon it if left un- 
 protected. Banks had not troops enough in 
 his command to authorize the withdrawal 
 of a large force from New Orleans. All he 
 could expect to do was to hold several points 
 on the west bank of the Mississippi, forage in 
 West Louisiana, and prevent supplies from 
 crossing the Mississippi from Texas, and 
 occasionally threatening Mobile, until such 
 time as Grant should direct him to march 
 upon the latter city and capture it, which 
 would have been when Sherman began "his 
 march to the sea. This would have left no 
 enemies in Sherman's rear. He would have 
 had the railroads open behind him, includ- 
 ing the important one from Mobile to Mont- 
 gomery, which, with a Union Army at 
 Mobile, would have insured the pacification 
 of Alabama and Mississippi, and would have 
 prevented any attempt on the part of the 
 Confederates to pursue Sherman's rear; and 
 in case of necessity the Federals could have 
 thrown a large part of Bank's Army by rail 
 upon Montgomery and Atlanta, if Sherman 
 had got into difficulty, and there would have 
 been a line of communication open to Sher- 
 man from the time he started until he 
 reached Savannah. 
 
 General Banks made a report to Mr. 
 Wade, President of the Senate, of his opera- 
 tions from the time he took command at 
 New Orleans until his return from the Red 
 River expedition. The report is interesting, 
 and shows that a great deal of work was 
 projected and a great deal performed. We 
 know nothing of General Banks' perform- 
 ances prior to the advance on Alexandria; 
 but, judging from his statements in re- 
 gard to matters that came under our cog- 
 nizance, we should pronounce the report 
 partial. No report was made public by 
 the War Department until the General ap- 
 peared before the Committee on the Con- 
 duct of the War. 
 
 After the war he makes the report, to 
 
 which we have alluded, to go before the 
 country. His military service was over, 
 and having to explain to his constituents 
 the reasons for his failure, he did not hesi- 
 tate to misstate the facts in order to throw 
 the blame on others. There is so much 
 misrepresentation in regard to the events 
 in which the Navy took part, as narrated 
 by General Banks, that one is naturally dis- 
 posed to doubt the truth of the whole re- 
 port. Banks blames General Franklin for 
 not reaching Alexandria sooner, but the 
 latter shows that he was not to blame, as 
 he only received the order to advance from 
 the town of TTranklin on the 13th of March. 
 Banks informed General Franklin tliat he 
 had promised to meet the Admiral in Alex- 
 andria on the 17tTi of March, and as the 
 latter place is 175 miles from the town of 
 Franklin, of course it was impossible to 
 fulfill this promise. Besides, on the 10th 
 of March only 3,000 of the troops which 
 were to form that arm of the expedition 
 were on the ground — "the remainder had 
 just arrived from Texas and were at Ber- 
 wick Bay without transportation, and the 
 cavalry had not arrived from New Or- 
 leans." 
 
 Franklin started on the 13th, and his ad- 
 vance-guard reached Alexandria on the 
 25th, the rear-guard and pontoon train on 
 the 26th and 27th. Thus Franklin marched 
 at the rate of sixteen miles a day over bad 
 roads, having to build many bridges across 
 streams; while Banks, who had agreed to 
 be at Alexandria on the 17th, only arrived 
 on the 2;)th in a fast steamer — yet General 
 Banks undertakes to say that Franklin re- 
 ceived orders to march on the 7th, and de- 
 layed him that much. He also said the gun- 
 boats delayed him at Alexandria, whereas the 
 "Louisville," " Carondelet," "Pittsburgh," 
 "Mound City," "Osage," and "Neosho," 
 all heavy iron-clads, together with the "Lex- 
 ington," "Cricket," "Gazelle," "Coving- 
 ton," "Signal," and "Juliet," light-drafts, 
 were all above the " Falls," ready to move 
 at a moment's notice; while the command- 
 ing officers of the "Choctaw," "Ozark," 
 "Ouichita" and "Eastport" were informed 
 that they might pass above the "Falls" if 
 they could; and, if they did get over, to 
 assemble at Grand Ecore and remain there 
 to protect that place. 
 
 In one part of Banks' report he attempts 
 to make capital out of a very small mat- 
 ter. After Admiral Farragut attempted 
 to pass the batteries at Port Hudson, which 
 he only succeeded in doing with two vessels, 
 General Banks opened communication with 
 him through the Atchafalaya by means of 
 the gun-boats "Ansonia" and " Estrella." 
 Banks says in his report : 
 
 "On the 5th of May our headquarters at Opel- 
 ousas was broken up and the troops moved for 
 
543 
 
 THE IS AVAL JJISTUKr 
 
 Alexandria, a distance of from 90 to 100 miles, making 
 this march in three days, four hours. Moving 
 rapidly to the rear of Fort de Russy, a strong work 
 on Red River, we compelled the immediate evacua- 
 tion of that post by the enemy, and enabled the 
 fleet of gun-boats under Admiral Porter to pass up 
 to Alexandria without firing a gun. The Army 
 reached Alexandria the 9th of May (1863), in the 
 evening, the Navy having reached there the morn- 
 ing of the same day. The enemy continued his re- 
 treat in the direction of Shreveport." 
 
 The facts of the case are as follows, un- 
 impoi'tant as they may be : After landing 
 General Grant's troops fifteen miles below- 
 Grand Gulf, taking possession of that place 
 and removing all the guns, the Admiral left 
 at noon. May 3, 1863, and arrived that even- 
 ing at the mouth of the Red River, and 
 communicated with Admiral Farragut. 
 He had with him the gun-boats " Benton," 
 "Lafayette," "Pittsburg," -'Price," ram 
 "Switzerland," and tug " Ivy." 
 
 Admiral Farragut informed Porter that, 
 hearing that General Banks proposed march- 
 ing on Alexandria, he had sent the "An- 
 sonia" and "Estrella," under Lieutenant- 
 Commander A. P. Cooke, up Red River, to 
 try and communicate with the General, but 
 he feared, as they were light vessels, they 
 might fail. On this. Admiral Porter of- 
 fered to go up himself with the force he 
 had, and started accordingly on the 4th 
 with the above-named vessels, arriving at 
 Fort De Russy on the 5th. On the way 
 up he met the two gun-boats returning, 
 their commanding officer (Cooke) inform- 
 ing Admiral Porter that his wheel had 
 been disabled by a shell from Fort De Russy; 
 the other vessel was struck, " but there was 
 no one hurt." As the vessels were light, 
 Lieutenant - Commander Cooke could do 
 nothing against the enemy. The Admiral 
 directed him to return with him, as he 
 should need his vessels, and shortly after 
 took possession of Fort De Russy. It was 
 a strong work, with three casemated guns 
 and a flanking battery nearly at right 
 angles, calculated to mount seven moi'e 
 guns. 
 
 Now, be it remembered, the ISTavy took 
 possession of Fort De Russy — no very im- 
 portant event — on the morning of May 5, 
 1863, while General Banks oialy started on 
 that day from Opelousas, distant, he says, 
 from Alexandria, one hundred miles ; yet 
 he claims to have caused the evacuation of 
 the post, "enabling the Navy to pass up to 
 Alexandria without firing a gun." (!) How 
 he could get in the rear of De Russy and 
 cause its evacuation, when he had not 
 started from Opelousas until late on the day 
 it was captured by the Navy, is a mystery, 
 and military men should make a note of it 
 for future reference. There was no opposi- 
 tion in getting to Alexandria, for there were 
 tlifn no troops in that region, only a few 
 officers and a gang of negroes working at 
 
 Fort De Russy. The people all along the 
 river were glad to see the Union flag, and 
 when the Navy reached Alexandria it was 
 as quiet as a country village in Massachu-" 
 setts. 
 
 General Banks claims in his report that, 
 after the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hud- 
 son, his whole aim was the capture of Mo- 
 bile, which was of more importance to the 
 Union than the capture of a dozen Shreve- 
 ports. He claims to have been " opposed to 
 the expedition up Red River, which had been 
 explored thoroughly in the spring campaign 
 of 1863, and that he was satisfied it was im- 
 practicable, if not impossible, for the pur- 
 pose entertained by the Government." Yet 
 so intent was General Banks on going that 
 route that he appealed to Admiral Porter in 
 such a manner that the latter could not de- 
 cline to accompany him, and on more than 
 one occasion he was referred to the Admi- 
 ral's objections by General Halleck, who, 
 although wishing to avoid responsibility 
 and to throw the blame on Banks in case of 
 failure, was as eager for this raid as any 
 one. 
 
 If Banks simply wanted to hold a strong 
 point in Texas, he had the opportunity at 
 Sabine Pass, which was the nearest point to 
 his base of operations, and into which place 
 he could from time to time have thrown as 
 many troops as he pleased, and kept them 
 under protection of the naval forces. Banks 
 fitted out an expedition to that place, but it 
 was a failure. 
 
 In reviewing General Banks' report, it 
 is our purpose to give him the benefit of 
 his own words, which, although specious 
 enough, ar«5 sufficient, if carefully studied, 
 to condemn him out of his own mouth. 
 He says : 
 
 " In order that the inherent difficulties attending 
 the proposed combined movement — which had been 
 thoroughly tested in the campaign of 1863 and 1864, 
 and which I had represented with as much earnest- 
 ness as seemed to be proper— might be presented in 
 a manner most likely to gam attention, I directed 
 Major D. C. Houston, chief engineer of the depart- 
 ment — who possessed the highest claims to favor- 
 able consideration from professional qualifications 
 and experience, and his acquaintance with the 
 route — to prepare a memorial upon operations on 
 Red River, which had been long under considera- 
 tion. This was transmitted to the headquarters of 
 the army, and appeared to have received the atten- 
 tion and approval of the general-in-ehief. It stated 
 with precision the obstacles to be encountered, and 
 the measures necessary to accomplish the object in 
 view. No change would be required in this state- 
 ment if it had been written in review rather than 
 in anticipation of the campaign. It recommended 
 as a condition indispensable to success : 1st, such 
 complete preliminary organization as would avoid 
 the least delay in our movements after the cam- 
 paign had opened ; 3d, that a line of supply be 
 established from the Mississippi independent of 
 water-courses ; 3d, the concentration of the forces 
 west of the Mississippi, and such i«ther force as 
 should be assigned to this duty from General Sher- 
 man's command, in such a manner as to expel the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 543 
 
 enemy from northern Louisiana and Arkansas ; 
 4th, such preparation and concert of action among 
 the different corps employed as to prevent the en- 
 emy, by keeping him constantly engaged, from op- 
 erating against our positions or forces elsewhere ; 
 and, 5th, that the entire force should be placed un- 
 der the command of a single General. Preparations 
 for a long campaign were advised, and the month 
 of May indicated as the point of time when the oc- 
 cupation of Shreveport might be anticipated. Not 
 one of tliese suggestions, so necessary in conquer- 
 ing the inherent difficulties of the expedition, was 
 carried into execution, nor was it in my power to 
 establish them. The troops under command of 
 General Steele were acting independently of my 
 command, under orders not communicated to me, 
 and at such distance that it was impossible to as- 
 certain his movements, or to inform him of my own, 
 so that we might co-operate with or support each 
 other. The detachment of troops from the com- 
 mand of Major-General Sherman, though operating 
 upon the same line with my own, were under spe- 
 cial orders, having ulterior objects in view, and 
 afforded an earnest but only a partial co-operation 
 in the expedition. The distance which separated 
 the different commands, the impossibility of estab- 
 lishing necessary communications between them, 
 the absence of a general authority to command 
 them, the time that was required for the transmis- 
 sion of orders from Washington, and the necessity 
 of immediate action on account of the condition of 
 the rivers and operations contemplated for the 
 armies elsewhere, gave rise to embarrassments in 
 organization of forces and in the execution of orders 
 which could not be overcome. • 
 
 "In the instructions I received from the Govern- 
 ment it was left to my discretion whether or not I 
 would join in this expedition, but I was directed to 
 communicate with General Sherman and General 
 Steele and Admiral Porter upon the subject. I ex- 
 pressed the satisfaction I should find in co-operat- 
 ing with them in a movement deemed of so much 
 importance by the Government, to which my own 
 command was unequal, and my belief that wifh the 
 forces designated it would be entirely successful. 
 Having received from them similar assurances, both 
 my discretion and my authority, so far as the organ- 
 ization of the expedition was concernfed, were at an 
 end. 
 
 ' ' The disposition of the enemy's forces at that time, 
 according to the best information that could be ob- 
 tained, was as follows : Magruder had about 30,000 
 men of all arms, of which 15,000 were serviceable. 
 The main body covered Galveston and Houston 
 from an anticipated movement from Matagorda 
 peninsula, still held by our troops ; Walker's divi- 
 sion, numbering 7,000 men, were upon the Atcha- 
 falaya and Red Rivers, from Opelousas to Fort De 
 Russy ; Mouton's division, between the Black and 
 Washita rivers, from Red River to Monroe, num- 
 bering 6,000 ; while Price, with two heavy divisions 
 of infantry, estimated at 5,000, and a large cavalry 
 force, estimated at from 7,000 to 10,000, held the 
 country from Monroe to Camden and Arkadelphia, 
 confronting Steele. Magruder could spare 10,000 of 
 his force to resist an attack from the east, leaving 
 his fortifications well garrisoned on the coast, while 
 Price could furnish at least an additional 5,000 from 
 the north, making a formidable army of from 25,000 
 to 30,000 men, equal to any forces that could be 
 brought against them, even with the most perfect 
 unity and co-operation of commands. This estimate 
 of the strength of the enemy was given in my dis- 
 patch of February 3, but was thought, upon infor- 
 mation received by the Government, to be exagger- 
 ated. The defences of the enemy consisted of a se- 
 ries of works covering the approaches to Galveston 
 and Houston from the south, the defences of Gal- 
 veston Bay, Sabine Pass, and Sabine River ; Port 
 T)fi R.nssTr n fnrrnirln.hlft Tsmrk. located three miles 
 
 from Marksville, for the defence of the Red River, 
 and extensive and formidable works at Trinity, the 
 junction of the Tensas and Washita at Camden, 
 commanding approaches from the north. 
 
 "To meet these forces of the enemy it was pro- 
 posed to concentrate, in some general plan of oper- 
 ations, 15,000 of the troops under command of Gen- 
 eral Steele, a detachment of 10,000 from the com- 
 mand of General Sherman, and a force of from 
 15,000 to 17,000 men from the army of the Gulf, 
 making an army of 40,000 to 43,000 men of all arms, 
 with such gun -boats as the Navy Department 
 should order. Orders were given to my command 
 at once to suspend operations at Galveston, and 
 vigorous preparations were made for the new cam- 
 paign. 
 
 " Having been charged by the President with 
 duties not immediately connected with military 
 operations, but which were deemed important and 
 required my personal attention at New Orleans, the 
 organization of the troops of my command assigned 
 to the expedition was intrusted to Major - Gen- 
 eral W. B. Franklin. The main body of his com- 
 mand, consisting of the 19th corps — except Grover's 
 division at Madisonville, which was to join him— 
 and one division of the 13th corps, under General 
 Ransom, were at this time on Berwick's Bay, be- 
 tween Berwick City and Franklin, on the Bayou 
 Teche, directly on the line of march for Alexandria 
 and Shreveport. Small garrisons were left at 
 Brownsville and Matagorda Bay, in Texas — posi- 
 tions which, under instructions from the President 
 and subsequently from Lieutenant-General Grant, 
 were not to be abandoned — at New Orleans and at 
 Port Hudson, which was threatened by a vigorous 
 and active enemy. Smaller garrisons at Baton 
 Rouge and Donaldsonville on the river, and at Pen- 
 sacola and Key West on the coast, constituted the 
 balance of forces under my command, 
 
 ' It had been arranged that the troops concentrated 
 at Franklin should move for the Red River on the 
 7th of March, to meet the forces of General Sher- 
 man at Alexandria on the 17th. But, for causes 
 stated by General Franklin, their march was de- 
 layed until the 18th, at which time the advance, 
 under General A. L Lee, left Franklin, the whole 
 column following soon after and arriving at Alexan- 
 dria, the cavalrj' on the 19th, and the infantry on 
 the 35th. 
 
 "On the 13th of March, 1864, one division of the 
 16th corps, under Brigadier-General Mower, and 
 one division of the 17th corps, under Brigadier- 
 General T. Kilby Smith — the whole under com 
 mand of Brigadier-General A. J. Smith — landed at 
 Simmsport, on the Atchafalaya, and proceeded at 
 once towards Fort De Russy, cariying it by assault 
 at 4:30 p. m. on the afternoon of the 14th. Two 
 hundred and sixty prisoners and ten heavy guns 
 were captured. Our loss was slight. The troops 
 and transports under General A. J. Smith, and the 
 marine brigade under General Ellet, with the gun- 
 boats, moved to Alexandria, which was occupied 
 without opposition on the 16th of the same month. 
 
 "General Lee, of my command, arrived at Alexan- 
 dria on the morning of the 19th. The enemy, in 
 the meantime, continued his retreat in the direc- 
 tion of Shreveport. Officers of my staff were at 
 Alexandria on the 19th, and I made my headquar- 
 ters there on the 24th, the forces under General 
 Franklin arriving on the 3oth and 26th of March ; 
 but as the stage of the water in Red River was too 
 low to admit the passage of the gun-boats or trans- 
 ports over the Falls, the troops encamped near 
 Alexandria, General Smith and his command mov- 
 ing forward 31 miles to Bayou Rapides, above Alex- 
 andria. There was but six feet of water in the 
 channel, while seven and a-half were necessary for 
 the second class and ten feet for the first-class gun- 
 boats. The river is narrow, the channel tortuous, 
 chana-inff with everv rise, makinff its navi!r.i,tion 
 
544 
 
 ijiii, ivjivAi^ ni:iiuKi 
 
 more difficult and dangerous, probably, than any 
 of the western rivers, while pilots for tlie transports 
 were reluctant to enter Government service for this 
 campaign. 
 
 ' ' The first gun -boat was unable to cross the rapids 
 until the 26th ; others crossed on the 38th, with 
 some transports, and others still on the 2d and 3d 
 of April ; tlie passage having been made with diffi- 
 culty and danger, occupying several days. Several 
 gun-boats and transports, being then unable to as- 
 cend the river, remained at Alexandria or returned 
 to the Mississippi. While at Alexandria, Major- 
 General MoPherson, commanding at Vicksburg, 
 called for the immediate return of the marine brig- 
 ade — a part of General Smith's command — to pro- 
 tect the Mississippi, for which service it had been 
 specially organized. The transports of this brigade 
 were unable to pass above Alexandria. The hospi- 
 tal boat 'Woodford' had been wrecked on the 
 rapids in attempting the passage. The troops were 
 suffering from small -pox, which pervaded all the 
 transports, and they wei-e reported in condition of 
 partial mutiny. It was not supposed at that time 
 that a depot or garrison at Alexandria would be re- 
 quired ; and this command, being without avail- 
 able land or water transportation, was permitted to 
 return to the Mississippi, in compliance with the 
 demands of General McPherson ; this reduced the 
 strength of the advancing column about 3.000 men. 
 
 "The condition of the river and the inability of the 
 transports to pass the Falls made it necessary to 
 establish a depot of supplies at Alexandria, and a 
 line of wagon transportation from the steamers be- 
 low to those above the Falls. This was a departure 
 from the plan of the campaign, which did not con- 
 template a post or depot at any point on Red River, 
 and involved the necessity of leaving a division at 
 Alexandria for the purpose of protecting the depot, 
 transports and supplies. Brigadier -General O. 
 Grover was placed in command of the post, and his 
 division left for its defence. This reduced the force 
 of the advancing column about 3,000 men. 
 
 "While at Alexandria, on the 21st instant, a move- 
 ment was organized against the enemy posted at 
 Henderson's Hill, 25 miles in advance. The expedi- 
 tion consisted of three brigades of General A. J. 
 Smith's command, and a brigade of cavalry of the 
 19th corps, under command of Colonel Lucas, of the 
 16th Indiana volunteers — the whole under the com- 
 mand of Brigadier-General Mower, of the 16th 
 corps. The enemy was surprised, losing 250 prison- 
 ers, 200 horses and four guns, with their caissons. 
 Colonel H. B. Sargent of my staif was severely 
 wounded in this action, and disabled from service 
 during this campaign. This affair reflected the 
 highest credit upon the officers and men engaged." 
 
 General Banks' "report" as here quoted, 
 though it sounds plausible enough, will not 
 bear criticism. He implies that a delay of 
 sixteen days was caused by the inability of 
 the fleet to ascend the rapids ("Falls") at 
 Alexandria It should be remembered that 
 Banks himself did not arrive in Alexandria 
 until the 25th, and the rear-guard of his 
 army on the 2fJth, after a fatiguing march. 
 At least two days were required to reorgan- 
 ize the different corps after arrival. Banks 
 says the first gun-boat could only pass the 
 Rapids on the 28th, whereas on that day the 
 heaviest of the vessels, the " Eastport," as- 
 cended the Falls, and seven or eight others 
 — all that were needed — had been above the 
 Falls for some days waiting for the Army 
 to move. Finally, the gun-boats pushed 
 ahead, and on the 30th the " Eastport," 
 
 which General Banks says delayed the 
 Army, took possession of Grand Ecore, 
 which place had been evacuated by the en- 
 emy. Banks' army did not reach Grand 
 Ecore until the 1st, 2d, and 3d of April. 
 How, then, can General Banks pretend to 
 blame the Navy for the detention? It was 
 only intended to take eight vessels to Shreve- 
 port, viz.: the "Lexington," "Osage," "Ga- 
 zelle," "Cricket," "Fort Hindman," "Ju- 
 liet," " Ouichita " and "Neosho." These ves- 
 sels mounted 60 guns, some of them heavy 
 ones. The other vessels that passed the Falls 
 were necessary to guard Grand Ecore, and a 
 sufficient force was left to protect Alexan- 
 dria. If the Navy delayed the Army, how 
 is it the gun-boats arrived so much ahead 
 of the latter at Grand Ecore ? In fact, at 
 any time previous to the 29th or 30th of 
 March, a medium-draft gun-boat and any 
 transport had no difficulty in passing above 
 Alexandria. A hospital boat, belonging to 
 the "Marine Brigade," was lost at the Falls, 
 but this was due to the stupidity of her 
 pilot. There was none of the "danger" 
 that Banks mentions, or anything more 
 than the ordinary accidents likely to occur 
 among so many vessels. 
 
 No delay was caused by stopping at Alex- 
 andria to establish a depot of supplies. 
 The depot was established before Banks 
 arrived, and there was no departure from 
 the plan of campaign in making such ar- 
 rangement. It was a very necessary ar- 
 rangement, for the campaign could not have 
 been conducted without using Alexandria 
 as a base of supplies. 
 
 The number, etc., of the enemy's forces 
 is greatly overstated by General Banks. 
 They did not, all told, number more than 
 20,000 men, among them were 6,000 or 7,000 
 raw troops from Texas, commanded by Gen- 
 eral Green. These were badly cut up by 
 the gun-boats at Pleasant Hill Landing. 
 
 Another mistake of Banks is to be found in 
 the recapitulation of his report. He says 
 eight days may be set down to General 
 Franklin for his tardy movements, and the 
 rest of the time to delay in getting the fleet 
 over the ■•Falls." The General reflects on the 
 Admiral for undertaking to get twenty iron- 
 clads of heavy draft over the " Falls " and up 
 the river on a falling water. There were but 
 six iron-clads in the fleet, and of these the 
 " Eastport " and " Ozark " were the only two 
 from which trouble might have been antici- 
 pated in passing above the " Falls." How- 
 ever, the " Ozark" never delayed the fleet a 
 moment going or coming, and the others eas- 
 ily got above the " Falls." The risk run was 
 the chance of the river falling, for which 
 General Banks is not held responsible. The 
 object of the Admiral was to do everything 
 in his power to make the expedition a suc- 
 cess; and supposing that Banks intended to 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 545 
 
 obey his instructions and hold the country, 
 and not thinking that he would retreat 
 on meeting resistance from an inferior force, 
 his intention was to stay up Red River with 
 as large a naval force as he could spare from 
 the Mississippi, until his presence was no 
 longer necessary. 
 
 Suppose, as Banks asserts, the fleet did 
 not reach Springfield Landing until "two 
 full days " after the battle of Sabine Cross 
 Roads, that point was reached at the time 
 appointed to meet the General and his army. 
 The Navy's arrival any sooner would not 
 have benefitted him in the least, and he 
 •could not, under any circumstances, have 
 reached there before the fleet. The fleet 
 ■could have reached there sooner, but was de- 
 layed by some heavy army transports which 
 were continually getting aground. These 
 heavy vessels were, it is said, sent up by 
 Banks' orders to get down cotton. Any one 
 who knows General Banks will smile at the 
 following: 
 
 " The failure of the fleet to move up the river 
 ■with ordinary expedition, together with the fact 
 that the gun-boats were unable to pass Grand Ecore 
 until the 7th, justified the belief that its advance 
 had been prevented by the low stage of water, and 
 governed the army exclusively in its retrograde 
 movement to Grand Ecore." (1 !) 
 
 Banks might also have added — impelled 
 in a great measure by the Confederates un- 
 der General Taylor, who were pressing in 
 his rear. 
 
 It is astonishing how visionary some of 
 the generals become after a war is over, and 
 they want to delude the people into giving 
 them seats in Congress. Banks once made 
 a speech to his constituents in which he said: 
 " Had the gun-boats not failed to come to 
 our assistance, we would have met with no 
 reverse" ! ! On the occasion referred to, 
 there were thirty miles of land between 
 the vessels and the army. 
 
 The last chapter in Banks' romance we 
 leave to be criticised by the many thousands 
 who keenly felt the disgrace inflicted on 
 them and upon the country by a most in- 
 experienced General. The Admiral's reports 
 published and on file will show that he gave 
 full credit to the Army for all the assistance 
 the fleet received to get them out of a diffi- 
 culty into which they fell, owing to Banks' 
 self-assurance. We feel satisfied that no 
 charge of inefficiency can ever be main- 
 tained against the Navy, or that through it 
 tlie lives of those under Banks' command 
 were sacrificed. 
 
 It is bad enough for a man to bring 
 disasters upon the country, but when he 
 tries to throw the blame of defeat upon 
 others, and criticises their earnest en- 
 deavors to carry out his impracticable 
 plans, he must not expect to be gently 
 dealt with by those whom he fain would in- 
 
 111 rA AA7"a c\f\ nr»t. rirptATiH \.c\ Vim/'A t.raptfiH 
 
 General Banks leniently in our account of 
 his performances, including his " masterly 
 retreat " before an inferior force. It was 
 the Admiral's duty to make the report he 
 did to the Secretary of the Navy, but he 
 stated the case in much milder terms, as 
 regarded General Banks, than did the army 
 officers who served under him, in their evi- 
 dence before the Committee on the Conduct 
 of the War. We insert one letter from 
 General Kilby Smith which corroborates 
 everything that has been said in regard to 
 Banks leaving the " Eastport " at the mercy 
 of the enemy: 
 
 Headquarters Division 17th Army Corps, ) 
 COTILE, April 35th, 1864. ) 
 
 Admiral : Arrived at this point last night. Gen- 
 eral Banks and army are on the march to Alexan- 
 dria. We brought up the rear and skirmished all 
 the way. General Banks fought at the crossing of 
 Cane River ; not much loss on either side. [Note — 
 General Banks speaks of this as most desperate 
 fighting.] Our fight in the rear was sharp. Gen- 
 eral A. J. Smith's command is ordered peremp- 
 torily to Alexandria ; troops are now on the march. 
 You will find the enemy some 2,000 strong on the 
 opposite side. Their artillery does not amount 
 to much; what they have we have crippled. [Note — 
 The General was mistaken about the crippling.^ 
 Will communicate more fully from Alexandria by 
 the gun-boats "Osage" and " Pittsburg," unless 
 they get off before we arrive. 
 
 General Smith and myself both protest at being 
 hurried away. I feel as if we were shamefully 
 deserting you. If I had the power 1 would march 
 my troops back to Calhoun, or wherever you 
 might need us, if at all. I will try and get a com- 
 munication to you from General A. J. Smith. 
 Most respectfully yours, 
 
 Thomas Kilby Smith, 
 
 Brigadier-Q-eneral Commanding. 
 To Admiral Porter. 
 
 General Banks' shortcomings were felt in 
 the Army as well as in the Navy, as will ap- 
 
 Eear by the following extract from a report 
 y Captain Wm. S. Burns, Acting- Assistant 
 Adjutant-General on the staff of General 
 A. J. Smith: 
 
 " Our victory being so complete. General Banks 
 had ordered the retreating train to be halted, 
 turned about, and everything prepared for an early 
 advance next morning, and about midnight I fell 
 asleep amidst the groans of the wounded; but at two 
 o'clock in the morning was awakened to hear that 
 we were ordered to retreat. Imagine our feelings ! 
 General Smith, upon receipt of the order, had gone 
 to General Banks and urged an advance ; but when 
 he found the order to retreat was imperative, he 
 begged the privOege of remaining on the field to 
 bury the dead and take care of the wounded ; but 
 even this was not allowed. Disgraceful ! Criminal ! 
 Inhuman ! At this late day, when time has miti- 
 gated the intensity of the keen feeling then experi- 
 enced by us who fledj my notes and letters seem 
 overdrawn, and I hesitate to quote literally, but 
 they are a true history, not only of my own per- 
 sonal sense of bitter humiliation — then in my mind 
 — but are a true index of the inner consciousness of 
 nine-tenths of the army ; and, although ' military 
 discipline ' kept it under, yet so the soldiers 
 thought, talked, and some of them wrote; and even 
 now, when fifteen years have passed away, it is 
 difBcult to review these events and write with any 
 degree of calmness or patience of our retreat. 
 * # * « » * * 
 
54G 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 " This was a defeat, but a defeat only to our foe. 
 The stake fought for by him was the trans-Missis- 
 sippi Empire ; by our commanding general, the 
 safe retreat of his army. We won both, abandoned 
 the former to the enemy after he had retreated, 
 and gave to a brilliant victory all the moral results 
 of a defeat. Finally, the Thirty - second Iowa 
 blushes to place upon its banner the name of a field 
 where its dead and wounded were cruelly aban- 
 doned to an enemy, who, many hours afterwards, 
 humbly aslied leave to care for his own." 
 
 When General Banks questions the vera- 
 city of officers, he should see what is said 
 of his own in the following extract from 
 the same officer: 
 
 " Having whipped our enemy and driven him 
 miles from the battle-field, then to be ordered to 
 run ! We could see no reason for it then and can- 
 not yet, although it may be true, as General Banks 
 says in his official report: 'The occupation of 
 Shreveport could not have been maintained.' But 
 it is not the object of this article to enter into the 
 merits or otherwise of General Banks' decision to 
 retreat; for, of course, there are two sides to every 
 question ; but I do censure him for leaving the dead 
 unburied and the wounded (i.e., the greater part 
 of them) to fall into the hands of the enemy. If he 
 had to retreat, why such haste ? Why not wait at 
 least one day and care for the dead and dying ? 
 General Banks is hardly fair toward General Smith 
 in his official report. He says : ' General Smith 
 never declined co-operation with me, nor did he re- 
 ceive orders from me. ' It may seem 'to the preju- 
 dice of order and military discipline,' for me, as a 
 subordinate, to question the veracity of a com- 
 manding general, but when he says, 'nor did he 
 receive orders from me,' I do call his veracity into 
 question. As I have shown. Colonel Shaw, of Gen- 
 eral Smith's command, reported to General Emory 
 for duty at Pleasant Hill. As no one stood between 
 Generals Banks and Smith — that is, with any 
 authority to command General Smith — who but 
 General Banks could have ordered this? And in 
 Colonel Bhaw's official report, he says: ' I was or- 
 dered to report with my brigade to General Banks. 
 By him I was ordered to proceed to the front and 
 report to General Emory,' etc. I could give many 
 otlier instances where General Smith did receive or- 
 ders from General Banks. From the moment he 
 reported to him at Alexandria, he was under his or- 
 ders and received them and obeyed them every day 
 while under his command. To even imagine any 
 other state of affairs would be ridiculous and not 
 tenable. When I reach the cotton chapter of the 
 expedition, I will give one instance where he ques- 
 tioned one of Banks' orders ; but that the circum- 
 stances fully justified him in this, will be, I think, 
 the verdict of all honest men." 
 
 It is hardly fair to quote what the enemy 
 said against General Banks — still it is in- 
 teresting to know what the Confederates 
 thought • 
 
 " What a sad picture was now to be seen, where 
 all was beauty and luxury when we first saw it in 
 March ! Governor Mooi'e was with his friends fur- 
 ther south, and while fighting over his plantation 
 one day, his wife was advised to leave, and as she 
 left her house the tears came to her eyes as she said : 
 'Good-bye, once happy home!' Who made it an 
 unhappy one? We all concluded that it washer 
 husband, as the natural result of treason. Living 
 far in the interior of ' Dixie,' as he did, he undoubt- 
 edly thought war's desolation would never reach 
 his happy home. Three years had passed away, 
 and he was an exile — his family leaving their home; 
 the flag he insulted and defied waving over the 
 
 ruins of his ' once happy home.' Was it not a just 
 retribution ? 
 
 "We were now entirely cut off from the outside 
 world, the blockade of the river being most effec- 
 tual. A large mail for us was captured and de- 
 stroyed on one of the transports. General Banks, 
 would not let us go out in force and give the enemy 
 battle, having issued positive orders not to bring 
 on a genei-al engagement, which order caused a good 
 deal of animated (but private) discussion. It is ap- 
 propriate at this point to quote again from the let- 
 ter of the Southern soldier already quoted from : 
 ' The enemy showed less enterprise than I have ever 
 known them to evince. Banks is clearly no com- 
 mander. Once or twice while he was at Alexandria, 
 the posture of our forces was such that by a sure 
 and comparatively safe movement of ten thousand 
 men he might have insured, beyond perad venture, 
 the capture of Polignac's division. He must have 
 been in the main aware of the position and strength 
 of our forces. ' " 
 
 Here is another extract from Captain 
 Burns : 
 
 "The above view is a fair reflection of our own. 
 We, too, felt that General Banks had 'given up all 
 desire to acquit himself with any credit,' and showed 
 an unaccountable lack of enterprise. Of course, we 
 knew nothing as to the certain result above pre- 
 dicted, of the ' sure and comparatively safe move- 
 ment of ten thousand men.' But having about 
 that number. General Smith, having his hands tied 
 by the order not to bring on a general engagement, 
 and being obliged in conformity with it (another 
 instance of receipt of orders from General Banks) 
 to sit down quietly on Governor Moores planta- 
 tion and simply sweep away the enemy when too 
 closely reconnoitering our position, might be ex- 
 cused for giving vent to his feelings in unmistakable 
 language, at such (to him a ' West Pointer ') a new 
 phase of military life. 
 
 " I have stated that when I reached Alexandria. 
 I would show that it was General Banks, not Gen- 
 eral Smith, who meditated the abandonment of the 
 fleet. Dr. Staples (who, owing to the wound of Dr. 
 Derby, already spoken of, was now acting-medical 
 director on General Smith's staff) writes me as fol- 
 lows: 'One day, when the wing-dams were about half 
 completed, General Smith asked me to accompany 
 him to General Emory's quarters. They were soon 
 engaged in earnest conversation, and I heard Emory 
 say there was a bad outlook ; that General Banks 
 had just informed him that Colonel Bailey thought 
 it would take a week longer to get the fleet over 
 the Falls, and Banks was very uneasy and seriously 
 contemplated abandoning the fleet to its fate and 
 marching away. General Smith replied, with some 
 Anglo-Saxon more forcible than polite, that he 
 wouldn't leave Admiral Porter until that locality, 
 from which we all hope to escape, had frozen over. 
 We went from General Emory's to Admiral Porter's 
 boat, and General Smith told the Admiral what he 
 had just heard, and assured him that orders, or no 
 orders, his command should not leave the fleet until 
 they saw it safe through to the Mississippi River. 
 Admiral Porter replied that he was not surprised 
 to hear such news, as he had been anticipating as 
 much. He expressed much gratitude for General 
 Smith's proffers of aid, and declared that if the ex- 
 pedition had been under his command it would not 
 have failed." 
 
 We do not think we have said as much as 
 as that against General Banks. When one 
 remembers Banks' evidence before the 
 "Committee on the Conduct of the War," 
 and compares it with the following state- 
 ment of Captain Burns, he might suspects 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 547 
 
 Banks of the want of ingenuousness which 
 he imputes to others : 
 
 "I have now come to a subject which requires 
 delicate handUng; but even aa historical sketch of 
 the Red River campaign cannot well be written 
 without a reference to it. As the expedition had 
 been a decided failure in a military point of view, 
 so it was a great success as a cotton speculation, it 
 was difficult for us to believe that which our eyes 
 saw, but it was the expressed and indignant belief 
 of many in the army th;it something was wrong in 
 the manipulation of cotton now being enacted be- 
 fore our eyes. We all saw an immense amount of 
 bagging and roping upon the steamer ' Black 
 Hawk ' (General Banks' headquarters boat) when it 
 arrived at Alexandria, and it was then said it was 
 for cotton. And during our occupancy of Alexan- 
 dria on our retreat, I myself saw steamers loaded 
 with cotton and sent down the river under the pro- 
 tection of the hospital flag, and Lieutenant Pannes 
 (ordnance officer on General Smith's staff) sends me 
 the following extract from his diary: 
 
 " 'April 29, 1864.— Cotton is being loaded on the 
 boats by General Banlis' order. Even the hospital 
 boat " Superior "is used for that purpose; went out 
 with Captain Burns to convhice myself of that fact. 
 
 " ' May 1. — The three cotton boats returned, hav- 
 ing been flred into. ' 
 
 " In a letter written by Colonel Shaw, who was 
 at this time with his brigade at Governor Moore's 
 plantation, he says: 
 
 " ' The ostensible purpose of occupying this posi- 
 tion was the securing of forage, but as scarcely any 
 was procured and several thousand bushels of corn 
 were carelessly burned, it was thought a somewhat 
 suspicious circumstance that a large ginning estab- 
 lishment, which was covered by our lines, was turn- 
 ing out some fifteen or twenty bales of cotton per 
 day. But whether well founded or not, the impres- 
 sion was well-nigh universal that army movements 
 were controlled to a considerable extent by the cot- 
 ton interest. Such a state of affairs was most de- 
 moralizing and disheartening. ' 
 
 "From our first entrance into the Red River coun- 
 try we had been daily hearing reports which seemed 
 too preposterous for belief ; reports that an under- 
 standing existed between somebody and somebody 
 else that there was to be no fighting on this cam- 
 paign, but that the Southern Army was to fall back 
 gradually as our army advanced and gathered up 
 the cotton, for which, in some way not explained, 
 the Southerners were to be paid. Also that Gen- 
 erals A. J. Smith and Dick Taylor, not having been 
 informed of this secret, and both being fighting- 
 men, had entered the campaign to fight when it 
 became necessary, and General Smith s capture of 
 Fort De Russy, and Dick Taylor's forcing the fight 
 at Sabine Cross Roads, had upset the calculations of 
 the different somebodies. This report of a secret 
 understanding was reiterated day after day until it 
 was believed by many to be true; but many more of 
 us were incredulous until we witnessed this strange 
 shipment of cotton under the hospital flag, which 
 was either a gross deception under the sacredness of 
 a hospital flag or the carrying out of a bargain." 
 
 We do not care to criticise General Banks 
 further, otherwise we might extend these 
 extracts; so we will leave his case to the 
 judgment of history. 
 
 At one time we could not help feeling 
 sorry for General Banks, for the humiliat- 
 ing position in which he was placed was 
 not altogether his fault. Had he not at- 
 tempted to draw attention from himself by 
 throwing blame on the Navy, we should 
 
 Most generals must expect reverses. 
 Frederick the Great ran away at his firsc 
 battle, and was not always successful in 
 after years, although one of the greatest 
 soldiers of modern times, and in his 
 most noted defeat he took all the blame 
 on his own shoulders. A general will, in 
 fact, gain more credit by assuming the re- 
 sponsibility of defeat than by attempting 
 to shirk it. 
 
 With all General Banks' faults, he had 
 some striking good qualities. He was a 
 gentleman in his manners, and the Admiral 
 never had to complain of a want of courtesy 
 towards his officers or himself except once. 
 He looked well in his uniform, and kept him- 
 self always scrupulously neat, though 
 rather theatrical in his style of gloves and 
 boots. With a better surrounding he would 
 have had more success as a general. He 
 had not much force of character, and lacked 
 nerve in time of danger. As Governor of 
 Massachusetts and Speaker of the United 
 States House of Representatives, no one has 
 ever questioned his ability; yet, strange to 
 say, Banks always preferred to be con- 
 sidered a soldier rather than a statesman. 
 He never had sufficient military force to 
 properly occupy the country under his im- 
 mediate command, much less to make ex- 
 peditions into hostile regions. 
 
 The expedition up Red River toward 
 Shreveport was the end of his military 
 career. As Governor of Louisiana, Banks 
 was not equal to Butler, who, with less 
 savoir faire, had more decision of character 
 and made a better record. 
 
 In taking leave of General Banks and 
 Red River, we will give him the benefit of 
 the last word, and append to this narrative 
 that portion of his report where he appears 
 in melodramatic attitude towards the Ad- 
 miral and the Navy — " That Navy which he 
 and the Army preserved, while it did nothing 
 to help itself !" 
 
 While we acknowledge that General 
 Banks and his army did all in their power 
 to assist the fleet over the " Falls," we 
 do not admit that they preserved it. The 
 Navy had one hundred miles of river above 
 the " Falls," with water deep enough to 
 navigate, and, if Banks had left, they oould 
 have maintained themselves there, running 
 up and down, despite all the forces in that 
 part of Louisiana. There were four months' 
 provisions on hand, and in less than that 
 time the desired rise of water came. 
 
 General Banks is a clever writer, but any 
 one who reads his report will detect that 
 coloring of which we have on several 
 occasions complained. 
 
 The following is the last specimen that 
 will be quoted, and with this ends the ac- 
 count of the Red River expedition. It is an 
 
 1 J __ 
 
548 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 •'■ The first difficulty encountered was in the navi- 
 gation of the river. Sixteen days' delay caused by 
 the inability of the fleet to pass the Rapids at Alex- 
 andria, and three days' delay at Grand Ecore in 
 waiting the rise of the river, enabled the enemy to 
 concentrate his forces, and rendered impossible that 
 celerity of movement by the Army which the suc- 
 cess of the expedition demanded. Eight days of 
 the delay at Alexandria would have been attribu- 
 table to the tardy organization and movements of 
 Pranklin's command ; but the fleet was unable to 
 pass the Falls until eight days after his arrival at 
 Alexandria. This delay was doubtless owing to the 
 hupracticable navigation of the river ; but it is not 
 hnproper to say that the forecast and diligence 
 which is enforced upon all men in the daily affairs 
 of life would have forbidden an attempt to force a 
 fleet of so much importance to the free navigation 
 of the Mississippi to a point from which it could 
 never hope to escape, except upon the theory that 
 the river ought to or might rise. The movement of 
 the Navy, in a dispatch of Rear- Admiral D. D. 
 Porter, to which the Secretary of the Navy has 
 given oifieial publication and sanction, is attributed 
 to the ' request ' of General Banks, who ' deemed the 
 co-operation of the gun -boats so essential to success, 
 that he (Porter) had to run some risks and make 
 unusual exertions to get them over the 'Falls.' This 
 implies that the responsibility of his action rests 
 upon the Army ; but it is not consistent with the 
 facts. The co-operation of the Navy was an in- 
 dispensable condition and basis of the expedition. 
 Major-General Halleck informed me, January 11, 
 that he had been assured by the Navy Department 
 that Admiral Porter would be prepared to co-op- 
 erate with the Army in its movements ; and the 
 Admiral himself informed me, February 26, that he 
 was ' prepared to ascend Red River with a large 
 fleet of gun-boats,' and to co-operate with the Army 
 at any time when the water was high enough. The 
 fleet was as necessary to thecampaign as the Army. 
 Had it been left to my discretion, I should have re- 
 luctantly undertaken, in a campaign requiring but 
 eight or ten light -draft gun-boats, to force twenty 
 heavy iron-clads 490 miles up a river proverbially as 
 treacherous as the rebels who defended it, and which 
 had given notice of its character by steadily falling 
 when, as the Admiral reports, all other rivers were 
 booming. There is a better reason for the disregard 
 of the palpable difficulties of navigation than the 
 over-zealous counsel of army officers in nautical af- 
 fairs. In a subsequent dispatch Admiral Porter 
 eays, that ' all my vessels navigated the river to 
 
 Grand Ecore with ease, and with some of them I 
 reached Springfield Landing, the place designated 
 for the gun-boats to meet the Army. My part wag 
 successfully accomplished ; the failure of the Army 
 to proceed, and the letreat to Grand Ecore, left me 
 almost at the mercy of the enemy.' The records of 
 the campaign do not at all support the reckless and 
 fiery ardor of this statement. The fleet did not 
 reach the ' place appointed ' until two full days after 
 the first decisive battle with the enemy. The Ad- 
 miral occupied four days in moving one hundred 
 and four miles on what he calls a ' rising river,' with 
 'good water,' to the place appointed. General T. 
 Kilby Smith states that the fleet made twenty miles 
 on the 7th, fifty-seven mile.s on the 8th, eighteen miles 
 on the 9th, and nine miles on the 10th of April — 
 total, one hundred and four miles. The failure of the 
 fleet to move up the river with ordinary expedition, 
 together with the fact that the gun-boats were un- 
 able to pass Grand Ecore until the 7th, justifled the 
 belief that its advance had been prevented by the 
 low stage of water, and governed the Army exclu- 
 sively in its retrograde movement to Grand Ecore, 
 as it did in every important operation of the cam- 
 paign. The Admiral's dispatch does not mention 
 the fact that, in addition to the ' mercy ' of the en- 
 emy, he had the support of General T. Kilby 
 Smith's division of 2,500 men, whose most gaUant 
 and honorable part in the preservation of the fleet 
 of gun-boats and transports is not referred to, in 
 what the Admiral calls ' this curious affair between 
 [the enemy's] infantry and gun-boats.' In view of 
 the published dispatches of Admiral Porter, it is 
 proper for me to say, that every position of difficulty 
 in which the Army was placed in this campaign 
 was the immediate and direct consequence of delay 
 in the operations of the Navy. This may have 
 been inevitable and entirely justiflable from the 
 condition of the river. It is not in my province to 
 pass judgment upon its operations ; but the fact re- 
 mains, nevertheless. During my term of service, it 
 has been an invariable rule of conduct, from which 
 I have never departed, to forbear the expression of 
 opinion or complaint upon the official action of 
 others ; but I feel it to be a solemn duty to say, in 
 this official and formal manner, that Admiral Por- 
 ter's published official statements relating to the 
 Red River campaign are at variance with the truth, 
 of which there are many thousand living witnesses, 
 and do foul injustice to the officers and soldiers of 
 the Army, living and dead, to whom the Navy De- 
 partment o"\ves exclusively the preservation and 
 honor of its fleet." 
 
 MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, JANUARY 1st, 1864. 
 Rear-Admir.\l David D. Porter. 
 
 CAPTAIN A. M. PENNOCK, FLEET-CAPTAIN. 
 
 STEAMER "BLACK hawk" — FLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commanders, K. Randolph Breese 
 and Watson Smith (Flag) ; Fleet-Surgeon, Ninian 
 Pinkney; Assistant Surgeon, R. T. Bdes; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. H. Kirkendall; Acting-Master, 
 James Fitzpatrick ; Ensigns, F. J. Naile, M, W. 
 Sanders and S. W. Terry ; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. 
 Wardrop, Henry Baker, J. M. Alden nnd D. Pratt 
 Mannix; Acting-Master's Mates, R. S. Howell, Harry 
 Woodruff, David V. Porter and C. H. Sedgewick; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, Geo. W. Walker; Acting- 
 First-Assistant, O. G. Ritchie; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, J. C. Barrand W. B. Ritchie; Gunner, John 
 R. Hall; Acting-Carpenter, Noah Dean. 
 
 IKON CLAD STEAMEB "ESSEX." 
 
 Commander, Robert Townsend; Acting- Assistant 
 
 Surgeon, Thomas Allen; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, C. W. Slamm; Acting-Masters, J. C. Parker 
 and E. Reese ; Ai-ting-Ensign, Spencer Johnson; 
 Acting Master's Mates, J. H. Berry and C. M. Ful- 
 ler; Engineers; Acting-Chief, J. K. Heap ; Acting- 
 First- Assistant, J. L. Hillard; Acting-Second- As- 
 sistants, E. P. Sprague and C. H. Burt; Aeting- 
 Third-Assistants, Henry Wood and Nicholas Saner. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER •' EASTPORT." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, S. L. Phelps; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, M. L. Gerould; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. H. Gilman ; Acting-Ensigns, S. 
 Poole, R. M. Williams and E. H. Qualding; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, R. A. Day, R. A. Treat and B. "VV. 
 Herr ; Engineers : Acting-Chief, Henry Hartwig; 
 Actinsr-First- Assistants. T. F Ac,kf>rnin,Ti and John 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 5i9 
 
 S. Moore ; Acting-Second-Assistant, Gr. N. Heizel ; 
 Acting-Third^Assistants, W. T. Baxter and J. F. 
 Liddell; Acting-Gunner, J. F. Riblet ; Acting-Car- 
 penter, James Rouse. 
 
 IBON-CLAD STEAMEE "LAFAYETTE." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James P. Foster; Acting- 
 Volunteer -Lieutenant, Edward Morgan; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, D. H. Hayden; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. P. Kelly ; Acting-Ensigns, J. L. 
 Bryant, F. G. Sampson and J. L. Moran; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Paul Morgan, W. P. Higbee, S. O. 
 LoveU, S. R. Winram and C. H. Slocum; Engineers: 
 Acting-Chief, Robert Tate; Acting-First-Assistant, 
 James WUkins ; Acting-Second- Assistant, J. W. 
 Paull; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. B. Hill and Max 
 Pratt; Acting-Gunner, George Price; Acting-Car- 
 penter, J. W. Lister. 
 
 lEON-OLAD STEAMEE "BENTON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James A. Greer; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, N. L. Bates; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. G. Lowndes ; Acting-Masters, E. C. 
 Breman, J. F. Reed' and N. B. Willetts- Acting-En- 
 signs, Wm. J. Lees, H. S. O'Grady and P. H. Ran- 
 dolph; Acting-Master's Mates, Win. Kisner and 
 Hiram Simon ton; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Job V. 
 Starr; Acting-First-Assistant, H. W. Fairfoul; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistants, Oliver Bray and A. A. Jenks; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, Benj. Farmer; Acting-Car- 
 penter, Richard Rock ford. 
 
 lEON-CIiAD STEAMEE " IiOTJISVILIiB." 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, Elias K. Owen; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Fayette Clapp; Acting-Assist- 
 tant Paymaster, D. L. Ruth; Acting-Ensigns, H. 
 A. Coffenberry, Chas. Nelson, Henry Harkins, G. 
 V. Mead, R. H. Longlands, Frank Bates and J. T. 
 Blackford; Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Drew. Chas. 
 Smith, Jr., and C. S. Soanlan; Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, J. B. Fulton; Acting-First-Assistant, J. J. 
 Hardy; Acting-Second-Assistant, C. W. Reynolds; 
 Acting-Third- Assistant, C. F. D^elman; Acting- 
 Gunner, Wilham Shields; Acting-Carpenter, D. H. 
 Curry. 
 
 IBON-CLAD STEAMEE " TUSCUMBIA. " 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James W. Shirk; Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Geo. A. Lyon ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 Lewis Kenney and E. M. Clark; Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, J. W. Hartuper; Acting - First - Assistant, 
 Perry South; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. J. Mil- 
 ligan. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMEE " CHOCTAW." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, F. M. Ramsey ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Wm. N. Whitehouse; Acting- 
 Master, W. A. Griswold; Acting-Ensigns, Ezra 
 Beaman, W. C. Bennett, A. S. Palmer and L. R. 
 Hamersly; Acting-Master's Mates, T. Hopkins and 
 Henry Marsh; Engineers : Acting-Chief, N. P. Bald- 
 win; Acting-First-Assistant, C. E. Arbuthnot; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant; Joseph Blake; Acting Third- 
 Assistants, S. O. Babbitt and E. H. Austin; Acting- 
 Gunner, Reuben Applegate; Acting-Carpenter, John 
 A. Stewart. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMEE " OONESTOOA." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Thomas O. Selfridge ; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, S. L. Adams; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. D. Ilsley; Acting-Master, 
 Gilbert Morton; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Devine, 
 S. J. Dwight, J. C. Peterson and Wm. Neil ; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, Alanson Hamilton ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, Thomas Cook ; Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant, Alex. Magee; Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas. 
 Fistadt; Acting-Third-Assistants, James O'Neil and 
 Andrew Lusk; Acting-Carpenter, John J. Hays. 
 
 STEAMEE "moose." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, LeRoy Fitch; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, J. W. Clarke ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Edwaid Morean. John Revall and J. H. Rice ; Act- 
 
 ing-Master's Mates, J. M. Tucker, C. H. Stout and 
 C. W. Spooner; Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, 
 T. N. Hall; Acting-Second-Assistant, Charles Mc- 
 Millan. 
 
 STEAMER "TATLOE." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James M. Prichett; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Geo. H. Holt; Acting-Ensigns, 
 G. L. Smith, Charles Ackley, John Hill and J. W. 
 Lalor; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. C. Michael, 
 G. H. Williamson and H. S. Allen; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Chief, James Fleming; Acting-First-Assistant, 
 J. R. Ramsey; Acting-Second - Assistants, Wm. 
 Finch and Philip Sheridan ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ant, E. M. Bumpas; Acting-Carpenter, J. M. Pea- 
 body. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMEE "MOUND CITY." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Byron Wilson; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Rice; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, B. J. Donahoe; Acting Master, F. T. 
 Coleman; Acting- Ensigns, S. B. Coleman, D. Steb- 
 hins and W. H. Decker; Acting-Master's Mate, R. 
 T. Lamport; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Edw. Merri- 
 man; Acting-First-AssistanI, E. R. Clemens; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, J. M. Hartnett; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, G. L. Baker and Richard Carter; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, T. H. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Jerome 
 Burns. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMER "LEXINGTON." 
 
 Lieutenant, George M. Bache ; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, H. M. Mixer ; Acting - Assist- 
 tant Paymaster, T. C. Doane ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Henry Booby, J. G. Migler and C. C. Briggs; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, Daniel Winget, Howard Hale 
 and Ezra McDunn; Engineers: Acting-Chief, W. H. 
 Meredith; Acting-First- Assistant, A. L. Mann; Aot- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, Reuben Story; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, Jacob Vittinger and Wm. T Neal; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, Louis Frederick ; Acting-Carpenter, 
 Richard Carroll. 
 
 STEAMEE " POEEST EOSE." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A.Wright; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, R. Cadwallader; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, C. M. Dunham; Acting -En- 
 signs, S. E. Brown, Conrad Erickson and H. B. 
 Graves; Acting-Master's Mates, Ira Athearn, Chas. 
 Smith and C. W. Crocker; Engineers: First-Assist- 
 ant, Francis Marsh ; Acting-Second- Assistant, E. H. 
 Goble; Acting- Third-Assistant, Silas Haskey. 
 
 STEAMEE "POKT HINDMAN." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Pearce; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Adams; Acting-En- 
 signs, F. A. Oliver, Charles Marsden and F. H. 
 Wait; Acting-Master's Mates, B. G. Van Dyke, S. 
 N. Barker, C. F. A. McCord and H. Shoemaker; 
 Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant ; Thomas Girty; 
 Aoting-Second-Assistant, D. B. Cox; Acting- Third- 
 Assistants, Eli Powell and Reuben Yocum. 
 
 STEAMEE "HASTINGS." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. R. Langthorne; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. M. Flint ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, P. J. Stone ; Acting-Master, J. 
 W. Morehead; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Turner and 
 C. H. Reed; Acting-Master's Mates, E. C. Urner, 
 Frank Seymour and P. M. Clark; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, John H. Scott; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Edwin Senior and Samuel Weaver; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, A. M. Wasson and Geo. W. 
 Amsden. 
 
 STEAMEE "BRILLIANT." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, Charles G. Per- 
 kins ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Milton James; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Horace Talcott ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, G. D. Little, J. J. Perkins and Richard 
 McAlUster ; Acting- Master's Mates, T. G. Herron 
 and J. H. Neely; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, 
 
550 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Wm. A. Willey; Acting-Second-Assistants, Samuel 
 Ecofl; and James Cutter. 
 
 STEAMBB "ST. OLAIB." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, T. B. Gregory; 
 Ac ting- Assistant Paymaster, H. P. Browne; Acting- 
 Ensigns, Warren Burch and Gr. W. Garrison ; Act- 
 ing-Master'sMates, E. C. WiUiams, J. H. Hurd and 
 H. O. Proctor ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, 
 Wm. McLean; Acting-Seoond-Assistant, Edward 
 Lozier; Acting-Third-Assistant, P. A. Morse. 
 
 STEAMER "SILVER CLOUD," 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. F. O'Neill; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, O. B. Damon; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. H. Hathorne; Acting- Ensigns, 
 Robert Wilkinson and J. M. Reid; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Frank Middleton, R. S. Crltchell and J. M. 
 Darrah; Engineers : Actlng-Pirst-Assistant, B. F. 
 Clark ; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. A. Collins; 
 Aoting-Third-Assistant, James Polger. 
 
 STEAMER " COVINGTON." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, George P. Lord; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, EmlleGavarret; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, John T. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Edw. Alford and John Powell ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, W. H. English, C. W. Gross, J. W. Richards 
 and Ignatius Dunn- Engineers : Acting-First- As 
 sistant, J. A. Burns; Acting-Second Assistant, W. 
 R. Hoder; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. T. English 
 and Southwell Lyons. 
 
 STEAMER "QUEEN CITY.' 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, George W. Brown; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Louis Westfall; Acting - 
 Assistant Paymaster, C. S. Sims; Acting - Master, 
 Michael Hickey; Acting-Ensigns, H. E. Alexander, 
 James Roberts and F. M. Hathaway ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Geo. VV. Hall, W. P. Eakly and E. W. 
 Johnson; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistants, Irwin 
 Fox and Wm. Downey; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 G. W. Shellenberger; Acting- Third-Assistant, Geo. 
 S. Read. 
 
 STEAMER "TAWAH." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Jason Goudy; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Nicholson; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, D. W. Hale ; Acting-Master, 
 M. V. B. Haines; Acting-Ensigns, J. B. WilUams and 
 Joseph Sawyer; Acting-Master's Mates, I. P. Neave 
 and John W. Adams; Engineers : Acting-Flrst-As- 
 isistant, J. H. Linn; Acting Second-Assistant, T. J. 
 Beed ; Acting-Third-Assistants, John Henry and 
 Walter Mossington. 
 
 STEAMER "KET WEST." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, E. M. King; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, R. W. Gifford; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. B. Crosby, Jr. ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, M. J. Cronin; Acting -Ensigns, John H. Welsh 
 ft-nd N. A. Closson; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. 
 Hammett, Jr., Menzies Dickson and John Wlnram; 
 Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, R. J. Stone; 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, G. W. Dean and G. L 
 Mortimer; Acting-Third-Assistant, Michael Sodon. 
 
 STEAMER "PEOSTA." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thos. E. Smith- 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, John Wise ; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, J. C. Spalding; Acting-Ensigns 
 Edw. Manser, C. H. Gulick and A. S. Hurlbut ■ 
 Actmg-Master's Mates, R. T. Nelson and Geo. P.' 
 Vance; Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, Geo. H 
 Warner; Acting-Second -Assistant, S. W. Evans- 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, D. E. Nugent and G. W 
 Makefield ; Gunner, J, A. McDonald; Acting-Car- 
 penter, Wm. B. Reid. 
 
 STEAMER 
 
 REINDEER. 
 
 Actlng-Volunteer-Iiieutenant, Henry A Glass- 
 ford- Acthig-Assistant Surgeon, W. C. Foster- Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, W. W. Barry; Acting-En- 
 .signs, A. C. Sears and W. H. Hall ; Acting-Master's 
 
 Mates, N. F. Vaughan, T. M. Lewis and J. E. 
 Wright; Engineers : Acting-First -Assistant, A. H. 
 Bagby; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. M. Hayman. 
 
 STEAMER "GENERAL PRICE." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. F. Richardson; 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon, Geo. Harvey; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, J. W. McLellan- Acting-Ensigns, 
 G. W. Pratt, J. H. Seever and D. P. Bos-worth; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, D. McKay and Peter Bar- 
 clay; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, D. E. 
 Weaver ; Acting Third-Assistants, W. H. Coulter, 
 Alex. Campbell, J. B. Baldwin and R. A. Kyle. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " PITTSBURG. " 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, W. R. Hoel ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Follett; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, C. H. Gould- Acting-Master, Geo. 
 AV. Rogers; Acting-Ensigns, C. N. Hall, Jas. Ovatt, 
 Freeman Vincent and G. W. Garlick ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, H. N. Wells, John Scott and C. B. 
 Jones ; Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, S. B. 
 Goble ; Acting - Second - Assistants, E. R. Pavy, 
 W. H. Mitchell and Julius Blliter; Acting-Gunner, P. 
 
 C. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Charles Poplar. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " CHILLICOTHE." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. P. Couthouy ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. C. Osgood; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Hathaway- Acting-Mas- 
 ter, W. T Power; Acting-Ensigns, W. Muir, J. C. 
 HaU and H. A. Hannon ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 James Harrington and C. S. Wells ; Engineers: 
 Acting-Chief, A. W. Hardy ; Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Charles Trotter ; Acting-Seoond-Assistant, J. 
 W. Hymen; Aoting-Third-Assistants, J. W. Terrell 
 and Anthony Lane; Acting-Gunner, W. E. Keyes; 
 Acting-Carpenter, J. H. Fink. 
 
 STEAMER "general BRAGG." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Cyrenius Dominey 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Castle; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, J. H. Jenkins; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Thomas Burns, T. J. McLaughlin and M. Huston ; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, James Williams and P. M. 
 Frost; Engineers ■ Acting-Chief, J. Miller ; Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Jonah Slocum; Acting-Second-As- 
 sistant, C L. Bouchard; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 Joseph Anderson ; Acting - Carpenter, J. W. Ken- 
 nedy. 
 
 IRON-CL.AD STEAMER "NEOSHO." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Howard ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, M. A. MiUer; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. H. Bvrn; Acting Ensigns, 
 E. F. Brooks, Jas. Downs, E. P. Bragg and R. How- 
 den; Acting- Master's Mates, H. J. Kiskadden, Alex. 
 Sempleand H. B. Purdy; Engineers: Acting-Chief, 
 Wm. Mills; Acting-First-Assistant, W. C. Sanford; 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, J. L. Miles; Acting-Third- 
 As.sistants, J. F. Humphrevs and M. C. Noland; 
 Acting-Gunner, W. T. Devian ; Acting-Carpenter, 
 J. O. Baker. 
 
 STEAMER ' ' KATTLEB. " 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James Laning; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, ScoUay Parker; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Geo. P. Peck ; Acting-Master, 
 
 D. W. Glenny; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Ferguson and 
 
 E. P. Nellis; Acti ng- Master s Mates, H. E. Church, 
 M. C. Pickering and John Cronin; Engineers: Act- 
 ing First-Assistant, James L. Smith; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, G. W. Shields; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 Robert Russell and James H. Hume. 
 
 STEAMER " BXCHA NOB. " 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Hurd; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, G. E. Francis; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. W. Gardner; Acting-Ensigns, C. L. 
 Manly and Daniel Jones; Acting-Master s Mates, B. 
 W. Brown, H. M. Scott and G. T. Miller; Engineers: 
 Acting - First - Assistant, A. G. Perkins; Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, C. C. Streepev; Acting-Third- As- 
 sistant, B. T. Graham. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 551 
 
 STEAMBK "BBOWN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. A. French; Act- 
 ing-Ensign, Jacob Shinn ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Martin Kellj^ and H. A. Tlioburn; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Pirst-Assistant, Eensler Cutter; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, N P. Johnson ; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 
 A. N. French. 
 
 HOSPITAL STEAMER " EBD BOVEB." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, Wm. R. "Wells; 
 Acting-Assistant Surereons, Geo. H. Bixby, Wm. F. 
 MoNutt and Wm. H. Willson; Acting-Master, Henry 
 E. Bartlett; Acting-Ensigns, J. G. Waters, Charles 
 King and Jos. Beauchamp ; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 C. B. Plattenburg; Engineers : Acting- First- Assist- 
 ants, W. J. Bufflngton and W. O. Logue; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, W. P. Holmes; Acting-Third- As- 
 sistants, J. A. Goodloe and G. W. Voice; Acting- 
 Carpenter, Harlow Kinney. 
 
 STEAMEB "LINDEN." 
 
 Acting-Master, T. M. Parrell; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, J P. Field ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 Arthur Sibley; Acting-Ensigns, R. H. Cameron, 
 Cassilly Adams, Chas. Swendson and Joseph Mc- 
 Donald; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. C. Williams, 
 R. S. Ballester, ]SI. P. Brown and W. C. Frost; 
 Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. C. Perry; 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, Wm. M. Fletcher; Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, C. M. Milligan. 
 
 STEAMEB • ' KENWOOD. " 
 
 Acting-Master, John Swaney ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, P. Treadwell ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, H. B. Witherell; Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Wells, 
 O. R. Mott and J. L. Read; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 N. H. Conklin, W. R. Moffatt, H. A. Vaughan and 
 Claren Laird; Engineers: Acting First- Assistant, 
 Thomas Sheffer ; Acting-Second- Assistant, T. J. 
 Malbon; Acting-Third-Assistant, J. B. Holman. 
 
 STEAMER " PAIB PLAY." 
 
 Acting-Master, Geo. J. Groves; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. W. Howard ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 Tuaster, J. G. Sankey; Acting-Ensign, W. C. Coul- 
 son; Acting-Master's Mates, W. S. Scott and A. 
 Diserens; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, R. A. 
 Mattratha; Acting-Second-Assistant, G. S. Collins; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Bell and C. W. Egs- 
 ter; Acting- Carpenter, Thomas Manning. 
 
 STEAMEB " SPEINGFIELD. ' 
 
 Acting Master, Joseph Watson ; Acting-Ensign, 
 H. T. Keene; Acting-Master's Mates, S. H. Harbe- 
 son, Jas. Cunningham, John Gregg and David 
 Pullman; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, R. L. 
 McLean ; Acting - Third - Assistant, Morris Van 
 Fossen. 
 
 STEAMEB "EAWN." 
 
 Acting-Master, John R. Grove; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. 8. Apgar; Aoting-Enslgns, John 
 Sullivan and M. A. Knox ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Charles Murray, E. D. O'Bryan, J. A. Seaman and 
 John Cowdon; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, 
 Edw. C. Peck ; Acting-Second-Assistant, G. W. 
 Gough; Acting-Third- Assistant, Michael O'Riley. 
 
 STEAMEB "PAW PAW." 
 
 Acting-Master, A. F. Thompson; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Jos. Honnan, Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Alex. S. Mc Williams ; Acting-Ensigns, W. L. 
 Const an tine, Pat. Donnelly and J. H. Rivers ; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, John Pybus, W. A. Birchard 
 and Juhen D. Coriell ; Engineers : Acting-First- As 
 distant, Ezekiel Reynolds; Acting-Second- Assistant, 
 
 B. S. Bull; Acting-Third-Assistant, T. K. Hill. 
 
 STEAMEB "NATJMKEAG." 
 
 Acting-Master, John Rogers ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, E. LeRoy Draper ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, H. B. Mears ; Acting- Ensigns, Arthur 
 O'Leary and Jos. Meyer; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 
 Wm. Cassidy; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, 
 Edmund Cage; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. A. Mc- 
 Cormack; Acting - Third- Assistant, James B. By- 
 land. 
 
 STEAMEB "SILVEE LAKE.'' 
 
 Acting-Master, Jos. C. Coyle ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. H. Mills; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 G. D. Rand; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Bone, F. G. 
 JoV>son and H. H. Pierce; Acting Master's Mates, 
 John Fisher and Samuel McKee; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, John Connolly; ActingSecond- 
 Assistant, Orrin Burroughs; Acting - Third - Assist- 
 ant, J. C. Jones. 
 
 STEAMEB "CHAMPION." 
 
 Acting-Master, Alfred Phelps, Jr.; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, A. L. Vail; Acting-Assistant i^aymas- 
 ter, G. T- Bemis; Acting-Ensigns, Felix McCann, 
 Mervin Allen and Anthony Hagerup; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, Herman Alms; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, John Johnston ; Acting -Second - Assist- 
 ants, Geo. Waddle and C. A. Fisher; Acting- Third- 
 Assistant, J. J. Suor 
 
 STEAMEB " ALEXANDKIA. " 
 
 Acting - Master, D. P. Rosenmiller ; Engineers : 
 Acting-First- Assist ant, H. C. Snibley; Acting- Third- 
 Assistant, J. S. Willcoxson. 
 
 STEAMER "GREAT WESTEBN." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Bates ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. A. Warren; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, J. H. Marshall; Acting- Ensigns, A. M. Rowland 
 and P. R. Starr; Acting-Master's Mates, Richard 
 Mitchell and L. M. Knapp; Engineers : Acting- 
 Chief, C. H. Christopher ; First- Assistant, Jos. 
 Goodwin; Acting-Third-Assistant, Edward Lodge; 
 Acting-Gunner, Robert Sherman. 
 
 STEAMEB "JUDGE TOBEENCE." 
 
 Acting- Master, Jeremiah Irwin ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Wm. Sill; Acting-Master's Mates, Edw. Perkins and 
 Edwin Boyce; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Peter Hart- 
 wig- Acting-First-Assistants, W. Y. Sedman and S. 
 L. Walkenshaw; Acting- Second-Assistants, Living- 
 ston Cook and Jasper Holman. 
 
 lEON-CLAD STEAMER " OAEONDELET." 
 
 Acting- Master, James C. Gipson; Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, D. R. Bannon ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. G. Worden ; Acting-Ensigns, Oliver Donaldson, 
 S. D. Jordan, E. W. Miller and T. A. Quinn; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, L. W. Hastings and W. H. H. 
 DeGroot; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Chas. H. Caven; 
 Acting-First-Assistant, G. H. Atkinson ; Acting- 
 Second- Assistants, M. Norton and W. B. Barton ; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, John McWhliams; Acting- 
 Carpenter, Geo. W. Kenney. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "OSAGE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas AVright; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, P. P. Gilmartin; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. W. Dougherty; Acting-Ensigns, W. 
 S. Pease, Geo. Dunn, J. L. Mickle and R. K. Hub- 
 bell; Acting-Master's Mates, M. J. Durney, J. C. 
 AVinslow and B. C. Wheeler; Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, Thomas Doughty; Acting- First- Assistant, 
 Geo. H. Hobbs; Acting-Second-Assistants, Wm. 
 Galbreath and A. F. Fox. 
 
 STEAMEB "MABMOEA." 
 
 Acting- Master, Thomas Gibfeon; Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, B. F. Pierce ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 C. R. Howard ; Acting-Ensigns, Elliott Callender 
 and D. D. Bond; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Arnold 
 and E. C. Nye; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, 
 W. C. Armstrong; Acting-Second-Assistant, David 
 Hawkeswortli; Acting-Third- Assistant, F. A. Cra- 
 mer. 
 
 STEAMER "ROMEO." 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Baldwin; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, D. W. Jones; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 
552 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 J. B. Petty and R. B. Shaw; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. E. Ernest, C. W. Johnston and Geo. 8. Oox ; 
 Engineers: Aoting-First-Assistant. J. N. McCurdy; 
 Acting-Second- Assistants, Jos. Grippin and W. li. 
 Taylor; Acting-Third- Assistant, Wm. Teal. 
 
 STEAMER "JULIET." 
 
 Acting-Master, John S. Watson; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Geo. W. Winans; Acting Ensigns, W. 
 L. Holcomb, Hugh Kuhl and D. T. Davids; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, S. J. Phillips; Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistants, John Wybrant and Jos. Bolejack; 
 Acting- Third-Assistant, James Van Zant. 
 
 STBAMEE "PETKEI;." 
 
 Acting- Master, Thomas McElroy; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, H. T. Skelding; Acting-Ensigns, M. 
 E. Plannigan and 8. R. Holmes; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, H. W. Bryan, J. W. Poster, L. C. Ball and 
 J. G. Abbott; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistants, 
 
 A. W. PhiUips and Edw. Roberts; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, J. T. Stone and Geo. Britton; Acting- 
 Third-Assistant, W. M. Mix. 
 
 STEAMEB "OBICKET." 
 
 Acting- Master, Henry H. Gorringe; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, H. A. Bodman; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, W. M. Chester; Acting-Ensigns, D. P. Slat- 
 tery, W. H. Read and J. McLeane; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John Wilson; Engineers: Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Benj. Hand; Acting Second- Assistants, David 
 Chillas, 0. P. Parks and T. M. Jenks. 
 
 STEAMEE "NEW EBA." 
 
 Acting-Master, James Marshall; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Wm. B. Purdy; Acting-Ensigns, C. A. 
 Schetky and W. B. Shillito; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 P. H. Sullivan, W. F. Remer and E. A. Bangs; En- 
 gineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Israel Marsh; Act- 
 ing-Second -Assistant, Richard Feugler; Acting- 
 Third-Assistant, A. W. Smith; Acting-Carpenter, 
 
 B. Martin. 
 
 STEAMEE " SIGNAL." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Wiu. P. Lee and Wm. F. Loan ; 
 Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, N. Brewster; Acting-A.s- 
 sistant-Paymaster, E. D. Hayden; Acting-Master s 
 Mates, R. P. Craft, E. D. Lovell and Andrew Don- 
 aldson; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. N. 
 Harden ; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. G. Briggs 
 and E. H. Kidd. 
 
 STEAMEE " PKAIEIE BIED." 
 
 Acting Ensigns, John W. Chambers and W. M. 
 Ernst; Acting - Assistant - Paymaster, L. Barter; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Morton, J. K. Lull, Jr., 
 and Wm. D. Bangs; Engineers: Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Geo. Radabaugh ; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 Mathew Fleming. 
 
 STEAMEB " CUELEW." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, H. A. B. O'Niell, Milton Griffith 
 and Wm. Zimmerman ; Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, 
 J. J. Mcllhenney ; Acting- Assistant- Paymaster, 
 J. R. Morris; Acting-Master's Mates, E. C. Huggins, 
 M. G. Bailey and J. A. Kilby; Engineers : Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Benj. Hoffman ; Acting-Third-As- 
 sistants, L. J. Everson and Wm. Quinn. 
 
 STEAMEE "LITTLE REBEL." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, N. T. Rennell ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, N. F. Jacobs, R. G. Van Ness, J. W. Ham- 
 brick and J. T. Bulo ; Engineers : Acting - First - 
 Assistant, A. E. Giles ; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 Philip Allman; Acting-Third-Assistant, E. H. Bur- 
 ton. 
 
 STEAMEE "VICTORY." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Fred'k Read, W. B. Trufant and 
 J. H. Singleton ; Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, G. W. 
 Shields ; Acting- Assistant- Paymaster, Benj. Page ; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, David Wagener, R. L. Tay- 
 lor and John Malony ; Engineers : Acting-First- 
 Assistant, J. L. Winston; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 Fred'k Heuse and J. W. Street. 
 
 STEAMEB "TENSAS. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, E. C. Van Pelt and Jacob Ruth- 
 erford; Acting- Master's Mate, Henry Van Velsor; 
 Engineers: Aoling-Second-Assistants, Andrew Wil- 
 son, Ant'y Courtenay ; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 Nathan Spear and Patrick Scanlan. 
 
 STEAMER "GENERAL PILLOW." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, T. M. Halstead, E. M. Wood and 
 C. M. Bragg ; Engineers : Acting- First-Assistant, 
 G. W. Crawford ; Acting-Second-Assistant, E. P. 
 Bartlett. 
 
 STEAMER ' • ROBB. " 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Lloyd Thomas and James Tuohy; 
 Acting-Master'? Mates, J. C. Burnett, J. J. Irwin 
 and Edw. Lincoln; Engineers : Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Benj. Everson ; Acting- Second- Assistant, John 
 Miller; Acting-Third-Assistant, N. J. Brooks. 
 
 STEAMER "ARGOSY." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, John C. Morong, G. J. Haslett, 
 R. W. Alson and T. J. Dean; Acting- Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, L. M. Rees, Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, R. 
 E. Patterson; Acting-Master's M.ates, A. B. Homer, 
 Peter Lake and J. A. McCreary; Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistant, Thomas Blanchard ; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Chas. Silverchan ; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ant, Albin Donnelly. 
 
 STEAMER "OUICHITA." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Eugene Zimmerman and P. C. 
 Wright; Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, J. R. Meeker; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, J. W. Litherbury, E. P. 
 Marshall and A. W. Widup; Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, Thomas Hebron ; Acting- First-Assistant, G. 
 W. Taylor; Acting-Second -Assistant, G. T. Wilson; 
 Acting-Third- Assistant, Thomas Reed. 
 
 STEAMER "new NATIONAL." 
 
 Pilot, Alex. M. Grant; Acting-Assistant-Paymas- 
 ter, J. W. Keely ; Acting-Ensign, J. M. Farmer; 
 Acting Master's Mates, J. D. Holmes, E. R. Bradley 
 and A. A. Mann; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, 
 Wm. A. Wells ; Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. W. 
 Aikin; Acting-'Third- Assistant, Geo. R. BeU, Oliver 
 Rosebush and D. L. Winton. 
 
 STEAMEE " GENERAL LYON." 
 
 Pilot, Richard E. Birch; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master W. H. Doane; Acting-Ensigns, James Mar- 
 tin and Thomas Cordwell; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. M. Hurd and E. W. Robeson; Engineers: Acting- 
 First-Assistant, H. L. Ince; Acting- Second-Assist- 
 ant, W. J. Hamilton ; Acting Third- Assistants, James 
 Baldwin and Wm. Daizley. 
 
 STEAMEB "SAMSON." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. M. Holmes ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, G. W. Tainter ; Engineers : Acting-First- As- 
 sistant, Wm. Paul, Jr. ; Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 C. F. Teager. 
 
 STEAM-TtJG "PANSY." 
 
 Acting -Ensign, Wm. Harris; Acting - Master's 
 Mate, Ant'y McCarty ; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, John Gillis; Acting-Third- Assistant, A. F. 
 Gardiner. 
 
 STEAM-TUG " PEBN." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, John M. Kelly; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Jacob Bomgarnar; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, John Reed ; Acting - Third Assistant, 
 Moses Andrews. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "THISTLE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, R. E. Ettingham; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John Thompson; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Wm. Clugston; Acting-Third- Assistant, 
 L. B. Jones. 
 
 STEAM-TUG " LAUBEL." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, W. R. Owens; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, C. H. Hilhng; Acting-Third-As- 
 sistant- C L. Rider 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 553 
 
 STBAM-TTja "MIGNONETTE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Henry D. Green; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Wm. Edgar; Engineers, Acting-Second- As- 
 sistant, Ban'l Barnum; Aeting-Tliird-Assistant, 
 Mark Wade. 
 
 STEAM- TUG "DAISY." 
 
 Acting-Master, Daniel C. Bowers; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, ,F. M. Magers; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant, H. A. Cady. 
 
 STEAM-TUG " MISTLETOE," 
 
 Acting-Ensign, James L. Quigley; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, James Anderson; Engmeers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, P. P. Seavy and Cliarles Metzger. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "MYETIiE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, I. N. Goldsmith; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, Charles Lyon ; Engineer : Acting-Second- As- 
 sistant, Thompson Guernsey. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "DAHLIA." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, W. H. Strope; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Thomas Roach; Engineers: Acting - First- 
 Assistant, J. H. Everhart; Aoting-Second-Assistant, 
 John Cook. 
 
 STEAM-TUG "HYACINTH." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. B. Hiserman; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, James Nelis ; Engineer ; Acting-Second- As- 
 sistant, Thomas Bell. 
 
 STEAM- TUG " IVY. 
 
 Engineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, Eugene Cal- 
 lahan; Acting-Third- Assistant, T. H. Neely. 
 
 NAYAL STATIONS AT OAIBO AND MOUND CITY, 
 
 Captain Alex. M. Pennock, Fleet - Captain and 
 Commandant of Station; Commander Fabius Stan- 
 ley, Ordnance Officer; Fleet-Paymaster, E. W. Dunn; 
 Paymasters, W. B. Boggsand A. H. Gilman; Assist- 
 ant-Fleet-Paymaster, John Reed; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. H. Harvey; Surgeon, J. W. Shively; 
 Acting-Chief-Engineer, Wm. D. Faulkner; Acting- 
 Masters, P. O. Kell and J. W. Atkinson ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, C. F. Nellis and J. M. Bailey; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, Rivers Drake; Gunner, -J. C. Ritter; Act- 
 
 ing-Boatswain, William Allen ; Acting-Gunners A 
 P. Snyder and L. K. Ellis. ' ' 
 
 MARINE 0PPICER8. 
 
 Captain, M. R. Kintzing; Second-Lieutenants, F 
 L. Church and C. H. Humphrey. 
 
 NAVAL STATION, MEMPHIS, TENN. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, Thomas Pattison; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Benton; Acting - 
 Master, H. 8. Wetmore; Acting-First- Assistant En- 
 gineer, Wm. Apperly. 
 
 EECEIVING SHIP " OLABA DOLSEN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Scott; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, C. E. Vaughan; Paymaster, Ed- 
 ward May; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. F Ham- 
 ilton; Chaplain, Wm. H. Stewart; Acting-Master 
 Beni Sebastian: Acting-Ensigns, L. Gardner and 
 D. W. Sainter; Acting-Master's-Mates, W. H. Gray 
 and A. E. McLean; Engineers: Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant, G. W. Fulton; Acting-Second- Assistant, Jere- 
 miah Wetzell. 
 
 EECBIVING-SHIP "GRAMPUS." 
 
 Acting-Master, Elizah Sells; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, M. AV. Reber, Acting-Ensign, C. W. Lithur- 
 bury; Acting-Master's Mates, J. L. Williams, C. F 
 Clarkson and J. C. Wittsee. 
 
 INSPECTION-SHIP "ABRAHAM." 
 
 Paymaster, A. E. Watson; Acting-Ensign, Wm 
 Wagner; Acting - First - Assistant Engineer, Enos 
 Hoshier. 
 
 HOSPITAL, MEMPHIS, TENN. 
 
 Surgeons, Wm. Grierand H. F. McSherry; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeons, Henry Beauchamp, J. B. Parker 
 and Abner Thorpe. 
 
 RECRUITING RENDEZVOUS, CHICAGO. 
 
 Acting- Master, J. D. Harty; Acting- Master's Mate, 
 Wm. A. Daniels; Surgeon, Samuel J. Jones. 
 
 RECRUITING RENDEZVOUS, CINCINNATI. 
 
 Acting- Master, A. S. Bowen; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, Geo. E. Jones; Assistant-Paymaster Wm 
 H. Sells. 
 
CH A PTER XLII 1. 
 
 OPERATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, UNDER ADMIRAL PORTER, 
 AFTER THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 
 
 Operations ON the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.— Suppressing Guerillas.— 
 Gun-boats Co-operating with Sherman in Expedition to Meridian.— Silencing 
 Batteries at Liverpool.— Gun-boats Damaged.— Pushing up the Yazoo.— The 
 Expedition Falls Back.— Dashing Attack on Waterloo.— The "Forest 
 Rose " Drives Confederates out of Waterproof. — Important Services 
 Rendered by "Tin-clads."— Expedition up Black and Washita Rivers.- 
 Gun-boats Drive Confederates Out of Trinity and Harrisonburg.— Heroic 
 Seamen.— Plot to Blow Up Fleet.— Confederate Secret Service.— Letters 
 OF Confederate Secretary of the Navy and Others.— Names op Persons in 
 Confederate Secret Service.— Report op Commission on Singer's Torpedoes. 
 —Capture op Yazoo City.— Three Sailors Distinguish Themselves.— Capture of 
 Fort Pillow.— Horrible Massacre.- Atrocities Committed.— Fort Pillow Re- 
 taken by Lieutenant-Commander Fitch.— Confederates Capture the " Petrel." 
 —The "Exchange" Attacked by Masked Batteries.— Batteries near Simmsport 
 Open on Gun-boats, but are Silenced.— Confederates make Good Use of Cannon 
 Captured from Banks.— Zeal and Bravery of Louisiana and Texas Troops.— 
 The "General Bragg" Attacked at Tunica Bend.— The " Naiad" Silences Bat- 
 tery.— Expedition Up Arkansas River.— The "Queen City " Captured and Blown 
 Up. — Destruction of Batteries near Clarendon. — Expedition from Clifton to 
 Eastport.— Hard Fighting.— Transports Disabled.— " Tin-clads" Cut Up.— Non- 
 success of Expedition. 
 
 AFTER the conclusion of the Red 
 River expedition the fleet returned 
 up the Mississippi to tlieir old sta- 
 tions. Fortunately the guerillas 
 had not taken advantage of the 
 absence of the gun-boats to attack unarmed 
 vessels passing up or down. Only one at- 
 tempt was made — by a Confederate field- 
 battery — to interfere with river navigation, 
 and that one was unsuccessful. 
 
 The different districts were soon under 
 the supervision of their former commanders, 
 and the people along the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi were reassured with regard to the 
 Navy giving its particular attention to the 
 guerillas or any other species of soldiers 
 that might attempt to show themselves in 
 an offensive attitude. 
 
 While the squadron was employed up 
 Red River, the Tennessee and Cumberland 
 rivers became now and then the scene of 
 
 active operations. Tennessee, lying adja- 
 cent to so many Southern States, was open 
 to the raids of the Confederates, and they 
 seemed loath to abandon it altogether, 
 hoping still to obtain possession of it and 
 carry the war into the more northern States 
 of Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri. It was a 
 vain hope, however, and one not justified 
 by the position or condition of the Federal 
 armies. 
 
 InFebruary,1864,Lieutenant-Commander 
 LeRoy Fitch still commanded a fleet of 
 gun-boats on the Ohio, Tennessee and Cum- 
 berland rivers. The banks of these rivers 
 were infested by bands of guerillas, who, 
 posting themselves on prominent points, 
 made it unpleasant for gun-boats, and all 
 but impossible for transports, to pass up 
 without a strong escort. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Fitch put an end 
 to this state of affairs by sending up the 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 555 
 
 Cumberland River a reconiioitering force 
 of gun-boats, which at the same time con- 
 voyed a number of transports to Carthage 
 with supplies of provisions and munitions of 
 war. This expedition was under the cliarge 
 of Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant H. A. 
 Olassford, and the Army co-operated by 
 sending the steamer "Silver Lake, No. 2," 
 with a detachment of 150 sharp-shooters 
 under a gallant officer. Lieutenant Roberts. 
 The duty was severe, the danger consider- 
 able, and the fighting incessant ; but the 
 gun-boats were so well handled that their 
 convoy reached its destination without ac- 
 cident, and the guerillas were taught a les- 
 son they did not forget for some time. 
 
 When Sherman was marching on Merid- 
 ian, a naval expedition was fitted out under 
 the command of Lieutenant - Commander 
 E. K. Oweu to co-operate with him, and for 
 the purpose of confusing the enemy with re- 
 gard to the former's movements. The gun- 
 boats were attended by a co-operating force 
 of troops under Colonel Coates. When they 
 arrived near Yazoo City, it was discovered 
 that the enemy were in force at that place 
 with batteries of field-pieces on the hills. 
 
 On the 2d of February the expedition 
 reached Sartalia, and next day attacked the 
 enemy at Liverpool, where there were 2,700 
 men with artillery, under General Ross. 
 The gun-boats silenced the batteries, and 
 the Federal troops landed and took posses- 
 sion of the enemy's position, which they 
 occupied until night-fall and then re-em- 
 barked, and the vessels dropped down the 
 river. The "Petrel," "Marmora," "Ex- 
 change" and " Romeo" were the gun -boats 
 engaged. They were somewhat cut up, 
 but drove the enemy away. The army 
 lost eight killed and twenty-two wounded 
 in this attack. This expedition had the 
 effect which Sherman desired, viz., to draw 
 the enemy toward Yazoo River. 
 
 The gun-boats and army transports pushed 
 on up the Yazoo as far as Greenwood, 
 losing a few men by the way. At this 
 place they fell in with General Forrest's com- 
 mand, when the army contingent landed 
 and brought on a battle, or rather a 
 skirmish, in which the Confederates were 
 defeated. The result of this expedition 
 was, as Sherman had anticipated, the fall- 
 ing back of all the enemy's troops which 
 had been scattered along the Yazoo, Sun- 
 flower and Tallahatchie rivers, upon Gren- 
 ada, to defend it from attack; and he was 
 thus enabled to proceed on his raid to Merid- 
 ian without molestation in his rear. 
 
 On the 15th of February the Confederates 
 made a dashing attack on Waterloo, in the 
 district commanded by Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander James A. Greer — an excellent and 
 brave officer, who was always on the alert 
 for such contingencies. This raid was con- 
 
 ducted by Colonel Harrison, an indefatig- 
 able Confederate ranger, who had given a 
 great deal of trouble with his command. 
 On this occasion he entered the town of 
 Waterproof with 800 mounted men, drove 
 in the pickets, and pressed the Union troops 
 very hard. Fortuiiately, the little tin-clad 
 "Forest Rose" was at hand to assist the 
 shore party, and, opening a hot fire of 
 shell and shrapnel, soon compelled the ene- 
 my to retire. Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 J. V. Johnston, her commander, then got 
 underway, and took positions where he 
 could constantly liaTass the Confederates. 
 
 This was one of the places selected to be 
 held by negro troops ; and, as these men 
 were always offensive to the Southerners, 
 and they never lost an opportunity of attack- 
 ing them, it was necessary to keep gun-boats 
 always at hand to defend them. The un- 
 wise measure of employing colored troops, 
 who were inefficient and without discip- 
 line, always aroused the indignation of the 
 guerilla element, who would run great 
 risks to slaughter them. 
 
 The officer commanding the troops asked 
 Lieutenant Johnston to put him across the 
 river, but that gallant officer refused to do 
 so, telling him to stand fast and fight it 
 out, which he was obliged to do, and the 
 " Forest Rose," using her rifled guns with 
 great effect, finally succeeded in dispersing 
 the Confederate forces. This fight lasted a 
 who'le day, and most of the work was done 
 by the Navy. The Confederates left seven 
 killed on the field, and took away a number 
 of wounded. The place was soon after re- 
 inforced from Natchez, and the enemy de- 
 parted. 
 
 Captain Anderson, the conamander of the 
 negro troops at Waterproof, was so grateful 
 for the service rendered by the ' • Forest 
 Rose " that he wrote Lieutenant Johnston 
 the following letter, which we give, with 
 pleasure, as a memento of the gallant officer 
 who fought his ship so well. It will be 
 noticed that the name of the "Forest Rose " 
 frequently appears in this recital of events. 
 She was a small vessel, but one that did 
 good service under the gallant officers who 
 commanded her. 
 
 The following is Captain Anderson's 
 letter : 
 
 Hbadquarters' Post, Waterproof, La., / 
 February 19, 1864. ( 
 
 Sir — Permit me to return you many thanks for 
 the gallant manner in whicli you defended my 
 little force against the rebel force of Colonel 
 Mores, Colonel McNeal, and Major Johnson, in 
 their several attacks of Saturday, February 14th, 
 Sunday, the 15th, and Monday, the 16th of Febru- 
 ary, 1864. 
 
 1 hope you will not consider it flattering when 
 I say 1 never before saw more accurate artillery 
 firing than you did in these engagements, invari- 
 ably putting your shells in the right place ordered. 
 My" ofBcers and men now feel perfectly secure 
 
556 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 against a lai-pre force, so long as we have the assist- 
 ance of Captain Johnston and his most excellent 
 drilled crew on board the No. 9. 
 I am, Captain, your huml)le servant, 
 J. M. Anderson, 
 
 Captain Commanding Post. 
 H. C. LUNT, 
 
 Lieutenant and Adjutant. 
 Captain Johnston, 
 
 Commanding Qun-boat No. 9. 
 
 In the latter part of February, Admiral 
 Porter fitted out an expedition to go, via 
 the Red River, up the Black and Washita 
 Rivers, under the command of Lieutenant- 
 Commander F. M. Ramsey, for the purpose 
 of breaking up the Confederate posts that 
 were being formed along these rivers and 
 destroying their provisions. The expedi- 
 tion consisted of the following vessels : 
 " Fort Hindman," Acting- Volunteer Lieu- 
 tenant John Pearce ; " Osage," Acting-Mas- 
 ter Thomas Wright; "Lexington," Lieu- 
 tenant George M Bache ; " Conestoga," 
 Lieutenant - Commander T. O. Selfridge ; 
 " Cricket," Acting-Master H. H. Gorringe, 
 and " Ouichita," Lieutenant - Commander 
 Byron Wilson. 
 
 The "Ouichita" was a converted river 
 steamer and carried 39 guns in three tiers. 
 They were mostly 34 and 13 pound howitz- 
 ers, but she had a battery of 8-inch smooth- 
 bores and some rifle-guns on the lower 
 deck. Two 12-pounders were mounted on 
 wooden turrets above all. She was a yery 
 formidable vessel for such operations. 
 
 On the 39th of February the expedition 
 proceeded up the Red River into tlie Black, 
 as far as the town of Trinity, where they 
 Avere attacked by a battery of field-pieces, 
 under the Confederate General, Polignac, 
 the town at the same time hanging out 
 white flags. The gun-boats returned the en- 
 emy's fire and soon drove them away. 
 
 The fire of the " Ouichita" is said to have 
 been withering, and the astonishment of 
 the Confederate commander may be well 
 imagined when a vessel, which he supposed 
 to be a transport, opened on him with forty 
 guns, firing two shells from each gun a 
 minute, the shells and shrapnel bursting in 
 all directions and tearing the village almost 
 to pieces. 
 
 On the following day the expedition pro- 
 ceeded up the river to within two miles of 
 Harrisonburg, where it was again attacked 
 by General Polignac, with a large number 
 of sharp-shooters and some 12-pound rifle- 
 guns, from behind the levee. The fire of the 
 guns was directed chiefly upon the " Hind- 
 man," the flag-ship, and she was struck 
 twenty-seven times by shot and shell, one' 
 shot disabling the starboard engine. But 
 when the "Ouichita" got into position and 
 opened her broadside, the enemy fled in all 
 directions, leaving their guns on the fleld, 
 after dragging them some 600 yards from 
 
 the water. The Confederates lost a great 
 many men in killed and wounded. 
 
 Ramsey then proceeded a long distance 
 up the river through narrow bayous and 
 shoal cut-offs, destroying grain and provis- 
 ions of all kinds, nearly reaching Monroe, 
 but was obliged to return owing to the rap- 
 idly falling water — not, however, until tlie 
 object of the expedition had been accom- 
 plished. 
 
 Harrisonburg had always been a trouble- 
 some place, from which constant expedi- 
 tions were fitted out to raid along the Missis- 
 sippi. The approaches to it had been strongly 
 fortified, four forts on high hills command- 
 ing the river for two miles below the town 
 and one mile above. Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Ramsey landed a force at this place 
 and burned several of the largest houses, as 
 a warning to the inhabitants not to as- 
 sist in attacking river -boats, which often 
 had women and children on board. 
 
 Two excellent earth-works were found at 
 Trinity, in which were mounted three 32- 
 pounders. These were hoisted on board the 
 vessels and carried away. 
 
 This expedition was well planned and 
 executed, and put a stop to the practice of 
 firing upon unarmed vessels along the Mis- 
 sissippi River. It offers the opportunity of 
 mentioning the gallantry of three seamen 
 of the " Fort Hindman," James K. L. Dun- 
 can, Hugh Melloy, and William P. John- 
 son. A shell burst at the muzzle of one of 
 the guns,- setting fire to the tie of the cart- 
 ridge which had just been put in the gun. 
 Duncan immediately seized the burning 
 cartridge, took it out of the gun, and threw 
 it overboard. A shell pierced the bow case- 
 mate on the right of No. 1 gun, mortally 
 wounding the first sponger, who dropped 
 his sponge out of the port on the forecastle. 
 Melloy immediately jumped out, picked it 
 up, and sponged and loaded the gun under 
 a heavy fire from sharp-shooters. Johnson, 
 though very severely wounded himself in 
 the hand, took the sponge from a wounded 
 comrade and continued to use it through- 
 out the action. The casualties in the flotilla 
 were only two killed and eleven wounded. 
 
 On March 30th, a plan was discovered to 
 blow up by torpedoes all the vessels of the 
 fleet. A Confederate mail carrier was cap- 
 tured, crossing the Mississippi with a mail- 
 bag full of official correspondence, in which 
 an atrocious scheme was exposed. It was 
 nothing more nor less than to introduce 
 torpedoes in the shape of lumps of coal 
 into the coal piles or bunkers of the naval 
 and merchant vessels, in hopes that they 
 would be shovelled into the furnaces by 
 the flremen, and there explode. Acts of 
 this kind were attempted on several occa- 
 sions by the Confederates, and one would 
 suppose that only the lowest grade of hu- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 557 
 
 manity — men of the basest minds — would 
 embark in such infernal enterprises. But 
 it can be shown that some of the highest 
 personages in the Confederacy were en- 
 gaged in this business, or, at least, gave 
 their assent to it, not in open, manly fashion, 
 but with the appai-ent idea that they had 
 no authority to stop it. See the following 
 letters • 
 
 Confederate States of America, 
 Navy Department, Richmond, 
 September 10, 1863. 
 
 Sir — Tour letter of the 13th July, from Jackson- 
 port, Arkansas, reached me a few days ago. 
 
 You inform me that a certain party desires to 
 obtain proper authority from the Confederate gov- 
 ernment to undertake the destruction of gun-boats, 
 transports, etc., for such per centum of the value of 
 the boats destroyed as may be oilered, etc. 
 
 There is no legislation of which I am aware 
 that satisfies precisely the conditions required. 
 The Act of May 6, 1861, recognizing the existence 
 of war with the United States, and providing for 
 privateering, is not construed to permit privateer- 
 ing on inland waters. A reference to the law for the 
 establishment of a Volunteer Navy, a copy of which 
 I enclose herewith, will show you that it cannot be 
 made to embrace the parties to -which you refer. 
 
 To facilitate organizations of parties to operate 
 as you propose, in boats or otherwise, against the 
 enemy on our Western I'ivers, they could be received 
 into the Navy if they shipped regularly in accord- 
 ance with existing laws, and then assis;ned to duty 
 under an acting-master upon those rivers. In this 
 case, however, they would form a part of the regu- 
 lar Navy establishment, drawing its pay and sub- 
 sistence. I infer from your letter that such is not 
 the object of the parties in question, but that they 
 desire to organize in small parties, to operate as in- 
 dependent river gueriUa parties, under their own 
 leaders, and to look to prize-money or reward from 
 the country for destroying enemy's property, to de- 
 fray expenseSj etc., using an appointment from the 
 Oovernment to secure to them the rights of prison- 
 ers of war, if captured. 
 
 Judging from what you say, that you have not 
 the Acts of Congress at hand, I inclose copies of two 
 Acts, one of which possibly serves the desired pur- 
 pose. The President has authority to make such 
 an arrangement as you refer to, and I would sug- 
 gest that parties wishing to engage in the enterprise 
 present to him their names, purposes and terms, 
 either directly or through your obedient servant, 
 8. R. Mallory, 
 
 ISecretary of the Navy. 
 Colonel E. C. Cabell, C. S. A., 
 
 Headquarters Price's Army, 
 Jaoksonport, Arkansas. 
 [No. 329.] 
 An Act to Provide for Local Defence and 
 Special Service. 
 
 Section 1. The Congress of the Confederate 
 States do enact : That the President be and he is 
 hereby authorized to accept the services of volun- 
 teers of such kind and in such proportion as he may 
 •deem expedient, to serve for such time as he may 
 prescribe, for the defence of exposed places and 
 localities, or such special service as he may deem 
 expedient. 
 
 Section 3. And such forces shall be mustered 
 into the service of the Confederate States, for the 
 local defence or special service aforesaid, the mus 
 ter-roll setting forth distinctly the services to be 
 performed ; and the said volunteers shall not be 
 eonsidered in actual service until thereunto ordered 
 by the President, and they shall be entitled to pay 
 cr subsistence only for such time as they may be on 
 
 duty, under the orders of the President, or by his 
 direction. 
 
 Section 3. Such volunteer forces, when so ac- 
 cepted or ordered into service, shall be organized In 
 accordance and subject to all the provisions of the 
 Act entitled "An Act to provide for the public de- 
 fence,'' approved March 6th, 1861, and may be at- 
 tached to such divisions, brigades, regiments or 
 battalions as the President may direct; and, when 
 not organized into battalions and regiments before 
 being mustered into service, the President shall ap- 
 point the field-oflBcers of the battalions and regi- 
 ments when organized as such by him. 
 An Act to Authorize the Formation op Vol- 
 unteer Companies for Local Defence. 
 
 The Congress of the Confederate States of America 
 do enact: 
 
 That for the purpose of loca 1 defence in any portion 
 of the Confederate States, any number of persons, 
 not less than twenty, who are over the age of forty- 
 five years, or otherwise not liable to military duty, 
 may associate themselves as a military company, 
 elect their own officers, and establish rules and regu- 
 lations for their own government, and shall be 
 considered as belonging to the Provisional Army of 
 the Confederate States, serving without pay or 
 allowances, and entitled, when captured by the 
 enemy, to all the privileges of prisoners of war. 
 
 Provided, That such company shall, as soon as 
 practicable, transmit their muster-roll or list of the 
 names of the officers and privates thereof to the 
 Governor of the State, the commanding general of 
 the department, or any brigadier-general in the 
 State or Confederate service, to be forwarded to 
 the Secretary of War ; but the President or 
 commander of the district may, at any time, dis- 
 band such companies. 
 
 Provided, That in the States and districts in 
 which the Act entitled " An Act to further provide 
 for the public defence," approved April 16th, 1863, 
 and the Acts amendatory thereof, have been sus- 
 pended, persons of any age, resident within such 
 States or districts, may volunteer and form part 
 of such companies, so long as such suspension may 
 continue. 
 
 Provided, That no person shall become a mem- 
 ber of said company until he shall have first taken 
 the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of 
 America, in writing, a copy of which shall be filed 
 with the muster-roll of said company, as above 
 prescribed. Approved October IStli, 1802. 
 
 [Extract.] 
 
 Headquarters District of Arkansas, ) 
 
 Little Rock, August 18, 1863. J 
 
 Special Orders i 
 
 No. 135. 
 
 ******* 
 
 VI. — Thomas E. Courtenay, Esq., is, by direction 
 of the Lieutenant-General commanding the depart- 
 ment of trans-Mississippi, authorized to enlist a 
 secret service corps, not exceeding twenty (20) men, 
 to be employed by him, subject to the orders of the 
 district commander. 
 
 ******* 
 
 By command of Major-General Price, 
 
 Thomas L. Snead, 
 Assistant-Adjutant General. 
 Thomas E. Courtenay, Esq. 
 
 [Form op Appointment.] 
 
 , 1864 
 In accordance with the above, I hereby appoint 
 
 a member of the secret service 
 
 corps, to report to me at on or before the 
 
 .... day of 1864. 
 
 Thomas E. Courtenay, 
 
 Captain Secret Service Corvs. 
 
558 
 
 THE NAVAL HIS TOR F 
 
 Confederate States of America, 
 War Department, Engineer Bureau, 
 Richmond, Va., Sept. 15, 1863. 
 
 R. W. Dunn, having been selected for special ser- 
 vice, is authorized by the Secretary of War to pro- 
 ceed to the headquarters of Lieutenant-General 
 E. Kirby Smith, commanding trans-Mississippi 
 department, to be attached to one of the com- 
 panies of engineer troops now being organ- 
 ized in that department, under the Act of Congress 
 " to provide and organize engineer troops to serve 
 during the war." Approved March 20, 1863. 
 A. L. Rives, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting-Chief of Bureau. 
 Approved — James A. Seddon, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 Confederate States of America, 
 War Department, Engineer Bureau 
 September 15, 1863. 
 General — I have the honor to send, in addition 
 to the names specified in my letter of the 20th ul- 
 timo, the following list of men, wlio, by wish of the 
 Honorable Secretary of War, are to be employed in 
 your department, on the special service of destroy- 
 ing the enemy's property by torpedoes and similar 
 inventions, viz.: [Names.] 
 
 These men should each be enlisted in and form part 
 of an engineer company, but will nevertheless be 
 employed, so far as possible, on the service specified 
 above. When the public interest , in your judg- 
 ment, requires it, details of additional men may be 
 made, either from the engineer troops or from the 
 line, to aid them in their particular duties, and they 
 may be furnished by the military authorities with 
 the necessary ammunition. Their compensation to 
 be fifty per cent, of the property destroyed i)y their 
 new inventions, and all the arms and munitions 
 captured by them, by the use of torpedoes or Ijy 
 similar devices. Beyond this, they will be entitled 
 to such other rewards as Congress may hereafter 
 provide. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 A. L. Rives, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting-Chief of Bureau. 
 Approved — James A. Sbddon, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 Names of persons in secret service, to introduce 
 R. W. Dunn, E. C. Singer and J. D. Braman to my 
 friends : 
 
 B. C. Adams, Grenada ; Captain Samuel Apple- 
 gate, Winona; Colonel H. H. Miller, command- 
 ing regiment west of Grenada and Carrollton ; 
 W. P. Mellen, Natchez ; Major John B. Peyton. 
 Raymond ; Judge D. H. Bosser, Woodville ; F. A. 
 Boyle, Woodville ; Henry Skipwith, Clinton, La. ; 
 Conrad McRae, Fordocke, La. ; W. Barton, Atcha- 
 falaya River^ La. ; J. J. Morgan, Atohafalaya River, 
 La.; T. G. Caivit, Atchafalaya River, La.; James 
 E. Lindsey, Atchafalaya River, La.; William N. 
 Lindsey, Atchafalaya River, La.; William H. Neil- 
 son, Atchafalaya River, La.; Samuel Faulkner, 
 Atchafalaya River, La. ; Colonel Ja,mes M. Porter, 
 St. Landry, La.; Colonel Wm. B. Davis, St. Lan- 
 dry, La.; Colonel Wm. Offat, St. Landrv, La.; Cap- 
 tain James Cappes, St. Landry, La.; S. A. Scribner, 
 St. Landry, La.; Elbert Goull, St. Landry, La.; T. 
 C. Anderson, St. Landry, La.; Simon Richard, St. 
 Landry, La.; Henderson Taylor, Marksville, La.; 
 S. L. Taylor, Marksville, La.; H. Robertson, Alex- 
 andria, La.; S. W. Henarie, Alexandria, La.; Gov- 
 ernor T. O. Moore, Alexandria, La.; Colonel C. 
 Manning, Alexandria, La ; General M. Wells, Rap- 
 ides and Aveyellos Parish, La. ; General P. F. 
 Kearny, Rapides and Aveyellos Parish, La. ; Hugh 
 M. Kearny, Esq., Raiiides and Aveyellos Parish, 
 
 La.; B. F. Murdock, Rapides and Aveyellos Parish, 
 La.; B. C. Crow, Esq., Lafayette Parish, La.; Hon. 
 John Moore, St. Martin's Parish ; William Robert- 
 son, St. Martin's Parish ; Judge Baker, St. Mary's 
 Parish ; T. J. Foster, St. Mary's Parish ; Judge 
 Palfrey, St. Mary's Parish ; Daniel Dennett, editor 
 Planters Banner, St. Mary's Parish ; Mr. Sickles, 
 editor Planter'' 8 Banner, Kindred Spirits, St. Mary's 
 Parish ; Phanor Prudhommer, Esq., St. Mary's 
 Parish ; John Blair Smith, Naehitoches Parish, La.; 
 Colonel H. J. G. Battle, Caddo, La. ; Reuben White, 
 Caddo, La. 
 
 We must help one another, and those who can be 
 efficient in our cause must receive all necessary- 
 hospitality, aid and information. I introduce none 
 but the worthy. R. J. Page. 
 
 Report op a Commission on Singer's Torpedo. 
 
 Engineer Headquarters, ) 
 
 Depot Northern Virginia, \ 
 
 July 14, 1863. \ 
 
 Colonel — In accordance with your order of t*i& 
 13th, appointing the undersigned a commission to 
 examine and report upon the merits of Mr. E. C. 
 Singer's torpedo, we beg to state that we have care- 
 fully examined the same, and submit the following^ 
 report : 
 
 First. "As to the place for exploding the charge. " 
 In this plan or lock, in our opinion, consists the 
 great merit of the invention. The lock is simple, 
 strong, and not liable at any time to be out of or- 
 der; and as the caps which "ignite the charge are 
 placed within the powder magazine, they are not 
 likely to be affected by moisture ; while the per- 
 cussion is upon the exterior of the magazine, actual 
 contact with the rod, which acts as a trigger, is 
 necessary; but by mechanical contrivances the con- 
 tact may be obtained in various ways. 
 
 Second. "The certainty of action'' depends, of 
 course, upon contact ; but by the peculiar and ex- 
 cellent arrangement of the lock and plan of percus- 
 sion mentioned above, the certainty of explosion is 
 almost absolute. 
 
 One great advantage this torpedo possesses over 
 many others is that its explosion does not depend 
 upon the action or judgment of an individual ; that 
 it is safe from premature ignition, and at the same 
 time is cheap and portable, while its position in 
 river or harbor cannot readily be ascertained by an 
 enemy's vessels. 
 
 Third. "The efficiency of its explosion, if made in 
 deep channels," cannot well be ascertained without 
 experiment, but would be the same as sub-marines 
 fired by any other contrivance. We are of the opin- 
 ion, however, from the best information accessible, 
 that if the powder, say 100 pounds in quantity, is 
 within the distance of fifteen feet from the keel of 
 the vessel when exploded, its efficient action is not 
 materially affected by the depth of channel. 
 
 Of course, the quantity of powder required would 
 have to be determined by experiment. Rifle pow- 
 der, from its more rapid combustion, would be 
 ]>i-eferable in deep water to cannon powder, while 
 some of the detonating compounds would doubtless 
 effect certain destruction to vessels passing over 
 torpedoes at even much greater depth. The pecu- 
 liar arrangements for firing the batteries would 
 have to be determined by the circumstances of posi- 
 tion and draft of vessels and motion of currents, 
 depth and width of channels, and would require the 
 exercise of great judgment on the part of those in- 
 trusted with the dutv of placing them. 
 
 We are so well satisfied with the merits of Mr. 
 Singer's torpedo that we recommend the engineer 
 department to give it a thorough test, and, if prac- 
 ticable, to have some of them placed at an early day 
 in some of the river approaches of Richmond. 
 
 General Remarks: — 
 
 The mode of loading this torpedo dispenses with 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 559 
 
 any connection through the ease of the magazine, 
 involving no packing of any liind. 
 
 The risk of the locli fouling by sand or mud, if 
 on the bottom of a stream, we think can be pre- 
 vented by enclosing it in a metal case, which would 
 be nearly water-tight. Id narrow streams these 
 could be placed in quincunx, so that a vessel at- 
 tempting to pass would be sure to come in contact 
 with some one. 
 
 The inventor also claims to be able to go to a 
 vessel with one or two and get them in contact so as 
 to explode. 
 
 This can be done, but so much depends on the 
 nerve and daring of individuals that there is no cer- 
 tainty of it. Judging from the success of blasting 
 rocks by powder, superposed upon the rock with a 
 deep column of water over it, we are of the opinion 
 that the depth of water below a torpedo would not 
 interfere with its success. 
 
 Lieutenant Bolton, who saw and blasted a great 
 deal in East River, near New York, says: " One hun- 
 dred pounds of powder, fifteen feet from the bottom 
 of a vessel, would break her sides or bottom." 
 
 We would add that a proposed adaptation of 
 these locks to the explosion of sheU or batteries 
 under railroad tracks, for defences of approach to 
 fortified works, and for blowing up bridges, seems 
 to us very simple and effective; also an ingenious 
 plan for affixing torpedoes to spar or bow of an 
 iron-clad. 
 
 We consider the employment of submarines as a 
 legitimate mode of defence, and, as officers connected 
 with the defence of Richmond, feel it our duty to 
 recommend torpedoes as a powerful accessory to our 
 limited means. The moral effect of an explosion 
 upon an enemy would be incalculable, and would 
 doubtless deter them from attempting to bring 
 troops, by transports, to points accessible to the 
 city, as White House or Brandon. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 W. H. Stevens, 
 
 Colonel Engineers. 
 John A. Williams, 
 
 Major Engineers. 
 
 W. G. TURPIN, 
 
 Capt. Engineers. 
 Colonel J. T. Gilmer, 
 
 Chief Engineer. 
 Official copy. 
 
 A. L. Rives, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting-Chief of Bureau. 
 
 Letter of T. B. Coubtbnat to Col. H. E. Clark. 
 Richmond, Virginia, Jan. 19, 1864. 
 
 Mt Dear Colonel — I hope you have received 
 all my letters. I wrote two to Mobile, one to Co- 
 lumbus, and two to Brandon. I now send this by a 
 party who is going to Shreveport, and promised to 
 learn your whereabouts so as to forward it to you. 
 
 I have met with much delay and annoyance since 
 you left. The castings have all been completed some 
 time, and the coal is so perfect that the most critical 
 eye could not detect it. The President thinks them 
 perfect, but Mr. Seddon will do nothing without 
 congressional action, so I have been engaged for the 
 past two weeks in getting up a bill that will cover 
 my ease. At last it has met his approval, and will 
 to-day go to the Senate, hence to the House in secret 
 session. It provides that the Secretary of War 
 shall have the power to organize a "secret service 
 corps" commission, enlist and detail parties who 
 shall retain former rank and pay, also give such 
 compensation as he may deem fit, not exceeding 50 
 per cent, for property partially and totally de 
 stroyed; also to advance, when necessary, out of the 
 secret service fund, money to parties engaging to 
 injure the enemy. 
 ^ As soon as this bill becomes a law, I have no 
 
 means to progress with, and that all the appoint- 
 ments you or I have made will be confirmed. * * * 
 
 T. E. Courtknay. 
 Colonel H. E. Clark, 
 
 1th Missouri Cavalry. Maj. Gen. Price's 
 Headquarters, Arkansas. 
 
 The little " tin-clads " of the Mississippi 
 squadron made a good deal of history for 
 the Navy. They often performed duties 
 that ought to have been assigned to iron- 
 clads; but these latter were few in number, 
 and too large to penetrate the small and 
 narrow streams where the Confederates had 
 an idea they were secure, and from whence 
 they would start expeditions towards the 
 great river to prey upon peaceful com- 
 merce. The "Petrel" more than once 
 distinguished herself in these river ex- 
 peditions, and while in the Yazoo River 
 performed service that should be remem- 
 bered. 
 
 Colonel Coates, who had started out with 
 Lieutenant - Commander Owen, as men- 
 tioned on a former occasion, to keep the 
 Confederates from following in Sherman's 
 rear, had, with the assistance of the Navy, 
 occupied Yazoo City, which seemed to be 
 an object of attack from both parties. 
 First one side and then the other had 
 thrown up earth-works until it had become 
 a formidable place. 
 
 Colonel Coates was quietly resting here, 
 keeping a good look-out on the enemy, who 
 were in force a few miles back, when, on 
 the 5th of March, at 9:30 a. m., the Con- 
 federates made a fierce attack on the re- 
 doubts at a point occupied by part of the 
 11th Illinois Volunteers, supported by a 12- 
 pound howitzer belonging to the gun-boat 
 "Exchange." Acting-Master Thomas Mc- 
 Elroy, of the " Petrel," had been left in 
 charge of the naval force in the Yazoo 
 River by Lieutenant-Commander Owen. 
 
 After firing the howitzer several times, it 
 had a shell jammed in the bore which could 
 not be removed. Mr. McElroy then or- 
 dered Acting-Master Gibson, of the "Mar- 
 mora," to dismount one of his rifled how- 
 itzers, mount it on a field carriage, and 
 send it on shore with a crew to work it ; 
 but before he could get the gun to the re- 
 doubt the enemy had completely surrounded 
 the hill. 
 
 At this time the fighting in the city was 
 hand to hand ; the gun was placed in posi- 
 tion and opened fire rapidly on the enemy. 
 At one time the crew were driven from their 
 piece by superior numbers ; but the Union 
 soldiers, seeing that the sailors needed sup- 
 port, went to their rescue, charged the en- 
 emy, and retook the gun. 
 
 The " Petrel " and "Marmora" kept up a 
 rapid fire with shrapnel, until the battle 
 was over, and McElroy was requested by 
 Colonel Coates to cease firing, as the enemy 
 
 X i.'. iT^Trn J_l_ J. 
 
560 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 shore, took the howitzer, and pursued the 
 retreating enemy, firing upoji their rear 
 until they escaped to the hills. 
 
 Three sailors highly distinguished them- 
 selves in this battle : Bartlett Laffey of the 
 "Petrel," and James Stoddard and Wm. 
 J. Franks of the " Marmora." These men, 
 though surrounded at their gun, fought 
 hand to hand with their cutlasses to the 
 last, and when the enemy retreated, turned 
 the gun upon them — this, too, after their 
 officer (an acting ensign) had retreated, and 
 behaved so badly that his resignation was 
 afterwards demanded. Here was a great 
 difference between the men and their offi- 
 cer, and it is to be hoped that the former 
 will live to see their names honorably men- 
 tioned while that of their leader is withheld 
 as unworthy of notice. 
 
 On the 13th of April, the Confederates, 
 taking advantage of the absence of the 
 gun-boats, marched on Columbus, Ky. ; but 
 when Colonel Lawrence, who commanded 
 the post, refused to listen to a demand 
 for its surrender, they turned upon Fort 
 Pillow, and captured it after a desperate 
 conflict. 
 
 Fort Pillow was retaken by Lieutenant- 
 Commander Fitch, but the enemy carried 
 off with them everything it had contained 
 in the shape of guns or stores, and retreated 
 to Ashport. The Union transports then 
 landed troops at the foot of the hill, who 
 reoccupied the fort, where traces of the 
 massacre were still visible, and where ruin 
 and desolation went hand-in-hand. Terrible 
 scenes had been enacted when the place 
 was taken by the Confederates, and they 
 behaved as if they considered the brave de- 
 fence of the Federal soldiers a grave of- 
 fence, to be avenged by an indiscriminate 
 slaughter. The atrocities which these men 
 committed will always remain a stigma 
 upon their character, for no possible ex- 
 cuses or explanations can ever justify 
 them. 
 
 All of the successes gained by the Con- 
 federates were owing to the unfortunate 
 Red River expedition, which had with- 
 drawn the gun-boats from their posts. 
 
 In the meantime the small gun-boats, 
 which were acting on the Yazoo River 
 in connection with Colonel Coates, were 
 making themselves felt in that region. An 
 expedition under Colonel Schofield was 
 about to start up the Yazoo River by order 
 of General McArthur, when, by request 
 of the former, on April 21st, the gun-boats 
 "Petrel" and "Prairie Bird" preceded the 
 army-transport up to Yazoo City. No en- 
 emy being in sight, the "Petrel" went on 
 up, leaving the "Prairie Bird" and trans- 
 port " Freestone" at the Navy Yard. When 
 abreast of the city, the little gun-boat opened 
 fire on some Confederate troops just then 
 
 coming in sight on the hills, which was re- 
 turned briskly by musketry and cannon. 
 The river, being too narrow to turn in, Act- 
 ing-Master McElroy determined to run the 
 batteries, go up the river where there was 
 more room, turn about, and then run down 
 again. It was not found practicable to re- 
 turn immediately, however, so the "' Pe- 
 trel" remained where she was until the 
 23d. On this day she hauled into the bank 
 and commenced wooding, when she was 
 attacked by the enemy with a strong force 
 of infantry and several pieces of cannon, 
 the shot from their guns passing through 
 the vessel. Not being able to bring his 
 guns to bear, McElroy armed his men as 
 sharp-shooters and returned the fire, at the 
 same time getting underway. While start- 
 ing off, two shots entered the ship, one 
 striking the cylinder, the other cutting the 
 steam-pipe and disabling the engines, when 
 the Confederates closed in on her. The 
 crew went to their quarters and commenced 
 firing, but the sharp-shooters picked them 
 off through the ports, and McElroy, find- 
 ing it impossible to work his guns, gave 
 the order to set fire to the ship and aban- 
 don her. At this moment a shot went 
 through the boiler, enveloping the "Pe- 
 trel " in steam. This was unfortunate, for 
 the steam extinguished the fire, and in 
 consequence the vessel fell into the hands 
 of the enemy, with all her stores, guns and 
 ammunition. 
 
 There were some unpleasant features 
 connected with this affair, but McElroy re- 
 deemed his own mistakes by his gallantry 
 after most of his officers and men had left 
 the vessel. The pilot, Kimble Ware, and a 
 quartermaster, J. H. Nibble, stood by their 
 commander when all the officers had de- 
 serted their flag. 
 
 As soon as the steam cleared away, 
 McElroy, with the assistance of Quarter- 
 master Nibble, got the wounded off the 
 guards on to the bank, and got ready to set 
 fire to the vessel again (all this time under 
 an incessant fire). He obtained some live 
 coals from the furnace and spread them 
 about the decks, but soon had to desist on 
 account of the heat below. At this time, 
 the enemy seeing the officers and men 
 escaping across the fields, crossed the river 
 above and below the " Petrel," and, sur- 
 rounding her on all sides, forced McElroy 
 to surrender. The fires on board the 
 steamer were at once extinguished, and the 
 captain was taken away before he had 
 time to find out how many of his men were 
 killed and wounded. 
 
 As an excuse for the conduct of the crew, 
 it must be remarked that there were only ten 
 white men and boys on board the vessel; 
 the rest were all " contrabands," and some 
 of these were sick. But it was one of the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 661 
 
 few cases where officers behaved badly on 
 hoard a vessel of the Mississippi squadron. 
 If the " Petrel" had been properly seconded 
 hy the troops, the disaster would not have 
 occurred. 
 
 This affair threw quite a gloom over the 
 fleet, as the " Petrel" had always been one 
 of the favorite "tin-clads," and her name 
 appears in many expeditions and forays. 
 
 This disaster was redeemed a short time 
 afterwards by the gallant conduct and good 
 management of Acting -Master James C. 
 Gipson, in the gun-boat "Exchange," who, 
 while passing Columbia, Arkansas, was 
 •opened upon by a masked battery, consisting 
 of four 13-pound shell guns, two 12-pound 
 rifles, and one 10, one 18, and one 6 pounder 
 rifles. 
 
 The battery was divided into two sec- 
 tions, planted about 200 yards apart, be- 
 hind the levee. The Confederates waited 
 until the " Exchange " had passed the 
 lower battery, and then opened upon her a 
 ■destructive fire. Acting - Master Gipson 
 could not back down on account of having 
 turned the point of a sand-bar, and he at 
 once saw that his only alternative was to run 
 the upper battery. This he attempted to do, 
 opening fire at the same time with all the 
 ^uns which he could bring to bear upon the 
 ■enemy ; but, unfortunately, the port en- 
 gine was struck by a shot and disabled, 
 reducing the speed of the vessel and keeping 
 lier under fire for forty-five minutes. 
 
 The "Exchange" had hardly got out of 
 Tange of the enemy's guns when her engine 
 stopped entirely, and it was found neces- 
 sary to anchor while the engineers were 
 making repairs. The work was quickly 
 and energetically done, and the little vessel 
 was enabled to move slowly up the river 
 with one engine. It was expected that the 
 ■Confederates would move the battery above 
 the vessel while she was disabled, and open 
 fire upon her again ; but this was not done, 
 and she finally escaped, though badly cut up. 
 
 The " Exchange " was pierced thirty-five 
 times with shot and shell; eight times near 
 the water line and five times in the case- 
 marte. Several shells exploded in the coal 
 bunkers, near the boiler, and one entered 
 the shell-locker, overturning shell-boxes, 
 hut, fortunately, not reaching some percus- 
 sion shell that were stored there. One shot 
 passed through the pilot-house, wounding 
 Acting-Master Gipson and rendering him 
 senseless for fifteen minutes; but the brave 
 pilot steered his course as coolly as if it was 
 an every-day affair. The gallant commander 
 Tvas wounded in three places, but in all 
 this firing only one man was killed out- 
 right. That, however, does not detract 
 from the credit of this fight, and it shows 
 how a cool and brave commander can get 
 out of a difficulty if he is determined to do so. 
 
 Though the volunteer officers in the Mis- 
 sissippi fleet almost always deported them- 
 selves with great gallantry, few affairs 
 were better managed than the one we have 
 just described. We cannot always give the 
 names of all the officers engaged in these 
 adventures, but they will generally be 
 found in the lists. 
 
 There were a number of such affairs, and 
 in many of them the brave character of the 
 Western men was clearly exhibited. 
 
 On the 8th of June, 1864, Lieutenant- 
 Commander F. M. Ramsey, while employed 
 in the Atchafalaya River, started down 
 with the "Chillicothe," "Neosho," and 
 "Fort Hindman." When about one and 
 a half miles from Simmsport, they were 
 fired upon by a battery of two 30- pounder 
 Parrotts. When the vessels opened fire 
 in return, the enemy did not wait to load, 
 but scattered in all directions, leaving their 
 guns and muskets behind them. A deserter 
 stated that these guns had been taken from 
 General Banks when he was on his Red 
 River raid, and the naval officers were 
 thus sometimes reminded that Banks had 
 furnished the guns which so often at- 
 tacked them along the river. This affair 
 was well managed and with but little loss 
 of life. 
 
 Five or six batteries, which had been cap- 
 tured from the Federals, were now raiding 
 upon different parts of the river, and firing 
 upon merchant steamers carrying passen- 
 gers, frequently women and children. We 
 regret that we are obliged to mention 
 these acts of wanton vengeance on the part 
 of the Confederates. It was not legitimate 
 warfare, and it detracted very much from 
 the credit which they had fairly earned by 
 their undoubted bravery on other occa- 
 sions. 
 
 It looked sometimes as if the " chivalry " 
 of the South was dying out. The gun- 
 boats, with as much propriety, might have 
 fired on the defenceless houses of people 
 who were taking no part in the war. It is 
 true that the Union men did sometimes dis- 
 grace themselves by burning houses, but it 
 was always done in retaliation for some 
 wanton act on the part of the Confederates, 
 and the women and children were always 
 given time to get out of the way. It was 
 all wrong on either side, and shows how 
 the most humane people will become de- 
 moralized when engaged in a civil war. 
 May God save us from any such war in the 
 future ! 
 
 There was no doubt about the energy, 
 zeal and bravery of these Louisiana and 
 Texas troops ; thej^ never relaxed for a mo- 
 ment, and were encountered when least ex- 
 pected. As they attacked everything that 
 came along, they would sometimes "catch 
 a Tartar." 
 
563 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 On the 26th of June, while the gun-boat 
 " General Bragg " was at anchor in Tun- 
 ica Bend, she was opened on by the en- 
 emy with four guns. Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant C. Dominey (commanding) slip- 
 ped his cable and went to quarters, replying 
 rapidly to the enemy's fire. After being 
 engaged about five minutes, a shot struck 
 the working - beam of the steamer, and 
 disabled her engines completely. But Dom- 
 iney did not mind that. He drifted along, 
 silencing the enemy's guns, and they went 
 away, apparently satisfied with having 
 put 32 shot and shell into the " General 
 Bragg." 
 
 The little "tin-clad," "Naiad," hearing 
 the firing, ran to the assistance of the 
 " Bragg," and when within half a mile of 
 the latter another battery opened upon her, 
 in a few moments completely disabling 
 her steering gear and severely wounding 
 the pilot, James M. Herrington. The "Na- 
 iad's " wheel being shot away, her com- 
 mander, Acting-Master Henry T. Keene, 
 rigged relieving tackles, steered for the 
 battery and continued a close and brisk fire 
 until it was completely silenced. 
 
 In this affair the little vessel was struck 
 nine times; and, to show how these frail 
 boats would hold on amidst a pitiless storm 
 of shot and shell, we will enumerate the 
 damages inflicted on the " Naiad:" 
 
 " The first shot passed through the smoke-stack ; 
 the second and third shots passed through the pilot- 
 house, the third striliing the barrel of the wheel, 
 cutting the tiller rope, and literally tearing the 
 wheel to pieces ; the fourth shot passed a few feet 
 abaft the pilot-house, shattering the steerage and 
 skylights, but doing no further damage ; the fifth 
 shot passed through the cabin. * * * * also * * 
 four shots through the starboard casemates ; one 
 striking abreast of the boilers, one abaft of No. 2 
 gun, tearing up the decks and exploding within a 
 few feet of the shell-room ; one abaft of No. 3 gun, 
 killing John J. Crennell, ordinary seaman, and 
 wounding three others ; another passed through 
 the port of No. 4 gun, tearing away the shutter and 
 exploding in the dispensary." 
 
 This was a gallant combat on the part of 
 these light-armed gun-boats, and showed 
 the persistency with which the Confederates 
 kept up the war. 
 
 Now that the great strongholds of the 
 enemy had all been abandoned, the guer- 
 illa warfare was carried on along the Miss- 
 issippi as it had been on the upper rivers. 
 The guerillas never accomplished any- 
 thing of importance, and soon became a 
 source of great annoyance to the wretched 
 inhabitants, who were obliged to feed and 
 clothe them in order to make it appear that 
 they were loyal to the Confederate cause. 
 No discipline existed among these wan- 
 dering bands, and they preyed on friends 
 and foes alike. 
 
 On the 39th of June, a fleet of nine trans- 
 ports, containing troops under the com- 
 
 mand of General Steele, started on an 
 expedition up the Arkansas River, for the 
 purpose of meeting a Confederate force 
 under General Marmaduke, who had as- 
 sembled quite an army on both sides of the 
 river and was obstructing navigation. The 
 transports were accompanied by the gun- 
 boats "Taylor," "Fawn," "Naumkeag"and 
 " Queen City," under the command of 
 Lieutenant George M. Bache. The smaller 
 vessels had gone on ahead, while the " Tay- 
 lor" (Lieutenant Bache's vessel) kept with 
 the convoy. When within ten miles of 
 Clarendon, Lieutenant Bache picked up 
 some sailors on the left bank of the river, 
 belonging to the " Queen City," who stated 
 that that vessel had been captured by 
 General Shelby at 4 o'clock that morning. 
 Information was also obtained that the 
 enemy were in much greater force than Gen- 
 eral Steele had anticipated, which caused a. 
 change in the programme. 
 
 It appears that while the "Queen City"" 
 was lying at anchor off Clarendon, she was 
 suddenly attacked by General Shelby with 
 two regiments of cavalry (dismounted) and 
 four pieces of artillery. The officers of the 
 vessel were taken by surprise, no intima- 
 tion of the enemy's approach having been 
 given until the attack was made. At the 
 first or second round the starboard engine 
 was disabled by a shell, and the effective- 
 ness of the port engine was much injured by 
 a piece of the same shell passing through the 
 steam -pipe. After fighting twenty minutes, 
 Acting-Master M. Hickey, who commanded 
 the gun-boat, seeing that she was completely 
 riddled with shot, shell and rifle-balls, 
 decided to surrender, not having the bravery 
 to fight it out, as many of his contempo- 
 raries would have done. He ordered his- 
 officers and men to abandon the vessel, 
 and most of them escaped to the opposite 
 shore. One man was killed, nine wounded 
 and 35 taken prisoners. 
 
 Lieutenant Bache received intelligence 
 of the capture of the " Queen City" about- 
 five hours after it occurred. He at once 
 started up the river to prevent the enemy 
 from using her against the Union forces- 
 or getting out her stores. When within a. 
 few miles of Clarendon, however, two suc- 
 cessive reports were heard up the river, 
 which proved to be the explosion of the un- 
 fortunate gun-boat's magazine. General 
 Shelby, hearing of the approach of the other 
 vessels, had destroyed her. 
 
 The gun-boats approached the point 
 where the enemy was stationed in the 
 following order: "Taylor," " Naumkeag," 
 "Fawn;" and when they were abreast 
 of Cache River the enemy opened fire, 
 putting one of his first shots through the 
 pilot-house of the "Taylor." This vessel 
 could only reply with one gun untik 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 563 
 
 abreast of the enemy's position, when 
 she fired broadsides of shrapnel and can- 
 ister. Having passed the batteries, the 
 gun-boats rounded-to and steamed up at 
 them again (at this time the " Fawn's " pilot 
 had been mortally wounded and her signal- 
 bell arrangements carried away, which 
 prevented her from participating in the 
 second attack). The Confederates thought 
 that Bache merely intended to run by their 
 batteries, and they gave three cheers when 
 they saw him steaming away as they sup- 
 posed, but when he returned to the attack 
 they exclaimed in despair : " Here comes 
 that black devil again!" After getting 
 abreast of them again, the "Taylor" and 
 "Naumkeag" kept up such a terrible fire 
 that in five minutes the enemy began 
 •escaping in all directions, throwing away 
 everything they had captured. 
 
 The Confederates had six guns of their 
 own, of different sizes, and a 12-pounder 
 howitzer, which they had taken from 
 the " Queen City." These guns were placed 
 in four different positions, making four 
 batteries; but the fire of the gun-boats 
 was -SO withering that the artillerymen 
 were driven off after an action of 45 min- 
 utes. The Confederates must have been 
 roughly handled, for they abandoned every- 
 thing they had captured from the "Queen 
 City," as well as some of their wounded 
 prisoners. 
 
 This was a very gallant and well-managed 
 affair, and Lieutenant Bache gained great 
 credit for the handsome manner in which 
 he had handled his vessels and defeated 
 so large a force of the enemy. 
 
 Acting - Master John Rogers of the 
 "Naumkeag" was also mentioned hand- 
 somely for the cool and efficient manner in 
 which he had fought his vessel. In fact, 
 all behaved well and redeemed the unfor- 
 tunate loss of the " Queen City," which lay 
 a shattered wreck at the bottom of the 
 river. Her guns were finally raised and 
 everything of value recovered. 
 
 Lieutenant Bache was now warned by 
 the falling water that it was time to go be- 
 low, if he did not wish to be caught in a 
 trap. Having satisfied himself that he had 
 completely driven Shelby and his force 
 away from the river, he left the " Naum- 
 keag" and "Fawn" at Clarendon, to pro- 
 tect that place and started down the river, 
 in the " Taylor," to communicate with Gen- 
 eral Steele. 
 
 A large force of troops was then sent up 
 in a transport, convoyed by the "Taylor," 
 and landed at Clarendon without meeting 
 any opposition. This force, under General 
 Carr, immediately gave chase to the enemy, 
 who numbered 2,600 men, and skirmished 
 with them for twenty-five miles, capturing 
 several nieces of artillerv and 60 wounded 
 
 men. Most of the crew of the unfortunate 
 "Queen City" were picked up along the 
 river and distributed among the other ves- 
 sels. The enemy retired towards Little 
 Rock and did not trouble the gun-boats 
 again for some time. The flotilla had six- 
 teen men wounded, two of whom died the 
 next day. 
 
 We have nothing to say against this at- 
 tack of the Confederates — it was all legiti- 
 mate enough, and, no doubt, they suffered 
 severely for their tenaerity. General Shelby 
 showed no want of gallantry, his only fault 
 being that he had not fairly considered the 
 enemy he was about to attack. He had so 
 easily overcome the "Queen City" that he 
 thought he could do the same with the rest. 
 
 The result of the fight was that General 
 Steele followed the enemy to Little Rock, 
 Arkansas, on which place General Marma- 
 duke had intended to make a raid ; and the 
 Confederates, finding that they could not 
 assemble on the banks of the White River 
 while the gun-boats were so active, trans- 
 ferred their operations to some other quar- 
 ter. 
 
 With the exception of some trouble with 
 the guerillas up the Cumberland and Ten- 
 nessee Rivers, the operations for the year 
 1864 ended favorably for the Union cause, 
 as far as the Navy was concerned. The 
 Confederates continued to show themselves 
 in Kentucky and Tennessee, however, and 
 sometimes took advantage of transports 
 that were not convoyed by gun-boats. 
 Even as late as December, 1864, there was 
 no diminution of zeal and energy on the 
 part of the enemy, though they must have 
 seen by that time that the Confederacy was 
 doomed. An artillery company would 
 sometimes travel for miles just for the 
 pleasure of firing a few shots into a gun- 
 boat or transport. 
 
 There was not cavalry enough on the 
 Federal side to pursue these raiders; and, if 
 an expedition was organized for that pur- 
 pose, it generally consisted of an army con- 
 tingent in transports convoyed by gun- 
 boats. 
 
 Sometimes the naval commander of a 
 district, from a feeling of over-security, 
 sent an insufficient force of gun-boats, 
 when trouble would ensue and the under- 
 taking be a failure. One of these cases 
 was an expedition frona Clifton to Eastport 
 under command of Colonel Hoge, consisting 
 of the liath and 120th Illinois infantry, 660 
 strong ; 61st U. S. colored infantry, 600 
 strong, and Battery G, 2d Missouri light 
 artillery (four rifled 12-pounders). These 
 troops embarked on the 9th of October, at 
 Clifton, on the transports " City of Pekin," 
 " Aurora" and " Kenton," and they set out 
 for Eastport under convoy of the "Key 
 West," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant E. M. 
 
>64 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 King, and the " Undine," Acting-Master 
 John L. Bryant. 
 
 On the 10th the vessels arrived off East- 
 port. After passing Line Island, ten miles 
 below, signal was made from the "Key 
 West " to be cautious and proceed in close 
 order. On approaching Eastport, every- 
 thing seemed quiet ; and as there were no 
 signs of troops or batteries on the hill com- 
 manding the landing. Lieutenant King 
 signalled to the transports to land their 
 troops, and took a position with the gun- 
 boats in the middle of the river, so as to 
 cover the movement with their guns. 
 
 The troops commenced disembarking im- 
 mediately. Colonel Hoge then went on 
 board the " Key West," and informed 
 Lieutenant King that he should move im- 
 mediately for luka. As the Colonel was re- 
 turning to the "City of Pekin," a masked 
 battery of six rifled guns from the hill 
 at Eastport and three rifled guns from 
 the " Chickasaw " opened on the boats. The 
 transports were struck several times, and a 
 caisson exploded on board both the "Au- 
 rora" and "Kenton," setting them on fire. 
 This caused great confusion among the 
 troops, many of them jumping overboard 
 from the burning steamers. A company 
 that had been sent out as skirmishers im- 
 mediately returned to the boats, while the 
 troops that were forming in line on the 
 bank broke and fled down the river, aban- 
 doning a battery of four guns. The trans- 
 ports cut their lines and drifted down 
 stream, the "Kenton" and "Aurora "dis- 
 abled, and the "City of Pekin" with sev- 
 eral shot through her — it seemed to be 
 "every man for himself." 
 
 During this time the "Key West" and 
 "Undine" were both hit twice with rifle 
 projectiles. One shell passed down through 
 the boiler-deck of the "Key West," and ex- 
 ploded in the bag-rack, near the after-part 
 of the boilers — another passed through the 
 steerage and out on the port side. The 
 " Undine" had her bell-wires cut by a shell, 
 also her port wheel-rope. 
 
 The gun-boats for half an hour returned 
 
 the fire of the enemy, whose shot fell thick 
 and fast around them, when Lieutenant 
 King, seeing that he could do nothing with 
 his smooth-bores against the Confederate 
 rifles, dropped down out of range to look 
 after the convey. The troops had quenched 
 the fires on the transports, but they were 
 disabled; and this was the end of an expedi- 
 tion that might have produced better re- 
 sults if the troops had been landed out of 
 sight of Eastport and marched up. 
 
 It seems reasonable to suppose that 1,320 
 soldiers could have captured these batteries 
 if proper means had been taken to do so; 
 but sometimes the soldiers seemed helpless, 
 and inclined to wait for the Navy to cap- 
 ture a place before occupying it, forgetting, 
 or not knowing, that a "tin-clad" was not 
 an iron-clad, and that the former were not 
 qualified to go under the fire of heavy 
 batteries. But it was not often that Army 
 men behaved as they did on this occa- 
 sion, and it can be partly accounted for 
 by the presence of the colored soldiers, who 
 were raw and undiscipline4- This expedi- 
 tion was certainly a complete failure, much 
 to be regretted by all concerned. 
 
 On the whole, however, the Xavy in the 
 West had nothing to be ashamed of during 
 the year 18G4, and it will be observed that 
 throughout the campaign it had fighting 
 enough to satisfy the most ardent tempera- 
 ment. 
 
 This river-fighting may seem uninterest- 
 ing to the reader, l3ut it was a link in the 
 great chain that helped to bind the Briarean 
 arms of the demon of rebellion. The ser- 
 vices of the Navy in the West had as much 
 effect in reducing the South to submis- 
 sion as the greater battles fought in the 
 East; and the brave Westerners who entered 
 the Navy with no previous knowledge of 
 the profession, having to learn everything 
 from a handspike to a ten-inch gun, may 
 well feel proud at the manner in which they 
 conducted themselves, and glory in the re- 
 sults of their labors, which cost the lives of 
 many of their comrades, but which were 
 generally attended with success. 
 
CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY. 
 
 Defences of Mobile Bay. — Faeragut's Fleet Crosses the Bar and makes Recon- 
 naissance. — Confederate Iron-clads. — Forts Morgan, Gaines and Powell and 
 Light-house Battery. — Bombardment of Fort Powell. — Evacuation of Fort. — 
 Iron-clad "Tennessee" makes her Appearance. — Arrival of Monitors.— Co- 
 operation OF General Canby. — Preparing to Attack Forts. — Farragut issues 
 his famous Orders of Combat. — Bombarding Fort Morgan. — The " Tennessee " 
 Engaged. — The " Tecumseh" Sunk.—" D n the Torpedoes — follow me! " — Far- 
 ragut IN THE Rigging of the "Hartford" passing Fort. — The "Selma" 
 Surrenders. — The "Morgan" and "Gaines" Ashore. — The "Tennessee" engages 
 Fleet. — Remarkable Combat. — The " Monongahela" and "Lackawanna "Dam- 
 aged. — The "Tennessee" and "Hartford" Fight at Close Quarters. — Game to 
 THE Last. — The "Tennessee" Surrenders.— Incidents of Battle. — The Wounded 
 transferred to Pensacola. — Names of Killed and Wounded. — Farragut's de- 
 tailed. Report OF Battle. — Reports of Officers. — Farragut Returns Thanks 
 to Officers and Men. — Individual Acts of Heroism. — ^Incidents attending Sink- 
 ing OF " Tecumseh." — Surrender op Fort Gaines — Bombardment of Fort Mor- 
 gan.— Surrender op Fort.— List of Officers of the "Tennessee" and "Selma." 
 — Wanton Destruction of Property at Fort Morgan. — List of Killed and 
 Wounded. — Loss of the "Phillippi." — History anu Description of Confederate 
 Iron-clad "Tennessee." — List of Vessels and Officers of West Gulf Squad- 
 ron, January 1st, 1864. 
 
 IN January, 1864, Admiral Farragut be- 
 gan to turn his attention to the forts in 
 Mobile Bay, which up to that time had 
 been a complete protection to the 
 blockade - runners, which passed in 
 and out almost with impunity in spite of 
 the greatest watchfulness on the part of 
 the blockading fleet. There were several 
 channels in the Bay with wide shoal 
 grounds in and about their approaches, 
 over which the Confederate light-draft ves- 
 sels could pass, but where the Federal ships- 
 of-war could not follow them. 
 
 The city of Mobile, in consequence, be- 
 came one of the most important rendezvous 
 for blockade - runners, as it was situated 
 some miles up the bay, and could only be 
 reached through tortuous channels, with 
 
 ixrrin^h *-M->ltr zi-vi-»jaT>'i/:iT-i/-»*:a*^ T-vil*-vfc< TJt7/:i»»£i -Forvnl. 
 
 iar. The people of Mobile felt quite secure 
 against any attempt on the part of the 
 Union gun-boats to pass their defences, and 
 the blockade-runners laid as safely at their 
 wharves as if they had been in the docks 
 of Liverpool. 
 
 While the forts at the entrance of Mobile 
 Bay remained intact, the Confederates 
 could continue to supply their armies 
 through Mobile City and the numerous rail- 
 roads running from it to all parts of the 
 South. 
 
 After the fall of Port Hudson and Vicks- 
 burg. General Banks, in New Orleans, had 
 at his disposal over 50,000 troops ; and 
 General Grant, at that time having in his 
 mind the idea of sending Sherman on the 
 celebrated march to the sea, had urgently 
 

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THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 567 
 
 send Banks to Mobile with a sufficient force 
 to capture that place ; while at the same 
 time the Secretary of the Navy offered 
 naval co-operation with Farragut's fleet, 
 which was then disengaged from opera- 
 tions on the Mississippi River, and princi- 
 pally employed in watching Mobile and 
 blockading the coast of Texas. 
 
 The Navy Department, as well as General 
 Grant, was unsuccessful in obtaining an or- 
 der from the War Department for Banks 
 to proceed to Mobile, and act there in con- 
 junction with the Navy; and the fatal move 
 up Red River having been decided upon, all 
 other objects were for the time being passed 
 over, until the anxiety of the Government 
 became concentrated upon the problem of 
 how to relieve that expedition from the 
 unfortunate position in which General 
 Banks' measures had placed it. 
 
 Mobile itself was poorly fortified against 
 a land attack, and the Confederates had 
 not more than 10,000 men in and about the 
 city, and the majority of these were artil- 
 lerists. Notwithstanding the fact that the 
 weakness of the city was well known to 
 him, General Banks turned away from the 
 rich prize which he might so easily have 
 taken, and embarked on the unwise expedi- 
 tion into the Red River region, from which 
 his army was only extricated through the 
 presence of the naval force — which for a 
 time was also seriously embarrassed. 
 
 The Navy Department, finding that no 
 co-operation could be expected from Gen- 
 oral Banks, directed Farragut ( January, 
 1864 ) to prepare his vessels for an attack 
 on the forts in Mobile Bay, and promised 
 that a land force should be forthcoming at 
 the time the fleet was ready to commence 
 operations. 
 
 On the morning of January 20th Farra- 
 gut crossed the bar of Mobile Bay in the 
 " Octorara," taking the "Itasca "in com- 
 pany in case of accidents, and made a 
 thorough reconnaissance of the bay and of 
 all the forts commanding its approaches. 
 He moved up to within three and one-half 
 miles of the enemy's works, where he was 
 able to verify the reports of refugees who 
 had brought him a statement of the condi- 
 tion of the Confederate works. He could 
 count the number of guns and see the men 
 standing by them. A line of piles, which 
 extended from Fort Gaines to the channel 
 opposite Fort Morgan, was also plainly visi- 
 ble, and showed the intention of the enemy 
 to compel all entering vessels to pass close 
 under the guns of the latter work. 
 
 At that time Fa.rragut had not an iron- 
 clad, and, being convinced that it would 
 be madness to attack these forts without 
 such aid, made his wants known to the 
 Navy Department, and the vessels were 
 eventually supplied. 
 
 The reconnaissance made by the Admiral 
 satisfied him that he had a difficult task 
 before him. Two heavy works protected 
 the entrance to Mobile Bay — Forts Gaines 
 and Morgan — the former mounting 21 guns 
 and the latter 48, while Fort Powell, higher 
 up the bay, commanded the fairway lead- 
 ing to Mobile. 
 
 A better idea of the situation of these 
 works can be obtained by examining the 
 accompanying chart than from any written 
 description, and the reader is referred to 
 the plan for information, without which 
 he could form but a small idea of the de- 
 fences of Mobile Bay and the difficulties 
 attending an attack on them. 
 
 The lines of piles, extending from the 
 head of the eastern bank to the edge of 
 the tortuous and shallow channel near Fort 
 Gaines, rendered it impossible for any 
 vessel to pass between the bank and the 
 channel; indeed, only vessels of the lightest 
 draft of water would have dared to make 
 such an attempt under ordinary circum- 
 stances. 
 
 Every effort had been made by the Con- 
 federate engineers to make the channel 
 between Gaines and Morgan impassable ; 
 but its depth in some places was as much 
 as 60 feet, the bottom was bad (drift-sand, 
 in fact), and the action of ebb and flow, 
 with that of heavy winds, rendered it al- 
 most impossible to obstruct it effectually. 
 Even in time of peace it would have been 
 an immense undertaking, requiring time 
 and taxing the ingenuity of the engineers 
 to the utmost. Not only that, it would 
 have required means which were not at 
 the disposal of the Confederates. Many 
 plans were offered, but the chief engineer 
 of the Department rejected them all and 
 undertook to defend the pass with torpe- 
 does, but, with an order from the Depart- 
 ment commander to leave a gap in the line 
 of torpedoes, 500 yards wide, through which 
 blockade-runners could pass in safety be- 
 tween Mobile Point and a buoy marking 
 the eastern end of the lines of torpedoes ; 
 which arrangement it was foolishly sup- 
 posed would keep out a fleet commanded 
 by a man like Farragut. who had already 
 earned the sobriquet of " The old Sala- 
 mander." 
 
 Besides the forts above mentioned, the 
 following auxiliary defences were possessed 
 by the Confederates: Steam ram " Ten- 
 nessee," 235 feet in length, casemate plated 
 with three thicknesses of 2-inch plates or 
 six inches of iron, speed 7| knots ; battery, 
 four 10-inch columbiads of 16,000 lbs. and 
 two 7^-inch Brooke rifles of 19,000 lbs. The 
 "Tennessee" was the flag-ship of Admiral 
 Franklin Buchanan, and was commanded 
 by Commander J. D. Johnston. 
 
 The following gun -boats also belonged 
 
568 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 to Buchanan's little squadron : The " Mor- 
 gan," Commander Bennet ; " Selma," Com- 
 mander Murphy, and ''Gaines," Commander 
 Harris. Two rams, the "Tuscaloosa" and 
 "Huntsville," were building at Mobile, but 
 they were never finished, and Buchanan 
 received no assistance from them. 
 
 The guns of Fort Morgan were mounted 
 as follows: Bastion No. 1 (N. E.), two 
 32-pounders of 7,000 lbs., one 24-pound rifle 
 throwing Read & Slater's projectiles, 
 shaped like Minie-balls ; East curtain, 
 three 10-inch sea-coast mortars, one 32- 
 pounder of 7,000 lbs.; Bastion No. 2 
 (E. S. E.), one 10-inch columbiad, two 32- 
 pounders of 7,000 lbs. ; Bastion No. 3, two 
 32-pounders of 7,000 lbs. (rifled), one 10- 
 inch columbiad of 16,000 lbs.; South cur- 
 tain, two 2J:-pounders of 11,000 lbs. (rifled, 
 throwing 68-pound projectiles), one lO-inch 
 columbiad of 16,000 lbs.; Bastion No. 4, 
 one 24-pounder (rifled), one 10-inch colum- 
 biad of 16,000 lbs., two 32-pounders of 
 7,000 lbs. (rifled); West curtain, facing the 
 channel, two Blakely rifles throwing 
 shell of 160 lbs. and shot of 169 lbs., 
 tliree 10-inch columbiads of 16,000 lbs.; 
 Bastion No. 5, two 32-pounders, smooth- 
 bore ; North curtain, one 8-inch smooth- 
 bore. On each flank of each bastion there 
 were two 24-pounders, making in all 20 
 flank casemate guns. 
 
 Light-house battery eleven 32-pounders 
 of 7,000 tons. Fort Gaines mounted one 
 10-inch columbiad of 14,000 lbs., fourteen 
 32-pounders, smooth-bore, one 32-pounder, 
 (rifled), and five 24-pound siege-pieces. 
 
 These were the guns under which an at- 
 tacking fleet would have to pass, besides 
 the Confederate gun-boats, which could 
 take good positions under the guns of the 
 forts, and rake the Federal vessels as they 
 approached. Taking into consideration 
 the fact that he had only wooden ships at 
 first, Farragut was wise to delay his attack 
 until the arrival of the iron-clads. 
 
 In addition to the two forts above men- 
 tioned was Fort Powell, situated at Grant's 
 Pass. This could inflict no damage to a 
 fleet passing Morgan and Gaines, but could 
 annoy an enemy after he had passed up as 
 far as the anchoring ground. 
 
 While waiting for the iron-clads, Farra- 
 gut thought he would try and batter this 
 fort down or injure its guns, and make it 
 untenable ; but the attempt was not a suc- 
 cess. The attack was made in the latter 
 part of February, but discontinued as soon 
 as the difficulties of the operation were real- 
 ized. 
 
 Farragut continued to apply to the De- 
 partment for even one iron-clad, with which 
 he was willing to undertake the attack, 
 supposing the iron-clad ram "Tennessee" 
 would be over the Dog River bar by the 
 
 time he was ready to advance with his 
 fleet. 
 
 Farragut's idea was to have a combined 
 attack by the Army and Navy — the land 
 forces to operate in the rear of forts Gaines- 
 and Morgan by the Big Dauphine Island 
 and Mobile Point — and great expectations 
 were laid on a contingent being sent from 
 General Banks' army, but that officer had 
 gone into the Red River country and met 
 with such disasters as made co-operation 
 impossible. 
 
 The Confederate papers magnified th& 
 want of success on the part of General 
 Banks, and made the most of it for their 
 side, until they really believed all through 
 the Southwest that they had gained a bril- 
 liant victory, when the truth was simply 
 that the Federal General did not hold on to- 
 the victory which his troops had won. 
 
 Great rejoicing was also kept up in the 
 South in consequence of the success of the 
 " Albemarle " and the capture of Plymouth. 
 Many were made to believe that a new 
 and favorable turn had been given to their 
 affairs, and that if the opportunity was fol- 
 lowed up it would lead to further successes 
 in Louisiana. A pressure was brought to 
 bear on Admiral Buchanan to expedite the 
 completion of the iron-clad "Tennessee," 
 with the expectation that this vessel would 
 demolish Farragut and his fleet, proceed to 
 New Orleans, capture the Union fleet at 
 that place, prevent Banks from reaching 
 the city again, and finally restore the Con- 
 federate authority ! 
 
 This may seem a wild scheme, but it 
 might have been successful. Buchanan 
 was a brave and energetic officer, capable 
 of undertaking any enterprise, and could 
 he have succeeded in getting all his iron- 
 clads and gun - boats ready in time, he 
 would have been more than a match for 
 the force which Farragut had on hand in 
 February. 
 
 Farragut himself fully appreciated his 
 situation. From his experience in the 
 Mississippi River, where the ram " Ar- 
 kansas " attacked the two Federal fleets 
 (Davis' and his own), he saw plainly what 
 would be the result of a contest between 
 wooden vessels and iron - clads. In his 
 letters to the Navy Department the Ad- 
 miral deeply regrets his inability to obtain 
 even one of the iron-clads on the Missis- 
 sippi, and remarks," it appears that it takes 
 us twice as long to build an iron-clad as any 
 one else. It looks as if the fates and con- 
 tractors were against us. While the Confed- 
 erates are bending their whole energies to 
 the war, our people are expecting the war to 
 close by default ; and. if they do not awake 
 to the sense of their danger soon, it will be 
 so." 
 
 Farragut was fully aware of what would 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 56» 
 
 be the result if Buchanan crossed the Dog 
 River bar with the " Tennessee," " Tusca- 
 loosa," " Huntsville" and " Nashville. (The 
 three latter vessels were reported to be 
 plated with nearly the thickness of iron 
 carried by the " Tennessee "). 
 
 Continuous reports came from Mobile 
 that the ram " Tennessee " was preparing 
 to cross the Dog River bar by means of 
 camels, and that Buchanan, with his well- 
 known energy, was pushing the work on 
 his iron clads night and day. Farragut 
 knew, as well as any one the determination 
 and energy of the man he expected to con- 
 tend with, and under the circumstances his 
 position was not an enviable one. 
 
 He seemed to have the idea that the cap- 
 ture of Fort Powell was a most desirable 
 thing, and would tend to keep the Confed- 
 erate Navy up the river if he could succeed 
 in getting possession of it; and from the 22d 
 of February to the 2d of March he kept up 
 a fire on this fort from rifles, smooth-bores 
 and mortars from a distance of 4,000 yards 
 — the nearest point attainable. 
 
 Fort Powell was built on an oyster bank. 
 The Confederate engineers had exhibited 
 great skill in its construction, and it was 
 impervious to shot and shell. It was built 
 to guard Grant's Pass, the entrance from 
 Mississippi Sound to Mobile Bay, and it was 
 very important that it should be well built 
 and armed. 
 
 A Confederate writer says: 
 
 " Admiral Farragut opened from his mortars and 
 gun-boats a tire on the small fort that would have 
 battered any stone or brick structure into a mass 
 of ruins. The firing, especially that of the 13-incli 
 mortars could (in accuracy) not have been sur- 
 passed : one shell after another falling on the 
 earth-cover of the bomb-proof, penetrating as deei) 
 as three and a half feet, exploding and making a 
 crater of seven feet in diameter.' 
 
 " This bombardment was steadily kept up from 
 February 22d till March 2d, without making any 
 impression whatever on the fort ; not a single gun 
 had been dismounted, not a single traverse had been 
 seriously damaged, nor had the parapet and bomb- 
 proof lost any of their strength ; all damage done 
 by the exploding shells being at once repaired by 
 throwing sand- bags into the open craters. But one 
 man had been killed, another wounded, and the 
 brave commander of the fort, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 James M. Williams, of the 21st Alabama regiment, 
 paid for his temerity, in unnecessarily exposing 
 himself to the shower of the enemy's iron missiles, 
 with the loss of his coat-tail. 
 
 '•The wharf and quarters on the east face of the 
 fort had been considerably damaged by the bom- 
 bardment. 
 
 "When Farragut had forced his way into the 
 Bay of Mobile, an evacuation of Port Powell was 
 the only means to save its garrison from capture, 
 and the place was abandoned after preparations 
 for blowing up the magazine had been so well made 
 that its explosion took place hardly half-an-hour 
 after Lieutenant-Colonel Williams (the last man) 
 had left the fort." 
 
 Farragut's chief motive in making this 
 attack was to get the gun-boats into Mobile 
 Bav through Grant's Pass, and to endeavor 
 
 to destroy the "Tennessee" while she had 
 the camels under her in crossing the Dog 
 River bar. 
 
 From all accounts Buchanan was work- 
 ing energetically to bring the "■ Tennessee " 
 and her consorts face to face with the 
 Union fleet, which he felt sure of driving 
 from before Mobile. He then intended to 
 proceed to Pensacola and raise the siege in 
 that quarter. There is no doubt that, had 
 he succeeded in finishing his four iron-clads 
 in time, Farragut would have either been 
 destroyed or the siege of Mobile raised. 
 
 The account of the sinking of the "South- 
 field" by the ram "Albemarle" in the 
 Sounds of North Carolina, on the 17th of 
 April, and the stubborn battle made by the 
 "Albemarle" against the comparatively 
 heavy force of gun-boats on May 5th, in 
 which the ram moved off apparently un- 
 harmed after a three hours' fight at close 
 quarters, had been received in the South 
 and also in the fleet; and while this news 
 encouraged the Confederate Admiral to 
 fresh exertions, it, on the other hand, 
 made Farragut feel more anxious that he 
 should be supplied with iron-clads to 
 meet the new naval force of the Confeder- 
 ates, the like of which had not been so 
 near completion since the war began. 
 
 Farragut knew Buchanan well, and was 
 aware that in point of courage, energy and 
 skill he had few equals, and no superiors; 
 and that, if he did succeed in getting his 
 vessels over Dog River bar, he would come 
 out with the intention of conquering or be- 
 ing destroyed, the latter contingency not be- 
 ing likely in Farragut's then weak condition. 
 
 By some authorities it is stated that the 
 " Tennessee " made her appearance in Mo- 
 bile Bay on the 17th of March; but we think 
 there must be some mistake about this, for, 
 as late as the 9th of May, Farragut wrote to 
 the Department that "the late accounts 
 from Mobile agree in representing Bucha- 
 nan as making great exertions to get camels 
 large enough to float the ram " Tennessee " 
 over Dog River bar. 
 
 No one doubted but that Buchanan would 
 be successful if any one could be, and Farra- 
 gut expected that he would come out and 
 attack him with his whole force of iron- 
 clads, besides the three gun-boats, and so 
 wrote urgent letters in the middle of May to 
 the Navy Department, requesting that iron- 
 clads be sent him. It was the most uncom- 
 fortable position that any ofiicer was placed 
 in during the war, when told by the De- 
 partment as late as June, IST-t, that the 
 vessels could not be furnished because the 
 contractors had not come up to their con- 
 tract. But the Admiral bore it all bravely, 
 and with his visual equanimity prepared his 
 wooden ships to do the best they could in. 
 the coming conflict. 
 
570 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Not until May 35th does Farragut speak 
 of the " Tennessee" having arrived in the 
 Mobile Roads, and anchored under the guns 
 of Fort Morgan. He went in as close 
 as he could, examined her with good 
 glasses, and satisfied himself that all that 
 had been said about her formidable char- 
 acter was true. He had been deceived so 
 many, times by what were supposed to be 
 iron-clads, that he was glad to have his 
 mind settled on this question, and to know 
 that this was really the ' ' Tennessee " with- 
 out her consorts. 
 
 On June 3d, refugees, who stated that 
 they were from Mobile, two or three days 
 before, reported that, besides the "Tennes- 
 see," a vessel called the " Baltic," the iron- 
 clads "Tuscaloosa" and " Hunts ville," and 
 three gun-boats had also crossed the bar 
 and entered the lower bay ; the " Nash- 
 ville " was not yet over the bar, but she was 
 all ready with the camels under her by this 
 time; her bow, stern and pilot-house were 
 only partly plated." 
 
 Two more rams were reported to be at 
 Mobile, not yet plated, and one just com- 
 pleted at Selma and aground above Mobile. 
 They also reported at Mobile "four iron- 
 plated floating batteries, one of them sunk." 
 These reports were constantly brought 
 down concerning Buchanan's force, and 
 they were far from reassuring to the Union 
 commander, who up to this time had not re- 
 ceived a single iron-clad. 
 
 It was not until July 26th that the 
 arrival of the Monitor "Manhattan" was 
 reported. She was under Sand Island, in 
 charge of gun-boats. 
 
 The two double-turreted Monitors, " Win- 
 nebago" and "Chickasaw," sent from Ad- 
 miral Porter's fleet on the Mississippi, were 
 in New Orleans, and would be off Mobile 
 about the 30th of July. The "Tecumseh" 
 was not yet heard from, and the Army 
 which Farragut had asked for to co-oper- 
 ate with him was still in New Orleans. 
 When the latter should arrive, Farragut 
 would be quite ready to commence opera- 
 tions against the defences of Mobile. 
 
 The arrival of the "Manhattan" was an 
 assurance that Buchanan would not leave 
 the bay to attack the Federal wooden ships, 
 which Buchanan at no time had any idea of 
 doing. His policy was to fight Farragut's 
 fleet, under the cover of the forts, in the 
 narrow channel which had been left by the 
 Confederate engineers. 
 
 The only thing wanting to make Far- 
 ragut satisfied with his condition was the 
 arrival of the "Tecumseh," and this took 
 place on the 4th of August. He now deter- 
 mined to make his attack as soon as possible. 
 
 As soon as General Can by had arrived in 
 New Orleans with the troops which General 
 
 Banks left crossing the Atchafalaya River, 
 Farragut communicated with him and re- 
 quested that two or three thousand troops 
 be sent to co-operate with him in an at- 
 tack on Mobile. These troops were prom- 
 ised without hesitation on the 8th of July, 
 in an interview held on board the "Hart- 
 ford," between the Admiral and Generals 
 Canby and Granger ; but circumstances 
 soon obliged General Canby to say that he 
 could only spare troops enough to invest 
 one fort. 
 
 Farragut then suggested that it should 
 be Fort Gaines, and engaged at the same 
 time to have a naval force in the Sounds' 
 ready to protect the landing of the Army 
 on Dauphine Island, in the rear of the fort. 
 Lieutenant-Commander J. C. P. De Krafft, 
 in the " Conemaugh," was assigned to this 
 duty. 
 
 It was arranged between Farragut and 
 General Granger that the attack should 
 take place on the 4th day of August, but 
 owing to unforeseen circumstances it was 
 delayed until the 5th. This delay turned 
 out to be fortunate, for on the 4th the Con- 
 federates were engaged in throwing more 
 troops and supplies into Fort Gaines, all of 
 which were captured. 
 
 At 5 :40 A. M. on the 5th of August, 1864, 
 all the vessels outside of the bar, which 
 were to participate in the battle, got under- 
 way in the following order, two abreast, 
 lashed together: 
 
 " Brooklyn," Captain James Alden, with 
 the " Octorara," Lieutenant - Commander 
 C. H. Greene, on the port side. 
 
 " Hartford," Captain Percival Drayton, 
 with the "Metacomet," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander James E. Jouett. 
 
 "Richmond," Captain Thornton A. Jen- 
 kins, with the " Port Royal," Lieutenant- 
 Commander Bancroft Gherardi. 
 
 " Lackawanna," Captain J. B. Marchand, 
 with the "Seminole," Commander E. Don- 
 aldson. 
 
 "Monongahela," Commander J. H. Strong, 
 with the "Kennebec," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander W. P. McCann. 
 
 '' Ossipee," Commander Wm. E. LeRoy, 
 and the "Itasca," Lieutenant-Commander 
 George Brown. 
 
 " Oneida," Commander J. R. M. Mullany, 
 and the " Galena," Lieutenant-Commander 
 C. H. Wells. 
 
 The iron-clads, "Tecumseh," Commander 
 T. A. M. Craven, " Manhattan," Commander 
 J. W. A. Nicholson, "Winnebago," Com- 
 mander T. H. Stevens, and "Chickasaw," 
 Lieutenant - Commander George H. Per- 
 kins, were already inside the bar, and thev 
 were ordered to take up their positions on 
 the starboard hand of the wooden vessels, 
 between them and Fort Morgan, for the 
 double purpose of keeping down the fire 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 571 
 
 of the water battery and fort, and of attack- 
 ing the ram " Tennessee " as soon as the 
 fort was passed. 
 
 The commanding officers of the ships ur- 
 gently requested Farragut to allow Captain 
 Alden, in the "Brooklyn," to lead the at- 
 tacking column, as this vessel had four 
 chase-guns and an ingenious apparatus for 
 picking up torpedoes, and because, in their 
 judgment, the flag-ship should not lead and 
 be too much exposed. The proper place for 
 the flag-ship was, in fact, the middle of the 
 line, but Farragut would only yield so far 
 as to have one ship in advance of him. 
 He did not believe in the principle that a 
 flag-officer should not lead. He considered 
 it one of the privileges of high rank in 
 the Navy, and that it was an honor to be 
 sought by every one who desired to set a 
 proper example to those under his com- 
 mand. 
 
 Before going into action the Admiral had 
 issued orders making his commanding offi- 
 cers acquainted with his plan of combat 
 and steaming. His orders for battle had 
 a determination in them which showed 
 that he meant to destroy the enemy or 
 be destroyed himself. There was a vigor 
 and coolness about them which cannot but 
 commend them to officers of the Navy, and 
 they will offer good examples in the future 
 for those who would not otherwise appre- 
 ciate all his precautions, but who are con- 
 vinced by the resulting events how neces- 
 sary they were on this occasion. 
 
 It was no ordinary battle that was to 
 be fought. Four iron-clads and a fleet of 
 wooden vessels fourteen in number, the 
 heaviest carrying only 36 guns, were about 
 to attack forts that were originally con- 
 structed with the purpose of keeping out 
 of Mobile the heaviest vessels then known 
 (ships-of-the-line and frigates) that could 
 pass the bar into Mobile Bay, or that might 
 attempt to enfilade Fort Morgan from out- 
 side the bar to the eastward. 
 
 Forts Gaines and Morgan had been plan- 
 ned and built by the best engineer in the 
 United States Army, and they had been 
 strengthened and improved in every way 
 by the Confederates. To crown all, these 
 forts mounted not only the heaviest guns 
 made in the country, but were well provided 
 with the latest improved rifle-cannon of 
 English manufacture, which had been 
 brought over in blockade runners. The 
 impediments in the channel have been 
 already mentioned, but what number of 
 torpedoes had been planted no one knew. 
 
 All these drawbacks against a passage 
 by the forts did not cast a cloud over the 
 countenance of any officer or man in the 
 fleet. They were all as anxious for the 
 combat as was their commanding officer, 
 who had passed through too many battles 
 
 within the last two years to feel dismayed 
 at the idea of running through a lot of 
 piles and sunken torpedoes. 
 
 Every officer was on the alert ; the ear of 
 every sailor was attentive to catch the 
 sound of the first tap of the drum (the call 
 to quarters); and one, to look at all those 
 eager faces on the poop and forecastle of 
 every ship, would suppose this to be some 
 grand gala day. It was indeed a gala day, 
 for every one could see in the cheerful 
 and determined look of their great com- 
 mander that this would be a day of glorious 
 victory, that the frowning forts and dark- 
 looking "Tennessee," though barring the 
 way and threatening destruction, would be 
 swept away,- if "hearts of oak in wooden 
 hulls " could do it. All longed to see the 
 defiant Confederate flag, which had waved 
 so long unmolested, hauled down, and the 
 last ram the Confederates ever built con- 
 signed to the fate of her predecessors. 
 
 It was a glorious sight to see those brave 
 fellows wearing a smile of joy upon their 
 faces in view of such odds against them — 
 and not knowing how soon they and their 
 comrades would be lying at the bottom of 
 the bay. All could not hope to escape this 
 trying ordeal, when several of the coolest 
 officers calculated that at least six of the 
 ships would be blown up. They never 
 stopped to consider whose fate this would 
 be; all they desired was to grapple with the 
 enemy, and see the Union flag floating over 
 the forts that had been taken from their 
 lawful owners. 
 
 Soon the word went forth : 
 
 General Order, No. 10. 
 
 " Strip your vessels and prepare for the conflict. 
 Send down all your superfluous spars and rig- 
 ging. Trice up or remove the whiskers. Put up 
 the splinter nets on the starboard side and barri- 
 cade the steersmen with sails and hammocks. Lay 
 chains or sand-bags on the deck over the machinery 
 to resist a plunging fire. Hang the sheet chains 
 over the side, or make any other arrangement for 
 security that your ingenuity may suggest. Land 
 your starboard boats or lower them and tow them 
 on the port side, and lower the port boats down to 
 the water's edge. Place a leadsman and the pilot 
 in the port-quarter boat or the one most convenient 
 to the commander. 
 
 "The vessels will run past the forts in couples, 
 lashed side by side, as hereafter designated. The 
 flag-ship will lead and steer from Sand Island N. by 
 E. by compass until abreast of Fort Morgan, then 
 N. W. half N., until past the Middle Ground; then 
 N. by W ; and the others, as designated in the 
 drawing, will follow in due order, until directed to 
 anchor; but the bow and quarter line must be pre- 
 served to give the chase-guns a fair range, and each 
 vessel must be kept astern of the broadside of the 
 next ahead. Each vessel will keep a very little on 
 the starboard quarter of his next ahead, and when 
 abreast of the fort will keep directly astern, and as 
 we pass the fort will take the same distance on the 
 port quarter of the next ahead, to enable the stern 
 guns to Are clear of the next vessel astern. 
 
 "It will be the object of the Admiral to get as 
 close to the fort as possible before opening Are : 
 
572 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the ships, however, will open fire the moment the 
 enemy opens upon us, with their chase and other 
 guns, as fast as they can be brought to bear. Use 
 short fuzes for the shell and shrapnel, and as soon 
 as withia three or four hundred yards, give the 
 grape. It is understood that heretofore we have 
 fired too high ; but with grape-shot it is neces- 
 sary to elevate a little above the object, as grape 
 will dribble from the muzzle of the gun. If 
 one or more of the vessels be disabled, their part- 
 ners must carry them through, if possible ; but 
 if they cannot, then the next astern must render 
 the required assistance ; but as the Admiral con- 
 templates moving with the flood-tide it will only 
 require sufficient power to keep the crippled vessels 
 in the channel. 
 
 "Vessels that can, must place guns upon the 
 poop and topgallant forecastle, and iu the tops on 
 the starboard side. Should the enemy fire grape, 
 they will remove the men from the topgallant fore- 
 castle and poop to the guns below, until out of 
 grape range. 
 
 "The howitzers must keep up a constant fire 
 
 Morgan. It being understood that there are torpe- 
 does and other obstructions between the buoys, 
 the vessels will take care to pass eastward of the 
 easternmost buoy, which is clear of all obstructions. 
 
 "So soon as the vessels arrive opposite the end of 
 the piles, it will be best to stop the propeller of the 
 ship, and let her drift the distance past by her 
 headway and the tide; and those having side-wheel 
 gun-boats wiU continue on by the aid of their 
 paddle-wheels, which are not likely to foul with, the 
 enemy's drag-ropes. 
 
 " D. G. Parbagut, 
 
 " Rear- Admirals 
 
 The appended diagram is the plan of at- 
 tack, and distinctly shows, not only the 
 position of every vessel in the fleet, but 
 also Fort Morgan, the Confederate ram 
 " Tennessee," and her consorts, the " Sel- 
 ma," " Morgan " and " Gaines." 
 
 The Federal vessels having formed line, 
 according to the diagram, moved ahead at 
 
 l^ENNEBEC, 
 
 SfMli 
 
 
 ^H^. 
 
 Hmm^^ 
 
 f^' UCKfl'^' 
 
 ■3AaN -5--... 
 
 PLAN SHOWING PAEEAUUT'S VESSELS PASSING POET MOEGAN, ALSO POSITION OF CONFEDEEATE 
 
 EAM AND GTJN-BOATS. 
 
 from the time they can reach with shrapnel until 
 out of range. 
 
 "D. G. Farra&ut, 
 
 '''' -Rear-Admiral, Commanding 
 
 " Went Gulf Blockading Squadron." 
 
 General Order, No. 11. 
 
 " Should any vessel be disabled to such a degree 
 that her consort is unable to keep her in her sta- 
 tion, she will drop out of hne to the westward, and 
 not embarrass the vessels next astern by attempting 
 to regain her station. Should she rejjair damages 
 so as to be able to re-enter the hne of battle, she 
 will take her station in the rear, as close to the last 
 vessel as possible. 
 
 " So soon as the vessels have passed the fort and 
 kept away northwest, they can cast off the gun- 
 boats at the discretion of the senior officer of the 
 two vessels, and allow them to proceed up the bay 
 to cut off the enemy's gun-boats that may be at- 
 tempting to escape up to Mobile. There are certain 
 black buoys placed by the enemy from the piles on 
 the west side of the channel, across it towards Fort 
 
 about 5:4.5 a. m., following the " Brooklvn." 
 which vessel took the lead. Some little delav 
 was now necessary to allow all the ships to 
 get into position, and form a compact line of 
 steaming. When this was accomplislied. 
 the fleet moved on in the direction of Fort 
 Morgan, which opened fire at 7:07 o'clock, 
 at a distance of about two miles. 
 
 The "Tecumseh," leading the iron-clads, 
 fired the first gun at 6:45, and was fol- 
 lowed by the " Brooklyn." with her two 
 100 -pounder Parrotts, and then by the 
 "Hartford." As the leading vessels ap- 
 proached, they conmienced firing their 
 broadside guns, and the remainder of the 
 fleet continued the fire as they got in posi- 
 tion to do so effectively. 
 
 As the Federal vessels neared the fort, 
 the ram " Tennessee " and the wooden gun- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 573 
 
 boats opened fire upon them — raking them 
 at every discharge. At about half -past 
 seven the battle became general all along 
 the line, as vessel after vessel came near 
 enough to use her guns. 
 
 The Monitors had so little speed that the 
 whole fleet vsras obliged to move slowly, 
 and thus offer a fair mark to the Confeder- 
 ate gunners ; but the thick smoke and the 
 rapid fire of grape from the fleet so discon- 
 certed them, that the flag-ship passed with 
 no great injury or loss of life ; a shell which 
 passed through the side and exploded 
 abaft the mainmast, killing and wounding 
 a large portion of No. 7 gun's crew, being 
 the only one that caused much destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 At this time the " Hartford" had become 
 the leading vessel, owing to the fact that 
 just as the "Brooklyn" came abreast of Fort 
 Morgan, and was keeping up a rapid fire of 
 grape from her broadside guns, which 
 seemed to almost silence the enemy's bat- 
 teries, the Monitor " Tecumseh" — then about 
 three hundred yards ahead, and on the 
 starboard bow of the " Brooklyn " — was 
 seen from the latter vessel to careen violently 
 over, and sink almost instantly. The 
 *' Brooklyn " was now somewhat inside the 
 fort, shoal water was reported, and at the 
 same time the smoke cleared away, and 
 revealed a row of suspicious-looking buoys 
 right under the vessel's bow. 
 
 The captain of the "Brooklyn" now 
 made a mistake ; he stopped his vessel and 
 then backed, to avoid leading the fleet into 
 what appeared to be a nest of torpedoes. 
 His motive was a good one, but this move- 
 ment was not in the programme. 
 
 It was apparent to Farragut that there 
 was some difficulty ahead, and that the 
 advance of the fleet was arrested, while 
 Fort Morgan was firing with great effect 
 upon the stationary vessels. At this mo- 
 ment the Admiral also witnessed the sink- 
 ing of the " Tecumseh," with nearly all her 
 officers and crew. It was an appalling spec- 
 tacle, and would have daunted many other 
 men. He did not know but that his whole 
 fleet would be blown up in less than a min- 
 ute, and their hulls and guns lying at the 
 bottom of the bay. He did not hesitate, 
 however, but gave the order to Captain 
 Drayton: "Pass the 'Brooklyn,' and take 
 the lead." His order was immediately 
 obeyed, and as the flag-ship went by him, 
 Captain Alden informed the Admiral that 
 he was "running into a nest of torpedoes." 
 
 " D n the torpedoes," he replied, " follow 
 
 me ! " At the same time he directed the com- 
 mander of the " Metacomet" to send a boat 
 and pick up any of the "Tecumseh's" sur- 
 vivors that he could find. 
 
 This was a trying time, for, as the ships 
 w^firft Tnnvino- at a, ra.tfl of about seven knots 
 
 at the time the "Brooklyn" stopped, the 
 line was thrown into confusion. The 
 " Brooklyn,"- as soon as she stopped, re- 
 ceived the concentrated fire of the fort, it 
 being the object of the Confederate gunners 
 to cripple the leading ships and throw those 
 in the rear into confusion. Many of the 
 "Brooklyn's" crew were killed and wounded 
 by this fire, and her total loss during the 
 engagement was 54 officers and men. 
 
 As soon as the Admiral had passed, Cap- 
 tain Alden followed in his wake at full 
 speed, and turned northward with him, re- 
 ceiving at the same time several heavy 
 shot from the " Tennessee," which cut his 
 vessel up considerably near the water line, 
 forward. 
 
 The battle had been general some time 
 before this, and the rapid and well-aimed 
 fire of the naval gunners drove the enemy 
 from their guns. The latter had never be- 
 fore witnessed the effect of shell, grape and 
 shrapnel when fired from guns worked by 
 fearless American seamen, who had but 
 one idea, and that was to knock down the 
 offending flag which now floated on the 
 fort where in days of yore the " Stars 
 and Stripes " had waved peacefully in the 
 breeze. 
 
 All was animation in the fleet; every 
 commander was on the alert to keep his 
 ship in position, and not confuse the ships 
 ahead and astern of him. The gunners 
 were cautioned to throw no shot away, 
 and carefully instructed how to train their 
 guns. The Admiral, jumping into the 
 main rigging, where he could see over the 
 smoke, gave orders to steam through the 
 buoys, where the torpedoes were supposed 
 to be placed in the greatest numbers. At 
 this moment the fire of every gun that 
 could be brought to bear was playing on 
 the fort, and as ship after ship followed 
 in the wake of the "Hartford," and turned 
 up channel, their stern-guns belched forth 
 their deadly missiles, while the fort scarcely 
 fired a gun ; the enemy were either killed 
 or sent to cover, though a Confederate 
 writer asserts ' that not a gun in Fort Mor- 
 gan was silenced. 
 
 All anxiously watched the "Hartford" 
 to see what would be her fate, but the stout 
 old ship that had fairly been bathed in fire 
 on so many occasions, sped safely on, and 
 the road was clear for those who came after. 
 
 The line of buoys had been examined 
 on several occasions (in night reconnais- 
 sances) by Flag - Lieutenant J. Crittenden 
 Watson, who was unable to discover any 
 sunken torpedoes, yet the Admiral had been 
 assured by refugees that such did exist. 
 He believed, however, that, from their hav- 
 ing been for some time under water, they 
 were harmless, and under this idea he de« 
 termined to take the chances. 
 
■< 
 
 03 
 W 
 
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 Ed 
 
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 03 
 
 161*v 
 
■THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 575 
 
 At ten minutes before 8 a. m. the " Hart- 
 ford" had fairly passed Fort Morgan, with 
 the "Brooklyn" close behind her. As the 
 flag-ship passed the shore batteries, she 
 came directly under the fire of the gun-boats 
 "Selma," " Morgan" and "Gaines" and 
 the ram " Tennessee," and being only able 
 to direct her fire on one of them at a time, 
 the shots from the others were delivered 
 with effect, a single shot having killed 
 ten men and wounded five at guns Nos. 1 
 and 2. 
 
 The "Tennessee" followed the "Hart- 
 ford " for some distance, throwing an occa- 
 sional shot, while the gun-boat "Selma," 
 keeping on her bow, annoyed her very 
 much by the fire of her three stern -guns. The 
 " Hartford " could not answer this attack, 
 for the reason that her rifle-gun carriage 
 had been crippled by a shell. 
 
 The flag- ship was at this time nearly a 
 mile ahead of the fleet, and the " Meta- 
 comet," Lieutenant - Commander Jouett, 
 was ordered to cast off and attack the 
 "Selma." This energetic officer lost not a 
 moment in obeying the order, and putting 
 on all steam started in pursuit of the 
 enemy's gun-boats, all three of which were 
 annoying the " Hartford. " These vessels 
 all retreated up the bay;, engaging the 
 "Metacomet" with their stern -guns. 
 At half -past 8 the "Gaines" retreated 
 under cover of Fort Morgan in a crippled 
 condition. At 9 the "Morgan" hauled 
 off to starboard, and at 10 minutes past 
 9 the " Selma" struck her flag to the " Meta- 
 comet." 
 
 By this time the whole fleet had passed 
 the obstructions and were beyond the fire of 
 Fort Morgan, but the ram "Tennessee" 
 was steaming about and delivering her 
 heavy rifle-shell with terrible effect. The 
 "Brooklyn," as she passed the ram, poured 
 in her broadside of 9-inch shot, but without 
 inflicting any apparent damage, and then 
 passed on after the " Hartford," which had 
 anchored about five miles up the bay. 
 
 Whatever may have been Admiral Bu- 
 chanan's plan up to this time, he had not 
 yet succeeded in crippling any of the 
 Federal vessels either with his shot or with 
 his ram. He made an effort to strike 
 the " Brooklyn," but passed astern of her, 
 after which he turned and ran as if to in- 
 tercept the fleet, which was now passing 
 under a full head of steam, and delivering 
 their broadsides in quick succession. 
 
 It was a beautiful sight to see the Union 
 fleet passing on in such good order, and 
 delivering their fire on the enemy's forts, 
 iron - clad or gun - boats, as occasion re- 
 quired, with wonderful precision and ef- 
 fect. 
 
 The passage of the fleet had sealed the 
 fate of Mobile : the surrender of Fort Mor- 
 
 gan was but the matter of a few days; Fort 
 Gaines could make but a feeble resistance 
 against a combined attack of Army and 
 Navy, and Fort Powell, cut off as it was, 
 would fall without firing a shot. 
 
 No doubt Buchanan realized the situa- 
 tion. The "Selma" had been captured; 
 the "Gaines," not being as closely pursued 
 as was the " Selma," escaped under cover 
 of Fort Morgan, where she was afterwards 
 run ashore and burnt, while the "Morgan" 
 escaped to Mobile. Nothing was now left 
 for Buchanan to do but to surrender, or die 
 gloriously fighting to the last. He chose 
 the latter, but did not choose the right time. 
 
 Farragut, supposing that the fighting was 
 over for the time being, had anchored and 
 made signal to the fieet to follow his mo- 
 tions. He expected the "Tennessee" to 
 remain under the guns of Fort Morgan 
 during the remainder of the day; and if she 
 had done so and attacked the fieet after 
 dark there is no knowing what would have 
 been the result. The ram would have been 
 the only Confederate vessel engaged, and 
 her commander could therefore treat every 
 vessel he met as an enemy, while tlie Union 
 vessels would not have been able to use 
 their guns for fear of firing into a consort. 
 As it was, with the heaviest guns in the 
 fieet pouring shot and shell into her in 
 broad day, she committed great havoc. 
 
 Looking upon it as a naval movement, 
 Buchanan made a great mistake that morn- 
 ing when he went out to attack Farragut's 
 fieet. He must have seen that every one 
 of the Union vessels was superior to him 
 in speed, and had nothing to fear from his 
 ram, while the heavy guns of the three 
 remaining Monitors would be brought to 
 bear on him in such a way that his 6-inch 
 armor would be damaged and his port shut- 
 ters closed. He might have supposed, too, 
 that Farragut would not hesitate to ram 
 him, with ships of greater speed than his 
 own — there are a hundred things which 
 one good sailor would expect another to 
 do under certain circumstances. 
 
 No one who knew Buchanan and his pro- 
 fessional ability would doubt for a minute 
 that he had considered all these matters. 
 Perhaps he feared that the forts would be 
 surrendered before sunset, and the power- 
 ful "Tennessee," of which so much had 
 been expected, and by which so little had 
 yet been done, surrendered with them. 
 
 Whatever was the case, he did not take 
 long to make up his mind. The fieet had 
 not been anchored more than fifteen min- 
 utes when it was reported to Admiral Far- 
 ragut that the "Tennessee" was coming 
 out from under Fort Morgan and standing 
 down for the head of the fieet. Farragut 
 at once divined that it was his enemy's 
 intention to sink the flae:shin (^ which would 
 
576 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 have been glory enough for one day), but 
 he determined to show the Confederates 
 that it was an easier matter to sink a 
 frigate at anchor in Hampton Roads than 
 a live fleet in Mobile Bay. The signal was 
 at once made to get underway, and the 
 crews ran the anchors up to the bows with 
 marvellous rapidity. 
 
 The iron-clads, and such wooden vessels 
 as had been prepared with iron prows, were 
 ordered to attack the " Tennessee " at once, 
 before she could reach the centre of the 
 fleet, and the wooden vessels were directed 
 to ram the iron-clad and attempt to disable 
 her in that way. 
 
 Thus the fleet and the " Tennessee " were 
 approaching each other rapidly, while the 
 people in the former were watching keenly 
 for the result, no one being able to form 
 an opinion as to the power of the latter 
 for offensive purposes, or what might be 
 the plan of her commander, who was stand- 
 ing fearlessly on, as if conscious that he was 
 more than a match for the Federals. And 
 now commenced one of the most remarka- 
 ble combats known throughout the war — • 
 in fact, one of the fiercest naval battles on 
 record. 
 
 The " Monongahela," Commander Strong, 
 was the first vessel that had the honor of 
 striking the "Tennessee," which she did 
 squarely and fairlj% with a good head of 
 steam ; but the only result was that the 
 ramming vessel carried away her cast-iron 
 prow, together with the cut - water, with- 
 out apparently doing the "Tennessee" any 
 damage. Just afterwards, the " Lacka- 
 wanna," Captain Marchand, delivered a 
 blow, going at full speed, crushing in her 
 own stem, but had no other effect on the 
 ram than to give her a heavy list. The 
 Admiral then dashed at his enemy with the 
 " Hartford," but only got in a glancing 
 blow, for the " Tennessee" avoided his at- 
 tack by shifting her helm in time. The 
 flag-ship rasped alongside of her and deliv- 
 ered a broadside from her starboard guns 
 as she passed, but with little or no effect. 
 
 This was a reception Buchanan did not 
 anticipate. He had calculated on catching 
 the fleet in confusion, and expected to enact 
 again the role of the "Albemarle" in the 
 Sounds of North Carolina. But here the 
 conditions were quite different. The rat- 
 tling of the 9-inch shot on the "Tennes- 
 see's " casements made his vessel fairly 
 quiver, while the ramming demoralized her 
 crew, they having been made to believe that 
 no one would undertake such an adventure. 
 
 The Monitors were slow in speed, but 
 they had now reached the "Tennessee's" 
 wake, delivering their fire as opportunity 
 offered. The " Manhattan," Commander 
 J. W. A. Nicholson, got close under her stern 
 and fired a raking shot (15-inch), which 
 
 struck the " Tennessee's " port-quarter and 
 carried away her steering gear. The " Man- 
 hattan " fired altogether six times, and most 
 of her shots took effect. In the meantime, 
 the " Winnebago " and " Chickasaw " were 
 firing as opportunity offered. The smoke- 
 stack of the "Tennessee" was shot away 
 by the " Chickasaw," which vessel followed 
 her closely, firing solid shot into her until 
 her flag was hauled down. 
 
 If the commander of the ram had calcu- 
 lated that he could scatter the gallant offi- 
 cers who were swarming about him, he had 
 reckoned without his host, for never did 
 an iron-clad receive such a battering in so 
 short a time. Every ship in the fleet tried 
 to get alongside of her to throw in a broad- 
 side, but there was not room for all to ma- 
 noeuvre; and the "Lackawanna," in her de- 
 sire to have another blow at the enemy, 
 collided with the " Hartford," and cut her 
 down on tlie quarter to within two feet of 
 the water line. 
 
 Meanwhile the "Tennessee " was not idle. 
 All her guns were at work as fast as they 
 could be loaded and fired. She was like 
 a great buffalo of the plains, with a pack 
 of wolves hanging to its flanks, finally 
 compelled to succumb to superior num- 
 bers. But the ram managed to inflict some 
 dreadful wounds in her last efforts. 
 
 While the "Hartford" was drifting by 
 her, and from a distance of ten feet or less 
 was pouring in a broadside of 9-inch solid 
 shot, with charges of thirteen pounds of 
 powder, without any effect, the "Tennes- 
 see " fired a large shell through her side, 
 which burst on the berth-deck, killing and 
 wounding a number of men, the pieces 
 breaking through the spar and berth-decks, 
 passing through the launch and entering 
 the hold among the wounded. There was 
 no time to think of the danger from shot 
 or shell, for every one's blood was lup, and 
 it was determined that the "Tennessee" 
 should not escape, if it cost the lives of 
 every one in the fleet. 
 
 The "Hartford," after being struck by 
 the " Lackawanna," was at first reported to 
 be sinking ; but that report was soon set at 
 rest, and she started for the enemy at full 
 speed, determined this time to crush in her 
 side or be crushed in the attempt. But 
 as the flag-ship approached the " Tennes- 
 see," it was seen that she was flying a whito 
 flag, so the former sheered off without de- 
 livering the intended blow. After the 
 "Lackawanna" had run into the "Hart- 
 ford," she was signalled to ram the " Ten- 
 nessee" again, and the gallant Marchand 
 had started to do it under a full head of 
 steam when the "Tennessee" surrendered. 
 
 At this particular moment the Confed- 
 erate iron-clad was sore beset. The " Man- 
 hattan," "Chickasaw," and "Winnebago'' 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 577 
 
 were hammering her with solid shot and 
 shell; the "Ossipee"was approaching hei 
 again at full speed, while the " Hartford," 
 *' Monongahela," and " Lackawanna" were 
 bearing down under a press of steam, deter- 
 mined on her destruction; and it is probable 
 that, if the three ships had struck her at the 
 same time, it would have demoralized her 
 crew, if it did not break in her sides. Her 
 smoke-stack had been shot away, her steer- 
 ing apparatus was disabled, and several of 
 her port shutters driven in or jammed. Any 
 one could see that the battle was won by 
 the fleet for some time before the Confed- 
 erate surrendered. But one shot was fired 
 by the ram after the " Hartford " ran into 
 her, but her crew were game to the last, 
 and took it out in jeering the Yankees. 
 The "Ossipee" was within a few feet of her, 
 and in another moment would have col- 
 lided, when the gallant Le Roy (who 
 never laid aside his politeness under any 
 circumstances) saw the white flag fluttering 
 on the " Tennes- 
 see." and stopped 
 and backed his en- 
 gines. 
 
 The " Tennes- 
 see" had done 
 well, though she 
 was not fought 
 with the skill ex- 
 pected from Bu- 
 chanan. The lat- 
 ter was wounded 
 and had his leg so 
 shattered that it 
 had afterwards to 
 be amputated. 
 The "Tennessee" 
 lost only two or 
 three men killed, and five or six wounded; 
 but the crew, no doubt, became demoralized 
 from the terrible pounding they were get- 
 ting from ships and guns. The smoke-stack 
 being knocked down, the engine became 
 almost useless ; but the best reason for her 
 surrender was that the "Boys in Blue" 
 had determined to have her, no niatter 
 what the consequences to themselves. She 
 was only one vessel, it is true, but a vessel 
 capable of resisting the blow of any projec- 
 tile fired by the Union fleet ; while her own 
 projectiles could pass through and through 
 any of the Federal wooden vessels. She 
 was like a knight of the olden time, encased 
 in impenetrable armor and contending with 
 a party of unarmored soldiers. She was 
 built by the ablest naval officer in the Con- 
 federacy under the belief that she would 
 wipe off the face of the waters anything 
 te Federals could bring against her. 
 
 Buchanan, without doubt, had calculated 
 all his chances, and when he saw the fleet 
 at anf^hnr nn thfl hav. thouarht he had 
 
 them all in a cul-de-sac, and that he would 
 be able to demolish them in a couple of 
 hours. He was a brave man, too, and in the 
 past had been successful in almost every- 
 thing he had undertaken ; and the capture 
 of the great commander, who had hitherto 
 set all Confederate forts and obstructions 
 at defiance, was to have been the crown- 
 ing triumph of his life. How little he must 
 have remembered of the brave officers in 
 that fleet, many of whom had been under 
 his command, if he expected to conquer 
 them without a severe and prolonged 
 struggle ! 
 
 Sometimes we think he was tired of the 
 unnatural contest which separated him 
 from friends and relations. Whatever may 
 have been the cause, the "Tennessee" did 
 not effect as much as she ought to have done 
 for so powerful a vessel. She never once 
 struck a vessel of Farragut's fleet, while 
 she herself was rammed at least four times. 
 How frail the Federal wooden ships were 
 
 was shown when 
 the " Lackawan- 
 na," moving at 
 low speed, struck 
 the " Hartford," 
 cutting her down 
 nearly to the 
 water's edge, and 
 placed her almost 
 in a sinking con- 
 dition. 
 
 Never did peo- 
 ple fight their 
 vessels to more 
 effect than did 
 Farragut and his 
 officers on this oc- 
 casion. The bat- 
 tle was short and decisive ; and although 
 the Confederates claim that their vessels 
 fought desperately from 7 o'clock until 10, 
 the truth is that the last encounter between 
 the ram and the fleet only lasted from 8.50 
 until 10 o'clock, one hour and ten minutes. 
 Hours and minutes fly fast when under fire 
 and amid the excitement there were inci- 
 dents enough in this battle to make time 
 pass rapidly. 
 
 After the "Tennessee" had surrendered, 
 signal was made to the fleet to anchor. The 
 "Chickasaw," Lieutenant-Commander Geo. 
 H. Perkins, took the disabled prize in tow and 
 anchored her near the "Hartford," when 
 Commander Johnston (formerly of the U. S. 
 Navy), now in command of the "Tennessee," 
 went on board the flag-ship and surrendered 
 his sword and that of Admiral Buclianan. 
 The surgeon of the "Tennessee" accompa- 
 nied him and said that Buchanan had been 
 severely wounded, and wished to know 
 what was to be done with him. It seems 
 from the statements then presented that 
 
 CONFEDERATE RAM "TENNESSEE" AFTER HER SURRENDER TO U. S. 
 
 SQUADRON, REAR-ADMIRAL D. Q. FARRAGUT, MOBILE BAT, 
 
 AUGUST 5, 1864. 
 
578 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Buchanan during the engagement remained 
 standing on the casemate of the "Tennes- 
 see " until he was severely wounded in the 
 left leg, but he refused to surrender until 
 the "Tennessee's" steering apparatus was 
 disabled and the ship so filled with smoke— 
 from the loss of the smoke-stack — that his 
 men could hardly breathe or see. 
 
 The only shot which penetrated the " Ten- 
 nessee's " armor was one from the 15-inch 
 gun of the " Manhattan," which knocked a 
 hole in the iron plating, leaving an unde- 
 tached mass of oak and pine splinters pro- 
 jecting about two feet inside of the case- 
 mate. She might have been fought longer 
 if it had not been for the loss of her smoke- 
 stack and the disarrangement of her steer- 
 ing gear ; but these are contingencies to 
 which all ships are liable in action, and they 
 are probabilities that should always be 
 taken into account. 
 
 The victory was won, and with the sur- 
 render of the " Tennessee" ended the career 
 of nearly the last ram owned by the Con- 
 federacy. She had made a good fight, but 
 now passed to new owners, and never again 
 struck a blow against the Union. 
 
 And now was to be exercised that hu- 
 manity which Union naval officers always 
 extended to their prisoners. Fleet Surgeon 
 Palmer, who was on board the "Hart- 
 ford " during the action attending to the 
 suffering wounded, suggested that they 
 should all — of both sides — be sent to Pen- 
 sacola, where they would alike be prop- 
 erly cared for ; and the Admiral, whose 
 heart was always open to the calls of hu- 
 manity, addressed a letter to Brigadier-Gen- 
 eral R. L. Page ( formerly of the United 
 States Navy, and now commanding Fort 
 Morgan ), informing him that Admiral 
 Buchanan had been wounded, and desiring 
 to know if he would permit one of his ves- 
 sels, under a flag of truce, with or without 
 the Union wounded, to go to Pensacola, 
 with the understanding that the vessel 
 should take out nothing but the wounded 
 men, and bring nothing back that she did 
 not take out. This permission was accorded 
 by General Page, and the " Metacomet " 
 proceeded on her mission of mercy. 
 
 The fleet had lost heavily throughout the 
 engagement, but a greater number were 
 killed during the fight with the " Tennessee" 
 than in the passage of the fort, showing 
 the terrible power of this vessel. Almost 
 every shot she fired after closing with the 
 fleet went to its mark, and, crashing through 
 the wooden sides of the Federal vessels 
 committed great havoc and destruction on 
 their crowded decks. 
 
 The following is a list of the killed and 
 wounded in the fleet: " Hartford," killed 25, 
 wounded 28; " Brooklyn," killed 11, wounded 
 43; "Lackawanna," killed 4, wounded 35; 
 
 "Oneida." killed 8, wounded 30; "Monon- 
 gahela," wounded 6; " Metacomet," killed 1, 
 wounded 2 ; " Ossipee," killed 1, wounded 7; 
 "Richmond," wounded 2; "Galena," 
 wounded 1 ; " Octorara," killed 1, wounded 
 10; "Kennebec," killed 1, wounded 6. 
 Total killed, 52 ; wounded, 170. 
 
 This is a much larger list of casualties 
 than occurred at the battle of New Orleans, 
 and it gives a fair idea of the sanguinary 
 nature of the conflict. To the list must be 
 added the 120 lost in the " Tecumseh " when 
 she sunk, making a total of 173 killed, and 
 170 wounded. 
 
 The vessels received injuries as follows : 
 Monitors : " Tecumseh," sunk by a tor- 
 pedo ; " Manhattan, " struck 9 times ; 
 " Winnebago," struck 19 times; "Chicka- 
 saw," struck three times by guns of Fort 
 Powell. Steamers: " Brooklyn," struck 30 
 times ; " Octorara," struck 17 times ; "Hart- 
 ford," struck 20 times ; " Metacomet,"^ 
 struck 11 times ; " Richmond," no serious 
 damage; "Port Royal," no serious damage ; 
 "Lackawanna," struck 5 times; "Semi- 
 nole," hull not struck; " Ossipee," struck 
 4 times ; " Monongahela," struck 5 times ; 
 "Kennebec," struck twice; "Itasca," 
 struck once ; " Oneida," one shot in star- 
 board boiler ; " Galena," struck 7 times. 
 Whole number of hits by the enemy, 134. 
 
 It would be an impossibility to enumerate 
 the many acts of gallantry performed by 
 the officers and men of the fleet. 
 
 The Admiral and his captains will there- 
 fore be left to speak for those under their 
 immediate observation ; and, although it 
 will swell this account, we will insert as 
 much of the several reports as will serve to 
 do justice to all, and give the reader a fur- 
 ther insight into this famous battle. 
 
 Admiral Farragut, after detailing the 
 movements of the fleet (which have already 
 been described), proceeds as follows: 
 
 "As I had an elevated position in the main rig- 
 ging near the top, I was able to overlook, not 
 only the deck of the 'Hartford,' but the other 
 vessels of the fleet. I witnessed the terrible effects 
 of the enemy's shot, and the good conduct of the 
 men at their guns; and although, no doubt, their 
 hearts sickened, as mine did, when their shipmates 
 were struck down beside them, yet there was not a. 
 moment's hesitation to lay their comrades aside, 
 and spring again to their deadly work. 
 
 "Our little consort, the ' Metacomet,' was also 
 under my immediate eye during the whole action 
 up to the moment I ordered her to oast off in pur- 
 suit of the ' Selma.' 
 
 " The coolness and promptness of Lieutenant- 
 Commander Jouett throughout, merit high praise ; 
 his whole conduct was worthy of his reputa- 
 tion. 
 
 " In this connection I must not omit to call the 
 attention of the department to the conduct of 
 Acting-Ensign Henry C. Nields, of the "Meta- 
 comet,'' who had charge of the boat sent from that 
 vessel when the 'Tecumseh' sank. He took her 
 in under one of the most gaUing fires I ever saw, 
 and succeeded in rescuing from death ten of her 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 579 
 
 crew, ■within six hundred yards of the fort. I would 
 respectfully recommend his advancement. 
 
 ''^The commanding officers of all the vessels who 
 took part in the action deserve my warmest com- 
 mendations, not only for the untiring zeal with 
 which they had prepared their ships for the contest, 
 but for their skill and daring in carrying out my 
 orders during the engagement. 
 
 •' With the exception of the momentary arrest of 
 the fleet, when the ' Hartford ' passed ahead, and to 
 wnich 1 have already adverted, the order of battle 
 was preserved, and the ships followed each other in 
 close order past the batteries of Port Morgan, and 
 in comparative safety too, with the exception of the 
 'Oneida.' Her boilers were penetrated by a shot 
 from the fort which completely disabled her, but 
 her consort, the 'Galena,' firmly fastened to her 
 side, brought her safely through, showing clearly 
 the wisdom of the precaution of carrying the ves- 
 sels in two abreast Commander Mullany, who had 
 solicited eagerly to take part in the action, was 
 severely wounded, losing his left arm. 
 
 "In the encounter with the ram the command- 
 ing oflBcers obeyed with alacrity the order to run her 
 down, and without hesitation exposed their ships 
 to destruction to destroy the enemy. 
 
 '■ Our iron-clads, from their slow speed and bad 
 steering, had some difficulty in getting into and 
 maintaining their position in line as we passed the 
 fort, and, in the subsequent encounter with the 
 ' Tennessee,' from the same causes, were not as effect- 
 ive as could have been desired ; but I cannot give 
 too much praise to Lieutenant- Commander Per- 
 kins, who, though he had orders from the Depart- 
 ment to return North, volunteered to take com- 
 mand of the 'Chickasaw,' and did his duty nobly. 
 
 " The ' Winnebago ' was commanded by Com- 
 mander T. H. Stevens, who volunteered for that 
 position. His vessel steers very badly, and neither 
 of his turrets will work, which compelled him to 
 turn his vessel every time to get a shot, so that he 
 could not fire very often, but he did the best under 
 the circumstances. 
 
 " The 'Manhattan ' appeared to work well, though 
 she moved slowly. Commander Nicholson de- 
 livered his fire deliberately, and, as before stated, 
 with one of his 15-inch shot broke through the 
 armor of the ' Tennessee,' with its wooden back- 
 ing, though the shot itself did not enter the vessel. 
 No other shot broke through the armor, though 
 many of her plates were started, and several of her 
 port shutters jammed by the fire from the diflferent 
 ships. 
 
 " The ' Hartford ' (my flag-ship) was commanded 
 by Captain Percival Drayton, who exhibited 
 thiroughout that coolness and ability for which he 
 has been long known to his brother officers. But I 
 must speak of that officer in a double capacity. He 
 is the fleet-captain of my squadron, and one of more 
 determined energy, untiring devotion to duty and 
 zeal for the service, tempered by great calmness, I 
 do not think adorns any Navy. I desire to .call your 
 attention to thi^ officer, though well aware that in 
 thus speaking of his high qualities I am only com- 
 municating officially to the Department that which 
 it knew full well before. 
 
 "To him, and to my staff, in their respective 
 positions, I am indebted for the detail of my fleet. 
 
 "Lieutenant J. Crittenden Watson, my flag-lieu- 
 tenant, has been brought to your notice in former 
 dispatches. During the action he was on the poop, 
 attending to the signals, and performed his duties, 
 as might be expected, thoroughly. He is a scion 
 worthy the noble stock he sprang from, and I com- 
 mend him to your attention. 
 
 " My secretary, Mr. McKinley, and Acting-Ensign, 
 H. H. Brownell, were also on the poop, the latter 
 taking notes of the action, a duty which he per- 
 formed with coolness and accuracy. 
 
 Bogart and Mr. Higinbotham, were on duty in the 
 
 Eowder division, and, as the reports wiU show, ex- 
 ibited zeal and ability. The latter, I regret to add, 
 was severely wounded by a raking shot from the 
 'Tennessee' when we collided with that vessel, 
 and died a few hours after. Mr. Higinbotham was 
 a young married man, and has left a widow and 
 one child, whom I commend to the kindness of the 
 Department. 
 
 " Lieutenant A. R. Yates, of the 'Augusta,' acted 
 as an additional aid to me on board the "'Hartford,'' 
 and was was very efficient in the transmission of 
 orders. I have given him the command temporarily 
 of the captured steamer 'Selma.' 
 
 ' 'The last of my staff, and to whom I would call the 
 attention of the Department, is not the least in im- 
 portance. I mean Pilot Martin Freeman. He has 
 been my great reliance in all difficulties in his line 
 of duty. During the action he was in the main-top 
 piloting the ships into the bay. He was cool and 
 brave throughout, never losing his self-possession. 
 This man was captured early in the war in a fish- 
 ing-smack which he owned, and though he pro- 
 tested that he had no interest in the war, and only 
 asked for the privilege of fishing for the fleet, yet 
 his services were too valuable to the captors as a 
 pilot not to be secured. He was appointed a first- 
 class pilot, and has served us with zeal and fidelity, 
 and has lost his vessel, which went to pieces on 
 Ship Island. I commend him to the Department. 
 
 "It gives me pleasure to refer to several officers 
 who volunteered to take any situation where they 
 might be useful, some of whom were on their way 
 North, either by orders of the Department or con- 
 demned by medical survey. The reports of the dif- 
 ferent commanders wiU show how they conducted 
 themselves. 
 
 "I have already mentioned Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Perkins, of the ' Chickasaw,' and Lieuten- 
 ant Yates, of the 'Augusta,' Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant William Hamilton, late commanding 
 officer of the 'Augusta Dinsmore,' had been in- 
 valided by medical survey, but he eagerly offered 
 his services on board the iron-clad ' Chickasaw,' 
 having had much experience in our Monitors. Act- 
 ing-Volunteer - Lieutenant P. Giraud, another ex- 
 perienced officer in iron-clads, asked to go in on one 
 of these vessels, but as they were all well supplied 
 with officers, I permitted him to go in on the ' Ossi- 
 pee, ' under Commander Le Roy. After the action he 
 was given temporary charge of the ram ' Tennessee.' 
 
 "Before closing this report, there is one other 
 officer of my squadron of whom I feel bound to 
 speak. Captain T. A. Jenkins, of the 'Richmond,' 
 who was formerly ray chief-of-staff, not because of 
 his having held that position, but because he never 
 forgets to do his duty to the Government, and takes 
 now the same interest in the fleet as when he stood 
 in that relation to me. He is also the commanding 
 otficpr of the second division of my squadron, and, 
 as such, has shown ability and the most untiring 
 zeal. He carries out the spirit of one of Lord Col- 
 lingwood's best sayings, ' Not to be afraid of doing 
 too much ; those who are, seldom do as much as 
 they ought.' When in Pensacola, he spent days 
 on the bar, placing the buoys in the best position, 
 was always looking after the interests of the service, 
 and keeping the vessels from being detained one 
 moment longer in poi-t than was necessary. The 
 gallant Craven told me only the night before the 
 action in which he lost his life : ' I regret. Admiral, 
 that I have detained you ; but had it not been for 
 Captain Jenkins, God knows when I should have 
 been here ! When your order came I had not re- 
 ceived an ounce of coal.' I feel I should not be do- 
 ing my duty did I not call the attention of the de- 
 partment to an officer who has performed all his 
 various duties with so much zeal and fidelity. 
 "Very respectfully, etc.. 
 
580 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Extract from the report of Captain Dray- 
 ton, commanding United States flag-ship 
 " Hartford " : 
 
 "To Lieutenant-Commander Kimberly, the ex- 
 ecutive ofHcer, I am indebted, not only for the fine 
 example of coolness and self-possession which he 
 set to those around him, but also for the excellent 
 condition to which he had brought everything be- 
 longing to the fighting department of the ship, in 
 consequence of "vvhich there was no confusion any- 
 where, even when, from the terrible slaughter at 
 some of the guns, it might have been looked for. 
 
 "AH did their duty, but I cannot but mention 
 Lieutenants Tyson and Adams and Ensign Whit- 
 ing, to whose example and exertions it was in great 
 measure owing, no doubt, that the great loss of 
 some of the guns was not followed by confusion or 
 delay in repairing damages. Acting- Master's Mate 
 Tinelli, who took charge of the 3d Division after 
 Lieutenant Adams was wounded, is spoken of to 
 me very highly. 
 
 " Acting - Assistant - Engineer McEwan is also 
 strongly noticed in the report of Chief-Engineer 
 Williamson. He lost his right arm while busily 
 employed on the berth -deck, where he was sta- 
 tioned, in assisting and comforting the wounded. 
 He is spoken of by his superiors as most competent 
 to fill the possession of Third Assistant -Engineer 
 in the regular service, for which I would beg you to 
 recommend him to the Honorable Secretary of the 
 Navy. 
 
 " The last shell fired at us — that from the ram — 
 killed my clerk. Ensign W. H. Higinbotham. Al- 
 though this was the first time he had been in ac- 
 tion, nothing, I am told, could exceed the coolness 
 and zeal with which he performed his duties in the 
 powder-division, and I feel his loss most seriously, 
 as his general intelligence and many amiable quali- 
 ties had made him almost necessary to me. 
 
 "I must also thank Lieutenant A. R. Yates, a 
 volunteer from the United States steamship ' Au- 
 gusta,' who acted as an aide both to you and my- 
 self, and was to me most useful. 
 
 " The two after-guns were entirely manned by 
 marines, who, under the direction of Captain 
 Charles Heywood, performed most efHcient ser- 
 vice. 
 
 "Thanks to the unremitting supervision of Chief- 
 Engineer Williamson, all had been so thoroughly 
 prepared in his department that nothing was re- 
 quired of the engines during the day which they 
 could not perfectly perform. 
 
 "The devoted attention of Fleet Surgeon Palmer, 
 Surgeon Lansdale, and Assistant Surgeon Com- 
 mons to our wounded, was beyond praise, and it 
 was owing to their skUl and untiring exertion that 
 the large number of desperately wounded were 
 prepared by 8 o'clock in the evening for removal 
 to the hospital at Pensacola, for which place they 
 left at daylight on the following morning in the 
 ' Metacomet,' under a flag of truce. 
 
 ' ' Boatswain Dixon was nearly knocked overboard 
 by a splinter, but absented himself from the deck 
 only long enough to have his wounds dressed, when 
 he returned to his duties. 
 
 " Acting-Master's Blate Herrick, while superin- 
 tending the passage of powder and shell on the 
 berth-deck, was very seriously wounded by a piece 
 of shell which entirely disabled him at the time, and 
 may, I am afraid, prove very serious. Up to this 
 time his conduct and bearing ai'e spolien of by the 
 commanding officer of the division in the highest 
 praise. 
 
 "I must also thank Lieutenant Watson, your flag- 
 lieutenant, who, besides attending most faithfully 
 to the signals, found time to assist me on several 
 occasions when it was important to give directions, 
 in detail, about the firing. 
 
 " Of the crew I can scarcely say too much. They 
 
 were most of them persons who had never been in 
 action, and yet I cannot hear of a case where any 
 one attempted to leave his quarters, or showed any- 
 thing but the sternest determination to fight it 
 out. 
 
 " There might, perhaps, have been a little excuse 
 had such a disposition been exhibited, when it is 
 considered that a great part of four guns' crews 
 were at different times swept away almost entirely 
 by as many shells. 
 
 " In every case, however, the killed and wounded 
 were quietly removed ; the injury at the guns made 
 good, and in a few moments, except from the traces 
 of blood, nothing could lead one to suppose that 
 anything out of the ordinary routine had happened. 
 
 " In conclusion, I request that you recommend to 
 
 the Hon. Secretary ot the Navy, for the medal of 
 
 honor, the men whose names accompany this in a 
 
 separate j-eport. They well deserve the distinction. 
 
 " P. Drayton, Captain.'''' 
 
 Report of Lieutenant Herbert B. Tyson, 
 commanding 1st Division, on board U. S. S. 
 "Hartford": 
 
 "Sir — I respectfully submit the following report 
 of the conduct of the officers and men in the first 
 division during the engagement of yesterday : 
 
 "Acting-Ensign W. H. Whiting, in charge of the 
 forecastle guns, deserves special mention for his 
 gallantry in serving and working both 100-pounder 
 rifles under the most trying circumstances. 
 
 "The three captains of guns, Henry Clark, Peter 
 W. Stanley, and W. H. Wright, displayed an amount 
 of courage and coolness which I have rarely seen 
 equalled. 
 
 "But the two men of whom I wish particularly 
 to speak are Charles Melville and Thomas Fitz- 
 patrick. 
 
 " A rifle-shell burst between the two forward 
 9-inch guns, killing and wounding fifteen men. 
 Charles Melville was among the wounded, and was 
 taken down with the rest to the surgeon, but came 
 on deck almost immediately, and although scarcely 
 able to stand, refused to go below, and worked at 
 the gun during the remainder of the action. 
 
 "Thomas Fitzpatrick, captain of No. 1 gun, was 
 struck several times in the face by splinters, and 
 had his gun disabled by a shell. In a few minutes 
 he had his g^in in working order again, with new 
 truck, breeching, side-tackle, etc., his wounded be- 
 low, the dead clear, and was fighting his gun as be- 
 fore, setting a splendid example to the remainder 
 of his crew. His conduct came particularly under 
 my notice and during the entire action was distin- 
 guished for coolness and bravery. 
 
 " The 1st Division had 13 killed and 10 wounded." 
 
 From report of Acting - Volunteer Lieu- 
 tenant George Mundy, commanding 3d 
 Division U. S. S. " Hartford": 
 
 " Sir— I respectfully submit the ■following report 
 of the conduct of the 2d Division during the em- 
 gagement of yesterday, the 5th, with Fort Mor- 
 gan and the rebel gun-boats and ram ' Ten- 
 nessee : ' 
 
 "But a few moments elapsed after the drum 
 beat to quarters before every man was at his 
 station, the guns cast loose and ready for action. 
 Every man seemed determined to do his duty, 
 which he did faithfully ; not a man shrinking. 
 Where all did their duty so well, it is hard to dis- 
 criminate ; still it gives me pleasure to mention a 
 few who were the most conspicuous. 
 
 "Acting -Master's Mate W. H. Childs displayed 
 great courage in assisting me in the Division." 
 
 The following men were also honorably men- 
 tioned : Charles Lake, Coxwain ; Joseph Perry, 
 Quartermaster ; James Smith, Captain mizzen-top ; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 581 
 
 James Bennet, seaman ; Owen Holland, 2d Captain 
 mizzen-top; Samuel McFall, Captain after-guard; 
 Beonth. Diggings, O. 8. ; Augustus Pauly, seaman ; 
 Charles Davidson, Captain forecastle; Henry 
 Wright, O. S.; Robert Emerson, Lds.; David Mor- 
 row, Quarter-gunner. 
 
 From Report of Lieutenant LaRue P. 
 Adams, commanding 3d Division, U. S. S. 
 "Hartford": 
 
 " Sir — I have the honor to submit the following 
 report of the conduct of the oflBcers and men of 
 the Third Division during the engagement of yes- 
 terday with. Port Morgan, the rebel gun-boats and 
 the ram : 
 
 "When the drum beat to quarters, every man was 
 at his station instantly and the guns cleared for ac- 
 tion. We -were unable to bring our guns to bear 
 until nearly abreast of the fort. We then fired 
 with 10-second shell and 40^ elevation. 
 
 " The fire was kept up with great rapidity, using 
 5second shell and decreasing the elevation as we 
 neared the fort. When abreast of it, two rounds 
 of shrapnel, cut for 2-seconds, were fired by us. 
 
 "As we passed ahead of the 'Brooklyn,' two 
 shells struck No. 7 gun, disabling the crew; but one 
 man escaped uninsured on the right side of that 
 gun. Another shell followed in a few seconds, 
 wounding the captain of No. 7, three men at No. 8, 
 and myself. Four men were killed and nine 
 wounded in all, and by those three shells. * * * 
 Acting-Master's Mate J. J. Tinelli I cannot fail to 
 mention. He behaved with great gallantry, en- 
 couraging the men by his example, and served the 
 guns of the division with great spirit against the 
 rebel gun-boats and ram after I was sent below." 
 
 Men honorably mentioned : Forbes, Ingersoll 
 and Pinto, Gun-Captains; WilUam E. Stanley, Shell- 
 man. 
 
 From Report of Ensign George B. Glid- 
 den, commanding Master's Division, U. S. 
 S. "Hartford": 
 
 "Sir— I have the honor to submit to you a re- 
 port of the conduct of the ofHoers and men of the 
 Master's Division during the engagement yesterday 
 with Port Morgan, the rebel gun -boats and the ram 
 'Tennessee.' I have great pleasure in mentioning 
 Acting- Master's Mate Gr. R. Avery, who assisted in 
 conning the ship during the entire action, for the 
 great coolness he displayed in his — a responsible 
 — position." 
 
 Men honorably mentioned : John McFarland, 
 Captain forecastle ; James Wood, Quartermaster ; 
 Joseph Cassier, Seaman; James Reddington, lands- 
 man ; Henry Williams, Boatswain's Mate. 
 
 From Report of Ensign Wm. Starr Dana, 
 in charge of Povs^der Division, U. S. S. 
 "Hartford": 
 
 " Sir : I submit the following report of the con- 
 duct of the officers and men of the powder division 
 during the engagement of the 5th : 
 
 " Acting - Ensign Bogart exhibited much cool- 
 ness and presence of mind. Acting-Master's Mate 
 R. P. Herrick deserves especial mention, for until 
 seriously wounded he performed his duties with 
 great coolness and spirit. Acting-Ensign W. H. 
 Higinbotham also deserves special mention for his 
 coolness and bravery. He performed his duties in 
 most exemplary manner until he received his death- 
 wound. 
 
 "The few men I had on deck passing powder acted 
 with great coolness, and at no time were there any 
 signs of shrinking or fear. Nelson (ship's cook) John 
 Wallington (landsman), and Mellage (paymaster's 
 
 "Seven of the forward part of the division were 
 wounded and three of them killed ; most of the 
 wounds were mortal. 
 
 " In addition to the above, I would call attention 
 to the conduct of Saihnaker T. C. Herbert, whose 
 conduct and cool courage is spoken of as most re- 
 markable. 
 
 " P. Drayton, Captain^ 
 
 From Report of Chief-Engineer Thomas 
 Williamson, U. S. S. "Hartford" : 
 
 "Sir — The conduct of the officers and men belong- 
 ing to the engineer's department was characterized 
 by coolness and energy during the engagement of 
 yesterday. 
 
 "Their duties were performed as if nothing ex- 
 traordinary was going on. 
 
 " Acting-Third- Assistant Engineer Wm. G. Mc- 
 Ewan deserves special mention for the prompt and 
 efficient manner in which he attended to getting the 
 wounded below, near his station at the berth-deck 
 hose, and he continued to do so until near the close 
 of the action, when he lost his right arm. * * * * 
 The loss in the engineer's department was three 
 men killed and three men wounded." 
 
 Men honorably mentioned : Thomas Walkley, 
 first-class fireman ; James R. Garrison, coal-heaver ; 
 Thomas O'Connell - 
 
 1 I 
 
 CAPTAIN (NOW EEAR-ADMIRAL) THORNTON A. JENKINS. 
 
 Report of Captain Thornton A. Jenkins, 
 commanding U. S. S. "Richmond": 
 
 " Sir — I have the honor and very great pleasure 
 to report, that in the action this forenoon with the 
 batteries at Port Morgan and the rebel ram ' ' Ten- 
 nessee," this ship has received no serious damage, 
 and there were no persons killed. Two men were 
 wounded, but not seriously, and the ship struck a 
 number of times in the hull and rigging." 
 
 Reports of Captain J. B. Marchand, com- 
 manding U. S. S. "Lackawanna": 
 
 "Sir — I have the honor to report that, about 
 sunrise to-day, this ship was gotten underway, and 
 the " Seminole" lashed on the port side. Our posi- 
 tion being in the centre of the line of battle, we 
 crossed the bar, and following close on the leading 
 vessels, stood up the channel; and as soon as our 
 guns could be brought to bear, a fire was opened 
 on Port Morgan with shells, and continued until 
 passing it, when the "Seminole " was cast off. 
 
 "Soon after the fleet had passed the Middle 
 rj-Tr»nTirI tha TAhpl iron-clfld ' Tpnnesspe ' commenced 
 
583 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 approaching with the design of attacking our ves- 
 sels, and, in obedience to your signal, I started under 
 the heaviest headway to run her down, and siic- 
 ceeded in strilcing her at right-angles at the after- 
 end of the casemate. 
 
 " The concussion was great, but the effect on her 
 was only a heavy list, while our stem was cut and 
 crushed to the plank ends for a distance of three 
 leet above the water's edge to five feet below, and 
 causing a considerable leak in the forward store- 
 room and peak. 
 
 " Fortunately our yards and top-masts were 
 down, otherwise they in all probability would have 
 been carried away by the concussion, which caused 
 the ship to rebound and the stern of the ' Ten- 
 nessee' to recede. Some panic must have existed 
 on board the enemy, as they fired but two guns 
 through our bows. 
 
 "After striking, the two swung head and stern 
 •alongside of each other, and, as our guns had been 
 pivoted for the opposite side, we succeeded in dis- 
 charging but one 9-inch shell, that struck one of 
 the enemy's port shutters, which was distant about 
 twelve feet, destroying it, and driving some of the 
 iragments into her casemate. 
 
 "A few of the enemy were seen through their 
 ports, who were using niost opprobrious lan- 
 guage. 
 
 "Our marines opened upon them with muskets; 
 even a spittoon and a holy-stone were thrown at them 
 from our deck, which drove them away. Upon separ- 
 ating from the 'Tennessee,' our helm was put hard 
 over to make another attempt at running the enemy 
 down ; but our great length, and the shallowness of 
 the water, caused us to turn so slowly, that we 
 had not got round until again amongst our fleet, 
 and, unfortunately, we collided with the flag-ship, 
 which was running towards the 'Tennessee,' al- 
 though every exertion was used to prevent it by 
 backing. 
 
 "By this accident two of the quarter-deck ports 
 of the 'Hartford' were knocked into one, without 
 this ship sustaining any injury. 
 
 "After the collision with the flag-ship, I again 
 started to run down the 'Tennessee,' but, whilst 
 still at a distance, she surrendered to our fleet. 
 
 "Our loss throughout the day was 4 killed and 35 
 wounded. 
 
 "Herewith I send the reports of the surgeon, 
 engineer, and board of pflSeers, on the injuries and 
 expenditures. 
 
 "Under no circumstances could more coolness 
 and bravery have been shown by the crew. 
 
 "I cannot express my deep feehng for the un- 
 daunted courage and aid given me by all the offi- 
 cers. 
 
 " Second- Lieutenant Hiram Adams of the Army 
 Signal Corps, with two assistants, were on board, 
 and great credit is due them for their promptness 
 in transmitting signals. 
 
 " Very respectfully," &e. 
 
 " Sib — In the report made of the part taken by the 
 'Lackawanna' in passing the forts and entering 
 Mobile Bay on the 5th instant, I inadvertently 
 omitted to state that Connnander Edward Donald- 
 son, counnanding the 'Seminole,' which was lashed 
 alongside of this ship, rendered most efficient service 
 by his coolness and judgment in piloting both ves- 
 sels until passing Fort Morgan, the regular pilot 
 being sick. 
 
 " My additional thanks are due him and all his 
 officers and men for volunteering to aid in manning 
 the guns of the 'Lackawanna,' and the continuous 
 flre which they kept up whilst their guns could bear 
 upon the enemy. 
 
 "Very respectfully," &c., 
 
 "J. B. Ma."rchaj<^d, Captain.'^ 
 
 From Reports of Captain James Alden, 
 commanding U. S. S. "Brooklyn": 
 
 " The fleet here came to near the former an- 
 chorage. 
 
 "The surgeon's list of killed and wounded, to- 
 gether with the forward officer's report of injuries 
 done to the ship by the enemy's shot, and the num- 
 ber of projectiles expended, etc., are herewith en- 
 closed. 
 
 "Lieutenant-Commander Lull, the executive offi- 
 cer, has, at my request, made a statement of some 
 very interesting incidents, giving a list of men who 
 most distinguished themselves during the action; 
 which I take great pleasure in forwarding, with a 
 hearty approval of it and the suggestions it con- 
 tains. 
 
 " It will be seen that we have 54 casualties on 
 board, 11 killed and 43 wounded; many of the latter, 
 I am happy to say, are slight. ' 
 
 "The list will not appear large when it is consid- 
 ered that we were nearly two hours under fire. 
 Among the others we have to regret the loss of an 
 officer, Acting-Master's Mate William H. Cook, who 
 was killed while bravely doing his duty, having al- 
 ready been wounded. 
 
 " By the carpenter's report it will be seen that 
 the hull has received extensive and serious injuries, 
 having being struck 23 times. Our mainmast is 
 ruined, having been shot through and through the 
 centre, three times between the catharpins and the 
 deck, the shot-holes being about equidistant from 
 each other. Shot struck the other spars 7 times, 
 injuring some badly. The boatswain's report shows 
 the rigging to have been struck and cut in 29 places, 
 making an aggregate of s^e 59 hits in the hull, 
 rigging and spars. 
 
 " The number of projectiles expended was 183. 
 
 " In conclusion, I must beg leave to state that, as 
 far as I can learn, every one did his duty nobly and 
 well ; and while the officers, generally, would seem 
 to deserve some especial mention, I must, from the 
 nature of circumstances, confine my notice to those 
 on whom devolved the more important duty of eon- 
 trolling and fighting the ship. 
 
 " To my executive officer, Lieutenant-Commander 
 
 E. P. Lull, my thanks are especially due, not only 
 for his cool, steady bearing in the fight, but also 
 for the efficient training of the crew, which have 
 been together now less than three months, but dis- 
 played in the action the steadiness of veterans, 
 fighting their guns almost as coolly as if they were 
 at an ordinary exercise. Lieutenant Thomas L. 
 Swann, the ordnance officer, had everything ready, 
 and the working of his department was admirable ; 
 he was principally occupied during the action with 
 the bowchasers. The other division officers— Cap- 
 tain Houston, of the marines, Lieutenant Charles 
 
 F. Blake, Ensigns Cassell and Sigsbee, with their 
 assistants, Masters-Mates Duncan and Stevens, 
 fought their guns nobly and well. 
 
 "The powderdivision, under Acting-Ensign Utter, 
 could not have been conducted better. 
 
 " Chief-Engineer Kellogg's department worked 
 beautifully. 
 
 "Doctor Maulsby was fully prepared for the 
 wounded, and extended to those unfortunates all 
 the solicitude and care that a generous nature could 
 dictate. 
 
 "Ensign Pendleton, my aide and signal officer, af- 
 forded me great assistance, being always prompt 
 and active in his duties. 
 
 "To our pilot, Mr. Christopher Lawrence, great 
 credit is due for the handsome manner he piloted 
 the ship. 
 
 "1 ought to mention, before closing this report, 
 that I was particularly pleased with the cheerful 
 bearing and aid afforded me by Capt. E. A. Denicke, 
 of the x\rniy Signal Corps, in watching and ix)int- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 583 
 
 jng oiit the effect of oup shot In the batteries and 
 upon the rebel ram and gun-boats. 
 
 " In accordance with your directions, I also send 
 a separate report in regard to those men who were 
 most conspicuous for good conduct and gallantry in 
 the action. It is taken mostly from the report of 
 Lieutenant-Commander Lull, the executive officer. 
 
 " Congratulating you upon the handsome result 
 of the day, I remain, etc., 
 
 "James Alden." 
 
 James E. Sterling, Coalheaver ; Richard Dennis 
 
 Boatswain's Mate ; Samuel W. Davis, , 
 
 Samuel Todd, Quartermaster." 
 
 " Sib — In accordance with your instructions, I 
 herewith append a list of the crew who most dis- 
 tinguished themselves for gallantry and good con- 
 duct during the action with Fort Morgan and the 
 rebel ram and gun-boats. Feeling satisfied that 
 
 Extract from report of Commander J. H. 
 Strong, commanding U. S. S. " Mononga- 
 
 hela ": 
 
 ******* 
 
 " After passing the forts, I saw the rebel ram 
 ' Tennessee ' head in for the line. I then sheered 
 out of the line to run into her, at the same time 
 ordering full speed. I struck her fair, and swing- 
 ing round poured in a broadside of solid 11-inch 
 shot, which apparently had but little, if any, elfect 
 upon her. Soon after, signal was made to my ship 
 
 CAPTAIN (AFTERWARDS EEAR-ADMIEAL) JAMES ALDEN. TT. S. N 
 
 they have earned that justly-prized distinction, the 
 "medal of honor," I trust the Department will con- 
 fer it upon them: 
 
 " J. Henry Dennig and Michael Hudson, Ser- 
 geants of Marines; Wm. M. Smith and Miles M. 
 Oviatt, Corporals of Marines; Barnett Kenna, Quar- 
 termaster; Wm. Halsted, Coxswain; Joseph Brown, 
 Quartermaster; Joseph Irlane, Seaman; Edward 
 Price, Coxswain; Alexander Mack, Captain-of-Top; 
 William Nichols, Quartermaster; Nicholas Irwin, 
 Seaman; John Cooper, Coxswain ; John Brown, 
 Captain - of - Forecastle ; John Irwin, Coxswain; 
 William Blagden, Ship's Cook; William Madden, 
 ■Coalheaver ; James Machon, boy ; William H. 
 JBrown. Lds. \ .Tames Mifflin. Enarineer's Cook : 
 
 to again run into her. I did so, and was about to 
 try it the third time when phe surrendered to the 
 fleet. 
 
 "During the action my officers and men, without 
 exception, behaved in the most gallant manner. 
 It would be impossible to make any distinction 
 where all did everything that could have been de- 
 sired. 
 
 " I would here mention that a volunteer crew from 
 the U. S. steamer 'Kennebec,' in charge of Acting- 
 Ensign Ellis, came on board, and manned one of my 
 33-pounder broadside guns during the engagement 
 with Fort Morgan. Their conduct during the ac- 
 tion was gallant, and met with my entire approba- 
 tion. 
 
584 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "I regret to say that my first-lieutenant, Mr. 
 Prentiss, lost a leg in the action, and that fears are 
 entertained tor his life." * * * 
 
 Reports of Commander William E. LeRoy, 
 commanding U. S. S. "Ossipee": 
 
 " Admiral — I have the honor to report, that in 
 passing the forts, and in the attack upon the iron- 
 clad ' Tennessee,' this shij) was struck four times in 
 the hull and several times in the rigging, fortunate! y 
 •without disabling the ship. Our stem is somewhat 
 injured by running against the 'Tennessee.' Our 
 casualties I am pleased to report as small. When 
 about running down the 'Tennessee,' she displayed 
 a white flag, but not in time to prevent my colliding 
 with her, having been so disabled by the fire of the 
 fleet and unable longer to continue the contest, and 
 I was fortunate in receiving her surrender from 
 Commander Johnston, her commander — Admiral 
 Buchanan being wounded — a prize to the fleet un- 
 der your command." 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) J. W. A NICHOLSON. 
 
 " Admiral — In my report of the part this ship 
 took in the passage of Fort Morgan yesterday, I 
 neglected to allude to the efficient manner in 
 which Lieutenant-Commander Cxeo. Brown, with the 
 ' Itasca ' lashed alongside of me, performed his duty 
 of piloting both vessels, etc." 
 
 From report of Commander T. H. Stevens, 
 
 commanding U. S. Monitor "Winnebago" : 
 
 ******* 
 
 " At half-past 8 passed Fort Morgan and steamed 
 slowly up the bay. At 10 minutes past 9 the after- 
 turret broke down. At 15 minutes past 9, received 
 order from flag-ship to attack the rebel ram ' Ten- 
 nessee,' which surrendered at 45 minutes past 9. 
 Anchored with the fleet at 45 minutes past 10 in 
 the lower fleet anchorage of Mobile Bay. 
 
 " Enclosed please receive engineer's report of the 
 condition of the turrets, and the gunner's account 
 of ammunition expended. 
 
 "The 'Winnebago' was struck 19 times, three 
 of the shot having penetrated the deck near the 
 after-turret. 
 
 " I have to rejjort no casualties. The officers and 
 
 men conducted themselves well; and to Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant W. T. Shankland, First-As- 
 Bistant-Engineer John Purdy, who volunteered for 
 this vessel, and the pUot, Wm. H. Wroten, I am in- 
 debted for valuable assistance." 
 
 Reports of Commander J. W. A. Nichol- 
 son, commanding U. S. S. "Manhattan": 
 
 " Sir— I have the honor to make the following 
 report of the part taken by this ship in the action 
 of the 5th instant with Fort Morgan and the rebel 
 iron-clad 'Tennessee': 
 
 " At 5 minutes past 7 A. M. I opened on the fort, 
 but, owing to the dense smoke from the guns, our 
 firing was necessarily very slow. 
 
 "After passing Fort Morgan, I devoted my atten- 
 tion entirely to the rebel iron-clad, firing my guns 
 slowly and with great precision. 
 
 "At 45 minutes past 9 I obtained a raking 
 position under his stern, and fired a solid shot, 
 which struck him on the port-quarter, carrying 
 away his steering gear. 
 
 " At 57 minutes past 9, when on the point of firing 
 from the same position, he hauled down his colors 
 and surrendered. 
 
 " I fired at the ' Tennessee ' six times, namely, one 
 shell, two solid and three cored shot. I am satis- 
 fied that most, if not all, the serious damage she 
 has sustained was caused by the 15-inch shot of thia 
 
 "This ship was struck by the enemy's shot nine 
 times, causing no material damage ; but of this I 
 will make a separate report. 
 
 "No person was injured onboard. Offlcers and 
 men all did their duty ; but I especially recommend 
 Acting-Ensign John B. Trott, who was stationedat 
 the wheel steering the ship himself, for the admi- 
 rable manner in which he performed his duty. Also 
 Acting-Master Robert B. Ely, for the manner in 
 which he worked his guns. Both of these gentle- 
 men, I think, are worthy of being advanced a grade 
 in the service. 
 
 " One of the 15-inch carriages is temporarily dis- 
 abled by the breaking of some bolts." 
 
 " Sir— Of the six 15-inch projectiles fired from this 
 vessel at the rebel iron-clad ' Tennessee,' I claim 
 four as having struck, doing most of the real in- 
 juries that she has sustained, namely, first, one 
 shot on port -beam, going entirely through the ar- 
 mor and crushing the wood backing, making a hole 
 completely through the vessel ; second, one shot 
 near the first, but higher up, and further forward, 
 making a deep indentation, and then glancing over 
 the ship ; third, a shell striking her stern port- 
 shutter, disabling it, so that the gun could not 
 be used ; fourth, a shot striking her stern, ripping 
 up the deck-plating, carrying away her steering 
 gear, and then striking her armor at the angle of 
 the port quarter, crushing it, and starting the wood 
 backing through to the inside." 
 
 From report of Lieutenant-Commander C^ 
 H. Wells, commanding U. S. S. "Galena ": 
 
 •'Sir— I herewith report to you the part which 
 this steamer took in passing Forts Morgan and 
 Gaines yesterday : 
 
 " I take pleasure in bringing to your notice the 
 executive officer of this vessel. Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant C. W. Wilson, who faithfully carried 
 out my orders in passing Fort Morgan, as well as 
 in the exhibition of coolness and bravery. 
 
 " Acting - Master D. C. Kells, Acting - Ensigns 
 Pease and Miner, and Acting-Master's Mates Tuttle 
 and Delano, I would also recommend to your fa- 
 vorable notice for their good conduct under the Are 
 of the enemy. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 585 
 
 Mr. Buehler, First-Assistant Engineer and Acting- 
 Chief, managed the engineer's department in a 
 highly creditable manner, in which he was sus- 
 tained by the Assistant-Engineers Greenleaf, Scott, 
 Bums and Weecker. 
 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster Kitchen, and Lesley 
 G. Morrow, Captain's Clerk, remained on deck dur- 
 ing the action, and contributed their parts to my 
 entire satisfaction. Acting - Assistant Surgeon 
 Greorge P. Wright not only attended to our three 
 cases of wounded (one mortally), but gave his pro- 
 fessional services to the ' Oneida, ' to several of their 
 wounded who came on board this steamer. 
 
 "The crew manifested the utmost courage 
 throughout the afifair, which will always reflect 
 creditably upon you and the Navy of the United 
 States." 
 
 From report of Lieutenant - Commander 
 James E. Jouett, commanding U. S. S. 
 "Metacomet": 
 
 "At 40 minutes past 7 the ' Brooklyn ' backed down 
 the line, when the ' Hartford ' shot ahead, leading 
 the fleet in past the forts. At this time a shell from 
 the rebel gun-boat 'Selma' passed through this 
 vessel into the forward storeroom, killing one man 
 and wounding another, and setting the ship on fire. 
 By prompt action on the part of Acting - Ensign 
 G. E. Wing, in charge of powder division, we suc- 
 ceeded in extinguishing it. 
 
 "At 5 minutes past 8 cast off from the 'Hart- 
 ford' and steamed for the rebel gun-boats, who 
 were annoying the fleet by a raking flre. They 
 steamed up the bay, engaging us with their stern 
 guns, of which they had three each. At half -past 
 8 the 'Gaines' retreated under cover of the fort 
 in a crippled condition. At 9 the ' Morgan ' hauled 
 off to starboard, and at 10 minutes past 9 the 
 ' Selma ' struck her flag to this ship. 
 
 " I immediately dispatched a boat, in charge of 
 Acting-Master N. M. Dyer, to take charge of the 
 prize, and to send her Captain and First-Lieutenant 
 on board. He hoisted the American flag, and re- 
 ported Captain Murphy wounded and the First- 
 Lieutenant killed. 
 
 " He transferred fifty of her crew to this vessel, and 
 at 50 minutes past 9, Captain P. U. Murphy came 
 on board and surrendered his sword and vessel. 
 
 " She had five killed and ten wounded, including 
 the Captain, twoof whom have since died. The dead 
 and wounded were attended to. The remainder 
 of her crew and officers were sent to the ' Port 
 Royal.' Put engineers and firemen on board and 
 steamed to the fleet, reporting the capture of the 
 Confederate steamer ' Selma,' which vessel mounted 
 two 9-inch Dahlgren smooth-bore, one 6J-inch rifle 
 and one 8J-inoh smooth-bore, all on pivot, with a 
 crew, all told, of 94 men. 
 
 "I am much indebted to the executive officer, 
 H. J. Sleeper, for his cool, prompt, and ofHcer-like 
 conduct; he is a valuable officer. For the efficient 
 handling of the vessel, I am much indebted to Act- 
 ing-Master N. M. Dyer, who had permission to go 
 North on leave, but volunteered to remain to assist 
 in the attack upon the forts. Acting-Ensign John 
 White was cool and deliberate, working his rifle- 
 gun with good effect. Acting- Master's Mates Good- 
 win and Miller performed their duties with prompt- 
 ness and zeal, making good shots with their 9-inch 
 guns. Acting-Third- Assistant Engineer King, who 
 was much exposed at the engine-bell, never failed 
 to pull the proper bell; and to the efiBcient arrange- 
 ment of the engineer department and the prompt 
 answer to the bells, I am indebted to First-Assist- 
 ant Engineer Atkins. The gunner, Mr. Lanien, at- 
 tended in both shell-rooms and magazines, forward 
 and aft, and kept the guns more than supplied. _ 
 
 "T ^^3.11110+. /».ln«A ibis Inno" rf,nort, Tvithont callinp- 
 
 your attention to Assistant-Surgeon Payne, of this 
 vessel. By his report we bad one killed and two 
 wounded. That evening there were placed on 
 board this vessel some sixty badly wounded officers 
 and men, to be conveyed to Pensacola. He was 
 untiring in his attention, watching and tending 
 them at all times. He deserves especial mention 
 for his great and successful exertions. 
 
 "This ship was struck eleven times, doing but 
 little damage ; shots mostly above the hull. 
 
 " I herewith submit the reports of the executive 
 officer and surgeon." 
 
 Report of Lieutenant-Commander Ban- 
 croft Gherardi, commanding U. S. S. " Port 
 Eoyal ": 
 
 "Sir — I have the honor to inform you that on 
 the morning of the 5th instant I took my position 
 on the port side of the U. S. steamer ' Richmond, ' 
 as her consort. I was able to open flre but twice — 
 once as the rebel iron-clad ' Tennessee ' passed down 
 j.i,„ ij„„ . j-jjg second time as we kept away on a 
 
 the line ; 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER {NOW COMMODORE) BANCROFT 
 &HERARDI. 
 
 northwest course, I was able to bring the 10-inch 
 pivot-gun to bear on Fort Morgan, and the rifled 
 guns to bear on Fort Gaines." 
 
 Report of Lieutenant-Commander C. H. 
 Greene, commanding U. S. S. "Octorara" : 
 
 "Sir — I have the honor to forward to you the 
 various reports of damages and casualties on board. 
 
 " I bear cheerful testimony to the good conduct 
 of officers and men ; part of the latter volunteered 
 to work one of the ' Brooklyn's' guns, and although I 
 have not yet heard of them from Captain Alden, I 
 have every reason to believe they bore their part 
 well. 
 
 "To Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Urann, execu- 
 tive officer, I am much indebted for his zeal and 
 efforts in having the ship ready to go under flre. 
 
 "Acting-Master Billings, a volunteer from the 
 'Vincennes," kept his post faithfully, and though 
 nnite severelv hurt, still remained. 
 
586 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "To Acting-Master Young, Acting-Ensigns Dodge 
 and McEntee, my thanks are due for their steadi- 
 ness and promptness at their quarters. 
 
 "The engineer department, under the charge of 
 Mr. Shipman, Acting-Chief-Engineer, was well at- 
 tended to, and his subordinates' conduct met my 
 approbation. 
 
 "To Assistant-Surgeon Dodge and Paymaster 
 Pynchon, and, in fact, all, I tender my hearty 
 thanks." 
 
 From Report of Lieutenant - Commander 
 William P. McCann, commanding U. S. S. 
 " Kennebec": 
 
 "The officers and crew of the 'Kennebec' per- 
 formed their duties gallantly under the enemy's fire. 
 
 "When lashed alongside the ' Monongahela' I 
 sent Acting-Ensign J. D. Ellis, in charge of a gun's 
 crew, to work a gun there, under the observation 
 of Captain Strong, where he acted nobly. 
 
 " I beg leave to call your attention to the good 
 conduct of Acting-Ensign H. E. Tinkham, who, 
 when seriously wounded by the explosion of a shell 
 from the rebel ram ' Tennessee, ' and when the vessel 
 was supposed to be on fire, refused to leave his sta- 
 tion. It affords me pleasui-e to bring to your fav- 
 orable notice Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant Edward 
 Baker, the executive officer, Acting-Ensign J. J. 
 Butler and Second- Assistant Engineer L. W. Rob- 
 inson. 
 
 "Acting- Assistant Surgeon George W. Hatch 
 rendered the most prompt assistance to the 
 wounded. The crew fully sustained the proud 
 reputation of the American sailor for courage and 
 bravery." 
 
 Prom Report of Lieutenant-Commander 
 George Brown, commanding U. S. S. "It- 
 asca " : 
 
 ****** 
 
 " After passing Port Morgan, least off from the 
 ' Ossipee,' and started under sail and a full head of 
 steam in pursuit of the rebel gun-boats ' Morgan ' 
 and ' Selma,' that were being engaged by the ' Meta- 
 comet ' ; but before I came within range the 
 ' Morgan ' had succeeded in getting in such a posi- 
 tion that I could not cutoff her retreat toward Fort 
 Morgan, and the ' Selma ' had struck her flag to the 
 ' Metacomet.' 
 
 "I take pleasure in testifying to the spirited 
 willingness and desire manifested by all under my 
 command to take a more active part in the engage- 
 ment; but the duty assigned us prevented us from 
 using our guns in passing Fort Morgan except for 
 the purpose of increasing the density of smoke. 
 
 "I am happy to be able to report that no casual- 
 ties occurred. 
 
 " The vessel was struck once in the mainmast." 
 
 Report of Lieutenant- Commander G. H. 
 Perkins, commanding U. S. Monitor " Chick- 
 asaw " : 
 
 " Sir — I have the honor to submit the following 
 report: 
 
 " At 6 A. M., on Friday, August 5th, in obedience 
 to orders, I got underway, and took my position 
 in the rear of the ' Winnebago,' on the right of the 
 line. I passed the forts with the rest of the fleet, 
 firing as rapidly as possible. Afterwards, in obedi- 
 ence to orders, I attacked the rebel ram ' Tennes- 
 see,' following her up closely, shooting away her 
 smoke-stack, and firing solid shot at her till her flag 
 was hauled down and a white flag raised. Her 
 steering gear being shot away, I took her in tow 
 and brought her to anchor near the ' Hartford.' In 
 tlie afternoon of the same day, I got underway, and 
 
 brought a large barge, the ' Ingoniar.'out fromun- 
 der the guns of Fort Powell, exchanging several 
 shot and being struck three times. 
 
 "On the morning of the 6th, I proceeded again 
 to Fort Powell, which I found deserted and blown 
 up. I towed out another barge. In the afternoon 
 I advanced and shelled Fort Gaines. 
 
 "Too much praise cannot be given to all the 
 officers and men for their coolness and efficiency 
 under fire, and their endurance while at quarters. 
 I would mention in particular Acting- Voluntt-er- 
 Lieutenant William Hamilton, the executive officer, 
 who, when on his way home, condemned by medi- 
 cal survey, volunteered for this vessel. I owe much 
 to him, his energy, in fitting out the vessel, and for 
 his gallantry and coolness during the fight. Acting- 
 Master E. D. Percy, who also volunteered for the 
 vessel, and commanded the guns in the after-turret, 
 and Gunner J. A. McDonald, who commanded the 
 forward-turret, deserve especial mention for the 
 skill and rapidity with which they fought their 
 batteries. Chief - Boatswain's Mate Andrew Jones 
 and Master-at-Arms James Seanor, who, although 
 their time was out, volunteered for the fight from 
 the ' Vincennes,' are entitled to honorable mention. 
 
 " During the entire action the vessel was struck a 
 number of times, the smoke-stack was shot almost 
 entirely away, and one shot penetrated the deck on 
 the starboard bow. No serious injury was suffered, 
 and there were no casualties among officers or men." 
 
 From Report of Lieutenant Charles L. 
 Huntington, executive officer of the U. S. S. 
 "Oneida": 
 
 ******* 
 
 "The ram, passing astern, delivered two raking 
 fires into us, one of which disabled the 13-pdr. how- 
 itzer on the poop, severely wounding Commander 
 Mullany; the effect of the other one I am unable to 
 state, but think the only damage from it was to our 
 rigging. 
 
 "The command of the ship now devolved upon 
 me, and the management of the two vessels upon 
 Lieutenant-Commander Wells, of the ' Galena.' 
 
 " The battery was gallantly served while passing 
 the forts, but the enemy raked us several times 
 after our guns could not be brought to bear. 
 
 "In passing the fort we received a shell forward on 
 the berth deck, which exploded, knocking out a 
 dead-light on the port side, [and] starting a fire on 
 the top of the magazine. Owing to the presence of 
 mind of Acting-Ensign Hall, commanding the pow- 
 der division, and Gunner William Parker, the fire 
 was promptly extinguished, and the supply of pow- 
 der was as rapid as ever before. 
 
 "At 35 minutes past 8 signal was made that 
 the captain was wounded, and also that our 
 boiler was disabled; not being answered from the 
 flag ship, hauled down signals. About a quarter 
 past 9 repeated signals and they were not answered, 
 but signal was made from the flag-ship to run down 
 at full speed the enemy's principal vessel. Answered 
 the signal, but I am sure the Admiral understands 
 we could not obey it; we had no speed, 
 
 "At 10 o'clock A. M., the 'Itasca,' Lieutenant- 
 Commander Brown, took us in tow and carried us 
 to an anchorage. At 11, anchored in 3'+ fathoms of 
 water, with thirty fathoms of chain ready for slip- 
 ping. 
 
 The officers and crew of the ' Oneida ' are proud 
 to have served in your fleet, and they are proud of 
 their gallant commander, J. R. M. Mullany, who 
 gave us all such a noble example of unflinching 
 courage and heroism. 
 
 " His coolness in action could not possibly have, 
 been surpassed. Having scarcely become ac- 
 quainted with Commander Mullany, he having only 
 been on board two days, the highest compliment 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 587 
 
 that can be paid him is the confidence and spirit 
 with which the crew went into action. 
 
 " Too much praise cannot be awarded to Lieu- 
 tenant C. S. Cotton, Lieutenant E. N. Kellogg and 
 Acting-Ensign John Sears, commanding gun divis- 
 ions, for the admirable examples of courage they 
 afforded their men, and for their skill in directing 
 the fire of the guns. 
 
 " The conduct of Acting-Ensign Charles V. Grid- 
 ley (regular) is beyond all praise. He had charge 
 of the Master's division, and assisted in conning 
 the ship from the top gallant forecastle. 
 
 "Acting-Ensign Hall's conduct has been pre- 
 viously mentioned. His duties were performed in 
 the most satisfactory manner, and, under Almighty 
 God, we probably owe to his presence of mind at 
 the time of the fire on the berth-deck the safety of 
 the ship. 
 
 " Acting-Master's Mates Edward Bird, Daniel 
 Clark, and John Devereaux behaved courageously. 
 
 COMMANDEE (AI'TEEWABDS REAE-ADMIEAX) J. H. MADISON 
 MDLLANY. 
 
 Gunner Wm. Parker and Boatswain Hallowell 
 Dickinson merit mention for their good conduct. 
 
 "I leave it to Chief -Engineer W. H. Hunt to 
 speak of the officers and men under his immediate 
 supervision, but must speak of him personally in 
 this report. He was cool and collected during the 
 whole affair, and his gallantry was particularly ap- 
 parent at the time of the accident to our starboard 
 boiler. Mr. Hunt was scalded severely in both 
 arms. 
 
 '■ Surgeon John Y. Taylor had a severe task im- 
 posed upon him, but his whole duty by the wounded 
 wa? done quietly and skillfully. Medical assistance 
 "was offered from the ' Galena '; it was accepted, and 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon Geo. P. Wright came on 
 board, for which we owe him our thanks. At the 
 time that our boiler was exploded, five of our 
 wounded men went on board the 'Galena' ; four 
 subsequently returned — the other was suffering 
 much pain, and remained on board until transferred 
 to the 'Metacomet.' 
 
 " The safety of the ship after the explosion de- 
 pended upon the ' Galena. ' That we are here, 
 quietly at anchor, attests how nobly Lieutenant- 
 
 " AssislKint - Paymaster Geo. R. Martin assisted 
 the surgeon materially. He also superintended 
 putting out a fire that broke out in the cabin. 
 
 "Paymaster's Clerk W. P. Treadwell rendered 
 great service in passing orders to the bell, until he 
 was required below to assist in caring for the 
 wounded. He was quite badly scalded himself. 
 Mr. Geo. A. Ebbetts, Captain's Clerk, behaved 
 splendidly. He was knocked down at the same time 
 that Captain MuUany was wounded. Whenever he 
 could be spared from below, after this accident, he 
 cheerfully rendered assistance in carrying ordei-s. 
 
 "The pilot, Mr. John V. Grivet, served part of 
 the time on board the ' Galena,' and part of the tijne 
 on this ship. That part of his conduct which came 
 under my observation merits praise. 
 
 " For the crew, they stood to their guns most 
 nobly. Many deserve mention, but I shall only 
 name those that came under my own observation." 
 
 The following men are then honorably 
 mentioned by Lieutenant Huntington: 
 
 "James Sheridan and John E. Jones, Quarter- 
 masters ; William Gardner, Seaman; John Preston, 
 Landsman; William Newland, Ordinary Seaman ; 
 David Nailor, Landsman; Charles Wooram, Ordi- 
 nary Seaman; Thomas Kendrick, Coxswain. 
 
 " The marines conducted themselves with the 
 usual distinguished gallantry of their corps. Ser- 
 geant James S, Roantree is particularly deserving 
 of notice." 
 
 Additional Reports of Captain T. A. Jen- 
 kins, commanding U. S. S. "Richmond": 
 
 "Sib — I have the honor to report that in obedi- 
 ence to your general order and plan of battle for 
 attacking Fort Morgan and the rebel fleet, Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Bancroft Gherardi, command- 
 ing the United States Steamer "Port Royal," re- 
 ported himself with his vessel to me ready for action 
 a little before daylight this morning. 
 
 " The ' Port Royal ' was lashed on the port side 
 of this vessel, with her stern pivot-gun sufBciently 
 far aft of the quarter of this ship to enable it to be 
 used against the enemy as effectively as one of my 
 own broadside guns. 
 
 " To Lieutenant - Commander Gherardi I am 
 greatly indebted for his cool and courageous con- 
 duct, from the moment the attack commenced to 
 the time that his vessel was cast off by my order to 
 go in chase of the enemy's three wooden gun-boats, 
 the ' Morgan,' ' Gaines ' and ' Selma.' 
 
 "My orders on board of this ship to the helms- 
 man, and to the officer stationed at the engine-bell, 
 were repeated by him on board of his own vessel, 
 and the soundings pas.sed from his own vessel to 
 this with a coolness and clearness of voice that 
 could not but excite my admiration. 
 
 " The after pivot-gun of the ' Port Royal ' (the 
 only one that could be brought to bear upon the 
 enemy's batteries from that vessel) was worked 
 most effectively." 
 
 "Sir — In my report of the 5th instant I ex- 
 pressed my great admiration of and thanks for the 
 cool and courageous conduct of every officer and of 
 every man serving on board of this ship in the terri- 
 ble conflict with the rebel batteries at Fort Morgan, 
 the iron-clad ' Tennessee,' and gun-boats ' Selma,' 
 ' Morgan ' and ' Gaines,' on the morning of that 
 day. 
 
 "I consider it, however, but an act of plain and sim- 
 ple duty on my part to go further now, and respect- 
 fully invite your attention, and that of the Depart- 
 ment through you. to the highly meritorious con- 
 duct of the under-mentioned petty-officers and sea- 
 men on board of this ship, who exhibited on that 
 iiifiinorable occasion, and in conflict with the rebels 
 
588 
 
 THE XAVAL HISTORY 
 
 previously, a will and determination and set an ex- 
 ample to their shipmates and messmates worthy, 
 in my opinion, of the highest commendation." 
 
 The following are then honorably men- 
 tioned : 
 
 " Wm. Densmore, Chief Boatswain's Mate; Adam 
 Duncan and Charles Deakin, Boatswain's Mates; 
 Cornelius Cronin, Chief Quartermaster ; Wilham 
 AVells, Quartermaster; Henry Sharp, Seaman; 
 Walter B. Smith, Ordinary Seaman; George Parlis, 
 Captain of Forecastle; Thomas Hayes, Lebeus Sim- 
 kins, Oloff Smith and Alex. H. Truett, Coxswains; 
 Robert Brown and John H. James, Captains of 
 Top; Thomas Cripps and John Brazell, Quarter- 
 masters ; James H. Morgan and John Smith, Cap- 
 tains of Top; James B. Chandler, Coxswain; Wil- 
 liam Jones, Captain of Top; William Doolan, Coal- 
 heaver; James Smith, Captain of Forecastle ; Hugh 
 Hamilton, Coxswain ; James Mcintosh, Captain of 
 Top ; William M. Carr, Master-at-Arms; Thomas 
 Atkinson, Yeoman ; David Sprowls, Orderly Ser- 
 geant; Andrew Miller and James Martin, Sergeants 
 of Marines." 
 
 F rom the additional Report of Captain 
 Percival Drayton, commanding '• Hart- 
 ford": 
 
 " Sir — I beg leave to call your attention to the 
 conduct of the following petty officers and others 
 of this vessel during the action of the 5th instant, 
 which, I think, entitles them to the medal of honor : 
 
 "Thomas Fitzpatrick,Coxswain; Charles Melville, 
 Ordinary Seaman- William E. Stanley, Shellman ; 
 William Pelham, Landsman; John McFarlan, Cap- 
 tain of Forecastle; James R. Garrison and Thomas 
 O'Connell, Coalheavers; Wilson Brown and John 
 Lamson, Landsmen ; George Mellage, Paymaster's 
 Steward." 
 
 From additional Reports of Captain J. B. 
 Marchand of the " Lackawanna": 
 
 " Sib — In the action of the 5thinstantthe follow- 
 ing-named petty officers, and others of inferior 
 rating, were conspicuous for their energy and 
 bravery, and deserve medals of honor; but under 
 the fourth rule of the general order of the Navy De- 
 partment, No. 10, dated April 3d, 1863, their special 
 signal acts of valor cannot be cited so as to author- 
 ize me to recommend their obtaining medals." 
 
 _ The following are then honorably men> 
 tioned : 
 
 " WilliamPhinney, Boatswain Mate ; John Smith, 
 Captain Forecastle ; Sanmel W. Kinnaird, Robert 
 Dougherty, Michael Cassidy, Landsmen." 
 
 " Sib— I respectfully bring to your attention the 
 following petty officers, etc., of this ship, who 
 evinced in the battle of the 5th instant signal acts 
 of bravery which would justly entitle them to 
 medals of honor : George Taylor, Armorer ; Lewis 
 Copat, Landsman -James Ward, Quarter-gunner; 
 Daniel Whitiield, Quartermaster ; John M. Burns, 
 Seaman ; John Edwards, Captain of Top ; Adam 
 McCullock, Seaman." 
 
 On August Gth, the Admiral returned 
 thanks in a general order to the officers 
 and men who had so ably supported him 
 during the late conflict, as follows : 
 General Order, No. 13. 
 
 U. S. Flagship " Hartford," > 
 Mobile Bay, August 6, 1864. ( 
 
 The Admiral returns thanks to the officers and 
 crews of the vessels of the fleet for their gallant 
 conduct during the fight of yesterday. 
 
 It has never been his good fortune to see men do 
 their duty with more courage and cheerfulness; for, 
 although they knew that the enemy was prepared 
 with all devilish means for our destruction, and 
 though they witnessed the almost instantaneous an- 
 nihilation of our gallant companions in the "Te- 
 cumseh " by a torpedo, and the slaughter of their 
 friends, messmates and gun-mates on our decks, 
 still there were no evidences of hesitation in fol 
 lowing their commander-in-chief through the line 
 of torpedoes and obstructions, of which we knew 
 nothing, except from the exaggerations of the en- 
 emy, who had given out that we should all be 
 blown up as certainly as we attempted to enter. 
 
 For this noble and implicit confidence in their 
 leader he heartily thanks them. 
 
 D. G. Farbaout, 
 
 Rear-Admiral Commanding W. &. B. Squadron. 
 
 General Order, No. 13. 
 
 Flag-Ship " Hartford," ) 
 Mobile Bat, August 7, 1864. ) 
 The Admiral desires the fleet to return thanks to 
 Almighty God for the signal victory over the enemy 
 on the morning of the 5th instant. 
 
 D. G. Farragut, 
 Sear-Admiral Commanding W. Q. B. Squadron. 
 
 It is not always that the sailors and petty 
 officers who have taken part in a naval bat- 
 tle have full justice done them, although 
 they may have shown as much courage as 
 any of their officers. 
 
 There never was a case where sailors 
 showed more true heroism than at the bat- 
 tle of Mobile Bay, especially in the exacting 
 moment when the " Tennessee " made her 
 attack upon the fleet. Men, who were so 
 seriously wounded that they could not stand, 
 would crawl back to their guns, and though 
 they could do no work would cheer on and 
 inspire their comrades. Men in their last 
 moments would give forth a faint cheer 
 when they heard that the " Tennessee " was 
 being beaten, and die with a smile on their 
 lips. If a comrade fell at his post, another 
 from a gun that could not be brought to 
 bear would spring to take his place, laying 
 him tenderly aside and swearing to avenge 
 his death. 
 
 It is not always in the excitement of bat- 
 tle that these heroic acts are noticed, and it 
 is with pleasure that we here publish the 
 reports of those officers who thought enough 
 of their sailors to mention those among 
 them who had especially distinguished 
 themselves. The medal of honor was as 
 much as they could expect, but these 
 badges were as much prized as were the 
 decorations which Napoleon served out to 
 his brave soldiers after a victory. He 
 knew the secret of touching men's hearts 
 on the battle-field, and to this he owed thfe 
 many victories won f 01* him by his soldiers. 
 It is not the value of the medal, for it is 
 only made of copper; it is the fact that a 
 sailor's services are noticed that makes him 
 the happiest of men, and he treasures up the 
 mementoes of his services with care and 
 pride. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 589 
 
 While the fleet was darting ahead under 
 a sharp fire from Fort Morgan, and just 
 as the "Brooklyn" stopped her engines, 
 the "Tecumseh," struck by a torpedo, 
 went down almost instantly, carrying 
 with her nearly all her brave officers 
 and men. It was an appalling sight to look 
 upon, but it did not for one moment throw 
 the fleet into confusion. The commanders 
 followed their brave leader, not thinking 
 for a moment of the possible consequences. 
 Admiral Farragut, even at that trying mo- 
 ment, did not fail to remember what was 
 due to humanity, but hailed Lieutenant- 
 Commander Jouett of the "Metacomet,"and 
 directed him to send a boat to pick up the 
 few men who could be seen struggling in 
 the water. This was done with a prompti- 
 tude that reflected great credit on the disci- 
 pline of the " Metacomet." 
 
 Acting - Ensign Henry C. Nields had 
 charge of the boat that went on this peril- 
 ous service, and steering right for the 
 struggling men in the water, under as 
 heavy a fire from Fort Morgan as any offi- 
 cer ever went through, found his reward in 
 the rescue of ten men, who, but for the 
 coolness he displayed and the encourage- 
 ment he gave his brave boat's crew to 
 spring to their oars, would have soon fol- 
 lowed their shipmates to a watery grave. 
 This was done within three hundred yards of 
 the fort, with shot and shell falling thickly 
 about him. Ensign Nields, not only re- 
 ceived the warmest commendations from 
 Admiral Farragut, but the highest admira- 
 tion that could be felt by every officer in 
 the fleet. Such acts of gallantry, connected 
 with a mission of mercy, should obtain the 
 greatest rewards. 
 
 The following survivors of the "Tecum- 
 seh" were picked up by the " Metacomet's " 
 boat : Acting - Ensign John J. P. Zettich, 
 Quartermasters C. V. Dean and William 
 Roberts; Seamen James McDonald, George 
 Major and James Thorn ; Ordinary Sea- 
 man Charles Packard; Landsman William 
 Fadden ; Coal-heaver William C. West, 
 and Pilot John Collins. In addition to 
 these, there were picked up by one of 
 the "Tecumseh's" boats: Acting - Masters 
 C. F. Langley and Gardner Cottrell, Gun- 
 ner's Mate S. S. Shinn, Quarter - gun- 
 ner John Gould, Seamen Frank Commins, 
 Richard Collins and Peter Parkes. Four 
 men, whose names are unknown, swam 
 ashore and were captured by the Confed- 
 erates. 
 
 Acting-Masters Langley and Cottrell state 
 in their joint report that the "Tecumseh" 
 was nearly abreast of Fort Morgan, and 
 about 150 yards from the beach, when it 
 was reported to Commander Craven that 
 there was a row of buoys, stretching from 
 the shore a distance from one to two hun- 
 
 dred yards. He immediately ordered full 
 speed and attempted to pass between two of 
 the buoys. When in their range, a torpedo 
 was exploded directly under the turret, 
 blowing d, large hole in the bottom of 
 the vessel, through which the water rushed 
 with great rapidity. Finding that the 
 vessel was sinking, the order was given to 
 leave quarters, and from that moment 
 every one used the utmost exertions to clear 
 himself from the wreck. After being car- 
 ried down several times they were picked 
 up in a drowning condition, as before 
 stated. 
 
 Commander Craven was with the pilot in 
 the pilot-house when the torpedo exploded 
 under the vessel, but his chivalric spirit 
 caused him to lose his life. He insisted on 
 the pilot taking precedence in descending 
 the ladder. They both reached the turret, 
 but as the pilot passed through the port- 
 hole the vessel keeled over and went 
 down, taking with her as gallant an offi- 
 cer as there was in the American Navy. 
 One moment more and his life would have 
 been saved to adorn the list of officers of 
 which he was so bright a member. The ex- 
 ample shown by Craven on this occasion 
 should be chronicled in every story of the 
 war. No more chivalrous event occurred 
 during the four years' conflict. 
 
 After the capture of the "Tennessee," 
 and when the fleet had anchored, the 
 "Chickasaw," Lieutenant-Commander Geo. 
 H. Perkins, was sent to fire on Fort Powell 
 and to bring off a large barge lying near 
 it. This duty was handsomely performed, 
 the fort was well battered and the barge 
 brought away. The enemy, using their 
 guns with spirit, gave the "Chickasaw" 
 some ugly wounds in her armor; but, seeing 
 the inequality of a conflict with the fleet, 
 the commander of the fort evacuated it on 
 the night of the 6th, when it soon after 
 blew up. The guns were, however, left in- 
 tact, and several covered barges were cap- 
 tured that made good workshops for the 
 fleet. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 6th, the 
 •' Chickasaw " was sent in to shell Fort 
 Gaines, and this was so effectually done 
 that Colonel Anderson, the commander, 
 soon came to terms. He had not much of 
 a garrison — most of his men being raw re- 
 cruits and boys — but he seems to have been 
 a sensible man, for on the morning of the 
 7tli he sent a communication to Admiral 
 Farragut offering to surrender, and request- 
 ing that he be given the be^t conditions. 
 General Granger was sent for by the Ad- 
 miral to meet Colonel Anderson and Major 
 Brown on board the flag-ship, where an 
 agreement was signed, by which Fort 
 Gaines was surrendered unconditionally. 
 All private property (except arms) was to 
 
590 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 be respected, and the inmates of the fort 
 were to remain prisoners-of-war. 
 
 On August 8th, Fleet-Captain Drayton, 
 on the part of the Navy, and Colonel Myer, 
 on the part of the Army, proceeded to the 
 fort to carry out the stipulations of the 
 agreement, and at 9:45 a. m. they received 
 its surrender, and hoisted the Union flag 
 amid the prolonged cheers of the sailors of 
 the fleet. No cheers were ever given with 
 more ardor, for this victory was seen to be 
 another of the severe death-blows given to 
 an enemy whose end was very near. 
 
 This was the close of the battle on the 
 water. Fort Morgan was still to be reduced, 
 but any one could see that this event would 
 be but a matter of a short time. There 
 was no hope for the defenders of the fort, 
 strong as it was, for it was cut off from 
 all succor. The Navy commanded it and 
 the waters of Mobile Bay, and the army 
 having landed in its rear, shut it out from 
 all hope of reinforcements or supplies. 
 Preparations were being made to invest it 
 by land and sea, with as little loss of life 
 as possible to the Union forces. 
 
 There was the great and impregnable 
 " Tennessee " lying at anchor among the 
 fleet as harmless as a Chinese junk, with 
 the American flag flying where the Confed- 
 erate " Stars and Bars " was wont to wave. 
 The " Selma " was captured, the" Gaines " 
 burnt, and the " Morgan " was the only 
 vessel of Buchanan's fleet that had escaped. 
 She ran up to Mobile the night after the 
 battle by keeping close in shore. 
 
 As soon as the fate of their Navy and the 
 two forts was known at Mobile, the Confed- 
 erates sunk the "Nashville " right across the 
 narrow channel under commanding guns — 
 and thus completely blocked the way to the 
 city. But this did not help them any. The 
 days of blockade-runners were over. No 
 more would those snug-looking clippers slip 
 into the bay at night in spite of a most watch- 
 ful blockade, and, carrying their welcome 
 cargoes into the port of Mobile, supply the 
 Confederacy with food, clothing and muni- 
 tions of war. The steani locomotive no 
 longer blew its shrillest whistle as it started 
 from Mobile with a rich load of provisions 
 and arms for the city of Richmond, to en- 
 enable their brave and desperate soldiers 
 to sustain the lost cause by a few spas- 
 modic efforts that could be of no service to 
 them. And here the reader will see the 
 benefit the battle of Mobile Bay was to the 
 Union and the injury it was to the Confed- 
 eracy, and Farragut once more earned 
 the plaudits of the nation by his successful 
 conflict against desperate odds. 
 
 The people of the North rejoiced heartily 
 when they lieard of this famous victorj^ 
 while the people of the South were propor- 
 tionally depressed. They had counted so 
 
 much on Buchanan (who was very popular 
 among them) and on his fleet, that this last 
 blow almost deprived them of all hope; but 
 they fought on to the last with unequalled 
 energy and braver^^ 
 
 This victory atoned for the effects of the 
 misadventures with the ram "Albemarle" 
 in the sounds of North Carolina. The 
 Southerners had made great capital out of 
 that affair, and so rejoiced over it that the 
 people of the North were disposed to regard 
 it as more important than the Navy De- 
 partment chose to acknowledge ; and the 
 press of the North, always prone to take 
 sides against Federal officers, published 
 reports that were wholly unreliable. 
 
 And herein lay the difference between 
 the North and the South. Though the lat- 
 ter might be flghting in a bad cause, yet 
 the people stood by each other like a band of 
 brothers, and when their oflficers met with 
 defeats they did not raise a howl from one 
 end of the Confederacy to the other — they 
 smoothed them over, and often claimed 
 them as victories. But it was otherwise 
 with the press of the North. They had 
 very little consideration for those who were 
 fighting their battles, while they were com- 
 fortable at home, with substitutes in the 
 field. They all wanted to dictate to their 
 military leaders, and found fault oftener 
 than they praised, while half the time they 
 were not properly informed in regard to 
 matters on which they were expressing 
 opinions. 
 
 As soon as Secretary Welles heard of the 
 results of the battle of Mobile Bay, he for- 
 warded to Admiral Farragut the following 
 congratulatory letter : 
 
 Navy Department, ) 
 
 Washington, August 15, 1864. ) 
 
 SiR^Tour dispatch of the 5th instant, stating 
 that you had on the morning of that day entered 
 Mobile Bay, passing between Forts Morgan and 
 Gaines, and encountering and overcoming the rebel 
 fleet, I had the satisfaction to' receive this day. 
 Some preliminary account of your operations had 
 previously reached us through rebel channels. 
 
 Again, it is my pleasure and my duty to congrat- 
 ulate you and your brave associqites on an achieve- 
 ment unequalled in our service by any other com- 
 mander, and only surpassed by that unparalleled 
 naval triumph of the squadron under your com- 
 mand in the spring of 1862, when, proceeding up 
 the Mississippi, you passed forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip, and, overcoming all obstructions, captured 
 New Orleans, and restored unobstructed naviga- 
 tion to the commercial emporium of the great cen- 
 tral valley of the Union. 
 
 The Bay of Mobile was not only fortified and 
 guarded by forts and batteries on shore, and by 
 submerged obstructions, but the rebels had also 
 collected there a formidable fleet, commanded by 
 their highest naval officer, a former captain in the 
 Union Navy, who, false to the Government and the 
 Union, had deserted his country in the hour of peril, 
 and levelled his guns against the flagwhich it was 
 his duty to have defended. The possession of Mo- 
 bile Bay, which you have acquired, will close the 
 illicit traffic which has been carried on by running 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 591 
 
 the blockade in that part of the Gulf, and gives 
 point and value to the success you have achieved. 
 
 Great results in war are seldom obtained without 
 great risks, and it was not expected that the pos- 
 session of the harbor of Mobile would be secured 
 without disaster. 
 
 The loss of the gallant Craven and his brave com- 
 panions, with the "Tecumseh" (a vessel that was 
 invulnerable to the guns of Port Morgan), by a con- 
 cealed torpedo, was a casualty against which no 
 human foresight could guard. While the Nation 
 awards cheerful honors to the living, she will ever 
 hold in grateful remembrance the memory of the 
 gallant and lamented dead, who perilled their lives 
 for their country and died in her cause 
 
 To you and the brave officers and sailors of your 
 squadron, who participated in this great achieve- 
 ment, the Department tenders its thanks and those 
 of the Government and country. 
 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Rear- Admiral David G. Pabrgaut, 
 
 Commanding West Q^ilf Blockading Squadron, 
 Mobile Bay. 
 
 Fort Morgan remained yet to be captured, 
 and all the necessary steps were being 
 taken to bring about this desired object. 
 The Army, under General Granger, had 
 been transferred from Dauphine Island to 
 its rear. 
 
 Admiral Farragut had also landed four 
 9-inch guns in the rear of the fort, under 
 the command of Lieutenant H. B. Tyson, 
 of the " Hartford," and manned with crews 
 from the " Hartford," " Brooklyn," "Eich- 
 mond" and " Lackawanna." 
 
 On the 21st of August, General Granger 
 informed him that his guns were all in bat- 
 tery and would be ready to open upon the 
 enemy's works on the morning of the 32d. 
 Farragut, in consequence, directed the 
 Monitors and other vessels carrying suit- 
 able guns to move up and be ready to open 
 upon the fort at the same time with the 
 army batteries. 
 
 At daylight, on the 23d, the bombardment 
 began from the shore batteries, the Moni- 
 tors and ships inside the Bay of Mobile and 
 those outside, and it presented a most mag- 
 nificent sight. No hotter bombardment 
 was ever kept up for twenty-four hours. 
 
 At half -past 8 p. m., the citadel of the 
 fort burst out in flames, adding its bright 
 light to the grandeur of the scene, and 
 illuminating the bay, where the cannon of 
 the fleet, directed by practiced hands, were 
 belching forth their deadly missiles, which 
 sped on their destructive way unerringly. 
 
 When the fire broke out, General Gran- 
 ger ordered the rear batteries to redouble 
 their fire. At 6 A. m. on the 23d an ex- 
 plosion took place in the enemy's work, and 
 at half-past 6 a white flag was displayed 
 on the parapet of Fort Morgan. The Ad- 
 miral immediately sent Fleet-Captain Dray- 
 ton to join General Granger and arrange 
 the terms of surrender; which were that 
 
 should be surrendered, unconditionally, at 
 3 o'clock on that day, to the Army and 
 naval forces of the United States" then 
 present. These terms were accepted by 
 Brigadier-General R. L. Page, of the Con- 
 federate service (formerly a Commander in 
 the United States Navy). The garrison was 
 sent to New Orleans in company with the 
 crews of the ram " Tennessee " and the gun- 
 boat " Selma." 
 
 List of the officers of the "Tennessee": 
 Admiral, Franklin Buchanan; Commander, 
 James D. Johnston; Lieutenants, Wm. L. 
 Bradford, A. P. Wharton, E. G. McDermott; 
 Masters, J. R. De Moley and H. W. Perron; 
 Fleet Surgeon, R. C. Bowles; Engineers, 
 G. D. Lining, J. O'Connell, John Hays, 
 O. Benson and W. B. Patterson; Paymas- 
 ter's Clerk, J. H. Cohen; Master's Mates, 
 W. A. Forrest, Beebe and R. M. Carter; Boat- 
 swain, John McCudie; Gunner, H. S. Smith. 
 Officers of the " Selma": Commander, Peter 
 U. Murphy; Lieutenant, J. H. Comstock. 
 
 General Page tried to obtain more favor- 
 able terms, but without success. He had 
 held but bravely against the bombardment, 
 and thought, perhaps, that he and his offi- 
 cers should have received some favors on 
 that account; but then, again, he had caused 
 an unnecessary loss of life by persisting in 
 defending a fort that was virtually in the 
 power of the Federal forces, and which he 
 knew could not by any possibility escape 
 capture. The defence was gallant, but it 
 was an unnecessary display of bravery, as 
 the end proved. 
 
 Admiral Farragut reported that after the 
 assembling of the Confederate officers out- 
 side of the works, to deliver Fort Morgan 
 to its conquerors, it was discovered, on an 
 examination of the interior, that most of the 
 guns were spiked and many of the gun- 
 carriages wantonly injured, and arms, am- 
 munition, provisions, etc., destroyed, and 
 that there was every reason to believe that 
 this was done after the white flag had been 
 displayed. It was also discovered that Gen- 
 eral Page and several of his officers had no 
 swords to deliver, and, further, that some 
 of those that were surrendered were broken. 
 He draws attention to the different course 
 pursued by Colonel Anderson, who com- 
 manded at Fort Gaines, and turned over 
 everything in good order. 
 
 The Admiral reflects very severely on 
 General Page and his officers for their 
 wanton destruction of property; but it must 
 be remembered that this was done at Fort 
 Morgan in the excitement of battle, and it 
 might have been done without the General's 
 knowledge by young officers who had 
 had no extensive military training, and 
 who were not posted as to the proprieties of 
 the occasion. We do not like to believe 
 
593 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 proper proceedings, for while he was in the 
 United States Navy he was looked upon by 
 all who knew him as the soul of honor, and 
 although he committed the gravest fault 
 when he abjured the flag under which he 
 was born, educated and cherished, yet there 
 were so many others of world-wide reputa- 
 tions who set the example and carried rnen 
 away with their wild secession sophistries, 
 that he could have erred on that one subject 
 without forfeiting an honorable name. The 
 fact of his not having a sword to deliver 
 might have been an accident. It would 
 have been very foolish in an officer of his 
 age to suppose that he could in this way 
 free himself from any odium that might 
 attach to defeat, or gain any applause even 
 from his warmest admirers. 
 
 No matter what happened. Fort Morgan 
 was won in the most handsome manner, 
 and Farragut was once more entitled to 
 the heartiest congratulations of his coun- 
 trymen. This, his last great achievement, 
 had placed him in the foremost rank of 
 naval officers, and the following letter from 
 the Hon. Secretary of the Navy scarcely 
 states the value of the service he had ren- 
 dered to the Uttion cause: 
 
 Navy Department, \ 
 September 5, 1864. ( 
 Sir — Your dispatch, numbered 368, is received, 
 informing the Department of the capture, on the 
 33d ultimo, of Fort Morgan. This is the last and 
 most formidable of all the defences erected to com- 
 mand the entrance of the Bay of Mobile, and it is 
 a gratification that its capitulation was effected 
 sooner than had been anticipated. I will not, in 
 this communication, stop to comment on the bad 
 faith exhibited in the destruction of the arms and 
 property in the fort after its surrender, which is 
 reprobated by you with just severity ; but I desire 
 to congratulate you and your command on a series 
 of achievements which put us in possession of the 
 bay ; and, until the integrity of the Union is fully 
 vindicated and established, close all ocean com- 
 munications with the city of Mobile. 
 
 In the success which has attended your opera- 
 tions, you have illustrated the efficiency and irre- 
 sistible power of a naval force led by a bold and 
 vigorous mind, and the insufficiency of any bat 
 teries to prevent the passage of a fleet thus led and 
 commanded. You have, first on the Mississippi, 
 and recently in the Bay of Mobile, demonstrated 
 what had been previously doubted, the ability of 
 naval vessels, properly manned and commanded, to 
 set at defiance the best constructed and most 
 heavily armed fortifications. 
 
 In these successive victories you have encoun- 
 tered great risks, but the results have vindicated 
 the wisdom of your policy and the daring valor of 
 our otBcers and seamen. 
 
 I desire the congratulations which are hereby 
 tendered to yourself, your officers and men, may be 
 extended to the Army, who have so cordially co- 
 operated with you. Very respectfully, 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 /Secretary of the Navy. 
 Rear- Admiral D. G. Farragut, 
 
 Commanding W. Gf. B. Squadron, Mobile Bay. 
 
 As soon as Fort Morgan had surrendered, 
 Farragut ordered the channel raked for 
 torpedoes. 
 
 Twenty-one were taken up, but most of 
 tliem had lain so long in the water that they 
 had, fortunately, become harmless. In con- 
 sequence of this, the seamen became some- 
 what careless in handling them, and one 
 torpedo exploded, killing and wounding the 
 following named persons : 
 
 Killed— C. E. Milliken (Ord. Sea.). 
 
 Mortally wounded — Isaac Young (Ord. 
 Sea.) ; John Miller (Sea.), Eobert G. White 
 (Sea.), George Thompson (Sea.) — all of 
 U. S. S. " Seminole." 
 
 Wounded seriously — Pilot Martin Free- 
 man, U. S. S. "Hartford"; Acting-Ensign 
 John White; H. J. O'Brien (Qr. Mr.); Wil- 
 liam Howard (Lds.) ; James McDonald 
 (Sea.), all of the " Metacomet ;" and Boat- 
 swain Charles White, of the " Seminole." 
 
 Slightly wounded — Henry Chester (Sea.); 
 Edward Mann (O. S.); Thomas Webster 
 (Lds.)— U. S. S. "Seminole." 
 
 These men had passed through all the 
 danger of battle, and had stood to their 
 guns like heroes, and now, when they 
 might hope to live and enjoy part of the 
 honor won in this great victory, they were 
 snatched from life or maimed forever by an 
 infernal machine, which the officers of the 
 Union Navy, as a rule, disdained to use- 
 trusting rather to hearts of steel and wooden 
 ships with which to win their victories. 
 
 We place their names on the roll of fame 
 as worthy to be remembered by all who 
 honor the true American sailor, who will 
 stick to his flag as long as he has a leg to 
 stand on. 
 
 It is bad enough to have men shot down 
 in battle while fighting their guns, but it is 
 dreadful to see them lying crushed to pieces 
 after the victory is won, especially when, 
 as in this case, it might so easily have been 
 prevented. Few of the vessels lost so 
 many in killed and wounded during the 
 fight as were lost by the explosion of this 
 one torpedo. 
 
 One of the vessels of the Union fleet was 
 lost very unnecessarily, and that was the 
 steamer "Philippi," commanded by Act- 
 ing-Master James T. Seaver, who, it ap- 
 pears, wished to undertake an adventure 
 on his own account, and, after delivering 
 some stores to the vessels outside the bar, 
 stood ill after the fleet to try and be of as- 
 sistance in case any vessel was disabled. 
 He was unfortunate enough to run aground, 
 however, when within range of Fort 
 Morgan, and the Confederate gunners 
 struck his vessel almost every time and 
 soon set her on fire, showing how much 
 better is the aim of gunners when th«y are 
 firing at a vessel that does not fire back. 
 Had Fort Morgan fired as well at the fleet 
 while passing, it would have crippled all 
 the wooden ships. 
 We can imagine the Admiral's feelings 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 593 
 
 when, after passing all the batteries safely, 
 he saw a vessel of his squadron in flames, 
 away of? in the outer bay, and out of the 
 main channel. Worst of all, Acting-Mas- 
 ter Seaver deserted his vessel, leaving the 
 signal-book on the quarter-deck. 
 
 The " Philippi " was an express vessel, 
 and a gre^it loss to the squadron. It was a 
 small loss, however, compared with the final 
 gain, and it merely shows that, with all the 
 precautions that a commander-in-chief may 
 take, there is always some one person who 
 will, for want of common sense, do his 
 best to defeat the object of his commander. 
 
 Now that years have passed, and the 
 prejudices of the day have been forgotten 
 by all truly loyal men, we can calmly dis- 
 cuss this remarkable battle without any 
 fear of being considered partial towards 
 any of the parties concerned. 
 
 The question has often been asked, 
 " Was Buchanan justified by circumstances 
 in attacking Farragut's fleet, unless he was 
 covered by the heavy batteries of Fort 
 Morgan ?" 
 
 Let us see first what effect the "Tennes- 
 see" had had upon the fleet, from the time it 
 came under the fire of Fort Morgan until 
 it anchored in Mobile Roads. The iron- 
 clad occupied a commanding and raking 
 position, backed by the three gun-boats and 
 covered by Fort Morgan ; but every vessel 
 passed her without being disabled, all the 
 serious injury which they received coming 
 from the guns of Fort Morgan. 
 
 It was expected by the officers of the 
 fleet that the Confederate iron-clad would 
 place herself right in the way of the lead- 
 ing vessel, sink her with her formidable 
 prow, throw the fleet into confusion, and 
 keep them huddled together under the fire 
 of the fort ui^til she could get into their 
 midst and deal destruction on every side. 
 This is the course which Buchanan should 
 have pursued, for it will be seen that his 
 iron-clad was quite strong enough to with- 
 stand the battering of any vessel in the 
 Union fleet. She was rammed by the 
 " Monongahela," "Lackawanna," "Hart- 
 ford," and " Ossipee." The first two ves- 
 sels were seriously injured, the " Hartford " 
 only hit a glancing blow, and the "Ossi- 
 pee" received more injury than she inflicted; 
 m fact, all their attacks were harmless 
 against the iron-clad hull of the ram, which 
 had been built expressly to stand just such 
 encounters. The Board which examined 
 her after the battle reported that there were 
 no visible marks or evidence of injury done 
 by the ramming she had received. This 
 shows that the calculations made by Bu- 
 chanan were not without due consideration. 
 He knew every ship in the Union fleet, the 
 
 Tmml-»c»Y» rtt\i\ «^Q^^Kl.^ t\^ +.Vioii» nrnna t.ViAir 
 
 speed, the strength of their hulls, and, in 
 fact, all that was worth knowing about 
 them. But he failed to appreciate the merit 
 of their commanding officers, and, ever 
 following in the wake of the " lost cause," 
 he forgot the spirit of the brave seamen 
 who manned the Union ships. 
 
 He well knew what would be the effect 
 of the 11 and 15 inch shot that would be 
 fired from the Monitors. He had seen in the 
 fight of the "Monitor" and ' ' Merrimac " that 
 11-inch shot would not penetrate the 4-inch 
 armor of the latter, and he had seen, from 
 the reports of the bombardment of Fort 
 Sumter by the Monitors, that 15-inch shot 
 had not enough penetrating power to break 
 through masonry that was easily bored 
 through and through by a 6-inch rifle. He 
 knew that the fleet had very few rifled 
 guns, and that what they had were small 
 calibre Parrotts, which it was necessary to 
 load with reduced charges in order to guard 
 against explosion. He had placed one-third 
 more armor on the "Tennessee" than was 
 on the "Merrimac," and had strengthened 
 her in other ways as no vessel had ever 
 been strengthened before. 
 
 We have seen from the accounts of this 
 battle that the hull of the " Tennessee " was 
 virtually uninjured by the shots from the 
 Monitors. Only one 15-inch shot penetrated 
 her armor, while the 1 1-inch shot made no 
 impression on her beyond shattering the 
 port shutters ; and had it not been for the 
 carrying away of her exposed steering gear 
 and smoke-stack, Buchanan's calculations 
 might have been verified. 
 
 Yet the only real damage done to the 
 "Tennessee" was by the Monitors, and it 
 may be asked: "Would not the Monitors 
 have captured her without the aid of the 
 wooden ships ? " We think they ought to 
 have done so, unless by her superior speed 
 she had escaped under the guns of the 
 fort. The wooden ships smothered her by 
 their heavy blows, demoralizing her crew 
 and keeping them from the guns, for 
 they did not know what would be the re- 
 sult of this constant ramming. It is cer- 
 tain that the "Tennessee" did not fire a 
 gun after her last encounter with the 
 "Hartford." 
 
 The Confederates claim that she was at- 
 tacked by a squadron of eighteen vessels, 
 and that Buchanan, single-handed, held his 
 own for hours; while the fact is, she was at- 
 tacked by only seven vessels of the fleet 
 (four of them wooden), and the action 
 lasted but an hour and a quarter — (8:45 to 
 
 10 A. M.) 
 
 Considering all things, Admiral Buchanan 
 made a mistake in attacking the fleet when 
 he did; he ought to have remained under 
 shelter of Fort Morgan until the fleet at- 
 
 tar-lrprl Viim nr plsfi lia.vfi pnTTiR out, in tbfi 
 
594 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 night when the vessels were at anchor and 
 at a disadvantage. That was his only 
 chance of success. As he took upon himself 
 to go out and seek battle, instead of waiting 
 for it to be offered to him, one would na,tu- 
 rally suppose that his ship had a resisting 
 power that was only known to himself, and 
 that he, as one of the best sailors afloat, 
 felt himself authorized to attack the whole 
 fleet by daylight. If this was the case, the 
 forces on each side might be considered as 
 about equal, in spite of the disparity of num- 
 bers. 
 
 One point must not be lost sight of, and 
 that is, that no damage was inflicted on the 
 " Tennessee " before the Monitors came up, 
 and when they did attack her the battle 
 was soon ended. It is a significant fact 
 in favor of iron-clads, and if the Monitors 
 had possessed more speed they would not 
 have required any assistance from wooden 
 vessels. 
 
 In this connection we must mention a 
 very creditable action of Commander Nich- 
 olson. The charge for the 15-inch gun, as 
 regulated by the Bureau of Ordnance, was 
 only 35 lbs. of powder, but Captain Nichol- 
 son nearly doubled it, using 65 lbs. — taking 
 the responsibility of bursting the gun — but 
 proving, in fact, that it could bear that 
 charge for a limited number of rounds. 
 The result was, that he pierced the armor 
 of the ram, and dispelled the illusion of 
 Buchanan and his crew — that their ship 
 was invulnerable. 
 
 There is no doubt that the "Tennessee" 
 was at that time the most formidable 
 vessel the Confederates had iever built, 
 and they might well feel proud of their 
 great war monster, and believe her to be 
 a match for half a-dozen Monitors. In fact, 
 she might have been more than a match 
 for them if the fight had taken place in 
 the open sea, where her superior speed and 
 long-range guns would have given her a 
 great advantage. 
 
 This battle gave the Government a great 
 deal of experience, and demonstrated be- 
 yond question that the 9 and 11 inch guns 
 were perfectly useless against six inches 
 of iron, heavily backed, even when fired 
 at close quarters. But, with this lesson 
 before them, the U. S. Government — for 
 twenty years after the war — has held on to 
 these guns, and paraded them about the 
 world in obsolete wooden ships, which all 
 other nations have abolished as unfit for 
 war purposes. 
 
 The two great systems of iron-clad con- 
 struction, which had been introduced on the 
 scene of war by the North and the South 
 respectively, had on this occasion a fair 
 chance of being fully tested, and in a man- 
 ner admitting of no dispute, and the palm 
 was given to Ericssen"s invention. The 
 
 want of speed and a proper armament are 
 not faults inherent in his system. 
 
 The " Tennessee" was a formidable ves- 
 sel, and her designers and constructors de- 
 served great credit for the result of their 
 labors. Had she succeeded in winning a 
 victory in Mobile Bay, the world would 
 have been some years longer groping in the 
 dark for the right kind of an iron- clad, but 
 would have found it finally in the Ericsson 
 "Monitor," which to-day has no superior 
 throughout the world. 
 
 This battle rendered Mobile of no value 
 to the Confederacy, for, although owing 
 to shoal water and obstructions, the Navy 
 could not reach the city, it was as her- 
 metically sealed against blockade-runners 
 as if actually surrendered. A few vessels 
 only were kept inside the bay, leaving Far- 
 ragut at liberty to use his remaining force 
 on the coast of "Texas, where General Banks 
 (after his failure up the Red River) had 
 evacuated all the important points which 
 had been captured by the Army and Navy, 
 and thus left the Texan ports open to. 
 the blockade-runners. 
 
 The work of the Navy seemed to be end- 
 less. It had not only to fight the enemy, 
 but to repair the blunders of quasi-mili- 
 tary men, who would not even hold the 
 positions which the Navy placed in their 
 hands. Yet the officers and sailors worked 
 on with unwearying activity and bravery 
 to reach the victorious end, and every bat- 
 tle won diminished in an increasing ratio 
 the Confederates' chance of success. 
 
 The battle of Mobile Bay proved several 
 things which it is as important to know to- 
 day as it was then. Guns mounted en 
 barbette, even when protected by proper 
 traverses, can be silenced and passed by 
 steamers on their throwing in a heavy and 
 concentrated fire, especially if they carry 
 a large number of guns in broadside. No 
 fort now existing in this country can keep 
 out a fieet unless the channel is thoroughly 
 obstructed. 
 
 Up to the present time, ships-of-war are 
 gaining in strength over the forts of this 
 country, and the saying that "one gun on 
 shore is worth three on board-ship" may 
 very properly be reversed. Ste&m has 
 changed the whole principle of war, and 
 iron-clads with rifled guns are too strong 
 for our walls of stone, brick and mortar. 
 
 Note. — As the "Tennessee "was the most 
 powerful and remarkable vessel the Con- 
 federates ever built, the scientific reader 
 may take some interest in the following 
 description of her construction, from the 
 report of a Board of Survey, ordered by 
 Admiral Farragut, after the battle : 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 595 
 
 Dbscbiptioin' of the Confbderatb Iron-clad 
 
 "TBNIfBSSEE." 
 
 The vessel had been built at Mobile, Alabama, 
 under the superintendence of Messrs. Pierce and 
 Bassett, naval constructors, and Mr. Frick, chief 
 engineer of the station. « 
 
 Hull. The hull of the vessel was very strongly 
 built in every part, the materials being oak and 
 yellow pine, with iron fastenings. Length from stem 
 to stern on deck, 209 feet ; greatest breadth of 
 beam on deck, 48 feet; mean average draught of 
 water about 14 feet. 
 
 The deck was covered fore and aft with wrought- 
 iron plates, two inches thick. 
 
 The sides of the vessel were protected by an over- 
 hang, sponsoned, and covered with two layers of 
 2 -inch wrought -iron. This overhang extended 
 about six feet below the water line. 
 
 The sides of the vessel below the deck were eight 
 feet thick, and the distance from the knuckle or 
 outside of the overhang on deck, to the base of the 
 casemate on either side, was ten feet. The vessel 
 was provided with a strong heak or prow, which 
 projected about two feet under water, formed by the 
 continuation of the sponsoning and covered with 
 wrought -iron plates. 
 
 The Casemate was very strongly built. It was 
 78 feet 8 inches long, and 28 feet 9 inches wide in- 
 side, the sides of the vessel extending ten feet from 
 it on either side at the greatest breadth of beam. 
 
 The framing consisted of heavy yellow pine 
 beams, 13 inches thick, and placed close together 
 vertically. Outside planking of yellow pine, 5^ 
 
 DIA.GBAM OP THE CONPEDEEATE lEON-CLAD RAM 
 "TENNESSEE." 
 
 inches thick, laid on horizontally ; and outside of 
 this horizontal planking there was a layer of oak 
 timber 4 inches thick, bolted on vertically, upon 
 which the iron plating was secured. 
 
 The plating or armor of the casemate forward 
 was 6 inches thick, consisting of three 2-inoh iron 
 plates, of about 6 inches wide each, and abaft and 
 on the sides 5 inches thick, consisting of [two] 
 2-ineh and one 1-inch iron plate of the same width. 
 
 The yellow pine framing of the casemate was 
 planked over inside with 2J-inch oak timber, laid 
 on diagonally. The whole of the armor plating was 
 fastened with through bolts, \\ inch diameter, with 
 washers and nuts inside. 
 
 The casemate was covered on top with wrought- 
 iron gratings composed of bars 3 inches thick and 
 6 inches wide, laid flat, and supported on wooden 
 beams 13 inches square, and about 5 feet distant 
 from each other. Some of these gratings were 
 hinged and fitted to open from the inside. 
 
 There were ten gun-ports in the casemate, three 
 in the broadside on either side, two forward and 
 two aft. The forward and after ports, to port and 
 starboard, were placed so as to enable the forward 
 and after pivot-guns to be used as broadside guns. 
 The directly-forward and after-ports were on a line 
 with the keel. 
 
 The ports were elongated and made Just wide 
 enough for the entrance of the muzzle of the guns 
 in training, and only high enough to allow a moder- 
 ate elevation and depression of the gun. 
 
 The wooden backing was cut away on each side 
 of the ports inside of the casemate, to allow the 
 
 funs to be trained about one point forward and aft. 
 he gun ports were covered with wrought-iron 
 sliding plates or shutters five inches thick ; those for 
 
 sliding plates or shutters for the pivot-guns were 
 pivoted on the edge with one bolt that could be 
 knocked out, detaching the shutter if necessary, 
 and were worked by a combination of racks and 
 pinions. 
 
 Armament. The armament of the "Tennes- 
 see" consisted of six rified guns, Brooke's rifies. 
 
 The two pivot-guns were 7.135-inch bore, and the 
 four broadside guns were 6-inch bore. These guns 
 were reinforced at the breech by two wrought-iron 
 bands, two inches thick respectively. Weight of 
 projectiles, 95 pounds and 110 pounds, solid shot. 
 
 The pivot-guns were fitted on wooden slides, with 
 a rack let into them. On an arm attached to the 
 carriage there was a pinion for running out the gun, 
 and, by raising the arm, the rack was thrown out 
 of gear to allow the gun to recoil. 
 
 Quarters for Officers and Crew. For an iron- 
 clad vessel the cabin was large and comfortable. 
 The ward-room was situated immediately over the 
 engine, and was open to it; but although sufficiently 
 commodious, its ventilation was so bad, and the 
 smell arising from the accumulation of bilge-water 
 so offensive, that it would have been impossible for 
 officers or others to preserve their health or to live 
 there comfortably for any length of time. 
 
 The quarters of the crew were good and com- 
 fortable for an iron-clad vessel of her description. 
 They consisted of a roomy berth-deck, with rooms 
 fitted up on either side for the junior officers. 
 When in port the crew were quartered on a covered 
 barge, anchored near the vessel. 
 
 The steering arrangements were very defective, 
 nor were the accommodations for the pilot and 
 helmsman good. 
 
 Machinery. The machinery of the vessel consisted 
 of two geared non-condensing engines. Cylinders, 
 34 inches diameter and 7 feet stroke. 
 
 These engines had been taken out of the 
 Alabama River steamer, "Alonzo Child." They 
 were placed fore and aft in the vessel, geared to an 
 idler-shaft by spur gearing with wooden teeth, and 
 from the idler-shaft to the propeller-shaft by bevel 
 cast-iron gear. 
 
 Boilers. There were four horizontal fiue boilers, 
 24 feet long, placed side by side, Avith one furnace 
 under the whole of them ; the products of com- 
 bustion returning through the flues were delivered 
 into one smoke-pipe. 
 
 The engine and fire-rooms were insuflierably hot 
 and very badly ventilated. 
 
 liS'JURIBS BBCEIVBD IST THE ACTION. 
 
 " The injuries to the casemate of the ' Tennessee ' 
 from shot are very considerable. On its after-side 
 nearly all the plating is started; one bolt driven in; 
 several nuts knocked off inside; gun-carriage of the 
 after pivot-gun damaged, and the steering rod or 
 chain cut near that gun. There are unmistakable 
 marks on the after -part of the casemate of not less 
 than nine 11-inch soUd shot having struck within 
 the space of a few square feet in the immediate 
 vicinity of that port. On the port side of the case- 
 mate the armor is also badly damaged from shot. 
 
 " On that side nearly amidships of the casemate, 
 and between the broadside guns, a 15-inch solid 
 shot knocked a hole through the armor and back- 
 ing, leaving on the inside an undetached mass of oak 
 and pine splinters, about three by four feet, and 
 projecting inside of the casemate about two feet 
 from the side. This is the only shot that penetrated 
 the wooden backing of the casemate, although there 
 are numerous places on the inside giving evidence 
 of the effect of the shot. 
 
 " There are visible between forty and fifty inden- 
 tations and marks of shot on the hull, deck and case- 
 mate, varying from very severe to slight ; nine of 
 the deepest indentations on the after -part of the case- 
 mate (evidently being 11-inch shot), and the marks 
 of about thirty of other calibres on different nai-ts r>f 
 
690 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 " There are also a few other marks, being, how- 
 ever, merely scratches or slight indentations ol the 
 
 plating. 1 -4. • 
 
 " The smoke-stack was shot away, although it is 
 not improbable the heavy ramming by the ' M""}""," 
 gahela,' 'Lackawanna,' and the 'Hartford had 
 previously prepared it for its fall. 
 
 " Three of the wrought-iron port shutters or slides 
 were so much damaged by shot as to prevent the 
 firing of the guns. . 
 
 " There are no external visible marks or evidences 
 of injury inflicted upon the hull of the ' Tennessee^ 
 by the severe ramming of the ' Monongahela, 
 ' Lackawanna,' and ' Hartford ' ; but inasmuch as 
 the decks leaked badly, and when there is a moder- 
 ate sea running in the bay, her reported usual leak- 
 age of three inches an hour being now increased to 
 five or six inches an hour, it is fairly to be inferred 
 that the increased leakage is caused by the concus- 
 
 sion of the vessels. The ' Tennessee ' is in a state 
 to do good service now. To restore her to the 
 state of efficiency in which she was when she went 
 into action with this fleet on the 5th instant, it will 
 be necessary to overhaul much of the iron plating 
 on the port and after-sides of the casemate, and re- 
 place some of it. 
 
 " The iron gun -port slides or shutters, which were 
 damaged, must be either removed or repaired. 
 
 " A new smoke-stack is required, and additional 
 ventilators should be fitted. 
 
 'Blowers are required to produce proper ven- 
 tilation iu the engiiie-room and on the berth- 
 
 " When these small repairs and additions shall 
 have been made, the iron-clad ' Tennessee ' will be 
 a most formidable vessel for harbor and river ser- 
 vice, and for operating generally in smooth water, 
 both offensively and defensively." 
 
 WEST GULF SQUADRON, JANUARY 1st, 1804. 
 Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut. 
 
 CAPTAIN PERCIVAL DRAYTON, F LE E T - CAPTAIN. 
 
 [Vessels and Commanders marked with a * were in the Battle o£ Mobile Bay.] 
 
 •steamer "HARTFORD" — PLAG-SHIP. 
 
 Captain, Percival Drayton, at Mobile ; Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander, L. A. iCimberly, executive officer 
 at Mobile ; Lieutenants, H. B. Tysou and J. C. 
 Watson; Fleet Surgeon, James C. Palmer- Fleet 
 Paymaster, Edw. T. Dunn- Surgeon, John J. Gib- 
 son; Assistant-Surgeon, Wm. Commons; Paymas- 
 ter, Wm. T. Merideth; Marines: Captain, Charles 
 Heywood ; First-Lieutenant, C. L. Sherman; En- 
 signs, C. D. Jones and LaRue P. Adams ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, Wm. H. Whiting, G. D. B. Glidden, C. W. 
 Snow and Geo. Munday ; Pilot, Martin Freeman ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. J. Tinelli, Wm. H. Hat- 
 horne, W. H. Childs, R. P. Herrick, G. R. Avery 
 and H. Brownell: Fleet Engineer, Wm. H. Shock; 
 Chief Engineer, Thom Williamson; Second-Assist- 
 ants, E. B. Latch, F. A. Wilson, Isaac DeGrafT, 
 C. M. Burchard and John Wilson; Third- Assistants. 
 J. E. Speights, H. L. Pilkington and Alfred Hoyt; 
 Boatswain, Robert Dixon; Gunner, J. L. Staples; 
 Carpenter, O. 8. Stimson; Sailmaker, T. C. Herbert. 
 
 STEAMER "PENSAOOLA." 
 
 Commodore, Henry H. Bell, commanding squad- 
 ron pro tern.; Lieutenant - Commander, Samuel R. 
 Franklin; Lieutenants, F. V. McNair and G. AV. 
 Sumner ; Surgeon, Wm. Lansdale ; Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, W. H. Jones ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. H. Stevenson; Marines: First-Lieutenant, Norval 
 L. Nokes; Acting-Masters, F. T. King, Thos. An- 
 drews and S. B. Washburne; Acting-Ensign, V. W. 
 Jones; Engineers: First- Assistant, JohnPurdy, Jr.; 
 Second-Assistants, A. H. Able and Alfred Colin ; 
 Third-Assistants, T. W. Fitch, F. C. Burchard and 
 G. \V. Baird; Boatswain, James Herold; Gunner, 
 David Roe; Carpenter, Edward Cox; Sailmaker, 
 Chas. Lawrence. 
 
 STEAM-FBIGATE "COLORADO." 
 
 Commodore, Henry K. Thatcher; Lieutenants, H. 
 W- Miller and Benj. F. Day- Paymaster, W. H. H. 
 Williams; Chaplain, D. X. Junkin; Assistant- 
 Surgeons, A. W. H. Hawkins and Matthew Chal- 
 mers; Marines: Captain, Geo. R. Graham; Second- 
 Lieutenant, S. C. Adams; Acting Masters, Thos. 
 Hanrahan and Charles Folsom ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Henrv Avery, F. P. Bibles and B. B. Knowlton; 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, A. O. Child, C. H. Little- 
 field, W. G. Perry, J. L. Vennard and Leon Bryant; 
 Chief Engineer, R. M. Bartleman; Acting-Pirst-As- 
 sistant, C. W. Pennington ; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, G. S. Perkins ; Acting-Third-Assistants, T. J. 
 Lavery, R. Wallace and H. B. Green ; Boatswain, 
 A. M. Pomeroy; Gunner, R. H. Cross; Carpenter, 
 John A. Dixon; Sailmaker, W. N. Maull. 
 •steamer "ossipee." 
 Commander, William E. LeRoy, at Mobile; Cap- 
 tain, John P. Gillis; Lieutenant, J. A. Howell; Sur- 
 geon, B. F. Gibbs ; Assistant-Surgeon, G. H. E. 
 Baumgarten; Paymaster, E. Foster; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, C. C. Bunker; Acting-Ensigns, H. S. Lambert, 
 Chas. Putnam, C. W. Adams, W. A. Van Vleck and 
 
 C. E. Clark ; Acting-Master's Mates, W. Wingood, 
 W. W. Black and P. P. Hawkes; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Chief, J. M. Adams; Acting-First- Assistant, Geo. 
 L. Harris ; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. W. Webb; 
 Third -Assistants, G. W. Kidder, John Mathews, 
 Wm. Collier, W. W. Vanderbilt and James Ger- 
 mon; Boatswain, Andrew Milne ; Gunner, J. Q. 
 Adams. 
 
 • STEAMER ' ' RICHMOND. " 
 
 Captain, Thornton A. Jenkins ; Lieutenant- 
 Commander, Edward Terry; Surgeon, L. J. Wil- 
 liams; Assistant-Surgeon, J. D. Murphy; Paymaster, 
 Edwin Stewart; First-Lieutenant of Marines, S. W. 
 Powell; Acting-Masters, P. S. Borden and C. J. 
 Gibbs; Ensign, P. H. Cooper; Acting-Ensigns, J. 
 F. Beyer, C. M. Chester and Lewis Clark; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Wm. R. Cox, James West, T. J. 
 Warner and W. C. Seymour; Chief Engineer, Jack- 
 son MoElmell ; First - Assistant, E. J. Brooks ; 
 Second-Assistant, A. J. Kenyon ; Third Assistants, 
 A. J. Kirbv, Robert Weir, James Patterson, John 
 
 D. Ford, W. H. Crawford and C. W. C. Senter; 
 Boatswain, I. P. Choate ; Gunner, Wm. Cheney; 
 Carpenter, H. L Dixon; Sailmaker, Wm. Rogers. 
 
 •steamer "LACKAWANNA." 
 
 Captain, John B. Marchand ; Lieutenants, T. C. 
 Bowen and S. A. McCarty ; Surgeon, Thomas W. 
 Leach; Paymaster, James Fulton ; Acting-Master, 
 Felix McCurley; Ensigns. G. H. Wadleigh and 
 Frank Wildes: Actine-Ensisn. Geo. T. Ohanman; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 597 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Welles and John 
 Cannon; Engineers: Acting-Chief, W. A. R. Lati- 
 mer; Second-Assistants, R. H. Gunnell and E. J. 
 Whittaker; Third-Assistants, G. W. Roche, C. F. 
 Marsland, B. E. Pike and I. B. Port ; Boatswain, 
 W. B. Leeds; Gunner, J. G. Foster. 
 
 * STEAMER "ITASCA." 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, George Brown, at Mo- 
 bile; Acting-Master, Richard Hustace; Acting-En- 
 signs, C. H. Hurd and James Igo; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, Henry Rockwood; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, George L. Mead; Acting - Master's Mate, 
 Henry Myron ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assist- 
 ant, M. H. Gerry; Acting - Third - Assistants, Owen 
 Raney and George C. Irelan. 
 
 Note. — List not given in Navy Register for Jan- 
 uary, and is, therefore, incomplete. 
 
 STOKE SHIP "POTOMAC.'' 
 
 Commander, Alex. Gibson ; Assistant - Surgeon, 
 Geo. R. Brush; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. 
 Wood; Chaplain, Robert Given; Captain of Marines, 
 Geo. W. Collier; Acting-Master, Geo. D. Upham; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Edwin Cressy and L. B. King ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, A. Whiting, W. H. Metz 
 and James Connell; Gunner, Henry Hamilton; Act- 
 ing-Carpenter, John C. Hoffman. 
 
 'STEAMER "MONONGAHEIiA." 
 
 Commander, James H. Strong ; Lieutenant, 
 Roderick Prentiss; Surgeon, David Kindleberger; 
 Assistant Paymaster, Forbes Parker; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, Ezra Leonard and Chas. Higgins; Ensign, G. M. 
 Brown; Acting-Ensigns, C. D. Sigsbee, D. W. Mul- 
 len and H. W. Grinnell; Acting-Master's Mate, W. 
 S. Armand; Chief Engineer, Geo. F. Kutz; Second- 
 Assistants, Joseph Trilly and N. B. Clark; Third- 
 Assistants, J. J. Bissett, Edw. Cheney, P. G. East- 
 wick and P. J. Langer; Boatswain, Wm. Green; 
 Gunner, J. D. Fletcher. 
 
 "steamer "metacomet." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James E. Jouett, at Mo- 
 bile ; Acting - Masters, Henry J. Sleeper, N. M. 
 Dyer and C. W. Wilson ; Acting-Ensigns, H. C. 
 Nields, G. E. Wing, John White and John O. Morse; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Horace M. Harriman; 
 Assistant Surgeon, Edw. D. Payne; Acting-Master's 
 
 Mates, J. K. Goodwin, Miller, Chas. C. Jones 
 
 and Henry Wyman ; Engineers : First - Assistant, 
 Jas. Atkins ; Second- Assistant, Joseph Morgan ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, S. W. King and George 
 B. Rodgers ; Acting - Gunners, James Lamen, at 
 Mobile, and Peter McGovern January 1 ). 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAR "PORTSMOUTH." 
 
 Commander, L. C. Sartori; Assistant-Surgeon, C. 
 S. Giberson; Assistant Paymaster, Caspar Sehenck; 
 First-Lieutenant of Marines, W. H. Hale ; Acting- 
 Masters, G. Richmond, John Wallace and Eben 
 Hoyt; Acting-Ensigns, John H. Allen and Abraham 
 Rich ; Acting-Master's Mates, T. H. Jenks, W. F. 
 Buel and Samuel Carpenter; Boatswain, John Ross; 
 Sailmaker, L. B. Wakeman. 
 
 * steamer " ONEIDA " 
 
 Commanders, J. B. M. Mullany, at Mobile, and 
 W. E. LeRoy; Lieutenant, C. L. Huntington ; Sur- 
 geon, John Y. Taylor; Paymaster, C. W. Hassler; 
 Acting-Masters, Thomas Edwards and Elijah Rose; 
 Ensign, E. N. Kellogg; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. Grid- 
 ley and John Sears ; Acting-Master's Mates, Ed- 
 ward Bird, D. H. Clark and Chas. Gainesford; 
 Chief Engineer, Wm. H. Hunt; Second- Assistants, 
 J. H. Morrison and R. H. Pitch ■ Third- Assistants, 
 ■JV. D. Mcllvaine and C. W. Breaker; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, W. E. Dearer and Nicholas Dillon; Boat- 
 swain, H, Dickinson; Gunner, Wm. Parker. 
 
 STEAMER "PRINCESS ROYAL." 
 
 Commander, M. B. Woolsey ; Lieutenant, C. E. 
 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, P. T. Morton; Acting- 
 Master, P. J. Grover; Acting-Ensigns, T. H. Paine 
 and P. A. Miller; Acting-Master's Mates, Freeman 
 Langly and W. E. Cannon; Engineers : Acting- 
 First - Assistant, Wm. Huntley ; Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, W. H. Thompson ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, Andrew Redmond, Charles Wolf and Peter 
 Taylor. 
 
 ■* steamer "SEMINOLE." 
 
 Commanders, E. Donaldson, at Mobile, and 
 Henry Rolando; Lieutenant, A. T. Mahan; Sur- 
 geon, Charles Martin ; Paymaster, T. T. Caswell ; 
 Acting-Master, C. G. Arthur; Ensign, G. K. Has- 
 well; Acting-Ensigns, P. A. Cook, G. B. Stevenson 
 and F. Kempton ; Acting-Master's Mates, D. K. 
 Perkins, J. P. Knowles and John Dennett ; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First- Assistant, C. B. Babcock ; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, A. R. Calden ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, Wm. Drinkwater, G. S. Thurston. P. J. 
 Hughes and H. M. Quig; Boatswain, Paul Atkin- 
 son; Acting-Gunner, Wm. H. Herring. 
 
 •STEAMBK "OCTORARA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commanders, C. H. Greene, at Mobile, 
 and W. W. liOW; Lieutenant, C. M. Schoonmaker; 
 Assistant-Surgeon, E. R. Dodge; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. H. Higbee ; Acting-Masters, E. A. 
 Howell and W. D. Urann; Acting-Ensigns, G. F. 
 Hollis, A. R. Jones and G. H. Dodge, Jr.; Engi- 
 neers: First-Assistant, J. W. Whittaker; Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, W. W. Shipman; Third-Assist- 
 ants, C. R. Morgan and J. G. Cooper; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant, Joseph Knight. 
 
 STEAMER "KANAWHA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander. Wm. K. Mayo; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, P. W. Brigham ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster. L. L. Penniman ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 L. 8. Trickett, W. A. Purdie and H. Banks; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, R. P. Boss and James Clark; En- 
 gineers: Second- Assistant, Edward Farmer; Third- 
 Assistants, W. S. Cherry, M. M. Murphy and M. 
 W. Mather. 
 
 STEAMER "GENESEE." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Edward C. Grafton; 
 Lieutenant, Thomas S. Spencer ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. F. Hutchinson; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, F. C. Alley; Acting-Masters, Wm. Hanson 
 and C. M. Merchant; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Baxter 
 and E. W. Halcro; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. 
 Crosby and John Conner; Engineers : Acting-Pirst- 
 Assistant, John Cahill; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 C. H. Harrab ; Acting - Third - Assistants, Christo- 
 pher Milton, Michael McLaughlin and Henry 
 Webster. 
 
 'STEAMER "GALENA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Wells, at Mobile; 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, C.W. Wilson; Acting- 
 Master, D. C. Kells: Acting-Ensigns, Henry Pease, 
 Jr., and S. S. Miner; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 George P. Wright ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Theo. S. Kitchen ; Acting-Master's Mates, Francis 
 Tuttle, Jas. H. Delano and O. H. Bobbins : En- 
 gineers: First- Assistant, Wm. H. Buehler : Second- 
 Assistants, C. H. Greenleaf and J. A. Scott; Acting- 
 Third - Assistants, Patrick Burns and William 
 Welcker; Captain's Clerk, Lesley G. Morrow. 
 
 STEAMER " OWASCO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, E. W. Henry; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, G. H. Van Deuseu; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, W. B; Coleman; Acting-Masters, 
 E. A. Terrill and T. B. Sears ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 T. H. Baker, W. H. Titcomb, and T. McL. Miller ; 
 Acting - Master's Mate, R. N. Eldridge ; Engineers : 
 Second - Assistant, F. S. Barlow ; Third - Assistant, 
 B. D. Clemens; Acting -Third -Assistants, T. H. 
 
598 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 STEAMER " KATAHDIN. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, P. C.Johnson; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, Ira Bragg; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. 
 S. Bradley; Acting-Ensigns, M. W. MoBntee, G. A. 
 Faunce, P". R. Maclaurin and George Leonard ; Act- 
 ing Master's Mate, Jolin Leeds; Engineers: Second- 
 Assistant, T W. Rae; Ttiird-Assistants, W. J. Reed, 
 W. W. Heaton, John Mclntyre and Thomas Tuttle. 
 
 *STBAMEB "POET EOTAL." 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, Bancroft Gherardi, at 
 Mobile; Lieutenant-Commander, George U. Morris; 
 Acting-Assistant-Surgeon, E. R. Hutchins ; Pay- 
 master, G. A. Sawyer; Acting-Masters, E. Van Slyck 
 and Edward Herricls; Acting-Ensigns, William Hull 
 and Peter Faunee ; Acting-Master's Mates, E. O. 
 Tyson, H. D. Baldwin and W. A. Prescott; En- 
 gineers: Second-Assistant, W. C. Selden ; Third- 
 Assistants, E. M. Breeze, F. B. Allen, Henry Snyder 
 and W. C. F. Reichenbach. 
 
 STBAMEE "CHOOUEA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Bancroft Gherardi; Act- 
 ing-Asistant Surgeon, B. F. Hamell; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, E. L. Turner; Acting-Master, Alfred 
 Washburn; Acting-Ensigns, D. M. Carver, Robert 
 Beardsley and T. T. Tracy; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. P. Atwood and Thomas Kennedy; Engineers: 
 Second-Assistant, H. H. Maloney; Third-Assistants, 
 Theodore Cooper, Andrew Blytheand N. H. Law- 
 ton; Acting-Third-Assistant, O. D. Hughes. 
 
 STBAMEK '-PEMBINA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, L. H. Newman; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Holmes; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Walter Fuller; Acting-Masters, Bowen 
 Allen and J. W. Saunders; Acting-Ensigns, William 
 Lyddon, B. M. Chester and Olof Sandstrom; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, H. T. Davis; Engineers: Second-As- 
 sistants, T. A. Stephens and J. W. Sydney; Third- 
 Assistants,, B. M. Hodgson, J. F. i3ingham and 
 C. F. Nagle. 
 
 STEAMER " PENOBSCOT." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. B. K. Benham; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. C. Sargent; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, F. H. Hinman; Acting-Master, C. 
 E. Jack; Acting-Ensigns, H. D. Edwards, F. W. 
 Hearn, J. B. Fairchild and W. G. Campbell; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. M. Rhodes; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, W. C. Barrett and A. E. McCon- 
 nell; Third-Assistants, Warren Howland and J. F. 
 Plant. 
 
 SLOOP-Or-WAE "VINCBNNES." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Greene; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, G. B. Slough; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 Samuel Jordan; Acting-Masters, J. T. Seare'r and A. 
 E. Hunter; Acting - Boatswain, A. O. Goodsoe; 
 Gunner, William Wilson; Sailmaker, N. Lynch. 
 
 *STEAMEE "KENNEBEC." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, W. P. McCann ; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, C. H. Perry ■ Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. L. Burnet; Acting-Master, Edward 
 Balier; Acting-Ensigns, A. L. Emerson, J. J. But- 
 ler, J. D. Ellis and H. E. Tinkham; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, H. C. Nields; Engineers: Third-Assistants, B. 
 C. Gowing, E. E. Roberts, L, W. Robinson and G. 
 R. Holt. 
 
 STEAMER " PINOLA " 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, O. F. Stanton; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, L. M. Lyon; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 A. B. Robinson; Acting-Master, W. P. Gibbs; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, C. V. Rummell, G. M. Bogart and H. 
 Crosby; Acting-Master's Mate, J. G. Rosling; Engi- 
 neers: First-Assistant, John Johnson; Third-Assist- 
 ants, John Everding, F. E. Hosmer, C. O. Farciot 
 and S. A. Appold. 
 
 STEAMER "CAYUGA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. H. Dana; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Parsons; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, J. N. Whiffen; Acting-Masters, E. D. 
 Percy and John Hanscom; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 F. P. Stevens, R. O. Longfare and I. A. Abbott; 
 Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. M. Harris; Third- 
 Assistants, W. A. H. Allen, J. C. Chaffee and Ralph 
 Aston. 
 
 STBAMEE "OAIiHOUN." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Geo. A. Bigelow; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, D. M. Skinner; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, D. W. Riddle; Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Clark 
 and J. M. Chadwick; Acting- Master's Mates, J. L. 
 Blauvelt, J. P. Sturgin and J. Mayo; Engineers; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, W. H. Brown, F. D. Stu- 
 art, Lucius Harlow and Richard Dwyer. 
 
 STEAMER "ESTEELLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. P. Cooke ; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Thomas Hiland ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, F. J. Painter ; Acting-Master, G. P. Pom- 
 eroy; Acting-Ensign, W. W. Duley; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, W. H. Wetmore and Thomas Kelly; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Second Assistant, R. G. Pope; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, G. R. Marble, W. D. Pancake, 
 J. F. Winters and John Gilbert. 
 
 STEAMER " NBW LONDON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Weld N. Allen; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. A. Chadwick; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, H. L. Sturgis; Acting-Ensigns, Edward Pen- 
 dexter and Eugene Biondi; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 Edward Hennessy and Francis Way; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second Assistant, H. P. Powers; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, Chas. Haskins, John Dunlap and 
 James Creery. 
 
 STEAMER ' ' AROOSTOOK. " 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, Chester Hatfield; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, H. W. Birkey ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. L. Pynchon ; Acting-Ensigns, J. S. 
 Rugs and J. Griffin ; Acting- Master's Mates, C. S. 
 Bellows, Wm. Barker and Edw. Culbert ; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-Second-Assistant, J. C. Cree; Third- 
 Assistants, James Entwistle, Samuel Gregg and 
 Nathan Brown. 
 
 STEAMER "SOIOTA." 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, George H. Perkins; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, E. P. Colby ; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. H. Lockwood; Acting- Master, 
 B. Van Voorhis; Acting-Ensigns, S. S. Beck, S. H. 
 Bevins and Geo. W. Coffin ; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 W. A. Osborne, Charles Atkins and Richard 
 Graham ; Engineers: Second-Assistant, Horace Mc- 
 Murtrie; Third-Assistants, A. H. Price, W. F. Pratt 
 and Daniel Dod. 
 
 STEAMER " ARKANSAS." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, David Gate ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, E. D. G. Smith; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, E. G. Bishop; Acting-Master, 
 James McDonald; Acting-Ensigns, B. F. Russell 
 and F. H. Beers; Acting-Master's Mates, T. S. Ran- 
 som, G. F. Carey and Roger Farrill; Engineers: 
 Acting-First- Assistant, James Blenkinsop; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, S. T. Reeves and Benjamin La 
 Bree; Acting-Third-Assistant, James Crooks. 
 
 STBAMEE 
 
 'ALBATROSS. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Theodore B. Du- 
 Bois; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, I. C. Whitehead; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. R. Martin; Acting- 
 Ensigns, R. E. Anson and Alfred Hornsby; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, James Brown, John Clark and J. 
 T. Thompson ; Engineers : Aeting-First-Assistant, 
 J. Tucker ; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. H. Slack, 
 J. Shields and J. Pearce. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 599 
 
 STEAMEB "J. P. JACKSON. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, L. W. Pennington; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. S. Yard ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. B. Perry; Acting-Masters, M. 
 B. Crowell and J. F. Dearborn ; Acting-Ensign, J. 
 S. Gellett ; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Howard 
 and Jer. Murphy ; Engineers : Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, J. C. Mockabee; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. D. Cadwell, T. W. Harding and James Look- 
 -wood. 
 
 STEAMEB "VIRGINIA." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles H. Brown; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, C. H. Mason; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, B. C. Bowman ; Acting- Mas- 
 ter, L. G. Cook; Acting-Ensigns, E. H. Thomas, J. 
 H. Rogers, A. F. West and N. A. Blume; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, F. E. Brackett; Engineers: Acting; 
 Second- Assistant, S. S. Glass; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, E. J. Gillespie, Charles Goodwin and E. M. 
 Clark. 
 
 STEAMER "PENGUIN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James R. Beers ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. D. White; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, T. C. Hutchinson ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, Tolford Durham ; Acting-Ensigns, Charles 
 Knowles, N. S. Hayden and Benj. Caullet; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Charles Smith, Jr., F. C. Almy 
 and W. A. Hannah; Engineers: Acting-First-As- 
 sistant, F. W. Warner ; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 Milton Randall; Acting -Third -Assistants, John 
 Webster, Edw. Reilly and DeWitt C. McBride. 
 
 STEAMEB "TENNESSEE." 
 
 Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, Pierre Giraud ; 
 Assistant-Surgeon, W. C. Hull ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, B. F. D. Fitch; Acting-Master, Geo. E. 
 Nelson; Acting Ensigns, J. B. Trott, W. S. Bacon 
 and Jos. Marthon; Acting-Master's Mate, H. E. 
 <5iraud ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, D. 
 Frazer; Acting-Second- Assistant, E. C. Maloy; Act- 
 ing-Third- Assistants, Thos. Fitzgerald, G. W. Kier- 
 sted and Thomas Campbell. 
 
 BAEK " W. G. ANDERSON." 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, John A. Johnstone; 
 Acting-Asssistant Surgeon, T. M. Drummond; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, T. S. Dabney; Acting- 
 Masters, J. P. Winchester and A. Cook ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, R. H. Gary, A. P. Sampson, S. H. New- 
 man and S. A. Brooks ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Bosville Davis, S. C. Heath, Charles Brown and 
 James Morgan. 
 
 BAEK "ARTHTTB." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, T. F. Wade; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, C. E. Mitchell ; Acting- 
 Masters, W. O. Lundt and S. Withington. 
 
 BBia "BOHIO." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, W. D. Roath; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, J. M. Skillman ; Acting- 
 Master, W. M. Stannard; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. 
 Baker and James Sheppard. 
 
 STEAMEB " ABIZONA." 
 
 Acting - Master, H. Tibbetts ; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, S. H. Weil ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 W.L. Darling; Acting-Ensigns, S. J. Butler andWm. 
 Harcourt; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Mallon and 
 T. P. Jones ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, 
 C. H. Harrington ; Acting-Second-Assistant, J. W. 
 Smyth ; Third - Assistants, J. E. Fallon and L. 
 Golden. 
 
 STEAMEB "ANTONA." 
 
 Acting-Master, A. L. B. Zerega; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, H. M. Whittemore; Acting-Ensigns, J. 
 A. Davis, J. F. Perkins, A. L. C. Bowie and H. L. 
 Ransom; Acting-Master's Mate, J. P. Cole; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First-Assistant, W. D. Adair; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, R. H. Alexander, Barna Cook 
 and P A TTni-H 
 
 STEAMER "GRANITE CITY." 
 
 Acting-Masters, C. W. Lamson and A. H. Atkin- 
 son ; Acting- Assistant Sui-geon, E. C. Ver Mulen ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, John Reed ; Acting 
 Ensigns, 8. R. Tyrrell and A. H. Berry; Acting Mas- 
 ter's Mates, T. R. Marshall, T. E. Ashmead and D. 
 Hall; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, S. Green; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, E. M. Schryver, J. H. 
 Rollins and R. H. Gordon. 
 
 STEAMER "JASMINE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. A. Maine; Acting-Ensign, 
 F. J. Brenton; Acting- Master's Mates, L. E. Heath 
 and F. W. Kimball; Engineers : Acting-Second-As- 
 sistant, Samuel Lemon; Third-Assistant, Jay Dins- 
 more; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. M. Cheeney and 
 J. H. Pelton. 
 
 STEAMER "HOLLYHOCK." 
 
 Acting- Master, Meltiah Jordan; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Lewis Milk ; Engineers : Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, J. F. Butler; Acting-Second-Assistants, Arthur 
 Clements and S. B. Rannells; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, G. S. Prvor and Arthur Irwin. 
 
 STEAMER "COMMODORE." 
 
 Acting- Master, John R. Hamilton; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, M. G. Nickerson and Richard Seward; 
 Engineers : Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Connell, 
 E. A. Hopkins and Sanford Curran. 
 
 STEAMEB "GERTRUDE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Henry C. Wade; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Adam Shirk; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 R. R. Brawley; Acting-Ensigns, Fred Newell, Wm. 
 Shepherd and Horace Walton; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, C. A. Osborne, Benj. Leeds and T. W. Jones; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second -Assistant, C. P. Maples; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, F. C. Murrey, Philip Ket- 
 ler and J. H. Nesson. 
 
 STEAMER "EUGENIE." 
 
 Acting - Ensign, N. M. Dyer; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, John Locke and Edmund Aiken; Engineers: 
 Acting - Second - Assistant, Wm. Morris; Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, W. L. Wallace. 
 
 SHIP "FEAR-NOT." 
 
 Acting-Master, D. S. Murphy; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymasters, T. E. Ryan and W. C. Cook; Acting- 
 Ensign, M. H. Karlowski; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 C. H. Blount and H. R. Rome. 
 
 SHIP " NIGHTINGALE." 
 
 Acting-Master, E. D. Bruner; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, JohnFlynn; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 H. D. Kimberly; Acting-Master's Mates, T. W. 
 Stevens and Alonzo Gowdy. 
 
 SHIP "KITTATINNY." 
 
 Acting-Master, I. D. Seyburn; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. Depue ; Acting-Ensigns, Henry 
 Jackson, G. H. Barry, N. J. Blasdell and W. H. 
 De Grosse; Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Brown, 
 W. H. Sprague and F. A. Johnson. 
 
 SHIP "PAMPERO." 
 
 Acting-Masters, F. E. EUis and A. H. Mitchell; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Langley; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. 8. Wheeler. 
 
 BARK "J. O. KUHN." 
 
 Acting-Master, John F. Hardin ; Acting-En- 
 signs, J. P. Pearson and Alex. Hanson. 
 
 BARKBNTINE "HORACE BEALS." 
 
 Acting-Master, D. P. Heath; Acting - Master's 
 Mate, Francis Keenan; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Ichabod Norton. 
 
 BRIG " SBAFOAM." 
 
 Acting-Master, D. C. Woods; Acting - Master's 
 Mntp freora-e Woodland. 
 
600 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 YACHT "COBYPHETJS. 
 
 Acting-Master, Francis H. Grove; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. H . Gregory and H . H . Nicholson. 
 
 SCHOONER "MABIA WOOD " 
 
 Acting-Master, S. C. Cruse; Acting-Ensign, J. J. 
 Kane; Acting-Master's Mate, Cliarles Fort. 
 
 SCHOONEB "OHVETTA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Bnos O. Adams; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, John Broe and Stephen Nelson. 
 
 SCHOONER "JOHN ORIITITHS." 
 
 Acting - Master, Henry Brown ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Alex. Moses and John McAUister. 
 
 SCHOONER "SAMUEL HOUSTON." 
 
 Acting- Master, C. W. Pratt. 
 
 SCHOONER "SARAH BRTJBN." 
 
 Acting-Master, A. Christian. 
 
 SCHOONER "HENBT JANES." 
 
 Acting-Ensign. Joseph A. Chad wick; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, T. S. Russell, Zach. Predmore and Wm. 
 Roberts. 
 
 SCHOONER "OIiIVEE H. IiEB." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Douglas F. O'Brien; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, Cornelius Dailey. 
 
 NAVAL STATION, NEW ORLEANS, LA. 
 
 Acting-Master, Adrien C. Starrett. 
 
 NAVAL HOSPITAL. 
 
 Surgeon, J. S. Dungan; Assistant Surgeon, J. H. 
 Clark; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 'W. H. Went- 
 worth. 
 
 SOUTHWEST PASS. 
 
 Acting- Master, William Jones. 
 
 THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE 
 
 OF MOBILE BAY. 
 
 This list has been compiled from the official reports of the battle. The Navy Register for January 1, 1864, does not give them as part of the 
 West Gulf Blockading Squadron, and they were., therefore, omitted in their proper places. 
 
 FLAG-SHIP "HARTFORD. 
 
 Lieutenant, A. R. Yates, Volunteer from the 
 "Augusta"; Ensign, Wm. Starr Dana; Acting- 
 Ensign, R. D. Bogart ; Acting -Ensign, Joseph 
 Marthon * " Tennessee ") ; Surgeon, Philip Lansdale ; 
 Acting- Assisting Engineer, Win. G. McEwan ; Ad- 
 miral's Secretary, A. McKinley ; Carpenter, George 
 E. Burcham. 
 
 "LACKAWANNA." 
 
 Acting-Master, John H. Allen ; Ensign, Clarence 
 Rath bone ; First - Assistant Engineer, ^Tames W. 
 Whittaker. 
 
 " MONONGAHELA. " 
 
 Lieutenant, Oliver A. Batcheller ; Acting-Ensign, 
 J. D. Ellis, ("Kennebec") 
 
 "OGTOBABA." 
 
 Acting-Masters, H. R. Billings ("Vincennes") and 
 Horace S. Young ; Acting -Ensign, Maurice W. Mc- 
 Entee ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Pyn- 
 chon ; Acting-First- Assistant Engineer, Wm. W. 
 Shipman had charge of Engineer's Department. 
 
 " KENNEBEC." 
 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Geo. W. Hatch. 
 
 " ONEIDA." 
 
 Lieutenant, Chas. S. Cotton ; Acting-Ensign, 
 
 Hall ; Acting- Master's Mate, John Devereux ; As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Geo. R. Martin ; Pilot, John V. 
 Grivet ; Paymaster's Clerk, W. P. Treadwell ; Cap- 
 tain's Clerk, G. A. Ebbetts. 
 
 "MANHATTAN." 
 
 Commander, J. W. A. Nicholson ; Lieutenant, 
 C. M. Schoonmaker ; Acting- Master, Robert B. 
 Ely ; Acting Ensign, John B. Trott ; Acting-First- 
 Assistant Engineer, Chas. L. Carty. [Notb. — A 
 more complete list cannot be obtained.] 
 
 "TECtTMSBH. 
 
 *Commander, Tunis A. M. Craven ; *Lietitenant. 
 J. W. Kelly ; Acting Master, C. F. Langley ; Acting- 
 Master, Gardner Cottrell ; Acting-Ensign, Jolm 
 J. P. Zettick ; "Acting Ensign, Robert Price ; ♦Act- 
 ing Ensign, Walter L. Titcomb ; Pilot, John Col- 
 lins ; 'Acting- Assistant Paymaster, George Work ; 
 *Chief Engineer, John Farron ; 'Second -Assistant 
 Engineers, Elisha Harsen, F. S. Barlow and H. L. 
 Leonard. [*Drowned by sinking of "Tecumseh."] 
 
 "BROOKLYN." 
 
 Captain, James Alden ; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 E. P. Lull ; Lieutenants, Thomas L. Swann and 
 Chas. P. Blake ; Ensigns, Douglass R. Cassell, 
 Chas. D. Sigsbee and C. H. Pendleton ; Acting-En- 
 sign, John Utter; Chief Engineer, Mortimer Kel- 
 logg ; Acting - Third - Assistant Engineer, H. H. 
 Arthur ; Surgeon, George Maulsby ; Captain of Ma- 
 rines, G. P. Houston ; Captain, E. Denicke, U. 8. 
 A. I Signal Officer) ; Pilot, Christopher Lawrence ; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, Wm. H. Cook, F. C. Dun- 
 can and A. L. Stevens ; Paymaster's Clerk, 
 
 Baker ; Boatswain, Chas. A. Bragdon ; Acting- 
 Gunner, John Quevedo ; Carpenter, R. G. Thomas; 
 Sailmaker, D. C. Brayton. [Note. — A more com- 
 plete list cannot be obtained.] 
 
 "WINNEBAGO." 
 
 Commander, Thomas H. Stevens ; Acting-Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant, Wm. T. Shankland ; First-Assist- 
 ant Engineer, John Purdy ; Pilot, Wm. H. Wroten; 
 Acting-Gunner, Robert Sherman. [Note.— A more 
 complete list cannot be obtained.] 
 
 "CHICKASAW." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Geo. H. Perkins; Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant, William Hamilton ; Act- 
 ing Master, E. D. Percy ; Gunner, J. A. McDonald. 
 [Note. — A more complete list cannot be ob- 
 tained] 
 
CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE "SUMTER" AND THE HAVOC SHE COMMITTED. 
 
 Granting Belligerent Rights.— The Policy op England and France. — Semmes' 
 Reputation. — The Commissioning of the "Sumter," the First Confederate Ship- 
 op- War. — The " Sumter" runs the Blockade op the Mississippi, pursued by the 
 "Brooklyn." — Semmes Displays the British Ensign. ^ The Merchant - ship 
 "Golden Rocket " Captured and Burned Off Isle of Pines. — A Brilliant Scene. 
 — Capture op Two Brigantines; one escapes, the other taken into the Harbor 
 OP Cienpuegos. — Capture of the "Ben Dunning," "Albert Adams," "West 
 Wind," "Louisa Killum," and "Naiad." — The Prizes taken to Cienpuegos, 
 and Released by Order of the Spanish Authorities. — Semmes' Letter to the 
 Governor. — The Governor of Curacoa brought to Terms by the Explosion op 
 A Shell. — Capture of the "Abby Bradford." — Puerto Cabello, and what Oc- 
 curred There. — The "Abby Bradford" Recaptured by the U. S. Steamer 
 "Powhatan." — Capture of the "Joseph Maxwell." — President Lincoln's Proc- 
 lamation. — The " Sumter " at the Island of Trinidad. — Semmes' Absolute 
 Authority. — Order of the Confederate Secretary op War. — The "Sumter "at 
 Cayenne and Paramaribo. — The "Powhatan" in Close Pursuit. — The "Sumter" 
 Thoroughly Equips at Maranham. — The Governor's Courtesy to Semmes. — 
 Discourtesy shown to the Officers of the U. S. Steamer " Powhatan." — The 
 "Joseph Parke" Captured and Burned. — Capture op the Schooner "Daniel 
 Trowbridge." — The "Sumter" at Martinique. — U. S. Steamer "Iroquois" Block- 
 ades THE "Sumter." — The "Sumter" Escapes. — Capture op the "Arcadia," 
 " Vigilant," and " Ebenezer Dodge."— The " Sumter " Crosses the Atlantic. — Ar- 
 rival AT Cadiz. — Ordered to Leave. — The Ships " Neapolitan" and " Investiga- 
 tor" Captured and Burned. — The "Sumter" at Gibraltar. — Crowded with 
 Visitors. — The "Sumter" in Trouble. — Correspondence between Semmes and 
 THE Authorities. — Semmes' Paymaster Arrested. — The "Sumter" Laid Up and 
 Sold. 
 
 IN granting belligerent rights to the 
 Confederates, the United States Gov- 
 ernment not only yielded the claim 
 that the secessionists were merely 
 armed insurgents, but also yielded the right 
 to the latter to fit out cruisers to prey on 
 Northern commerce, for it was impossible 
 to prescribe a mode of warfare for the 
 Confederates to adopt. This view was also 
 taken by the leading nations of Europe, 
 who gave in many instances all the aid and 
 comfort to the Confederate cruisers it was 
 possible to extend. England permitted the 
 Confederates to build and equip vessels in 
 her ports and enlist English seamen, and 
 
 over the ocean, plundering and destroy- 
 ing Federal merchant-ships. 
 
 Whether this policy of the British Gov- 
 ernment will be of any benefit to Great 
 Britain in the end is doubtful, for, in 
 case she should become involved in war, 
 the same tactics, which were so effective 
 against the United States, might be made 
 even more disastrous to herself. The cap- 
 tures by these Confederate cruisers were 
 finally paid for by the British Government, 
 but such payments can only partially com- 
 pensate the ship-owners or the country. 
 The greatest damage, the interruption or 
 destruction of trade, and the expense to 
 
602 
 
 TliJi JVAl'AL JtilUlVKI 
 
 put in pursuing the cruisers, was never 
 taken into account. No one seemed to 
 think of the encouragement this wholesale 
 destruction of American commerce gave 
 the Confederates, who depended as much 
 on that circumstance to bring about a peace 
 as they did upon their armies. 
 
 In recognizing these cruisers. Great 
 Britain and France were encouraging a 
 kind of predatory warfare unknown in 
 recent days. The Confederates, having no 
 ports into which to send their prizes, burned 
 or sank them wherever taken, so that their 
 course was marked by burning hulls and 
 
 and it may not be uninteresting to give a 
 sketch of his career. 
 
 While in the United States Navy, Semmes 
 had little reputation as an officer. He had 
 no particular taste for his profession, but 
 had a fondness for literature and was a good 
 talker and writer. He made a study of the 
 law, and had he devoted himself to the legal 
 profession would doubtless have been very 
 successful. He was indolent and fond of 
 his comfort, so that altogether his associ- 
 ates in the Navy gave him credit for very 
 little energy. 
 
 What was, then, the astonishment of his 
 
 COMMANDER (ATTERWAKDS EEAB-ADMIEAL) RAPHAEL SEMMES, C. S. NAVY. 
 
 floating debris. Their Courts of Admiralty 
 were on the high seas, and the commanding 
 officers were the judges whether to destroy 
 vessel and cargo or to transfer the latter to 
 their own holds. Whether portions of val- 
 uable cargoes were sold in neutral ports, for 
 the purpose of procuring coal and other 
 supplies, is a point not fuUj^ ascertained ; 
 but it is not likely that men in command 
 of cruisers, whose legality was somewhat 
 doubtful, should be over-scrupulous of the 
 means by which to carry out their cherished 
 objects. 
 
 Captain Raphael Semmes, in the " Ala- 
 bama," was perhaps the most vindictive of 
 all the officers of the Confederate Navy, 
 
 old companions to find that Semmes was 
 pursuing a course that required the great- 
 est skill and vigor ; for there never was a 
 naval commander who in so short a time 
 committed such depredations on an enemy's 
 commerce, or who so successfully eluded 
 the vessels sent in pursuit of him, up to the 
 time of the sinking of the " Alabama." 
 
 Semmes was the last man to have em- 
 barked in the business of destroying North- 
 ern commerce, for during his service in the 
 war with Mexico he wrote an interesting 
 book, giving an insight into the character 
 of the Mexican people. At the time of his 
 writing this book, tne Mexican Government 
 was discussing the project of issuing letters 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 603 
 
 of marque to vessels, authorizing them to 
 prey upon the commerce of the United 
 States. Lieutenant Semmes took the ground 
 that all such cruisers should be treated as 
 pirates, since they had no ports into which 
 they could take captured vessels, but must 
 destroy them on the high seas. The events 
 of 1861-65 changed Semmes' opinions, and 
 the convictions he so strongly maintained 
 up to the year 1861 vanished when he was 
 offered a vessel by which he could inflict 
 damage on United States commerce, with 
 the prospect of high reward in the future 
 for his services in burning and sinking. 
 
 We wish, in our narrative, to be just to 
 all parties, but we cannot justify Semmes' 
 course, even although he may have had a 
 shadow of international law to plead in his 
 defence. He might have joined the Southern 
 Army or Navy, as many others did, and 
 fought to the utmost of his ability, and no- 
 thing would now be laid against him; but for 
 a man born under the Stars and Stripes, and 
 who had spent the greater part of his life to 
 middle age in holding himself ready to de- 
 fend the flag, to turn and bend all his ener- 
 gies to the destruction of Federal unarmed 
 merchant vessels, there seems to be no jus- 
 tification. It would have been better to 
 have left that part of the Confederate war 
 operations to some of the enthusiastic mer- 
 chant captains of the South who honestly 
 believed in the secession theory, and were 
 not bound by a solemn oath to support the 
 Constitution and laws of the United States. 
 
 Commander Semmes asserted that he with- 
 drew his oath of allegiance to the United 
 States because he considered the Southern 
 States had a right to dissolve partnership 
 with those of the North. He believed the 
 South to have had greater justification than 
 had the United Colonies when they declared 
 their independence of Great Britain. The 
 South had no actual grievances. They 
 wished to extend their slave system, which 
 was objected to by the North, and by the 
 election of a Republican President they 
 were ruled out of power held for twenty 
 years, and given to understand that there 
 should be no further extension of slavery, 
 which the vast majority of Northern people 
 considered a blot on our escutcheon. 
 
 It was Semmes' duty as an officer of the 
 Government to help put down insurrection 
 in whatever quarter or in whatever shape 
 it might appear, for armies and navies are. 
 intended for such purposes as well as for 
 carrying on war with foreign enemies. 
 What would become of any Government in 
 Europe if, at the breaking out of an insur- 
 rection, the military forces should object to 
 serving against their compatriots ? An 
 officer of the Army or Navy who has en- 
 gaged to support the de facto Government 
 of the country can lav no claim to allegi- 
 
 ance to State or city, and if he violates his 
 oath to support the Government he sim- 
 ply becomes a traitor and liable to the pen- 
 alty of death. Commander Semmes could 
 hardly have expected to draw fifty thou- 
 sand dollars or more in pay from the United 
 States Government — which is about the 
 amount he received up to the date of his 
 resignation — and then at the first speck of 
 trouble go off and fight against it. His case 
 is much worse than that of a private 
 citizen whose interests are bound up in a 
 particular locality, and who owes no special 
 allegiance to the General Government ex- 
 cept such as may be dictated by the im- 
 pulses of patriotism. 
 
 Being a native of Maryland, Semmes had 
 not even the excuse of siding with his State, 
 for if he had he would have fought against 
 the South. This difficulty he easily skips 
 , over by claiming to be a citizen of Alabama, 
 yet he stigmatizes, as "traitors to their 
 States " officers of Southern birth who re- 
 mained loyal to the Union. Semmes has 
 published what he doubtless considered a 
 masterly argument in defence of his cause; 
 but, although he speaks of Webster and 
 Story with great contempt, he was hardly 
 equal to eitlier of them as a constitutional 
 lawyer, and the secession fallacy has been 
 SO thoroughly exposed that we have no fears 
 of another civil war based on State Rights 
 theories. 
 
 Commander Semmes resigned his com- 
 mission in the United States Navy on the 
 15th of February, 1861, and made the best 
 of his way to the capitol of the Southern 
 Confederacy, temporarily fixed at Mont- 
 gomery, Alabama. On his arrival he put 
 himself in communication with Mr. Conrad, 
 Chairman of the Confederate States Naval 
 Committee, and when President Davis 
 reached the city, a few days afterwards, 
 offered his services to the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment. They were at once accepted, and 
 Semmes proceeded to Washington, after a 
 visit to Richmond and Harper's Ferry, to 
 ascertain the character of certain ma- 
 chinery at the latter place, in anticipation 
 of the enlargement of the Tredagar Works 
 at Richmond, for the South meant war from 
 the beginning, in case of any attempt on 
 the part of the Northern States to prevent 
 them from carrying out their designs. 
 
 When the Confederate Government had 
 been fairly organized, they found them- 
 selves badly suppliea with materials from 
 which to improvise a Navy, and Semmes 
 here ma-de himself useful, being the first to 
 propose " a well-organized system of pri- 
 vate armed ships called privateers." Mr. 
 Mallory, the Confederate Secretary of the 
 Navy, readily agreed to all that Commander 
 Semmes proposed ; for the latter, being 
 much the cleverer man of the two. provided 
 
604 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the Secretary with ideas which he was only 
 too willing to accept. 
 
 A Board of Confederate naval officers as- 
 sembled in New Orleans charged with the 
 duty of procuring, as speedily as possible, 
 sonie swift, light-armed steamers that could 
 be used to prey upon Northern commerce ; 
 and the Federal Navy was in such a dis- 
 organized condition that the Confederate 
 Government might well feel secure in 
 sending out these light cruisers, for they 
 would hardly meet with any interference 
 until they had swept the whole Northern 
 coast. 
 
 Several vessels were examined by the 
 Board, among them was a 500-ton sea- 
 steamer with a speed of ten knots, but with 
 capacity for but five days' coal, and with no 
 accommodations for the crew required by a 
 vessel-of-war. She was condemned by the 
 Board, and the report sent to the Secretary 
 of the Navy, who showed it to Commander 
 Semmes. The latter at once exclaimed : 
 " Give me that ship, I think I can make her 
 answer the purpose." The request was 
 granted, and officers were at once detailed 
 to accompany Semmes on his cruise for the 
 destruction of Northern commerce. 
 
 Semmes was certainly the very man the 
 Confederates wanted for the occasion. He 
 manifested no doubts of success with the 
 vessel, and seemed to have no fear of the 
 consequences. The inertness he had dis- 
 played while in the United States Navy 
 had disappearad ; he had become a new 
 man. "The labors and associations of a 
 lifetime had been inscribed in a volume 
 that had been closed, and a new book, 
 whose pages were as yet all blank, had 
 been opened." Semmes' volume, we might 
 also add, though containing matter suffi- 
 cient for a dozen books, embraced not 
 an account of one act of bravery or gen- 
 erosity, but only records of burning, sink- 
 ing, and destroying, worthy of the bucca- 
 neers. 
 
 Semmes was appointed to command the 
 " Sumter " with the rank of commander, 
 the same rank that he had held in the 
 United States Navy, for the Confederates 
 were slow in conferring increased rank 
 until sure that their oflBcers had earned a 
 reward. The following order from Mr. 
 Mallory was sent to Semmes the day after 
 his interview with that gentlemen : 
 
 confbdbra.tb states of america, ) 
 Navy Department. \ 
 
 Montgomery, April 18, 1861. S 
 Sir — You ai-e hereby detached from duty as 
 Chief of tlie Light-house Bureau, and will proceed 
 to New Orleans and take command of the steamer 
 " Sumter "—named in honor of our recent victory 
 over Fort Sumter. The following officers have 
 been ordered to report to you for duty : Lieuten- 
 ants John M. Kell, R. T. Chapman, J. M. Stribling 
 and William T. Evans ; Paymaster Henry Myers ■ 
 Surgeon Francis L. Gait ; Midshipmen Wm. A. 
 
 Hicks, Richard P. Armstrong, Albert G. Hudgins, 
 John F. Holden and Joseph D. Wilson. 
 I am respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 8. R. Mallort, 
 Secretary of the Nwoy. 
 
 On the 22d of April, Semmes took com- 
 mand of his vessel in New Orleans. The 
 " Sumter " was simply a coasting steamer, 
 cumbered with upper cabins, and with ap- 
 parently none of the attributes of a ship- 
 of-war. Who would imagine that so much 
 harm lurked in that frail vessel ? though 
 her graceful lines and jaunty air pleased 
 her commander, who seemed to have had 
 a vivid idea of the destruction he could 
 accomplish with this little craft. 
 
 Frenchmen are popularly supposed to be 
 prone to revolution, and the enthusiasm of 
 the French population of Louisiana had 
 been early excited at the idea of the seces- 
 sion of the Southern States. Almost im- 
 mediately, preparations were made by un- 
 authorized persons to prey upon United 
 States commerce, and several vessels were 
 captured and taken to New Orleans. The 
 Federal Government became alarmed at 
 the probable consequences of a wholesale 
 system of privateering, and President Lin- 
 coln at once issued his Proclamation. 
 
 As soon as it became evident that hos- 
 tilities had broken out between the United 
 States and the seceding members of the 
 Union, European Governments, with singu- 
 lar unanimity, declared their neutrality be- 
 tween the contending parties, and their 
 intention to treat both alike ; viz., that 
 neither United States nor Confederate 
 cruisers should take their prizes into neu- 
 tral ports. At first sight, this looked like a 
 concession to the United States, as it ex- 
 cluded Confederate prizes from European 
 ports ; but it was really the other way, 
 since it recognized the Confederates as bel- 
 ligerents. Commander Semmes was shrewd 
 enough to know what this arrangement 
 portended, and such was his confidence 
 that he made a requisition before sailing 
 simplj^ for the modest amount of ten thou- 
 sand dollars, saying, " This will suflBce 
 until I have the opportunity of replenishing 
 my military chest from the enemy." How 
 readily he adopted that word "enemy," 
 when scarcely three months from the ser- 
 vice of the Government that had fostered 
 him for thirty-six years ! We may be too 
 sentimental on this point, but, no doubt, 
 our feelings will be shared by many of our 
 readers. 
 
 There was no end to Semmes' trials and 
 disappointments in his task of fitting out 
 the "Sumter," and the patience and energy 
 he exhibited were worthy of a better cause. 
 On June 3d, 1861, the ship was put in com- 
 mission, and her commander gazed proudly 
 on the " Stars and Bars " floating from her 
 peak. Having received his sailing orders, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 605 
 
 Semmes dropped down to the forts prepara- 
 tory to getting to sea past the blockading 
 vessels at the mouths of the Mississippi — the 
 "Powhatan," Lieutenant D. D. Porter, at 
 Southwest Pass, and the "Brooklyn," Com- 
 mander Charles H. Poor, at Pass a I'Outre. 
 Semmes' sailing orders were brief and to the 
 purpose. He was to burn, sink and destroy, 
 within the limits prescribed by the laws of 
 nations, and with due attention to the laws 
 of humanity. After long watching and 
 waiting, Semmes made his escape to sea by 
 the Pass a I'Outre, while the "Brooklyn" 
 was absent from that mouth of the river in 
 chase of a vessel some eight miles to west- 
 ward. As soon as the black smoke of the 
 " Sumter" was seen coming down the river, 
 the "Brooklyn" started to return to her 
 anchorage, and had nearly the same dis- 
 tance as the ' ' Sumter " to run before reach- 
 ing the bar, but the latter vessel had the ad- 
 vantage of a four-knot current in her favor, 
 while the "Brooklyn" had the current 
 against her. 
 
 The "Sumter " with a skillful pilot passed 
 the bar while the "Brooklyn" was three 
 and a half miles distant from it, and out 
 of gun-shot. The engineers and firemen 
 of both vessels did their whole duty, and 
 thick volumes of smoke poured from the 
 chimneys. The "Sumter" went off at the 
 rate of nine and a half knots, while the 
 " Brooklyn," to assist her speed, set every 
 sail that would draw. The "Sumter" also 
 set her sails, bracing them up sharp on the 
 starboard-tack. 
 
 The " Brooklyn " was at this time a little 
 on the weather quarter of the " Sumter," 
 and as Semmes knew he could lay closer to 
 the wind than his pursuer, having the ad- 
 vantage of larger fore-and-aft sail, he re- 
 solved to hold his wind so closely as to 
 compel the " Brooklyn " to furl her sails, 
 although this would carry him athwart her 
 bows and bring him perhaps a little nearer 
 for the next half -hour or so. A rain squall 
 now enveloped the two vessels, hiding them 
 from each other ; but as the squall passed 
 away and the sloop-of-war reappeared, she 
 seemed to Semmes to be much nearer, and 
 he began to think his chance of escape very 
 dubious. As Semmes stood looking at the 
 " Brooklyn " coming on astern, he could not 
 but admire the majesty of her appearance, 
 with her broad flaring bow and clean, beau- 
 tiful run, with her masts and yards as taunt 
 and square as can only be seen in a ship-of- 
 war. The Stars and Stripes appeared from 
 time to time under the lee of the spanker, 
 and with a glass a crowd of officers could 
 be seen on the quarter - deck apparently 
 watching the efforts of the "Sumter" to 
 escape. 
 
 As the "Brooklyn" still gained on the 
 Conffidprntfi vrssaI Sfimmfis nrdfirfld the 
 
 paymaster to prepare to throw his iron 
 chest and all its contents overboard, an in- 
 cident which shows what gloomy forebod- 
 ings must have possessed him when he was 
 ready to sacrifice the precious treasure 
 which was to aid him in his career of de- 
 struction. Coming from fresh into salt 
 water had caused the "Sumter's" boilers 
 to " foam," which circumstance prevented 
 her for a while from getting up as good a 
 supply of steam as would otherwise have 
 been the case; but at the crisis of the chase 
 the foaming ceased, and the engineer re- 
 ported the engine working beautifully. At 
 the same time, the breeze freshened and 
 favored the "Sumter;" and what was more, 
 the latter was eating the " Brooklyn " out 
 of the wind, yet the latter vessel did not 
 fire a gun. 
 
 Semmes naturally supposed that as soon 
 as the "Brooklyn" fell in his wake she 
 would furl her sails, and this shortly came 
 to pass, and for the first time Semmes began 
 to breathe a little easy. He had feared that, 
 instead of pursuing a career of destruction, 
 he would be taken prisoner and tried for 
 violating the President's proclamation, 
 while his little cruiser would be turned into 
 a Yankee blockader. But Semmes' good 
 fortune — or perhaps we might rather say 
 his evil fortune — decreed otherwise. The 
 "Brooklyn " was under sail to royals when 
 suddenly every sail in the ship was clewed 
 up at once, the yards came down together 
 and the men laid out to furl. In less than 
 three minutes every stitch of canvas had 
 vanished. If the crew of the " Brooklyn " 
 had had any visions of prize-money, they 
 evaporated a few minutes after this beauti- 
 ful evolution which even the Confederate 
 officers admired. In their hearts they could 
 not help being proud of the skill and disci- 
 pline of " the Old Navy," and comparing 
 the seamen of the service they had aban- 
 doned with the heterogeneous crew of the 
 "Sumter," that they had not yet time to 
 discipline. 
 
 It seems strange to us, as it did to Semmes, 
 that this beautiful evolution of the " Brook- 
 lyn" was not followed by a ricochet-shot 
 from the bow gun of that ship, for the 
 Confederates evidently thought themselves 
 within range; but not a shot was fired dur- 
 ing the pursuit. This was perhaps one of the 
 most exciting cha.ses of the war. Semmes 
 knew perfectly well the exact speed of 
 the "Brooklyn," which was about the same 
 as that of the " Sumter," and believed if he 
 could hold his own until dark that he could 
 elude his enemy after nightfall ; but he 
 never expected the " Brooklyn" to abandon 
 the chase as long as the ' ' Sumter " remained 
 in sight. 
 
 When the sloop of- war furled her sails 
 the "Sumter" bea-an to draw slie-htlv 
 
606 
 
 THE NAVAL HTSTORV 
 
 ahead, as steam was crowded on her boil- 
 ers almost to the bursting point. Then the 
 engineer reported the journals as heating 
 so much that the brasses would soon melt. 
 That meant capture, and all waited for the 
 first shot from the "Brooklyn," announcing 
 that their fate was sealed. No shot came, 
 and the "Sumter" still gained, if only a 
 trifle. Just then the "Brooklyn" put her 
 helm a-starboard, went around in the op- 
 posite direction and abandoned the chase, 
 returning to Pass a I'Outre, where there 
 was no longer anything to blockade, as the 
 bird had flown ; while the " Sumter " slowed 
 her engines until the journals cooled down, 
 and her crew gave three cheers for the Con- 
 federate flag. The shades of night soon hid 
 the vessel from any possible pursuit. 
 
 Many were the criticisms on the escape 
 of the "Sumter," which, as they may do 
 injustice, we will not here repeat. Naval 
 officers, as a rule, are disposed to give 
 credit for skill and gallantry from whatever 
 quarter it may come, and all agreed that 
 Semmes' escape in the "Sumter" was a 
 bold and dashing adventure. 
 
 Great latitude had been given Semmes in 
 his instructions, and his plan was to make a 
 cruise upon the coast of Cuba, destroy all 
 American shipping he could meet with in 
 that quarter, coal at some convenient point, 
 and finally proceed to Brazil. Accordingly, 
 the "Sumter" steamed along the coast of 
 Cuba, in the direct track of vessels bound 
 for the Gulf, and while between the coast and 
 the Isle of Pines two sail were reported in 
 sight, both standing in the same direc- 
 tion with the Confederate. When within 
 signal distance, the British ensign was dis- 
 played by the latter, and the nearest ves- 
 sel proving to be a Spanish brig, was per- 
 mitted to proceed. The other, though she 
 showed no colors, was soon discovered to 
 be an American, and a shot was fired — the 
 first that was fired afloat by ex-naval oflScers 
 at an American vessel. The "hateful" 
 Stars and Stripes were soon run up to the 
 stranger's peak, but it awoke no sentiment 
 of remorse or regret in the bosoms of the 
 "Sumter's" officers. Every noble senti- 
 ment was sacrificed to a wild idea which 
 was mistaken for duty. 
 
 It is impossible for us to understand the 
 feeling of joy and exultation that was 
 evinced at the capture of the first American 
 merchant ship, unarmed and helpless. This 
 first prize, Semmes records, was from the 
 " Black Republican State of Maine, " and 
 when her flag was hoisted — the flag which 
 Semmes had been educated to venerate, but 
 which now seemed the very incarnation of 
 all that was hateful — the " Sumter" showed 
 at her peak the emblem of the Confederacj-, 
 a flag which might easily have been mis- 
 taken for that of Hay ti or the Society Islands, 
 
 whose cruisers if met upon the high seas 
 would be naturally objects of suspicion. To 
 Semmes, the Stars and Stripes appeared to 
 look abashed in the presence of the latest 
 symbol of Southern sovereignty, " as a 
 burglar might be supposed to feel who had 
 been caught in the act of looking into a 
 gentleman's house." Some of our readers 
 may differ in opinion with the gallant cap- 
 tain and think that the hiaster of the mer- 
 chant vessel had a right to be astonished in 
 finding a cruiser, which he supposed to be 
 policing the seas, turn out a marauder. 
 Semmes avers that he felt some pity for the 
 captain of the merchantman, but this senti- 
 ment was not in sufficient quantity to delay 
 his doom. 
 
 The master of the vessel, a mild, amiable- 
 looking man, when he found into what 
 hands he had fallen, merely expressed his 
 surprise at the appearance of the Confed- 
 erate fiag in Cuban waters. The name of 
 the prize was the "Golden Eocket," an ap- 
 propriate one, for she would go off in a 
 blaze, and be remembered in history as the 
 first illegal prize made by a Confederate 
 vessel-of-war — for Semmes had no more 
 right to capture her than he had to seize 
 the Spanish vessel he first encountered. 
 Semmes at the time was simply an insur- 
 gent like Lopez, the Cuban " fillibuster," 
 who was garotted in the plaza at Havana, 
 (because belligerent rights had not been ac- 
 corded him,) and he was under the ban of 
 proclamation. 
 
 By sunset the wind had died away, and 
 the night came on of such pitchy darkness 
 as would seem emblematical of the deed 
 about to be committed. The crew of the 
 " Golden Rocket," and everything onboard 
 the vessel needed by the "' Sumter," had 
 been transferred to that vessel. The boat 
 which had been sent on the errand of de- 
 struction pulled out of sight, and neither 
 ship nor boat could be seen by the watchers 
 who crowded the decks of the "' Sumter," 
 although but a few yards distant. Sud- 
 denly one of the crew of the "Sumter" 
 exclaimed. "She is on fire!" 
 
 The decks of the doomed vessel were of 
 pine, the seams caulked with oakum and 
 payed with pitch, while her forecastle was 
 stored with paints and oil, therefore the 
 flames leaped at once into the darkness. 
 The boarding officer had done his work like 
 an adept, and applied the torch in several 
 parts of the ship, and the flames rushed up 
 through three apertures, lighting up the 
 scene as plainly as if the drama had been 
 enacted on the stage of a theatre. The 
 masts and hull of the "Sumter" were re- 
 flected on the mirror-like sea, and the dense 
 columns of smoke ascending to the skies 
 seemed like a grand funeral pyre. The rush 
 of air into the hold of the burning ship ad- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR, 
 
 607 
 
 ded every moment new fury to the flames, 
 which now ascended to the trucks, raging 
 Uke a mighty furnace in full blast. The 
 ship had been laid to with her maintopsail 
 to the mast, and all her light canvass was 
 flying loose about the yards, the headsails 
 hanging from the booms, and the forked 
 tongues of flame ran rapidly up the shrouds 
 and from the tops to the light sails flut- 
 tering in the breeze. A topgallantsail or 
 royal all on fire would now fly off from the 
 yard and settle upon the surface of the sea 
 like some flery albatross, then followed 
 yards in flames till the sea was lighted up 
 by a hundred floating lamps. At one time 
 the intricate network of cordage was traced 
 as with a pencil of fire upon the black sky. 
 Then the masts went by the board, the 
 mainmast being the last to fall with a 
 crash, as when in the northern forest it fell 
 by the stroke of the woodman. Numbers 
 of sea-birds flew round the burning ship, 
 their discordant cries contributing to the 
 horror of the scene; but at length the fire 
 
 CONFEDEBATE STEAM-CBUISEE "SUMTEE." 
 
 burned down, the vengeance of man was 
 ■satisfied, and the " Sumter " moved away by 
 the light of the expiring flames in pursuit 
 of other prey. 
 
 Of all men in the Southern Confederacy 
 Semmes was perhaps the best qualified to 
 carry out the designs of his employers on the 
 commerce of the United States. The burn- 
 ing of the "Golden Rocket" was like the 
 first glass of liquor taken by the drunk- 
 ard. Burning ships became a passion, 
 and if ever a rhan had the bump of de- 
 structiveness on his cranium that man was 
 Raphael Semmes. He slept peacefully that 
 night in the thought that he had performed 
 a meritorious action, one that would inure 
 to the cause of Southern liberty fighting 
 against the Northern people, who after 
 twenty years of Southern domination had 
 dared to elect a President to suit them- 
 selves. 
 
 According to the Law of Nations the 
 " Sumter" was iiot a vessel of war. When 
 
 the South had belligerent rights accorded 
 them by the United States the case was dif- 
 ferent. As we have said before, the captain 
 of the "Golden Rocket " took the destruc- 
 tion of his ship philosophically, although, 
 apart from any monetary considerations, 
 it must have been hard to see her set on 
 fire and consumed before his eyes without 
 power to raise a hand to save her; but one 
 consolation the master had, the ship was 
 insured, and the loss fell on the under- 
 writers. 
 
 But what became of the "old flag"? 
 It was marked with the date of capture, 
 latitude and longitude, etc., and consigned 
 to a bag in charge of the Signal Quarter- 
 master to keep company ere long with nu- 
 merous other copies of the Stars and Stripes 
 that accumulated under Semmes' auspices 
 ere his career was brought to a close by 
 the guns of the " Kearsarge." As Semmes 
 writes : "I committed to the keeping of 
 . the guardian spirits of that famous bat- 
 tle-ground a great many bags full of ' old 
 flags,' to be stowed away in the caves of the 
 sea as mementoes that a nation once lived 
 whose naval officers loved liberty more 
 than the false memorial of it under which 
 they had once served, and who were capa- 
 ble, when it became ' Hate's polluted rag,' 
 of tearing it down." Yet who can doubt 
 that Commander Semmes, in case the Con- 
 federate Navy officers had been reinstated in 
 the Federal service, would have been among 
 the first to resume his station under that 
 "polluted rag," again to forswear his allegi- 
 ance, if it suited his convenience so to do. 
 
 The day following the destruction of the 
 " Golden Rocket" was the 4th of July, an 
 anniversary which had ever been venerated 
 by all true Americans ; but it was not cele- 
 brated on board the " Sumter," because 
 associated so intimately with the "old 
 flag," which, in the opinion of Commander 
 Semmes and his followers, had all at once 
 becontie a sham and a deceit. It was also, in 
 the opinion of these persons connected 
 "■ with the wholesale robberies which had 
 been committed on Southern property, and 
 with the vilification and abuse which had 
 been heaped upon their persons by their 
 late copartners for a generation or more." 
 What generosity could be expected by his 
 foes from an intelligent man holding such 
 sentiments as these ? 
 
 At daylight next morning two sail were 
 reported in sight ahead, which proved to be 
 two American brigan tines. The " Sumter " 
 hoisted the Confederate flag, ran alongside 
 and captured the vessels, both of which 
 were loaded with sugar and molasses be- 
 longing to neutrals, and both bound from 
 Trinidad de Cuba to English ports. These 
 vessels Semmes did not venture to burn, 
 but taking them in tow he steamed for 
 
608 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Cienfuegos, in order to test the dispo- 
 sition of the Spanish authorities towards 
 the Confederacy. France and England had 
 issued proclamations forbidding the intro- 
 duction of prizes to their ports, but Spain 
 had not yet spoken, and Semmes hoped the 
 Spanish officials might have different views. 
 The vessels together being more than the 
 "Sumter" could tow, the prize-master of 
 the " Cuba" was ordered to cast off and fol- 
 low; but when the former got out of sight, 
 the master and crew of the "Cuba" over- 
 powered the prize - crew, recaptured the 
 vessel, and eluding their captors, finally 
 reached their destination. 
 
 On arriving off the harbor of Cienfuegos 
 two more sail were descried from the ' ' Sum- 
 ter, " standing off the land. Two more 
 American brigantines were captured— the 
 " Ben Dunning "of Maine, and the " Albert 
 Adams " of Massachusetts. They had left 
 the port of Cienfuegos three hours before, 
 and their cargoes of sugar were documented 
 as Spanish property. Prize -crews were 
 thrown on board, and the prize-masters di- 
 rected to stand in for Cienfuegos light-house 
 and lay-to until morning. 
 
 Thus in the space of three days, Semmes 
 had captured five prizes heavily laden. His 
 crew had become quite enamored of the 
 service, which just suited these worthy 
 successors of Lafitte, who were mostly 
 from the city of New Orleans, which could 
 then boast of possessing the worst class 
 of seamen in the country. Without doubt, 
 there were a number of persons on board 
 the "Sumter" who acknowledged no alle- 
 giance to any nation, and whose love of 
 plunder would incite them to any disrep- 
 utable deed. To such men the American 
 flag conyeyed no sentiment any more than 
 did the flag of the Confederacy. Under the 
 latter they might hope to plunder, and, no 
 doubt, shipped with this expectation. If 
 they were disappointed, it was because 
 there was an innate love of discipline among 
 their officers which forbade their entering 
 on a course which might ultimately subject 
 them to severe penalties. The crew were 
 as eager in pursuit of vessels as dogs in 
 chase of game, but they were too ignorant 
 to know that burning and destroying could 
 bring them no profit. 
 
 As daylight broke with all the beauty of 
 a tropical morning, and the prizes moved 
 sluggishly waiting for the sea-breeze, three 
 American vessels in tow of a steam-tugwere 
 seen coming out of the harbor. Here was 
 a piece of good fortune! Semmes had reck- 
 oned on carrying three prizes into Cien- 
 fuegos ; here were three more, but he could 
 not molest them in neutral waters — a little 
 management was necessary. The neu- 
 tral belt extended a marine league from 
 the shore, so Semmes hoisted a Spanish 
 
 jack for a pilot, giving orders to disarrange 
 the yards, etc., that the "Sumter" might 
 look as much like a merchant vessel as pos- 
 sible. To still further carry out the deceit, 
 most of the crew were sent below and the 
 Spanish ensign hoisted. These were the 
 very tactics adopted by Lafitte, the Barra- 
 tarian, in the early part of this century, 
 which would indicate that Semmes had 
 taken a leaf from his book. 
 
 The prize-masters showed themselves 
 adepts in following the methods of their 
 commander and hoisted the American flag 
 at the fore of their respective prize-vessels 
 for a pilot also. This deceived the people 
 on board the vessels coming out, and they 
 proceeded on their way in tow of the tug 
 until they were well off the land, when 
 they cast off and made all sail to enable 
 them to get a good offing before the sea- 
 
 V)T»pp2G set 111. 
 
 As soon as the tug had cast off from the 
 vessels she proceeded to the steamer to ask 
 if the captain wanted a pilot, for even the 
 Spaniards had been deceived by Semmes' 
 ruse. The Confederate commander replied 
 in the affirmative, but said to the pilot : "I 
 am waiting a little to take back those ships 
 you have just towed out." "Diablo!" ex- 
 claimed the Spaniard; " how can that be ? 
 they are North Americans bound to Boston 
 and New York." " That is just what I 
 want," said Semmes. " We are Confeder- 
 ates, at war with the North Americans." 
 "Ah!" said the pilot, turning picaroon at 
 the first sign of plunder, " That is good; 
 give her the steam quick, captain !" Here 
 was a scoundrel, who had just piloted these 
 vessels to sea and received his pay, ready to 
 pounce upon them and take them back 
 again for another fee. Nothing could bet- 
 ter please that sort of man than this game 
 of semi-piracy. Probably he was a descend- 
 ant of some of those pirates who infested 
 the Spanish West Indies in 1824-36, murder- 
 ing the crews of American merchant ves- 
 sels, plundering their cargoes, and then de- 
 stroying the vessels. 
 
 Semmes was determined not to lay him- 
 self liable for violating any neutrality laws; 
 he was too conscientious for that. He said 
 to the impatient pilot, "Wait awhile, I must 
 not fail in respect to Her Majesty the Queen 
 of Spain and the Captain-General. I must 
 wait until these vessels are beyond their 
 jurisdiction, one league from shore." So 
 when the American vessels were supposed 
 to be beyond the imaginary line, the " Sum- 
 ter" was let loose like a tiger on its prey. 
 A booming gun and the hoisting of the 
 Confederate nag soon disclosed the " Sum- 
 ter's " character, and in a short time the 
 three vessels were prizes to the Confederate 
 steamer and joined the others off Cien- 
 fuegos. When the sea-breeze set in, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 609 
 
 Serames stood into the harbor, followed by 
 his six prizes, much to the astonishment of 
 those who had seen the "West Wind" of 
 Rhode Island, the " Louisa Killum " of 
 Massachusetts, and the " Naiad " of N"ew 
 York, sail but a few hours before on their 
 legitimate business. 
 
 Semmes was treated at Cienf uegos with 
 all due courtesy, and hobnobbed with the 
 Captain of the Port, who had at first fired 
 upon him with musketry, not knowing 
 ■what flag he sailed under ; but when 
 Semmes assured him that he did not come 
 to sack the town like the buccaneers 
 of old, the official took him to his heart. 
 He had but a vague idea of the locality of 
 the Southern Confederacy, and probably 
 never suspected that the "North American " 
 expeditions against the island were mostly 
 fitted out from the Southern States — the fair 
 haven of fillibusters. 
 
 Semmes wrote a specious letter to the 
 Oovernor of Cienfuegos, a timid old man, 
 who knew as little of international law as 
 iis friend the pilot. This letter may not 
 agree with the opinions of our standard 
 authorities on international law, but the 
 originality of its views should preserve it 
 from oblivion. Unfortunately for the en- 
 enterprising sea - lawyer, the letter had 
 exactly the contrary effect to what he 
 had expected. The Spanish officials saw 
 plainly that their harbors were about to be 
 made the receptacles for prizes, and the 
 Spanish Government, following the ex- 
 ample of England and France, issued a 
 proclamation that no prizes should be 
 brought into their ports. Therefore, as soon 
 as the Queen's proclamation was received, 
 the Captain-General ordered all the prizes 
 to be restored to their legitimate owners. 
 Spain was not going to lose her best cus- 
 tomer, nor be liable to a suit for damages 
 from the United States after the civil war 
 was over. 
 
 The commander of the "Sumter" natu- 
 rally felt despondent over this decision of 
 the Spanish authorities, and it may have 
 influenced him somewhat in his subsequent 
 ■career, when he burned and sank without 
 much thought whether he was acting ac- 
 oording to international law or not. The 
 following is the letter to the Governor 
 referred to above : 
 
 Confederate States Steamer "Sumter,"/ 
 Island of Cuba, July 6, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to inform you of my arrival 
 At the port of Cienfuegos with seven prizes of 
 "war. These vessels are the brigantines "Cuba," 
 "Machias," "Ben Dunning," "Albert Adams," and 
 "Naiad," and barks "West Wind" and "Louisa 
 Killum," property of citizens of the United States; 
 which States, as your Excellency is aware, are wag- 
 ing an aggressive and unjust war upon the Confed- 
 erate States, which I have the honor with this ship 
 Tinder my command to represent. 
 
 I have snn(yhf. n. nnrf nf rinhfl. -with these nrizes. 
 
 with the expectation that Spain will extend to the 
 cruisers of the Confederate States the same friendly 
 reception that, in similar circumstances, she would 
 extend to the cruisers of the enemy ; in other words, 
 that she will permit me to leave the captured ves- 
 sels within her jurisdiction until they can be ad- 
 judicated by a Cfourt of Admiralty of the Confed- 
 erate States. As a people maintaining a Govern- 
 ment de facto, and not only holding the enemy in 
 check, but gaining advantages over him, we are en- 
 titled to all the rights of belligerents, and I confi- 
 dently rely upon the friendly disposition of Spain, 
 who is our near neighbor in the most important of 
 her colonial possessions, to receive us with equal 
 and even-handed justice, if not with the sympathy 
 which our identity of interests and policy, with re- 
 gard to an important social and industrial institu- 
 tion, are so well calculated to inspire. A rule which 
 would exclude our prizes from her ports during the 
 war, although it should be applied in terms equally 
 to the enemy, would not, I respectfully suggest, be 
 an equitable or just rule. The basis of such rule, as 
 indeed of all the conduct of a neutral during war, 
 is equal and impartial justice to all the belligerents, 
 without inclining to the side of either; and this 
 should be a substantial and practical justice, and 
 not exist in terms merely, which may be deceptive. 
 Now, a little reflection will, I think, show your Ex- 
 cellency, that the rule in question, in the exclusion 
 of prizes of both belligerents from neutral ports, 
 cannot be applied in the present war, without op- 
 erating with great injustice to the Confederate 
 States. It is well known to your Excellency that 
 the United States are a manufacturing and com- 
 mercial people, while the Confederate States are an 
 agricultural people. The consequence of this dis- 
 similarity of pursuits was that, at the breaking out 
 of the war, the former had within their limits and 
 control almost all the naval force of the old Govern- 
 ment. This naval force they have dishonestly 
 seized and turned against the Confederate States, 
 regardless of the just claims of the latter to a large 
 proportion of it, as tax-payers, out of whose con- 
 tributions to the common treasury it was created. 
 The United States, by this disseizin of the prop- 
 erty of the Confederate States, are enabled in the 
 first months of the war to blockade all the ports of 
 the latter States. In this condition of things observe 
 the praatioal working of the rule I am discussing, 
 whatever may be the seeming fairness of its terms. 
 
 It will be admitted that we have equal belligerent 
 rights with the enemy. One of the most im- 
 portant of these rights in a war against a com- 
 mercial people is tbat which I have just exercised, 
 of capturing his property on the high seas. But 
 how are the Confederate States to enjoy, to its full 
 extent, the benefit of this right if their cruisers are 
 not permitted to enter neutral ports with their 
 prizes, and retain them there, in safe custody, until 
 they can be condemned and disposed of ? They 
 cannot send them into their own ports, for the 
 reason already mentioned, namely, that those ports 
 are hermetically sealed by the agency of their own 
 ships, forcibly wrested from them. If they cannot 
 send them into neutral ports, where are they to send 
 them? Nowhere. Except for the purpose of de- 
 struction, therefore, theirrightof capture would be 
 entirely defeated by the adoption of the rule in 
 question, while the opposite belligerent would not 
 be inconvenienced by it at all, as all his own ports 
 are open to him. I take it for granted that Spain 
 will not think of acting upon so unjust and unequal 
 a rule. 
 
 But another question arises, indeed, has already 
 arisen, in the cases of some of the very captures 
 which I have brought into port. The cargoes of 
 several of the vessels are claimed, as appears by 
 certificates from among the papers, as Spanish 
 property. This fact, cannot, of course, be verified, 
 exoent bvaiudioial nroceBtiintr. in the Prize Courts 
 
610 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 of the Confederate States. But if the prizes cannot 
 be sent either into the ports of the Confederate 
 States or into neutral ports, how can this verifica- 
 tion be made ? Further — supposing there to be no 
 dispute about the title to the cargo, how is it to be 
 unladen arid delivered to the neutral claimant un- 
 less the captured ship can make a port ? Indeed, 
 one of the motives which influenced me in making 
 a Spanish colonial port was the fact that these 
 cargoes were claimed by Spanish subjects, whom I 
 was desirous of putting to as Httle inconvenience as 
 possible, in the unlading and reception of their 
 property, should it be restored to them by a decree 
 of the Confederate Courts. It will be for your Ex- 
 cellency to consider and act upon these grave ques- 
 tions, touching alike the interests of both our Grov- 
 - ernments. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c., &o. 
 
 Raphael Semmes. 
 Semmes remarks : 
 
 " I did not expect much to grow immediately out of 
 the above communication. Indeed, as the reader will 
 probably surmise, 1 had written it more for the eye of 
 the Spanish Premier than for that of the Governor 
 of a small provincial town who had no diplomatic 
 power and whom I knew to be timid, as are all the 
 subordinate officers of absolute Governments. I 
 presumed that the Governor would telegraph it to 
 the Captain General at Havana, and that the latter 
 would hold the subject in abeyance until he could 
 hear from the home Government. 
 
 " Nor was 1 disappointed in this expectation, for 
 Lieutenant Cliapman returned from Cienfuegos the 
 next morning, and brought me intelUgence to this 
 effect. 
 
 "To dispose of the question raised, without the 
 necessity of again returning to them, the reader is 
 informed that Spain, in due time, followed the lead 
 of England and France in the matter of excluding 
 prizes from her ports ; and that my prizes were 
 delivered — to whom do you think, reader ? You 
 will naturally say to myself, or my duly appointed 
 agent, with instructions to take them out of the 
 Spanish port. This was the result to be logically 
 expected. The Captain-General had received them, 
 in trust, as it were, to abide the decision of his 
 Government. If that decision should be in favor 
 of receiving the prizes of both belligerents, well ; if 
 not, I expected to be notified to take them away. 
 But nothing was further, it seems, from the inten- 
 tion of the Captain-General than this simple and 
 just proceeding ; for, as soon as the Queen's proc- 
 lamation was received, he deliberately handed back 
 all my prizes to their original owners I " 
 
 But the Confederates were not without 
 comfort. Sympathizers flocked to them 
 from the tovsrn on their landing. The 
 houses of the principal citizens were open 
 to the officers, and the night was made 
 merry by the popping of champagne corks. 
 Yet Commander Semmes was not liappy, 
 though he regretted less the loss of liis 
 prizes than his failure to convince tlie 
 Spanisli authorities that he was a great ex- 
 pounder of the law of nations. Meanwliile 
 the natives wondered where all the United 
 States gun-boats were, that this Confederate 
 hawk should be permitted thus to flutter 
 the Yankee dovecotes. The reader will, no 
 doubt, share their astonishment at the fail- 
 ure of the Navy Department to protect 
 Federal commerce in the Caribbean Sea as 
 well as in other quarters. The fact is, 
 every passage to that sea ought to have 
 
 been guarded as soon as it was known the 
 " Sumter" had escaped, and she should have 
 been followed up until captured or driven, 
 from the ocean. 
 
 Commander Semmes having appointed a 
 prize-agent to take charge of his prizes un- 
 til they could be taken to a Southern port 
 for adjudication before a Court of Ad- 
 miralty, and obtained a supply of coal and 
 provisions from his neutral fritendsat Cien- 
 fuegos, departed from that port on the 8th 
 of July with the intention of proceeding 
 via Barbadoes to Cape St. Roque, in the 
 great line of travel for vessels bound from 
 the East Indies to the United States or 
 Europe. Owing to the strength of the trade- 
 winds his coal ran short, and he made sail 
 for the Dutch island of Curayoa, and on 
 the 16th the " Sumter" entered the port of 
 St. Anne ^ the capital town of this little 
 colony. The American consul did all he 
 could to persuade the Governor that the 
 "Sumter "was not a legitimate vessel-of- 
 war, and that officer, therefore, forbade 
 the ship's entering the port, saying that 
 he had received recent orders from Hol- 
 land to that effect. Semmes was, how- 
 ever, well aware that these colonial mag- 
 nates were generally men of little char- 
 acter or intelligence, so he sent one of his. 
 brightest officers on shore with the follow- 
 ing letter to the Governor : 
 
 Confederate States Steamer "Sumter." ( 
 Off St. Alntne's, Curacoa, July 17, 1861. \ 
 His Excellency Governor Crol: 
 
 I was surprised to receive by the pUot, this morn- 
 ing, a message from your Excellency, to the effect, 
 that this ship would not be permitted to enter the- 
 harbor unless she was in distress, as your Excellency 
 had received orders from your Government not to 
 admit vessels-of-war of the Confederate States of 
 America to the hospitality of the ports under your 
 Excellency's command. I most respectfully suggest 
 that there must be some mistake here, and I have 
 sent to you the bearer, Lieutenant Chapman, of 
 the Confederate States Navy, for the purpose of 
 explanation. Your Excellency must be under some 
 misapprehension as to the character of this vessel. 
 She is a ship-of-war duly commissioned by the Gov- 
 ernment of the Confederate States, which States- 
 have been recognized as belligerents, in the present 
 war, by aH the leading powers of Europe, viz. : 
 Great Britain, France, Spain, etc., as your Excel- 
 lency must be aware. 
 
 It is true, that these Powers have prohibited 
 both belligerents, alike, from bringing prizes into 
 their several jurisdictions; but no one of them has 
 made a distinction, either between the respective 
 prizes, or the cruisers themselves, of the two bellig- 
 erents — the cruisers of both Governments, unac- 
 companied by prizes, being admitted to the hos- 
 pitalities of the ports of all these great Powers on 
 terms of perfect equality. In the face of these 
 facts, am I to understand from your Excellency that 
 Holland has adopted a different rule, and that she 
 not only excludes the prizes, but the ships-of-war 
 themselves, of the Confederate States ? And this at 
 the same time that she admits the cruisers of th& 
 United States ; thus departing from her neutrality, 
 in this war, ignoring the Confederate States as 
 belUgerents and aiding and abetting their enemy ? 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 611 
 
 "If this be the position which Holland has as- 
 sumed in this contest, I pray your Excellency to be 
 kind enough to say as much to me in writing." 
 
 When the Governor had read this commu- 
 nication, he summoned all the civil and mili- 
 tary dignitaries of the colony, and it took a 
 lot of thinking, talking, smoking and drink- 
 ing to get the matter fairly imbedded in their 
 brains, the Confederate officer in the mean- 
 while making friends with the citizens, and 
 helping them with their drinking, which 
 seems to have been their main employment. 
 
 After waiting an hour or two, Semmes 
 thought he would go to quarters and fire a 
 few shells at a target; but it so happened 
 that one of the shells passed across a win- 
 dow of the room where the council was in 
 session — ^the "Sumter" was not more than 
 fifty yards from the mouth of the narrow 
 harbor— and exploding, shook the little 
 town as if by an earthquake. Up flew the 
 windows of the council-room, and out popped 
 the heads of the dignitaries. It was decided 
 nem. con. that the Confederacy should be 
 recognized, and the "Sumter" allowed to 
 enter the port, which she did shortly after- 
 wards. Nothing could exceed the enthusi- 
 asm with which the " Sumter " was received 
 at Cura§oa. Semmes and his officers were 
 the heroes of the hour. The ten thousand 
 dollars with which he had started seemed 
 inexhaustible. 
 
 Everything needed was supplied to the 
 ship without a question, and Semmes was 
 everywhere honored as the representative 
 of the great Southern Confederacy, although 
 few people had the least idea what that was. 
 
 While at St. Anne's Semmes missed a 
 great opportunity. President Castro, one 
 of the South American adventurers, re- 
 quested his assistance to reinstate him 
 in the presidential chair of Venezuela; but 
 the Confederate officer declined to play the 
 part of a Warwick. Castro claimed to be 
 President de jure, but Semmes professed to 
 scorn all Governments except those that 
 were de facto. 
 
 After remaining a week at St. Anne's 
 and accomplishing all he wanted, Semmes 
 bade adieu to his kind friends and steamed 
 out of the harbor on the 34th of July. Cura- 
 §oa lies but a short distance from the coast 
 of Venezuela, and as both the ports of La 
 Guayra and Puerto Cabello have consider 
 able trade with the United States, Semmes 
 determined to look in upon them. When 
 about thirty miles off the coast, a sail was 
 sighted on the lee bow standing obliquely 
 towards the " Sumter." Chase was given, 
 and in a short time a large schooner was 
 taken. She proved to be the " Abby Brad- 
 ford," of New York, bound to Puerto Cabello. 
 The schooner had left New York before the 
 " Sumter's "escape was known in the North, 
 
 prised when he found that he had fallen into 
 the clutches of the Southern Confederacy. 
 
 Porto Cabello being but a short distance 
 under his lee, Semmes determined to try his 
 hand with Castro's opponent, the de facto 
 President of Venezuela. He thought surely 
 some arrangement could be made with 
 the South American republics, which were 
 too weak to be worth the notice of the 
 stronger Powers. What right had they to 
 be putting on the airs of nations and talk 
 about acknowledging other people who had 
 never themselves been acknowledged by 
 Spain? In this instance Semmes reckoned 
 without his host, for he found at least one 
 Government that had some respect left for 
 the great republic of North America. 
 
 Semmes arrived off Puerto Cabello after 
 night - fall, and the next morning, mak- 
 ing the ship and crew as much like those 
 of a man-of-war as circumstances would 
 permit, he steamed into the harbor, the 
 prize -vessel following under sail. The 
 " Sumter" had hoisted the Confederate flag 
 early in the morning, and the Venezuelan 
 colors were hoisted from the fort in re- 
 sponse. The town looked like some old 
 Moorish establishment transported to the 
 New World, and its most prominent inhab- 
 itants appeared to be turkey - buzzards, 
 which reminded the Confederate com- 
 mander of the sacred birds he had met so 
 often in the Queen City of the Confed- 
 eracy. His hopes increased as he noted 
 the similarity between Puerto Cabello and 
 the city that had first given a stimulus to 
 his career of adventure. He saw at once 
 what an advantage it would be if the Presi- 
 dent would admit his prizes, for in the 
 course of a few months he could make the 
 harbor busier than it had ever been. He 
 even thought he could have given a new 
 impulse to the revolutions and make the 
 people rich enough to indulge in a pronun- 
 ciamento once a week. 
 
 It never appears to have occurred to the 
 romantic adventurer that his own beloved 
 Confederacy might one day become like a 
 South American republic, ruled by unprin- 
 cipled adventurers, or a prey to anarchy. 
 
 No one seemed to notice the " Sumter " 
 after she anchored. Semmes carefully 
 scanned the features of the "castle," its 
 three or four guns, worthless for any pur- 
 pose beyond firing a salute, and compared 
 it with his trim battery of shell-guns. He 
 was satisfied with the comparison and im- 
 mediately wrote the Governor of the town 
 a letter, which he sent ashore by one of his 
 officers. This missive was to the following 
 effect : 
 
 Confederate States Steamer " Sumter," ) 
 Puerto Cabello, July 26, 1861. J 
 Sis Excellency the Governor : 
 I have the honor to inform vour Excellencv of mv 
 
613 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 mand, with the prize schooner "Abby Bradford" 
 in company, captured by me about seventy miles 
 to the northward and eastward. The "Abby Brad- 
 ford" is the property of citizens of the United 
 States, with which States, as your Excellency is 
 aware, the Confederate States, which I have the 
 honor to represent, are at war, and the cargo would 
 appear to belong also to citizens of the United 
 States, who have shipped it on consignment to a 
 house in Puerto Cabello. 
 
 Should any claim, however, be given for the 
 cargo, or any part of it, the question of ownership 
 can only be decided by the prize-courts of the Con- 
 federate States. In the meantime I have the honor 
 to request that your Excellency will permit me to 
 leave this prize vessel, with her cargo, in the port of 
 Puerto Cabello, until the question of prize can be 
 adjudicated by the proper tribunals of my country. 
 This will be a convenience to all parties ; as well to 
 any citizens of Venezuela who may have an interest 
 in the cargo as to the captors who have also valu- 
 able interests to protect. 
 
 In making this request, I do not propose that the 
 Venezuela Government shall depart from a strict 
 neutrality between the belligerents, as the same 
 rule it applies to us it can give the other party the 
 benefit of also. In other words, with the most 
 scrupulous regard for her neutrality, she may per- 
 mit both belligerents to bring their prizes into her 
 waters, and of this neither belligerent could com- 
 plain, since whatever justice is extended to its en- 
 emy is extended also to itself. * * * * Thus 
 yoar Excellency sees that, under the rule of exclu- 
 sion, the enemy could enjoy his right of capture to 
 its full extent — all his own ports being open to him 
 — whilst the cruisers of the Confederate States 
 could enjoy it siib modo only, that is, for the pur- 
 pose of destroying their prizes. A rule which would 
 produce such unequal results as this, is not a just 
 rule (although it might in terms be extended to 
 both parties), and as equality and justice are of 
 the essence of neutrality, I take it for granted that 
 Venezuela will not adopt it. 
 
 On the other hand, the rule admitting both par- 
 ties, alike, with their prizes into your ports, until 
 the prize-courts of the respective countries could 
 have time to adjudicate the cases, would work 
 equal and exact justice to both ; and this is all that 
 the Confederate States demand. 
 
 With reference to the present case, as the cargo 
 consists chiefly of provisions, which are perishable, 
 I would ask leave to sell them at public auction, for 
 the benefit of "whom it may concern," depositing 
 the proceeds with a suitable prize agent until the 
 decision of the court can be known. With regard 
 to the vessel, I request that she may remain in the 
 custody of the same agent until condemned and 
 sold. 
 
 Although his Excellency of Puerto Ca- 
 bello probably knew very little of interna- 
 tional lavsr, the American consul at the port 
 was sufficiently well posted, and he at once 
 advised the Governor what course to pur- 
 sue. The inhabitants were dependent upon 
 their trade with New England and New 
 York for the supply of their necessities, 
 and, of course, the Governor was naturally 
 in favor of his friends rather than a doubt- 
 ful-looking stranger. So lie sent a reply, 
 with "God and Liberty" on the seal, 
 simply informing the Confederate com- 
 mander that he had not the necessary 
 funcion to answer him diplomatically, but 
 would lay his communication before the 
 supreme Government; meanwhile he desired 
 
 the " Sumter " to leave Puerto Cabello, and 
 take the " Abby Bradford" with her. 
 
 Had Commander Semmes erected a tar- 
 get, and burst a few shells over it just out- 
 side the harbor, it might have had some 
 effect ; there was no room inside for such 
 practice, and a shell bursting near the 
 town or fort would have been too much for 
 Spanish pride, and a stray shot from the 
 dilapidated castle might have gone through 
 the "Sumter's" unprotected machinery, 
 and ended her career by enabling the Fed- 
 eral gun-boats to overtake her; therefore 
 Semmes prudently refrained from any at- 
 tempt to show the power of the Confederacy. 
 
 After reading the Governor's letter, to 
 which he paid no attention, Semmes sent 
 his Paymaster on shore, and purchased such 
 articles as he required. The Governor, 
 after an inspection of his artillery and a 
 consultation with the military command- 
 ant, made up his mind that it would be 
 best not to coerce any ship belonging to the 
 Southern Confederacy, for fear that these 
 modern representatives of Drake and Mor- 
 gan might follow the example of their il- 
 lustrious predecessors if interfered with, 
 and left Semmes to do pretty much as he 
 pleased. 
 
 The " Abby Bradford " was sent in charge 
 of a prize-crew to New Orleans, to report 
 her arrival to Commodore Rousseau, de- 
 livering to him the prize-papers, seals un- 
 broken, etc. The vessel reached Barrataria 
 Bay, but was recaptured by the " Pow- 
 hatan," Lieutenant D. D. Porter, and re- 
 stored to her owners. Semmes did not 
 burn the " Abby Bradford," because, as he 
 says, " I only resorted to that practice when 
 it became evident there was nothing else to 
 do." 
 
 As soon as Lieutenant Porter ascertained 
 from the crew of the " Abby Bradford " the 
 wliereabouts of the " Sumter," he obtained 
 the permission of Flag-officer McKean, and 
 started in pursuit of the Confederate vessel, 
 following her from port to port to the coast 
 of Brazil, and thence to the equator, from 
 which point Semmes shaped his course, so 
 that his trail was lost. 
 
 After having dispatched the "Bradford," 
 Semmes put to sea, and was no sooner out- 
 side the harbor than an American vessel 
 was sighted. In less than an hour the 
 "Sumter" came up with the barlv "Joseph 
 Maxwell," of Philadelphia. Half her cargo 
 was the property of a neutral doing 
 business in Puerto Cabello; and here again 
 Semmes was in a dilemma. Leaving the 
 bark outside the marine league, Semmes 
 returned in the " Sumter " to Puerto Cabello 
 and sent another letter to the Governor 
 informing him of the capture he had made, 
 and inquiring if some arrangement could 
 not be had for the protection of the neutral 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 613 
 
 i half-owner's interests — in other words, to 
 
 ascertain if the prize, in which a citizen of 
 J Venezuela was interested, would not be per- 
 
 il mitted to enter the harbor and remain until 
 
 \ she could be adjudicated. 
 
 [| Much to the surprise of Semmes, the Gov- 
 
 ii! ernor in his reply commanded the represent- 
 
 8 ative of the Southern Confederacy to deliver 
 
 \ the " Maxwell " over to him until the courts 
 
 J of Venezuela could determine whether or 
 
 i not she had been captured within the ma- 
 
 i rine league ! 
 
 5 In the words of Commander Semmes, 
 
 \ " This insolence was refreshing — I scarcely 
 
 i knew whether to laugh or be angry." The 
 
 "Sumter "was then lying close under the 
 i guns of the fort, which were manned by 
 
 ! some half -naked soldiers. Semmes beat to 
 
 1 quarters and cast loose his guns, not knowing 
 
 i but the Governor might attempt to prevent 
 
 ! his going to sea again, and with his crew 
 
 standing at their quarters steamed out of the 
 harbor, without opposition from his Excel- 
 lency, who was only too happy to be rid of 
 him. 
 
 As Semmes' conscience would not permit 
 him to destroy neutral property, he sent the 
 " Maxwell " with a prize-crew to Cienf uegos 
 to join his other prizes, still clinging to the 
 hope that Spain "would dare to be just, in 
 the face of the truckling of England and of 
 France." 
 
 Semmes had been in the Caribbean Sea 
 from the 3rd to the 27th of July, 1861, had 
 captured ten prizes, and not a Federal gun- 
 boat had been heard of, although the United 
 States Consul-General at Havana had been 
 promptly infprmed of all his transactions 
 at Cienfuego's. Five of the fast steam- 
 ers purchased for the purpose of carrying 
 stores to the several squadrons, well armed 
 and manned, would have caught the "Sum- 
 ter " ten days after her escape from Pass h. 
 rOutre, saving many thousand dollars 
 worth of property and terminating Semmes' 
 career. Although the Federal Navy De- 
 partment displayed a great deal of energy 
 throughout the war, it was lacking in fore- 
 thought in regard to the matter of Confed- 
 erate cruisers. The Department had prob- 
 ably no idea that the Confederates would 
 exhibit so much energy in this direction, 
 forgetting that men who embark in a des- 
 perate undertaking generally show far more 
 activity than the power they are opposing, 
 besides being less particular in the means 
 employed to gain their ends. 
 
 The Federal Government should have sent 
 swift vessels to all parts of the world as soon 
 as it became evident that the Confederates 
 had designs on its commerce. President 
 Lincoln's proclamation declaring Confeder- 
 ate privateers " pirates " was unheeded by 
 European Governments, and it must have 
 been evidfint that t.liA sni^npss of tViA " Sum. 
 
 ter " would prompt the Confederates to send 
 as many vessels as possible on the same er- 
 rand. Had the "Sumter" been captured 
 soon after her escape from the Mississippi 
 River, there would probably have been no 
 more Confederate cruisers, the Confeder- 
 acy would have been deprived of its most 
 energetic agent in this line of business, and 
 the ocean commerce of the United States 
 would have been uninterrupted. 
 
 After sending off the " Maxwell," the 
 "Sumter" pursued her course along the 
 Spanish main and through the Caribbean 
 Sea to the Port of Spain, in the Island of 
 Trinidad. An English merchant vessel, 
 passing out, paid the "Sumter" the honor 
 of a salute by lowering her flag — a sign of 
 hostility to the United States Government 
 exhibited at that time by almost everything 
 British. 
 
 The Governor of Trinidad had already 
 received Queen Victoria's proclamation of 
 neutrality, and when Commander Semmes 
 called upon him his Excellency promptly 
 informed the Confederate Commander that 
 he should receive the same hospitality that 
 would be shown to a Federal cruiser — this 
 hospitality consisted in extending to the 
 "Sumter" every facility for prosecuting 
 her operations against the commerce of the 
 United States. 
 
 Semmes lost no time in coaling ship and 
 laying in provisions. His trouble now was 
 to get rid of his prisoners. The " Maxwell's " 
 crew, in particular, were held as hostages un- 
 til the case of the prisoners captured in the 
 pilot-boat "Savannah," who had been tried 
 and condemned as pirates, was disposed of. 
 Not until Semmes heard that the crew of 
 the " Savannah" were treated as ordinary 
 prisoners-of-war, did he conclude to dis- 
 charge these merchant seamen, who had 
 been made to understand from day to day 
 what their fate would be if any of the 
 " Savannah's " crew were executed. For- 
 tunately, the Federal Government was not 
 disposed to stain its record by any bloody 
 reprisals, although a mistake was made in 
 issuing a proclamation which it would not 
 have been wise to enforce. 
 
 The feelings of the " Maxwell's " crew on 
 hearing that they were to be discharged can 
 be imagined, and even Semmes experienced 
 relief when he found that it would not be 
 necessary to hang unoffending non-com- 
 batants at the yard-arm. Semmes remarks 
 in relation to this matter : "I would be 
 stretching a point in undertaking retalia- 
 tion of this serious character without in- 
 structions from my Government, but the 
 case was pressing, and we of the ' Sumter ' 
 were vitally interested in the issue. The 
 commission of the ' Savannah,' although 
 she was only a privateer, was as lawful as 
 our own. and iuds'ina' bv the abuse that had 
 
614 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 already been heaped upon us by the North- 
 ern papers, we had no reason to expect any 
 better treatment at the hands of the well- 
 paid New York District Attorneys and well- 
 paclced New York juries." It only required 
 that Sernmes should appear in this new role 
 of executioner on tlie high seas to have in- 
 sured him an immortality equal to that of 
 Captain Kidd. He would have progressed 
 but little further in making himself judge 
 and jury to condemn innocent merchant 
 seamen who had taken no part in the hos- 
 tilities between the North and the South, 
 than he had already in establishing a Court 
 of Admiralty on the high seas, where all the 
 rules of law and rights of property were set 
 aside. As to any humanity shown his 
 prisoners by turning them loose to shift for 
 themselves in a foreign land, it was due 
 solely to the inexpediency of keeping his 
 ship full of Northerners that might some 
 day rise and overpower his crew. 
 
 Commander Semmes had already received 
 his cue from the Confederate authorities, 
 but it would detract from his reputation for 
 cleverness to believe that he imagined him- 
 self invested with authority to commit such 
 an act as he had intimated, and we will be 
 charitable enough to think that his ex- 
 pressions on the subject were simply gas- 
 conade. 
 
 When one of the men captured in the 
 privateer "Jeff Davis "was convicted of 
 piracy in the Philadelphia Court, the Con- 
 federate Government issued the following 
 order, which Semmes took for his guide, 
 apparently forgetting that, while his Gov- 
 ernment might incur the responsibility, 
 he, not the one hundred thousandth part 
 of that Government, had no more right 
 to commit such an act than the common- 
 est seaman in his vessel. The letter of 
 Mr. Secretary Benjamin, which came so 
 near causing murder to be done on the high 
 seas, is herewith inserted, showing to what 
 dreadful lengths the asperities of civil war 
 will drive people. It may be hoped that in 
 future wars men will not be condemned to 
 death simply for being led astray by reck- 
 less leaders, and that retaliation may not 
 be exercised against men who have borne 
 an innocent part in the conflict : 
 
 Order of Mr. Benjamin to General Winder 
 IN Charge of Federal Prisoners. 
 
 Sir— You are hereby instructed to choose by 
 lot from among the prlsoners-ot-war, of highest 
 rank, one wlio is to be confined in a cell appropri- 
 ated to convicted felons, ahd who is to be treated 
 in all respects as if such convict, and to be held for 
 execution, in the same manner as may be adopted 
 by the enemy for tlie execution of the prisoner-of- 
 ■war Smith recently condemned to death in Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 You will also select thirteen other prisoners-of- 
 War, the highest in rank of those captured by our 
 forces, to be confined in cells, reserved for prisoners 
 accused of infamous crimes, and will treat them as 
 
 such, so long as the enemy shall continue so to treat 
 the like number of prisoners-of-war captured by 
 them at sea, and now held for trial in New York as 
 pirates. 
 
 As these measures are intended to repress the in- 
 famous attempt now made by the enemy to com- 
 mit judicial murder on prisoners-of-war, you will 
 execute them strictly, as the mode best calculated 
 to prevent the commission of so heinous a crime. 
 
 While the " Sumter " remained at Trini- 
 dad she was thronged with visitors ; some 
 were sympathizers with the Confederate 
 cause, others were there from mere curi- 
 osity; but the officials generally held aloof 
 for fear of compromising themselves if they 
 took much interest in the Confederates. 
 All Semmes cared for was to obtain a stock 
 of coal and provisions, and these not being 
 considered contraband of war were freely 
 furnished. Semmes met with some op- 
 position from the authorities, but he bore 
 his trials with meekness, for he knew that 
 the heavy guns commanding the harbor 
 could soon be manned, and were too for- 
 midable to trifle with. Nor could he tell 
 how soon a British man-of-war might come 
 into port with orders for the Governor to 
 detain the " Sumter." 
 
 On the 25th of August the "Sumter" 
 sailed from Trinidad bound for Maranham. 
 So far, nothing had been heard of a United 
 States vessel-of-war. The slow old frigate 
 " Powhatan " was following on the track of 
 the marauder, never missing a port at 
 which the " Sumter " had stopped. But for 
 defective boilers the " Powhatan " would 
 have overtaken the "Sumter" at Maranham. 
 It must have given the inhabitants of the 
 places Semmes visited a poor idea of the 
 power of the Federal Government, to see 
 the "Sumter" roving at will, with no 
 opposition. 
 
 In addition to his other tasks, Semmes 
 undertook to play the part of a missionary, 
 and teach the people among whom he went 
 the difference between the Northern and 
 Southern governments; the former an ef- 
 fete affair, without resources ; the latter a 
 young giant that was to carry everything 
 before it. Of course, there were plenty of 
 people to believe all this. They had seen the 
 evidence of Northern commercial wealth in 
 the number of vessels that had visited their 
 ports, but they had no evidence of Federal 
 military or naval power, which is, after all, 
 what counts most with nations. In the 
 "Sumter" they beheld an engine-of- war that 
 could do much harm, and, although she was 
 not a large vessel, yet they saw nothing 
 opposed to her to repress her ill-doings. 
 Had there been a fair-sized United States 
 vessel - of - war at either of the ports the 
 ' ' Sumter " entered, the latter would have 
 probably been refused a supply of coal. 
 
 The "Sumter," owing to strong head- 
 winds and currents, soon expended the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 615 
 
 greater portion of her coal, and had then 
 to resort to her sails ; but on the 19th of 
 August she made the harbor of Para- 
 maribo and obtained a supply of coal and 
 provisions, fraternizing with the officials 
 of the town and with some French and 
 Dutch officers, who seemed to recognize in 
 the "Sumter" the germ of a Navy that 
 was to supplant that of the United States. 
 All this now seems like the merest mock- 
 ery, and we can hardly realize how the 
 representatives of old - established Gov- 
 ernments could lend themselves to the 
 schemes of the Confederates before they 
 had the slightest evidence that the latter 
 could maintain their position. It must 
 have been a serious matter to admit the 
 ships of long-established Governments into 
 neutral ports for the purpose of obtaining 
 coal with which to prey upon each other's 
 commerce ; but to admit a vessel of such 
 ■doubtful character as the " Sumter," with 
 a flag never before seen, was certainly go- 
 ing to the utmost extreme. The secret of 
 the matter was, probably, not so much 
 sympathy with the South, as a general dis- 
 like to the institutions of the United States, 
 which were a standing menace to the gov- 
 ernments of the Old World. Had the United 
 States been provided with a Navy propor- 
 tioned to its wealth and resources, with 
 ships stationed at every part of the world 
 frequented by its commerce, the Confed- 
 erates could not have kept the seas, for 
 want of coal, and would soon have been 
 obliged to abandon their cruising, even if 
 therr vessels escaped capture. The argu- 
 ment enforced by war vessels is better than 
 diplomacy, which has not such support ; 
 and, although Mr. Seward had duly in- 
 structed all the diplomatic and consular re- 
 presentatives of the United States, these 
 gentlemen could never satisfactorily an- 
 swer the question, "Why don't you send 
 your Navy to repress the ' Sumter ' ? " 
 
 The "Sumter" left Paramaribo on the 
 30th of August, the commanding officer 
 giving the pilot to understand that he was 
 bound to Barbadoes to look after the U. S. S. 
 '•Keystone State," which vessel he had 
 learned was in pursuit of him. Semmes 
 bad satisfied himself that the display of the 
 " Sumter" and the Confederate flag in Cay- 
 enne and Paramaribo had had a most ex- 
 cellent effect on the fortunes of his young 
 republic ! 
 
 The "Powhatan" arrived off Surinam 
 Hiver only two or three days after the 
 " Sumter " sailed. The pilot said she had 
 caulked her ports in and sailed for Barba- 
 does; but Lieutenant Porter, feeling satis- 
 fied that Semmes was aiming to get on the 
 track of American vessels bound round 
 Cape St. Roque, and knowing that he would 
 
 MA.VP. f.n +rkn*^V» of IVFa-rQnViQTv* -few nnnl Inet wc\ 
 
 time, but stood in the direction of the latter 
 port, sometimes under three boilers, some- 
 times under one only, the engineer's force 
 working night and day patching the worn* 
 out boilers. 
 
 This old representative ship of the United 
 States Navy at times made not more than 
 three knots an hour, scarcely enough to 
 stem the current setting along the Brazilian 
 coast. 
 
 With all the difficulties attending this 
 pursuit, which Semmes calls " Quixotic," 
 the ' ' Powhatan " had gained over fifteen 
 hundred miles on the ' ' Sumter " since she 
 first started in pursuit; and had the former 
 vessel been fit for sea the Confederate 
 cruiser would have been easily overtaken, 
 which shows the remissness of the Govern- 
 ment in not dispatching a dozen fast ves- 
 sels in pursuit, even if they had to be taken 
 from blockade duty. 
 
 On the 6th of September the "Sumter" 
 arrived in the Port of Maranham, and the 
 Port Admiral sent a lieutenant to inquire 
 of the commanding officer of the Confed- 
 erate vessel what strange flag that was 
 he carried at his peak, and was duly 
 informed that it was the emblem of the 
 Southern Confederacy. A cordial under- 
 standing was soon had with all the Brazil- 
 ian authorities, including the Governor of 
 the province, who was made to understand 
 that there were now two " United States " 
 instead of one, that the Northern govern- 
 ment abhorred slavery and all that per- 
 tained to it. This statement struck a chord 
 in the breast of the Governor, who, like 
 most of the Brazilians at that time, was 
 a strong advocate of the peculiar institu' 
 tion. So he took Semmes, his officers and 
 men, at once to his heart, and welcomed 
 them to Maranham. Yet Semmes and his 
 officers were not invited to a grand ball 
 given by his Excellency, as diplomatic eti- 
 quette forbade this without the permission 
 of the Emperor. "The only feeling excited 
 in us," Semmes remarks, "by this official 
 slight was of contempt for the silliness of 
 the proceeding, a contempt heightened by 
 the reflection that we were a race of Anglo- 
 Saxons, proud of our lineage and proud of 
 our strength (!) frowned upon by a set of 
 half-breeds." 
 
 Semmes was more anxious, however, to 
 capture merchant vessels than to attend of- 
 ficial gatherings. The day after the ball 
 the Governor gave him an audience, and 
 after Semmes had satisfied him that the 
 " Sumter " was entitled to belligerent rights, 
 granted permission for the ship to have 
 everything desired except munitions of war, 
 as if granting coal was not a far greater 
 injury to United States commerce than all 
 the munitions in the world without it. 
 
 Tf Tr.no-lflnrl harl Kaati tin a nlaintiflF AmAr. 
 
616 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ica would not nave permitted those ves- 
 sels, with their imitation of the British flag, 
 to obtain supplies to carry on their depreda- 
 tions against a country with whom they were 
 on terms of friendship, and with whom they 
 had treaties. All such vessels would have 
 been excluded from their ports, or, if admit- 
 ted, would be detained to prevent their doing 
 mischief. Great Britain would not condone 
 such an offence as giving aid and comfort 
 to such cruisers would be, and would have 
 had her war ships promptly on hand to de- 
 mand reparation. Who is there that does 
 not admire and applaud the policy of such 
 a nation in protecting the interests of her 
 citizens, although her operations may often 
 seem to conflict with the maxims of writers 
 on international matters ? 
 
 The Federal Government was too slow in 
 sending war vessels abroad to look out 
 for its merchant marine, and depended 
 on the poorly paid consuls at the differ- 
 ent ports to oppose their feeble influence 
 against a plausible person like Commander 
 Semmes, who had as advisers men in the 
 Confederate councils still more clever. 
 These same men had deluded many States 
 filled with intelligent people, and it would 
 have been strange if they could not delude 
 a few old Governors, especially when the 
 latter were impressed with the idea that the 
 Confederacy had England and France to 
 back her, and would be acknowledged by 
 all the Powers of Europe in less than six 
 months. 
 
 In Maranham, during their stay, Com- 
 mander Semmes and his officers were the 
 lions of the hour, and brought a good deal 
 of odium on the head of the United States 
 consul, who did all in his power to prevent 
 the " Sumter " from proceeding on her work 
 of destruction. His small pay had pre- 
 vented him attaining much social consider- 
 ation, so that he had but little influence. 
 Semmes' greatest objection to this gentle- 
 man was that he was a dentist, and forced 
 to practice his profession to eke out a live- 
 lihood. 
 
 On the 15th of September Semmes left 
 Maranham, his ship thoroughly equipped 
 from keel to truck. For very good reasons, 
 considering the character of his vessel, 
 Semmes determined to steer to the north- 
 ward and eastward and reach the calm belt 
 north of Cape St. Roque, where he expected 
 to fall in with a number of vessels bound 
 from ports south of the equator. 
 
 Four days after the departure of the 
 "Sumter "the "Powhatan" appeared off 
 Maranham. This vessel had worked her 
 way in a fog through the dangerous chan- 
 nel leading to the port, for the pilots had all 
 been withdrawn from the outer anchorage 
 and not even a fisherman was encountered. 
 The "Powhatan " had but ten hours' coal 
 
 on board and was so light that her paddle- 
 wheels had but little hold on the water. By 
 careful navigation the outside of the har- 
 bor was reached and an insolent negro pilot 
 was received on board — the same person 
 that had taken the "Sumter" out. "How did 
 you get through all the shoals ?" he inquired. 
 " By the chart," was the answer. " I don't 
 believe it," he said. " You must have had 
 the devil for a pilot. No ship of this size 
 can come through those channels without 
 a good pilot. Even the little ' Sumter ' 
 struck coming in and came near leaving 
 her bones among them." "She is here, 
 then ?" said the commanding officer of the 
 " Powhatan." his eyes glistening with 
 pleasure. The negro laughed and replied, 
 impudently : ' ' No, you can't catch her, she 
 is miles away — she sailed four days ago." 
 
 It was high-water when the "Powhatan"' 
 entered the harbor and came to anchor in 
 five fathoms. The tide rises some fourteen 
 feet and runs very strong on the ebb. 
 Three hours after the "Powhatan" an- 
 chored she began rasping on the bottom 
 and pounding against her anchor, and at 
 low-water was hard and fast in the mud 
 with three feet of copper out of water. 
 This was evidently intentional on the part 
 of the pilot, but fortunately no damage 
 was done, and at high tide the ship was 
 moved into deeper water. The hope of the 
 pilot was undoubtedly that the ship would 
 bring up on the bill of her anchor and 
 knock a hole in her bottom. 
 
 The Stars and Stripes floated proudly at 
 the peak of the " Powhatan," but no official 
 visited the ship. The paymaster -was sent 
 on shore to purchase coal, but could not 
 procure any. The ' ' Powhatan," in the eyes 
 of these people, represented the cause of 
 slave emancipation. When application for 
 coal was made to the agent of the British 
 Mail Steamship Company, he charged at the 
 rate of twenty -two dollars a ton, at least 
 twice as much as it was worth. The offer 
 was accepted; but the ship had scarcely 
 commenced coaling when a black officer, 
 with an aide of the same complexion, came 
 on board and haughtilv demanded in the 
 name of the Governor that the " Powhatan" 
 should stop taking in coal. He was told to 
 go on shore and not to interfere with 
 that which did not concern him. The coal 
 barges were towed alongside the ship and a 
 marine with loaded musket placed m each 
 one. 
 
 That is all the communication the " Pow- 
 hatan " had with Maranham, except that 
 a Brazilian gentleman came on board and 
 strongly protested against the Governor's 
 acts ; but he could effect nothing, as he was 
 on the wrong side in politics. 
 
 As soon as the " Powhatan " had coaled 
 she departed in pursuit of the " Sumter," 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 617 
 
 the commanding officer declining the ser- 
 vices of a pilot for fear the good ship's bones 
 might be left on some ugly reef. 
 
 The "Sumter" reached the calm belt on 
 the !J4th of September. The next day a sail 
 was sighted ; the " Sumter " pursued under 
 steam showing the American flag. The 
 stranger, thinking this a United States 
 gun-boat, ran up the Stars and Stripes. 
 The vessel proved to be the '"Joseph Parke." 
 of Boston ; a prize-crew was put on board 
 and she was sent to the westward to act as 
 a decoy to other vessels, and to report, by 
 signal, all sails that hove in sight. A few 
 days afterwa,rds, as nothing appeared, the 
 " Parke " was set on fire and destroyed, 
 after removing all valuables. Vessels on 
 the Brazilian coast had heard of the "Sum- 
 ter's " escape and had taken a new route 
 homeward consequently. Semmes gained 
 little by cruising between the parallels of 
 2°.30' and 9°.30' North and the Meridians 
 41°.30' and 47°.30' West. So he made his 
 way back to the West Indies, while the 
 "Powhatan" about the same time followed 
 in his track. 
 
 On the 24th of October, the "Sumter" 
 captured the schooner "Daniel Trowbridge," 
 of New Haven, loaded with everything a 
 cruiser could desire, her deck even being 
 filled with live stock. It took these cor- 
 morants two or three days to clear out this 
 well-filled schooner, and as boat-load after 
 boat-load was sent from the prize to the 
 "Sumter," Semmes gloated over the luxu- 
 ries he was receiving. It does not seem to 
 have occurred to him how much this re- 
 sembled the achievements of old buccaneer- 
 ing days, when the sea-rovers overtook their 
 victims and treated them in pretty much 
 the same fashion, finally consigning their 
 vessels to the flames. There is this to be 
 said in Semmes' favor, that he did not make 
 his prisoners walk the plank. Semmes is 
 silent as to the fate of this vessel, from 
 which he received five months' provisions; 
 but she was probably sunk, as it was not 
 desirable to burn her when so many vessels 
 were about. 
 
 Many vessels were now chased without 
 any prizes being taken, most of them being 
 the property of neutrals, and the " Sumter" 
 at length, on the 9th of November, 1861, 
 made Port de France, in the Island of Mar- 
 tinique, having been at sea neai"ly two 
 months since leaving Maranham. Of late 
 the "Sumter" had taken few prizes, but 
 her career, as a whole, had been very de- 
 structive and caused premiums on insur- 
 ance to assume formidable proportions. 
 
 At one time Semmes came very near be- 
 ing captured by the " Powhatan." He re- 
 marks in his journal : " At Trinidad the 
 ' Keystone State ' lost our trail, and, instead 
 
 ham, turned back to the westward. We 
 learn from the same papers that the en- 
 emy's steam- frigate 'Powliatan,' Lieutenant 
 Porter, with more sagacity, pursued us to 
 Maranham, arriving tliere one week [four 
 days] after our departure. At a subsequent 
 date. Lieutenant (now Admiral) Porter's 
 official account fell into my hands, and, 
 plotting his track, I found that on one oc- 
 casion we had been within forty miles of 
 each other, almost near enougJi on a still 
 day to see each other's smoke." This was 
 at the time when the " Sumter " burned the 
 " Joseph Parke " near the equator. 
 
 Commander Semmes heard of the pres- 
 ence of the "Iroquois," Commander James 
 S. Palmer, in the Caribbean Sea, soon after 
 his arrival at Martinique, and made haste 
 to get away from that place before he 
 should be blockaded by the Federal steamer. 
 The " Iroquois " was superior in every re- 
 spect to the " Sumter," and Semmes had 
 not the slightest idea of getting within 
 range of her guns, if he could help it. 
 
 On November 13, the "Sumter" left Port 
 de France and anchored off St. Pierre, and a 
 day or two later the "Iroquois" appeared 
 off the harbor, and sent a boat ashore to 
 the United States consul, after which she 
 steamed outside and kept up a steady 
 blockade until the authorities at Martinique 
 called Captain Palmer's attention to the 
 fact that he was violating the sanctity of 
 neutral waters, and requested him to re- 
 tire beyond the marine league. The ma- 
 noeuvring on the part of Semmes to get to 
 sea, and of Palmer to prevent him, forms 
 an interesting episode in the history of the 
 war. Semmes, in the end, was too clever 
 for Palmer, and one dark night the " Sum- 
 ter " made her escape under full steam while 
 the " Iroquois " was watching for her in an- 
 other direction. It is a difficult thing for 
 one steamer to prevent the passage of an 
 other out of an open bay with head-lands 
 three or four miles apart, as was conclu- 
 sively proven in this instance. 
 
 Finding that the Federal cruisers were 
 getting on his track, the commander of the 
 "Sumter" determined to leave the Carib- 
 bean Sea and cross the Atlantic. On his 
 way Semmes captured and destroyed the 
 "Arcadia," "Vigilant" and "Ebenezer 
 Dodge," making the total number of cap- 
 tures by the " Sumter " fourteen. 
 
 Semmes had done as well for the Confed- 
 eracy as possible, and the Confederate 
 Government was well satisfied with his 
 operations; but the crowning blow was yet 
 to come, when Semmes, in a more efficient 
 vessel, could still better illustrate the fact 
 that a great commercial country, without 
 a sufficient naval force, is at the mercy of 
 any set of adventurers in case war should 
 
618 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 started on such a crusade against British 
 commerce, the seas would have swarmed 
 with swift cruisers, and Semmes' career 
 would have come to a sudden and inglori- 
 ous termination. He showed a deal of 
 clevei'ness in achieving so much for his 
 Government, but he had few vessels in 
 search of him, and only one of these was fast 
 enough to overtake him if he was sighted. 
 
 From an English vessel that Semmes en- 
 countered he obtained newspapers that gave 
 him interesting information. Among other 
 things he learned that another Confederate 
 cruiser called the "Nashville," under the 
 command of Lieutenant Pegram, had put to 
 sea and had burned a large American mer- 
 chant ship, the " Harvey Birch," in the 
 British Channel. She was loaded with tea 
 and just from China. This news stimulated 
 Semmes to fresh exertions, that he might 
 replenish his coal and continue his pleasant 
 employment of burning and sinking. Hav- 
 ing been well received at Cienfuegos, he 
 calculated on meeting similar treatment in 
 other Spanish ports, and he now entered the 
 beautiful harbor of Cadiz with the most 
 pleasing anticipations, so that for a moment 
 he forgot the ravages he had committed on 
 unoffending people who had taken no part 
 in the war against the South, and many of 
 whom, for all he knew, might have sym- 
 pathized with the secession cause. He 
 showed a vindictiveness towards every- 
 thing relating to the North which nobody 
 thought to have existed in his character. 
 Those who knew him as an officer of more 
 than thirty years' service in the United 
 States Navy, supposed that he would feel 
 some little compunction in pulling down the 
 honored flag of the Union and consigning 
 its ships to the flames; but, so far from this, 
 Semmes exulted in every deed he com- 
 mitted, and showed himself in acts and lan- 
 guage so rancorous against everything be- 
 longing to the North, that one would have 
 supposed he had received the greatest in- 
 juries from the United States Government. 
 We can understand that a man may be led 
 by his sympathies and the persuasion of his 
 friends to embark in a bad cause, but there 
 should be enough of humanity in him to 
 cause him to feel regret at deserting the 
 flag he had professed to love for so many 
 years. 
 
 Semmes was not received at Cadiz with 
 that consideratton he thought he had a 
 right to expect, and after some correspond- 
 ence with the authorities was ordered by a 
 dispatch from Madrid to proceed to sea 
 within twenty-four hours; but after consid- 
 eration the " Sumter " was allowed to go 
 into dock for repairs and Semmes was per- 
 mitted to land his prisoners, who were 
 making serious inroads on his provisions. 
 He met with no encouragement at Cadiz. 
 
 In the eyes of the Spaniards the secession 
 movement was a mere political outbreak, 
 in which Spain was not concerned. 
 
 Part of the "Sumter's" crew deserted 
 while the vessel was in dock. Semmes' 
 money had given out; he could not purchase 
 coal, and every day he was urged by the au- 
 thorities to depart. Having a small supply 
 of coal remaining, Semmes determined to 
 shake the dust of Cadiz from his feet, and 
 that night he laid-to off the Straits of Gibral- , 
 ter. At daybreak several sail were sighted 
 coming down the Mediterranean bound 
 through the Straits. Semmes could not 
 think of going into Gibraltar without first 
 examining these vessels, as his predeces- 
 sors, the Barbary corsairs, were wont to do 
 on this very spot in days gone by. It was 
 two hours before the •'Sumter" came up 
 with the first of these vessels. She was 
 standing towards the African coast, though 
 still distant from the land six or seven 
 miles; yet who would have asked whether 
 she was within the marine league or not? 
 What did Semmes care for the guns at 
 Ceuta ? When near enough, the Confed- 
 erate flag was displayed and the usual 
 gun fired, when the American hove-to, 
 much astonished at this summons; but he 
 soon found himself in the hands of an en- 
 emy from whom there was no escape. The 
 master of the vessel stated before the "Ad- 
 miralty Court" sitting on board the "Sum- 
 ter " that his ship belonged to the English 
 house of Baring Brothers and was con- 
 signed to an agent in Boston; but, notwith- 
 standing his expostulations, he was in- 
 formed that his ship would be destroyed. 
 The other vessel was approaching and 
 Semmes had no time to parley. So the 
 torch was applied to the beautiful bark 
 " Neapolitan," of Kingston, Massachusetts, 
 and she with her valuable cargo was totally 
 consumed. Commander Semmes' justifica- 
 tion, to use his own expressions, was that 
 " Gallant naval officers wearing Mr. Welles' 
 shoulder - straps, and commanding Mr. 
 Welles' ships, were capturing little coast- 
 ing schooners laden with fire- wood, plun- 
 dering the houses and hen-roosts of non- 
 combatants along the Southern coast, de- 
 stroying salt-works and intercepting medi- 
 cines going to Confederate hospitals." Is 
 it strange that men who would tell such 
 falsehoods as the above would burn the 
 ships of non-combatants? 
 
 The " Neapolitan " was no sooner on fire 
 than the "Sumter" started in pursuit of 
 the other vessel, which proved to be the 
 bark " Investigator," of Searsport, Maine. 
 The cargo being clearly the property of 
 neutrals, the vessel, after giving a ransom- 
 bond, was allowed to proceed on her course. 
 
 Commander Semmes had now to be some- 
 what careful of seizing neutral property, as 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 619 
 
 he was in civilized Europe and not among 
 a set of " half-breeds " before whose coun- 
 cil windows he could " flash his shells," or 
 hector a pack of feeble officials. 
 
 That night the "Sumter" lay in the 
 " man-of-war anchorage " in Gibraltar Bay. 
 It' was not necessary to tell the inhabitants 
 of Gibraltar what the "Sumter" was, for 
 she had been expected. It was quite in 
 keeping that Semmes should announce his 
 arrival by burning a ship; but it would have 
 been still more suited to his character if he 
 had waited until night to illuminate the 
 shores of Spain and Africa, and run into 
 the anchorage, showing the Confederate 
 flag by the lurid light of the flames. 
 
 Some of the officers of the garrison of 
 Gibraltar, being ardent admirers of the 
 Confederate cause, expressed themselves 
 unreservedly. In other words, they disliked 
 the United States, and would have been 
 delighted to see the whole fabric of the 
 Union broken to pieces. 
 
 The only restrictions placed upon the 
 " Sumter " were that she should not make 
 Gibraltar a station from which to sally out 
 for war purposes, and should not receive 
 on board any contraband of war. That is, 
 she could purchase all the coal needed to 
 enable her to commit depredations upon 
 United States commerce, but could not re- 
 place what few blank cartridges had been 
 expended in bringing vessels to, and the 
 shells with which she had made a target of 
 her prizes. 
 
 What would Great Britain have thought 
 had Ireland thrown off her allegiance, and 
 sent out vessels to destroj' British com- 
 merce, if these vessels had been received in 
 New York, and the authorities had allowed 
 them to refit and repair and sent them on 
 their way. When Washington was Presi- 
 dent, and Genet Minister from France to 
 the United States, certain French privateers 
 put into Philadelphia, and an attempt was 
 made to refit them so that they might com- 
 mit depredations on British commerce. 
 The President issued an order prohibiting 
 this, and on Minister Genet protesting 
 against it, the President declined to receive 
 him as the representative of France. Yet 
 the French had materially assisted us to 
 gain our independence from Great Britain. 
 The diplomatic correspondence of the civil 
 war will show how different the conduct of 
 the British Government. It might be ad- 
 visable for Great Britain to proclaim her 
 neutrality, but there was certainly no reason 
 why she should give aid to those in rebellion 
 against the United States. The limits of 
 this work will not permit a lengthy discus- 
 sion of this matter, however, and we can 
 onlj'- chronicle the movements of the 
 Confederate cruisers and the measures 
 
 takfln tci p.Vipp.lr t.hfiir r-nrppr. 
 
 While the "Sumter" remained in Gib- 
 raltar she was crowded with visitors. Peo- 
 ple came from a distance to see the wonder- 
 ful vessel that had strewn the ocean with 
 blackened hulls. The Duke of Beaufort 
 and Sir John Inglis went on board and ex- 
 amined the ship — men whose ancestors had 
 stigmatized Paul Jones as a pirate when, 
 in the "Bon Homme Richard," he left the 
 whole English coast in terror, and sunk the 
 " Serapis," in a contest that will be forever 
 memorable. 
 
 But in spite of the sympathy showered 
 upon the " Sumter " and her interesting 
 commander, the tide gradually turned, and 
 Semmes wore out his welcome. Two Fed- 
 eral gun-boats were watching — one from 
 Algesiras,the other at Gibraltar — neither of 
 them violating any neutrality, or frater- 
 nizing with the inhabitants of the shore, 
 yet every movement was reported to the 
 Governor of Gibraltar as a violation of 
 neutrality. The escape of the " Sumter " 
 had put Secretary Seward on his mettle, 
 and he made the strongest protests against 
 her being received or recognized as a bel- 
 ligerent, and even went so far as to de- 
 nounce her as a pirate. The British Gov- 
 ernment began to consider the matter more 
 carefully, and the idea doubtless suggested 
 itself that England was establishing a 
 precedent which might give her much 
 trouble in case of future wars. Whatever 
 the cause, the career of the "Sumter" ter- 
 minated at Gibraltar. Semmes could raise 
 no money, and the presence of the United 
 States vessels had a strong moral influ- 
 ence against him. Semmes took up his 
 old employment of writing letters, which 
 were referred by the Governor to the 
 authorities at home. When it was found 
 that Semmes had no money to purchase 
 coal, the sympathizers with secession be- 
 came lukewarm, and as every one in Gib- 
 raltar was more or less under the influence 
 of official authority, even the Army and 
 Navy officers became cooler towards the 
 officers of the "Sumter." The calm bear- 
 ing of the officers of the two United States 
 vessels had its effect, they seemed to be of 
 the right metal — the representatives of an 
 old - established Government. The " Sum- 
 ter " might be a lion for a time while the 
 story of her exploits was still fresh in peo- 
 ple's minds, but when two bona-fide ships- 
 of-war appeared in pursuit of her, the 
 glamour seemed to evaporate, and the bold 
 cruiser was merely the fugitive from jus- 
 tice. The " Sumter " was like some young 
 fellow entertained as a visitor, with two 
 policemen watching the house ready to 
 seize him when he came out. 
 
 To make matters still more unpleasant 
 for Commander Semmes, Paymaster Myers 
 of the "Sumter" was arrested at Tans-ier 
 
630 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 on the opposite side of the Straits. Mr. 
 Myers was on his way to Cadiz to negotiate 
 for coal or money, and landed from the 
 passenger steamer to walk about the town. 
 The United States treaty with Morocco called 
 for the surrender of all persons accused of 
 offences against the United States ; and 
 the consul, having civil and criminal juris- 
 diction, had Mr. Myers and an ex-consul 
 who was traveling with him arrested and 
 placed in close confinement. They wei"e 
 then transferred to the U. S. naval vessel at 
 Algesiras — much against the wishes of the 
 commanding officer — by the consul, who 
 demanded that these persons should be 
 taken to the United States, charged with 
 piracy on the high seas and aiding and 
 abetting the same. The fact that officers 
 of the " Sumter " could be arrested by the 
 emissaries of a foreign Government put 
 a still more dubious aspect on the 
 " Sumter's " case. There was a flaw in the 
 " Sumter " somewhere, and this episode 
 was the feather that broke the camel's 
 back. 
 
 We do not dwell with any satisfaction on 
 the action of the consul at Tangier, who 
 was doubtless prompted in his course by 
 
 the instructions from the Department of 
 State denouncing the Confederate cruisers 
 as pirates. The paymaster of the " Sum- 
 ter " was of little consequence one way or 
 another, and whether he was a prisoner, 
 or at large, made not much difference. 
 Semmes tried in vain to procure the re- 
 lease of his officer, for the United States 
 Government had considerable prestige, and 
 was every day growing more powerful. 
 Mr. Secretary Seward was assuming a de- 
 termined tone to which foreign powers 
 were forced to listen. After much cor- 
 respondence the unlucky paymaster was 
 released from confinement and placed on 
 parole as a prisoner-of-war. 
 
 As it was impossible to get to sea, the 
 "Sumter" was finally laid up at Gibraltar 
 in charge of a midshipman, while Semmes 
 and some of his officers, on the 15th of 
 April, 1863, embarked on board the mail 
 steamer for Southampton, in search of a 
 better vessel with which to renew their 
 depredations on United States commerce. 
 The "Sumter" became a blockade-runner, 
 and, after the war, terminated her career on 
 some dangerous shoals in the China Sea 
 and all her crew were lost. 
 
CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 THE ADVENTUEES OF THE "FLORIDA" ("ORETO") AND "ALABAMA." 
 engagement' between the '-kearsaege" and "alabama." 
 
 Destruction of the Nation's Commerce. — Semmes' Career in the Old Navy. — 
 Semmes in England. — Takes Passage for Nassau. — Receives Captain's Com- 
 mission. — Ordered to Command the "Alabama." — The " Oreto " Seized by 
 British Authorities, afterwards Released. — Receives her Armament at Grand 
 Key. — The "Oreto" ("Florida") sails for Mobile. — Runs through Blockading 
 Squadron. — Runs Blockade a Second Time. — Maffitt Lights up the Sea. — 
 The "Alabama." — Semmes joins the "Alabama" at Terceira. — In Commission. 
 — Capture of "Starlight," "Ocean Rover," "Alert," "Weather-gauge" 
 AND "Altamaha." — Exciting Chase. — Capture op the "Benjamin Tucker," 
 "Courser," " Virginia " and " Elisha Dunbar." — Rough Sea and a Picturesque 
 Conflagration. — Capture of the "Brilliant," "Emily Farnum," "Dunkirk," 
 " Wave Crest," " Tonawanda," "Manchester," "Lamplighter," " Crenshaw" and 
 "Levi Starbuck." — Exciting Adventures. — Landing Prisoners at Port de 
 France. — Blockaded. — The "Alabama" Escapes U'. S. S."San Jacinto." — Capture 
 OF the "Parker Cooke," "Union "and "Ariel." — Incidents on board the ''Ariel." 
 — The "Alabama" in Gulf of Mexico. — Sinks U. S. S. "Hatteras." — Landing 
 Prisoners and Refitting at Jamaica. — Capture of "Golden Rule," "Chaste- 
 laine," "Palmetto," "Olive Jane" and "Golden Eagle." — The Sea Ablaze 
 WITH Burning Vessels. — The Toll-gate upon the Sea. — Capture op the " Wash- 
 ington," "John A. Parks," " Bethiah Thayer," "Punjaub," "Morning Star," 
 "Kingfisher," "Charles Hill," "Nora," "Louisa Hatch," " Lafayette " and 
 "Kate Cory." — Capture of the Whalers " Nye," "Dorcas Prince"and "Union 
 Jack." — The "Alabama" and Confederate Steamer "Georgia" at Bahia. — 
 Capture of the " Gilderslieve," "Justiana," "Jabez Snow," "Amazonian," 
 "Talisman" and "Conrad."^ — The "Conrad" Commissioned as a Confederate 
 Cruiser. ^Capture of the "Anna F. Schmidt." — The "Tuscaloosa." — Capture of 
 the "Sea -Bride." — U. S. S. " Vanderbilt" and " Wyoming." — The "Winged 
 Racer" and the "Contest" in Flames. — The "Alabama" gives the "Wyoming" 
 the Slip. — Capture of the "Martaban," "Sonora" and "Highlander." — Burn- 
 ing OF THE "Emma Jane." — Release of the "Tuscaloosa." — Capture of the 
 " Rockingham " and " Tycoon."— The " Alabama" Anchors in Harbor op Cher- 
 bourg. — Arrival OP THE "Kearsarge." — A Challenge. — Preparations to Fight. 
 — Engagement between the "Alabama" and "Kearsarge." — Incidents of Battle. 
 — The "Alabama" Sunk! — Semmes Escapes. — Captain Winslow's Report. — Of- 
 ficers and Crew of the " Kearsarge."— Officers of the " Alabama." 
 
 THERE is no more interesting chap- This commerce had long been the pride 
 
 ter in the history of tlie war than of the nation, and its white sails covered 
 
 the account of the performances nearly every sea ; but that it was poorly 
 
 of those who commanded the protected by the Government was well 
 
 cruisers that were sent forth by known to all the world, and it was pre- 
 
 the Confederate Government to destroy the dieted by those who thought seriously upon 
 
 ■commerce of the Northern States. the subject that tlie day would come when 
 
623 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the rude hands of some foreign power 
 would be laid upon it, in some future war, 
 when it would be swept from the seas ; but 
 who, in his wildest conjectures, would ever 
 suppose that the blow would come from 
 those whose greatest pride once was that 
 they were born under the " Stars and 
 Stripes," and that they loved every stripe 
 and star in the dear old flag that had borne 
 itself so bravely in times past, on land and 
 sea, in the defence of human rights, and in 
 the vindication of its own honor ? 
 
 Yet men change their creeds so rapidly 
 with the circumstances of the times, that 
 it would be impossible to predict their ac- 
 tions when revolution overwhelms a na- 
 tion, and changes the most loyal hearts. 
 Men, who with patriotic pride had looked 
 upon our flag with a veneration almost as 
 great as they owed their God, forsook it at 
 a moment's wai-ning — at a time when it 
 most needed their support. And, strange 
 to say, some of these not only placed them- 
 selves in opposition to the Government — to 
 which they had been bound by the most 
 sacred ties — but they did all in their power 
 to drive its flag from the ocean, by destroy- 
 ing the noble ships that carried it. 
 
 There was a large corps of these officers, 
 and among them some of the most gallant 
 and fiery spirits of the old Navy, without 
 whose ' intelligent aid the Confederates 
 could have, inflicted little or no injury upon 
 American commerce. It is well known 
 that all the attempts made by the merchant 
 captains of the South to fit out privateers 
 were failures. Their vessels were always 
 captured, simply because their commanders 
 lacked the training and intelligence of the 
 regular naval officers who went South when 
 their States seceded. 
 
 There can be no doubt that Commander 
 Semmes was one of the most intelligent of 
 these officers, and he not only willingly en- 
 tered into Mr. Mallory's plan for the destruc- 
 tion of American commerce, but embarked 
 in the career with so much energy that it 
 amounted to vindictiveness ; so that, al- 
 though he performed many daring exploits, 
 he is hardly entitled to be called a hei-o. We 
 have seen what he accomplished with the 
 " Sumter," a small vessel which had been 
 condemned by a Board of naval officers at 
 New Orleans. Semmes, however, at once de- 
 cided that she would suit his purpose, and, 
 with an energy he had never been thought to 
 possess, he got her to sea, eluded the block- 
 aders, and after capturing fifteen mer- 
 chantment, arrived at Cadiz. From tliis 
 port he went to Gibraltar, where the career 
 of the " Sumter," as a commerce-destroyer, 
 ended. She was in an unseaworthy condi- 
 tion, and, being closely blockaded, Semmes 
 decided that she could be of no further use 
 to the Confederacy. He sold her iia such a 
 
 way that his adopted country could benefit 
 by the purchase-money, and then started 
 in pursuit of some other field of action. 
 
 As we have said before. Commander 
 Semmes had denounced the Mexican Gov- 
 ernment for proposing to do what he was 
 doing in the "Alabama," but no one can tell 
 how a man may change his nature or his 
 opinions when swayed by some passion that 
 may have been dormant in him for years, 
 and which only required to be called into 
 action to make the inert, indifferent oflBcer 
 throw off the old man and take on the new; 
 there are so many instances where such 
 men have come to the surface in great 
 revolutions, that it is not strange that Com- 
 mander Semmes, from being the mildest- 
 mannered gentleman in the Navy, should 
 have assumed a character bordering on that 
 of an ancient viking. 
 
 This officer would not perhaps have mer- 
 ited these remarks had he not through- 
 out his career shown the most vindictive 
 feelings towards anything that claimed 
 to belong to the United States ; he was 
 so inhumane in his treatment of pris- 
 oners, and so indifferent to the rights of 
 property, that he could scarcely have ex- 
 pected to be treated as mildly as his com- 
 patriots who inflicted great damage on 
 American commerce, but were content after 
 the war was over to remain quietly in their 
 retirement without boasting of what they 
 had done in a book that tended to keep 
 alive the bad passions which it were better 
 for both North and South to bury in oblivion. 
 
 We have seen Commander Semmes in the 
 " Sumter," we have yet to see him in the 
 " Alabama," which he made ten times more 
 famous as a destroyer than the little vessel 
 which first carried his fortunes. During his 
 second command he carried such terror into 
 the hearts of peaceful merchantmen that 
 many of them abandoned their fiag and 
 placed their ships under the protection 
 of England, where they knew they would 
 be safe from molestation. 
 
 When Semmes arrived in England he 
 found that a commission of Confederate 
 naval officers had been sent abroad to pur- 
 chase or build cruisers for the Southern 
 Navy, but that, owing to the diflficulties 
 tlirown in their way by the protests of the 
 American Minister and Secretary of State, 
 little headway had been made in the desired 
 direction ; and, although he was offered the 
 first command, he saw little prospect of im- 
 mediate employment and determined to re- 
 turn to the Confederate States. An oppor- 
 tunity soon offered, and he took passage on 
 the fast blockade-runner " Melita," which 
 landed him at Nassau, N. P., on the 13th of 
 June, 1862. On the same evening Semmes 
 was quartered at the Victoria Hotel with 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 633 
 
 his staff, where he was surrounded by many- 
 Confederates, who all consorted together 
 after a manner, and at least with apparent 
 harmony, for they were all, as a rule, en- 
 
 faged in the same errand (search for plun- 
 er) ; and the greedy look and hungry eyes 
 of many of these parties, as they longingly 
 gazed upon the thousands of bales of cot- 
 ton which strewed the beach, showed that 
 their hearts were wrapped up in that beau- 
 tiful staple. 
 
 Nassau, originally an insignificant town, 
 sought only as a place of resort for invalids, 
 had now assumed the airs of a thriving 
 city. _ The harbor was filled with shipping, 
 and its warehouses, wharves and quays 
 were overflowing with merchandise of all 
 kinds, ready to be sent into Confederate 
 ports. There was almost as much bustle 
 and activity here as at the wharves of 
 New York. Ships were constantly arriv- 
 ing from England with merchandise, great- 
 guns, small-arms, ammunition, and every- 
 thing else that could be wanted by the 
 Confederates to enable them to carry on 
 the war, and light - draft steamers, Con- 
 federate and English, were constantly re- 
 loading these articles and running them 
 into Southern ports. So successful were 
 some of these traders in running the block- 
 ade that they made their voyages as regu- 
 larly as mail-packets, returning again and 
 again to Nassau with heavy loads of cot- 
 ton, which were thei-e transferred to the 
 vessels which had brought arms and muni- 
 tions of war from England. 
 
 ■What was there to prevent the Confeder- 
 ates from maintaining and equipping their 
 fast cruisers except the unwearying vigi- 
 lance of the blockading fleet ? This trying 
 duty was well performed, however, and, al- 
 though some escaped them, the Federal offi- 
 cers captured 1,166 blockade-runners during 
 the war. This faithful work was attributed 
 by Commander Semmes to the greed of the 
 "Old Navy." He complained that "this 
 duty became a bone of contention among 
 the Federal naval officers, which of them 
 should be assigned to the lucrative command 
 of the blockading squadron," and that 
 "the Admiral of one of their squadrons 
 would frequently awake in the morning 
 and find himself richer by twenty thousand 
 dollars by reason of a capture made by 
 some one of his subordinates the night be- 
 fore." This, he said, was "the 'mess of pot- 
 tage' for which so many unprincipled 
 Southern men in the Federal Navy sold 
 their birthright." Is it any wonder that these 
 loyal men refused to recognize Semmes 
 when he was left by the war in indigent 
 circumstances and could not make a living 
 by the law ? 
 
 Commander Semmes met several Confed- 
 erate officers at Na.ssau. a.mnncr thpm O.cm. 
 
 mander J. N. Maffitt, who had arrived in the 
 " Oreto," a vessel that had been purchased 
 in England by the Confederate commission 
 and fitted out as a cruiser. At this moment 
 she was detained at Nassau by the Attorney- 
 General of the colony for a violation of the 
 British " Foreign Enlistment Act." Semmes 
 passed his time in listening to the argu- 
 ments in this case, and in the meanwhile re- 
 ceived a commission as Captain in the Con- 
 federate Navy, with orders to return to 
 England and take command of the steamer 
 "Alabama" (then known as "No. 290"). 
 She had been so far secured by the Con- 
 federate commissioners that they felt quite 
 certain of getting her to sea. 
 
 The " Oreto," of which Commander Maffitt 
 had charge, was quite swift, but not so 
 formidable a vessel as the " 390." She had 
 left England unarmed, but with all the 
 arrangements made to mount guns, and 
 with all the appliances below to stow pow- 
 
 COIIMANDEE J. NEWLAND MAFFITT, C. S. N. 
 
 der and shell. After a long trial she was 
 released by the British authorities, and 
 Maffitt again prepared to put her in fighting 
 trim. This vessel was afterwards known 
 as the " Florida," and though she did not 
 equal the "Alabama," she made herself 
 sufficiently famous to give the Federal Gov- 
 ernment a great deal of trouble, and cause 
 it to put forth all its energies for her cap- 
 ture. 
 
 Maffitt was a different kind of man from 
 Semmes. A thorough master of his profes- 
 sion, and possessed of all the qualities that 
 make a favorite naval commander, he be- 
 came a successful raider of the sea ; but he 
 made no enemies among those officers who 
 had once known him and who now missed 
 his genial humor in their messes. He was a 
 veritable rover, but was never inhumane to 
 those whom the fortunes of war threw into 
 bis ha.nds. and he made himself as nleas- 
 
634 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ant, while emptying a ship of her cargo 
 and then scuttling her, as Claude Duval 
 when robbing a man of his purse or bor- 
 rowing his watch from his pocket. 
 
 After Maffitt's vessel was released from 
 the Court of Nassau (the trial having been a 
 farce), he made arrangements to mount her 
 guns and man her from the motley crew of 
 sailors that floated about the town ready 
 for any kind of work that might offer, so 
 long as they did not compromise themselves 
 with some power having plenty of ships-of- 
 war, that could catch them and hang them 
 to the yard-arm if they happened to burn 
 or sink anything belonging to it. This 
 they knew was piracy ; but for English 
 sailors to ship in an English port on board a 
 Confederate cruiser, to assist in burning or 
 sinking American vessels, they considered 
 to be merely the exercise of belligerent 
 rights. 
 
 The vessel loaded with the " Oreto's " guns 
 and stores had arrived while her case was 
 before the court at Nassau. It was shown 
 by the defendants in this trial that the 
 "Oreto" had not sailed with any warlike 
 stores on board, and there the investigation 
 ended ; while it was well-known to all on 
 the island that the arms were actually in 
 port, only waiting to be put on board the 
 Confederate as soon as she was released. 
 
 Maffitt was too clever to actually violate 
 English neutrality laws by any overt act. 
 He made arrangements with J. B. Lafitte, 
 the Confederate agent at Nassau, to meet 
 him at Grand Key, where the guns were 
 to be delivered Tjy a schooner chartered 
 for that purpose. The meeting took place, 
 and Maffitt succeeded in arming his ship, 
 but was obliged to trust to recruiting his 
 crew from such disaffected Americans as 
 might elect to join him from captured ves- 
 sels. He had at this time but five firemen, 
 and fourteen deck-hands. So short-handed 
 was he, that when he met the schooner 
 with his battery on board he had to take 
 off his coat and work as a common sailor. 
 Every hour was precious to him, for the 
 Federal cruisers hovering in the neighbor- 
 hood might pounce upon him at any mo- 
 ment. The work was especially laborious 
 under the scorching rays of an August 
 sun, and it almost exhausted the energies 
 of all hands ; but at the end of five days 
 the "Oreto" had all her stores and guns 
 on board, and Captain Maffitt steamed out 
 upon the ocean and put his ship in commis- 
 sion. The British flag, which she had 
 worn since her departure from England, 
 was hauled down, and the Confederate 
 ensign hoisted amid the cheers of her mot- 
 ley crew. The ship was christened the 
 " Florida." 
 
 All this looked very much like the ways 
 of the buccaneers, who, in years gone by, 
 
 used to meet at these rendezvous, and pre- 
 pare for raids on harmless merchantmen 
 and their helpless passengers ; but these 
 people were pirates in every sense of the 
 word— ignorant, cold-blooded, brutal men, 
 who had no nationality, and not education 
 enough to teach them right from wrong. 
 The " Florida," however, was. not a pirate. 
 It had been declared by the most civilized 
 and Christian nation on the face of the 
 earth, followed by France, that these ves- 
 sels were belligerents, and entitled to all 
 belligerent rights. The only trouble was 
 that England, in her anxiety to follow a 
 strictly neutral course (!), was not careful 
 enough to see her own laws maintained, 
 and her " Foreign Enlistment Act " strictly 
 enforced. Had she done so, the Confeder- 
 ate cruisers would never have sailed from 
 an English port ; or, if they did, the British 
 Navy would have been instructed to arrest 
 them on the high seas, or in any English 
 port, for a violation of the " Foreign En- 
 listment Act." But this was not attempted, 
 and the English Navy, in their scrupulous 
 care to be neutral, almost deserted the 
 West Indies, leaving the Confederate agents 
 to carry on their operations for the future 
 destruction of American commerce at their 
 discretion. 
 
 The work of getting the guns on board 
 the ' ' Oreto " had been so severe in that 
 burning climate that it produced sickness 
 among her crew. The captain's steward 
 was buried on the day the cruiserwent 
 into commission, and, on investigation, it 
 appeared that he had died of yellow fever. 
 The constantly increasing sick - list con- 
 firmed this opinion. There was no surgeon 
 on board, and the captain was compelled 
 to assume all the duties of medical officer 
 as well as his own. 
 
 On the fifth day out, the " Florida" found 
 herself off the little island of Anguila, and 
 by report of the hospital steward the epi- 
 demic had reduced the working force to 
 one fireman and four deck-hands. Being 
 no longer able to keep the sea, Maffitt ran 
 into the Port of Cardenas, in the Island of 
 Cuba. Here all the officers and men were 
 attacked in succession, and the disease be- 
 ing epidemic on shore, no medical aid could 
 be obtained. Maffitt himself was at last 
 taken down, and never perhaps in the his- 
 tory of yellow fever was there a ship in a 
 worse condition than this. But "it is an 
 ill-wind that blows nobody good," and the 
 peaceful merchantmen could now follow 
 their way unmolested by the "Florida" ; and 
 thus many of them escaped burning or scut- 
 tling b}' this misadventure of the Confeder- 
 ate cruiser — which some, no doubt, attrib- 
 uted to an act of Providence, but which 
 was simply owing to the fact that the 
 sailors had been mdulging too freely at 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 625 
 
 "Nassau, and there laid in the germs of 
 fever, which were afterwards developed by 
 their work in the hot sun. 
 
 There was a dreadful condition of affairs 
 on board the "Florida," but amidst it all 
 Maffltt never lost his self-possession until he 
 became unconscious and was given up for 
 dead. While in this apparently hopeless 
 condition his young son died, followed 
 .shortly afterwards by the chief engineer, and 
 the " Florida " bade fair to lay at anchor in 
 the Bay of Cardenas until the war was 
 over. But Maffitt recovered; his indomit- 
 able will carried him through the dreadful 
 ordeal, and the doom of the " Florida " was 
 not yet sealed. When he and most of his 
 crew were convalescent, the Captain-Gen- 
 eral of Cuba sent a message to request the 
 commander of the "Florida" to proceed to 
 Havana, on the ground (it is asserted) that 
 his vessel would be safe from an attack of 
 Federal gun-boats, when it is well known that 
 there was but one instance during the war 
 where a Confederate cruiser was molested 
 in neutral waters. In fact, there was such 
 an absence of Federal gun-boats all along 
 the Bahama banks and coast of Cuba, from 
 the time the ' ' Florida " first appeared in Nas- 
 sau up to the time of her leaving Havana, 
 that it was the cause of severe and well de- 
 served strictures upon the neglect of the 
 Navy Department, which seemed to be 
 oblivious to the fact that the Confederates 
 were fitting out these vessels as fast as their 
 means would permit. 
 
 Though the Captain-General had invited 
 the commander of the "Florida" to goto 
 Havana for the above reason, it was actu- 
 ally for the purpose of preventing him from 
 violating Spanish neutrality laws ; and 
 when Maffitt arrived in Havana he found 
 iiimself so tied up with restrictions imposed 
 by the Spanish authorities, that he deter- 
 mined to go to Mobile and fit his ship out 
 there. 
 
 He therefore got underway for that port 
 on the 1st of September, and arrived in 
 sight of Fort Morgan on the 4th, having 
 started on his perilous adventure with his 
 crew just convalescing, and he himself 
 scarcely able to stand from the prostrating 
 effects of the fever. 
 
 It may appear to the reader that we have 
 exhibited more sympathy for Commander 
 Maffitt and given him more credit than he 
 deserved : it must be remembered that we 
 are endeavoring to write a naval history of 
 the war, and not a partisan work. This 
 officer, it is true, had gone from under the 
 flag we venerate to fight against it ; but 
 we know that it was a sore trial for him to 
 leave the service to which he was attached, 
 and that he believed he was doing his duty 
 in following the fortunes of his State, and 
 -had thft p.mira.o-fi tr> fnllnw bis convictions. 
 
 He did not leave the United States Navy 
 with any bitterness, and when the troubles 
 were all over he accepted the situation 
 gracefully. What we are going to state of 
 him shows that he was capable of the 
 greatest heroism, and, that, though he was 
 on the side of the enemy, his courage and 
 skill were worthy of praise. 
 
 On the 4th of September, at 3 P. M. , the 
 " Florida " made Fort Morgan, and at the 
 same time it was discovered that three of 
 the enemy's ci-uisers lay between her and 
 the bar. Maffitt was assisted on deck, being 
 too sick to move without help. He deter- 
 mined to run the risk of passing the block- 
 aders ; and, if he failed in that, he made his 
 preparations to destroy his vessel so that she 
 might not fall into Federal hands. He 
 hoisted the English ensign, and assumed 
 the character of an English ship-of-war. 
 The moment the "Florida" was seen by 
 the blockaders, as she stood boldly in, two 
 of these vessels got underway and stood 
 towards her. The blockading force was at 
 this time under the command of Com- 
 mander George H. Preble, in the " Oneida," 
 a prudent, careful officer, who tried hard 
 not to commit any mistakes ; but on this 
 occasion he was too careful not to com- 
 promise his Government by attacking an 
 English man-of-war, as he supposed the 
 " Florida " was, from the bold manner in 
 which she stood towards him. 
 
 Several gun - boats had been employed 
 blockading outside the bar, the "Kana- 
 wha," " Pinola " and " Kennebec," and the 
 steam - frigate "Susquehanna" had also 
 been there, but all of these vessels had been 
 temporarily withdrawn for other duty. 
 The " Oneida " had been making repairs on 
 her boilers, and the "Winona" was the 
 only other vessel actually on the blockade 
 at that moment. The "Oneida" was one 
 of the fine ships built at the beginning 
 of the war, and was supposed to be a 13- 
 knot vessel. Her armament consisted of 
 two 11-inch Dahlgrens (one forward and 
 the other aft), four 33-pounders and three 
 Dahlgren 30-pounder rifles. The " Winon a " 
 carried one 11-inch Dahlgren pivot - gun 
 (forward), and two 32-pounders ; and the 
 schooner "Rachel Seaman " (bomb vessel), 
 which happened to be beating up to tlie 
 bar at the time, cai-ried two 33 -pounders. 
 The "Oneida," owing to repairs that were 
 going on, could not carry a full press of 
 steam, and may be said to have been caught 
 napping. 
 
 Commander Maffitt could not have chosen 
 a more auspicious time to attempt, his dar- 
 ing feat, though, be it said to his credit, he 
 had made up his mind to run through the 
 whole blockading fleet if necessary. It was 
 his last chance ; he had only to do that or 
 run his vessel on shore and burn her. for she 
 
626 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 was of no use to the Confederates in her 
 then condition. 
 
 As soon as Maffitt discovered the Federal 
 vessels, he stood directly for them, know- 
 ing that, as the "Florida" resembled an 
 English gun-boat, she would probably be 
 mistaken for one, and trusting to his speed 
 to save him at the last moment. Intelli- 
 gence had been received at Pensacola, the 
 headquarters of the squadron, of the " Flor- 
 ida's " having left Nassau ; but no news 
 of her having reached Cardenas had fol- 
 lowed, and for some reason no intimation 
 had been sent to the fleet off: Mobile that 
 she was on a cruise. 
 
 At that time English ships-of-war were 
 in the habit of going along the coast to see 
 if the blockade was effectual, and it was 
 customary for them to enter blockaded 
 ports after reporting to the commanding 
 officer of the blockading force and obtain- 
 ing his permission. Commander Preble, 
 thinking this to be a case of that kind, ran 
 out to meet the supposed Englishman, and 
 rounded-to, to go in with him on the same 
 course. The "Florida " approached rapidly, 
 her smoke-pipes vomiting forth volumes of 
 black smoke and a high press of steam es- 
 caping from her steam-pipe. As she came 
 within hailing distance, tlae Federal com- 
 mander ordered her to heave-to, but Maffitt 
 still sped on, having sent all his men below, 
 except the man at the wheel, and returned 
 no reply to the hail. Preble then fired a 
 shot ahead of the " Florida." still supposing 
 her to be some saucy Englishman disposed 
 to try what liberties he could take, though 
 the absence of men on deck should have 
 excited suspicion. He hesitated, however, 
 and his hesitation lost him a prize and the 
 honor of capturing one of the Confederate 
 scourges of the ocean. Preble had his crew 
 at quarters, however, and as soon as he saw 
 that the stranger was passing him he opened 
 his broadside upon her, and the other two 
 blockaders did the same. But the first shots 
 were aimed too high and the "Florida" 
 sped on toward the bar, her feeble crew 
 forgetting their sickness and heaping coal 
 upon the furnace fires with all possible 
 rapidity. Every man was working for his 
 life, while the captain stood amid the storm 
 of shot and shell perfectly unmoved, keenly 
 watching the marks for entering the port, 
 and wondering to himself what his chances 
 were for getting safely in. 
 
 The first broadside of the " Oneida," 
 which was fired from a distance of a few 
 yards only, cut away the " Florida's" ham- 
 mocks, smashed her boats, and shattered 
 some of her spars. The shock seemed 
 to give a new impetus to her speed, the 
 English colors were hauled down, and an 
 attempt was made to hoist the Confeder- 
 ate flag in their place, but the man who 
 
 was bending it to the halyards had his 
 fingers shot away, and it was not run up 
 while under fire. 
 
 The " Winona " now opened on the chase 
 with her heavy guns, as did also the 
 "Rachel Seaman" with her 32-pounders, but 
 the latter vessel was at a distance and her 
 fire was of little effect. The "Oneida" 
 fired rapidly from all the guns she could 
 bring to bear; but as she could not make 
 more than seven knots an hour, the " Flor- 
 ida" was rapidly leaving her. One fl- 
 inch shell entered the side of the blockade- 
 runner just above the water-line, passed 
 through both sides, and exploded. Had it 
 exploded one second sooner the career of 
 the " Florida" would have ended and she 
 would have gone to the bottom ; but an 
 inch or two saved her. On she sped, 
 faster and faster, until even those who 
 longed for his discomfiture could not but 
 admire the steady bearing of the brave man 
 who stood alone upon the deck. Another shell 
 passed through the cabin, and her after- 
 spars began to tremble as their supports 
 were cut away. The firing of the Union 
 vessels was bad, however, and the Confed- 
 erate finally escaped with but one man 
 killed and seven wounded — a small loss 
 compared to their great gain. 
 
 During the whole war there was not a 
 more exciting adventure than this escape 
 of the "Florida" into Mobile Bay. The 
 gallant manner in which it was conducted 
 excited great admiration, even among the 
 men who were responsible for permitting 
 it. We do not suppose there was ever a 
 case where a man, under all the attending 
 circumstances, displayed more energy or 
 more bravery. 
 
 The " Florida " remained four months in 
 Mobile preparing for sea. and watching a 
 chance to get out. The blockading squad- 
 ron had been enlarged to seven vessels, 
 among them the "R. R. Cuyler," a very 
 fast steamer, that had been sent to this 
 station with the certainty that she would 
 be able to intercept the " Florida " if she 
 attempted to run out. 
 
 Maffitt came down from Mobile one after- 
 noon in the " Florida," and noted the number 
 and positions of the blockaders, while he was 
 plainly visible to them. The Federal com- 
 manders had been in a continual state of 
 vigilance for three months, and it was a 
 great relief to them to see the coveted prize at 
 last. One would have supposed that on such 
 an occasion every man would have been at 
 his post, and the vessels with steam up and 
 the chains ready to slip ; but this was not 
 the case. The "Cuyler" only was ordered 
 to change her position after dark, and be 
 ready to start after the " Florida" the mo- 
 ment she appeared. Not a vessel was sent 
 off eight or ten miles to head the Confed- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 627 
 
 erate off if she should get the lead, and no 
 extraordinary precautions were taken. 
 At about 3 A. M. the " Florida" was re- 
 
 Eorted as coming out. She passed directly 
 etween the "Cuyler"and the "Susque- 
 hanna," at a distance of 300 yards from the 
 former. It is stated that half an hour was 
 lost in the " Cuyler's " getting underway, 
 owing to a regulation of the ship that the 
 officer of the watch should report to the 
 captain and wait for him to come on deck 
 before slipping the cable (in this instance 
 it would have been well if the Captain had 
 slept on deck). 
 
 The " Oneida's " officers saw the signal, 
 beat to quarters, but remained at anchor, 
 though she was assigned as one of the chas- 
 ing vessels ! and at 3:50, "having seen no 
 vessel run out, beat the retreat ! " Such is the 
 extract from her log. The "Cuyler's" offi- 
 cers, however, saw the " Florida" distinctly, 
 and chased her during the whole of the next 
 day, making as her greatest speed during 
 the chase only 13J knots, although she had 
 previously made 14. At night the " Florida " 
 changed her course, and ran for the coast 
 of Cuba, where she was engaged in burning 
 prizes the next day, while the " Cuyler " 
 was hunting for her in the Yucatan 
 Channel. 
 
 On the day after the "Florida "ran out, 
 the "Oneida" was sent in pursuit of her; 
 but she missed the Confederate cruiser, and 
 Commodore Wilkes, who at that time com- 
 manded a "flying squadron" of slow ves- 
 sels, fell in with her, detained her and made 
 her a part of his command, as he also 
 did the "Cuyler" when she fell into his 
 hands. 
 
 And so the " Florida" was allowed to go 
 on her way without molestation, and Maf- 
 fitt was enabled to commence that career on 
 the high seas which has made his name 
 one of the notable ones of the war. He 
 lighted the seas wherever he passed along, 
 and committed such havoc among Ameri- 
 can merchantmen, that, if possible, he was 
 even more dreaded than Semmes. We 
 have only to saj', that his being permitted 
 to escape into Mobile Bay, and then to get 
 out again, was the greatest example of 
 blundering committed throughout the war. 
 Every officer who knew Maffitt was certain 
 that he would attempt to get out of Mo- 
 bile, and we are forced to say that those 
 who permitted his escape are responsible 
 for the terrible consequences of their want 
 of vigilance and energy. 
 
 To return to Captain Semmes : He had 
 been kept several anxious weeks at Nassau 
 waiting for an opportunity to return to 
 Europe. The "290," then fitting out in 
 England, was nearly ready for sea — and it 
 
 soon as possible, before the application of 
 the British "Foreign Enlistment Act" 
 should become more stringent. 
 
 Semmes wrote to Captain Bulloch, who 
 had charge of fitting out the " 290," to 
 bring her to a rendezvous where he would 
 join her. The former then made his way 
 to Liverpool in the steamer "Bahama," and 
 found that the " 290 " had succeeded in elud- 
 ing the vigilance (!) of the English authori- 
 ties and had proceeded to the island of 
 Terceira, where she was awaiting the arrival 
 of her battery on another vessel, which had 
 also eluded these vigilant Englishmen ! 
 
 The "Alabama " was built by John Laird, 
 an eminent ship-builder, and we believe 
 that she was built especially for the Con- 
 federate Government. This book does not 
 pretend to enter into a lengthy legal dis- 
 cussion of the rights of the Confederates to 
 build and equip ships in English ports for 
 the destruction of American commerce, 
 though the writer condemns the practice 
 in toto. The Queen of England, at the out- 
 break of the civil war in America, issued 
 a proclamation, in which it was stated that 
 England would preserve a strict neutrality 
 between the contending parties. This neu- 
 trality consisted not only in permitting the 
 Confederates actually to build and equip 
 cruisingsteamships for the purpose of inflict- 
 ing injury on the Federals, but these ships 
 managed to leave England in violation of 
 the " Foreign Enlistment Act," and did in- 
 flict serious injury to the shipping of the 
 United States. 
 
 A great many arguments were brought 
 forward by Confederate writers to prove that 
 no laws were violated by the above proceed- 
 ings, but a folio of such arguments is not 
 worth much in the face of the fact that in 1871 
 a commission was appointed by England 
 and the United States to settle what were 
 known as the "Alabama Claims," but which 
 included the vessels captured by all the 
 Confederate cruisers fitted out in England. 
 The result of that Commission was that 
 Great Britain paid to the United States the 
 sum of $15,000,000 as indemnification for 
 the damage inflicted on United States com- 
 merce by Confederate cruisers, owing to 
 the neglect of the British authorities in not 
 preventing the said cruisers from getting 
 to sea. There could be no better argument 
 than this against all the specious writings 
 which have appeared from time to time, 
 and it especially refutes the attempt of 
 Commander Semmes to justify his course. 
 Great Britain is a nation from whom noth- 
 ing like payment could have been exacted, 
 but the concurrence of the English Com- 
 missioners was based on that high sense of 
 justice and fair-play which is the ruling 
 characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race. 
 
628 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 few days in Liverpool, collecting his officers 
 and making financial arrangements, de- 
 parted on the 13th of August, 1862, in the 
 steamer "Bahama," to join the " 290." 
 
 Commander James D. Bullock, formerly 
 of the U. S. Navy, accompanied Jiim, to be 
 present at the cliristening of the "290," 
 vsrhich he had contracted for and superin- 
 tended while she was building. 
 
 The "290" was a vessel of 900 tons 
 burden, 230 feet in lengtli, 32 feet beam, 
 and, when provisioned and coaled for a 
 cruise, drew 15 feet of water. Her model 
 was of the most perfect symmetry, and she 
 sat upon the water with the lightness and 
 grace of a swan. She was barkentine- 
 rigged, with long lower masts, that en- 
 abled her to carry large fore-and-aft sails, 
 which are of so much importance to a 
 steamer in most weathers. She was of the 
 lightest build compatible with strength, 
 and was. in fact, constructed with the one 
 idea of making her an efficient commerce- 
 destroyer. She was a fast steamer, but her 
 two modes of locomotion were independent 
 of each other. Her speed was about 10 
 knots, though she made 11| on her trial 
 trip. She was well armed with 8 guns, six 
 32-pounders in broadside and two pivot 
 guns, one a 100-pounder Blakely rifle, and 
 the other a long 8-inch smooth-bore. The 
 crew required for the "290" (not counting 
 those in the engine-room) numbered 120 
 men. and she carried 24 officers. 
 
 This was the vessel that became so 
 famous in burning and sinking that her 
 reputation in this kind of warfare has 
 eclipsed that of all the other Confederate 
 vessels engaged in the same business. 
 
 A week after Semmes left Liverpool he 
 was in Porto Praya, where he found the 
 "290" with some of her stores already on 
 board. Some objections being made to his 
 getting guns on board in West Angra Bay. 
 Semmes got underwaj' with his flotilla and 
 proceeded far enough to sea to be outside of 
 neutral jurisdiction, and there, in smooth 
 water, got the vessels alongside and com- 
 pleted his outfit. He then steamed back to 
 Terceira and filled his vessel with coal. 
 
 Terceira is a beautiful place, nearly every 
 foot of the island is under cultivation, and 
 from a distance the whole country looks 
 like a rambling village, where Nature 
 seems to smile as it does nowhere else. 
 There is everything here to allure the heart 
 of man to harmony and peace. The little 
 town of Angra, near which the "Alabama" 
 was anchored, was a perfect picture of a 
 Portuguese-Moorish settlement, with its 
 red-tiled roofs, sharp gables, and parti-col- 
 ored verandas, while tlie quiet peacefulness 
 tliat hung over this spot, so far removed 
 from the highways of the world, gave it an 
 unusual charm. 
 
 Yet from this beautiful spot, where it 
 seemed as if nothing unlawful could exist, 
 started forth one of the most devastating 
 expeditions against a nation's commerce 
 known in the history of war. 
 
 The " 290 " lay at her anchors in all her 
 rakish beauty; but to one who could have 
 known of her mission she would have been 
 an offence instead of an object of admira- 
 tion. Who, to look at her in that beautiful 
 harbor, would ever have supposed that she 
 was bound on a mission of vengeance, and 
 that she was destined to rove the high seas 
 in search of plunder and leave behind her a 
 track of flame! 
 
 Semmes had arrived in Terceira on a 
 Wednesday, and by Saturday night all his 
 labors were completed. The "290's" battery 
 was on board, her provisions all stowed 
 away, and her coal-bunkers full. 
 
 Sunday morning dawned bright and 
 beautiful, and Semmes and his co-workers 
 took it as a harbinger of success. The ship 
 had not been yet put in commission, i. e., 
 had not been baptized, and the time hav- 
 ing now come to perform this ceremony, 
 every preparation was made to carry it 
 through in man-of-war style. The decks 
 were cleaned, the rigging hauled taut, and 
 tlie vessel made to look, as her captain ex- 
 pressed it, " like a bride, with the orange- 
 wreath about her brow, ready to be led to 
 the altar ! " 
 
 But the crew had not yet been enlisted ; 
 there were some ninety stalwart fellows in 
 the two steamers who had been brought 
 thus far under articles of agreement that 
 were now no longer binding. Some had 
 shipped for one voyage — some for another 
 — but none of them, it is said, had been en- 
 listed for service on board a Confederate 
 cruiser. This course had been pursued in 
 order to avoid a breach of the British "For- 
 eign Enlistment Act," but no one can doubt 
 that these rough and devil-may-care-look- 
 ing fellows were ready for any adventure 
 that promised plunder or profit ; they were 
 the same kind of men that accompanied 
 Morgan all tlirough the West Indies, across 
 the Isthmus, and even to the gates of 
 Panama. 
 
 But to perform these functions for the 
 christening of the " 290," it was necessary 
 to be careful that no neutral law should be 
 violated. Not for anything in the world 
 would Semmes and his confedei-ates have 
 done anything of this kind, and it was 
 therefore essential that the "290" should 
 get underway and steam off beyond the 
 marine league, where, upon the broad 
 ocean, it was neuti-al for all the world. 
 After steaming the required distance, the 
 ' ' 290 " was stopped and the programme 
 carried out. 
 
 Tlie officers were all in full uniform, and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 629 
 
 the crew neatly dressed. All hands were 
 summoned aft on the quarter-deck, and, 
 mounting a gun-carriage, Semmes read his 
 commission as a Captain in the Confederate 
 service, and the Secretary of the Navy's 
 order directing him to assume command 
 of the "Alabama." When this reading 
 was finished, the Confederate flag and pen- 
 nant were run up, while the English colors 
 were hauled down ; a gun was fired, the 
 band played " Dixie," and thus was chris- 
 tened the " Alabama " — a vessel whose 
 career was destined to throw that of the 
 "Sumter" into the shade. 
 
 Captain Semmes congratulated himself 
 on having performed this ceremony in the 
 most legal manner. The fact that it had 
 all been done upon the high seas, more 
 than a marine league from the land, where 
 Mr. Jefferson Davis had as much jurisdic- 
 tion as Mr, Abraham Lincoln, made it en- 
 tirely legal in his sight. 
 
 Up to this time not a single sailor had 
 shipped for the coming cruise of the " Ala- 
 bama"; but the stalwart fellows who were 
 now moving about her decks had well un- 
 derstood before they left Liverpool that 
 they were to enlist in the Confederate ser- 
 vice, and thus violate the " Foreign Enlist- 
 ment Act " of the British nation. 
 
 The new cruiser cannot be considered to 
 have been a representative Confederate 
 man-of-war, for, with the exception of a few 
 officers, all on board of her were English- 
 men, who possessed no sentiment of loyalty 
 towards the Government under which they 
 were now to serve. It was not a crew of 
 enthusiastic Southerners who were going 
 forth to fight for a cause they really loved, 
 but a band of foreign mercenaries who had 
 no feeling but of indifference towards either 
 of the combatants; and when one thinks of 
 the character of these sailors there is some 
 excuse for comparing them to pirates who 
 fight with no other motive than that of 
 plunder. 
 
 In this case they had been quietly told 
 that they would receive double the amount 
 of wages paid elsewhere, and that the Con- 
 federate Congress would vote them prize- 
 money to the full value of everj^ ship they 
 destroyed. Captain Semmes had touched 
 the hearts of these Englishmen in the right 
 place, and he had the satisfaction of enlist- 
 ing 80 out of the 90 sailors who had come 
 out from the Mersey in the two steamers, 
 and they came forward willingly to sign 
 their names and receive their advance 
 wages. This ended the democratic part of 
 the proceedings. There was no more talk 
 about nationalities or liberties or double 
 wages. The strict discipline of an Ameri- 
 can man-of-war was at once enforced by 
 Semmes and his officers (most of whom 
 had hfipn Aflnfia.tAfl in thfiold Na.vv^- and thfi 
 
 new vessel was quickly put into a state of 
 efficienc3\ 
 
 If these officers were engaged in a bad 
 cause, they were at least faithful to it in 
 the extreme. They had succeeded far be- 
 yond their most sanguine expectations, 
 having got their vessel to sea in spite of 
 the watchful care of the American minister 
 in London and tlie apparent zeal of the 
 British Government to prevent it. How 
 far Her Majesty's Government were sincere 
 in their intentions can be seen from the 
 following extract, which we give from the 
 work of a clever naval writer. Professor J. 
 Russell Soley, U. S. N. : 
 
 "The second cruiser built in England for the Con- 
 federates was the 'Alabama,' whose career began 
 in July, 1863. The attention of the Foreign Office 
 had been first called to this vessel by a note from 
 Mr. Adams on the 23d of June. The evidence then 
 submitted as to her character was confined to a 
 statement made by the Consul at Liverpool, of 
 suspicious circumstances connected with the vessel. 
 The communication was referred to the law officers 
 of the Crown, who gave the opinion that, if the 
 allegations were true, the building and equipment 
 of the vessel were a ' Manifest violation of the For- 
 eign Enlistment Act, and steps ought to be taken 
 to put that act in force and to prevent the vessel 
 from going to sea.' 
 
 " It was added that the Customs authorities at 
 Liverpool should endeavor to ascertain the truth 
 of the statements, and that, if sufficient evidence 
 could be obtained, proceedings should be taken as 
 early as possible. On the 4th of July, the report 
 of the Customs officers was ti-ansmitted to Mr. 
 Adams, tending to show that there was no suf- 
 ficient evidence that a violation of the act was con- 
 templated. 
 
 "Other correspondence and opinions followed. 
 On the 21st, affidavits were delivered to the author- 
 ities at Liverpool, one of which, made by a seaman 
 who had been shipped on board the vessel, declared 
 that Butcher, the captain of the 'Alabama,' who 
 engaged him, had stated that she was going out to 
 fight for the Confederate States. Other depositions 
 to the same effect were received on the 23d and 
 3oth, all of which were referred, as they came in, to 
 the law officers. The latter rendered the opinion 
 that the evidence of the deponents, coupled with 
 the character of the vessel, make it reasonably clear 
 that she was intended for warlike use against the 
 United States, and recommended that she be seized 
 without loss of time. 
 
 "Notwithstanding that the urgency of the case 
 was well known to the Government, and notwith- 
 standing also that of the four depositions upon 
 which the law officers chiefly based their opinion, 
 one had been received on the 21st of July, two 
 others on the 33d, and the fourth on the 25th, the 
 report was not presented until the 29th. On that 
 day, however, the 'Alabama' left Liverpool, with- 
 out an armament, and ostensibly on a trial trip. She 
 ran down to Port Lynas, on the coast of Angiesea, 
 about fifty miles from Liverpool. Here she re- 
 mained for two days completing her preparations. 
 
 "On the morning of the 31st she got underway 
 and stood to the northward up the Irish Sea ; and, 
 rounding the northern coast of Ireland, she passed 
 out into the Atlantic. 
 
 "Among the innumerable side-issues presented 
 by the case of the 'Alabama,' the facts given above 
 contain the essential point. That the attention of 
 the British Government was called to the suspicious 
 character of the vessel on the 23d of June ; that 
 
 bar nrln.nf.n.f.ion to "warlike nsp "wns Pi.(\rr\\\\.f^f\ • tha+. 
 
630 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 her readiness for sea was known ; that evidence was 
 submitted on the 21st, the 23d, and finally on the 
 35th of July, that put her character beyond a 
 doubt ; and that, in spite of all this, she was allowed 
 to sail on the 39th, make the real foundation of the 
 
 case against Greaii Britain. 
 
 ♦ ****¥* 
 
 "The inference is unavoidable that ttie Govern- 
 ment deliberately intended to pursue a policy as 
 unfriendly as it could possibly be without passing 
 the technical bounds of a legal neutrality." 
 
 The proof of the illegality of all these 
 acts is the fact that the British Government 
 finally paid the av^rard of the " Alabama 
 Commission," which was an acknowledg- 
 ment on its part that the responsibility for 
 the acts of the Confederate cruiser rested 
 with the Power that by indifference and 
 neglect of a plain duty had allowed its laws 
 to be violated. 
 
 The " Alabama " had not far to go before 
 she could strike a blow at the commerce of 
 the North. The theatre of her perform- 
 ances was close at hand. The whaling 
 season in the neighborhood of the Azores 
 generally ends about the 1st of October, 
 when the winter gales begin to blow, and 
 food for the whales becomes scarce. The 
 ■ whales then migrate to other feeding 
 grounds, and are followed up by their pur- 
 suers. 
 
 It was now in the early days of Septem- 
 ber, and Semmes had but a few weeks left 
 in which to accomplish his purpose of strik- 
 ing a blow at the whale fishery of the 
 United States, which had for years been 
 carried on in these peaceful latitudes. The 
 people pursuing this industry had no idea 
 that there was such a vessel in existence as 
 the " Alabama." The " Ocmulgee," of Ed- 
 gartown, was lying off Fayal, made fast to 
 a dead whale, when her captain was as- 
 tonished by the appearance of a Confederate 
 cruiser. When the " Alabama " first came 
 in sight she carried the American flag, and 
 was naturally mistaken for one of the new 
 cruisers that were reported to be fitting out 
 for the protection of Federal commerce 
 and the whaling industry. 
 
 The same old story is to be told of the 
 " Ocmulgee," as with the " Sumter's " 
 prizes. Semmes was too old a hunter 
 to burn her by night, when the light of 
 his bonfire would serve as a warning to 
 other whalers that might hapi^en to be in 
 the neighborhood, although by so doing he 
 risked disappointing the descendants of the 
 old Norsemen in his crew, who would 
 greatly have enjoyed the spectacle. He well 
 knew that it was necessary to keep these 
 men amused, for they might at any time take 
 the bit in their teeth, bid defiance to him and 
 his officers, and take the '"Alabama" into 
 a Northern port, where their claim for 
 prize-money would have been cheerfully 
 acknowledged. He had read about the 
 
 mutinies at the Nore, and on board the 
 "Bounty," and was well aware what freaks 
 men of this class were capable of commit- 
 ting, but on this occasion he was compelled 
 to defer gratifying their taste for brilliant 
 effects, and he waited until daylight next 
 morning before applying the torch to his 
 prize. 
 
 On the following day, Semmes stood 
 in for the beautiful island of Flores, 
 spread his awnings, cleaned his ship, and 
 read to his crew the "Articles of War" 
 of the old Navy. It must have been 
 very amusing to the descendants of the 
 Norsemen when they heard that "any 
 officer of the Navy guilty of treason shall 
 suffer death." It was intended that this 
 occasion should be an impressive one, for 
 the crew had not up to this time assumed 
 the orderly bearing of men-of-war's men. 
 Somehow or other they had got it into their 
 heads that they were bound on a privateer- 
 ing expedition, and that the " Alabama " 
 was not a hona-fide man-of-war. They 
 looked earnestly at each other as the read- 
 ing of death-penalties went on, and openly 
 signified that they did not fear being 
 larought up and shot for insubordination 
 by a man who had set such a shining ex- 
 ample ! Yet Semmes seemed to think that 
 this reading of the Articles of War had so 
 rivetted the chains of discipline upon his 
 men that he could count on them to the end 
 for any adventure he might choose to em- 
 bark in. 
 
 On the next day, the schooner " Star- 
 light," from Boston, was captured. Her 
 crew consisted of seven persons, and there 
 were several lady passengers. Here 
 Semmes appears in a new I'ole. Having 
 heard of the treatment received by the 
 paymaster of the " Sumter," he determined 
 to practice a little retaliation on his own 
 account, and the crew of the " Starlight " 
 were forthwith put in irons. This was 
 taking upon himself the authority only 
 possessed by his Government ; for, when 
 retaliatory measures are adopted by one 
 Government against another, it is done 
 formally, and by an edict, endorsed with 
 all the forms of lawful authority. If this 
 ■were not the case, and if every commander 
 of a ship or of a regiment were allowed to 
 retaliate for every supposed offence, war 
 would run into a species of brutalitj' worthy 
 only of savages. Hence, this power of re- 
 taliation is properly kept in the hands of 
 heads of governments, and any subordinate 
 who assumes this power and causes injus- 
 tice to innocent people is held personally 
 and morally responsible. 
 
 But Captain Semmes was a law unto 
 himself, and cared for no authority or prece- 
 dents that interfered with his design in 
 the present case. Because some brute of a 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 631 
 
 merchant captain, to whose care the pay- 
 master of the " Sumter " had been intrusted, 
 had not conscience or kindness of heart 
 enough to treat his prisoner with respect, 
 Semmes determined that all Yankee crews 
 captured by the "Alabama" should suffer 
 for it. It was not the Federal Government 
 that had treated the paymaster of the 
 " Sumter " with cruelty. It was an irrespon- 
 sible merchant captain, and the Confeder- 
 ate Government had in consequence issued 
 no order of retaliation.* Captain Semmes 
 merely followed his own notion, that the 
 Yankees should be chastised for the sins 
 which one man had committed against a 
 Southerner ; but let it be remembered that 
 these men whom he was putting in irons, 
 a,nd subjecting to every indignity, had not 
 iDorne arms against the South, nor com- 
 mitted any overt act. They were peaceful 
 traders, following their avocations, and it 
 is not likely that they would ever have 
 interfered with either one side or the other. 
 He continued this practice, however, with 
 "the captains and crews of the next eight or 
 ten prizes, and treated them with the great- 
 est rigor. The only effect of this action 
 was to embitter the North against an 
 officer who thus took upon himself undue 
 authority. ' 
 
 Two more fine prizes were soon after- 
 wards taken by the ' ' Alabama," the ships 
 " Ocean Eover " and " Alert," both of which 
 were filled with such supplies as the Con- 
 federates wanted. The crews of these ves- 
 sels were allowed to take their boats with 
 sufficient provisions, and start for the 
 shore, which was then distant about five 
 miles. Semmes did not want them, for, as 
 they would not enlist, they would simply 
 ■eat up his provisions without being of any 
 use to him, and he was glad to get rid of 
 them on any terms. The three last prizes 
 were all burnt that afternoon, and the 
 successors of the Norsemen were delighted 
 as the smoke from three funeral pyres 
 ascended to the skies at the same mo- 
 ment. 
 
 While this work was going on, an in- 
 cautious American schooner (the "Weather- 
 gauge ") hove in sight and was speedily 
 ■captured. There were some Northern 
 papers on board the prize that dealt out 
 liberal invectives against the South, arid 
 the reader may rest assured that they did 
 the " Weather-gauge" no good. Her crew, 
 however, were put in their boats to seek the 
 shore, while a pillar of fire behind them re- 
 vealed the fate of their floating home. 
 
 Three days after this the whaler " Alta- 
 maha," of New Bedford, was taken and 
 burned; but, as she had not made a succes- 
 ful "catch," her bonfire was somewhat of 
 a disappointment to Semmes' adventurers. 
 Still she counted in the game; her name 
 
 and qualifications were all entered on the 
 " Alabama's " log-book, and the quarter- 
 master, whose duty it was to attend to such 
 matters, stowed away her clean new flag in 
 his plethoric bag. 
 
 There was often a little excitement and 
 some poetry in these chases, especially 
 when the " Alabama " happened to fall in 
 with a clipper of a vessel that would give 
 her as much as she could attend to. At 
 such a time the best helmsman would be 
 placed at the wheel, and every sail set 
 and trimmed to a nicety, while officers and 
 men watched the result with the keenness 
 of sportsmen in pursuit of a hare. The 
 "Alabama" was a long, lean racer, with 
 three large fore-and-aft sails and square 
 yards. When in a heavy breeze and she 
 wanted to go to windward, slie could furl 
 her square-sails and then become a three- 
 masted schooner, and when under this sail 
 few vessels could equal her in speed. 
 
 On a dark night, shortly after the last 
 burning, while Semmes was asleep in his 
 cabin, an old quartermaster went below 
 and shook him by the arm, informing him 
 that there was a large ship just passing to 
 windward of them on the opposite tack. 
 He sprang out of bed at once, and throwing 
 on a few clothes was on deck as soon as the 
 quartermaster, and gave orders to " wear 
 ship " and give chase to the stranger. The 
 " Alabama " was under topsails at the time, 
 and it took some moments to get all sail 
 upon her, and when this was done the 
 chase was three or four miles ahead, yet 
 quite visible to a good eye in the bright 
 moonlight. Both vessels were now close 
 hauled on the starboard-tack, and it was 
 evident that the merchant captain was 
 doing his best to escape. He set his light 
 sails with alacrity, and trimmed his yards 
 to the greatest advantage ; but this was the 
 "Alabama's" best point of sailing, and 
 when the sheets of her great trysails were 
 hauled flat aft, and the fore-tack boarded, 
 she bounded over the water like something 
 imbued with life. What would not that 
 merchant captain have given at that mo- 
 ment if the moon could have been blotted 
 out ? But the darkness would not have 
 covered her, for the Confederates were pro- 
 vided with the best English night-glasses, 
 made on purpose to spy out American prizes 
 on dark nights. 
 
 The "Alabama" gained on the chase 
 from the very first, and in two hours was 
 on her weather-quarter, liaving head- 
 reached and gone to windward of her. 
 The stranger was not more than a mile off, 
 on the lee bow, when the stillness of the 
 night was broken into by the boom of a 
 heavy cannon. The gun was unshotted 
 and the merchantman paid no attention to 
 it — not a tack or sheet was slacked in 
 
632 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 obedience to the thundering summons; but 
 the Confederates saw that preparations 
 were being made to keep off from the wind 
 and set stun'sails. Poor fellows! Never 
 did merchant sailors work with such a will. 
 They knew how little mercy they had to 
 expect from the Southern rovers. The 
 burnings of the "Sumter" were known in 
 every sea where a newspaper could reach. 
 
 The merchant ship now began to move 
 briskly through the water, by keeping off, 
 and the delusive hope sprung up in the 
 captain's breast that he might yet evade his 
 pursuer. For a moment the ''Alabama "be- 
 gan to drop astern, but it was only for a mo- 
 ment. As soon as she followed the move- 
 ments of the chase and stood on a parallel 
 course, she made such good speed that be- 
 fore the stranger could get his foretopmast 
 stun'sail set she was within good point- 
 blank range of a long 32-pounder. The 
 moon was shining brightly and every rope 
 and sail proved the stranger to be Ameri- 
 can. 
 
 The chase was very exciting, and the 
 crew of the "Alabama" were grouped 
 about on her deck, wondering if the "old 
 man " would not soon bring it to a close, 
 and let them have a good night display of 
 burning before changing watches, and 
 they were soon gratified by the order to 
 fire another gun shotted, as the "Alabama" 
 ranged up under the stern of her prey, not 
 more than 300 yards distant. This was too 
 much for the nerves of the old merchant 
 captain. He was not a fighting man, and, 
 if he had been, he had nothing to fight with, 
 so he wisely hauled up his courses and lay- 
 to. It was a pretty picture — that large 
 ship lying in the light of the moon, with the 
 long, low clipper silently stealing up along- 
 side of her — and, no doubt, reminded the 
 spectators of the yarns oft told in the fore- 
 castle of the times when the bold buccaneers 
 sailed along the Spanish main, burning 
 vessels and making their crews walk the 
 plank. 
 
 Semmes at once gave the order to board 
 the prize, and directed the officer to hoist 
 a light at the peak in case she proved to be 
 an American. When the boat came along- 
 side, the old captain was relieved of his 
 worst apprehensions, instead of his pur- 
 suer being a pirate, she was only the 
 " Alabama," and though he was told his 
 vessel would be burned in the morning, and 
 that all his worldly goods would go up in a 
 cloud of smoke, he thanked God that it was 
 no worse. The light was hoisted at the 
 peak as directed, and Semmes went below 
 to finish the nap so unceremoniously broken, 
 and dream of the sport he would be able to 
 give his men next morning when he de- 
 stroyed the prize. 
 
 Next morning when he came on deck he 
 
 was monarch of all he surveyed. He ruled 
 the ocean for miles around, as far even as- 
 the Saragossa Sea, for there was not such 
 a thing as an American man-of-war in all 
 those waters. The fifty cruisers that should 
 have been afloat six months before, and 
 guarding every point where American 
 merchantmen could be found, were yet 
 upon the stocks — nay, many of them were 
 only on paper. An old commodore with a, 
 fleet of fourteen vessels at his heels, was 
 steaming up and down the Gulf and Carib- 
 bean Sea, looking for " Alabamas " that 
 were hundreds of miles away and upset- 
 ting all the plans of the Navy Department. 
 
 As Semmes looked about him that morn- 
 ing, his eye rested on the fine large ship 
 lying close by, awaiting his orders. She 
 proved to be the whaler, "Benjamin. 
 Tucker," of New Bedford, eight months 
 out, with 340 barrels of oil. But the Con- 
 federate captain had no need for oil, so he 
 took from her only the tobacco and small 
 stores, and after transferring her crew of 
 thirty persons to his own vessel, applied the 
 torch, and before ten o'clock she was a 
 mass of flames fore-and-aft. 
 
 The next morning he overtook and 
 burned the schooner "Courser," of Prov- 
 incetown, Massachusetts. For a moment 
 the springs of pity opened in the breast of 
 the Confederate as he surveyed this pretty 
 little craft, and looked upon her handsome 
 young captain ; but he had just finished 
 reading a Northern paper, in which he was 
 siDoken of in terms that were anything but 
 polite, and he had to steel his heart against 
 his better feelings and let the laws of war 
 be executed. 
 
 He had now the crews of his three last 
 prizes on board, and as they somewhat 
 crowded the "Alabama," he stood in for 
 the Island of Flores, put them in eight cap- 
 tured whale-boats, and sent them off to land 
 as best they might, and compare notes witli 
 the poor fellows already on shore. 
 
 What fun it must have been to the Norse- 
 men to see that regatta, in which eight 
 boats were struggling to reach the shore 
 and get as far as possible out of the neigh- 
 borhood of the "Alabama" ! Semmes was 
 not otherwise inhumane to these men, but 
 they were in his way and he wanted to get 
 rid of them, and he seemed to think that 
 they were so well pleased with him that, 
 with a little coaxing, they would have given 
 three cheers for the "Alabama" ! 
 
 We are now to see the new cruiser in 
 rough and tempestuous weather. We have 
 seen her in smooth seas and moonlight 
 nights; but it often happens that these 
 smooth-water sailors do not maintain their 
 reputation when they have to contend with 
 heavy weather. The "Alabama" had been 
 built as a type of a perfect cruiser, one that 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 633 
 
 could maintain her character under sail as 
 well as under steam. But up to this time 
 Semmes had had no opportunity to test her 
 in all weathers, which would decide the 
 character of the vessel, and prove whether 
 she was the most dangerous machine to be 
 used against American commerce ever yet 
 planned, or simply one of those expensive 
 failures of which the United States had so 
 many in its own Navy. The opportunity 
 soon occurred. 
 
 The wind was rapidly freshening into a 
 gale, when in the morning, after the burn- 
 ing of the "Courser," a large American ship 
 was discovered and soon overtaken. This 
 was the whaling-ship ''Virginia," and she 
 was burned like the rest, after being de- 
 spoiled of such articles as the "Alabama" 
 needed. The only difference was that, as the 
 torch was not applied until late in the after- 
 noon, the fire burned brightly for a part of 
 the night, and could be seen when many 
 miles away, as the flames and burning 
 masses of timber were whirled into the air 
 by the strong eddies of a freshening wind. 
 
 Next morning a bark hove in sight, and 
 as soon as those on board made out the 
 "Alabama" they commenced making ef- 
 forts to escape. By this time it was blow- 
 ing half a gale, and both vessels were under 
 snug sail; but the reefs were now shaken 
 out and topgallant sails set in both of them. 
 It seemed at first as if the topgallant masts 
 of the " Alabama " would go over the side, 
 the sticks buckled so; but John Laird had 
 selected good timber for the craft, which 
 he had pronounced to be the finest cruiser 
 of her class in the world, and the broad, 
 tough English cross-trees kept everything 
 in its place. Not a mast snapped, nor did 
 a rope-yarn part, so perfect were all the 
 appliances of the vessel. The bark hung 
 on to all the sail she could carry, though 
 she was short-handed, and her commander 
 evidently seemed detei-mined to escape from 
 his pursuer or let his masts and sails go 
 overboard. 
 
 Though the "Alabama" was much the 
 smaller vessel of the two, it was quite evi- 
 d-ent that she was as much at home in 
 this rough weather as the prey in view. 
 Both vessels were at times almost under 
 water during this exciting chase, yet the 
 "Alabama" gained so rapidly and steadily 
 that it was plainly seen that the bark's 
 only chance of safety lay in the Confeder- 
 ate losing some of his spars. But it was the 
 same old story. The ' 'Alabama" carried sail, 
 and in three hours had the stranger within 
 reach of her 32-pounders, and there was 
 nothing left for the merchant captain to do 
 but surrender. He had made a gallant run 
 for it, and had carried his canvas in a 
 manner worthy of a man-of-war's-man, but 
 Semmfis marlA shnrt shrift of his vessel (^the 
 
 " Elisha Dunbar," of New Bedford), and 
 she was soon destroyed. 
 
 Semmes did not in this case wait even 
 long enough to examine the papers of 
 his prize, for the gale was increasing and 
 he desired to get his boat on board as soon 
 as possible. What cared he whether her 
 cargo included neutral property or not ? 
 Was not there a "prize-court " sitting in the 
 "Alabama's" cabin night and day, and 
 did not this court feel perfectly qualified to 
 settle all questions of law and fact ? Had 
 not the English Government tacitly ad- 
 mitted that neutrals who shipped goods in 
 vessels belonging to either belligerent must 
 take the chances of war and apply for 
 redress and compensation to a prize-court ? 
 
 That Semmes had under his command 
 brave and daring officers, no one will deny, 
 for that day put their zeal and seamanship 
 to the severest test. The boats of the 
 " Alabama " were well managed, and suc- 
 ceeded in transferring all the persons with- 
 out accident. Nothing was taken out of 
 the prize but her chronometer and flag, and 
 by tiie time the boats were alongside the 
 "Alabama," the "Dunbar" was all in 
 flames, with her sails set just as when she 
 hove-to. The gale howled, as if giving out 
 a solemn requiem over the destruction of 
 this fine vessel, and the sea-birds that brave 
 the gale and were hovering around with 
 discordant cries, added their apparent 
 grief to the noise and crashing of timbers 
 and roaring eddies of wind that were rush- 
 ing through the doomed vessel. 
 
 The burning ship was, without doubt, a 
 beautiful spectacle, which the descendants 
 of the Norsemen enjoyed amazingly. What 
 cared they who was injured by the de- 
 struction of the "Elisha Dunbar," since 
 even Earl Russell was not averse to seeing 
 a little English commerce consigned to the 
 bottom of the ocean, as long as the whole 
 American merchant marine could be de- 
 troyed or transferred to the flag of Great 
 Britain ! 
 
 The black clouds were mustering their 
 forces in fearful array, ready to burst in 
 anger over this scene of destruction. Night 
 seemed suddenly to have wrapped the day 
 in its mantle of darkness. The thunder 
 rolled in the high heavens, reverberating 
 for miles away to leeward, the awful crash 
 seeming to shake the sea and earth to their 
 centres, and lightning leaped from cloud 
 to cloud, adding greatly to the grandeur of 
 a scene which no pen can describe. All na- 
 ture seemed to protest 'against such un- 
 natural and wanton proceedings. The sea 
 was by this time raging fearfully, and 
 spray that was blown from the tops of ris- 
 ing waves cut the faces of the sailors as if 
 it had been small- shot. The winds howled, 
 and rain descended in torrents, as if deter- 
 
634 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORF 
 
 mined to quench the fires raised by rebel- 
 lious hands ; but nothing could save the 
 "Dunbar," and the flames burned yet more 
 fiercely as she lay rolling and tossing upon 
 the tumultuous sea. Now an ignited sail 
 would fly away from a yard and scud off 
 before the gale like some huge albatross 
 with its wings on fire, while the yards, with 
 braces burned and released from all control, 
 would sway about violently, as if anxious 
 to escape from this turmoil of fire and 
 wind, and finally drop into the sea. The 
 masts, one after another, went by the board, 
 as the hull rocked and heaved like some 
 great animal in its death throes, and finally 
 the sea broke in and met the flames with a 
 shriek resembling the howl of a thousand 
 demons. The ship gave one great roll, 
 and then went to the bottom, " a victim to 
 the passions of man and the prey of the 
 elements." 
 
 These were the scenes that followed in the 
 track of the "Alabama." Semmes looked 
 on unmoved amidst the bowlings of the 
 storm, and the descendants of the Norsemen 
 added a new scene to their adventures, here- 
 after to be told under the forecastle to their 
 admiring shipmates who had not had the 
 glory of serving on a Confederate cruiser. 
 
 The storm was at its height, but the 
 " Alabama" rode it out under reefed sails 
 like a duck ; and Captain Semmes was 
 satisfied that he had under his command 
 not only a formidable war- vessel, but a 
 capital sea-boat. John Laird had kept his 
 word with the Confederate agent when he 
 designed and built the " Alabama," and it 
 is reasonable to suppose, since he gave so 
 much of his time and attention to this 
 cruiser, that his heart was much interested 
 in the Confederate cause. 
 
 Semmes felt that he had a vessel on 
 which he could depend for any emergency. 
 It was now the month of October, and the 
 gales of the season were beginning to blow. 
 He had completely swept the seas in the 
 whaling district, and there was nothing 
 more of consequence to be done in that 
 latitude. He had not, so far, burned a 
 pound of coal in his pursuit of United 
 States commerce ; all his operations had 
 been conducted under sail, and he had 
 never found a vessel that could escape the 
 "Alabama." He now sighed for new scenes 
 of adventure, and his officers, who also 
 longed for a change, suggested going to the 
 ground where the grain-ships of the North 
 might be picked up when on their way to 
 Europe to feed the great multitudes there 
 who depended on American grain for a 
 subsistence. 
 
 The descendants of the Norsemen had got 
 tired of capturing whalers, and they longed 
 to get into the track of traders, whose rich 
 cargoes would afford better opportunities 
 
 for obtaining plunder. Semmes knew how 
 to manage his men, and that it was neces- 
 sary to amuse them. Sailors are like chil- 
 dren all the world over; and, although they 
 must be governed with a firm hand, it is 
 sometimes advisable to let them think that 
 their wishes are consulted. Semmes never 
 forgot the lessons taught by mutineers in 
 times past, and he attempted to keep his 
 sailors in a contented frame of mind by 
 occasional concessions. 
 
 Early on the morning of October 3d two 
 sails were simultaneously reported from 
 the "Alabama's " mast-head ; but, as both 
 ships were standing in the direction of 
 the cruiser, there was no need to chase. 
 They were running right into the spoiler's 
 net, and suspected no danger until they 
 were within gunshot, when the " Ala- 
 bama" fired a gun and hoisted the flag 
 that had carried such terror to the whale- 
 ships of the Azores. These vessels were 
 the "Brilliant" and "Emily Famum," 
 both of New York, and both loaded with 
 grain. The latter being what Semmes con- 
 sidered "properly documented" was re- 
 leased on ransom-bond, and he took the 
 opportunity of sending away in her all his 
 prisoners, of whom he had 50 or 60, besides 
 those just captured. The " Brilliant " was 
 burned with her valuable cargo. 
 
 On the afternoon of October 7th, the bark 
 " Wavecrest " was taken ; and, after being 
 relieved of everything that could be of use 
 to the Confederates, she was made a tar- 
 get for gun practice, and finally destroved. 
 
 Next day the brig " Dunkirk," of New 
 York, fell into the hands of the "Alabama," 
 and, as her captain could offer no evidence 
 of neutral ownership, she also was com- 
 mitted to the flames. 
 
 Up to this time Semmes had destroyed 
 twelve valuable vessels, with their cargoes, 
 and all this work had been done in little 
 over a month, with his ship under sail 
 alone, and here he was now right in the 
 track of the grain trade between New York 
 and Europe with not a single Federal man- 
 of-war in the neighborhood to interfere 
 with his proceedings. He approached the 
 coast with confidence, for he had not as yet 
 ever heard of any vessel having been sent 
 in pursuit of him— much less seen one. 
 Crowds of vessels were daily leaving New 
 York for Liverpool, but they were mostly 
 foreigners, with cargoes properly docu- 
 mented, who were taking advantage of the 
 times to reap golden harvests. These ves- 
 sels Semmes could not touch, but he gave 
 them as much trouble as possible. 
 
 Why the United States Government 
 should have left this great highway un- 
 protected no one to this day can conjecture. 
 The vessels that were sent to look for the 
 "Alabama" always went to the wrong 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 635 
 
 places, when it must have been known that 
 she would seek the highways of trade 
 as naturally as a bluefish would seek 
 the feeding-grounds of the menhaden. 
 Whatever success the Federal Govern- 
 ment may have had in blockading the 
 enemy's ports, its attempts to protect the 
 merchant marine were nearly always fail- 
 ures ; and it shows how necessary it is for 
 a nation to keep on hand in time of peace 
 vessels that will prove useful in time of 
 war. 
 
 There seemed to be no limit to his success, 
 and Semmes had so much to do, and so 
 many legal questions to decide, that he 
 was sometimes brought to a standstill. One 
 ship that he captured (the " Tonawanda ") 
 carried a number of women and children, 
 who filled the air with piteous lamentations 
 at what appeared to them to be a dreadful 
 fate. This was more perplexing than a 
 dozen ordinary cargoes, for he could burn 
 these if his " prize-court " so decided, but 
 could not so easily dispose of the women 
 and children ; and he was obliged to sail 
 about for some time with this living cargo 
 following in his wake, hoping that he might 
 fall in with some neutral vessel to which he 
 could transfer his passengers, and then be 
 at liberty to destroy the floating home of 
 these poor people before their eyes. If he 
 had been a man of any generosity, he 
 would have said to the captain of the 
 "Tonawanda," " Go in peace; we are not 
 warring against women and children, and 
 these helpless ones shall not be molested." 
 But not he : he had no sentiment about 
 him, and, although he knew the agony felt 
 by these people, he kept them sailing in his 
 wake until another victim should heave in 
 sight. 
 
 But it seems that the " Alabama " still 
 had to play out her role before she left the 
 North Atlantic. The good intentions that 
 were entertained towards the passengers of 
 the " Tonawanda " — to put them on board 
 a neutral vessel — were frustrated by the ar- 
 rival of another heavy ship of the "junk 
 fleet " (as the grain ships were called by 
 Semmes' men). This vessel approached the 
 " Alabama" unsuspectingly until the boom 
 of a gun and the Confederate flag at the 
 stranger's peak showed the merchant cap- 
 tain that his fate was sealed, and he im- 
 mediately surrendered. 
 
 The " Alabama " had by this time become 
 pretty well known in the United States, 
 and Semmes' methods were understood. 
 Ships were heavily insured before sailing, 
 and a shipmaster surrendered his vessel 
 with the satisfaction of knowing that some 
 time in the future his losses would be re- 
 imbursed. The ship "Manchester," that 
 had now fallen into the " Alabama's " toils, 
 was a more valuable prize than the " Tona- 
 
 wanda," so the latter was allowed to pro- 
 ceed on her voyage, while the former was 
 burned in her place. 
 
 On the 15th of October the next ship was 
 taken; but Semmes and his officers were 
 very much disappointed when they sat 
 down to breakfast that morning at not hav- 
 ing their regular batch of newspapers. This 
 vessel was the " Lamplighter," loaded with 
 tobacco, and after the Confederates had 
 taken what they wanted out of her they 
 burned her, and thus approached the coast, 
 leaving a track of flames behind them ; 
 while the Federal Government, which had 
 been immediately apprised of her escape 
 from Liverpool, took no effective measures 
 to arrest the career of the cruiser that was 
 attacking American commerce and driving 
 its vessels to seek protection under the 
 British flag. 
 
 The English Ministry might well afford 
 to ignore the occasional destruction of part 
 of a British cargo, when they knew that 
 the system pursued by Semmes was driv- 
 ing all merchants to ship their cargoes in 
 British bottoms, or to register their vessels 
 under the English flag. The Chamber of 
 Commerce, in Liverpool, writing to Earl 
 Russell, as late as November, 1862, in re- 
 gard to the destruction of neutral goods by 
 the " Alabama," received the reply: " Brit- 
 ish owners of property on board of Federal 
 ships, alleged to have been unlawfully cap- 
 tured by Confederate cruisers, are in the 
 same position as any other neutral owner 
 shipping in enemy's bottoms during the 
 war." Of course, this drove all British prop- 
 erty to seek neutral bottoms; and when Eng- 
 lish owners of captured property were told 
 to apply to the Confederate prize-courts for 
 redress, it convinced everybody that the 
 British Government was not going to pro- 
 tect the property of its subjects on the high 
 seas as long as an American flag waved 
 upon the ocean. 
 
 With all her great Navy,' Her Britannic 
 Majesty had not a vessel on tlie ocean look- 
 ing after the proceedings of these Confed- 
 erate- cruisers, while quite a number of 
 them were employed in watching the opera- 
 tions of the Federal Navy on the coast, and 
 officiously inspecting the blockade, to see 
 that it was lawfully maintained. 
 
 The " Alabama " made her sixteenth 
 capture on the 21st of October : a fine large 
 ship running down to her — the fly and the 
 spider again — looking a perfect picture, 
 with her sails all beautifully drawing, and 
 her masts swaying and bending under 
 the cloud of canvas, while the sea was 
 rolling before her broad, flaring bows as if 
 nothing could oppose her progress. It Avas 
 a beautiful sight, this almost living sign of 
 a nation's greatness, that could boast at 
 that tinae that the white sails of her ships 
 
G36 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 covered every sea. But a little puff of 
 smoke from the " Alabama's " guns soon 
 changed the picture : her cloud of canvas 
 seemed to shrivel and disappear as if it had 
 been a scroll rolled up by an invisible hand, 
 and all the symmetry of the great mass 
 that had so lately been swaying gracefully 
 above the water was gone. 
 
 Though the cargo of the prize was cer- 
 tified to all over as being the property of 
 neutrals, and also covered with British con- 
 sular seals that had heretofore been re- 
 spected, Semmes was not satisfied until he 
 had held an ''Admiralty Court " in his cabin, 
 and the court came to the conclusion that the 
 " Lafayette " must burn. Earl Russell had 
 decided that neutrals shipping in vessels 
 belonging to the belligerents must suffer 
 the consequences of war, and the British 
 Minister at Washington simply carried out 
 the instructions of his superior, and referred 
 all complainants to the Southern prize- 
 courts. 
 
 Semmes found, that day, newspapers on 
 board the " Lafayette " in which were some 
 very severe strictures in regard to his 
 course in tlie cases of the '"Brilliant" and 
 "Emily Farnum" — in fact, some of the pa- 
 pers denounced his acts as piracy, a term 
 always galling to him. This did not help the 
 case of the "Lafayette," and she was ruth- 
 lessly destroyed as soon as the captain of 
 the " Alabama " was satisfied that he had 
 taken everything out of her that could be 
 of service to himself or his crew. 
 
 Three days after this capture the 
 "Crenshaw" was taken, plundered and 
 burned. She was only a schooner, and it 
 did not take the " prize-court " in the "Ala- 
 bama's " cabin ten minutes to decide her 
 fate. 
 
 Semmes now found that his supply of 
 coal was running out, and decided to shape 
 his course for the Island of Martinique, 
 where he had directed Captain Bullock to 
 send him a coal-ship. 
 
 On the 2d of November he captured the 
 "Levi Starbuck," a New Bedford whalei-, 
 bound on a voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 
 Like all her class just starting out, she was 
 filled with all sorts of stores and Yankee 
 nicknacks ; and although tlie ''Alabama" 
 had been filled up a dozen times since she 
 started from the Azores with stores taken 
 from her prizes, yet she had the maw of a 
 cormorant and always seemed to want to 
 be fed. All this bootj' was easily acquired, 
 and it went just as easily. The "amount of 
 food, tobacco and clothing used bv the 90 
 men and 24 officers on board the "Ala- 
 bama" was among the most remarkable 
 events of her cruise. But, notwithstanding 
 the comforts bestowed upon her captors 
 by the " Levi Starbuck/' she was burned at 
 night-fall. 
 
 It will be observed how easily all these 
 vessels were taken by the " Alabama." 
 Some would call this good luck on the part 
 of the Confederate commander; but, in fact, 
 it was the result of good management and 
 forethought. Semmes did no more than 
 follow the channels of trade which the 
 American ships were known to travel, and 
 it is reasonable to suppose that, if Federal 
 ships-of-war had followed the same tracks, 
 they would have picked up the bold adven- 
 turer before he had been many days at sea. 
 About this time the "Alabama" was ap- 
 proaching another track of commerce, 
 across which it was intended to run on her 
 way to Martinique, viz., the track of home- 
 ward-bound East Indiamen, and the day 
 after getting in the track she fell in with 
 and captured the " T. B. Wales." of Boston. 
 Captain Semmes now liberally construed 
 the Confederate prize-law, that " No person 
 in the Navy shall take out of a prize or 
 vessel seized as a prize, any money, plate, 
 goods, or any part of her rigging, unless it 
 be for the better preservation thereof, or 
 absolutely necessary for the use of any of 
 the vessels of the Confederate States." He 
 helped himself not only to anchors, chains, 
 stores and provisions, but to the main-yard 
 of the " Wales," which happened to be the 
 right size and in better condition than that 
 of the "Alabama." No wonder the Confed- 
 erates were able to keep a number of 
 cruisers at sea, when tliej' found a victu- 
 alling station in everything they captured, 
 and could supply themselves with all neces- 
 saries at these floating dockyards. 
 
 There were women and children on board 
 the East Indiaman, but they were all trans- 
 ferred to the " Alabama," and that night 
 they were treated to the sight of a burning 
 vessel; but, as much of their personal prop- 
 erty went up in the flames, it is not likely 
 that they enjoyed the spectacle to any great 
 extent. It can be said to Semmes' credit, 
 however, that he showed these poor people 
 all attention, and made them as comforta- 
 ble as circumstances would permit. 
 
 About the IGth of November the "Ala- 
 bama" sighted the island of Dominica, 
 the first land she had made since leaving 
 Terceira in the Azores, Semmes now put 
 his vessel umfer steam and ran for Martin- 
 ique — where he expected to meet his coal- 
 sliip — passed close by the harbor of St. 
 Pierre, to see that there were no United 
 States ships-of-war there, and then into the 
 harbor of Port de France, where he came to 
 anchor. 
 
 Here the "Alabama " landed her prisoners 
 and took on board what stores she needed; 
 but Semmes did not attempt to coal his ves- 
 sel in this port, as he feared the appearance 
 of an American man-of-war. This precau- 
 tion was well taken, for the coal-ship had 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 637 
 
 hardly got clear of the Island when the U. S. 
 steamer "San Jacinto" appeared off the 
 entrance to the harbor and blockaded him. 
 But Semmes did not fear this slow and an- 
 tiquated ship, as he knew that his superior 
 speed would enable him to make his escape 
 whenever he was ready. 
 
 The " San Jacinto " was an old steam- 
 frigate, under the command of Commander 
 Ronckendorff, carrying a heavy battery, 
 but not able to make more than 7 knots 
 under steam, and Semmes cared no more for 
 her than if she had been an old-fashioned 
 sailing three-decker. Commander Ronck- 
 endorff stationed himself just outside of 
 the marine league, and kept a sharp watch 
 on the "Alabama," but she escaped with- 
 out difficulty under cover of the night, and 
 joined her coal-ship at Blanquilla, a little 
 island on the coast of Venezuela. 
 
 From this point Semmes shaped his 
 course for the Gulf of Mexico, in hopes of 
 overtaking an expedition said to be fitting 
 out under General Banks for the purpose 
 of invading Texas, and, as this expedition 
 was to rendezvous at Galveston, he steered 
 for that port. At the same time, he hoped 
 to make his cruise remunerative by way- 
 laying one of the steamers from Panama 
 carrying gold to the North. He had several 
 weeks to spare, and the idea of levying upon 
 the mail-steamers gave him much pleasure, 
 as a million or so of dollars deposited in 
 Europe would naturally aid him in his op- 
 erations upon the sea. 
 
 On November 36th Semmes stood for the 
 Mona Passage between St. Domingo and 
 Porto Rico. This was the general route 
 of the mail-steamers on their way to the 
 North from Aspinwall, and he naturally 
 approached it with great caution, expect- 
 ing to find a Federal ship - of - war sta- 
 tioned there, but there was none, and the 
 Confederate captain seemed still to be sail- 
 ing under a lucky star. It was Sunday 
 when the cry of "Sail ho!"' came from 
 •aloft : everything was dropped for the new 
 excitement, as it had been some time since 
 a prize had been sighted. The "Alabama's" 
 head was pointed towards the stranger, 
 her topmen sprang aloft at the order, and 
 in five minutes she was under a cloud of 
 oanvas from rail to truck. The chase was a 
 short one. a run of a few hours brought the 
 "Alabama" up with the vessel, which 
 proved to be the "Parker Cooke," of and 
 from Boston. 
 
 This capture greatly pleased the descend- 
 ants of the Norsemen, for they had learned 
 from experience that the Boston traders 
 always contained the very best of every- 
 thing, from a needle to a barrel of crackers 
 or firkin of butter. So it was in this case; 
 the "Parker Cooke" was plethoric with 
 croofi t.bincrs anf] all that dav thfi ca.na.cious 
 
 maw of the " Alabama" was open to receive 
 the cargo of her prize. The trader was 
 completely emptied, and yet the maw was 
 still unsatisfied, and the wonder will al- 
 ways remain what the 120 men on board this 
 cruiser did with the cargoes, or parts of 
 cargoes, of eighteen vessels which had been 
 transferred to her from time to time. It 
 was sunset before the prisoners and cargo 
 were transferred, tlie torch was then ap- 
 plied to the beautiful merchantman, and 
 soon the flames were casting a broad light 
 on the bold mountains of St. Domingo, and 
 Avere reflected on the soft, smooth sea, which 
 already sparkled with the phosphorescence 
 of those latitudes. 
 
 While waiting for the mail-steamers, 
 the "Alabama" captured the Baltimore 
 schooner "Union," to which the prisoners 
 were transferred and the vessel allowed to 
 depart on a ransom- bond. 
 
 Semmes knowing, from the Northern 
 papers, that the California steamer was due 
 next day, kept a bright look-out for her, and 
 soon a large brig-rigged steamer appeared. 
 All was now excitement on board the "Ala- 
 bama"; the propeller was lowered, sails 
 furled, steam raised, and in twenty min- 
 utes she was ready for the chase. 
 
 The reader is, no doubt, hoping that some- 
 thing will happen to warn the coming 
 steamer in time to avoid her threatened 
 fate. But she came on rapidly, and 
 when within three or four miles, the " Ala- 
 bama " hoisted the American flag. It was 
 astonishing how often Semmes resorted to 
 using what he called " the flaunting lie" — 
 which he derided on all occasions — forget- 
 ting that in the days of the Revolution it had 
 been carried to victory by the bravest and 
 most chivalrous men of the South. Yet he 
 did not feel degraded at having that flag 
 flying at his peak as long as he could draw 
 his enemy into his net ; and that foolish 
 steamer, seeing the old flag, put her whole 
 faith and trust in it, and came on with in- 
 creased speed to greet the defenders of the 
 Union, whom an energetic and benign Gov- 
 ernment had sent to that spot to assure 
 them a safe passage ! ! 
 
 When within a mile of the " Alabama " 
 the steamer was making great speed, and 
 even at that moment could have turned 
 and escaped, but the merchant captain 
 never thought of examining carefully 
 that clipper-built hull and English rig, so 
 totally unlike anything American. All 
 eyes were bent on the American ensign, and 
 the one small gun the steamer carried for 
 signalling purposes was loaded to fire a 
 passing salute to the flag of their country. 
 Semmes i^laced his vessel directh' across 
 the path of the huge steamer, which came 
 foaming through the water towards him, 
 a.nd if the cantain of that vessel had been 
 
638 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 a bold man he would have crashed through 
 the " Alabama," as soon as he discovered 
 her character, and sent her to the bottom 
 off: the island of San Domingo, where 
 many a rich galleon, after being robbed 
 by the Drakes and Morgans of old, had 
 been sunk before her. 
 
 The mail -packet had all her awnings 
 spread, and underneath them, on the upper 
 deck, were congregated a number of pas- 
 sengers of both sexes, among whom could 
 be seen the occasional uniform of an officer 
 or soldier. It was a happy picture as they 
 crowded to the side to look upon the de- 
 fenders of their country, and the officers of 
 the " Alabama " watched the expression of 
 their faces as they appeared to criticise or 
 admire their vessel. They saw plainly that 
 not even the captain and officers had yet 
 suspected danger, when Semmes surprised 
 them by wheeling in pursuit, firing a blank 
 cartridge, and hoisting the Confederate flag. 
 The panic that now ensued was dreadful ; 
 the screams of women filled the air, and 
 men turned pale as they realized the prox- 
 imity of one of the dreaded Confederate 
 cruisers — which were designated in the 
 North as pirates, and which were as much 
 feared at that time as was the vessel of the 
 famous Lafitte by the Spaniards and French- 
 men in 180C-8. 
 
 The merchant captain, astonished at the 
 turn of affairs, gave the order to open wide 
 the throttle of his engines and make all pos- 
 sible speed. For the moment he had no 
 intention of slacking up, but the "Alabama" 
 was within three or four hundred yards of 
 him, in hot pursuit, with a long gun ready 
 to be fired if it should prove necessary to 
 use force. It was very plain from the be- 
 ginning that the packet was going rapidly 
 away from the "Alabama," and that if 
 Semmes wished to detain her he would 
 have to use shot and shell. She was a fine 
 large target, and he knew that his gunners 
 would not be likely to miss her — after their 
 varied and extended practice. Nor was he 
 disappointed — a curl of white smoke, a flash, 
 and a shower of large splinters from one of 
 the steamer's masts, were all the result of 
 a moment. 
 
 That was sufficient — the mast had not 
 been cut away entirely, but the practice told 
 those in charge of the steamer that they 
 were entirely in the power of their pursuer, 
 and that they had better stop before another 
 shot was sent crashing through the stern 
 among the women and children. The walk- 
 ing-beam of the engine began to move more 
 slowly, and the bell in the engine-room soon 
 signalled to stop. The "Alabama" slowed 
 down, ranged up alongside, and took posses- 
 sion of her prize. But now Captain Semmes 
 experienced a keen disappointment. In- 
 stead of a homeward - bound California 
 
 steamer, with a couple of millions of dollars 
 in her safes, he discovered that his prize, 
 the "Ariel," was outward-bound and had 
 as passengers some 500 women and chil- 
 dren. Here was an elephant on his hands 
 that he had not bargained for, and he did 
 not know what to do with his prize. He 
 could not take her into a neutral port, 
 for that was forbidden by the Orders in 
 Council; he could not land the passengers, 
 and he could not take them on board the 
 "Alabama." The best he could hope to do 
 was to capture some inferior prize in the 
 next few days, place all the passengers on 
 board of her, and letthem getinto portas best 
 they could. He would then be at liberty to 
 burn the "Ariel," and proceed on his voyage. 
 
 One of the most humiliating things about 
 this capture was that the " Ariel " carried 
 a battalion of marines and a number of 
 naval officers, who were on their way to 
 join ships in the Pacific. How these men 
 must have blushed for their country and 
 bitten their lips in anger, as they listened 
 to the taunts and jeers of their captors I 
 There were 140 of them, rank and file, and, 
 as they were all paroled, Semmes congratu- 
 lated himself on having disarmed so many 
 of his country's enemies. 
 
 The boarding officer, on his return to the 
 " Alabama," reported that a dreadful state 
 of alarm existed on board the " Ariel," that 
 the women were all in tears, and many of 
 them in hysterics. They had read in the 
 papers of the doings of the " Alabama," 
 and took her officers and crew to be nothing 
 better than pirates ; and, indeed, the be- 
 havior of the "Alabama's" men on many 
 occasions justified people in coming to this 
 conclusion, unless it were possible to con- 
 sider as legal all the decisions of the "Ad- 
 miralty Court " which sat in the cabin of 
 the commerce destroyer. 
 
 Captain Semmes was not insensible to the 
 distress of his fair captives, and at once 
 took steps to quiet their fears. He sent for 
 his handsomest lieutenant (history does not 
 give Ills name), and ordered him to array 
 himself in his most gorgeous uniform, and 
 gird on the finest sword to be found in the 
 ward-room. The young man soon returned, 
 looking as bewitching as possible in a uni- 
 form that was somewhat tarnished by sea 
 air, and the Captain ordered his own gig, a 
 handsome boat fitted with beautiful scarlet 
 •cushions, to be placed at his disposal. 
 " Go," said the humane commander ! "and 
 coax those ladies out of their hysterics." 
 " Oh, I'll be sure to do that, sir," replied the 
 young coxcomb, "I never knew a fair crea- 
 ture who could resist me more than fifteen 
 minutes." This sounds very much like 
 some of the scenes enacted on board th& 
 "Red Rover," in Cooper's novel, but it is 
 true to the letter, nevertheless. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 639 
 
 In order to do justice to the scene which 
 followed, we must take the description of it 
 as given by the Captain of the "Alabama": 
 
 "A few strokes of the oars put him alongside of 
 the steamer, and asking to be shown to the ladies' 
 cabin, he entered the scene of dismay and confusion. 
 So many were the signs of distress, and so numer- 
 ous the wallers, that he was abashed, for a moment, 
 as he afterward told me, with all his assurance. 
 But summoning courage, he spoke to them about 
 as follows : ' Ladies ! The Captain of the ' Ala- 
 bama' has heard of your distress, arid sent me on 
 board to calm your fears, by assuring you that you 
 have fallen into the hands of Southern gentlemen, 
 under whose protection you are entirely safe. We 
 are by no means the ruffians and outlaws that we 
 have been represented by your people, and you 
 have nothing whatever to fear.' The sobs ceased 
 as he proceeded, but they eyed him askance for the 
 first few minutes. As he advanced in their midst, 
 however, they took a second and more favorable 
 glance at him. A second glance begat a third, more 
 favorable still, and when he entered into conver- 
 sation with some of the ladies nearest him, picking 
 out the youngest and prettiest, as the rogue ad- 
 mitted, he found no reluctance on their part to an- 
 swer him. In short, he was fast becoming a favor- 
 ite. The ice being once broken, a perfect avalanche 
 of loveliness soon surrounded him, the eyes of the 
 fair creatures looking all the brighter for the tears 
 that had recently dimmed them.' 
 
 "Was ever woman in sucli humor wooed ? 
 Was ever woman in sucIl liumor won ? " 
 
 This shows the fickleness of Northern 
 women ; had they been Southern-born they 
 would not have looked at a Northern officer, 
 even had he rescued them from fire or 
 wreck. But it cannot be disguised that the 
 ladies on board the "Ariel" allowed them- 
 selves to believe that a man could be a gen- 
 tleman and a man of honor, even though 
 differing from them in politics, and one of 
 them even so far forgot herself as to re- 
 quest her handsome enemy to give her a 
 button from his uniform coat, as a memento 
 of the occasion. It is needless to say that 
 the request was granted, for the young 
 officer was now so intoxicated with the 
 beauty about him that he would have 
 given away his coat, cap, sword and boots, 
 had he been asked to do so. Others fol- 
 lowed the example of the fair petitioner, 
 and when the lieutenant reported to his 
 commander he was in the condition of a 
 picked chicken ! 
 
 The male passengers were not so deeply 
 impressed by the appearance of the envoy, 
 and occupied the time of his visit in over- 
 hauling their baggage, and secreting their 
 valuables. 
 
 " ' In fact,' said the lieutenant, as he reported to 
 Captain Semmes, 'I really believe that these 
 fellows think we are no better than the Northern 
 thieves who are burning dwelling-houses, and rob- 
 bing our women and children in the South 1 '' 
 
 This was a Southern view of the matter, 
 which had not been modified by the plun- 
 dering and burning of the " Alabama" on 
 the high seas. Semmes himself was_ deeply 
 
 cersand men on this occasion. He estimated 
 that each of the five hundred passengers 
 had from three to five hundred dollars, and 
 thought that under the laws of war all this 
 money would have been a fair prize. " But 
 not one dollar of it," he says, "was touched, 
 or indeed so much as a passenger's baggage 
 examined," and we are glad that history will 
 vouch for it for the credit of Southern offi- 
 cers who once belonged to the United States 
 Navy. The fact remains, however, that to 
 have taken one dollar or piece of property 
 from any passenger on board the "Ariel" 
 would have been a base act of piracy. 
 
 Semmes carried out his intention of 
 keeping the "Ariel" in company, and it 
 was not until he had given up all hope of 
 falling in with another merchantman that 
 he allowed her to go on her way rejoicing. 
 The Captain of the " Ariel " was, of course, 
 obliged to give a "ransom-bond";but it was 
 a great disappointment to Captain Semmes 
 not to be able to burn this fine large packet, 
 especially as he knew she belonged to 
 Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had given a 
 fast steamer to the United States Govern- 
 ment for the express purpose of pursuing 
 Confederate cruisers. Semmes looked upon 
 this act of a private citizen as an outrage 
 that should meet with condign punishment, 
 forgetting that there are two sides to every 
 question, and that Vanderbilt was merely 
 showing his devotion and loyalty to the 
 Eepublic in a most practical and sensible 
 manner. Semmes also complained that Van- 
 derbilt never redeemed the "ransom-bond"; 
 but this was not singular, for the general 
 understanding was that these bonds were 
 only to be paid in case the South was suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 On the 23d of December the "Alabama" 
 joined her coal-ship at Areas Islands, in the 
 Gulf of Mexico, and prepared to waylay the 
 Banks expedition, which was expected to 
 reach Galveston by the 10th of January. 
 Semmes' plan was to approach the harbor 
 of Galveston at a time when the army trans- 
 ports would probably have arrived, make 
 careful observations of their positions by 
 daylight, and then withdraw until night- 
 fall. He then proposed to run in and attack 
 the fleet under cover of the darkness, and 
 hoped to be able to sink or scatter the whole 
 of them. 
 
 This was a bold and feasible plan, and no 
 one can deny that Semmes displayed great 
 daring in thus bearding the lion in his den, 
 and entering waters that he knew to be 
 full of his enemy's gun-boats. But he knew 
 the character of every vessel on the coast, 
 and was well aware that but few of the " old 
 tubs " in the Federal Navy could catch him. 
 The " Florida" had distanced the " Cuyler," 
 the fastest vessel off Mobile bar, and the 
 
 L . TTii : J _ j> 
 
640 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Under these conditions he felt quite safe, as 
 he could either run or fight. 
 
 On the 5th of January Semmes left the 
 Areas and headed for Galveston. As 
 he approached the harbor, he discovered 
 that, instead of Banks' transports, there 
 were five men-of-war anchored off the 
 town. This was a damper, and for a short 
 time he was undecided what to do. He had 
 promised his men some fun in this vicinity, 
 and did not like to go away without 
 gratifying them. He was soon relieved 
 from his quandary, however, by the look-out 
 aloft reporting that one of the Federal gun- 
 boats was coming out in chase. This was 
 the unfortunate "Hatteras," the story of 
 whose sinking by the "Alabama" has al- 
 ready been told in another part of this his- 
 tory. 
 
 The course pursued by the Confederate 
 commander in this action cannot be justified 
 by the rules of war. In answer to a hail from 
 the "Hatteras," he declared Iiisvesselto be 
 Her Britannic Majesty's steamer "Petrel," 
 and when Lieutenant - Commander Blake 
 proposed to send a boat along-side of him, 
 expressed his willingness to receive the offi- 
 cers in a friendly manner. This implied 
 that the "Alabama" was what Semmes 
 reported her to be, a neutral man-of-war. 
 If it had been simply a ruse to escape 
 while the boat was being lowered, it might 
 have passed. But wlien, as in this case, 
 it was to gain time in which to train the 
 guns upon the vital parts of an enemy, 
 and make preparations for taking human 
 life, it was simply perfidy, such as a Zulu 
 warrior would hardly resort to. There are 
 certain laws of courtesy in Avar which the 
 meanest nations observe. When two men- 
 of-war meet in the day-time their national- 
 ity is sliown by their flag; but when, under 
 cover of darkness, a false nationality is 
 given, and willingness to receive a friendly 
 visit expressed, it is the same as violating a 
 flag of truce, for the visitor goes on board 
 with the full expectation of meeting a kind 
 reception and does not anticipate treachery. 
 The first broadside is often the turning- 
 point in a battle, especially when there is, 
 as in this case, a disparity of force. As tlie 
 boat approached the " Alabama," Semmes 
 gave the order to open fire upon the " Hat- 
 teras," and the little vessel actually stag- 
 gered under the blow. At the same time 
 he ordered his first-lieutenant to hail the 
 enemy, and reveal the true character of the 
 "Alabama." As has been already nar- 
 rated, the " Hatteras " was literally cut to 
 pieces, and in fifteen minutes went to the 
 bottom. 
 
 It is not necessary to give any other 
 reason for tlie loss of the " Hatteras," than 
 that her antagonist was more than a match 
 for her in every respect. The Confederate 
 
 vessel carried heavier guns and was strongly 
 built, while the "Hatteras" was a mere 
 shell— an iron side-wheel river-boat, that 
 had been used to carry passengers on the 
 Delaware. The " Alabama " had much the 
 greater speed, and her fire was more accu- 
 rate, owing to the fact that the crew of 
 the "Hatteras" were somewhat demoral- 
 ized by the first, unexpected, broadside. 
 
 Semmes did not seem disposed to make 
 much capital out of this victory. Nothing 
 remained for him to do in this vicinity; 
 so, after he had picked up the officers 
 and crew of the " Hatteras," he put out 
 all his lights and steamed away for the 
 coast of Yucatan, congratulating himself 
 that he had been able to satisfy his men 
 with this substitute for his contemplated 
 attack on Banks' transports. The "Ala- 
 bama" received little damage in the 
 fight, and on January 20th arrived at 
 Jamaica, where the prisoners were landed, 
 on parole, to find their way home as best 
 thev could. It is but fair to state that the 
 officers and men of the "Hatteras" were 
 kindly treated by their captors, and Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Blake was received as a 
 guest in the cabin. 
 
 The "Alabama" sailed from Jamaica on 
 the 25th of January, 18G3, bound for the 
 coast of Brazil. Captain Semmes had been 
 treated with every possible attention by 
 the British officers at Jamaica, and flat- 
 tered himself that they implicitly believed 
 in his right to burn, sink and destroy Amer- 
 ican merchantmen, even if they carried 
 English goods, for the Confederacy would 
 be sure to make amends in her prize-courts 
 as soon as the war was over ! 
 
 In fact, tlie English Admiral and his 
 officers behaved with a great want of dig- 
 nity in thus taking sides with the " Ala- 
 bama," and treating the officers of the 
 " Hatteras" with such marked discourtesy. 
 Tlie military bands played that lovely air 
 " Dixie " with all the pathos they could 
 throw into the music ; while, much to the 
 deliglit of the Confederates, they performed 
 "Yankee Doodle" with all their drums. 
 cymbals and squeaking clarionets in the 
 harshest manner, as if in mockery of the 
 American nation. It was. no doubt, a gi'eat 
 sodrce of satisfaction to the British to see 
 the once great commerce of the United 
 States being turned over to the protection of 
 the British flag, and giving employment to 
 all the vessels that had been lying idle for 
 yei,rs at the English docks. But they for- 
 got the pertinacity of these Yankees, whom 
 they were trying to turn into ridicule, and 
 they also forgot that tlie Northern officers 
 and men, who were now obliged to listen 
 to their taunts, were prisoners-of-war who 
 possessed nothing but the clothes they stood 
 in, and that they were entitled to all the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 641 
 
 courtesy a generous nation could give them. 
 They forgot, for a time, tliat the people 
 Avhom they were attempting to ridicule 
 were wont to remember injuries and wrongs 
 received, and sooner or later to find a day 
 of reckoning. The day of reckoning for 
 these insults came when the Americans 
 received an indemnity of $15,000,000 for the 
 pranks of the " Alabama" and " Florida," 
 which the Englishmen paid to the tune of 
 Yankee Doodle, at a time when the re- 
 united States had adopted "Dixie "as one 
 of its national airs. 
 
 Soon after leaving port the "Alabama" 
 fell in with the American ship "Golden 
 Rule," from N'ew York, bound to Aspinwall. 
 The island of San Domingo was sufficiently 
 near to allow its inhabitants to witness a 
 splendid bonfire. Semmes says in his 
 journal: 
 
 " A looker-on upon that conflagration would have 
 seen a beautiful picture, for, besides the burning 
 .ship, there were the two islands mentioned, sleep- 
 ing in the dreamy moonlight on a calm bosom of a 
 tropical sea, and the rakish-looking ' Bi-itisla pirate' 
 steaming in tor the land, with every spar and line 
 of cordage brought out in bold relief by the bright 
 flame— nay, with the very ' pirates ' themselves visi- 
 ble, handling the boxes and bales of merchandise 
 which they had 'robbed 'from this innocent Yan- 
 liee, whose countrymen at home were engaged in 
 the Christian occupation of burning our houses 
 and desolating our fields." 
 
 There was more truth than poetry in the 
 first part of this quotation. No doubt, if 
 the oldest inhabitants among these simple 
 islanders could have refreshed their mem- 
 ories, they might have brought ba.ck the 
 days when the buccaneers of old (many of 
 Avhom were stout Anglo-Saxons in English- 
 built ships) roved these seas and left be- 
 hind them a trail of fire — even as the " Ala- 
 bama " was now doing. 
 
 Soon after the capture of the "Golden 
 Hule," a beautiful hermaphrodite brig hove 
 in sight. It was blowing half a gale, and 
 in the bright moonlight she looked like a 
 sea-gull skimming along over the top of the 
 waves. Her white sails and rakish rig pro- 
 claimed her to be an American, and she 
 was at once brought-to by a shot from the 
 " Alabama." She proved to be the "Chas- 
 telaine," a Boston vessel, and the fiat 
 went forth at once — burn her. Her crew 
 were removed, the torch applied, and with 
 sail set, the doomed vessel bounded away 
 over the waves, like a courser with his nos- 
 trils breathing fire. The light of her burn- 
 ing hull illumined the sea-girt walls of Alta 
 Vela (a tall island about ten miles from San 
 Domingo), and disturbed the slumber of 
 sea-gulls and cormorants for the rest of 
 the night; while the "Alabama" sailed 
 away in the darkness, and this adventure 
 soon ceased to be a matter of comment 
 among her crew. 
 
 SpTnmoc no-vt Q'n'n^nT<=>r] in tllA IVTrmQ "Pas- 
 
 sage, and found this important channel of 
 commerce still unguarded by American 
 men-of-war. In fact, it had remained so 
 ever since his last visit, while an old com- 
 modore, with a large squadron, had been 
 sailing about the Caribbean Sea, interfer- 
 ing with neutral commerce and watching 
 the English mail-steamers that were pur- 
 suing their legitimate business. 
 
 The' " Alabama " had hardly got through 
 the passage before she fell in with and cap- 
 tured the schooner "Palmetto," from New 
 York, bound to St. John's, Porto Rico. This 
 vessel carried neutral goods, but they were 
 not under consular seals, and Captain 
 Semmes decided that they came under the 
 rule, "that when partners reside, some in a 
 belligerent and some in a neutral country, 
 the property of all of them, which has any 
 connection with the house in the belliger- 
 ent country, is liable to confiscation." It 
 was wonderful how many rules of interna- 
 tional law this officer could interpret to 
 suit his own convenience ; for only one or 
 two instances exist in which any vessel was 
 released by the " Alabama," unless it was 
 desired to get rid of a lot of prisoners. 
 The "Palmetto" had short shrift, and was 
 forgotten in an hour. 
 
 The Confederate cruiser was now obliged 
 to work her way into "the variables," and 
 proceed to the eastward, near the thirtieth 
 parallel of latitude, a sufficient distance to 
 clear Cape St. Roque on the coast of South 
 America. She soon sighted a sail from 
 aloft, and quickly afterwards three more ap- 
 peared and caused the Confederates to think 
 they had fallen upon a perfect bonanza of 
 prizes. Chase was given to the first sail, 
 but finally abandoned, as it was leading the 
 "Alabama" away from the other three 
 vessels, which were fine tall ships, and ap- 
 parently American. Coming up with the 
 eastward - bound ship, a prize -crew was 
 thrown on board of her and the prize-mas- 
 ter ordered to follow the " Alabama," which 
 vessel started in pursuit of one of the others, 
 that was at least fifteen miles distant by 
 this time, and running off before the wind 
 with steering sails set " alow and aloft." 
 This vessel was overtaken after quite a 
 chase, and proved to be the " Olive Jane," of 
 New York, loaded with French vs^ines and 
 brandies. Captain Semmes decided that, al- 
 though much of this cargo evidently be- 
 longed to Frenchmen, it was not properly 
 documented, so he applied the torch with- 
 out waiting to make any searching inves- 
 tigation, not allowing so much as a bottle 
 of brandy or a case of champagne to be 
 taken out of her. This last was a wise pre- 
 caution on his part, for he had had great 
 trouble in controlling a number of his 
 drunken sailors at Jamaica, and knew 
 that it would nnt bft sa.ff! tn snbifint tbfim 
 
643 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 to temptation. Although the Confeder- 
 ate Captain regretted not being able to 
 indulge himself and his men, he chuckled 
 with delight when he thought of the disap- 
 pointment of New York "shoddyites" and 
 '' noiiveau-riclie plebeians," at the loss of 
 the rich wines, olives and " pate-de-fois- 
 gras" which had been intended to tickle 
 their palates. 
 
 Amid the crackling of the fire, the bursting 
 of brandy casks, the shrivelling of sails and 
 the falling of tlie lighter spars from aloft, 
 the "Alabama" turned her head to the 
 eastward again and rejoined her first prize. 
 This ship was the " Golden Eagle," and the 
 great bird itself was sitting on the cutwater, 
 spreading his wings, as if he owned all the 
 ocean, and seemingly unconscious of his 
 approaching fate. An inquiry into the 
 papers of this vessel showed that her cargo 
 was wholly owned by Americans. She had 
 sailed full of guano from Rowland's Island 
 in the Pacific, "for Cork and a market, and 
 after having buffeted gales off Cape Horn, 
 threaded her way through icebergs, been 
 parched by the heat of the tropics and 
 drenched with the rains of the equator, it 
 was her misfortune to be captured when 
 within a few hundred miles of port." 
 
 Semmes himself felt sorry for a moment 
 for these people (!), and regretted that he 
 was obliged to destroy this fine ship with so 
 large a cargo of fertilizing matter that 
 would have inade fields stagger under a 
 load of grain and carried jo}^ to manj^ a 
 farmer's heart. But this feeling quickly 
 passed away when he remembered that 
 these fields would be the fields of his 
 enemies, or, if the guano was not used by 
 them, its sale would pour a stream of gold 
 into their coffers. So he applied the torch 
 without compunction, and the career of the 
 " Golden Eagle" was speedily terminated. 
 
 The "Alabama" now crossed the equa- 
 tor and stationed herself in the great toll- 
 gate of commerce, through which traders 
 from India, China, the Pacific Ocean and 
 South America were continually passing, 
 rejoicing as they reached these latitudes 
 that the long, weary road was behind them, 
 and tliat but a short and easy passage lay 
 between them and their homes. 
 
 It had never occurred to the American 
 Government to send half-a-dozen gun- 
 boats or "double enders " to these latitudes. 
 They could easily have been spared, and 
 a depot for coaling vessels could have been 
 established under the smooth waters of the 
 equator, at which all the vessels-of-war in 
 the Navy could have been supplied. If the 
 "Alabama" knew where to go to catch 
 American merchantmen, why did not the 
 Federal Government know where to seek 
 the "Alabama " ? The policeman looks for 
 rogues in the most frequented part of the 
 
 city, or at points where the wealth of the city 
 is least guarded ; and even if he does not 
 catch the rascals, he prevents their doing 
 harm. This was a parallel case. It was- 
 not the particular smartness of Semmes 
 that enabled him to escape capture. It was 
 the omission or indifference of the Navy 
 Department in not sending proper vessels to 
 the right localities. 
 
 Many foreign ships passed along this- 
 route ; but Americans had, in a measure, 
 taken the alarm, and were pursuing longer 
 and safer lines of travel. Still Semmes 
 was amply repaid for watching at the toll- 
 gate, even though many passed through 
 without paying toll. He captured the ship 
 " Washington " from the Chincha Islands 
 with a cargo of guano, bound to Antwerp. 
 Finding difficulties in the way of destroy- 
 ing her neutral cargo, he put his prisoners 
 on board, and let her go on a ransom-bond. 
 The fact was, he was anxious to get rid of 
 his prisoners who were eating him "out of 
 house and home." 
 
 On the morning of the 1st of March the 
 "Alabama" captured the fine ship "John 
 A. Parks," of Hallowell, Maine. Her cargo, 
 consisting of lumber for Montevideo, was 
 covered by the seals of the British con- 
 sul, and was as neutral as any cargo 
 could be. But the ship was burned, never- 
 theless. A large quantity of newspapers 
 were taken from the " Parks," which, as 
 they contained many unflattering notices 
 of the "Alabama," gave her officers and 
 crew something to sharpen their appetites 
 upon until they overhauled another prize. 
 
 The next vessel taken was the "Bethiah 
 Thayer," last from the Chinchas with a 
 cargo of guano for the Peruvian Govern- 
 ment, and, as her cargo was properly docu- 
 mented, she was released on bond. 
 
 On the 16th of March.the ship " Punjaub," 
 of Boston, was captured ; but as her cargo 
 was English property, and was properly cer- 
 tified to, she was released on a ransom-bond, 
 after the prisoners were all transferred to 
 her. Semmes was getting merciful ; the mild 
 climate of the tropics was acting favorably 
 upon his temperament, while his crew, for 
 want of excitement, began to look gloomy 
 and disconsolate. All this time Semmes 
 made but little change in his position, lying 
 under easy sail near the toll-gate, and al- 
 lowing his prey to come to him. 
 
 On the 2:!d of March, the "Morning Star," 
 of Boston, from Calcutta to London, and the 
 whaling schooner, " Kingfisher," of Fair- 
 haven, Massachusetts, were captured. The 
 fact that the cargo of the " Morning Star " 
 was English saved that vessel, but the 
 "Kingfisher" was burned. Although this 
 little vessel did not make as large a bonfire 
 as some of her predecessors, it served to 
 beguile the time; and, in order to make the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 643 
 
 spectacle more interesting to his men, 
 Semmes applied the torch at night -fall, 
 when the effect of the burning oil, amid the 
 rain and wind of a tropical squall, was 
 quite brilliant. 
 
 Next day two large ships hove in sight, 
 evidently Americans. They were sailing 
 close together, their captains, no doubt, 
 having a chat about matters at home and 
 congratulating each other at having so 
 far escaped the " Alabama " and " Florida." 
 Their tete-d-tete was suddenly interrupted 
 by seeing a piratical-looking craft lying 
 directly in their course, and they s'epa- 
 rated, as if to seek safety in flight. But it 
 was too late ; they had run directly under 
 the guns of their bitterest foe, and were 
 soon obliged to shorten sail and submit 
 to their fate. They were the "Charles 
 Hill " and the " Nora," both of Boston, and 
 although their cargoeis were owned in part 
 by neutrals, Semmes took a new view of 
 the law, and burned them, after helping 
 himself to about forty tons of coal. 
 
 A day or two after this, in the morning- 
 watch, the look-out on the "Alabama" 
 sighted a tall, fine ship standing to the 
 southward. All sail was made in chase, 
 and as the southwest wind, then blowing 
 fresh, was favorable to the " Alabama," 
 she overhauled the stranger before night- 
 fall. The prize was the "Louisa Hatch." 
 of Eockland, Maine, from Cardiff, with 
 a cargo of Welsh coal for Port de Galle, 
 Island of Ceylon. The bill of lading re- 
 quired this cargo to be delivered to the 
 " Messageries Imperiales " Steamship Com- 
 pany, and a certificate was on the back of 
 this document to the effect that the coal be- 
 longed to that company. But, in Captain 
 Semmes' opinion, this certificate was not 
 properly sworn to, so he decided that the 
 " Louisa Hatch " was a good prize-of-war ; 
 and this idea was sVengthened by the fact 
 that she was loaded with the best Cardiff 
 coal, exactly what the "Alabama" most 
 needed. 
 
 Was there ever such a lucky man as the 
 Captain of the "Alabama" ? If he wanted 
 a cargo of provisions it fell into his hands. 
 If he required to visit a dock-yard to fit out 
 his ship, a vessel came along filled with 
 cordage, canvas and anchors. If he wanted 
 lumber, a lumber vessel from Maine came 
 right into his path ; and if he needed to 
 reinforce his crew, renegades from cap- 
 tured vessels would put their names to the 
 shipping articles, after listening to the 
 thrilling tales of the Norsemen, of burning 
 ships and abundant prize-money. 
 
 The prize at first seemed an elephant, as 
 Semmes would lose too much time if he at- 
 tempted to transfer her cargo at sea, so he 
 determined to send her to Fernando de No- 
 
 If the " Agrippina," his coal-tender, should 
 arrive in time he could bui-n the "Louisa 
 Hatch"; if not, the latter would supply him 
 with coal. The Scotch collier did not, how- 
 ever, appear at Fernando de Noronha, for 
 the Captain of the vessel, becoming fright- 
 ened at the illicit business in which he had 
 embarked, sold his coal to the best advan- 
 tage and left the "Alabama" to look out 
 for herself. 
 
 The Island of Fernando de Noronha is a 
 penal settlement of Brazil. Few vessels 
 stopped there, though many sighted it, to 
 take a fresh departure. Although prohib- 
 ited from taking his prizes into a neutral 
 port, Semmes did not hesitate to take the 
 " Louisa Hatch " into the harbor and coal 
 from her, and for two weeks the officers and 
 crew of the Confederate vessel fraternized 
 with the interesting swindlers and homi- 
 cides who colonized the island. At the end 
 of five days, when the " Alabama" had 
 finished coaling, signal was made from the 
 high peaks of the island that two large 
 American whalers had hove-to and were 
 sending boats on shore. Semmes imme- 
 diately got up steam and proceeded in 
 search of his prey. The Confederate cruiser 
 was soon alongside, and no time was lost 
 in determining their fate. The "Lafayette," 
 of New Bedford, in the course of an hour, 
 was burning brightly, much to the amuse- 
 ment of the robbers and murderers on shore. 
 The other prize, the " Kate Cory," of West- 
 port, was retained to act as a cartel and 
 convey the one hundred and ten prisoners on 
 board the "Alabama" to the United States. 
 
 By 7 P. M. the "Alabama" again an- 
 chored in the harbor with her prize, without 
 any objection from the Governor, yet the 
 Government of Brazil subsequently pre- 
 tended to be very indignant at the viola- 
 tion of neutrality whereby the Confeder- 
 ate cruiser "Florida" was taken from one 
 of her ports. 
 
 There was no end to the indignities 
 heaped upon the United States and its com- 
 merce while the "Alabama" remained at 
 this colony of criminals. Semmes changed 
 his mind about sending his prisoners to the 
 United States, and engaged the master 
 of a Brazilian schooner to convey them to 
 Pernambuco. No feeling of humanity at 
 the sufferings so many persons crowded 
 into a small and filthy vessel must undergo 
 troubled Semmes. The apologist for Wirtz, 
 the Andersonville jailer, did not stick at 
 trifles. 
 
 The " Cory " suffered the same fate as the 
 "Hatch," Semmes being careful to burn 
 both beyond the marine league, so as 
 not to offend the delicate susceptibilities 
 of the Governor of Fernando de Noronha, 
 and to pay due respect to the Empire of 
 
 _ 11 .J? 
 
644 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 On the 22d of April, the " Alabama" was 
 again on the wing under plain sail for a 
 cruise along the Brazilian coast, and in 
 less than twenty-four hours another unfor- 
 tunate whaler, the '■ Nj^e," of New Bed- 
 ford, was in her hands, making the six- 
 teenth whaler that had been captured. The 
 " Nye" had sent home one or two cargoes 
 of oil, and had now 425 barrels on board. 
 For a moment Semmes thought " what a 
 pity to break in upon these old salts, who 
 had encountered so many gales and 
 chased the whale through so many lati- 
 tudes!" But such thoughts never remained 
 long with tliis sea-rover. He had a special 
 hatred for New Englanders, and the 
 " Nye," well saturated with oil, soon blazed 
 up in a way to satisfy the rhost vindictive 
 partisan of the Southern cause. The old 
 whalers, who for nearly three years had 
 risked their lives in a dangerous calling, 
 stood silent and in tears as they beheld 
 their hard-earned property' disappear in a 
 cloud of smoke. The people of the South 
 necessarily suffered much at the hands 
 of Union soldiers, and it is hard to tell 
 ■what men will not do in the heat of war, 
 but it may be fairly said there was 
 nothing during the civil conflict to equal 
 the atrocity of the "Alabama's" doings. 
 
 Tlie day after the destruction of the 
 " Nye," the " Dorcas Prince," of New York, 
 loaded with coal, was encountered; but, as 
 the "Alabama's" bunkers were already- 
 filled, the vessel was set on fire and de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 On the third of May the Clipper ship, 
 "Union Jack," fell into the "Alabama's" 
 power and a prize crew Avas sent on board, as 
 just afterwards, the " Sea Lark,"' boundfrom 
 New York to San Francisco, was sighted — 
 two fine prizes in two hours. Three women 
 and some children were taken from the 
 last prize and convej^ed on board the " Ala- 
 bama. " Both ships were burned after their 
 crews were removed. 
 
 On the 11th of May the "Alabama" 
 landed her prisoners at Bahia, and was 
 ordered by the Brazilian authorities to 
 leave the port in twentj'-four hours for 
 A'iolation of the neutrality laws; but Semmes 
 was so much cleverer than the Governor 
 tliat he was finally permitted to remain 
 and give his men liberty on shore, Avhere 
 they turned the town upside down gener- 
 ally. 
 
 These Brazilian officials were easily in- 
 fluenced by the threats of Semmes to call 
 down on them the vengeance of the South- 
 ern Confederacy after it had disposed of 
 its "Yankee war," and they had never been 
 taught, by the display of a proper Federal 
 naval force, to respect the United States. 
 The British residents of Bahia did all in 
 their power to make Semmes' stay jjleasant, 
 
 congratulating themselves that the com- 
 merce of the United States vs^as being 
 rapidly driven from the ocean, and this 
 although Bahia derived its chief import- 
 ance from its trade with that country. 
 
 While the "Alabama" was in Bahia, 
 the Confederate steamer " Georgia," Com- 
 mander William L. Maury commanding, 
 anchored in the port, much increasing the 
 respect of the Governor for the Southern 
 Confederacy; although the latter was some- 
 what afraid of trouble with the Emperor, 
 who was believed to favor the Federal 
 Government. He accordingly requested 
 Semmes to leave as soon as possible. This 
 request Semmes politely ignored ; amusing 
 himself with traveling about the country, 
 and perfecting plans with the commanding 
 officer of the "Georgia" for the destruction 
 of United States commerce on the coast of 
 Brazil. 
 
 After the " Alabama" bade farewell to 
 the " Georgia '' at Bahia, she was put un- 
 der press of sail, and quickly overhauled 
 the " Gilderslieve," of New York, and the 
 " Justina," of Baltimore. The latter, being 
 a Maryland ship, was converted into a 
 cartel, and after taking all Semmes' prison- 
 ers on board and giving a ransom-bond, 
 was allowed to depart. The other ves- 
 sel was loaded with coal; but as the captain 
 had no sworn certificate of ownership by 
 British subjects, and as the " Alabama " 
 did not need it, Semmes' "Admiralty Court" 
 decreed that the " Gilderslieve" should be 
 converted into a bonfire. 
 
 The next daj', the "Jabez Snow," of 
 Bucksport, Maine, laden with Cardiff coal, 
 was captured. As the cargo was evidently 
 British propert}^, Semmes might perhaps 
 have released the vessel under a ransom- 
 bond but for a letter found on board to the 
 following effect: 
 
 "We hope you will arrive safely and in good 
 season, but we think you Avill And business rather flat 
 at Liverpool, as American ships especially are under 
 a cloud, owiiijj to dangers from pirates, more 
 politely styled privateers, which our kind friends in 
 England are so willing should slip out of their 
 ports to prey upon our commerce." 
 
 Stich letters as the above were always 
 considered by the "Admiralty Court" in 
 Semmes" cabin as not only sttipid and ma- 
 licious, but positive evidence against the 
 neutral ownership of anything on board a 
 prize ; so the crew of the '" Jabez Snow " 
 were promptly removed, and the vessel set 
 on fire. 
 
 On the 2d of June, the " Alabama " fell 
 in with the clipper bark "Amazonian," 
 from New York for Montevideo, with an 
 ass(.n-ted cargo. Semmes remarks: "There 
 was an attempt to cover two of the consign- 
 ments in this ship," but the "Court of Ad' 
 miralty '' decided that •' the bark being evi- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 645 
 
 dently Yankee, the certificates wei"e not 
 worth a cent ! " So the ship was plundered 
 and burned. 
 
 The next day Semmes fell in with an 
 English brig, the master of which agreed 
 to receive his forty-one captives and land 
 them in Rio de Janeiro, the consideration 
 being twice as much provisions as the pris- 
 oners could eat, and a chronometer. Of 
 the latter articles Semmes had an abun- 
 dant supply, the property of the merchant 
 captains he had taken prisoners, although 
 he professed to respect private property. 
 All the other "Confederate cruisers "ex- 
 hibited the same weakness for chronom- 
 eters, which may be accounted for by the 
 fact that they would all be needed for the 
 great Navy it was proposed to build in Eng- 
 land. The virtuous Briton at first demurred 
 to the proposition to receive the prisoners 
 from Semmes, on the ground that " it 
 might offend Earl Eussell," but the offer of 
 a chronometer silenced his objections. As 
 the Earl had a keen sense of humor, he would 
 doubtless have remarked had he ever heard 
 of this incident, that as chronometers are 
 made to go they might as well go that way 
 as any other. 
 
 The clipper-ship "Talisman," of New 
 York, was the "Alabama's" next capture, 
 and, as usual, was given but short shrift. 
 After taking from the vessel her crew and 
 such of the cargo as he wanted, Semmes 
 applied the torch, and she went off before 
 the wind in flames with all sail set. The 
 "Talisman" had a number of 12-pounder 
 field-pieces on board, and boilers and ma- 
 chinery for a gun-boat to be built in China 
 to take part in the Chinese war. Semmes 
 took two of the guns on board -his vessel 
 for the purpose of fitting out a consort when 
 the proper vessel should fall into his hands. 
 
 Semmes continued his course along the 
 Brazilian coast, and now began to fall in 
 with American vessels under the British 
 flag; for what Earl Russell had foreseen had 
 now come to pass, and the United States 
 carrying-trade was being transferred to Eng- 
 lish hands. The papers of these vessels were 
 so carefully made out that Semmes' " Court 
 of Admiralty " did not dare meddle with 
 them, as a rule; however, he was enraged at 
 seeing such prizes slip through his judicial 
 fingers; but on the 20th of June the fates 
 were propitious in bringing another fly to 
 the "Alabama's" web. 
 
 This was the bark "Conrad," of Phila- 
 delphia, and although her cargo was Eng- 
 lish, she was taken possession of and 
 quickly converted into a " vessel-of-war." 
 Three or four officers, a dozen men, and the 
 two captured field-pieces were put on board 
 the little clipper with a celerity that would 
 have astonislied Mr. Gideon Welles, and 
 the new Confederate cruiser was christened 
 
 the " Tuscaloosa." The baptismal ceremony 
 was not elaborate. When all was ready, 
 signal was given, the " Tuscaloosa " ran up 
 the Confederate flag, and the crew of the 
 " Alabama " gave three cheers, which were 
 duly acknowledged by those on board the 
 new man-of-war. Semmes' prisoners, now 
 thirty-nine in number, were on the same 
 day put on board an English vessel, to be 
 landed in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
 It was now time for the " Alabama" to 
 change her cruising-ground, not only be- 
 cause the United States Navy Department 
 might be supposed to have heard of her 
 operations and taken measures to bring 
 them to a close, but also for the reason 
 that there was little more damage to be 
 inflicted in that quarter. Semmes was 
 astonished that no Federal ships - of - war 
 were on the Brazilian coast when he ar- 
 rived there. For months he had been 
 working his way in that direction, his track 
 marked by burning vessels ; but, in any 
 event, one might have been reasonably sure 
 that Semmes would ultimately seek that 
 great thoroughfare of vessels, along the 
 coast of Brazil. At Cape St. Roque the 
 ocean highway becomes so narrow by the 
 influence of the northeast trade-winds, and 
 the vessels are so close together, that they 
 are at the mercy of any enemy's cruiser 
 stretching backward and forward, across the 
 road. If heavier and faster vessels than 
 the " Alabama " had been stationed in 
 latitude 30'' North, and others at the equator 
 to the eastward of Fernando de Noronha, 
 Confederate cruisers could have done little 
 harm ; their principal object on hearing 
 of the proximity of Federal vessels being 
 to get out of their way. As it was, Semmes 
 could make his calculations pretty accu- 
 rately, and when he thought it time for a 
 Federal cruiser to appear on the scene 
 of action, he would slip off to "fresh 
 fields and pastures new." 
 
 The "Alabama" and her consort now 
 shaped their course for the Cape of Good 
 Hope ; but, finding his bread spoiled by 
 wevil, Semmes was obliged to put back to 
 Rio for a supply of provisions. On the 1st 
 of July the ship "Anna F. Schmidt," from 
 Boston, with an assorted cargo, was over- 
 hauled, and, to use Semmes' own language, 
 "it took us nearly the entire day to 
 do the necessary amount of ' robbing.' " 
 The vessel was abundantly supplied with 
 provisions, including bread ; and after the 
 " robbing" was concluded the burning was 
 commenced, and the " Schmidt " shared the 
 fate of her predecessors. Semmes' usual 
 good fortune had served him well in this 
 instance, saving him a journey of nearly a 
 thousand miles in search of a bake-shop. 
 
 While the " Schmidt" was in flames and 
 drifting before the wind, a large ship, un- 
 
646 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 der a cloud of canvas, went rushing by, 
 taking no notice of the burning vessel. 
 The light of the fire was reflected on her 
 white sails, which seemed to mark her as 
 an American, and the " Alabama " followed 
 in pursuit, firing a gun to induce tlie stran- 
 ger to heave-to, but tlie only notice taken 
 was a gun in return from the latter. 
 
 Semmes now ordered all steam and sail 
 to be crowded on the "Alabama," while 
 his crew became greatly excited, thinking 
 from the strangers' firing a gun that a 
 fight was about to ensue. It was midnight 
 before the "Alabama" overhauled the 
 chase, which loomed up very large in the 
 darkness. The ship liad a white streak 
 like a man-of-war, and witli a night glass 
 five guns could be seen protruding through 
 her side. A voice from the "Alabama" 
 cried out: "What ship is that?" "Her 
 Britannic Majesty's ship 'Diomede!'" was 
 the reply. When the British officer was 
 informed that the pursuing vessel was the 
 Confederate States steamer " Alabama," 
 he remarked: "I suspected as much when 
 I saw you making sail by the light of the 
 burning ship." 
 
 It may be remarked that Semmes did not 
 ask to see the stranger's commission, to 
 ascertain whether he was really one of her 
 Majesty's cruisers, and his sailors were 
 somewhat uneasy at their proximity to a 
 British ship-of-war, as a search might have 
 taken place for deserters ; but they need 
 not have troubled themselves, for the Eng- 
 lish were in full sympathy with the "Ala- 
 bama," as was evidenced by their not stop- 
 ping to inquire into tlie fate of those on 
 board the burning vessel. 
 
 The "Alabama" now continued on her 
 way towards the Cape of Good Hope, cap- 
 turing and destroying on the passage the 
 ship " Express," of Boston. On the 28th of 
 July Semmes anchored in Saldanha Bay. 
 not venturing to Cape Town until he had 
 ascertained that the coast was clear of 
 American vessels-of-war. Every ship that 
 had touched at the Cape had brought intel- 
 ligence of the wonderful doings of the 
 "Alabama," and Semmes in his journal 
 remarks: "Mr. Seward and Mr. Adams, 
 Earl Russell and the London Times, have 
 made the ' British pirate' famous." 
 
 At Saldanha Bay Semmes received every 
 civility from the people, Avlio appeared to 
 be nearly as barbarous as tlie aboriginal 
 owners of the soil whom they had dispos- 
 sessed of their country. Tliese Boers flocked 
 on board the " British pirate," and were 
 mightily interested in all they saw. Tliey 
 knew that the ship and crew were British, 
 and to this circumstance attributed all the 
 success which had followed the career of 
 the " Alabama." A simon-pure Confeder- 
 ate vessel, officered and manned by South- 
 
 erners, would have elicited far less enthu- 
 siasm in any British port that Semmes vis- 
 ited. 
 
 On the 5th of August, the "Alabama" 
 sailed for Table Bay, encountering on the 
 way her consort the "Tuscaloosa," which 
 was sent into Simon's Bay to refit. The 
 same day the bark " Sea-Bride," of Boston, 
 was captured. This vessel was on a trad- 
 ing voyage to the east coast of Africa with 
 an assorted cargo. Her capture was wit- 
 nessed from Cape Town and caused intense 
 excitement among the inhabitants, a ma- 
 jority of whom could not conceal their joy 
 at the seizure of a well-known trading ves- 
 sel that had often stopped at their port to 
 supply their necessities. The local news- 
 papers raved over the gallant deeds of the 
 " Alabama," and all the people followed 
 suit. In the little English-built vessel they 
 saw the representative of a rising power 
 that was to destroy the commercial su- 
 premacy of the great republic, and they 
 naturally wanted to make friends with the 
 winning side. The power of the United 
 States had been estimated in the remote 
 parts of the earth by its commercial ma- 
 rine; but this moral influence ceases to pre- 
 vail in time of war, when that commercial 
 marine is not protected by a suitable force 
 of war vessels, but, on the contrary, is 
 everywhere being driven from the sea. 
 
 The U. S. Steamer " Vanderbilt" arrived 
 at Cape Town after the "Alabama" left, 
 but the officers and crew received no such 
 welcome as was given the Confederates. 
 The people rejoiced that the "Alabama" 
 had escaped, and none gave a hint whither 
 the bird had flown. 
 
 Several complications arose while the 
 "Alabama" was in Table Bay, yet, not- 
 withstanding some of her acts were in plain 
 violation of local and international law, the 
 authorities sustained Semmes. even in fit- 
 ting out prize-vessels for belligerent pur- 
 poses. 
 
 Semmes next visited Simon's Bay, the 
 naval station of the colony, whither the 
 "Tuscaloosa" had preceded her. The 
 United States Consul raised the question 
 that the "Tuscaloosa" was not a vessel of 
 war, but the Confederate commander re- 
 plied, that although the "Tuscaloosa" had 
 not been condemned by a prize-court of 
 the Confederate States, yet the sovereign 
 power of the Confederacy, acting through 
 its authorized agent, had "commissioned her 
 as a ship-of-war, which was the most 
 solemn condemnation of tlie prize. He 
 claimed that no nation had the right to in- 
 quire into the antecedents of the ships of 
 another nation. 
 
 Everybody except the commander-in- 
 chief of the British naval forces was 
 silenced, if not convinced, bv this logic, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 64? 
 
 and recognized the " Tuscaloosa " as a hona- 
 fide ship-of-war; but Admiral Sir Baldwin 
 Walker wrote to the Governor : "Viewing 
 all the circumstances of the case, they af- 
 ford room for the supposition that the ves- 
 sel (" Tuscaloosa") is styled a tender, with 
 the object of avoiding the prohibition 
 against her entrance as a prize into our 
 ports, where, if the captors wished, ar- 
 rangements could be made for the disposal 
 of her valuable cargo." This opinion was 
 overruled, but the British Government in- 
 structed the Colonial Governor that he 
 should have detained the " Tuscaloosa," 
 Accordingly, when the " Tuscaloosa " again 
 came into port after a cruise, the Governor 
 seized her, but the Home Government veer- 
 ing round ordered him to restore her to 
 Lieutenant Low, her commanding officer, 
 on the ground that "having been once al- 
 lowed to enter and leave the port, he was 
 fairly entitled to assume that he might do 
 so a second time !" 
 
 The "Alabama" remained five days at 
 Simon's Bay. The flag-ship and two other 
 British men-of-war were there, and every 
 attention in the way of dinner parties, etc., 
 was shown to the Confederates by the Eng- 
 lish officers and the civil authorities. The 
 " Alabama" then sailed from Simon's Town 
 and joined her consorts at Angra Pequeiia, 
 in the Hottentot country. While at Cape 
 Town, an English merchant proposed to pur- 
 chase the " Sea Bride "and her cargo. The 
 transfer was made at Angra Pequena for 
 about one-third the real value of the prop- 
 erty, the merchant, of course, having to 
 take a considerable risk. This questionable 
 transaction took place right under the eyes 
 of the British authorities, who were doing 
 all in their power to promote the extinction 
 of American commerce. 
 
 Again, the " Alabama" is off tlie Cape of 
 Good Hope, where she cruised for several 
 days without success, and finally proceeded 
 to Simon's Bav, where Semmes learned that 
 the U.S. S. "Vanderbilt," Lieutenant-Com- 
 manding Baldwin, had just left the port in 
 search of him. On the day that the ' ' Van- 
 derbilt "left Simon's Bay, the "Alabama" 
 was cruising further off the land than 
 usual, a lucky circumstance for Semmes, 
 whose romantic career would otherwise 
 have been brought to a sudden and igno- 
 minious termination. The coal-dealers were 
 the only people who welcomed the "Van- 
 derbilt," for, as we have before mentioned, 
 all the hospitality of the officials and citi- 
 zens was given to the "Alabama." The 
 latter, after coaling, shaped her course for 
 the Straits of Sunda, a channel of com- 
 merce much frequented by American mer- 
 chant vessels. On this voyage Semmes' 
 only prize was an immense albatross, 
 caught with hook and line. 
 
 On nearing the straits Semmes boarded 
 an English brig, and was informed that the 
 U.S. S. "Wyoming "was cruising in the 
 straits in company with a three-masted 
 schooner fitted as a tender. Two days after, 
 he obtained similar information from a 
 Dutcli vessel, and it seems to have been the 
 design of the commanding officer of the 
 United States vessel to make his where- 
 abouts generally known. 
 
 The " Alabama " had scarcely entered the 
 straits when she captured and burned the 
 bark "Amanda," of Boston, and the next 
 day overhauled the clipper-ship " Winged 
 Racer." Semmes anchored with his last 
 prize under North Island, and after the latter 
 had been despoiled of lier valuable cargo, 
 her captain, with his family, officers and 
 crew were granted permission to take their 
 own boats and proceed to Batavia. 
 
 While these operations were in progress 
 the two ships were surrounded by Malay 
 boats bringing provisions of every kind for 
 sale, when all at once a great blaze sprung 
 from the hold of the " Winged Racer," and 
 the Malays for the first time realized that she 
 had been captured hj the "Alabama," when 
 the crew of the latter vessel gave three 
 lusty cheers. The Malays were great pi- 
 rates themselves, and many European and 
 American ships have been plundered and de- 
 stroyed and their crews murdered by these 
 picturesque vagabonds. Mistaking the "Ala- 
 bama" for a, corsair, and fearing to be car- 
 ried off and sold for slaves, they made all 
 haste to get away from the "English 
 pirate." 
 
 But where was the "Wyoming" all this 
 time that her watchful commander could 
 not see the blazing ship? Had he visited 
 the spot where the " Winged Racer" was 
 burning, he would not, however, have en- 
 countered Semmes, for the "Alabama" had 
 departed as soon as the captured vessel was 
 fairly ablaze. 
 
 Next day the "Alabama " sighted another 
 American clipper-ship on a wind under a 
 press of sail. Not until the "Alabama " got 
 up steam did she gain on the chase, and it 
 was only after many hours that the Con- 
 federate vessel overhauled and captured her. 
 On this occasion the "Alabama," for the 
 first time, hoisted the new flag of the South- 
 ern Confederacy, a white ensign with cross 
 and stars, rather a handsome flag and a 
 great improvement on the original banner 
 of secession, although it could have little 
 effect in sustaining a declining cause. The 
 prize was the " Contest" from Yokohama, 
 with a light cargo of Japanese goods con- 
 signed to merchants in New York. The 
 two vessels were anchored in fourteen 
 fathoms in the open sea with no land visible, 
 and it was after night-fall before the crew 
 and plunder of the prize were removed to 
 
648 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the "Alabama." Then the torch was ap- 
 plied to the captured vessel, and the little 
 plunderer sailed away in search of otlier 
 victims. 
 
 Semmes now turned the "Alabama's 
 head to the eastward, and passed through 
 Carimata Strait in five days, although ves- 
 sels are sometimes thirty days in maknig 
 the passage. 
 
 The "Alabama" was now in the China 
 seas, having left the "Wyoming" some- 
 where in the Straits of Sunda looking for 
 Confederate cruisers ! Instead of one ves- 
 sel there should have been a dozen in the 
 vicinity of the straits. No wonder Semmes 
 asked himself : " Where is the Yankee, 
 that he is permitting all this rich harvest of 
 commerce in the East to pass away from 
 him ? " Had English commerce been 
 threatened with destruction by an enemy's 
 cruisers, how her men-of-war would have 
 swarmed in the Chinese seas! English naval 
 officers could smile calmly at tlie proceed- 
 ings of the Confederate plunderer, even 
 where she might occasionally destroy a 
 cargo belonging to British subjects, for this 
 would induce the latter to ship goods in 
 British bottoms. 
 
 Semmes cruised in the China seas in 
 search of American merchant vessels, but 
 without success. He played the Rajah at 
 Pulo Condore, where he got springs upon 
 his cable in order to bring his broadside to 
 bear upon the "Wyoming," and rake her 
 fore and aft before she could get alongside 
 of the "Alabama" in case she should 
 enter that narrow harbor. In this harbor 
 Semmes spent two weeks refitting his ship 
 and studying natural history, and became 
 so absorbed in watching the habits of lo- 
 custs and monkeys, that he appears to have 
 quite forgotten the "Wyoming," which ves- 
 sel ought to have heard of his whereabouts. 
 Probably the commanding officer of the 
 "Wyoming" was deceived by Semmes' ec- 
 centric movements, while the latter calcu- 
 lated that the "Wyoming" had gone to 
 Canton and Shanghai in pursuit of him. 
 
 Tlie "Alabama" next proceeded to Singa- 
 pore for coal and stores. Semmes' stay was 
 short, but the officers and crew were sump- 
 tuously entertained. The day he left Singa- 
 pore Semmes captured a beautiful ship, 
 which, though flj'i'ng the British flag, was 
 evidently an American vessel, officered and 
 manned by "the hated Yankees." The 
 ship's papers appeared to be in due form, 
 and she liad been transferred by a bill of 
 sale to her Britisli owner. After a thorough 
 examination, Semmes satisfied himself that 
 tlie transfer was not a real one, so he hauletl 
 down the British ensign and burned tlie 
 •'Martaban'' (late the "Texan Star"), vir- 
 tuously indignant at the unprincipled con- 
 duct of the sliipmaster in attempting to de- 
 
 ceive the representative of the Southern 
 Confederacy. After this little matter was- 
 settled, Semmes apparently had some mis- 
 givings, lest the British authorities might 
 call him to an account for burning a vessel 
 under the British flag, so he called the un- 
 lucky shipmaster into his cabin and extorted 
 from him a confession that he had resorted 
 to a stratagem to save his ship in case he 
 should fall in with the "Alabama." 
 
 Notwithstanding the uncomplimentary 
 manner in which Captain Semmes had 
 treated the flag which has " braved a thou- 
 sand years the battle and the breeze," when 
 the "Alabama" arrived at her next port 
 and anchored off the little town of Ma- 
 lacca, the English officers and inhabitants 
 went wild over her. After leaving this 
 place, Semmes fell in with an English ves- 
 sel, the master of which gave him such in- 
 formation as enabled him to capture two 
 large American ships in that vicinity, the 
 " Sonora," of Newburyport, and the " High- 
 lander." of Boston. When the Master of 
 
 THE ■'AL.iBA'MA'" OFF CAPETOWN. 
 
 FROM A SKETCH BY EEAR-ADMIRAX WALKE. 
 
 the "Sonora" came on board the "Ala- 
 bama,'' he said pleasantly to Captain 
 Semmes: "I have been expecting you for 
 the last three 3'ears." Semmes answered 
 that he was glad the Captain had found 
 him after so long a search. "It is some 
 such search," replied the other, "as the 
 devil may be supposed to make after holy 
 water ! " This good humor saved the cap- 
 tives from imprisonment, and they were 
 allowed to take their boats with provisions- 
 and start for Singapore. After the usual 
 cremation services, the "Alabama" steamed 
 out past the light-ship, and was once more 
 in the Indian Ocean. Query, were the two 
 ships above-named burned in neutral 
 waters ? 
 
 The "Alabama" now proceeded to the 
 Bay of Bengal, and on the 11th of January 
 captured and burned the "Emma Jane."' 
 of Bath, Maine. This was the last vessel 
 burned by Captain Semmes in that quarter. 
 Further continuance in the East Indies did 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 G49 
 
 not promise much profit and the "Alabama" 
 finally proceeded towards the Cape of Good 
 Hope. But even in that quarter there were 
 no prizes to be found. American vessels 
 that were not laid up in port or transferred 
 to the British flag avoided the beaten track. 
 
 On the 30th of March Semmes went into 
 Cape Town for coal and provisions, and 
 there found the "Tuscaloosa," which vessel 
 he had sent to cruise on the coast of Brazil 
 and which had been seized by the British 
 authorities and afterwards released. The 
 news received at Cape Town from the Con- 
 federate States was far from encouraging; 
 everything seemed to be gradually falling 
 into Federal hands. Captain Semmes, for 
 his part, was quite satisfied with the mis- 
 chief he had wrought, estimating that he 
 had destroyed or driven for protection under 
 the British flag, one - half of the United 
 States vessels engaged in trade with English 
 ports. Still greater damage was done to 
 American trade with other nations. Com- 
 merce with the South American States was 
 practically broken up, and that on the Paci- 
 fic, including the important whale fishery, 
 greatly crippled. 
 
 Semmes left Cape Town March 2oth, the 
 "Alabama" keeping in the "fair way" lead- 
 ing from the Cape of Good Hope to the 
 equatorial region where the Confederate 
 cruisers had been so successful, shortening 
 sail from day to day and tacking to and fro 
 in the " high-way," but for some time the 
 American flag was nowhere to be seen 
 among the numerous vessels passing on 
 their way. At last an unlucky " Yankee" 
 was reported*, and although he made all 
 sail and handled his ship with great skill, 
 the " Alabama " overtook the fugitive. She 
 proved to be the ship " Rockingham," from 
 theChincha Islands, with a cargo of guano, 
 bound to Cork. Semmes, after removing 
 the crew and such provisions- and stores as 
 he wanted, made a target of the " Rocking- 
 ham," exercising his crew in firing shot and 
 shell at her, which they did with "great pre- 
 cision," owing doubtless to the circumstance 
 that the "Rockingham" could not return 
 the fire ; for we find on a subsequent oc- 
 casion, when the "Kearsarge" was the 
 target, this same crew fired with very little 
 
 On 'the 27th of April the " Tycoon," of 
 New York, with an assorted cai'go, was 
 brought-to; the hold of the "Alabama" 
 was filled up with stores, and the night 
 illuminated by another burning ship. 
 
 About this time Semmes crossed the equa- 
 tor, and ran up to the old toll-gate, where so 
 many American vessels had been made to 
 haul down their flags. He now felt that 
 he was getting towards the end of his 
 career. The latest captured newspapers 
 had o-ivfin him an insiclit into the deSDer- 
 
 ate condition of the Southern Confederacy, 
 and he saw that his commerce-destroying 
 was about ended. To quote his own words: 
 " The poor old ' Alabama ' was not now 
 what she had been. She was like the 
 weary foxhound, limping back after a long 
 chase, footsore and longing for quiet and 
 repose. Her commander, like herself, was 
 well-nigh worn down. Vigils by day and 
 night, the storms and the drenching rain, 
 the frequent and rapid change of climate — 
 now freezing, now melting or broiling, and 
 the constant excitement of the chase and 
 capture — had laid, in the three years of war 
 he had been afloat, a load of a dozen years 
 upon his shoulders. The shadows of a sor- 
 rowful future, too, began to dawn upon his 
 spirit." From this melancholy moralizing 
 we might almost imagine that Semmes an- 
 ticipated some such fate as befell Conrad 
 the Corsair : 
 
 "'Ti.s idle all, moons roll on moons away. 
 And Conrad comes not, came not since that day: 
 Nor trace, nor tidings of his doom declare 
 Where lives his grief, or perished his despair ! " 
 
 On his way to Europe Semmes met with 
 no prizes. American merchant vessels had 
 scattered in all directions like chickens 
 threatened by the hawk, many of them 
 seeking, under the British and other flags, 
 the protection which their own Government 
 failed to afford. 
 
 On the 11th day of June, 1804, the "Ala- 
 bama " anchored in the port of Cherbourg, 
 France ; and three days afterwards the 
 U. S. steamer " Kearsarge," Captain John A. 
 Winslow, steamed into port, communicated 
 with the authorities, steamed out again 
 without coming to an anchor, and took a 
 station off the breakwater, in order to pre- 
 vent the " Alabama " from escaping. 
 
 It was evidently not Semmes' intention to 
 fight anybody, for he was about to go into 
 dock and give his men two months' leave, 
 when they would have scattered to parts 
 unknown ; but as Cherbourg was exclu- 
 sively a naval port, the French Admiral 
 would not admit the " Alabama " into dry- 
 dock until he obtained permission from the 
 Emperor, then absent at Biarritz. Had the 
 latter been in Paris, the fight with the 
 " Kearsarge " would never have taken place. 
 Under the circumstances, it would not have 
 done to decline the combat which the 
 "' Kearsarge " offered; and Captain Semmes. 
 after so long warring on peaceful merchant 
 vessels, directed the Confederate agent in 
 Cherbourg to request Captain Winslow to 
 wait for him and he would give him battle 
 as soon as he could get some coal on board. 
 
 The Captain of the "Alabama" occupied 
 four days in preparations for battle, filling 
 the bunkers so that the machinery would 
 be protected, sending down all useless spars 
 and ton hamper, and doing everything possi- 
 
650 
 
 THK i\AVAl. allium 
 
 ble to achieve success in the coming contest. 
 Semmes' principal anxiety seemed to have 
 been lest his English crew had grown rusty 
 for want of gunnery practice, which he had 
 been obliged to neglect in the more con- 
 genial business of plundering and burnmg; 
 still, as the force of the " Kearsarge" was as 
 nearly as possible the same as his own ship, 
 he was exceedingly hopeful of success. 
 Semmes tried after the battle to make it 
 
 "Alabama." 
 
 6 long 33-pounders, 
 
 1 rifled 100-pounder, (Blakeley) 
 
 1 8-inoh shell-gun, 
 
 lbs. 
 
 192 
 100 
 
 360 
 
 8 guns, ..... 
 
 In speed the " Kearsarge " had somewhat 
 the advantage. In tonnage the vessels were 
 almost the same. The ' ' Kearsarge " had 163 
 officers and men, the " Alabama," 149. It 
 
 CAPTAIN (AFTERWARDS EEAB-ADMIBAi) JOHN A. WTNSLOW. 
 
 appear that the "Kearsarge" had the ad- 
 vantage in size, weight of ordnance and 
 number of guns and crew ; but this, like 
 many other of his assertions, is disputed 
 by official records, which state as follows : 
 "Kearsarge." lbs. 
 
 4 short 33-poundei's, weia:ht of projectile, 138 
 
 5 11-inch pivot-suns, " " " . 273 
 1 80-pounder rifle, " " " . .30 
 
 7 guns, . . . . .430 
 
 was a matter of little consequence what bat- 
 tery the "Alabama " carried, as so few of her 
 shots struck the "Kearsarge"; and if, as 
 has been asserted, many of Semmes' crew 
 were old English man-of-war's me_n,_their 
 shooting did little credit to their training. 
 
 With wise precaution, Semmes sent all 
 his valuables on shore before steaming out 
 to meet his antagonist, who was eagerly 
 watching for his appearance. The weather 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 651 
 
 was fine, and a large number of people 
 ■were assembled on the heights to witness 
 the engagement. The English yacht " Deer- 
 hound," owned by one of Semmes' sympa- 
 thizers, followed in the " Alabama's " wake, 
 and the French iron-clad "Couronne" 
 steamed out of port to see that the neutral- 
 ity of French waters was not violated. 
 
 Before going into battle, Captain Semmes 
 made the following address to his officers 
 and men, who were all attired in their best 
 clothes : 
 
 "OfBcers and seamen of the 'Alabama': you 
 have at length another opportunity of meeting the 
 enemy— the first that has been presented to you 
 since you sank the ' Hatteras ' / In the meantime 
 you have been aU over the world, and it is not too' 
 much to say that you have destroyed and driven 
 for protection under neutral flags one-half of the 
 enemy's commerce, which at the beginning of the 
 war covered every sea. This is an achievement of 
 which you may well be proud ; and a grateful 
 country will not be unmindful of it. The name 
 of your ship has become a household word wher- 
 ever civilization extends. Shall that name be 
 tarnished by defeat ? The thing is impossible ! 
 Remember that you are in the English Channel, 
 the theatre of so much of the naval glory of our 
 race, and that the eyes of aU Europe are at this 
 moment upon you. The flag that floats over you is 
 that of a young Republic, who bids defiance to her 
 enemies, whenever and wherever found. Show the 
 world that you know how to uphold it 1 Go to 
 your quarters." 
 
 The "Kearsarge" ran off shore a few 
 miles so as to draw the Confederate vessel 
 as far as possible from the land and be able 
 to intercept her in case she should attempt 
 to retreat in shore. 
 
 As soon as the " Kearsarge " turned to ap- 
 proach the " Alabama." the latter opened 
 lire from the distance of a mile; the Federal 
 vessel not replying, but steaming at full 
 speed for the enemy, receiving a second 
 and third broadside. 
 
 When within nine hundred yards, the 
 " Kearsarge " slowed and returned the fire 
 with her starboard battery, and then at- 
 tempted to gain a position where she could 
 rake the " Alabama." The latter avoided 
 this by sheering, still keeping her starboard 
 broadside bearing on the "Kearsarge." 
 These tactics brought the combatants cir- 
 cling around each other, each working 
 their starboard batteries. As Captain 
 Semmes appeared to avoid close action, 
 Captain Winslow was apprehensive that he 
 might make for the shore, and therefore 
 determined, with full speed and a port 
 helm, to run under the "Alabama's" stern, 
 and if possible rake her. It was Semmes' 
 anticipation of this manoeuvre that forced 
 
 the "Alabama" ,'- '^^^ under full steam 
 
 into a circular / \ track during the 
 
 action as in the^ ^diagram, with 
 
 the result that|| pat the close of 
 
 the fight the \ /^"Alabama" was 
 
 then nearlyfive ^— ^^ miles off shore, 
 
 and it was impossible for her to escape within 
 French jurisdiction, as her commanding 
 officer intended in case the battle should go 
 against him. 
 
 The firing of the Confederates was rapid 
 and wild until near the close of the engage- 
 ment, when it became better, while that of 
 the Federal gunners, owing to the careful 
 training of Lieutenant-Commander James 
 S. Thornton, the executive officer of the 
 "Kearsarge," was very effective. The su- 
 perior training of the " Kearsarge's " crew 
 was evident from the beginning of the ac- 
 tion, their guns telling fearfully on the hull 
 and spars of the Confederate. On the sev- 
 enth rotation on the circular track the 
 "Alabama "set her foresail and two jibs, 
 with head in shore. Her speed was now 
 retarded, and, by winding her, the port 
 broadside was presented to the "Kear- 
 sarge," with only two guns bearing, being 
 able to shift but one gun from the star- 
 board side. 
 
 At this time the " Alabama " was com- 
 
 THE D 
 
 KEAESABCrE.' 
 
 pletely at the mercy of the " Kearsarge," 
 and a few more well-directed shots brought 
 down the Confederate flag. Fifteen min- 
 utes after the action commenced, the 
 spanker-gaff of the "Alabama" was shot 
 away, and her flag came down, but was 
 immediately hoisted at the mizzen. The 
 "Kearsarge's" shot told fearfully on the 
 "Alabama's" hull, killing and wounding 
 numbers of men in different parts of the 
 ship. So that, in sixty -five minutes after 
 the commencement of the fight, the " Ala- 
 bama" was discovered to be sinking, an 
 11-inch shell having entered her side 
 near the water line, making a huge aper- 
 ture, through which the water poured in 
 torrents. For a moment Semmes had an 
 idea of escaping, and crowded on steam and 
 sail, heading the " Alabama" for the 
 French coast ; but the fires in the engine- 
 room were soon extinguished and he was 
 obliged to surrender. 
 
 Semmes asserts that his ship was fired 
 upon five times after he had hauled down 
 his colors; but this assertion is not supported 
 by other evidence, for when the Confeder- 
 ate fiag came down. Captain Winslow, al- 
 
l\ 
 
 
 •pi 
 
 ,tf- 
 
 ,xP'" 
 
 »■'■' 
 
 -'/Ivfiliiwt oflI[t]{rar.Jinv 
 / irliriii/ir.trj-ni'Kfillit, 
 ,' Ills' irwulfuii 9t'&i 
 
 ThtahBVtdetlf/tnrclea-rriirrsent f}i» gineraL dirr/how ant 
 
 llie aroIr.ofOit ftri-Ienisrnlan^e/haml dntmat-rtlix-ti.iht^ / 
 
 I7ig to Sraltoit'tit/, i 
 
 / 
 
 /. Wuft); 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 653 
 
 though unable to ascertain whether it had. 
 been hauled down, or shot away, gave the 
 order to reserve the " Kearsarge's " fire. A 
 white flag was displayed over the Confed- 
 erate's stern, and a moment after the "Ala- 
 bama " opened on her antagonist with the 
 two guns on the port side, drawing the fire 
 of the "Kearsarge" once more. It was at 
 this moment the Federal vessel steamed 
 ahead, placing herself across the " Ala- 
 bama's" bow in a position for raking ; but, 
 seeing the white flag still flying, the "Kear- 
 sarge " again reserved her fire. 
 
 Immediately afterwards, the "Alabama's" 
 boats were lowered, one of them pulled 
 alongside the "Kearsarge" with some 
 of the wounded, and in twenty minutes 
 afterwards the "Alabama" went down 
 stern foremost, leaving a large number of 
 her officers and crew struggling in the 
 water. Most of the "Kearsarge's" boats 
 were rendered useless by fragments of shell, 
 as the Confederates fired high ; but as soon 
 as possible the launch and second cutter 
 were hoisted out to pick up the drowning 
 men, while the " Alabama's " boat was sent 
 back for the same purpose. 
 
 Meanwhile the English yacht " Deer- 
 hound," which had been viewing the com- 
 bat from a distance of about a mile, ran 
 under the stern of the "Kearsarge" and 
 volunteered to pick up the men in the water, 
 to which proposition Captain Winslow as- 
 sented; for this was no time to think of 
 anything but the claims of humanity, to 
 which American officers and seamen have 
 ever shown due appreciation. In spite of 
 the officers and crew of the "Kearsarge" 
 having done everything possible to rescue 
 their opponent, Captain Semmes, in his 
 chagrin at being so thoroughly beaten, re- 
 fleets upon Captain Winslow for not sooner 
 getting his boats to the rescue of the " Ala- 
 bama's" crew. 
 
 The prisoners picked up by the boats of 
 the " Kearsarge" were taken on board that 
 vessel, while the " Deerhound," after rescu- 
 ing Captain Semmes and many of his offi- 
 cers and crew, steamed away for the English 
 coast, leaving others struggling for their 
 lives in the water. Six officers and sixty- 
 four men, including twenty wounded, were 
 received on board the ' ' Kearsarge " ; so that, 
 notwithstanding Semmes' accusation, it ap- 
 pears that most of the people of the " Ala- 
 bama" were saved by the "Kearsarge's" 
 boats, while the Confedertite Captain, as 
 soon as he was safe on board the " Deer- 
 hound," fearing that Winslow would de- 
 mand his surrender, urged his friend, the 
 owner of the yacht, to save him. The 
 latter accordingly made off without further 
 efforts at rescue ; so that, if any one was 
 drowned, it was due more to the selfishness 
 of Captain Semmes than to any other cause. 
 
 Although the actions of the owner of the 
 " Deerhound " may be open to criticism, as 
 an Englishman he could hardly be ex- 
 pected to deliver up as prisoners men 
 whom he found struggling for their lives in 
 the water. It is honorable to the English 
 flag that it is a protection to everything it 
 waves over, and that the whole power of the 
 British nation will sustain the rights of 
 even the meanest of its citizens. Captain 
 Semmes' escape made little difference one 
 way or the other, for, with the " Alabama" 
 at the bottom of the channel, his power of 
 mischief had departed. As the Confeder- 
 acy was in its last agonies, there was no 
 chance of fitting out any more "cruisers." 
 
 The action between the "Kearsarge" and 
 the "Alabama," although comparatively a 
 small battle, much impaired the prestige 
 of the Confederate ISTavj^. The British pub- 
 lic might rejoice over the destruction of 
 helpless merchantmen, but when it came to 
 fighting, the "Kearsarge" did her work so 
 quickly and effectively that the blindest 
 could but detect the difference between the 
 true and the false coin. 
 
 Mr. Secretary Welles attached more im- 
 portance to the escape of Semmes and his 
 companions in the " Deerhound" than the 
 matter deserved, and even blamed Captain 
 Winslow for his course in paroling the pris- 
 oners. Mr. Welles cliaracterized all those 
 connected with the "Alabama" as "pi- 
 rates," but they were not so in the eyes of 
 European Governments, which had recog- 
 nized the Confederates' armed vessels as 
 belligerents, and although many of the acts 
 of the "Alabama" bordered on the pirat- 
 ical, jei such irregularities are always 
 found existing in revolutionary struggles, 
 where the worst passions are engendered in 
 the breasts of those who have staked their 
 all on the hazard of a die, and are not al- 
 ways scrupulous as to the means of accom- 
 plishing their ends. 
 
 The fault of encouraging the Confederate 
 cruisers lay chiefly with the English and 
 French, and to them is due the latitude 
 the former were allowed on the ocean. 
 Possibly the English may have thought 
 that a country capable of putting a million 
 of men in the field must have been able to 
 muster a sufficient force of cruisers to put 
 an end to the "piracy " of wliich Mr. Welles 
 complained. 
 
 As to the implied censure on Captain 
 Winslow for not pursuing the "Deer- 
 hound" and recovering his prisoners, the 
 question arises : Were they Winslow's pris- 
 oners at all, any more than if they had 
 succeeded in landing on fragments of the 
 wreck at some point on the coast of Eng- 
 land, for an English ship represents English 
 soil ? A similar sentiment animates the 
 American people, and it would be very in- 
 
054 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 consistent for them to wish to apply an- 
 other standard to foreigners, and maintain 
 that it was Captain Winslow's duty to com- 
 mit violence upon the " Deerhound," and 
 thereby involve the Federal Government 
 in a serious complication with that of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 While the "Alabama" was sent to the 
 bottom in sixty-five minutes, with her hull 
 cut to pieces, thirty of her crew killed and 
 wounded, and ten drowned, the " Kear- 
 sarge " incurred little damage in hull or 
 spars and had but three men wounded. 
 Out of three hundred and seventy shot and 
 shell fired by the Confederate vessel, thirteen 
 or fourteen only struck the " Kearsarge " in 
 or about the hull, and some sixteen about 
 the masts or rigging. The latter vessel was 
 in perfect readiness to engage another im- 
 mediately after sinking the "Alabama." 
 
 If the "Alabama's " guns were, as it lias 
 been asserted, manned by trained gunners 
 from tlie practice-sliip " Excellent," of the 
 Royal Navy, their firing did little credit to 
 the school in which they had been edu- 
 cated. On the other hand, the fire of the 
 " Kearsarge" showed the great superiority 
 of the American crew — as great as was 
 manifested on so many occasions during 
 the war of 1813. 
 
 The " Kearsarge " fired one hundred and 
 seventy-three projectiles, less than half the 
 number fired by her antagonist; but what 
 damage they did and whom they killed will 
 never be known. Captain Semmes states 
 that one shot alone killed and wounded 
 eighteen men. Another exploded in the 
 coal-bunkers, completely blocking up the 
 engine-room ; others exploded against the 
 sides, making, as Semmes expresses it, 
 " great gaping wounds " which let in the 
 water and sent the ship to the bottom, with 
 the precious bag of captured flags, and 
 probably the old quartermaster who had 
 charge of the trophies. 
 
 No account can be given of the casual- 
 ties on board the "Alabama" beyond that 
 furnished by Captain Semmes that we have 
 already quoted. Out of one hundred and 
 forty-nine officers and men, forty seem to 
 have been killed or drowned, although it was 
 stated by the prisoners that a number of men 
 joined the ship at Cherbourg, in addition to 
 the regular complement of the "Alabama." 
 
 It is remarkable that there was no one 
 killed on board the "Kearsarge" in the 
 action — although three men were wounded, 
 one mortally — as shells were continually 
 bursting over the heads of the crew. 
 
 Semmes tried to make it appear that the 
 " Kearsarge " was an iron-clad in disguise, 
 because Captain Winslow had hung his 
 spare chains up and down the sides of his 
 ship abreast of the machinery. This had 
 been done some time before meeting the 
 
 "Alabama" with the design to protect the 
 boilers and engines, in case the coal in the 
 bunker should get so reduced as to leave 
 them exposed to shot. It was not done with 
 any especial reference to meeting Semmes, 
 who might have adopted a similar plan had 
 he chosen to do so — and this had been done 
 extensively during the civil war, a fact 
 well known to the commander of the " Ala- 
 bama." 
 
 Semmes remarks that the shells fired 
 from the "Alabama " burst against the sides 
 of the " Kearsarge " without effect, owing 
 to this chain armor; but the fact is, only two 
 projectiles struck the chain — a 33-pound 
 shot and a Blakeley shell. The latter did 
 not burst, but broke some of the links of 
 chain. It was of very little use for Captain 
 Semmes to trj' and excuse himself, after 
 being so thoroughly beaten by the superior 
 discipline of the "Kearsarge," and the skill 
 of her crew in gunnery. It was the intention 
 to make short work with the "Alabama" in 
 case the " Kearsarge" fell in with her, and 
 the action would have terminated sooner 
 but for the difficulty of coming to close quar- 
 ters with the Confederate vessel. 
 
 No wonder the people of the North were 
 overjoj'ed when they read Captain Wins- 
 low's modest dispatch announcing the de- 
 struction of the despoiler that had sent so 
 many of their merchant ships to the bottom. 
 The writer evidently states what in his 
 mind was a foregone conclusion, and it is 
 pleasing in its simplicity and brevity: 
 
 United States Steamer "Kearsarqb," ) 
 CHKBBOtJBa, France, June 19, p. m., 1864. \ 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to inform the Department 
 that the day subsequent to the arrival of the 
 "Kearsarge' off this port, on the 24th instant, I 
 received a note fro.a Captain Semmes begging that 
 the " Kearsarge " would not depart, as he intended 
 to fight her, and would delay her but a day or two. 
 According to this notice, the " Alabama " left the 
 port of Cherbourg this morning at about 9:30 o'clock. 
 At 10:30 A. M. we discovered her steering towards 
 us. Fearing the question of jurisdiction might 
 arise, we steamed to sea until a distance of six or 
 seven miles was attained from the Cherbourg break- 
 water, when werounded-to, and commenced steam- 
 ing fortlie " Alabama." 
 
 As we approached her, within about twelve hun- 
 dred yards, she opened fire ; we receiving two or 
 three broadsides before a shot was returned. The 
 action continued, the respective steamers making 
 a circle round and round at a distance of about 
 nine hundred yards from each other. At the ex- 
 piration of an hour the "Alabama'' struck, going 
 down in about twenty minutes afterward, carrying 
 many persons with her. 
 
 It affords me great gratification to announce to 
 the Department that every officer and man did 
 their duty — exhibiting a degree of coolness and 
 fortitude which gave promise at the outset of cer- 
 tain victory. 
 
 I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 John A. Winslow, 
 
 Captain. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 tivcretanj of the Jfavy, Washington, D. C. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 655 
 
 To this dispatch the Secretary of the 
 Navy responded as follows : 
 
 Navx Department, July 6, 1864. 
 
 Sib — Tour very brief dispatches of the 19th and 
 30th ultimo, informing the Department that the 
 piratical craft "Alabama," or "390," had been 
 simk on the 19th of June near meridian, by the 
 "Kearsarge," under your command, were this day 
 received. I congratulate you on your good fortune 
 in meeting this vessel, which had so long avoided 
 the fastest ships and some of the most vigilant and 
 intelligent officers of the service ; and for the ability 
 displayed in this combat you have' the thanKs of 
 the Department. 
 
 You will please express to the ofBcers and crew 
 of the " Kearsarge" the satisfaction of the Govern- 
 ment at the victory over a vessel superior in tonnage, 
 superior in number of guns, and superior in the 
 number of her crew. The battle was so brief, the 
 victory so decisive, and the comparative results so 
 striking, that the country wUl be reminded of the 
 brilliant actions of our infant Navy, which have 
 been repeated and illustrated in this engagement. 
 
 The "Alabama" represented the best maritime 
 effort of the most skilled English workshops. Her 
 battery was composed of the well-tried 33-pounders 
 of 57-hundred weight, of the famous 68-pounder of 
 the British Navy, and of the only successful rifled 
 100-pounder yet produced in England. The crew 
 were generally recruited in Great Britain, and many 
 of them received superior training on board Her 
 Majesty's gunnery ship, the "Excellent." 
 
 The "Kearsarge" is one of the first gun-boats 
 built at our Navy Yards at the commencement of 
 the rebellion, and lacks the improvements of ves- 
 sels now under construction. The principal guns 
 composing her battery had never been previously 
 tried in an exclusively naval engagement, yet in 
 one hour you succeeded in sinking your antagonist, 
 thus fully ending her predatory career, and killed 
 many of her crew without injury to the "Kear- 
 sarge," or the loss of a single hfe on your vessel. 
 
 Our countrymen have reason to be satisiled that 
 in this, as in every naval action of this unhappy 
 war, neither the ships, the guns nor the crew have 
 been deteriorated, but that they maintain the 
 abilities and continue the renown which ever 
 adorned our naval annals. 
 
 The President has signified his intention to rec- 
 ommend that you receive a vote of thanks, in 
 order that you may be advanced to the grade of 
 commodore. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander James S. Thornton, the 
 executive oflBcer of the " Kearsarge," wiU be recom- 
 mended to the Senate for advancement ten num- 
 bers in his grade, and you wUl report to the Depart- 
 ment the names of any other of the oflfioers or crew 
 whose good conduct on the occasion entitles them 
 to especial mention. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Captain John A. Winslow, 
 
 Commanding U. S. Steamer "Kearsarge,''^ 
 Cherbourg, France. 
 
 There was no occurrence during the war 
 more grateful to the Northern people than 
 this victory of the " Kearsarge " over the 
 "Alabama." Winslow became the hero of 
 the hour, for he had not only disposed of 
 a most troublesome enemy, but he had 
 demonstrated the superiority of a United 
 States ship, crew and guns over an English- 
 built, English-armed and English-manned 
 vessel of equal, if not superior, force. 
 
 Ihe triTimnb -MT-nc fViiii crTf^atf^-r liAnnnafi tliA 
 
 British Government and a large section of 
 the British people had given every assist- 
 ance to the "Alabama," in the way of moral 
 and material support, in her business of 
 destroying the commerce of a friendly na- 
 tion. That it was a moral victory over the 
 English can hardly be disputed, and they 
 felt it to be such, as was proven by the des- 
 perate efforts of a large portion of the 
 newspapers to show that Winslow's success 
 was unimportant, while the courage and 
 ability of Semmes were extolled to the skies. 
 The fiction on which tiiese newspapers 
 most relied to belittle the victory of the 
 " Kearsarge " was the assertion that the 
 United States vessel was an iron-clad in 
 disguise — an idea which Captain Semmes 
 took every opportunity to disseminate, and 
 which was generally received by the British 
 public. 
 
 While Captain Winslow received great 
 credit and promotion for his victory, 
 his executive officer. Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Thornton, was complimented by an 
 advance of only ten numbers on the list of 
 ofiicers of his grade, although it was well 
 known that to his close attention to the 
 drilling of the crew, and his management 
 of the '•' Kearsarge," was due the speedy 
 result of the action. He deserved and 
 should have received promotion to the rank 
 of commander ; but, as he died soon after 
 the close of the war, he never obtained any 
 substantial advancement, although he lives 
 in the memorj- of those who can properly 
 estimate his services. 
 
 List of Oe'ficers op the U. 8. S. "Kearsarge." 
 John A. Winslow, Captain; James S. Thornton, 
 Lieutenant -Commander; John M. Browne, Sur- 
 geon- J. A. Smith, Paymaster; Wm. H. Cushman, 
 Chief Engineer; James K. Wheeler, Eben M. Stod- 
 dard and David H. Sumner, Acting - Masters ; Wm. 
 H. Badlam, Second-Assistant Engineer ; Fred. L. 
 Miller, Sidney L. Smith and Henry McConnell, 
 Third - Assistant Engineers ; Edward E. Preble, 
 "Midshipman; David B. Sargent, Paymaster's Clerk; 
 S. E. Hartwell, Captain's Clerk; Frank A. Graham, 
 Gunner; James C. Walton, Boatswain; William H. 
 Yeaton, Charles H. Danforth and Ezra Bartlett, 
 Acting- Master's Mates. 
 
 petty officers and crew. 
 George A. Tittle, Surgeon's-Steward ; C. B. De 
 Witt, Yeoman; J. N. Watrus, Master-at-Arms; Chas. 
 Jones, Seaman; Daniel Charter, Landsman; Ed. 
 ward Williams, Officers-Steward; George Williams, 
 Landsman ; Charles Butts, Quartermaster ; Chas. 
 Bedding, Landsman ; James Wilson, Coxswain ; 
 William Gowan (died). Ordinary Seaman; James 
 Saunders, Quartermaster ; John W. Dempsey, 
 Quarter-Gunner ; William D. Chapel, Landsman; 
 Thomas Perry, Boatswain s-Mate ; John Barrow, 
 Ordinary Seaman ; William Bond, Boatswain's- 
 Mate; James Haley, Captain-of-Forecastle ; Robert 
 Strahn, Captain - of - Top ; James O. Stone, First- 
 Class Boy; Jacob Barth, John H. McCarthy and 
 James F. Hayes, Landsmen; John Hayes, Cox- 
 swain; James Devine, Landsman; Geo. H. Russell, 
 
656 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Dennis McCarty, Landsmen; John Boyle and John 
 C. Woodberry, Ordinary Seamen; Geo. E. Reed, 
 Seaman ; James Moray, Ordinary Seaman ; Bene- 
 dict Drury and William Giles, Seamen ; Timothy 
 Hurley, Ship's Cook; Michael Conroy, Ordinary 
 Seaman; LeviW. Nye and James H. Lee, Seamen; 
 John E. Brady, Ordinary Seaman; Andrew J. Row- 
 lev, Quarter-Gunner; James Bradley, Seaman; Wm. 
 Ellis, Captain - of - Hold ; Henry Cook, Captain -of - 
 Afterguard; Charles A. Reed and William 8. Mor- 
 gan, Seamen ; Joshua E. Carey, Sailmaker's-Mate ; 
 James Magee, Ordinary Seaman; Benj. S. Davis, 
 Officer's Cook ; John F. Bickford, Coxswain ; Wm. 
 Gurney, Seaman ; Wm. Smith, Quartermaster ; 
 Lawrence T. Crowley, Ordinary Seaman ; Hugh 
 McPherson, Gunner's-Mate ; Taran Phillips, Or- 
 dinary Seaman; Joachim Pease, Seaman ; Benj. H. 
 Blaisdell and Joel B. Blaisdell, First-Class Firemen; 
 Charles Fisher, Officer's-Cook; James Henson, AVm. 
 M. Smith, Wm. Fisher, George Bailey and Martin 
 Hoyt, Landsmen; Mark G. Ham, Carpenter's-Mate; 
 Wm. H. Bastine, Landsman; Layman P. Spinney, 
 Adoniram Littlefield, John W. Youngand Will Wain- 
 •wright, Coalheavers; John B. Orchon, Second-class 
 Fireman; George W. Remick, Joel L. Sanborn, Jere. 
 Young and Wm. Smith, First - class Firemen ; 
 Stephen Smith, John F. Stackpole, Wm. Stanley 
 and Lyman H. Hartford, Second-class Firemen- 
 True W. Priest and Joseph Dagan, First-class 
 Firemen ; John F. Dugan, Coalheaver; James W. 
 Sheffield, Second-class Fireman; Charles T. Young, 
 Orderly - Sergeant ; Austin Quimley, Corporal -of - 
 Marines; Roscoe G. Dolley and Patrick Flood, 
 Privates of Marines ; Henry Hobson, Corporal-of- 
 Marines; James Kerrigan, John McAleen, Geo. A. 
 Raymond, James Tucker and Isaac Thornton, 
 Privates-of-Marines; Wm. Y. Evans, Nurse; Wm. 
 B. Poole, Quartermaster: P. J.Veannoh, Captain-of- 
 Afterguard ; Charles Hill. Landsman ; Henry 
 Jameson, First-class Fireman; John G. Batchelder, 
 Private-of-Marines; John Dwyer, First-class Fire- 
 man; Thomas Salmon and Patrick O'Conner, Second- 
 class Firemen ; Geo. H. Harrison and George An- 
 drew, Ordinary Seamen; Charles Moore, Seairian ; 
 George A. Whipple, Ordinary 8eam.an ; Edward 
 Wallace, Seaman; Thomas Marsh, Coalheaver; 
 Thomas Buckley, Ordinary Seaman; Edward AVilt, 
 Captain-of-Top; Geo. H. Kinnie, Ordinary Seaman; 
 Augustus Johnson, Jeremiah Horrigan, William 
 O'Halloran and William Turner, Seamen; Joshua 
 Collins and James McBeath, Ordinary Seamen; 
 John Pope, Coalheaver; Charles Mattison, Ordi- 
 nary Seaman ; George Baker, Timothy G. Cauty, 
 John Shields, Thomas Alloway, Philip Weeks arid 
 Wm. Barnes, Landsmen; George E. Smart, Second- 
 class Fireman ; Chas. A. Poole, Timothy Lynch, 
 Sylvanus P. Brackett and John W. Sanborn, Coal- 
 heavers; W. H. Donnally, First-class Fireman. All 
 the above natives of the United States. Wm. Als- 
 dorf and Clement Antoine, Coalheavers; JoseDab- 
 ney. Landsmen; Benjamin Button and Jean JSriset, 
 Coalheavers; Vanburn Francois, Landsman; Peter 
 Ludy and George English, Seamen; Jonathan Brien, 
 Landsman; Manuel J. Gallardo, Second-class Boy, 
 and .John M. Sonius, First-class Boy. The above 
 ai'e of foreign birth. 
 
 It thus appears that out of one Iiundred 
 and sixty-three officers and crew of the 
 " Kearsarge," only eleven persons were 
 foreign-born. 
 
 List of Officers of Coxfedera-te Steamer 
 "Alabama," Junjs 2.j, I8{i4. 
 
 Raphael Semmes, Captain; J. J\r. Kell and Arthur 
 Sinclair, Lieutenants; R. K. Howell, Lieutenant-of- 
 Marines; J. S. Bulloch, Sailing Master; E. A. Maffitt 
 and E. BI. Anderson, Midshipmen; R. F. Armstrong 
 and Jos. D. Wilson, Lieutenants; M. J. Freeman, 
 
 Chief Engineer ; John W. Pundt and M. O'Brien, 
 Third- Assistant Engineers; J. O. Cuddy, W. Craw- 
 ford and C. Seymour, Gunners; Captain's- Clerk, 
 W. B. Smith; Boatswain, B. L. McClaskey; Francis 
 L. Gait, Surgeon ; W. P. Brooks, Second-Assistant 
 Engineer ; Henry Alcott, Sailmaker ; D. H. Llew- 
 ellyn, Assistant - Surgeon ; G. T. Fullam, James 
 Evans, Max MuUiner and J. Schroeder, Master's- 
 Mates ; Wm. Robinson, Carpenter. 
 
 There has been doubt expressed whether 
 Captain Semmes challenged Captain Wins- 
 lov^r to do battle; but the latter could not 
 well have accepted, since the "Alabama" 
 was not recognized by the United States 
 Government as a Confederate ship -of - 
 war. On the contrary, her acts had been 
 denounced as "piratical."' Winslow pur- 
 sued the only course proper for him : he 
 went off Cherbourg and waited as near 
 as possible to the entrance of the port, to 
 see tiiat the "Alabama" did not escape. 
 Captain Semmes' notification to Winslow, 
 that he would give him battle in a day or 
 two if the latter would wait, was hardly 
 necessary, as Winslow had not the slightest 
 idea of avoiding a contest. 
 
 For Winslow to have challenged Semmes 
 would have been to put the " Alabama" in 
 the status denied her by the Federal Navy 
 Department, namely, that of a recognized 
 vessel-of-war of a de facto Government. 
 The propriety of sending challenges from 
 one commanding officer to another in time 
 of war has been questioned. In this in- 
 stance Winslow did exactly the right thing 
 — waited till his enemy came out of port 
 and defeated him witliout bluster. 
 
 A few words in regard to Semmes' char- 
 acter and abilities, as an agent in carrying 
 out the views of the Confederate Govern- 
 ment, may not be out of place. As an in- 
 dividual, he had great defects of character, 
 but as a bold and capable commander, on 
 whom the Confederacy could depend to in- 
 flict the greatest damage on United States 
 commerce, Semmes had probably no equal. 
 Although he had served many years in the 
 United States Navy, none of his associates 
 ever supposed that in time of war he would 
 exhibit so much efficiency; for, although his 
 courage was undoubted, his tastes were 
 rather those of the scholar than of 'the dash- 
 ing naval officer and destroyer of com- 
 merce. 
 
 It became common in the North to speak 
 of the " Alabama " as the "English pirate." 
 and Semmes in liis memoirs frequently ap- 
 plies the term in a sarcastic manner to 
 his own vessel; yet, although he was guilty 
 of many irregularities, if not outrages, he 
 could not, in justice, be so stigmatized. The 
 writer has on several occasions compared 
 Semmes" acts with those of the buccaneers, 
 who were sometimes regularly commis- 
 sioned by royal authority to plunder the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 657 
 
 Spaniards; but such actions do not consti- 
 tute piracy, and the Law of Nations is so 
 elastic on the subject that a commander 
 may do a great many outrageous things and 
 still keep within the legal limits. 
 
 In the case of the "Alabama," her Cap- 
 tain seems to have been a law unto himself, 
 and his vessel a Court of Admiralty of the 
 Confederate States, with power to commis- 
 sion vessels on the high seas. With his pen 
 this clever navigator could baffle the 
 shrewdness of colonial authorities and cre- 
 ate discord in the councils of the Home Gov- 
 ernments. He set the proclamation of 
 Queen Victoria at defiance, took his prizes 
 into British ports, and fitted them out as 
 cruisers whenever it suited him to do so. 
 To call this enterprising individual a " pi- 
 rate " would give rise to the suspicion that 
 want of success in stopping his career of 
 destruction, and a fear of being held re- 
 sponsible for negligence in the premises, 
 had influenced persons in authority to throw 
 all the odium possible on Semmes. 
 
 The "Alabama" certainly fulfilled most, 
 if not all, the requirements of a vessel-of- 
 war. She was the sole property of the Con- 
 federate Government; and therefore, for all 
 acts committed under the general orders to 
 "burn, sink, and destroy," the said Gov- 
 ernment was answerable. 
 
 As a general rule, a vessel purchased in 
 a neutral port, to war upon another nation, 
 in order to be armed and commissioned, 
 should proceed to a port of the nation pur- 
 chasing her, and there be fitted for service ; 
 but there is so much latitude allowed in 
 practice that it would perhaps be difficult 
 to settle this matter authoritatively before 
 the courts. The high seas are certainly 
 neutral, in one sense of the word, for all 
 nations; and although the Confederates un- 
 doubtedly violated British law, yet Semmes 
 had a right to take command of an armed 
 vessel placed in his possession at sea. 
 
 It would be well if there could be a care- 
 ful reconsideration of all the laws and pre- 
 cedents bearing on this subject by the mari- 
 time governments of the world, in order 
 that in future no "Alabamas" could get to 
 sea, and commercial nations be free from 
 depredations such as were committed upon 
 the commerce of the United States in 
 1861-65. 
 
 The question has been often debated 
 whether the " Alabama " and her consorts 
 were entitled to be considered vessels-of- 
 war on a par with those of other nations. 
 The powers of Europe accorded belligerent 
 rights to the Confederates, and proclaimed 
 their intention of observing strict neutrality 
 between the contending parties. Such a 
 recognition was in many respects inconsist- 
 ent, for although the Confederate cruisers 
 
 been accorded belligerent rights, yet no 
 recognition further than this had been ex- 
 tended to the State itself by any European 
 Government. The Confederates could have 
 no representatives abroad, and it might well 
 be considered an anomalous state of things 
 when a State was accorded belligerent 
 rights by foreign powers which held no 
 official relations with it, and could not 
 therefore depend upon the ordinary methods 
 for redress if Confederate vessels should 
 commit offences against their sovereignty. 
 This condition of affairs would seem to cast 
 a doubt upon the validity of the commissions 
 of the Confederate cruisers; and for this 
 reason, if for no other, the character of ships- 
 of-war was never accorded to the "Ala- 
 bama " and the other Confederate cruisers 
 by the Government of the United States. 
 
 Captain Semmes' method had a good 
 deal to do, perhaps, with the action of the 
 United States Government, for according 
 to his own account he plundered his prizes 
 of whatever he pleased, and even took the 
 chronometers, which were the private prop- 
 erty of the shipmasters. 
 
 Whether Confederate naval officers could 
 take delight in the destruction of the 
 Federal commerce, which they once felt 
 such pride in protecting, is very doubtful in 
 the case of all except Captain Semmes. 
 He appears to have gloried in the burn- 
 ing of ships, as if it was the greatest 
 pleasure, instead of a disagreeable duty, 
 imposed upon him by the stern necessities 
 of war ; and it is not known that he ever 
 experienced much regret for the burning 
 of a beautiful ship, or sympathy for her 
 master or crew — a sentiment one would 
 naturally expect to exist in the bosom of an 
 officer brought up in a chivalrous service 
 such as that of the United States Navy. 
 
 As a fighting -man, Semmes was not a 
 success when he met an enemy of equal 
 force, as was proved by the "Kearsarge" 
 sinking the " Alabama" in about an hour, 
 killing and wounding a great number of 
 men, while the "Kearsarge " was uninjured 
 in hull or spars, and only had three men 
 wounded. The fact is, the "Alabama's" 
 crew, not being well drilled, were doomed 
 to defeat from the outset; for, although the 
 "Kearsarge" stood for her for some mo- 
 ments and received three broadsides, no 
 damage was inflicted, and out of three hun- 
 dred and seventy shot and shell fired by 
 the Confederate vessel, only thirteen struck 
 the hull, and fifteen the rigging and spars. 
 The difference between the efficiency and 
 discipline of the vessels was too marked 
 to admit of argument, although Semmes 
 insisted that the victory would have been 
 his if one of the shells which struck the 
 " Kearsarge's" stern-post had exploded ! 
 
 rja.nta.in Semmes' want nf cenerositv is 
 
Go8 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 shown by his attempting to deprive Wins- 
 low and his officers and men of the credit 
 of their victory, on the ground that the 
 "Kearsarge" was an " iron-clad," and that 
 Winslow had taken a dishonorable advan- 
 tage of him. A brave man should accept 
 his defeat in dignified silence, in the hope 
 that at some future time he may have an 
 opportunity of retrieving his fortunes. 
 
 With regard to Semmes making his es- 
 cape after the sinking of his ship, that was 
 a matter between him and his conscience. 
 Xo man is a prisoner until he is actually in 
 the custody of the victor, and if, when strug- 
 gling in the water, he is rescued by a neu- 
 tral, the latter should protect him from cap- 
 
 ture if he has the power to do so. There is 
 even less censure to be given Semmes and 
 his officers for making off in the " Deer- 
 hound," because they were under the im- 
 pression that they would be harshly treated 
 if they fell into the power of the United 
 States Government. 
 
 We have endeavored to do Captain 
 Semmes no injustice, but simply to state our 
 impressions of his character, for we knew 
 him well. His career is certainly one of the 
 most remarkable of the civil war; and if he 
 had served the United States while he re- 
 mained in its Navy as faithfully as he did 
 the Confederacy, his resignation would have 
 been accepted with great regret. 
 
 SPECIAL SERVICE, JANUARY 1, 1864. 
 
 STEAMER "MOHICAN. 
 
 Captain, O. 8. Glisson ; Lieutenant, R. K. Duer ; 
 Surgeon, Edw. F. Corson ; Assistant - Paymaster, 
 James Hoy, Jr. ; Acting-Master, Robert B. Ely ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, A. D. Campbell and A. T. Holmes ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. S. Reynolds, W. F. Velt- 
 man, E. N. Snow and George T. Ford; Engineers : 
 Acting- First- Assistant, Gr. W. Halloway ; Acting- 
 Second- Assistants, John Lardner andC. R. Weaver; 
 Aeting-Third-Assistants, James Buckley and J. W. 
 Buck; Acting-Boatswain, Geo. C. Abbott ; Gunner, 
 James Hutchinson. 
 
 STEAM-SLOOP ' ' KEABSABGE . " 
 
 Captain, John A. Winslow ; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, James 8- Thornton ; Surgeon, John M. 
 Browne ; Paymaster, Joseph A. Smith ; Engineers : 
 Chief, William H. Cushman ; Second-Assistant, 
 Wm. H. Badlam ; Third-Assistants, Fredk. L. Mil- 
 ler, Sidney L. Smith and Henry McConnell ; Boat- 
 swain, James C. Walton ; Acting-Gunner, Franklin 
 A. Graham. 
 
 STEAMER "SACRAMENTO." 
 
 Captain, Henry Walke ; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 H. D. Todd ; Lieutenant, G. P. Ryan; Surgeon, J. S. 
 Kitchen; Assistant -Paymaster, J. P. Woodbury; 
 Ensigns, Marston Niles, P. W. Lowry, J. D. Clark 
 and J. B. Coghlan ; Acting- Master's Mates. D. C. 
 Harrington, O. G. Moore, E. N. R. Place and Charles 
 Pease, Engineers: Acting-Chief, John Yates; Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Wm. Tipton; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ants, J. S. G. Aspinwalland E. A. Bushnell; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, G.E. Savory, John Moquon, Leon- 
 ard Pratt and E. B. Dyer; Boatswain, John Bates ; 
 Gunner, Andrew Wilson ; Carpenter, G. E. Ander- 
 son. 
 
 STEAMER "MICHIGAN." 
 
 Commander, John C. Carter ; Paymaster, C. C. 
 Jackson; Engineers: Acting- Third- Assistants, Wm. 
 Baas, Bennet Jones and Robert Reilly. 
 
 STEAMER "WACHUSBTT." 
 
 Commander, Napoleon Collins ; Lieutenant-Com- 
 
 mander, L. A. Beardslee ; Surgeon, Wm. M. King; 
 Assistant-Paymaster, W. W. Williams ; Acting- 
 Master, J. H. Stimpson; Ensign, E. M. Shepard ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Nicol Ludlow and C. J. Barclay ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, C. R. Haskins, Reuben Rich 
 and John Hetherington ; Engineers: Chief, Wm. 
 H. Rutherford ; Second- Assistants, Geo. W. Mel- 
 ville, M. Knapp and Edmund Lincoln ; Third-As- 
 sistants, H. D. McEwen, R. S. Stedman and J. A. 
 Barton ; Boatswain, John Burrows ; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, John Russell. 
 
 SLOOP-OF-WAB " ST. LOITIS.'' 
 
 Commander, George H. Preble ; Lieutenant Wm. 
 
 F. Stewart ; Surgeon, A. L. Gihon ; Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, F. B. A. Lewis ; Paymaster, J. S. Post; First- 
 Lieutenant-of- Marines, W. J. Squires ; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, J. N. Rowe, Geo. Cables and Allan Hoxle; 
 Acting-Ensign, Hazard Marsh ; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, p. W. Fagan, F. L. Bryan and- J. H. Lang- 
 ley ; Acting-Boatswain, George Brown ; Gunner, 
 
 G. P. Cushman ; Carpenter, Daniel Jones ; Sail- 
 maker, I. E. Crowell. 
 
 SHIP "OKWAED." 
 
 Acting-Masters, Wm. H. Clarke; T. G. Groove and 
 William Collins ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, David 
 Watson ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. 8. Allen; 
 Acting-Ensigns, G. J. Conklin and Wm. Rogers; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, F. A. Gording, A. F. Ulmer 
 and J. S. Newbegin. 
 
 STEAMER "IROQUOIS." 
 
 Commander, C. R. P. Rodgers ; Lieutenants, 
 8. Dana Greene and A. H. McCormick ; Acting- 
 Master Thomas Hanrahan ; Surgeon, J. Corbin ; 
 Assistant - Paymaster, J. A. Bates, Jr. ; Ensigns, 
 Henry C. Taylor, Allan D. Brown and W. K. 
 Wheeler ; Acting- Master's Mates, C. F. Purrington, 
 Carleton Race, B. F. Ritter and William Welch; 
 Engineers : Acting - Chief, J. W. Stormes ; Acting- 
 First-Assistants, W. H. Best and R. E. Stall; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, JohnB. Roach; Acting-Third- 
 Assista-nts, H. P. Gray and Edward Ewel; Acting- 
 Gunner, J. C. Clapham. 
 
CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 OPERATIONS OF SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON, UNDER REAR- 
 ADMIRAL DAHLGREN, DURING LATTER END OF 1863 AND IN 1864. 
 
 Fort Sumter Bombarded. — Damages to the Fort and Iron-clads. — Loss op the 
 " Webhawken." — Attack on Batteries in Stono River. — Review of Work Done 
 BY South Atlantic Squadron under Dahlgren. — Actions in which Iron-clads 
 WERE Engaged. — Destruction of Blockade-runners. — Operations of Confederate 
 Torpedo Corps.— Plans to Blow up Fleet. — Destruction of the " Housatonic." 
 — Sublime Patriotism. — Originators of Torpedo. — Operations of Gun-boats in 
 Florida Rivers. — Destruction of Steamer " Harriet A. Weed "and Transport 
 "Maple-leaf." — Hazardous Cutting-out Expeditions. — Hot Receptions from 
 Masked Batteries. — Capture of U. S. Steamer "Water Witch" and River-boat 
 "Columbine." — Treatment Received by Assistant Surgeon Pierson. — Prisoners 
 Exposed in Dangerous Places. — Failure of Expedition to Cut Railroads. — Mis- 
 cellaneous Expeditions. — Blockade of whole Southern Coast. — Extremities 
 of Confederate Armies, etc. — Vessels and Officers op South Atlantic Block- 
 ading Squadron, January, 1864. 
 
 ON the 36th of October, 1863, General 
 Gillmore opened fire upon Fort 
 Sumter from his battery on Morris 
 Island, his ol)ject being to complete 
 the reduction of this work, drive 
 out the garrison, and occupy it with Union 
 troops. This, as a matter of sentiment, 
 might have been a good move ; but, as the 
 Confederates still commanded Fort Sumter 
 with the guns of Fort Moultrie and other 
 batteries, they could have rendered the 
 place untenable, as they did in the time of 
 Colonel Anderson. 
 
 But the Navy was desirous of performing 
 its share in this useless operation, and the 
 Monitors " Lehigh" and " Patapsco " were 
 ordered to take positions at a distance of 
 from 1,600 to 2,000 yards of the fort, and 
 open fire upon it with their rifled guns. 
 
 These vessels were within range of Fort 
 Moultrie for some time, but suffered little 
 damage, while their rifle projectiles told on 
 the walls of Fort Sumter with considerable 
 effect. Large masses of masonry were dis- 
 placed, heavy timbers thrown into the 
 air, gun-cartridges destroyed, and, in fact, 
 the work reduced to a great heap of ruins ; 
 
 forces as ever, and Dahlgren was no nearer 
 getting into Charleston than DuPont had 
 been when he relinquished the command be- 
 cause of an implied reflection on his ability 
 to decide whether a proper force had been 
 placed at his disposal or not. About eight 
 hundred and fifty shells were fired by the 
 Navy at the ruins of Fort Sumter, which 
 helped to crumble the works more and more; 
 but that business had better have been left to 
 General Gillmore with his siege-guns, and 
 the attack of the Monitors should have 
 been turned upon Moultrie and Beauregard, 
 where their rifle projectiles would have 
 done good service. 
 
 On November 16th more congenial work 
 offered. General Gillmore telegraphed: 
 " The enemy have opened a heavy fire on 
 Cummings' Point. Will you have some of 
 your vessels move up, so as to prevent an at- 
 tack by boats on the sea-face of the Point? " 
 That night the Monitors moved up at 
 about 10 o'clock, and boats were placed on 
 patrol to prevent any attack of the enemy 
 at the place indicated. 
 
 On November 17th the "Lehigh" grounded, 
 and the enemy, perceiving her dilemma, 
 
660 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 and adjacent batteries. Signal was at 
 once made to all the Monitors to get under- 
 way and cover the " Lehigh," and the Ad- 
 miral himself went up in the " Passaic " to 
 attend the operations in person. The "Na- 
 hant," Lieutenant-Commander Cornwell, 
 was already alongside the "Lehigh," and, 
 by getting out hawsers, succeeded in tow- 
 ing her off at high water. Both vessels 
 were subjected to a brisk fire, but they re- 
 ceived no serious damage. The •' Lehigh " 
 received twenty -two hits, nine of which 
 were on her deck-plates, and she had one 
 officer and six men wounded. The "'Mon- 
 tauk" also assisted in getting the "Le- 
 high " off, but there were no casualties in 
 the assisting vessels. 
 
 Assistant- Surgeon Wm. Longshaw was 
 handsomely mentioned on this occasion for 
 going to and fro in a small boat, carry ing out 
 hawsers under a heavy fire of shot and 
 shell. This kind of service always deserves 
 recognition, and especially when, as in this 
 case, it is voluntarily undertaken by an 
 officer who would never have been called 
 upon to perform it in the ordinary course 
 of his profession. Surgeon Longshaw was 
 recommended for promotion in his corps 
 by the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and 
 Surgery. 
 
 On December 6th, Rear-Admiral Dahl- 
 gren had the misfortune to lose the Moni- 
 tor "Weehawken" under the following 
 circumstances, as given in the report of 
 Commander J. M. Duncan: 
 
 "On the morning of the 5th I arrived here, and 
 in the evening took command of her [the 'Wee- 
 hawken '] and went up on the advanced picket, and 
 remained there until 9:30 of the morning of the 6th ; 
 then came down ; made fast to buoy No. 2 ; then 
 came on board this vessel [the flag-ship]. 
 
 "About 1:30 P. M. a signal was made that the 
 ' Weehawken ' wanted assistance. I immediately 
 got in a boat with the pilot of this vessel. Before 
 "we could reach her she went down. Boats from all 
 the vessels around went to the assistance of the 
 men that were overboard, and succeeded in saving 
 all but four of the engineers and twenty-seven of 
 the men. When I left the vessel everything ap- 
 peared to be right ; the anchor-hold was all dry, 
 no water coming through the hawse-pipe. * * * * 
 Not being on board myself at the time, I am not 
 able to give any account of the sad accident. 
 " Verjf respectfully," etc. 
 
 From statements of officers who were on 
 board the "Weehawken" at the time of 
 the disaster, it appears that the immediate 
 cause of her sinking was that a heavy sea 
 swept over her forecastle, and entering 
 the fore-hatch, filled the anchor-well. This, 
 under ordinary circumstances, would not 
 have proved fatal to the ship's safety; but 
 she was heavily loaded forward . with am- 
 munition, and the slight increase of weight, 
 due to the water in her forward compart- 
 ment, caused an opening between the over- 
 hang and the hull, which made itself mani- 
 fest by numerous leaks. As the water ac- 
 
 cumulated forward, her bow commenced to 
 settle rapidly, and she soon went to the 
 bottom, with a number of her brave offi- 
 cers and men. 
 
 This was a serious loss to Rear-Admiral 
 Dahlgren, who was at that moment urging 
 the Government to send him more Mon- 
 itors, in view of the necessity of defending 
 his command against the iron-clads which 
 the Confederates were building at Charles- 
 ton. No doubt the Confederates considered 
 that the sinking of the "Weehawken" was 
 due to the shot and shell which they fired 
 at the " Lehigh "—as they could not tell one 
 from another. 
 
 Nothing of interest occurred in Dahlgren's 
 command from November 6th up to Decem- 
 ber 25tli, when the "Pawnee." Commander 
 G. B. Balch, the " Marblehead," Lieutenant- 
 Commander R. W. Meade, Jr., and the 
 schooner " C. P. Williams," Acting-Master 
 S. N. Freeman, were attacked by Confed- 
 erate batteries in Stono River. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Meade reports 
 that on December 25th the enemy opened 
 fire on the "Marblehead," at 6 o'clock in 
 the morning, from two batteries of field 
 and siege pieces posted advantageously in 
 the woods. At the time mentioned, the 
 " Marblehead " had steam on the port boiler 
 only. The gun-boat returned the enemy's 
 fire vigorously, and, slipping his cable, Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Meade took a position 
 nearer the batteries, and after a short en- 
 counter caused them to retreat in disorder, 
 leaving two guns and caissons. 
 
 No attempt was made by the " Marble- 
 head " to retire from this unequal contest, 
 though she was struck over twenty times 
 and much cut up, having three men killed 
 and four wounded. Officers and men stood 
 to their guns with great gallantry, and the 
 precision of their fire was shown by the com- 
 plete discomfiture of the enemy. Acting- 
 Ensign Geo. F. Winslow and the officers of 
 the gun divisions are handsomeh' mentioned 
 in this report. 
 
 During the action, the " Pawnee " took an 
 enfilading position in the Keowah River, 
 while the "Williams" was ordered to work 
 up towards Legareville. The three vessels 
 kept up such a fire that the enemy fled 
 precipitately. Commander Balch speaks in 
 tlie highest terms of Lieutenant-Commander 
 Meade's coolness and bravery, the manage- 
 ment of his vessel, and the remarkable ra- 
 pidity of his fire. 
 
 On the conclusion of the firing, General 
 Gordon, commanding the troops at the 
 south end of Folly Island, sent an infantry 
 force to bring off the guns left by the Con- 
 federates ; which, on reaching the spot 
 where the batteries were posted, found two 
 guns, one soldier in the throes of death, six 
 dead artillery horses, and all the enemy's 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 661 
 
 intrenching tools, knapsacks, etc. As night 
 was coming on, and it was found impossible 
 to bring off the guns in face of a heavy 
 force of the enemy, not far off, they were 
 disabled and abandoned. 
 
 This was a handsomely-executed affair, 
 particularly on the part of the " Marble- 
 head," which bore the brunt of the fire 
 from the enemy's 8 -inch guns. There 
 was some dispute as to the credit due the 
 different vessels, which ought not to have 
 been the case where all did so well. In 
 addition to Lieutenant Commander Meade's 
 gallantry in the action, he made a recon- 
 noissance of the ground abandoned by the 
 enemy, and then, by direction of Com- 
 mander Balch, headed an expedition to 
 bring off the guns which General Gordon 
 had failed to take possession of. His force 
 consisted of 3 boats, 3 officers, and 50 
 
 CAPTAIN (NOW EEAR-ADMIEAL) GEORGE B. BALCH. 
 
 men from the ''Pawnee"; 4 boats, 4 offi- 
 cers and 20 men from the "Marblehead," 
 and 1 officer and 12 men from the " C. P. 
 Williams" — total, 8 boats, 8 officers and 
 82 men, of which 22 were marines, under 
 Sergeant W. Fredlickson, of the " Pawnee." 
 On reaching the earthworks, near a bayou 
 which flows southwesterly of Legare- 
 ville. Acting - Ensign Moore was directed 
 to take the "Pawnee's" men and get the 
 nearest gun into her cutter. The other 
 gun in the most northern work was then 
 raised with great difficulty, lashed to the 
 carriage of a 12-pound howitzer, and hauled 
 with great exertion to the bayou, a distance 
 of a mile, and finally gotten into the " Mar- 
 blehead's " launch. 
 
 TVio Tirlinlo affair TiD-na n nArfpf.t SllCCesS : 
 
 the two guns, 8-inch seacoast howitzers, 
 were taken off, the gun-carriages and im- 
 plements thrown into the river, and all done 
 in the space of two hours. 
 
 Though Rear- Admiral Dahlgren had not, 
 up to this time, forced any of the obstruc- 
 tions in Charleston harbor, or made his 
 way past the batteries (thus verifying the 
 assertion of Admiral DuPont, that the force 
 of Monitors was not equal to the occasion), 
 he had shown great pertinacity in sticking 
 to the work assigned him, and had given 
 all the aid in his power to the land-batteries 
 under General Gillmore. The following 
 review of the services of Admiral Dahlgren 
 when in command of the South Atlantic 
 squadron will give a fair insight into the 
 value of his work: 
 
 On the 6th of July, 1863, Rear-Admiral 
 DuPont delivered to Rear - Admiral Dahl- 
 gren the command of the forces occu- 
 pying the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, 
 and part of Florida. This force, which 
 consisted of 70 vessels of all classes, was 
 scattered along the coast for a distance of 
 300 miles; there was no concentration, the 
 object being rather to distribute the vessels 
 in such a manner as to enforce an efficient 
 blockade. 
 
 When Dahlgren took command, the Navy 
 Department was much more liberal towards 
 him than it had been to DuPont; for he was 
 left to exercise his own judgment, unhamp- 
 ered by orders of any kind. His instruc- 
 tions were so couched that they merely 
 directed him to assume command, without 
 confining him to any course of action. 
 They went no further, nor was it necessary 
 that they should do so. There was an 
 enemy in front who had defied the Govern- 
 ment to the utmost ; the Department and 
 the President had already signified their 
 wishes to Admiral DuPont, and it was 
 clearly the duty of his "successor to goto 
 work as soon as possible and compel the 
 enemy to obedience if he could. But it 
 must be remembered that the Department, 
 in view of the difficulties that had beset 
 the first expedition, had modified its 
 opinion, and was now satisfied that it 
 would be better to have a combined attack 
 of the Army and ISTavy against the heavy 
 works in Charleston harbor than to de- 
 pend on the Monitors alone. 
 
 The "New Ironsides" was off Charleston 
 bar, two Monitors were at Edisto, one at 
 Stono River, three at Port-Royal, and one 
 at Ossabaw. General Gillmore having 
 arrived, arrangements were immediately 
 made between him and Rear- Admiral Dahl- 
 gren for a descent on Morris Island, where 
 the former was to establish his batteries. 
 
 The naval part of the operations con- 
 sisted in assembling all the Monitors at 
 Charleston, so as to cross the bar at earlv 
 
662 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 daylight, and be ready to cover the landing 
 of the army, with its guns, munitions, etc. ; 
 and then to co-operate in whatever way 
 the army might desire to attack the enemy. 
 
 On the 9th of July all was in readiness. 
 In the combined attack which followed, the 
 "Catskill," "Montauk," " Nahant," and 
 "Weehawken" were laid in line parallel 
 with the land opposite the southern emi- 
 nences of Morris Island, and they poured 
 in such a steady fire upon the Confederate 
 batteries at that point that they made but 
 a feeble show of fight. At 8 o'clock the 
 troops that had been brought from the 
 Folly Kiver by the boats of the squadron 
 advanced to the attack ; and, under the 
 covering fire of the Monitors, occupied 
 all the enemy's outer positions, and were 
 only stopped when they came in contact 
 with Fort Wagner. 
 
 Until the fall of Wagner, on September 
 7th, the iron-clads and gun-boats kept up 
 a constant fire on the place, which could 
 only be taken by hard and patient work. 
 But this work was not crowned with suc- 
 cess until after several desperate assaults 
 had been made by the Army, and a heavy 
 bombardment by the Navy. All assaults 
 were failures, however, and it was proved 
 that the great engineering skill of the 
 Confederates had produced a work that 
 could only be taken by the slow and la- 
 borious operation of a regular siege. 
 
 And here Admiral Dahlgren gives a very 
 good reason why the delay in reaching 
 Charleston subsequently ensued, viz., that 
 there was a paucity of troops in the first 
 place; that there ought to have been men 
 enough to make the first assault an assured 
 success; that Wagner might have been car- 
 ried at the first assault; Gregg would have 
 yielded in consequence; Sumter would soon 
 have followed, and the iron-clads, untouched 
 by severe and continued battering, would 
 have been in condition to come quickly in 
 contact with the imperfect interior defences. 
 The Admiral forgot, however, that he would 
 still have had the line of obstructions to 
 break, and the batteries at Moultrie and 
 on Sullivan's Island to pass, and that the 
 Monitors would have found the same diffi- 
 culties in forcing their way through the in- 
 terior defences as DuPont met with in his 
 first attack. 
 
 The military and naval attacks were as 
 gallant as anything could be, but, though 
 they achieved a great deal, they did not 
 succeed in driving the enemy out of Wag- 
 ner before he had time to convert Fort 
 Johnson from a very imperfect work into 
 a powerful fort. Moultrie received similar 
 advantages, and most of the cannon of 
 Sumter were divided between Johnson and 
 Moultrie. Batteries were established along 
 the south shore of the channel from Fort 
 
 Johnson towards the city; and thus an in- 
 terior defence was completed that rendered 
 access to the upper harbor far more difficult 
 than it was before, because a heavy fire 
 could be concentrated from additional bat- 
 teries upon vessels attempting to enter. In 
 fact, the enemy had profited by the exper- 
 ience gained in their outer defences, and 
 had placed their guns so as to obtain a con- 
 centrated fire. When the troops who garri- 
 soned Wagner were informed that the inter- 
 ior forts were completed, they quietly evacu- 
 ated that post on the eve of an assault by the 
 Union troops, and occupied the new positions 
 so adroitly prepared by their able engineers. 
 
 In all the siege of this tough work the 
 Navy bore a conspicuous part, having kept 
 up a continuous and heavy fire whenever 
 the opportunity offered. But the more they 
 battered it, the more apparent it became 
 that the small force of iron - clads off 
 Charleston was not capable of forcing its 
 way up to the city through obstructions 
 that were now commanded by the newly 
 built defences. 
 
 The services of the vessels during the at- 
 tack on Wagner were invaluable, as the 
 fire of their guns prevented the access of re- 
 inforcements, or their accumulation between 
 Wagner and Gregg ; and, in fact, without 
 the assistance of the Navy, the Army would 
 not have been able to maintain its position 
 a day without further reinforcements. 
 
 The boats of the squadron were engaged 
 on picket duty by night along the sea-shore 
 of Morris Island, and in the little stream on 
 its inner border. A detachment of seamen 
 and marines were also engaged, under Com- 
 mander F. A. Parker, in the attack on the 
 batteries at Fort Sumter, working four Navy 
 rified cannon that had been landed for the 
 purpose. 
 
 Besides the principal attacks made on 
 Wagner, there were few days from the first 
 attack on Morris Island (July 10) to its 
 evacuation (September 7) that some iron- 
 clads or gun-boats were not engaged with 
 the enemy's works. 
 
 The following table will exhibit the work 
 done by the fleet from Julv 18th to Septem- 
 ber 8th : 
 
 Date. 
 1863. 
 
 Object. 
 
 July 18. Assault on Wagner J 
 
 Vessels engaged. 
 'Montauk." "Ironsides," 
 'Nantucket, 
 
 Catskill," 
 Weehawken," " Pa- 
 
 • Ottawa." 
 • Wissa- 
 
 July 22. 
 
 July 24. 
 
 July 25. 
 July 28. 
 July 29. 
 
 July 30. 
 July 31. 
 
 Aug. 1. 
 
 Wagner 
 
 Wa<;ner (to cover J 
 advance.) 1 
 
 •Cat- 
 
 Wagner . 
 Waguer.. , 
 Wagner.. 
 
 Wagner. . 
 
 Batteries on Morris i 
 Island I 
 
 Waguer , 
 
 tapsco," "Paul Jones," 
 
 "Seneca." "CMppewa, 
 
 liickon." 
 "Nantucket." "Ottawa.*' 
 " Weehawken," " Ironside 
 
 skill," " Montauk," " Patapsco, 
 
 "Nantucket," "Ottawa," "Dai 
 
 Chiug," "Paul Jones." "Seneca. 
 "Ottawa," "DaiChing." "Paul Jones.' 
 " Weehawken," "Catskill," "Ottawa. 
 " Ii'onsides," "Patapsco." 
 "Ironsides," "Catskill," "Patapsco," 
 
 " Ottawa." 
 
 " Ottawa." 
 
 "Montauk,* "Patapsco," "Catakill," 
 "Weehawken," "Passaic," "Na- 
 hant," " Marblehead." 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 663 
 
 Dafe. 
 
 1863. 
 Aug. 2. 
 Auk. 4. 
 Aug. 6. 
 
 Aug. 8. 
 
 Aug, 11. 
 
 Aug. 13. 
 
 Aug. 14. 
 Aug. 15. 
 
 Aug. n. 
 
 Aug. 18. 
 
 Aug. 19. 
 Aug. 20. 
 Aug. 21. 
 
 Aug. 22. 
 Aug. 23. 
 
 Sept. 1. 
 
 Sept. 5. 
 
 Sept. 6. 
 
 Sept. 7. 
 
 Sept. 8. 
 
 Wagner * 
 
 Wagner.. ' 
 
 Wagner ' 
 
 Wagner, | 
 
 Wagner and vicinity • 
 MorriB Island | 
 
 Morris Island 
 
 Wagner 
 
 f" 
 
 Batteries on Morris I 
 Island to direct J 
 fire from the bat- 1 
 teries which open- \ 
 ed on Sumter. | 
 
 Wagner, to prevent 
 assault 
 
 Wagner 
 
 Morris Island 
 
 Sumter and Wag- 
 ner 
 
 Wagner 
 
 \" 
 
 Sumter., 
 
 Sumter and 
 structious... , 
 
 ob- 
 
 Betweeu Sumter j 
 and Gregg I 
 
 Wagner and Gregg 
 
 Batteries on Sulli- 
 van's Island 
 
 V&suU engaged. 
 
 Ottawa." "Marblehead.'* 
 
 Montank," •• Marblehead.*' 
 
 Marblehead." 
 
 Ottawa," "Mahaska," "Marble- 
 head." . 
 
 Patapsco," " Catskill." 
 
 Dai Ching," "Ottawa," "Mahaska," 
 " Racer," " Wissahickon." 
 
 Wissahickon. " '• Mahaska," ' ' Dan 
 Smith," "Ottawa," " Dai Ching," 
 " Racer." 
 
 Racer," "Dan Smith." 
 
 Weehawken," " Ironsides," "Mon- 
 tauk," "Nahant." "Catskill." 
 "Passaic," "Patai^aco," "Canan- 
 daigua " " Mahaska," " Ottawa," 
 " Cimmaron, " " Wissahickon, " 
 "Dai Ching," "Lodona." 
 
 Ironsides," " Passaic." "Weehaw- 
 ken," " Wiasahickon," " Mahas- 
 ka," " Dai Ching," *' Ottawa," 
 "Lodona." 
 
 Ironsides." 
 
 Ironsides," "Mahaska." 
 
 "Dai Ching," "Lodona.' 
 ' Ironsides," " Patapsco," 
 
 haska." "Dai Ching." 
 "Weehawken," "Ironsides," 
 
 tank." 
 ' Weehawken," " Passaic," 
 
 tauk," "Patapsco," "Nahant.' 
 ' Weehawken," " Montauk," " Pa 
 saic." " Patapsco," " Nahant, 
 " Lehigh." 
 
 ' Lehigh," " Nahant." 
 
 • Ottawa," 
 "Ma- 
 ' Mon- 
 Mon- 
 
 Batteries on Sulli- 
 van's Island 
 
 ' Ironsides," 
 tauk," ' 
 " Nahant, 
 
 ' Ironsides," 
 " Nahant, 
 hawkeu.'' 
 
 'Ironsides," 
 " Lehigh, 
 bawkeu." 
 
 " Weehawken," " Mon- 
 Passaic," " Patapsco," 
 " "Lehigh." 
 "Patapsco," "Lehigh," 
 " " Montauk," " Wee- 
 
 " Nahant," "Patapsco," 
 " " Montauk,"' " Wee- 
 
 SERVICE OF IRON-CLADS. 
 
 SOXJTH ATL.iNTIC BLOCKADING SQUADBON. 
 
 Shots fired and hits received by them during operations against 
 Morris Island: 
 
 
 No. of shots 
 
 
 
 Hits 
 
 
 
 fired. 
 
 
 Hits 
 
 at 
 
 Total 
 
 Vessels 
 
 
 Hits. 
 
 Apr.7, 
 
 Ogee- 
 
 hits. 
 
 
 15-in. 
 
 11-in, 
 
 
 1363. 
 
 chee. 
 
 
 "Catskill ■' 
 
 133 
 
 425 
 
 86 
 
 20 
 
 
 106 
 
 ■" Montauk '* 
 
 301 
 
 478 
 
 154 
 
 14 
 
 46 
 
 214 
 
 •'LeMgli " 
 
 41 
 
 28 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 " Passaic ** 
 
 119 
 
 107 
 
 90 
 
 35 
 
 9 
 
 134 
 
 "Nahant" 
 
 no 
 
 276 
 
 69 
 
 36 
 
 
 105 
 
 " Patapsco '* 
 
 178 
 
 264 
 
 230 
 633 
 
 96 
 134 
 
 47 
 63 
 
 1 
 
 144 
 
 -"Weehawken" 
 
 187 
 
 " Nantucket " 
 
 44 
 
 155 
 
 53 
 
 51 
 
 
 104 
 
 ■" Ii'onsides " 
 
 
 4439 
 
 164 
 
 882 
 
 
 
 164 
 
 Totals 
 
 1255 fi771 
 
 256 
 
 56 
 
 1194 
 
 
 
 
 
 No. of shots fired. 
 
 By "Irousides" 4,439 
 
 ll-in . by Monitors 2 332 
 
 15-iu. by Monitors 1,255 
 
 Total.. 
 
 8.026 
 
 Weight of projec. fired in tons. 
 288)^ 
 151 >^ 
 213 J^ 
 
 663 >S 
 
 That these vessels were subjected to a 
 terrific fire there can be no doubt ; and it 
 shows that, though there may have been 
 defects in the building of some of the 
 Monitors, yet that Ericsson's system was the 
 most perfect one then invented, and that 
 no ship in European navies then built 
 could have contended successfully with any 
 one of them for an hour. 
 
 During the progress of the engineering 
 work under General Gillmore, which was 
 of the most laborious kind, the iron-clads 
 and gun-boats played a most conspicuous 
 part, as has been shown in instances already 
 quoted. It would have been as easy for 
 the enemy to have worked towards the 
 Union position as for the Federals to ad- 
 
 vance towards theirs, had it not been for 
 the fire of the vessels which confined them 
 to the main fort and prevented their ex- 
 tending its lines of defence. If this had 
 not been the case, the Confederates could 
 have kept pace with the Federal troops, and 
 the latter at the end of a month would have 
 been no nearer their object than before. 
 But the naval commanders were always on 
 the alert to sweep the plain, and prevent 
 the erection of any new works on the side 
 of Wagner, or any assault on Gillmore's 
 position. In fact, the fire from the fleet en- 
 filaded the entire width of the narrow 
 island, and not only absolutely interdicted 
 any aggressive operations on the part of the 
 enemy, but kept them constantly occupied 
 in repairing damages to the main work ; 
 and, finally, on the day before the last as- 
 sault was contemplated, Dahlgren took in 
 his whole force of iron clads and battered 
 the fort into sand-heaps. 
 
 History cannot but award great praise 
 to the brave Confederates who remained 
 at their posts for two months under this 
 terrible fire, and kept a great Army and 
 Navy at bay until their interior defences 
 were so strengthened that they could af- 
 ford to abandon the outer work. 
 
 The operations of the iron-clads at Morris 
 Island were appropriately closed by a 
 severe contest with Forts Moultrie and 
 Beauregard, Battery Bee, and all the bat- 
 teries on Sullivan's Island, to relieve the 
 " Weehawken," which vessel had grounded 
 under their guns and was in great danger, 
 the tide having fallen and exposed her un- 
 protected hull. This last affair showed 
 conclusively that Fort Moultrie and the 
 batteries mentioned might have been 
 attacked with success, could a strong force 
 of Federal troops with heavy rifled guns 
 have been stationed on Sullivan's Island, to 
 co-operate, as was done at Morris Island. 
 No doubt the struggle would have been a 
 severe one, but, if as ably carried out as in 
 the first instance, success would assuredly 
 have followed. 
 
 It is not always easy for the historian to 
 give the full credit where it is due. He 
 must be governed by the official reports, 
 except in cases where there are glaring in- 
 consistencies. Hence the tabulated form 
 of reports adopted by Rear- Admiral Dahl- 
 gren has been followed. This plan is in- 
 tended to show at a glance what each ves- 
 sel had done ; but, with all the care a com- 
 manding officer may take to do justice to 
 his subordinates, discrepancies will creep 
 into official reports at times. This may im- 
 ply a want of accuracy on the part of a 
 commander-in-chief, when, in fact, it may 
 have been due to the hurried performance 
 of a multiplicity of duties, or to the indis- 
 cretion of a secretary. But it is the duty 
 
tjt)4 
 
 injL i\AV/iJU nici JLU1K.I 
 
 of the historian to correct these discrepan- 
 cies when they are manifest, where it can 
 l3e done without raising questions that 
 might end in angry controversies. 
 
 There was published in the Army and 
 Navy Journal, on the 16th of April, 1864, a 
 review of the services of the Monitors in 
 Southern waters. Commander Edward 
 Simpson, in a report dated April 21st, ex- 
 pressed himself as dissatisfied with the 
 amount of credit given his vessel, the 
 " Passaic," in the official reports. On the 
 29th of July, 1863, the "Passaic" went into 
 action with Fort Wagner, followed by the 
 " Patapsco " and the " New Ironsides." The 
 presence of the "Passaic" is not mentioned 
 in Rear- Admiral Dahlgren's review. 
 
 On the 31st of August, 1863, the most se- 
 rious engagement in which the iron-clads 
 had yet taken part occurred between Fort 
 Moultrie on one side, and the Monitors 
 "Patapsco," " Weehawken," "Passaic," 
 
 COMMANDER (NOW REAB-ADMIBAL) EDWAKD SIMPSON. 
 
 and "Nahant" on the other; the detacli- 
 ment being under the command of Com- 
 mander T. H. Stevens, on board the " Pas- 
 saic." During the action, the "Passaic" 
 grounded about half a mile from Fort Moul- 
 trie, and was severely hammered by tlie 
 guns of that work before she floated off. 
 This affair was not mentioned in the re- 
 view, though it was a much more serious 
 one than the engagements with Wagner 
 and Battery Gregg, on Morris Island. 
 
 On the 8th of September, one of the most 
 remarkable actions between iron-clads and 
 shore - batteries that ever occurred was 
 fought under command of Commodore 
 S. C. Rowan, between the batteries on 
 
 Sullivan's Island on the one side, and the 
 "New Ironsides," "Patapsco," "Lehigh," 
 "Passaic," "Nahant," and "Weehawken" 
 (aground), on the other. This action lasted 
 three hours, and terminated in silencing 
 the fire of the batteries on the island. 
 
 During this action, the "Passaic" was at 
 the head of the line, having received an or- 
 der from the Commodore as she was going 
 into action to go well up and engage Bat- 
 tery Bee. In this affair the vessel was hit 
 in fifty-one new places. 
 
 The presence of the "Passaic" is not 
 mentioned. It was very difficult to keep 
 this vessel in effective condition for firing, 
 as her turret had got jammed on the 6th of 
 September, which caused the spindle and 
 pilot house to take up motion with the tur- 
 ret, thus disabling the steering gear, which 
 required the most ingenious expedients to 
 rectify. 
 
 After all his efforts to keep his vessel 
 available, and after having endured such a 
 battering from Moultrie's lu-inch shot, it was 
 disheartening to Lieutenant -Commander 
 Simpson to find that the presence of his 
 vessel in this action was not mentioned, 
 particularly as she had been more bat- 
 tered than any in the Monitor fleet. 
 
 Admiral Dahlgren, however, did in a 
 measure rectify this mistake, as will ap- 
 pear from the following 
 
 " Additional List of Actions, in -which the 
 iron-clads were engaged with the Confederate bat- 
 teries in Charleston harbor while reducing Morris 
 Island." 
 
 Date. 
 1863. 
 
 Ntiuie. 
 
 Ko'ds 
 fired. 
 
 Hits by 
 Enemy 
 
 Diat'nce 
 Yards. 
 
 Object. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 July 18. 
 
 "New Ironsides.' 
 
 805 
 
 4 
 
 1.400 
 
 Wagner 
 
 
 Jnlv 20. 
 
 " " 
 
 168 
 
 13 
 
 1,300 
 
 Wagner. 
 
 
 Aug. 23. 
 
 
 90 
 
 4 
 
 
 Waguer. 
 
 Sbip was 
 underway 
 — distance 
 V a r ie d 
 froml.lOO 
 1 1.300 
 \ards. 
 
 Sept. 2. 
 
 H 4t 
 
 41 
 
 
 1,000 
 
 Gregg. 
 
 Hits from 
 Gregg and 
 Moultrie. 
 Sliip a t 
 anchor. 
 
 Sept. 2. 
 
 " " 
 
 9 
 
 
 1,500 
 
 .Snmter. 
 
 
 Sept. 6. 
 
 " 
 
 4S8 
 
 
 1,300 
 
 Wagner. 
 
 
 Sept. 5. 
 
 
 32 
 
 ' 
 
 1,800 
 
 Gregg. 
 
 Hit from 
 Gregg. 
 
 "On July 29th, the 'Passaic' engaged Wagner, 
 and on August 31st Moultrie. On September 8th, 
 the ' Passaic ' (in a disabled condition), ' Patapsco,' 
 ' Weehawken,' and 'Nahant' engaged Moultrie." 
 
 This was scant justice to an officer who 
 had so well maintained the reputation of 
 the Navy at Charleston, under the hottest 
 fire; but, no doubt, he obtained full credit 
 from his comrades in arms, who, after all, 
 are the ones who appreciate a brother offi- 
 cer's services on such occasions. 
 
 One of the points in the efficiency of the 
 iron-clads was the manner in which they 
 had almost closed up the harbor of Charles- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 665 
 
 ton against the blockade-runners. We say 
 almost, for, notwithstanding all the watch- 
 fulness of the officers on patrol duty, some 
 of these vessels did force their way in, and 
 even succeeded in getting as far as Moul- 
 trie, where they thought themselves secure. 
 
 On February 2d, 1864, at daylight, a beau- 
 tiful blockade - runner, the "Presto," was 
 perceived close under the batteries of Moul- 
 trie, which was the first notice of her pres- 
 ence, she having crept in during the night 
 under the management of some daring cap- 
 tain, who was, no doubt, assisted by range- 
 lights. He had anchored close to Moultrie, 
 intending, no doubt, to go up to Charleston 
 as soon as he could get a pilot to take him 
 through the obstructions. Dahlgren at 
 once ordered up the nearest Monitor, and 
 directed her commander to open fire upon 
 the intruder with his rifled gun from a dis ■ 
 tance of about 2,500 yards. Other Monitors 
 were ordered up in succession, for it was 
 desirable to show these blockade-runners 
 that Charleston was a sealed port to them. 
 The " Lehigh," •' Passaic," " Catskill " and 
 " Nahant " opened on the doomed vessel. 
 Colonel Davis, commanding Morris Island, 
 also opened from Fort Strong and Battery 
 Gregg, and the steamer was soon set on fire 
 and destroyed. 
 
 It was remarkable that, under the circum- 
 stances, any blockade-runner should have 
 attempted such a dare-devil feat ; but the 
 greed of gain was overpowering in that 
 class of people, and one successful trip 
 often made them rich for life. 
 
 There was no end to the energy of the 
 Confederates, who, after they had lost the 
 forts on Morris Island and seen Sumter 
 battered out of shape by the Army and 
 Navy, determined to show that they were 
 not at all subdued. They had strengthened 
 the works in the inner harbor above Moul- 
 trie, and made the place more difficult of 
 approach than ever. Colonel Davis held 
 Morris Island up to Cummings' Point and 
 commanded Sumter, which was of no use 
 to any one, with his guns. 
 
 General Gillmore, who seemed to think 
 for the present that he had done all he could 
 to close the port against blockade-runners, 
 informed Rear- Admiral Dahlgren, on Feb- 
 ruary 5th, 186-t, that he was about to throw 
 a force into Florida, on the west bank of 
 the St. John's River, and desired his assist- 
 ance. In consequence, three gun- boats 
 were sent to the St. John's River by the 
 commander-in-chief, who, the same even- 
 ing, departed himself for that point, leav- 
 ing the blockade of Charleston in charge of 
 Commodore Rowan. This was virtually 
 abandoning the attempt to capture Charles- 
 ton, that long -cherished object of the Navy 
 Department, and seeking a new and much 
 less imnortant, field of onerations. But as 
 
 this expedition only required the presence 
 of the Navy while the troops were disem- 
 barking, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren soon after 
 returned to Port Royal, leaving a sufficient 
 force- of gun-boats in the St. John's River 
 to co-operate with the Army if necessary. 
 
 The Confederates were not slow to take 
 advantage of the lull which had taken 
 place after the storm of shot and shell that 
 had been poured down upon their devoted 
 heads, and their torpedo corps went to 
 work to fit out another " David " (or torpedo- 
 boat), after the plan, with improvements, 
 of the one that had attempted to blow up 
 the "Ironsides." The first attempt was 
 such a complete failure that the Federal 
 officers on the outside blockade had grown 
 somewhat careless. 
 
 As early as January 14, 1864, the Navy 
 Department had written to Rear-Admiral 
 Dahlgren, informing him that it had re- 
 ceived notice that the Confederates had on 
 foot a plan to blow up his fleet, and that 
 it considered it of sufficient importance 
 to notify him of it. Dahlgren, however, 
 did not think that such a plan would be 
 carried out against the vessels blockading 
 outside of the harbor, but only against the 
 iron-clads on the inside ; but, at the same 
 time, thought it advisable to give notice 
 to the officers on the outer blockade, so 
 that they might be on their guard. Not- 
 withstanding these precautions, the Con- 
 federates managed to get one of their tor- 
 pedo-boats over the bar, and on the night 
 of the 17th of February the fine new ship 
 " Housatonic," while lying at anchor off 
 Charleston, in a most convenient position 
 to be attacked by torpedo-boats, was de- 
 stroyed under the following circumstances : 
 
 At about 8:45 p. m., the officer of the 
 deck on board the " Housatonic," Acting- 
 Master J. K. Crosby, discovered something 
 in the water, about one hundred yards 
 away, moving towards the ship. All the 
 officers in the squadron had been informed 
 of the character of the " Davids," and 
 what they looked like on the water. The 
 commander-in-chief had had printed full 
 descriptions of these infernal machines, 
 and directions as to the best manner of 
 avoiding them. He had attached more 
 importance to torpedoes than persons gen- 
 erally did at that time, and considered 
 that they constituted the most formidable 
 difficulties in the way of getting to Charles- 
 ton. He felt that the whole line of block- 
 ade would probably be attacked with these 
 cheap, convenient and formidable weapons, 
 and that officers should adopt every means 
 to guard against them. 
 
 When this machine was first seen by the 
 officer of the deck, it had the appearance of 
 a plank moving along on the water. It 
 came directly towards the ship, and, within 
 
666 
 
 THE NAVAL HliilUKY 
 
 two minutes of the time it was first sighted, 
 was alongside. The chain was slipped, 
 the engine backed, and all hands called to 
 quarters. But it was too late— the torpedo 
 struck the "Housatonic" just forward of 
 the main-mast on the starboard side, in a 
 line with the magazine. The man who 
 steered her knew where the vulnerable 
 spots of the steamer were, and he did his 
 work well! As the after pivot-gun was 
 pivoted to port, it was found impossible to 
 bring a gun to bear on the daring intruder, 
 while those on board of her were coolly 
 making their arrangements to knock a 
 hole in the ship's bottom, for the " David" 
 laid alongside a full minute. When the ex- 
 plosion took place the ship trembled all 
 over, as if by the shock of an earthquake, 
 and seemed to be lifted out of the water, 
 and then sank stern foremost, heeling to 
 port as she went down. 
 
 It must have been a large hole in the bot- 
 tom that could sink her so rapidly. There 
 was, of course, great consternation on board 
 at this unlooked-for event, for there is noth- 
 ing more appalling than to have a torpedo 
 exploded under a ship's bottom. A hun- 
 dred pounds of powder on a pole, is enough 
 to blow the bottom through the heaviest 
 iron-clad — how destructive must it have 
 been then to a wooden vessel ! Most of the 
 crew flew up the rigging for safety, and 
 all order was at an end on board the 
 "Housatonic." Her captain (Pickering) 
 was stunned and somewhat bruised by the 
 concussion, and the order of the day was 
 " sauve qui peut." A boat was dispatched 
 to the " Canandaigua," not far off, and that 
 vessel at once responded to the request for 
 help, and succeeded in rescuing all but the 
 following officers and men, who are sup- 
 posed to have been drowned : Ensign E. G. 
 Hazletine, Captain's Clerk C. O. Muzzey, 
 Quartermaster John Williams, Landsman 
 Theodore Parker, and Fireman John Walsh. 
 
 Strange to say, the ' ' David " was not seen 
 after the explosion, and was supposed to 
 have slipped away in the confusion; but 
 when the "Housatonic" was inspected by 
 divers, the torpedo-boat was found sticking 
 in the hole she had made, having been 
 drawn in by the rush of water, and all her 
 crew were found dead in her. It was a 
 reckless adventure these men had engaged 
 in, and one in which they could scarcely have 
 hoped to succeed. They had tried it once 
 before inside the harbor, againstthe "Iron- 
 sides," with the same boat, or one very simi- 
 lar, and failed, and some of the crew had 
 been blown overboard. How could they 
 hope to succeed on the outside, where the 
 sea might be rough, when the speed of the 
 "David "would not be over five knots an 
 hour, and when they might be driven out 
 to sea ? Reckless as it might be, it was the 
 
 most sublime patriotism, and showed the 
 length to which men could be urged in 
 behalf of a cause for which they were willing 
 to give their lives and all they held most 
 dear. 
 
 Torpedo practice was at that time cried 
 down by humanitarians, but the use of it in 
 war was perfectly legitimate, and had the 
 Federal Government availed itself of it a 
 little more freely, fewer blockade-runners, 
 and less munitions of war, provisions and 
 clothing would have reached the Con- 
 federate armies. What was considered 
 un-Christian warfare then, is now resorted 
 to by all nations, only in more destructive 
 shapes. The torpedo which was so success- 
 fully used by the Confederates was a very 
 primitive arrangement. It has been so im- 
 proved and enlarged in destructive ability 
 that it bids fair to become a great factor in 
 keeping the peace throughout the world; 
 and those nations which have built great 
 iron-clad fleets, with which to dominate 
 weaker nations, may well stop to consider 
 whether it is worth while to extend the 
 system, in view of the advances made in 
 the locomotive torpedo, which will likely 
 put the smaller nations more on a par with 
 the stronger ones. 
 
 It was to the naval officers of the Southern 
 Confederacy that we were mostly indebted 
 for what we knew about torpedoes. At the 
 present time we may have improved on the 
 slow- moving "David," which could only 
 make five miles an hour, and brought up 
 the speed of the present torpedo-boats to 
 twenty knots an hour; but we are not at all 
 in advance of the system adopted by the 
 Confederates, which, if it did not keep the 
 Navy out of their harbors, yet contributed 
 in a great measure in prolonging the war, 
 and was the cause of the Federal Govern- 
 ment losing a large number of valuable 
 vessels-of-war. The energy of the Confed- 
 erates in regard to their inventions in the 
 torpedo line was most remarkable, and in 
 quite strong contrast to that of the other 
 side. During the whole war the Federals 
 never invented anything except a torpedo 
 in a steam launch, called the Wood-Lay 
 torpedo, which was nearly as dangerous to 
 the crew as to the enemy. 
 
 In Marcli, 1864, the gun-boats in Florida, 
 under the command of Commander George 
 B. Balch, were participating in the expedi- 
 tion up the St. John's River. When the 
 Federal troops landed, they threw up such 
 heavy intrenchments that it was not likely 
 the Confederates could make much impres- 
 sion on them. The Confederates of that 
 region, however, did not propose to allow 
 their native State to be invaded without 
 making a stubborn resistance, and left no 
 means untried to annoy the military posi- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 667 
 
 tions whenever there was an opportunity of 
 doing so. But the gun-boats were gener- 
 ally at hand with their heavy guns and 
 bursting shells, and the Southerners were 
 usually discomfited. 
 
 General Gordon landed at Jacksonville 
 on the 9th of May, and assumed command 
 of the district of Florida ; and, in view of 
 the long line of river to be kept open, ob- 
 jected to any reduction of the naval force 
 m the St. John's River, in which Com- 
 mander Balch concurred with him. 
 
 The activity of the Confederates in this 
 
 Quarter, as elsewhere, was very marked ; 
 or, though they yielded up all the forts 
 along the coast, they seemed determined to 
 resist any further entrance of Federal 
 troops into the interior of the State, and 
 they tried to confine the Navy as much as 
 possible to the lower part of the St. John's 
 River. 
 
 Notwithstanding the vigilance of the 
 naval commanders, the Confederates suc- 
 ceeded in planting torpedoes in the river 
 in the channel. On May 10th, the steamer 
 "Harriet A. Weed" ran into two of these 
 torpedoes, which exploded at the same mo- 
 ment and completely destroyed the vessel, 
 sinking her in less than one minute's time, 
 with five men killed and ten badly wounded. 
 
 The naval force employed in the St. John's 
 River, under Commander Balch, was com- 
 posed of the "Pawnee," "Mahaska" and 
 "Norwich," off Jacksonville, and the "Ot- 
 tawa " at Palatka. With such a small force 
 it would have been impossible to prevent 
 the enemy from practicing their system of 
 torpedo warfare, which they had found to 
 be so effective wherever the Federal gun- 
 boats were employed. 
 
 On about the last of March, the transport 
 "Maple-leaf" offered another success for 
 the Confederates, and was blown up by a 
 torpedo, fifteen miles above Jacksonville — 
 this being the highway to Palatka and 
 above, where Federal troops were being 
 constantly transported. The duty on the 
 river became very hazardous, for a severe 
 torpedo warfare was carried on in small 
 boats during dark nights by the Confederate 
 torpedo corps, which first made its appear- 
 ance on the Mississippi in 1862. 
 
 The above operations in Florida of the 
 Army and Navy lasted from March 6th to 
 April 16th, when orders were received from 
 the War Department for the troops to be 
 sent North, in consequence of which the 
 gun-boats were withdrawn ; but while em- 
 ployed with the Army, Commander Balch, 
 Lieutenant - Commander S. Livingston 
 Breese, of the " Ottawa," and the com- 
 manders of the "Mahaska" and "Nor- 
 wich " performed good and gallant service. 
 
 It must not be supposed that there were 
 
 the Federal side as well as on that of the Con- 
 federates ; for though the latter resorted to 
 every means in their power to damage the 
 Federal vessels, yet the officers of the Navy 
 were ever on the alert to take advantage of 
 anything that would enable them to circum- 
 vent the enemy. These were small affairs, 
 but they were hazardous, and showed the 
 skill of the Union officers and men. 
 
 On the ysd of March, a steamer, supposed 
 to be loading with cotton, was discovered up 
 the Santee River, at a point called McClel- 
 lansville, and Commodore Rowan, senior 
 officer of the blockading squadron, ordered 
 Lieutenant A. W. Weaver, of the gun-boat 
 " Winona," to fit out an expedition and cut 
 her out. Accordingly, an expedition was 
 started from the " Winona," under the com- 
 mand of Acting-Master E. H. Sheffield (exe- 
 cutive officer), consisting of the gig and 
 second and third cutters. Acting-Ensign 
 
 LIEUTENAMT-COMMANDER (NOW CAPTAIN) A. "W. WEAVEB. 
 
 Wm. McKendry was in charge of one 
 cutter, Acting - Master's Mate L. N. Corn- 
 thwait in charge of the other, with Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon Charles Little and As- 
 sistant - Engineer W. I. Barrington ; the 
 sailors consisted of 21 of the crew. Mr. 
 Sheffield had orders to proceed up the San- 
 tee, capture the steamer if possible, and 
 bring her out; if not, to burn her. Cutting- 
 out expeditions are always hazardous, and 
 this was no exception to the rule. 
 
 It was a dark night with drizzling rain, 
 just such a night as an enemy might be sup- 
 posed to be taking care of himself in snug 
 quarters. The boats had to thread their way 
 in the uncertain darkness through marshes, 
 with their numberless small ditches or 
 creeks. They could not be positive whither 
 they were going, and frequently lost their 
 way. But, at 6 in the morning, the com- 
 
 ■rvi o n 
 
 rlar* r\-p "f.no j:i-vri£iri I'fir^Ti en rr\^i-csA -H-i c» o+/-»r> 
 
 
668 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 lying at anchor off the bank, when the boats 
 pushed ahead for the anticipated prize. 
 
 As the boats got near the vessel, a large 
 number of men were seen to be rushing 
 about the decks, and a boat was lowered ; 
 when the boats of the "Winona" boarded 
 her, drove the men below, and a sentry was 
 placed at each hatch. The captain of the 
 prize had been captured by the sailors 
 while attempting to make his way on shore. 
 
 There being no indication of a battery 
 on shore. Engineer Barrington immediately 
 commenced to start the fires. The chain 
 was hove short, but the vessel was so fast- 
 ened by stern chains that were shackled 
 around her after-bitts that it was found 
 impossible to slip them, and the party com- 
 menced to cut them with coM-chisels, when 
 a masked battery of three rifled guns 
 opened on them and put a stop to their pro- 
 ceedings. The shot, fired at short range, 
 went in one side and out the other — one 
 penetrating the steam-drum and another 
 the boilers, destroying the tubes, etc. 
 
 The artillerists had evidently been pre- 
 pared for the attack, and perforated the ves- 
 sel in many places, evidently determined to 
 disable her in case she was boarded. The fire 
 of the enemy was successful, and, as the ves- 
 sel was iron and could not be burned, the 
 party were obliged to leave or be cut to 
 pieces. The result was a retreat after a gal- 
 lant attack that ought to have been success- 
 ful, and it detracts nothing from the gal- 
 lantry of this affair that it was not so. 
 
 Operations in Florida continued on a small 
 scale — Commander Balch, in the "Pawnee," 
 and two gun-boats being stationed there to 
 assist the Army. Not much scope existed 
 for brilliant action; but now and then a 
 small expedition to reconnoitre the enemy 
 or capture some river steamer would be 
 fitted out by young officers, who showed 
 great cleverness and gallantry in most of 
 tlie planned expeditions undertaken, partic- 
 ularly in one by General Gordon, opposite 
 Palatka — backed by the Navy; and, though 
 they were of no great import, were always 
 successful. 
 
 It is pleasant to see that the Navy service 
 was appreciated \>y the Army, as will ap- 
 pear by the following letter : 
 
 Headquarters op Auxiliary Column to 
 Gordon's Command, 
 Jacksonville, Florida, June 3, 1864. 
 
 Captain — It is a duty and pleasure to express 
 through you to the officers and privates of your 
 branch of the service, my high sense of the effi- 
 cient aid rendered by theui to my column in their 
 advance, auxiliary to Gordon's late expedition. 
 
 We found the whole extent of the waters to be 
 traversed by one portion of the expedition had 
 been thoroughly searched for torpedoes, and that, 
 in the vicinity of our landing, your picliet-boats had 
 pervaded and patrolled every part of the surface. 
 
 I desire you particularly to express to Captain. 
 Lewis my thanks for his admirable arrangements 
 for the rapid landing of the troops, and his efficient 
 supervision thereof. 
 
 Accept, also, for yourself our obligations for 
 the prompt and complete arrangements made by 
 you to protect and effect our transportation and de- 
 barkation. 
 
 I am, Captain, with sentiments of high respect 
 and regard, your obedient servant, etc., etc., 
 W. H. Noble, 
 Colonel Commanding Auxiliary Column. 
 Captain Geo. B. Balch, 
 
 Commanding Naval /Squadron, St. John's River. 
 
 In these small affairs whatever was at- 
 tempted was well executed, under the eflBci- 
 ent preparations made by Captain Balch, in 
 all cases where the land forces wanted assist- 
 ance; and the officers under his command, 
 guided by his example, left nothing undone 
 to assist the Army, no matter how unreason- 
 able its demands might sometimes be. Cap- 
 tain Balch was not a precise officer, but a 
 very gallant one, and his name frequently 
 appears in the dispatches of the commander- 
 in-chief as always doing well in whatever 
 situation he was placed. 
 
 The operations of the Navy were con- 
 ducted all along the coast of South Carolina 
 and in Florida, after the active and exciting 
 raids in the harbor of Charleston. Sev- 
 eral vessels were taken by the enemy : the 
 "Columbine," a captured river- boat, was 
 retaken by the Confederates up the St. John's 
 River, and the U. S. S. "Water Witch" 
 captured by a number of boats in Ossabaw 
 Sound after a gallant defence; but these 
 were small mishaps, and to be expected in a 
 large base of operations. The last mentioned 
 might have been avoided by shifting the 
 berth after dark, and keeping the watch at 
 quarters in a place where a boarding ex- 
 pedition of the enemy was to have been 
 expected. They were quite as fertile in ex- 
 pedients to destroy and capture as were the 
 Federal forces. Most of the officers of the 
 ' ' Water Witch " were wounded during the 
 first of the attack, and Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Austin Pendergrast, the command- 
 ing officer, was himself cut down with sword 
 in hand, bravely defending his vessel. It was 
 thought by him that but for the casualties 
 among his officers the enemy would have 
 been repulsed ; but they were not. and 
 therein lies the difference. The "Water 
 Witch " was a favorite little steamer, which 
 had performed some remarkably good ser- 
 vice, and her loss caused great regret. 
 
 Amid all their gallantry, there were too 
 manj^ occasions in which the Confederates 
 departed from the usages of war, and prac- 
 ticed unnecessary cruelty on their pris- 
 oners. This occurred in the case of the offi- 
 cers and men of the "Water Witch." The 
 surgeon supposed that he would be treated 
 according to the usual manner of captured 
 medical officers. Understanding that there 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 669 
 
 ■was an arrangement between the Federals 
 and Confederates that the medical officers 
 should be permitted to attend their own 
 wounded, and, after there was no longer 
 any necessity for their services, be allowed 
 to depart, Acting- Assistant Surgeon W. H. 
 Pierson made a request in writing to Flag- 
 officer W. W. Hunter, that the Confed- 
 erate Secretary of the Navy be applied to 
 for his release, according to the supposed 
 agreement ; but he only, after a second ap- 
 plication, received for answer the following 
 letter: 
 
 Savannah, July 17, 1864 
 I have received your note of this day. In reply, 
 I have to inform you that I am instructed by the 
 honorable Secretary of the Navy as follows, viz.: 
 '• When the services of Assistant-Surgeon Pierson, 
 United States Navy, are no longer needed with the 
 ■wounded ofiBcers and men in the hospital, he will 
 be turned over to the proper military authorities to 
 be treated as other prisoners-of-war." 
 Respectfully, 
 
 W. W. Hunter, 
 
 Flag- Officer, etc. 
 
 In accordance with the above edict, this 
 gentleman was sent to Macon Prison. His 
 daily ration consisted of one pint of unbolted 
 corn-meal, a tablespoonful of rice, a little 
 miserable and sometimes maggoty bacon 
 (called, in derision, soap-grease) a very little 
 salt, and a moderate supply of poor mo- 
 lasses. It was said at that time that the 
 same ration was served out to Confederate 
 soldiers; if that was so, they were in a bad 
 strait, and could not help it. But there is 
 always a courtesy due a prisoner- of-war 
 taken in honest battle, and it is quite evi- 
 dent that this courtesy was not extended to 
 Union officers. 
 
 It is but fair to say that, through the Con- 
 federate surgeons, Assistant-Surgeon Pier- 
 son afterwards received better treatment, 
 was finally released through the same in- 
 fluence, and found himself under the old flag 
 again, without any conditions. 
 
 We dislike, and have always avoided as 
 much as possible referring to cruelties prac- 
 ticed by the Confederates in retaliation for 
 supposed injuries received by Southern 
 prisoners — or for the purpose of prevent- 
 ing Federal batteries firing on besieged 
 places. But the following letter, received 
 in June from the Confederate commander 
 at Charleston, must have shocked the sense 
 of humanity and propriety which every 
 gallant officer must feel at having to carry 
 out such an order. It plainly showed what 
 straits the Confederates were in when they 
 could resort to such a measure to prevent 
 besiegers from firing on a city which was a 
 fair object of attack according to the strict- 
 est rules of war, and when, if the besieged 
 non-combatants were in any danger, it was 
 the duty of the military authorities to have 
 them removed, unless they determined to 
 
 T'Orvi o 1 *-» r» V 
 
 ^A +1, 
 
 /^ r*/-\irtC!ir\rHiiritnr*esc> • 
 
 Headquarters First Military District, ) 
 Dbp't op S. C, Ga., and Florida. \ 
 June, 13, 1864. ) 
 General — I have the honor to inclose for trans- 
 mission to the Commanding General of the United 
 States forces on this coast, a letter from Major 
 Samuel Jones, commanding this Department. The 
 letter informs him that five generals and 45 field- 
 offlcers of the Federal army, prisoners, have been 
 ordered to be confined in Charleston. These officers 
 have been placed in my charge, and will be pro- 
 vided with commodious quarters in a part of the 
 city occupied by non-combatants, the majority of 
 whom are women and children. 
 
 It is proper that you should linow, however, that 
 the portion of the city in which they are located is, 
 and has been for some time, exposed day and night 
 to the fire of your guns. 
 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 R. S. Ripley, 
 Brigadier-General Commanding. 
 General Schimmelfbnnig, 
 
 Commanding United States Forces, 
 
 Morris and Folly Islands, etc. 
 
 There is much to be said against exer- 
 cising this kind of warfare ; and exposing 
 the lives of prisoners in a place to prevent 
 an enemy from firing upon it, can only 
 be considered a violation of the usages of 
 civilized warfare which would damage any 
 cause. 
 
 The shelling of a beleagured city is a right 
 of war, and though the duties of humanity 
 towards women and children should be 
 strictly observed, and they should have full 
 time given them to remove from the scene 
 of danger, yet, if they do not do so, military 
 operations could not be interfered with. 
 To expose captives to the close confinement 
 of a place under fire, with the hopes of 
 thereby putting a stop to a bombardment, is 
 making an unfair comparison between the 
 captives and non-combatants, for the latter 
 have the power to withdraw from the fire, 
 while the captives cannot. It had not been 
 the custom to send captives from other 
 parts to Charleston to be kept in confine- 
 ment; on the contrary, all prisoners had been 
 sent away from there; and it is evident that 
 the Union officers were sent there to be 
 sacrificed in case the Union batteries kept 
 up their fire on the citv. 
 
 The destruction of Charleston in a mili- 
 t&vj point of view was just as necessary 
 as the destruction of the Confederate forts. 
 It was a store-house of arms and munitions- 
 of-war from which the forts could draw 
 supplies. It contained a large arsenal of 
 military stores and ammunition ; and 
 while these existed, the General command- 
 ing the Federal forces was justified in at- 
 tempting to destroy them. A siege with- 
 out a bombardment would have been of no 
 use, as the city was open in the rear, and 
 supplies of all kinds could be brought in 
 from the surrounding country. This is the 
 only reason which can be given why the 
 military commander of the Union forces 
 
670 
 
 THE IS AVAL IJJSIUJir 
 
 the city. It was of no use in bringing 
 about a surrender, for it might- have been 
 known from tlie character of the defences 
 of Cliarleston that they would not have 
 surrendered the city until the outside works 
 were taken, and it would have been more 
 profitable to have expended the shot and 
 shell on the surrounding forts. 
 
 If General Gillmore at a distance of over 
 5,000 yards" had reduced Sumter to a pulp," 
 it is quite possible that the Federal Army 
 and Navy, by keeping up the same kind of 
 fire on the forts, would eventually have re- 
 duced them, as they did Wagner and Sumter, 
 and enabled the Navy to remove the ob- 
 structions, so that the Monitors could go on 
 up to Charleston. The Confederates had 
 shown an immense amount of energy and 
 courage in holding their own. 
 
 This shelling the city gave the Confeder- 
 ates the opportunity of saying that the fire 
 was kept up from the disappointment the 
 Federal forces had met with in not bringing 
 about a surrender. An opportunity should 
 never have been given the enemy to cast a 
 shadow of reflection upon the acts of Fed- 
 eral officers, who could afford to be forbear- 
 ing in the face of the fact that Charleston, 
 as a base of supplies through the means of 
 blockade - runners, could never be of any 
 more use to the Confederacy, and that the 
 larger the force that was kept there to hold 
 the place the more advantageous it was for 
 the Federal arms. 
 
 That the situation of the Confederates 
 was becoming desperate about that time 
 we now know full well, and probably some 
 civilian member of the Confederate Cabinet 
 suggested this confinement of Federal pris- 
 oners in Charleston; for it cannot be con- 
 ceived that any of the high-toned officers, 
 who on many occasions showed true chival- 
 ric feeling in the capture of Federals, should 
 have instituted a scheme that would surely 
 have reflected on them as honorable sol- 
 diers. 
 
 On the 20th of June the Rear-Admiral 
 commanding received a notification from 
 the Navy Department in Washington 
 " that the Confederates in Charleston were 
 preparing for a simultaneous move on the 
 blockade, inside and out, in order to cover 
 the exit of a large quantity of cotton." The 
 next day, the " Sonoma," Commander 
 George H. Cooper, and " Nipsic," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander William Gibson, were 
 sent as outside cruisers to cover the block- 
 ade south of Port Royal, where it was 
 weakest, and where the chief effort was to 
 be made. 
 
 A plan was laid between General Foster 
 and Admiral Dahlgren to make a diversion 
 by cutting the railroad between Charleston 
 and Savannah. Generals Foster, Schim- 
 melfennig and Hatch were to land, each 
 
 with a force considered adequate for the 
 occasion, while General Birney was to go 
 into the North Edisto, and as high as possi- 
 ble, to destroy the railroad. The Navy was 
 to enter the Stono to co-operate with General 
 Schimmelfennig. One or two gun-boats 
 were to ascend the North Edisto, and co-op- 
 erate with General Birney to secure his 
 landing. 
 
 On the 2d day of July the Monitors " Le- 
 high" and "Montauk" crossed the Stono 
 bar, while the remaining naval force con- 
 sisted of the "Pawnee," "McDonough" 
 and " Racer." 
 
 Though the plans were well made, noth- 
 ing resulted from this expedition. The dif- 
 ferent co-operating parties reached some of 
 the points aimed at and attacked the Con- 
 federate troops that were out to receive 
 them, and the gun-boats and Monitors 
 opened on such forts as they were directed 
 
 COMMANDEB (NOW EEAK-ADMIEAL) GEORGE H. COOPEK. 
 
 to fire upon ; but there was no success in the 
 attack. The Federal troops failed to cap- 
 ture any of the enemy's batteries; and after 
 one or two days spent in desultory fighting, 
 it was decided that the enemy were in too 
 strong force, that further efforts would 
 not be profitable, and therefore the troops 
 should be withdrawn from John's Island. 
 
 These operations lasted about six days, 
 during which there was a good deal of hard 
 work and the usual display of gallantry on 
 the part of the Navy, under the guns of 
 which the Army safely re-embarked. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren speaks hand- 
 somely of his staff, and particularly men- 
 tions the services of Commander Balch 
 and Lieutenant-Commanders Semmes, Fil- 
 lebrown, A. W. Johnson, R. L. Phythian, 
 and Acting-Masters Phinney and Furber. 
 
 This was about the last operation of any 
 importance that occurred in the South At- 
 lantic squadron up to October 22, when 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 671 
 
 the account of its operations for the year 
 ended. Some minor expeditions were un- 
 dertaken — in one of which the brig " Perry " 
 lost fifteen men in killed, wounded and pris- 
 oners — and in another a schooner loaded 
 with cotton was set on fire and burned by a 
 party of brave fellows; but we miss the ex- 
 citing scenes which occurred in the attacks 
 on the batteries of Charleston, where the 
 officers and men fought persistently for 
 so many days and nights, demonstrating 
 their capacity to command, and exhibiting 
 a gallantry never exceeded, and a disap- 
 pointment that cannot be described, at their 
 unsuccessful efforts to win the works of 
 Charleston. The innumerable obstacles 
 thrown in their way by a powerful and ac- 
 tive foe, full of resources and full of means, 
 to check the advance into his harbor, were 
 too great for a force entirely too small in 
 the first place for such an undertaking. 
 
 The Southern coast was, on the whole, 
 thoroughly blockaded, and Charleston no 
 longer of any use to the Confederates ; and 
 there was really no further necessitj^ for 
 their holding it, except for the sake of a 
 sentiment connected with the fact that it 
 was the first place to raise the flag of se- 
 cession, and desired to be the last that 
 would haul it down. 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1864, owing 
 to the stringent blockade of the whole 
 Southern coast by the Navy, except at the 
 entrance to Wilmington, the Confederate 
 States began to be placed in great distress 
 for the want of food to supply their armies, 
 and at one time there was a prospect of 
 their being starved into submission, even 
 without victories by the B'ederal armies. 
 
 In the early part of May ■ there were 
 on hand but two days' rations for Lee's 
 army at Richmond, and on the 33d of June 
 only thirteen days' rations, showing how 
 the Navy had cut off the foreign supply; 
 and to meet the demand, and keep the Con- 
 federate army from disbanding, the Com- 
 missary-General had to offer market rates 
 for wheat then growing in the fields. 
 
 A great deal of this distress and exhaus- 
 tion of supplies was, however, owing to the 
 exhaustion of Virginia. The prevalence of 
 droughts, and the fact that the crops all 
 over the State had been destroyed by the 
 Federal armies, rendered it very difficult to 
 subsist so large a number of troops as were 
 located in and around Richmond. The ef- 
 fect of the advance of the Federal forces 
 was to oblige the Confederates to call out 
 their reserves, and these had to be fed. 
 Many farmers were detailed for military 
 duty and ordered into the field, at the very 
 time it was most necessary for them to be 
 at home attending to the seeding of wheat. 
 
 Yet the blockade was far more ruinous 
 to the Confederate cause than all other 
 
 operations put together. As long as a 
 blockade-runner could get into any of the 
 Southern ports, bringing bacon and fiour, 
 the soldiers could be sustained ; and when- 
 ever two or three of these supply-vessels 
 were captured by the Federal fleet, it car- 
 ried dismay to the hearts of those who 
 ruled the destinies of the South. In Virginia 
 the supply of breadstuff was practically 
 exhausted. The negro fleld-hands were ab- 
 sconding for fear of being employed in the 
 army, and were taking refuge in the Union 
 lines, while Sherman's march through the 
 South had cut off all supplies of grain or 
 cattle from that region. It may be im- 
 agined, then, how important it was for the 
 Confederate armies that the blockade-run- 
 ners should now and then obtain safe en- 
 trance into the Southern harbors with their 
 military supplies. 
 
 As late as November, 1864, President 
 Davis applied to the Commissary -General 
 to ascertain how many rations there were 
 on hand, to feed not only the army at 
 Richmond, but the other forces in the field, 
 and was informed that there was a very 
 alarming state of affairs in that Depart- 
 ment; that Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
 sippi were the only States where there was 
 an accumulation, and that the Confederate 
 Army was at that time being subsisted from 
 these States. 
 
 The Commissary of Georgia sent dis- 
 patches that he could not send another 
 poundof provisions to Richmond. Alabama, 
 under the most urgent call, could only send 
 forward 135,000 pounds of food. Missis- 
 sippi was doing all she could in supplying 
 rations to General Beauregard's army. 
 South Carolina could only subsist the 
 troops at Cliarleston and the prisoners in 
 the interior of the State. The enemy had 
 visited every section of North Carolina, 
 and that State was only able to supply the 
 forts at Wilmington with rations of the 
 most ordinary kind, and not a pound of 
 meat could be shipped to either Wilming- 
 ton or Richmond. 
 
 Fortunately for the Confederates, the 
 blockade-runner "Banshee" succeeded in 
 eluding the blockaders and getting into 
 Wilmington; and owing to this timely sup- 
 ply of provisions the reserves at the forts 
 were prevented from being starved out. As 
 it was, the commissaries were only able to 
 supply them with thirty days' rations. At 
 that moment there were only 3,400,000 ra- 
 tions of bacon and pork in the whole Con- 
 federacy to subsist 300,000 men for 25 days. 
 
 In the month of December matters were 
 still worse; there was not meat enough in 
 the Southern Confederacy for the armies it 
 had in the field. That the meat must be 
 obtained from abroad was plainly seen, and 
 it was also recognized that, in order to ob- 
 
672 
 
 THE NAVAL HlSTORy 
 
 tain it, it would be necessary to break the 
 blockade by some means then untried or 
 unknown. Nor was the transportation ad- 
 equate to the demands of the occasion. The 
 supply of fresh meat to General Lee's army 
 was precarious, and, if the army fell back 
 from Richmond and Petersburg, there was 
 every probability that it would cease to ex- 
 ist altogether. 
 
 This condition of affairs was brought 
 about by the vigilance of the Federal Navy, 
 which worked hard, day and night, to pre- 
 vent supplies from getting in from the sea; 
 and the only part of the coast where the 
 blockade was sometimes open to the run- 
 ners was at the port of Wilmington, where 
 the enemy had been allowed, under an un- 
 wise management, to build heavy works 
 at the entrance to Cape Fear River, under 
 which the blockade - runners could take 
 
 shelter at night and bid defiance to their 
 pursuers. This was the only rendezvous 
 the Confederates had from the entrance of 
 Hatteras Inlet to the capes of Florida; and 
 so uncertain was this, that there was no 
 knowing how soon the Federal Govern- 
 ment would take proper measures to stop 
 it, even if the advance of Sherman's army 
 through the South did not cause the evacu- 
 ation of Wilmington. 
 
 The Navy, it is true, did not succeed in 
 capturing Charleston, but it closed that 
 port against blockade-runners so completely 
 that it was forbidden ground to them. 
 This was well worth the time, money 
 and fighting expended on this Confederate 
 stronghold, for at the close of the naval 
 campaign of 1864 the Confederates could 
 only subsist their troops there on the mean- 
 est rations. 
 
 SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY, 1864. 
 
 Rear- Admiral. John A. Dahlgren. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER JOSEPH M. BRADFORD, FLEET-CAPTAIN. 
 
 STEAM-FEIGATE "WABASH" — PLAfl-SHIP. 
 
 Captain, John De Camp ; Lieutenant, Lloyd 
 Phenix; Fleet Surgeon, Win. Jolinson; Fleet Pay- 
 master, J. O. Bradford; Assistant Surgeon, F. M. 
 Weld; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; 
 Paymaster, R. J. Richardson; Chaplain, C. A. Davis; 
 Marines : Captain, E. MoD. Reynolds; Second-Lieu- 
 tenant, L. E. Pagan; Ensign, H. T. French; Acting- 
 Ensigns, A. Tuttle and T. H. Daggett; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. H. Gordon, J. C. Graves, Joseph 
 Gregory and B. O. Carpenter; Engineers : Fleet 
 Engineer, Robert Danby; Second-Assistants, P. R. 
 Voorhees, W. C. Williamson and Elisha Harsen; 
 Third-Assistants, J. S. Green, H. H. Kimball, A. 
 Michener and J. B. Place; Boatswain, Francis 
 McLoud ; Gunner, Christopher Long ; Carpenter, 
 J. G. Thomas; Sailmaker, H. W. Frankland. 
 
 IBONOLAD STEAMER "NEW IRONSIDES." 
 
 Captain, Stephen C. Rowan; Lieutenant Com- 
 mander, Geo. E. Belknap; Lieutenant, H. B. Robe- 
 son; Surgeon, Marius Duvall; Assistant Surgeon, 
 Edw. Kershner ; Paymaster, Alex. W. Russell ; 
 Marines : First-Lieutenant, Henry A. Bartlett; Sec- 
 ond-Lieutenant, James B. Young; Acting-Masters, 
 G. W. Domett, Lewis West and J. M. Skillings; 
 Ensigns, H. L. Johnson, J. J. Read and Walter 
 Abbot; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Wise, G. T. Davis, 
 S. S. Hand and W. S. MoNeilly ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, J. W. Caswell, J. D. Wingate and Thomas 
 HoUins; Engineers: Chief, Alex. Grier; First-As- 
 sistant, N. B. Littig; Second-Assistant, J. J. Noble; 
 Third-Assistants, Everett Battelle, H. C. Beckwith, 
 F. T. H. Ramsden and Wm. S. Wells; Boatswain, 
 Thomas Bennett; Gunner, Charles Stewart; Car- 
 penter, E. H. Bishop; Sailmaker, John A. Birdsall. 
 
 STEAMER "OAKANDAiaUA." 
 
 Captain, Joseph F. Green; Lieutenant, H. DeH. 
 Manley ; Surgeon ; James Suddards ; Paymaster, 
 C. H. Eldredge; Acting Masters, Samuel Hall and 
 J. L. Gifford; Acting-Ensigns, R. P. Leary and Ed- 
 ward Daley; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. Vincent, 
 James Wilbur, Adna M. Bates and W. C. Howard; 
 
 Engineers : Chief, Wm. S. Stamm; Third- Assistants, 
 Albert Jackson, Philip Miller, E. T. PhiUippi, O. B. 
 Mills, J. J. Barry and J. Pemberton, Jr. ; Boat- 
 swain, TJiomas Smith; Gunner, John Gaskins; Car- 
 penter, S. N. Whitehouse; SaUmaker, David Bruce, 
 
 STEAMER "H0T7SAT0NIC." 
 
 Captain, Charles W. Pickering; Lieutenant, F. J. 
 Higginson; Assistant Surgeon, W. T. Plant ; As- 
 sistant Paymaster, J. S. Woolson; Acting-Masters, 
 J. W. Congden and J. K. Crosby; Ensign, Edw. C. 
 Hazeltine; Acting-Ensign, G. M. McClure; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, E. A. Butler, B. F. Jacobs, H. A. 
 Hudson and Louis Cornthwaite; Engineers: Chief, 
 John S. Albert; Second- Assistant, C. F. Mayer, Jr.; 
 Third - Assistants, J. W. Hollihan, C. A. Evans, 
 J. A. B. Smith, W- M. Barr and Charles Hopkins; 
 Acting-Boatswain, Wm. Ray; Acting -Gunner, A. C. 
 Holmes. 
 
 STORE-SHIP "VEBMONT." 
 
 Commander, William Reynolds; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Wm. C. West; Surgeon, Wm. Lowber; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, W. J. Bowdle; Paymaster, Frank 
 C. Cosby; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wilbur Ives; 
 Chaplain, John Blake ; Marines : Second-Lieuten- 
 ant, H. J. Bishop; Acting-Masters, W. U. Grozier, 
 H. W. Hand, R. B. Hines, J. C. Cox and W. W. 
 Carter ; Acting- Ensigns, Andie Hartshorne, W. A. 
 Morgan and C. J. Lawrence; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 W. Van Wyck, S. N. Grey, J. G. Rose and F. W. 
 Beck; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, John L. 
 Peake; Acting-Second- Assistant, G. S. Geer; Acting- 
 Boatswain, R. C. Barnard; Gunner, Geo. W. Allen; 
 Acting-Gunner, Thos. Holland; Carpenter, C. W. 
 Babbitt; Sailmaker, John Joins. 
 
 IRON-OLAD STEAMER "PATAPSCO." 
 
 Commander, Thomas H. Stevens ; Lieutenant, 
 Alex. S. Mackenzie; Assistant Surgeon, Samuel H. 
 Peltz; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. S. Creevey; 
 Acting-Master, Geo. P. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, J. T. 
 Ross, A. Kloeppel and Wm. Chase; Engineers: Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, J. B. Carpenter; Third-Assistants, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 673 
 
 G. F. Sweet, J. J. Ryan, DeWilt G. Bavis and Wm. 
 H. Barclay. 
 
 STEAMEB "PAWNEE." 
 
 Commander, Geo. B. Balch; Lieutenant, John 
 W. Philip ; Paymaster, Geo. Lawrence ; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, Henry Shaw; Acting-Masters, J. C. 
 Champion and James P. Lindsay : Ensign, Henry 
 Glass; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas Moore and C. J. 
 Rogers; Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Poor, A. A. 
 Pranzen and J. G. Bache; Engineers : Second-As- 
 sistant, Alfred Adamson; Third- Assistants, Wm. J. 
 Clark, Jr., J. G. Brosnahan, Arthur Price and J. L. 
 Hannum; Boatswain, James Brown; Gunner, James 
 Hayes. 
 
 STEAMER "SONOMA." 
 
 Commander, Geo. H. Cooper; Lieutenant, Geo. 
 W. Hayward; Assistant Surgeon, S. P. Shaw; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, P. F. Hastings; Acting- 
 Master, Wm. M. Post; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. N. 
 Price, S. H. Pollock and H. H. Johnson; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, S. S. Willett, G. W. Eckert, C. C. 
 Neil and R. W. Robins; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, A. B. Dunlaj); Acting-Second- Assistant, 
 A. B. Cullins; Acting-Third-Assistants, W. A. Smith, 
 Rufus Burton and J. Hawkey; Gunner, J. M. Hogg. 
 
 IRON-CLAD SrEAMBR "LEHIGH." 
 
 Commander, Andrew Bryson; Lieutenant, Moreau 
 Porrest; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. Longshaw, Jr. ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. C. Imlay; Acting- 
 Master, Richard Burke; Acting - Ensigns, Bdw. 
 Tilghman, C. M. Thwing, J. E. Stickney and P. W. 
 Towne; Acting-Master's Mate, (t. W. Leland; En- 
 gineers : First Assistant, W. D. Pendleton; Second- 
 Assistant, Alfred Hedrick; Third-Assistant, C. M. 
 Van Tine, J. H. Thomas and S, C. McLanahan. 
 
 STEAMER "PAUL JONES." 
 
 Commander, James M. Duncan; Lieutenant, 
 James O'Kane; Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Coles; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. A Berry; Acting- 
 Ensigns, J. Potts, Ohas. Clauson, Henry Hamre 
 and Chas. Weidenhien ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 J. H. Manning, J. L. Rowe and C. E. Everdean; En- 
 gineers: First-Assistant, James Sheridan; Third- 
 Assistants, James A. Chasmer, E. D. Weems, Geo. 
 Paul and L. T. Safford; Acting-Gunner, John 
 Brown. 
 
 STEAMER " MAHASKA.' 
 
 Commander, J. B. Craighton ; Lieutenant, E. C. 
 T. Blake; Assistant Surgeon, H. S. Pitkin; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Chas. Fairchild; Acting- Mas- 
 ter, Benj. Dyer; Acting-Ensigns, Frederick Elliott, 
 N. W. Black, Chas. G. Boyerand G. E. French; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, Wm. White; Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistant, G. E. Ashby; Third- Assistants, 
 Thomas La Blanc, E. L. Hewatiiand N. H. Lamdin. 
 
 STEAMER "OIMMARON." 
 
 Commander, Aaron K. Hughes ; Lieutenant, 
 Adolphus Dexter; Assistant Surgeon, E. S. Olcott; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Griffln; Acting- 
 Master, 8. A. Waterbury ; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. 
 Anderson, G. F. Howes, Chas. Ranfield, J. W. 
 JS'orth and T. R. Dayton; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Thomas Newton, P. J. Markoe, J. D. Reed and E. 
 P. Crocker; Engineers: Second-Assistant, Reynolds 
 Driver; Third-Assistants, W. H. Kellay, W. L. 
 BaiUe and G. L. Palmer; Gunner, M. A. Lane. 
 
 IRONCLAD STEAMER " PASSAIO." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Edward Simpson; Lieu- 
 tenant, Wm. Whitehead ; Assistant Surgeon, H. C. 
 Eckstein; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, L. C. Tripp; 
 Acting- Master, James Ogilvie; Acting-Ensigns, L. 
 G. Emerson, D. B. Hawes, A. Delano, Jr. and W. H. 
 Roberts; Acting-Master's Mate, W. H. Lewis; Engi- 
 neers: First-Assistant, Henry Mason; Second- Assist- 
 -ant, F. H. Fletcher; Third -Assistants, William A. 
 3)riDDS. Josenh Hoooer and C. Ken von. 
 
 STEAMER "NIPSIC."' 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander, Wm. Gibson ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, W. J. Gilfillen; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, H. T. Mansfield; Acting-Master, W. L. 
 Churchill; Acting-Ensigns, H. A. Greene, J. A. Win- 
 chester and A. B. Prince; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 G. S. Johnson, W. K. Orcutt and W. H. Kitching, Jr.; 
 Engineers: First- Assistant, 8. L. P. Ay res; Second- 
 Assistants, A. W. Morley and C. E. Emery ; Third- 
 Assistants, R. B. Plotts and B. R. Stevens. 
 
 STEAMER "CHIPPEWA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, T. C. Harris; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Louis Zenzen ; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, G. A. Robertson; Acting-Master, W. H. DeWolf; 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. M. Crocker and H. T. Blake; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J, C. Butler and J. A. H. 
 Willmuth; Engineers: Second - Assistant, R. H. 
 Thurston; Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. Heenan; 
 Third - Assistants, A. Saokett, C. R. Mosher and 
 J. M. Murray. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER " NANTUCKET " 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Stephen B. Luce ; Lieu- 
 tenant, H. L. Howison ; Assistant Surgeon, A. B. 
 Judson; Acting- Assistant Paymastar,L. 8. Brigham ; 
 Acting-Master, W. H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, J. F. 
 Otis, C. C. Starr and John Meyers ; Engineers : 
 Second-Assistants, George H. White and I. R. Mc- 
 Nary; Third- Assistants, N. W. Buckhout and J. K. 
 Smedley; Acting-Third- Assistant, A. L. Grow. 
 
 IBON-OLAD STEAMER "MONTAUK." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis; Lieuten- 
 ant, Gilbert C. Wiltse; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 W. H. Harlin; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. 
 Sellman; Acting-Master, Edmund Jones; Acting-En- 
 signs, T. F. DeLuce, I. J. McKinley and G. H. Avery; 
 Acting - Master's Mate, Robert Craig ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Second- Assistants, C. A. Stuart and Simon 
 Rockefeller; Third-Assistants, Jesse F. Walton, S. C. 
 Lane and Montgomery West. 
 
 STEAMER "UNADILLA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. W. Johnson ; Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, C. S. Hubbard; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, G. 8. Benedict; Acting-Master, R. M. Cor- 
 nell, Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Field and G. E. Thomas; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, James Such and A. P. Taffe; 
 Engineers: Second-Assistant, R. S. Talbot; Third- 
 Assistants, M. T. Sunstrom, N. P. Towna and M. 
 N. Knowlton. 
 
 STEAMER "OTTAWA." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, S. Livingston Breese ; 
 Assistant Surgeon, G. W. Woods; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. W. Huntington; Acting-Ensigns, W. 
 H. MoCormick, J. L. Gamble, Benj. Mitchell, C. H. 
 Choate and E. M. Dimon; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. W. Tripp and F. W. Turner ; Engineers : 
 Second-Assistants, J. P. Sprague, E. W. Koehl 
 and F. C. Prindle; Third- Assistant, R. B. Hine. 
 
 IRON-CLAD STEAMER "NAHANT." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. J. CornweU; Lieuten- 
 ant, H. C. Tallman; Assistant Surgeon, D. P. Rick- 
 atts ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, D. A. Smith, 
 Jr. ; Acting-Master, C. C. Ricker; Acting - Ensigns, 
 W. E. Thomas and S. A. Gove; Engineers : Second- 
 Assistant, W. H. G. West ; Third-Assistant, W. 8. 
 Neal and Robert Crawford; Acting-Third -Assistant, 
 T. B. Green. 
 
 STEAMER "HtTRON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, P. H. Baker ; Assistant 
 Surgeon, C. H. White; Acting- Assistant Paymaster. 
 Chas. Stewart ; Acting- Masters, Wm. A. Mills and 
 W. H. Baldwin; Acting Master's Mates, Samuel 
 Delano, Peter O'Conner and Wm. Henderson; 
 Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, G. P. Roebuck; 
 Third-Assistants, Sylvanus Mclntyre, J. P. Kelly. 
 John Lowe, Thomas Crummey and F. C. Russell. 
 
674 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 STEAMER "WATEE WITCH." 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Austin Pendergrast ; 
 Actinir-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, L. G. Biliings; Acting-Ma::- 
 ters, C. W. Buck and W. B. Stoddard; Acting-En- 
 signs, J. M. Forsytii, A. T. Stover and Chas. Hill ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, E. D. W. Parsons, C. P. Wes- 
 ton and H. V. Butler; Engineers: Aoting-First-As- 
 sistant, Sanmel Genther; Aoting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. P. Cooper, J. Hollingsworth and I. A. Conover. 
 
 STEAMER " MAHBLEHEAD.'' 
 
 Lieutenant-Couuuander, R. W. Meade, Jr.; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, B. H. Kidder ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, James Winter; Acting-Ensigns, G. A. 
 Harriman and G. P. AVinslow; Acting-JIaster's 
 Mates, B. O. Low, T. L. Fisher and F. Millett; En- 
 gineers : Acting-Second -Assistant, Frank Hender- 
 son; Third-Assistants, H. W. Bulkley, M. A. Suth- 
 erland and F. W. Bissett. 
 
 STEAMER " WISSAHICKON." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, G. S. Fife ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Chas. Butcher; Acting-Master, J. E. 
 Jones; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Odiorne, H. B. 
 Francis and C. F. Bearing; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 D. J. King ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, 
 W. 8. Hazzaru; Acting-Third -Assistants, H. J. Tarr, 
 Chas. E. Jevens and G. S. Odell. 
 
 STEAMER "SENECA." 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Alfred Hopkins; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. B. C. Sawyer; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Elijah Ward ; Acting - Masters, 
 Henry Vaughan and G. AV. Ewer; Acting-Ensigns, 
 G. H.Wood and J. H. Anivers; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, J. G. Paine and E. W. Fiske; Engineers ; 
 Second- Assistants, Jos. Watters, H. H. Burritt and 
 Thomas Lynch; Third-Assistant, R. T. Bennett. 
 
 STEAMER "MEMPHIS." 
 
 Lieutenant-Conunander, Thos. H. Eastman; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Louis Michel; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, W. E. Foster; Acting-Ensigns, E. A. 
 Magone, J. B. Childs, G. A. Churchill and S. W. 
 Cowing ; Acting - Master's Mates, J. G. Croclter, 
 Silas Owen, J. W. Moore and J. AV. DeCamp; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Second- Assistants, Chas. McCarty, 
 and Peter Anderson ; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 J. H. VaUe and AA?^m. Adams. 
 
 IBON-OIiAD STEAMER "CATSKIIL." 
 
 Lieutenant-Conmiander, F. M. Bunce ; Assistant 
 Surgeon, Robert AVillard; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, G. F. Barker; Acting-Master, G. AV. Parker ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, C. P. AValters and G. AV. Prindle ; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Peter Trescott; Engineers: 
 Second-Assistant, G. D. Emmons; Third-Assistants, 
 J. T. Booth, Frank Marsh and Jas. Plunkett. 
 
 STEAMER "LODONA." 
 
 Acting - Lieutenant, Edgar Broadhead; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, T. AV. Meckley ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, A. M. Stewart ; Acting - Master, 
 H. S. Blanchard; Acting-Ensigns, !N. AV. Rathburn, 
 H. G. McKennee, R. C. McKenzie and Le (t. B. 
 Brigham ; Acting-First-Assistant Engineer, F. A. 
 Bremen; Acting-Second-Assistants, Richard Durfee 
 and M. C. Heath; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. Mol- 
 lineaux, C. A. McDowell and Fred. AVagner. 
 
 STEAMER " FLAMBEAU." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Hoppin; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, F. V. P. Horton; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, A. S. Megathlin and AV. L. Kempton ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, G. Cottrell, T. H. D'Estimeauville and 
 J.P.Gallagher; Engineers: Acting-First Assistant, 
 John Harris; Acting-Second Assistant, Edw. AUin ; 
 Acting- Third - Assistants, W. H. Anderson and 
 Leonard Atwood. 
 
 STEAMER " COMMODORE M'DONOUOH." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. AV. Tuck; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, AV. H. Campbell ; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, R. Freeman; Acting-Master, \Vm. Knapp; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, J. K. Winn andD. B. Hallett; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. E. Goodwin and D. Lester; Engi- 
 neers : Acting- Second -Assistants, 8. AVarren and 
 8. S. Hetrick; Acting-Third- Assistants, Nelson Rose 
 and W. AV. Hartley. 
 
 STEAMER "MOHAWK." 
 
 Acting-Master, Alex. Tillinghast ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, G. H. Andrews ; Acting-Ensign, 
 E. Rich, Jr.; Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. Trott; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Second- Assistant, R. K. Morrison ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, G. E. Whitney. 
 
 STEAMER " HOME.'' 
 
 Acting- Master, Nicholas Kirby : Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, AV. N. Pindell; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, T. W. Burger ; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Shack- 
 ford, A. E. Barneftand J. M. Smaltey; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, F. K. S. Nye, J. K. Gould and F. H. 
 Munroe ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistants, 
 C. Dandreau and C. Armberg; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, Paul Dandreau, C. R. Rodker and R. D& 
 Cordy. 
 
 STEAMER "POTOMSKA." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Geo. E. AVelch ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. C. Smith ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, F. H. Swan ; Acting - Masters, 
 R. P. AValter and B. AV. Leary ; Acting-Ensign, J. D. 
 AVells; Acting-Master's Mate, AVoodward Carter; 
 Engineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, G. H. Guyer; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, Edwin Vaughan and W. 
 L. McKay. 
 
 STEAMER "STETTIN." 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, C. J. A^an Alstine ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. J. Pigott; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. M. Burns, Jr.; Acting-Master, 
 J. M. Butler; Acting-Ensigns, G. R. Bailey, C. B. 
 Pray and J. C. Staples ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Benj. Russell and C. H. Fernald; Engineers; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant. J. B. Edwards ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant, John Hawkins, John Ryan and Anthony 
 Gale. 
 
 STEAMER "IRIS." 
 
 Acting-Master, AVm. Bari-ymore ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, AV. AV. Brandt, A. H. L. Bowie and Thomas 
 Irving; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Thos. 
 Fewkes; Acting-Third- Assistants, Morris McCarty 
 and Dennis Lyng. 
 
 STEAMER "PHILADELPHIA." 
 
 Acting-Mnster, Geo. R. Durand; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. H. Culver; Assistant Paymaster, H. L. 
 AVait; Actuig-Ensigns, L. A. AVaterman, J. E. 
 AVallis and J. AVorth; Acting-Master's Mates, Geo. 
 H. Bartlett, C. F. Moore and A. Truesdell; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-Second- Assistant, C. A. Norris ; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, AV. H. Capen and Robert 
 Mulready. 
 
 STEAMER " O. M. PETTIT." 
 
 Acting- Master, T. E. Baldwin; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, E. L. Smith, Charles Hanson and E. P. 
 Crocker; Engineers: Acting- Second- Assistant, 
 Reuben McClanahan ; Acting- Third - Assistants, 
 Aug. AVandell and AVm. P. AVynn. 
 
 STEAMER "NORWICH." 
 
 Acting-Masters, F. B. Merriam and R. B. Ar- 
 rants; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, G. E. McPherson; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. C. Boardman; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, J. H. Linscott andS. S. Hand; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, A. J. L. Barker, Peter Moalder, T. 
 M. Durham and Henry Sinclair; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, P. B. Robinson ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, A. A. Odell, Benjamin Cobb, Jr., and 
 AV. AV. Thain. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 675 
 
 STEAMEB "MABT SANFORD." 
 
 Acting- Master, Wm. Rogers ; Acting - Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. C. Bissell ; Acting-Ensigns, M. J. 
 Daly, C. A. Pike, G.W. Pease and W. Caldwell, Jr. ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, A. F. Rich and C. Seymour; 
 Engineers; Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. Johnson; 
 Acting- Third- Assistants, Jas. Hare, J. L, Rookeand 
 C. H- Hunt. 
 
 STEAMER- "E. B. HAIE." 
 
 Acting-Master, Clias. F. Mitchell ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, S. N. Fisk; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, O. B. GUman; Acting-Ensigns, Henry Stahl, 
 G. H. Smith, J. N. Van Boskirk and Geo. Edwards; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second-AssistHnt, James Fagan; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, D. A. Lawrence and Geo. 
 Taylor. 
 
 STEAMER "SOUTH OAEOLINA." 
 
 Acting-Masters, James H. Magune, E. M. Bald- 
 win and F. F. Baury ; Acting - Assistant Sur- 
 geon, Geo. A. Bright; Acting-Paymaster, A. S. 
 Kenny; Ensign, J. C. Pegram; Acting-Ensigns, G.W. 
 Bourne, C. F. Taylor and John Gunn ; Acting- 
 Master g Mates, E. Holbrook, A. S. Hitch and S. L. 
 Withington ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, 
 J. T. Hathaway ; Aoting-Seeond-Assistants, J. H . 
 Rowe, Henry Gormley and F. W. H. Whittaker; 
 Acting-Third- Assistant, Thomas Slater. 
 
 STEAMEB "OLEANDER.' 
 
 Acting- Master, John S. Dennis; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Jos. Frost and A. P. Bashford ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Wm. C. King ; Acting-Engineers : Acting- 
 Second - Assistant, Samuel Swartwout ; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, R. B. Dick and H. S. Brown. 
 
 BARK " ETHAN ALLEN." 
 
 Acting- Master, J. A. Pennell; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, H. W. Mitchell; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, W. R Woodward; Acting- Ensigns, T. M. 
 Peakes, J. H. Bunting, Jos. McCartand Wm. Mere; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, E. T. Dexter, G. H. Red- 
 ford and C. F. Adams. 
 
 BABE "BEAZILIBBA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. T. Gillespie; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Geo. B. Todd; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, C. H. Longstreet; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. 
 Bennett and N. C. Borden; Acting Master's Mates, 
 J. B. F. Smith, W. N. Smith, Isaac Severns and 
 F. H. W. Harrington. 
 
 BAEK "A. HOUGHTON." 
 
 Acting-Master, Newell Graham ; Acting- Ensigns, 
 E. B. Cox; Acting- Master's Mate, C. H. Nicholls. 
 
 BARK " KINGFISHER." 
 
 Acting-Masters, J. C. Dutch and S. W. Rhoades; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, N. W. Blakeman; Acting- 
 Ensigns, T. E. Chapin and Wm. Nelson; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, H. G. Seaman and Frank Jordan. 
 
 BARK "FEENANDINA." 
 
 Acting-Masters, E. Moses and C. C. Childs; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, S. P. Boyer ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, T. N. Murray ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Christopher Flood and W. H. Thomas; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Geo. NewUn and John Wright 
 
 BABK "MIDNIGHT.'' 
 
 Acting-Masters, Wm. H. Garfield and Edwin 
 Coffin; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. M. Garner- 
 Acting - Assistant Paymaster, Franklm Miller 
 Acting- Ensigns, Z. L. Tanner and N. Pratt 
 Acting-Master's Mates, A. K. Noyes and S. H. 
 Maunders. 
 
 SCHOONER "HOPE." 
 
 Acting- Master, John E. RockweU; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, W. E. Gould, Elisha Hubbard and J. S. 
 
 SCHOONER "DAN SMITH," 
 
 Acting- Master, B. C. Dean ; Acting- Ensign, Paul 
 Armandt; Acting-Master's Mates, J. C. Vandeven- 
 ter and W. W. Hunt. 
 
 ORDNANCE SLOOP "JOHN ADAMS." 
 
 Acting-Masters, A. S. Gardner and J. P. Carr; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Israel Bushong ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Tracy Coit ; Acting-Ensign, 
 John Bhtz; Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Henley, 
 Benjamin Lawton, Franklin James and C. E. 
 Cool. 
 
 BRIG " PERRY.'' 
 
 Acting-Master, S. B. Gregory; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, T. A. Emerson; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. 
 Hanford, J. H. Clark and R. R. Donnell; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, E. H. Sheer, T. H. McDonald and 
 C. P. Bridges. 
 
 STOEE-SHIP "SUPPLY." 
 
 Acting-Masters, D. G. McRitchie, Z. Kempton and 
 Norman H. Penfield ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 Reuben Smith ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, B. F. 
 Munroe ; Acting - Ensigns, F. M. Montell, J. W. 
 Butler and F. H. Phipps; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. W. Almy, W. S. Howlandand J. S. Carpenter. 
 
 SCHOONER "P. A. WARD." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. L. Babcock; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, J. A. Fife ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Alonzo El well, N. M. Baker, Jr., and G. A. Olmstead. 
 
 SCHOONER "RACER." 
 
 Acting-Master, Alvin Phinney ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Eugene Littell ; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 H. C. Whitmore, D. B. Corey and J. F. Kavan- 
 augh. 
 
 SCHOONER " O. P. WILLIAMS." 
 
 Acting-Master. S. N. Freeman ; Acting- Ensigns, 
 Jacob Cochran ; Acting-Master's Mate, Lloyd E. 
 Daggett. 
 
 SCHOONER "GEORGE MANGHAM." 
 
 Acting- Master, John Collins ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, C. S. Eastwood ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. G. Holland; Acting-Ensigns, E. Gabriel- 
 son and F. Marshall ; Acting- Master's Mates, Ezra 
 C. Colvin and G. A. Johnson. 
 
 STEAMER "GEBANIUM." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Geo. A. Winson; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. B. Newcomb, David Lee and C. T. Rem- 
 monds; Engineers : Acting-Second- Assistant, J. H. 
 Foster ; Acting-Third - Assistants, S. W. Midlam, 
 Chas. Henry and Wm. J. Carman. 
 
 STEAMER "LARKSPUR." 
 
 Acting - Ensign, F. B. Davis; Acting - Master's 
 Mates; John O'Conner, E. H. Frisbie and Jacob 
 Kemp; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, T. G. 
 Farroat and J. T. Greenwood. 
 
 STEAMER "DAPPODIL." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, F. W. Sanborn; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. C. Wentworth, C. L. Weeden, T. E. Har- 
 vey and D. Lester ; Engineers :' Acting-Second- As- 
 sistant, T. W. Dee; Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. 
 Fisher and W. F. Henderson. 
 
 STEAMER "JONQUIL." 
 
 Acting Ensign, Israel T.Halstead; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. G. Brown and George Bowers; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second -Assistant, David Gay ring; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants; Jesse Wright and Wm. Leonard. 
 
 STEAMER "CARNATION." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Wm. Boyd; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. Burnham and E. H. Frisbie; Engineers : Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, T. S. Jennings; Acting-Third-As- 
 
676 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 STEAMEK "OLOVEE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Chas. A. Blanchard; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, F. S. Leach; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Greo. Divine; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. 
 C. Brown. 
 
 SOHOONEB "NOKPOLK PACKET." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Geo. W. Wood; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Andrew Tower; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. Kingsley, Timothy Eyan and Geo. Delaps. 
 
 STEAMEK ' ' DANDELION. " 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. B. Russell, Louis Boun 
 and W. R. Lyons; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, J. G. Rossman; Acting-Third- Assistants, John 
 Mulready and John Grimes. 
 
 SOHOONEB "BLUNT. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, B. D. Reed; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 C. W. Cleaves, W. R. Pease and W. Arftins. 
 
 STEAMEB "COLUMBINE." 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. B. Spencer, James 
 Martin and John Davis; Engineers : Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, H. J. Johnson and Geo. H. Luther. 
 
 STEAMEB ' • BESCUE. " 
 
 Acting- Master's Mate, A. G. Borden; Engineers: 
 Aoting-Third-Assistants, G. W. Howe and J. G. 
 Dennett. 
 
 OPnOEES NOT ASSIGNED TO VESSELS. 
 
 Commanders, J. W. A. Nicholson and N. B. Har- 
 rison; Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. B. Gamble. 
 
CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 POTOMAC FLOTILLA. INCREASE OF THE NAVY, AND IMPROVEMENTS 
 IN NAVAL SHIPS, DURING THE YEAR 1864. 
 
 THE Potomac Flotilla during 1864 re- 
 mained under the command of 
 Commander Foxhall A. Parker, a 
 valuable officer, who conducted the 
 affairs of his little squadron with 
 so much efficiency that he was enabled to 
 carry out all the objects for which the 
 flotilla was intended. 
 
 The work of this department of the 
 Navy was not brilliant, but it was useful. 
 Besides the duties involved in patroling 
 the Potomac, the Rappahannock River was 
 added to Commander Parker's district. 
 
 There was at one time an extensive con- 
 traband trade between Virginia and the 
 lower part of Maryland, by which the Con- 
 federates frequently received large amounts 
 of supplies ; and the blockade-runners (such 
 as they were) were quite as indefatigable 
 in their attempts to provision the Confed- 
 erates in Virginia as the larger vessels 
 running the blockade on the coast. 
 
 The small craft that were engaged in 
 this traffic between Maryland and Virginia 
 were well adapted for the business, and 
 calculated to avoid detection. The traders 
 themselves were reckless and unscrupulous 
 men, not working with any patriotic feeling 
 to serve the Confederate cause, but to en- 
 rich themselves by the large returns they 
 received for the supplies so much needed 
 by private and public parties. 
 
 No greater vigilance was exhibited any- 
 where than was shown by the officers and 
 men of the Potomac flotilla ; and what was 
 done by the blockaders on the coast on a 
 large scale was equally well done by the 
 Potomac flotilla on a small one. 
 
 It was impossible to break up this block- 
 ade-running altogether, with such a long 
 line of communication to be patroled, and 
 with so small a number of vessels and boats 
 to df> it, OnnnrtnnitifiS p.oiild almost al- 
 
 ways be found to elude the blockade, and 
 the temptations were so great that men 
 fearlessly risked their lives to secure the 
 large profits that awaited them in case of a 
 successful run. They were aided by sym- 
 pathetic friends on either side, who in most 
 cases enabled them to evade detection 
 when they were chased to the shore. Num- 
 bers of them were, however, captured while 
 in transit, while many of their boats were 
 ferreted out of their hiding-places, captured 
 and destroyed. Most of this work had to 
 be done at night, and throughout the war 
 the most wearing vigilance was kept up by 
 the different commanders and officers who 
 had been employed in the Potomac flotilla. 
 
 Besides thje watchfulness required in pur- 
 suit of the blockade -runners, the flotilla 
 was at all times ready to give its active and 
 willing co-operation to any military move- 
 ment, and this assistance was frequently 
 called for. While the Federal Army was 
 in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, in the 
 spring and summer, the services of the 
 smaller steamers were constantly invoked. 
 They opened communication between mili- 
 tary forces, cleared large numbers of tor- 
 pedoes from the river, made it safe for 
 the transports to move with supplies or 
 troops, drove the Confederate bushwhackers 
 from the banks of the river, and returned 
 with the sick and wounded from the field of 
 battle. 
 
 The gun-boats that served upon this duty 
 were of very light draft, purchased for 
 this particular work, which will account 
 for so many vessels of inferior character 
 being in the Navy. Consequently, those 
 who served on board of them in a hostile 
 country were exposed to more than ordinary 
 peril. It was wonderful to see these slightly- 
 built vessels go into action against the Con- 
 federate batteries, which one would suDDOse 
 
678 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 from their rapid firing would soon cut them 
 to pieces; but the stern discipline existing 
 and precise aiming of the somewhat heavy 
 guns of these '-pasteboard" craft would, 
 nine times out of ten, carry the day. 
 
 In these operations Commander Parker 
 made his mark, assisted mostly by gallant 
 volunteer officers, who, towards the end of 
 the war, became very expert in all that re- 
 lated to this kind of warfare. Had a larger 
 field of operations offered to Commander 
 Parker, he was just the man who would 
 have done infinite credit to himself and 
 have conferred honor upon the Navy. The 
 trying work and perilous duties, with the 
 effects of a malarial climate, caused him 
 to contract disease, which brought him 
 to a premature death not long after the 
 close of the war. The Navy lost in him 
 a brave and gallant officer, who had 
 proved himself to be efficient in whatever 
 
 COMMANDER (APTERWAEDS COMMODORE) FOXHALL A. 
 PARKER, 
 
 COMMANDING THE POTOMAC FLOTILLA. 
 
 position he was placed. There were many 
 like him who succumbed to disease and ex- 
 posure, who, but for the war, might be liv- 
 ing to-day. 
 
 INCREASE OF THE NAVY AND IMPROVEMENTS 
 IN NAVAL SHIPS UP TO DECEMBER, 1864. 
 
 As tlie war progressed, it became evi- 
 dent that the Federal Government should 
 not only build vessels for blockading the 
 Southern coast and patroling the Western 
 and Southern rivers, but for the protec- 
 tion of their own coast against a foreign 
 foe, and for the capture of the Confederate 
 cruisers which were then committing such 
 havoc upon Federal commerce. 
 
 No one knew at what time the United 
 States might be involved in war with Eng- 
 
 land or France, particularly the former coun- 
 try, which had afforded the South so much 
 assistance in fitting out cruisers, that mat- 
 ters could not go on any longer without 
 subjecting the Federal Government to the 
 contempt of all civilized Powers. Although 
 the Confederate Government only managed 
 to procure vessels from England through 
 shifts and stratagems, yet it was very evi- 
 dent that the British Government was not 
 taking vigorous steps to put a stop to a 
 practice in violation of its "Foreign En- 
 listment Act," and was oblivious to the fact 
 that these cruisers were now and then de- 
 stroying British goods in Federal vessels. 
 They were willing to suffer the smaller evil 
 that the greater good might accrue to Eng- 
 lish commerce, which it was hoped would, 
 through the destruction of American ship- 
 ping, have a monopoly all over the world. 
 If British goods, properly documented, were 
 not respected on board American vessels, 
 the end would be the destruction of all 
 American commerce — as was seen by the 
 unhesitating manner in which Semmes di- 
 rected every vessel he captured, and chose 
 to consider subject to condemnation, to be 
 consigned to the flames. 
 
 There is a certain amount of respect 
 which every civilized nation demands for 
 its commerce — that it shall only be captured 
 by belligerents under certain laws laid down 
 for the protection of neutrals, and the 
 country having its commerce subjected to 
 captures is in duty bound to see that the 
 law is respected; while it is the duty of each 
 belligerent to instruct its naval command- 
 ers accordingly. But the Confederate 
 Government took no steps in this matter, 
 leaving its agents to work out their ends, 
 and "burn, sink and destroy" at their 
 discretion. It seemed as if they did not 
 consider themselves responsible for any- 
 thing that might happen on the ocean. 
 The Confederacy was incapable of nego- 
 tiating with foreign Powers, who could not 
 recognize its diplomatic agents without 
 practically acknowledging the independ- 
 ence of the Confederate States; and this 
 point should not only have warned neutral 
 Powers against granting belligerent rights, 
 but it should have emboldened them to resort 
 first to emphatic remonstrances against the 
 manner in which the captures of the Confed- 
 erates were made, and then to sending out 
 cruisers to enforce their deixiands, and thus 
 put an end to the violation of their own laws. 
 
 The right to capture an enemy's com- 
 merce on the high seas is fully recognized 
 by the law of nations ; but that law should 
 only apply to regularly recognized govern- 
 ments. The Confederacy was not and 
 could not be held responsible for anything 
 done by its cruisers, as was shown in the 
 end by its collapse. The United States 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 679 
 
 alone could then be held responsible for 
 what the Confederates had done against 
 the commerce of any other government. 
 
 There was in the latter part of 1864 a grow 
 ing feeling in the Federal States against 
 the action of Great Britain, which, though 
 the latter began to pay more attention to 
 its neutral obligations (owing to the strong 
 protests of Mr. Adams, Federal minister at 
 the Court of St. James), still allowed these 
 cruisers to escape to sea ; and several iron- 
 clad rams, built by John Laird & Co. , were 
 preparing for sea, at Liverpool. These 
 rams would, no doubt, have escaped but 
 for the earnest remonstrances of the Ameri- 
 can minister, who in the most emphatic 
 manner declared to the British Govern- 
 ment that, to permit these vessels to depart, 
 would be considered an act of war. Under 
 these circumstances Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment had no difficulty in finding reasons 
 for seizing and detaining the rams, after a 
 three months' controversy over the matter. 
 Among the most outspoken of the mem- 
 bers of the Federal Cabinet in regard to the 
 violation of neutrality by the British Gov- 
 ernment in permitting the Confederate 
 cruisers to escape its vigilance, was Mr. 
 Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. 
 He had appealed to Congress time after time 
 to appropriate money to enable the Navy 
 Department to build a class of vessels that 
 would make it possible for him to put a 
 stop to the depredations of the Confederate 
 commerce-destroyers, but Congress dealt 
 out money in such insufficient amounts 
 that Mr. Welles could not at once «quip 
 the class of vessels desired, not only to 
 put a stop to the destruction of Federal 
 commerce, but to show foreign Powers 
 that, even with the great strain that was 
 laid upon Federal resources, the United 
 States could not only fit out cruisers against 
 the "Alabamas." but could build such ves- 
 sels as would do good service against for- 
 eign ships of- war, in case the Federal Gov- 
 ernment was di'iven to resort to the last ex- 
 tremity to preserve its prestige and its 
 honor. 
 
 Mr. Welles, in his annual reports, was un- 
 ceasing in his denunciations of the remiss- 
 ness of the British Government and the 
 depredations of the Confederate cruisers, 
 whom in his loyal zeal he always main- 
 tained were pirates ; and he showered in- 
 vectives on the commanders of those ves- 
 sels in language not altogether parliamen- 
 tary, but which he honestly believed to be 
 the truth. 
 
 The Secretarj^ had, no doubt, made efforts, 
 with the intelligent aid of his assistant, 
 Mr. Fox, to fit out sea vessels of a character 
 that could pursue these cruisers with effect; 
 but, unfortunately, there were obstacles in 
 the way which for a time impeded the pro- 
 
 gress of his plans. In the first place, Mr. 
 Welles attached too much importance to 
 the blockade of the Southern ports and list- 
 ened too much to the clamors of com- 
 manders of squadrons for more vessels on 
 their stations; for inferior -built steamers 
 could have performed that duty as well as 
 the sea-going corvettes. Then, his plans 
 were interfered with by Commodore Wilkes, 
 who not only had a squadron of twelve 
 vessels with which he patrolled the Gulf 
 and West Indies, but also seized upon the 
 fastest cruisers the Secretary of the Navy 
 had sent on special duty to go in pursuit 
 of the Confederates, and detained the 
 vessels belonging to the neighboring sta- 
 tions and attached them to his squadron. 
 In one instance, at least, there was a chance 
 of capturing the '' Alabama," which had 
 touched at all the ports where her pursuer 
 followed her, but the latter was just a month 
 too late. Though the Navy Department 
 may have been at fault in its judgment 
 in not sending fast vessels to the channels 
 of trade in the first instance, it more than 
 made up for it by putting its whole energies 
 to work to place the Navy in a condition to 
 meet any emergency that might offer, even 
 at the end of tlie war. 
 
 The Department, as well as the Adminis- 
 tration, had been very much abused for 
 the depredations of the Confederate cruisers, 
 especially by those who were sufferers, and 
 the opposition party were glad of the op- 
 portunity to berate the Government for 
 its w^ant of forethought in not anticipating 
 the evils that were falling upon the Fed- 
 eral commerce. For the first time Congress 
 began to be aroused to a sense of the dan- 
 ger that threatened the country, not only 
 by the complete destruction of the foreign 
 trade, but also the danger of being driven 
 into a foreign war to preserve the Federal 
 honor, if not its nationality. Under the 
 plea of providing against the commerce- 
 destroyers of the Confederacy, large strides 
 were made in building up the Navy; which 
 it will be seen in the end was the wisest 
 policy to pursue, as it taught those Powers 
 that were forgetting their neutral obliga- 
 tions that the policy they had hitherto pur- 
 sued would no more be tolerated, and showed 
 them that the longer the war lasted the 
 stronger the Federal Government would 
 grow, no matter what might be the drafts 
 upon its treasury. 
 
 For attacks on forts and for river work the 
 Federal Government had by 1863 a suffi- 
 cient number of vessels to close the Confed- 
 erate ports; and it was determined to build 
 a number of large vessels that would be su- 
 perior to any ships of their class abroad, not 
 only in the power of their guns but in their 
 speed. 
 At that moment the exigencies of the 
 
680 
 
 THK JMAVAL m:sTUKy 
 
 times had stimulated the inventive facul- 
 ties of American ship and engine builders 
 to make vast improvements in vessels-of- 
 ■war — in machinery, in naval ordnance and 
 in projectiles. At the commencement of the 
 war, the Federals may be said to have been 
 in their infancy in such matters, and had to 
 make great exertions to catch up with the 
 powers of Europe; but by the end of 18G4 
 they were quite in a condition to vindicate 
 their rights and rebuke Great Britain and 
 France for the unfair advantage they had 
 taken in their hour of distress. Besides a 
 number of single - turreted Monitors (the 
 names of which have often appeared in 
 these pages), there were built seven or eight 
 double-turreted Monitors of the "Monad- 
 nock" class, which alone were quite capable 
 of guarding the coast against the heaviest 
 ships in the French or English navies. 
 
 Seven vessels were building at the Navy 
 Yards, in which, to gain great speed, some 
 of the armament had to be sacrificed. This 
 class of vessels was represented by the 
 "Ammonoosuc" and the "Chattanooga." 
 There were also in process of construction 
 twenty heavily armed vessels. Ten of these, 
 of the " Guerriere" class, were to have cov- 
 ered decks, and to carry twenty heavy guns; 
 two were to be protected against the effect 
 of shells. The remaining ten built at the 
 Navy Yards were of somewhat less size, 
 but to be of great speed ; and as nearly all 
 of these were of full-sail power, they were 
 expected to maintain their positions at sea 
 for at least three months, and to be used on 
 the most distant stations. 
 
 Among the wonders of the age at that 
 time were built a set of vessels called the 
 " Miantonomoh " class — a wooden vessel de- 
 signed by the naval constructors, and built 
 at the Navy Yards with Ericsson turrets, 
 the machinery designed by Engineer-in- 
 chief B. F. Isherwood, chief of the Bureau 
 of Steam Engineering ; with a high rate of 
 speed, perfect ventilation, impregnable, and 
 with the enormous battery of four 15-inch 
 guns, all combined in a vessel of the mod- 
 erate rate of 1,560 tons, drawing only 12 
 feet of water. Others of the same type, 
 with increased tonnage and of still higher 
 speed, were also in the course of construc- 
 tion, and the Federal Government had, ap- 
 Earently, realized at last the importance of 
 aving a powerful Navy, by which alone it 
 could maintain its position among the na- 
 tions of the earth. 
 
 Mr. Seward's earnest letters and Mr. 
 Adams' strong protests may have had some 
 influence upon the British Government in 
 deciding them to carry out the terms of 
 their "Foreign Enlistment Act," but there 
 was a stronger argument in the heavy 
 ships and guns that the Federals were build- 
 ing so rapidly; and this will ever be the case 
 
 as long as we maintain a properly equipped 
 naval force to prevent any interference 
 in our affairs by foreign Powers, and to 
 enable us to assert ourselves whenever oc- 
 casion may require. 
 
 The following table will explain all that 
 the Navy Department had done from the 
 outbreak of the war, and the exhibit shows 
 that a great amount of zeal, intelligence 
 and practical ability was manifested by 
 those who were engaged in building up the 
 Navy. It will be seen in the end that it did 
 more to establish the standing of the United 
 States abroad than even the advance of the 
 Federal armies; and, among other things, 
 it completely stopped all attempts of the 
 Confederates to fit out cruisers in neutral 
 ports. 
 
 It was at this crisis that Mr. Fox, Assist- 
 ant Secretary of the Navy, did so much by 
 his influence and his progressive mind, in 
 Congress and in the Department, in further- 
 ing all the plans brought to the Secretary's 
 notice; and it is only fair to say that, with- 
 out his assistance and the ability he dis- 
 played in all professional matters, the 
 Navy Department would not have reached 
 the point of efficiency which at that time 
 existed. This Avas appreciated by officers 
 throughout the service ; and it is evident, 
 from the latitude given Mr. Fox by the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, that the latter leaned 
 upon him as his ablest adviser. 
 
 Report of the Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 A tabular statement is appended of the 
 number of naval vessels, of every class, 
 that had been constructed, or were in the 
 course of construction, since March 4, 1861 : 
 
 GENERAL EXHIBIT OP THE NAVY, INCLUDING 
 VESSELS UNDBB CONSTRUCTION, DEC, 1864. 
 
 
 DeBcription. 
 
 jNo. of 
 I gun; 
 
 113 
 
 52 
 
 71 
 
 149 
 
 174 
 11» 
 
 671 
 
 Screw steamers especially constructed for naval 
 
 purposes 1,426 
 
 Paddle-wheel steamers especially constructed for 
 
 naval purposes | 524 
 
 Iron-clad vessels 
 
 Screw-ateaniers purchased, captured, &c., fitted' 
 
 for naval pvlrposes 
 
 Paddle-wheel steamers purchased, captured, &c., 
 
 fitted for naval purposes 
 
 Sailing vessels ofallclasses.... 
 
 275 
 614 
 
 921 
 850 
 
 Total I 4,610 510,396 
 
 Xo. of 
 tons. 
 
 169,231 
 
 61,87» 
 80,59fr 
 
 60,380. 
 
 78,76* 
 69,649 
 
 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE NAVY, DECEM- 
 BER, 1863 AND 1864. 
 
 11 
 
 Description. 
 
 No. of, No. of 
 guns. tons. 
 
 671 
 
 Total navy, December. 1864 
 
 4.610 1 610.396 
 
 638 
 
 Total navy, December, 1863 ., 
 
 Actual increase for the year 
 
 Total losses by shipwreck, in battle, capture, &o., 
 during the year. ...... . ........ . .... 
 
 4,443 
 167 
 146 
 
 467,967 
 
 83 
 ''6 
 
 4i,429 
 13,084 
 
 
 Actual addition to the navy from December, 
 1863, to December, 1864 
 
 
 
 109 
 
 313 
 
 6r,513 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 681 
 
 VESSELS CONSTRUCTED FOR THE NAVY SINCE 
 MARCH 4, 1861. 
 
 IRON-CLAD VESSELS. 
 
 No. 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 10 
 
 4 
 6 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 ilT 
 
 Description. 
 
 Screw sloops, " Animonoosuc " class, 17 to 19 
 
 guns, 3,213 to 3,713 tons each 
 
 Screw sloop '* Idaho," 8 guns, 2,638 tons 
 
 Screw sloops, spar deck, '* Java " class, 26 guns 
 
 and 3,177 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, spar deck, " Hassalo *' class, 25 guns 
 
 and 3,365 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, clippers, single deck, " Contoo- 
 
 cook " class, 13 guns and 2,318 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, ' ' Kearsarge " class, 8 to 12 guns, and 
 
 averaging 1,023 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, " Shenandoah " class, 8 to 16 guns 
 
 and 1,367 to 1,633 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, " Ossipee" class, 10 to 13 guns and 
 
 1,240 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, " Serapis " class, 12 gnns and 1,380 
 
 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, "Resaca" class, 8 guns and 831 to 
 
 900 tons each 
 
 Screw sloops, "Nipsic" class, 7 to 12 guns and 
 
 693 tons each . 
 
 Screw gini-boats, " Unadilla" class, 4 to 7 guns 
 
 and 507 tons each 
 
 Screw tugs, " Pinta " class, 2 guns and 350 tons 
 
 each ■ 
 
 Screw tugs, " Pilgrim " class, 2 guns and 170 tons 
 
 each 
 
 Paddle-wheel steamers, double-enders, " Octo- 
 
 rara " class, 7 to 11 guns and 730 to 955 tons 
 
 each .... 
 
 Paddle-wheel steamers, double-enders, " Sassa- 
 
 cus " class, 10 to 14 guns and 974 tons each .. , 
 Paddle-wheel steamers, ol^ iron, dovible-enders, 
 
 "Mohongo" class, 10 guns and 1,030 tons 
 
 each 
 
 Paddle-wheel steamer, of iron, double-ender, 
 
 " Watereo," 12 guns and 974 tons 
 
 Guns. 
 
 121 
 8 
 
 200 
 50 
 
 130 
 40 
 74 
 23 
 96 
 32 
 71 
 
 123 
 18 
 4 
 
 98 
 272 
 
 70 
 13 
 
 Ton'age 
 
 23,637 
 2,638 
 
 26,416 
 6,730 
 
 23,480 
 4,092 
 8,684 
 2,480 
 
 11,040 
 3,462 
 4,744 
 
 11,661 
 
 3,150 
 
 340 
 
 n,024 
 25,324 
 
 7,210 
 974 
 
 No. 
 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 4 
 1 
 4 
 8 
 9 
 20 
 2 
 3 
 2 
 
 "62" 
 203 
 
 Description. 
 
 Sea-going casemated vessels, "Dunderberg" and 
 
 "New Ironsides " 
 
 Sea-going turret vessels, " Puritan," " Dictator, 
 
 and " Roanoke ".,..■. 
 
 Double turret vessels, " Kalamazoo " class, 4 guns 
 
 and 3,200 tons each 
 
 Double turret vessels, "Monadnock" class, 4 guns 
 
 and 1,664 tons each 
 
 Double turret vessel, "Onondaga," 4 guns and 
 
 1,250 tons 
 
 Double turret vessels. " "Winnebago " class. 4 guns 
 
 and 970 tons each 
 
 Single turret vessels, "Canonicus" class, 2 guns 
 
 and 1,034 tons each 
 
 Single turret vessels, " Passaic " class, 2 to 4 guns 
 
 and 844 tons each 
 
 Single turret vessels, " Yazoo " class, 1 to 2 guns 
 
 and 614 tons each 
 
 Single turret vessels, "Sandusky" aud "Mari- 
 etta," 2 guns each 
 
 Single turret vessels, "Ozark," "Neosho," and 
 
 " Osage," 2 to 7 guns each 
 
 Casemated vessels, ' ' Tuscumbia " and " Chilli- 
 
 cothe," 6 and 3 guns respectively 
 
 Total 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Ton'age 
 
 28 
 
 8,576 
 
 12 
 
 9,733 
 
 16 
 
 12,800 
 
 16 
 
 6,266 
 
 4 
 
 1,260 
 
 16 
 
 3,880 
 
 16 
 
 8,272 
 
 21 
 
 7,596 
 
 36 
 
 12,280 
 
 4 
 
 953 
 
 13 
 
 1,624 
 
 8 
 
 768 
 
 189 
 
 73,988 
 
 1.631 
 
 249,974 
 
 176.986 
 
 The foregoing tabular etatement exhibits the nnmber and descrip- 
 tion of vessels tbat had been constructed, or put in tbe coarse of con- 
 Ptruction, for the Navy after the institution of active measures for the 
 suppression of the rebellion. Some of them were built by contract; 
 others by the Governmeut, in the several Navy Yards. If we add to 
 the number those constructed under similar circumstances, and with- 
 in the same period, that had been lost by shipwreck, in battle, etc., 
 viz.: the sloops " Housatonic" and "Adirondack," and the iron-clads 
 "Monitor," " Weehawken," "Keokuk," "Indianola " and " Tecum- 
 seh," the aggregate would lae 210 vessels, 1,675 guns and 256,755 tons. 
 
 Picket-boata, and small craft built for especial purposes, are not 
 embraced iu this statement. 
 
 POTOMAC FLOTILLA, JANUARY 1, 1864. 
 
 COMMANDER POXHALL A. PARKER. 
 
 STEAMEB " Elil/A. 
 
 Acting-Master, J. H. Eldredge; Paymaster, J. N. 
 Carpenter; Acting-Ensign, E. A. Roderick; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, W. H. Flood, H. C. Eldredge and 
 W. L. Gilley; Engineers: Acting -First -Assistant, 
 John F. Reilly; Acting-Second -Assistant, T. Gallo- 
 way; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. Cornell, F. M. 
 Dykes and T. H. Cross; Acting-Carpenter, J. C. Tier. 
 
 STEAMEB " YANKEE." 
 
 Acting - Volunteer Lieutenant, Edward Hooker ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 8. T. Brown; Acting- 
 Ensign, G. D. Gilderdale; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 H. C. Borden and Robert Robinson; Engineers: 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, W. H. Hughes and John 
 F. Costar. 
 
 STEAMER "OOMMODOBB BEAD." 
 
 Acting-Master, G. E. Hill; Acting-Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, James Wilson; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. J. DuiHeld; Acting-Ensigns, G. E. McConnell, C. 
 Ainsworth and L. Wold ; Acting- Master's Mates, Guy ' 
 Morrison. E. K. Howland and G. A. Patchke ; En- 
 gineers: Acting-First- Assistant, A. K. Gaul; Acting 
 Third-Assistants, Jorm Westinghouse, Wesley J. 
 Phillips and George Smith. / 
 
 STEAMEB "CUBBITUCK." / 
 
 Acting-Master, W. H. Smith; Acting-Assistint 
 Surgeon, Henry Johnson; Acting - Assistant T'ay- 
 master, Frank Clark ; Acting - Ensigns, Th//mas 
 Nelson, Ambrose Felix and J. A. Havens; A/,ting- 
 Master's Mate, G. B. Hall; Engineers: Actitrg-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, Alfred Clum ; Acting-ThirdVAssist- 
 ants, O. P. Thompson and C. B. Wright. / 
 
 STEAMEB ' 
 Arifinop-lVfaefoT" d n 
 
 'JACOB BELL." 
 
 nf, 
 
 Surgeon, Wm. Neilson, Jr. ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, Samuel Anderson; Acting-Ensigns, Benja- 
 min Walker and D. W. Hodson ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Robert L. Omensetter and Arthur Clegg; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Thomas Bentley; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. H. White and J. H. 
 McConnell. 
 
 STEAMEB " FUCHSIA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. T. Street; Acting- Ensign, 
 C. H. Walker; Acting- Master's Mates, W. G. Borden 
 and S. B. Cline; Engineers: Acting Second- Assist- 
 ant, S. H. Magee; Acting-Third-Assistants, C. Cas- 
 tell and A. P. Bullard. 
 
 STEAMEB " CCBUB DE LION." 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. G. Morris; Acting-Ensign, 
 C. P. Watson ; Acting - Master's Mate, Wm. 
 Hornby; Engineers: Aeting-Second-Assistant, J. M. 
 Dexter; Acting-Third- Assistant, Henry Knight. 
 
 STEAMEB "BBSOLTTTE." 
 
 Acting-Master, J. C. Tole; Acting-Ensign, J. S. 
 Benjamin; Acting-Master's Mates, Ed. Huger and 
 J. S. Franklin ; Engineers : Acting- Second- Assist- 
 ant, George Dereamer ; Acting - Third - Assistant, 
 J. E. Smith. 
 
 STEAMEB ' ' FBBEBOBN. " 
 
 Acting-Master, W. A. Arthur; Acting-Assistant- 
 Surgeon, H. H. Smith; Acting - Assistant Pay- 
 master, D. A. Dickinson; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 C. A. Peacock and L. N. Rollins; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant. W. P. Magaw; Acting-Third-As- 
 sistants, G. W. Yoe and W. E. Webster. 
 
 STEAMEB "aNACOSTIA." 
 
 Acting-Master, Nelson Provost; Acting-Assistant 
 Pn.vina.sfer. David Guernsev: Actina'-Rnsifi'ns. P.. D. 
 
f.S-3 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Edmunds ; Acting - Master's Mates, James Softly 
 and Richard Still; Engineers: Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, George Faron ; Acting-Second- Assistant, J. T. 
 Buckley; Acting-Third- Assistants, T. E. Lynch and 
 Thomas Hineline. 
 
 SOHOONEK "SOPHEONIA." 
 
 Acting - Master, James Taylor ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 H. F. Dorton and E. S. ShurtUflf ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, W. H. Hunt and J. O. Conway. 
 
 SCHOONEB "MATTHEW VASSAB." 
 
 Acting-Master, Henry O. Stone; Acting-Ensign, 
 R. C. Wright ; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Duffy, 
 G. H. Marks and 8. W. Ward. 
 
 SOHOONEE "ADOLPH HTIGEIj." 
 
 Acting - Master, S. Niokerson; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, H. C. Fuller, J. H. Taylor and J. H. King. 
 
 SCHOONEB "WILLIAM BACON." 
 
 Acting-Master, Samuel Haines ; Acting-Ensign, 
 J. A. Merrill ; Acting-Master's Mates, H. E. Ripley, 
 Wm. Coomes and J. W. Davis. 
 
 STEAMEB "WTANDANE." 
 
 Acting Ensign, J. J. Brice; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. Porter Loomis; Acting-Ensign, W. H. 
 
 Hand ; Acting-Master's Mates, G. G. Baohelder, 
 Thomas Seager and George Thomas; Engineers: 
 Acting - Second -Assistant, Levi Sweetzer; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, Harvey Brown and F. T. Clark. 
 
 STEAMEB " TULIP. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, S. (t. Sluyter and D. Stevens; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. Roffenterg and C. H. Mc- 
 Clellan; Engineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, G. H. 
 Parks, H. P. Gray and John Gordon. 
 
 STEAMEB "PEIMBOSE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, James H. Jackson; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, H. L. R. Woods and John Shields; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second Assistant, L. B. Leland; Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, H. C. Marrow. 
 
 STEAMEB "TEASEB.'' 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Philip Sheridan; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Charles Case, Thomas Power and Louis 
 Reinberg; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 John Johnson ; Acting-Third- Assistant, G. C. SiJead- 
 man. 
 
 STEAMEB "DKAGON." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. W. Turner; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, David Hall and S. M. Carey; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, G. E. Riddle. 
 
CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 FIRST ATTACK ON FORT FISHER. 
 
 DESTEUCTION OF THE CONFEDEKATE EAM "ALBEMARLE," Etc. 
 
 Defences at the Mouth op Cape Fear River.— The Army to Co-operate with the 
 Navy. — Rear - Admiral, Porter assumes Command of the North Atlantic 
 Squadron. — Preparations to Attack Fort Fisher. — Attempt to Close the 
 Port op Wilmington, N. C.^Mbthods resorted to by Blockade-runners, and 
 THEIR Profits. — Value op the Vessels Destroyed. — Destruction op the Ram 
 "Albemarle" by Lieutenant Cushing. — Names op Officers and Men who 
 Risked their Lives with Gushing. — Bombardment of and Capture op Ply- 
 mouth, N. C. — Losses and Fruits of Victory. — The Famous Powder-boat. — De- 
 scription OP Forts and Batteries. — The Fleet rides out a Terrific Gale. — Gen- 
 eral Butler's Powder - boat Exploded. — Great Loss of Powder, but no 
 Damage done to Fort Fisher. — First Attack on Fort Fisher by the Fleet. — 
 Batteries Silenced. — Landing op the Army. — General Orders. — Correspond- 
 ence BETWEEN Admiral Porter and General Butler. — General Butler aban- 
 dons THE Attempt to Capture Fort Fisher. — General Butler succeeded by 
 General Terry. — Criticisms. — Capture of Flag-pond Battery. — List of Vessels 
 THAT Participated in First Attack on Fort Fisher. — Letters in regard to the 
 Unnecessary Delay op the Expedition. — Letters and Telegrams prom Secre- 
 tary Welles. — Reports op Officers. 
 
 IN a communication dated September 5, 
 1864, Mr. Secretary Welles states that, 
 since the Winter of 1862, he had tried 
 to obtain the co-operation of the War 
 Department in a joint Army and Navy 
 attack on the defences at the entrance of 
 Cape Fear River, N. C. 
 
 It seems the Secretary of War had de- 
 cided that no troops could be spared for 
 this purpose, and, in consequence, from 
 small and unimportant works the huge 
 fortification known as Fort Fisher had grad- 
 ually arisen. These works bade defiance to 
 any ordinary naval force, unsupported by 
 troops, so that what in the first instance 
 might have been prevented by the persist- 
 ent attacks of a dozen gun-boats, grew 
 to a series of works so formidable that it 
 was evidently a matter of difficulty to ef- 
 fect their reduction — that is. if the Confed- 
 erates should make a vigorous defence. 
 
 Early in the contest a squadron of light- 
 draft gun-boats could have made their way 
 past the small batteries and taken posses- 
 
 sion of Cape Fear River, closing that chan- 
 nel of blockade-runners, and paving the 
 way for the troops to hold the point on 
 which Fort Fisher was finally built. But 
 this was not attempted until the fortifica- 
 tions were so far advanced as to become the 
 most formidable series of works in the Con- 
 federacy. 
 
 At the entrance of Cape Fear River, 
 the principal operations of the blockade- 
 runners were carried on, supplying the Con- 
 federate armies with clothing, arms and 
 munitions of war to the amount of sixty or 
 seventy millions of dollars. 
 
 The Federal Navy Department finally be- 
 came aware that, unless these supplies were 
 cut off from the Confederate armies, the war 
 was likely to be greatly prolonged. The 
 blockade-runners were very fast steamers, 
 well-manned, and with experienced pilots, 
 and so regular were their trips to Wilming- 
 ton, that their arrival was counted on al- 
 most as confidently as if they had been 
 mail-steamers. Of course, many of them 
 
684 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 fell into the hands of the blockaders, or 
 were run upon the beach to escape capture. 
 In the latter case, if protected by artillery 
 on shore, the blockade-runners would land 
 the most valuable portion of their cargoes 
 and set fire to their vessels. 
 
 In September, 1864, Mr. Welles made an- 
 other application for troops to co-operate 
 with the Navy in an attack on the defences 
 of Cape Fear River, and, being encouraged 
 by General Grant to expect assistance, the 
 Navy Department began to assemble a.t 
 Hampton Roads a proper force of vessels 
 for the occasion. "The command of the 
 squadron was tendered to Rear - Admiral 
 Farragut, and on the 5th of September, 
 1864, Mr. Secretary Welles, in a letter to 
 that officer, says : 
 
 "Lieutenant-General Grant has recently given 
 the subject his attention, and thinks an army force 
 can be spared and moved by tlie first day of Oc- 
 tober. Upon consultation, he is of the opinion that 
 the best results will follow the landing of a large 
 force under the guns of the Navy on the open 
 beach north of New Inlet, to take possession and 
 intrench across to Cape Fear River, the Navy to 
 open such fire as is possible on the works on Fed- 
 eral Point in conjunction with the army, and at 
 the same time sucli force as can run the batteries to 
 do so, and thus isolate the !rebels. 
 
 "You are selected to command the naval force, 
 and you will endeavor to be at Port Royal by the 
 latter part of September, where further orders will 
 await you. Bring with you to the rendezvous at 
 Port Royal all such vessels and officers as can be 
 spared from the West Blockading Squadron with- 
 out impeding its efficiency ; and when you leave, 
 turn over the command of the squadron to the offi- 
 cer next in rank to yourself until the pleasure of 
 the Department is known." 
 
 Owing to failing health. Admiral Farra- 
 gut declined accepting this command, and 
 on the 22d of September the Secretary of 
 the Navy wrote to Rear- Admiral Porter as 
 follows : 
 
 " SiR^Rear- Admiral D. G. Farragut was assigned 
 to the command of the North Atlantic squadron on 
 the 5th instant ; but the necessity of rest on the 
 part of that distinguished officer renders it necessary 
 that he should come immediately North. You will 
 therefore, on the receipt of this order, consider 
 yourself detached from the command of the Missis- 
 sippi squadron, and you will turn over the com- 
 mand, temporarily, to Captain A. M. Pennock. As 
 soon as the transfer can be made, proceed to Beau- 
 fort, N. C., and relieve Aoting-Rear-Admiral S. P. 
 Lee, in command of the North Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron. Take with you your personal staff, and 
 a number of officers, not exceeding five, may be 
 transferred f.-om the Mississippi to the North At- 
 lantic squadron. " 
 
 Under the above orders, Rear-Admiral 
 Porter assumed command of the North At- 
 lantic squadron, and visited City Point, Va., 
 in company with Mr. Fox, Assistant-Secre- 
 tary of the Navy, to confer with General 
 Grant in regard to the necessary contingent 
 of troops required to co-operate with the 
 Navy in the reduction of Fort Fisher. 
 
 Admiral Porter had asked for but eight 
 thousand troops, and a sufficient number of 
 
 vessels to fire one hundred and fifty guns 
 in broadside. As Fort Fisher had seventy- 
 five heavy guns mounted, the above would 
 only be two guns afloat to one on shore, a 
 small proportion considering that most of 
 the naval force would be wooden ships, 
 against heavy earth- works, protected by 
 solid traverses. The wishes of the Secre- 
 tary of the Navy were made known to 
 General Grant, and he at once decided to 
 send the requisite number of troops to co- 
 operate with the Navy as soon as the ships 
 could be prepared. 
 
 The next thing was to select a General to 
 command, who would act in harmony with 
 the Navy. There were plenty of able com- 
 manders, but the trouble was whom could 
 General Grant best spare. Admiral Porter 
 merely suggested one thing — namely, that 
 General Butler should not go in command. 
 North Carolina was in the district over 
 which Butler held control, and the Admiral 
 did not know but that the General would 
 claim the right to go in command of troops 
 operating in that district. It was at length 
 decided that General Weitzel should have 
 command of the military part of the ex- 
 pedition. 
 
 By the loth of October, 1864, the ships-of- 
 vvar of the fleet destined to attack Fort 
 Fisher were assembled at Hampton Roads, 
 to the number of about one hundred. 
 Many of them were from other squadrons 
 which had been depleted for the occasion. 
 There was a great variety of vessels, as 
 every class in the Navy was represented, 
 from the lofty frigate down to the fragile 
 steamer taken from the merchant service ; 
 but all mounted good guns. 
 
 Admiral Porter had quite a task before 
 him to organize this large force and make 
 it fit for combined service, for it was not in 
 good condition for battle sucli as the oc- 
 casion demanded. A regular system of 
 drilling was at once commenced with sails, 
 masts, yards and guns, particularly the 
 latter, and a large portion of the time wa.s 
 spent in target practice. Immense quanti- 
 ties of shells were fired away, for the com- 
 manding officers of the ships were giyen 
 carte blanche in this respect, the Admiral 
 believing that it would be an ultimate 
 saving in time of battle. 
 
 The fieet was now formed into three di- 
 visions. There were five Commodores in 
 the fieet — Thatcher, Lanman, Godon, 
 Schenck and Radford. The latter officer 
 had immediate command of the iron-clads. 
 From all these officers Rear Admiral Porter 
 received hearty support, although, owing to 
 the fortunes of war, he had been advanced 
 over their heads, and naturally expected 
 to find some little feeling in regard to it ; 
 but there was none whatever. They met 
 the Admiral in the most cordial manner and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 085 
 
 ever gave Uim their heartiest support. This 
 was, it is true, the proper course, for success 
 has always in time of war been recognized 
 in all services by promotion. Several of 
 these gentlemen were oflRcers of great 
 ability, and it may be wondered why they 
 were not employed in command of inde- 
 pendent squadrons. The wonder will be 
 less when we consider how little was known 
 by the Navy Depai-tment of the character 
 and qualifications of officers. With the ex- 
 ception of Assistant - Secretary Fox, there 
 seemed to be nobody at headquarters who 
 had much comprehension of the matter, and 
 we had so few squadrons that it was diffi- 
 cult to find separate commands for all who 
 deserved them. 
 
 The Navy Department, through Assist- 
 ant-Secretary Fox, showed great energy in 
 assembling the vessels of the fieet at Hamp- 
 ton Roads, and they never denied Admiral 
 Porter anything he asked for. 
 
 As soon as the fleet was fairly organized. 
 Admiral Porter made an effort to close up 
 the port of Wilmington, N. C. , so that sup- 
 plies could not get in, or cotton get out. 
 This was a most difficult thing to do, and 
 his predecessor, Acting-Rear- Admiral Lee, 
 with one of the largest squadrons afloat, 
 had never succeeded in the attempt. His 
 officers, it is true, captured a large number 
 of vessels, but where one was captured or 
 destroyed two new ones were built on an 
 improved plan. 
 
 Towards the last the English commenced 
 building these vessels of steel— long, nar- 
 row and shallow — which were capable of 
 great speed, and could cross the bar of Cape 
 Fear River at all times day or night, for at 
 night range-lights were kept burning. Once 
 under the guns of Fort Fisher they were 
 safe. The gun-boats generally drew too 
 much water to follow the blockade-runners 
 over the bar, where the depth never ex- 
 ceeded ten feet. 
 
 The conduct of the blockading officers 
 was sometimes severely criticised by the 
 Northern newspapers, who, although they 
 had positive evidence of their watchfulness 
 in the shape of numerous fine prize steam- 
 ers, loaded with cotton, coming into North- 
 ern ports, were not satisfied unless every 
 bottle of brandy and bunch of cigars sent to 
 the Confederates were captured to fill the 
 pockets of Northern prize-agents. The peo- 
 ple at home had little idea of the arduous 
 service performed by the blockading vessels. 
 whose officers and men had, at the peril of 
 their lives, to hold on to Wilmington bar at 
 all seasons, in the endeavor to prevent the 
 entrance and exit of blockade-runners. 
 
 The advantage was all on the side of the 
 latter. They could chose their own time. 
 Painted a light, neutral tint, they fearlessly 
 
 
 guiding them by night as well as if it were 
 daylight, and a vessel within a short dis- 
 tance could only surmise their presence 
 by a faint streak of light made by their 
 wake. If the gun-boats fired, they were 
 liable to hit each other; if they made the 
 flash - signal agreed upon between them, 
 the blockade-runner would make a simi- 
 lar one, and in the confusion, the latter, 
 going at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, 
 would soon pass out of sight. If the Federal 
 vessels laid close in to the bar, they ran 
 a risk of being carried into the breakers 
 by the current, in which case their de- 
 struction was certain. The display of a 
 twinkling light on board one of the gun- 
 boats, near the bar, was the signal for a 
 general discharge from the guns of Fort 
 Fisher, and, although these shots were 
 more noisy than damaging, yet a stray 
 shell striking one of the Federal boats 
 would have knocked it to pieces. 
 
 Sometimes the Federal vessels would dis- 
 cern " black smoke " in the distance ; then 
 all was bustle and excitement. Chase 
 would be given, and a "long, low two-pipe" 
 steamer would show herself standing in for 
 the bar. With the slow vessels, there was 
 often not much chance of catching one of 
 these swift blockade - runners, but they 
 were sometimes intercepted and driven 
 back to Nassau or Bermuda to make a 
 fresh attempt. Eight times in ten they suc- 
 ceeded in eluding the closest blockade of a 
 coast ever maintained. The profits of a 
 successful voyage were so great, that the 
 English adventurers, provided with good 
 pilots, readily took the risks, which were 
 nothing compared with those run by the 
 blockading vessels. If one vessel in three 
 succeeded in running into port, it remuner- 
 ated the owners largelj''. They were paid 
 for their ventures in Confederate cotton at 
 eight cents a pound, worth at that time 
 eighty cents in England and one dollar in 
 the North. At first the blockade-runners 
 were insured in England against capture, 
 so many successful voyages were made, but 
 towards the last the insurers charged very 
 high premiums. Admiral Lee's squadron 
 captured or destroyed a large number of 
 blockade-running steamers, perhaps to the 
 value of ten millions of dollars. The shores 
 of North Carolina were strewn with the 
 wrecks of these vessels, which were gener- 
 ally run aground and set on fire to prevent 
 the Federal Navy from deriving any benefit 
 from their capture. 
 
 We do not know what were Admiral 
 Lee's particular plans in regard to the 
 blockade-runners, but it was determined, 
 while the fleet was waiting for the Army to 
 get ready, that a new system should" be 
 adopted to take the contraband traders by 
 
 CI nT.T»viao 
 
G8G 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 vessel on the blockade of Capo Fear River, 
 upon which was described two half-cir- 
 cles close to the two bars at the en- 
 trance of that stream. Here were sta- 
 tioned twenty vessels, ranged in a half- 
 circle, ten off each bar. At the terminti- 
 tion of Frying-Pan Shoals was described 
 another half-circle of about twelve miles' 
 radius. On this circle was stationed, five 
 miles apart, some twenty of the fastest 
 vessels, which could communicate with 
 each other by signal all the way round. 
 One hundred and thirty miles from land 
 was the tliird line, on which the vessels 
 were about eight miles apart, tlie half-circle 
 ending at Beaufort, N". C, on one side, and 
 closing in on the south entrance to Cape 
 Fear River. If a blockade-runner came out 
 of Wilmington before daylight, she would be 
 seen by vessels on the middle circle; and, 
 if she escaped those, she would be chased 
 by the vessels on the outer circle. If she 
 started at midnight, she would be seen at 
 midday by the vessels of the outer circle. 
 Should a vessel approach the outer circle in 
 order to run into Wilmington just before 
 daylight, the outer circle would cliase her 
 off; or. if she eluded the outer circle after 
 dark, she would be picked up by the middle 
 circle; and instances were rare of vessels at- 
 tempting to run this stringent blockade 
 that were not captured or driven off. 
 
 The number of English steamers sent 
 into Hampton Roads was surprising. They 
 came in on an average of nearly one each 
 day, and the commodores commanding di- 
 visions — who shared in these prizes — were 
 well pleased to see them coming into port. 
 The blockade-runners themselves were quite 
 astonished and crowded into Nassau to con- 
 coct new plans to circumvent the Federal 
 cruisers; but from that time the business 
 grew more and more unprofitable, for in 
 thirty-seven days some six million of dol- 
 lars worth of property was captured or de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 While General Sherman was marching 
 through the South, he used up everything 
 in the shape of provisions for the support 
 of an army, and the enemj' at Richmond 
 depended in a great measure on what sup- 
 plies they could get from Nassau for the 
 maintenance of 3U0,000 men By an order 
 of the Confederate Government, one-third 
 of the space in every vessel running the 
 blockade was devoted to carrying provis- 
 ions and stores for the Army. Had this 
 stringent blockade been kept up for three 
 months, the port of Wilmington would have 
 been deserted ; but tliis was hartUy pos- 
 sible, for tlie United States Government 
 would have been obliged soon to withdraw 
 a large portion of the blockading vessels for 
 service elsewhere, and the old system would 
 likely have been resumed. 
 
 While these operations were in progress, 
 Admiral Porter was engaged in perfecting 
 tlie organization of his fleet, and his only 
 objection to the delay was the fact that 
 tlie winter was rapidly approaching, the 
 season when storms are very severe on the 
 coast of North Carolina. However, the de- 
 lay gave Admiral Porter an opportunity to 
 become acquainted with liis officers, so that 
 when the time came he knew where to place 
 them. The plan of attack had been litho- 
 graphed on a large scale, and each vessel 
 assigned the position it would occupy in 
 action. Every commanding officer had 
 a copy of this chart, and all that was want- 
 ing now were the troops to co-operate with 
 the Navy. 
 
 In the meantime the naval forces were 
 not idle. One of the best executed feats 
 of the war was the destruction of the 
 Confederate ram "Albemarle," at Ply- 
 mouth, N. C. This was most important ; 
 for, as has been already related, when the 
 ram sunk the "Southfield" and drove off 
 the "Miami," she attacked the flotilla under 
 Captain Melancton Smith, and after a hard 
 fight slipped off in the darkness and re- 
 turned to Plymouth. Here she was fastened 
 to a wharf to undergo necessary repairs 
 after the terrible hammering received from 
 the flotilla, and it was evident that her 
 commanding officer did not care to make 
 anotlier attack until his vessel was 
 strengthened in those parts which had 
 been shown to be the weakest. 
 
 The engagement was criticised somewhat 
 at the time, but it must be remembered that 
 the vessels of the flotilla were unarmored, 
 and that they fought gallantly against a 
 vessel completely encased in iron; that the 
 misfortune which happened to the "Sassa- 
 cus " might have happened to one or two 
 more, in which case not only the injured 
 vessels, but all the others in the sounds of 
 North Carolina, would have been at the 
 mercy of the enemy. These considerations 
 made it important for Captain Smith to 
 avoid risking a defeat, and that he was suc- 
 cessful in getting rid of the ram, and de- 
 priving her for the time being of power to 
 do further mischief, is proof that he was 
 master of the situation. This was the view 
 taken of the affair by the Navy Depart- 
 ment, as is shown by the following compli- 
 mentary letter : 
 
 Navy Department, \_ 
 May 25, 1SG4. ) 
 
 Sir — I have had great satisfaction in receiving 
 and perusing your report, as the senior officer of 
 tlie several vessels that were engaged with the 
 rebel raui " Albemarle " and her tender on the 5th 
 instant, in Albemarle Sound. 
 
 The Department congratulates a]l the officers 
 and men of the United States Navy who partici- 
 pated in this remarkable contest between wooden 
 gun-boats and a formidable armored vessel, in 
 which the latter was forced to retreat to prevent 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 687 
 
 capture, and it particularly tlianks you for the 
 vigilant and gallant use made of the means placed 
 at your command to thwart the designs of the 
 rebels to regain control of the Sounds of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Captain Mklancton Smith, U. 8. N., 
 
 Senior Officer commanding Sounds of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 Notwithstanding the satisfaction ex- 
 pressed at the gallant conduct of Captain 
 Smith, the Department was greatly troubled 
 over the fact that the "Albemarle " still ex- 
 isted, and might sally out from Plymouth as 
 soon as the necessary repairs were made, and 
 drive the Federal gun-boats from the Sounds. 
 The Department considered that they had 
 no vessels at their disposal fit to cope with 
 the ram; but the attack of the "Sassacus" 
 should have showed them that four or five 
 double-enders, each fitted with a heavy iron 
 shield to the stem, would have been all-suffi- 
 cient to crush the ram by a simultaneous 
 attack. The experience of the Confederate 
 commander had assured him of this fact, 
 which was probably the chief reason why 
 he did not again venture out. 
 
 Under these circumstances. Lieutenant 
 W. B . Cushing was offered a further opportu- 
 nity to distinguish himself — an offer he 
 at once accepted. He was sent to New 
 York, to superintend the fitting out of three 
 torpedo steam-launches, arranged accord- 
 ing to the plans of Chief Engineer W. W. 
 W. Wood and Assistant - Engineer G. W. 
 Lay, which proved to be all that were 
 claimed for them. About the middle of 
 October, 1864, the launches were ready, and 
 Cushing got away with them from the 
 New York Navy Yard. 
 
 Cushing was not so well adapted for 
 the command of a flotilla, even of steam- 
 launches, as he was of a single vessel. 
 One of his torpedo - launches sank sooq 
 after he started, and another was run 
 ashore and surrendered to the Confederates 
 in Chesapeake Bay, while Cushing, steam- 
 ing through a rough sea, safely reached 
 Hampton Roads, and reported to Rear-Ad- 
 miral Porter, then on board his flag-ship, 
 the "Malvern." 
 
 _ Lieiitenant Cushing's condition at this 
 time was pitiable. He had been subjected 
 to terrible exposure for more than a week, 
 had lost all his clothing except what he had 
 on, and his attenuated face and sunken 
 eyes bore witness to the privations he had 
 undergone. Himself and crew had existed 
 on spoiled ship's biscuits and water, with 
 an occasional potato cooked before the 
 boiler fire. Admiral Porter at once ordered 
 Cushing to get some necessary rest and not 
 to come near him until sent for; and in the 
 meantime his torpedo - launch, which had 
 been somewhat shattered and disarranged. 
 
 instructed to proceed at once to blow up 
 the "Albemarle." Commander W. H. Ma- 
 comb, commanding in the Sounds of North 
 Carolina, was ordered to give him all the 
 assistance in his power, and, in case Cush- 
 ing was successful, to attack and recover 
 the town and defences of Plymouth. 
 
 On the very morning appointed for Cush- 
 ing to set out, an order came from the Navy 
 Department directing Admiral Porter to in- 
 vestigate some charges preferred by Mr. 
 Secretary Seward against Cushing for 
 violating certain neutral rights while in 
 command of a vessel on the Southern coast. 
 
 Here was a dilemma ; but the Admiral, 
 after a brief investigation, decided that 
 Cushing was free from blame, and the 
 brave fellow, who dreaded a court-mar- 
 tial far more than he did the enemy, went 
 
 LIEUTENANT (AFTERWARDS COMMANDER) WM. B. CUSHING. 
 
 on his way rejoicing, passed through the 
 Dismal Swamp Canal, and on the 27th of 
 October reported to Commander Macomb. 
 
 That night Cushing proceeded up the 
 river in the steam torpedo-launch with thir- 
 teen officers and men, mostly those who had 
 volunteered from Commander Macomb's flo- 
 tilla for the service. The distance from the 
 mouth of the river to where the ram lay 
 was about eight miles, and the stream, of 
 an average width of two hundred yards, 
 was lined with the enemy's pickets. The 
 wreck of the U. S. S. "Southfield" lay a 
 mile below the town, surrounded by some 
 schooners, and it was understood that 
 a gun was mounted here to command the 
 bend in the river. In consequence of this 
 report, an armed boat frona the U. S. S. 
 " Shamrock " was taken in tow, with orders 
 
688 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 case the expedition was hailed by the 
 enemy. 
 
 When the steam-launch and her tow 
 n eared the wreck of the " Southfield," there 
 were anxious feelings on the part of the 
 brave fellows whose lives it was thought by 
 many would all be sacrificed on this hazard- 
 ous expedition; but lao one faltered, and 
 Cushing's keen eye looked into the dark- 
 ness intent only on the " Albemarle." The 
 "Southfield" was passed by the party un- 
 observed by the enemy, and the pickets 
 along the river banks, depending on those 
 at the outpost to give the alarm, were not 
 on the alert. This was a fortunate circum- 
 stance for Gushing and his comrades, for he 
 was thus enabled to approach unmolested 
 within a few yards of the "Albemarle." 
 
 The look-out on board the iron-clad finally 
 hailed, when Gushing, casting off the cut- 
 ter, ordered her to proceed back to the 
 wreck of the " Southfield" and capture the 
 picket guard. Gushing then dashed ahead 
 under full steam for the " Albemarle," 
 which was secured to the wharf within a 
 pen of logs extending about thirty feet from 
 the vessel. A fire on shore lighted up the 
 surroundings and Gushing's quick eye at 
 once took in the situation. He dashed at 
 the logs, which the steam-launch shoved 
 aside, and struck the "Albemarle " bows on. 
 
 In the meantime the enemy had become 
 thoroughly aroused, and the men on board 
 the ram rushed to their quarters and opened 
 a severe fire on the assaulting party ; but 
 they were swept away by a discharge of 
 canister from the 12 -pound howitzer 
 mounted in the torpedo-boat's bow. A gun 
 loaded with grape was also fired at the 
 launch, but the fire from the howitzer dis- 
 concerted the gunner's aim and the shots 
 were harmless. While all this firing was 
 going on, the torpedo boom was deliberately 
 lowered, and by a vigorous thrust Gushing 
 drove the torpedo under the ram's over- 
 hang and exploded it. There was a tre- 
 mendous crash and a great upward rush of 
 water which filled the steam-launch. The 
 pumps of the "Albemarle" were manned, 
 and her commanding officer, Lieutenant 
 Warley, encouraged his crew to try and 
 keep the vessel free, but the water gained 
 so rapidly through the great aperture made 
 by the explosion that the "Albemarle" 
 soon went to the bottom, her smoke-stack 
 only showing the place where she had last 
 floated. As the enemy had none of the 
 necessary appliances at hand for raising the 
 iron-clad, they made vigorous efforts to still 
 further disable her, anticipating that the 
 Federal gun-boats would soon be on the 
 spot to try and secure the sunken vessel. 
 
 The "Albemarle," although apparently 
 taken by surprise, had been quite prepared 
 for the emergency. There were two field- 
 
 pieces on her deck loaded with grape, and 
 manned by a company of artillery ready to 
 fire at a moment's notice. That a good watch 
 was kept on board is proven by the quick- 
 ness with which the crew got to quarters, 
 and opened fire on the torpedo-boat. It was 
 fortunate for Gushing that he succeeded in 
 passing the pickets along the river undis- 
 turbed, otherwise the sailors on board the 
 "Albemarle " and the troops on shore might 
 have given him such a warm reception as 
 would have prevented the carrying out of 
 his design. But Gushing seemed ever to be 
 the child of fortune and his good luck fol- 
 lowed him to the close of the war. 
 
 But to return to the torpedo-boat : when the 
 fire was opened on her by the enemy. Pay- 
 master Swann was wounded at Gushing's 
 side, and how many others had been injured 
 he did not know. It seemed as if a shower 
 of grape-shot had struck the boat, but in the 
 confusion the aim was misdirected and the 
 grape did little injury. The torpedo, ex- 
 ploding directly afterwards, filled the launch 
 with water, when, seeing that she would be 
 captured. Gushing and others jumped into 
 the river and swam down stream under a 
 shower of musketry, which, however, failed 
 to do any harm. 
 
 As soon as the Gonfederates saw the tor- 
 pedo-launch filled with water and floating 
 away, they sent boats to take possession of 
 her, and captured most of her crew. Some 
 of the latter were drowned in their efforts 
 to reach the opposite shore ; and, so far as 
 Gushing knew at the time, only one escaped 
 besides himself, and he in a different direc- 
 tion. As he swam down the stream he met 
 Acting-Master's Mate Woodman struggling 
 in the water, almost exhausted, and en- 
 deavored to assist him to the shore; but the 
 attempt was a failure, and Mr. Woodman 
 was drowned. Gushing himself could 
 barely crawl out of the water when he suc- 
 ceeded in reaching the bank, half a mile 
 below the town. He dragged himself into 
 a swamp, and, while lying concealed a few 
 feet from the path along the river, two of 
 the " Albemarle's " officers passed, and from 
 their conversation Gushing learned for the 
 first time that the iron-clad was at the bot- 
 tom of the river. 
 
 As soon as his strength would allow. 
 Gushing plunged into the dense swamp, 
 where he would not likely be followed, and 
 after incredible difiiculty'in forcing his way 
 through the mud and slime, he reached a 
 point well below the town ; and met a ne- 
 gro, whom he sent into Plymouth to 
 find out the particulars of the sink- 
 ing of the ram. The negro soon re 
 turned with assurances that the "Albe- 
 marle " was actually sunk. Thus cheered. 
 Gushing pursued his tedious journey 
 through the swamps, till, coming suddenly 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 68!) 
 
 on a creek, he found one of the enemy's 
 picket-boats, of which he took possession, 
 and pulled away with all his remaining 
 strength, not knowing at what moment he 
 might get a bullet through his brain. By 
 11 o'clock the following night he reached 
 the gun-boat ''' Valley Cit\%" and was taken 
 on board and cared for, after one of the most 
 perilous adventures on record. 
 
 The blowing-up of the " Albemarle" was 
 a very gallant achievement. It was done 
 in the face of almost insurmountable obsta- 
 cles, for, as we have shown, the enemy had 
 taken every precaution against just such 
 an attempt as was made. Here was a. 
 chance, and Gushing seized it. He would 
 undoubtedly have made the attempt if he 
 had had to run the gauntlet of the picket- 
 firing all the way to Plymouth. 
 
 Gushing himself did not know vsrhen he 
 arrived on board the "Valley Gity" who 
 had been captured and who had escaped; 
 but the following list from a report he 
 subsequently prepared gives the names of 
 the gallant fellows who risked their lives 
 to dispose of an iron-clad that threatened 
 the destruction of all tlie vessels in the 
 Sounds of North Carolina: 
 
 " William B. Cushing, Lieutenant, commanding 
 expedition, escaped; William L. Howarth, Acting- 
 Master's Mate, picket - boat, missing ; WUliam 
 Stotesbury, Acting - Third - Assistant Engineer, 
 picket -boat, missing; John Woodman, Acting- 
 Master's Mate, U. S. 8. 'Commodore Hull,' 
 drowned ; Thomas S. Gray, Acting Master's Mate, 
 U, S. S. ' Otsego,' missing ; Charles S. Keener, 
 Acting- Third- Assistant Engineer, U. 8. S. 'Otsego,' 
 missing ; Francis H. Swan, Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master; C S. 8. 'Otsego,' missing; Edward T. 
 Horton, ordinary seaman, U. 8. 8. 'Chicopee,' 
 escaped; Bernard Harley, ordinary seaman, U. S. 8. 
 ' Chicopee,' missing ; William Smith, ordinary 
 seaman, U. 8. 8. 'Chicopee,' missing; Richard 
 Hamilton, coalheaver, U. 8. 8. 'Shamrock,' missing; 
 
 R. H. King, landsman, picket boat, missing ; 
 
 Willies, landsman, picket -boat, missing; 
 
 Demming, landsman, picket-boat, missing ; Samuel 
 Higgins, iirst-class fireman, picket-boat, drowned." 
 
 The bodies of Acting - Master's Mate 
 Woodman and Fireman Higgins floated on 
 shore near Plymouth, and it was a great 
 satisfaction to know that only two of Cush- 
 ing's comrades lost their lives in this des- 
 perate adventure. 
 
 We cannot hope to do justice to this re- 
 markable episode in the naval history of 
 the civil war. The narrative should be 
 written in letters of gold on a tablet for the 
 benefit of future ages ; but we will here in- 
 sert the official communication of the Secre- 
 tary of the Navy to Lieutenant Gushing, 
 after the latter's report had been forwarded 
 by Admiral Porter to the Department : 
 
 Navy Department, November 9, 1864. 
 Sir — Your report of October 30 has been received, 
 announcing the destruction of the rebel iron-clad 
 steamer "Albemarle," on the night of the 37th 
 ultimo, at Plymouth, North Carolina. 
 
 When, last Summer, the Department selected you 
 for this important and perilous undertaking, and 
 sent you to Rear-Admiral Gregory, at New York, to 
 make the necessary preparations, it left the details 
 to yourself to perfect. To you and your brave 
 comrades, therefore, belong the exclusive credit 
 which attaches to this daring achievement. The 
 desti-uotion of so formidable a vessel, which had 
 resisted the combined attack of a number of our 
 steamers, is an important event touching our future 
 naval and military operations. The judgment as 
 Avell as the daring courage displayed would do 
 honor to any officer, and redounds to the credit of 
 one of twenty-one years of age. 
 
 Ou four previous occasions the Department has 
 had the gratification of expressing its approbation 
 of your conduct in the face of the enemy, and in 
 each instance there was manifested by you the same 
 heroic daring and innate love of perilous adventure, 
 a mind determined to succeed, and not to be de- 
 terred by any apprehensions of defeat. 
 
 The Department has presented your name to the 
 President for a vote of thanks, that you maybe 
 promoted one grade, and your comrades also shall 
 receive recognition. 
 
 It gives me pleasure to recall the assurance you 
 gave me, at the commencement of your active pro- 
 fessional career, that you would prove yourself 
 worthy of the confidence reposed in you, and of the 
 service to which you were appointed. I trust you 
 may be preserved through further trials ; and it is 
 for yourself to determine whether, after entering 
 upon so auspicious a career, you shall, by careful 
 study and self-discipline, be prepared for a wider 
 sphere of usefulness on the call of your country. 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Lieutenant W. B. Gushing, U. S. N., 
 
 Washington. 
 
 As soon as he heard of the sinking of 
 the " Albemarle, " Gommander Macomb 
 promptly prepared to carry out the orders 
 of Admiral Porter, which directed that in 
 case of the destruction of the ram he should 
 proceed to recapture Plymouth. For their 
 part, the Gonfederates were not idle in pre- 
 paring to resist the advance of the gun- 
 boats, although their main dependence was 
 now taken from them. They impeded the ad- 
 vance of the flotilla by sinking schooners in 
 the channel under the guns of the fortifi- 
 cations. 
 
 On the 39th of October, 1864, the flotilla 
 proceeded up the Roanoke River in the fol- 
 lowing order : " Gommodore Hull," " Sham- 
 rock," "Ghicopee," "Otsego," "Wyalu- 
 sing"and "Taconv." At the same time 
 the "Valley Gity " went up the "Middle 
 River," which joined the Roanoke above 
 Plymouth, in order to cut off any vessels 
 the enemy might send in that direction. 
 
 At about noon Commander Macomb came 
 within range and opened fire on the land 
 batteries protecting Plymouth. The fire 
 was promptly returned, but Macomb con- 
 tinued to advance until he was checked by 
 the sunken vessels and exposed to the fire 
 of the enemy's heavy guns protected by 
 earth -works. Present advance was out of 
 the question, and signal was made for the 
 vessels to retire down the river. In the 
 
690 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 meantime the commanding officer of the 
 "Valley City," hearing the firing cease, 
 concluded that the Federal vessels had won 
 the day, and ran down towards Plymouth, 
 when, fire being opened on his vessel, he 
 also returned to the Sound. 
 
 Thus far the expedition was a failure. 
 Something must be done, and from the re- 
 ports of the "Valley City," and a recon- 
 noissance made by Lieutenant-Commander 
 Earl English in a boat, it was found that 
 there was plenty of water in the channel of 
 " Middle River," and that any of the vessels 
 could turn the bends with the assistance of 
 a tug. This would enable Macomb to come 
 out into the Roanoke River, above Ply- 
 mouth, a contingency which the Confed- 
 erates had not provided against. 
 
 The flotilla accordingly again got under- 
 way to try the new channel. Commander 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER (NOW COMMODORE) WILLIAM T. 
 TRUXTUN, 
 
 COMMANDING THE "TACONY." 
 
 Macomb in the "Shamrock" following the 
 tug " Bazley," Acting-Ensign M. D. Ames, 
 having on board the pilot of the " Wyalus- 
 ing;" next came the " Otsego," Lieutenant- 
 Commander H. N. T. Arnold; " Wyalus- 
 ing," Lieutenant-Commander Earl English; 
 "Tacony," Lieutenant-Commander Wm. T. 
 Truxtmi; "Commodore Hull," Acting- 
 Master Francis Josselyn, in the order 
 named. Owing to the skill of the pilot. 
 Acting -Master Alfred Everett, the vessels, 
 with a great deal of hard work, succeeded 
 in entering Roanoke River at 4 p. M., with 
 the exception of the " Commodore Hull," 
 which remained in " Middle River" to pre- 
 vent the enemy from laying torpedoes there, 
 in case the vessels should be obliged to re- 
 turn that way. 
 
 When the flotilla got near Plymouth the 
 vessels commenced shelling the enemy's 
 works, which was the first intimation the 
 Confederates had of the approach of the 
 Federal forces from this unexpected direc- 
 tion. As it was now late in the day, it was 
 not deemed judicious to make a serious at- 
 tack in the dark, but the vessels dropped 
 close enough to the town to keep up a fire 
 and command the channel, so that no tor- 
 pedoes could be planted. 
 
 Next morning, the " Commodore Hull " 
 joined the flotilla, and at 9 a. m. the attack 
 was made in close order. The Confederates 
 kept up a heavy fire, particularly on the 
 "Commodore Hull" and the "Shamrock"; 
 but as the vessels neared the batteries the 
 order was given, "' Go ahead at full speed! " 
 so that the flotilla was soon pouring in a 
 shower of grape and canister, which drove 
 the artillerists from their guns and cleared 
 the rifle-pits of sharp-shooters. In ten min- 
 utes time the victory was comj)lete, and 
 Plymouth was once more in Union hands. 
 One battery still held out, but a shell from 
 the " Shamrock " exploding in the maga- 
 zine, the fort blew up, some of the fragments 
 falling on the decks of the steamers. The 
 explosion caused a panic among the Con- 
 federates, who ceased firing and fled in all 
 directions. 
 
 The Union forces were landed and took 
 possession of the batteries without resist- 
 ance. Never was victory more complete, 
 and the news was transmitted by Rear-Ad- 
 miral Porter to the Navy Department in 
 the following dispatch : 
 
 United States Flag-ship " Malvern,'' | 
 Hampton Roads November 11, 1864. C 
 Sir — I have the honor to inclose you the report 
 of Commander William H. Macomb, in relation to 
 the capture of the batteries and the town of Ply- 
 mouth, North Carolina, which place with all its 
 defences was captured from our land forces some 
 time last spring. 
 
 This was a very gallant affair, and reflects great 
 credit on the commander of the expedition and all 
 concerned. I' is a handsome finishing stroke after 
 the blowing up of the ram. 
 
 The fruits of this capture are twenty-two cannon, 
 thirty-seven prii<oners, two hundred stand of arms, 
 and more being picked up daily. 
 
 The flags of the forts and of the "Albemarle" 
 and a large amount of amunition were also taken. 
 I am sir, respectfully, etc. , 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, Rear- Admiral. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 This recapture of Plymouth was an im- 
 portant event, as both sides had been con- 
 tending for its possession ever since the 
 Federal forces gained a foothold in the 
 Sounds of North Carolina. The place had 
 been strongly fortified and armed with 9- 
 inch navy guns, with the expectation that 
 the Federals would hold it indefinitely; but 
 the appearance of the "Albemarle" and her 
 subsequent successs demoralized the gar- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 691 
 
 rison, and the Confederates were enabled to 
 reoccupy the works. 
 
 Plymouth was not far distant from im- 
 portant lines of railway, and with an ade- 
 quate force of Federal troops maintained at 
 this point they would have been in con- 
 stant danger. It completely commanded 
 in both directions the Roanoke River, on 
 which the Confederates built several iron- 
 clad floating batteries, including the "Albe- 
 marle." Had the channel above the town 
 been obstructed and planted with torpedoes, 
 the "Albemarle" would never have reached 
 Plymouth. The troops, however, rested in 
 fancied security, relying on the gun-boats 
 to deal with the enemy's vessels, and those 
 on board the flotilla felt willing and able 
 to contend with any force the Confederates 
 might send against them. 
 
 Three heavy forts armed with twenty 
 guns, besides the ram "Albemarle," which 
 lay sunk at the wharf, were captured in less 
 than an hour by a very inadequate force of 
 vessels, and a large body of the enemy's 
 troops were driven precipitately from the 
 town. This was an achievement of which 
 every officer and man in the flotilla might 
 well be proud, for the batteries of Plymouth 
 were manned by as good soldiers as could 
 be found in the Confederacy ; but the sudden 
 dash of the steamers disconcerted their aim, 
 and the grape, canister, and shrapnel fall- 
 ing in their ranks from the distance of only 
 a few j-ards were too much for human 
 nature to resist. 
 
 The "Commodore Hull," Acting-Master 
 Josselyn, was very much cut up by the 
 enemy's shot, and lost four men killed and 
 three wounded. She was exposed to the 
 fire of the enemy's heavy guns, and, as she 
 neared the batteries, a heavy fire of mus- 
 ketry was poured in from the rifie-pits. A 
 shell from a 9-inch gun came in on the 
 starboard bow, killing one man and mor- 
 tally wounding another, and three others 
 slightly at the forward gun, passed through 
 the berth-deck and ward- room, cut away 
 the railing around the after-hatch, struck 
 the after-port gun-carriage, where it lodged, 
 and disabled the gun. That was good work 
 for a single shell which did not explode. 
 Another shell passed through the vessel 
 from stem to stern, knocking the officers' 
 quarters to pieces, but doing no further 
 damage. A third shell, in passing over tlie 
 hurricane-deck, cut away part of the wood- 
 work on the port side and knocked out the 
 bows of the second cutter. The upper 
 works of the vessel were considerably shat- 
 tered and the frame much racked by the 
 firing and the explosion of a magazine on 
 shore. This vessel was one of those frail 
 craft of which we have so often spoken, in 
 which so much was dared and done. 
 
 " Wyalusing," had the forethought, when 
 the enemy began to retreat, to cover the 
 road by which they were moving off with 
 his guns and kept up a rapid fire with 
 bursting shell, which caused the Confeder- 
 ates to throw away their arms and accoutre- 
 ments, many of which were picked up. 
 Acting-Master Mr. R. Hathaway and Act- 
 ing-Ensign Foster, of the " Wyalusing," 
 . were the first to enter Fort Williams, one of 
 the strongest works, where they planted the 
 Union colors and captured three prisoners. 
 
 The " Shamrock," Commander Macomb's 
 vessel, was struck six times by shot and 
 shell, most of the enemj^'s projectiles pass- 
 ing over her. Two of her men were killed 
 and seven wounded. These, with the killed 
 and wounded on board the "Commodore 
 Hull," were the only casualties on the flo- 
 tilla, which was remarkable, considering 
 the number of heavy guns the Confederates 
 had in position, and the large number of 
 sharp-shooters in rifle-pits. 
 
 All the commanding officers of vessels 
 spoke in the highest terms of the conduct 
 of those under their command. Commander 
 Macomb did not neglect to bring to the no- 
 tice of the Navy Department the command- 
 ing officers who had so well sustained him 
 on that day, 31st October, 1864. He recom- 
 mended them all for the promotion they so 
 justly deserved for a victory gained over a 
 superior force, with a dash that must al- 
 ways excite admiration; but the victory 
 was not appreciated in Washington, and 
 the onl}^ official notice of it was a short let- 
 ter from the Secretary of the Navy, com- 
 mending the officers and men, and inform- 
 ing Commander Macomb that he would be 
 recommended to the President for advance- 
 ment ten numbers in his grade. The cases 
 of the commanding officers of the vessels 
 were afterwards considered by a Board of 
 Admirals convened at Washington to ap- 
 portion the rewards to be given for those 
 who had distinguished themselves in battle; 
 but the Board was limited to the petty figure 
 of thirty numbers as the maximum of ad- 
 vancement for the most gallant exploit. 
 
 The patience of the Navy Department and 
 of the commander-in-chief of the large fleet 
 lying in Hampton Roads began to be se- 
 verely tried by the delay in the appearance 
 of the troops for the combined attack on 
 Fort Fisher. The Secretary of the Navy 
 was apprehensive that he would have to 
 disperse the vessels to other points, whence 
 they had been taken for this expedition, and 
 where their absence had been greatly felt. 
 The delay and the great expense attending 
 it annoyed Mr. Welles so much that he ap- 
 pealed to the President in the hope of ac- 
 celerating the shipment of the troops, say- 
 ino- in his Iftttpr to Mr T;incnln. th.-it, 
 
692 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "Every other squadron had been depleted and 
 vessels detached from other duty to strengthen 
 this expedition. The vessels are concentrated at 
 Hampton Roads and Beaufort, where they remain, 
 an immense force, lying idle, awaiting the move- 
 ments of the army. The detention of so many ves- 
 sels from blockade and cruising duty is a most seri- 
 ous injury to the puljlic service, and, if the expedi- 
 tion cannot go forward for want of troops, I desire 
 to be notified so that the ships may be relieved and 
 disjjersed for otlier service. 
 
 " The importanceof closing Wilmington is so well 
 understood by you, that I refrain from presenting 
 any new arguments. I am aware of the anxiety of 
 yourself and of the disposition of the War Depart- 
 ment to render all the aid in its power. The cause 
 of the delay is not from the want of a proper con- 
 ception of the importance of the subject, but the 
 season for naval coast operations will soon be gone. 
 " General Bragg has been sent from Richmond to 
 Wilmington to prepare for the attack, and the 
 autumn weather so favorable for such an expedi 
 tion is passing away. The public expect this attack, 
 and the country will be distressed if it is not made. 
 To procrastinate much longer will be to peril its 
 success. Of the obstacles which delay, or prevent 
 military operations at once, I cannot judge; but the 
 delay is becoming exceedingly embarrassing to this 
 department, and the importance of having the 
 military authorities impressed with the necessity 
 of speedy action has prompted this communication 
 to you." 
 
 Nothwithstanding this urgent appeal 
 from Mr. Welles to the President, a copy of 
 which was sent to General Grant, there 
 was still delay in furnishing the military 
 forces required. It could not have been for 
 want of troops in General Butler's command, 
 for he occupied a strong position, backed 
 by a large force of gun-boats, with a bridge 
 of boats across the James, by which he 
 could retreat, if he thought necessary, with 
 entire safety under cover of the Navy guns. 
 We are, therefore, forced to the conclusion 
 that the only reason for the contingent of 
 troops destined to co-operate in the attack 
 on Fort Fisher not appearing in Hampton 
 Roads, was that General Butler had deter- 
 mined they should not move until it suited 
 liis convenience. At that time the Confed- 
 erates were so closed up in Richmond that 
 they could make no important demonstra- 
 tion on the Federal lines without getting 
 severely handled, as tlie different divisions 
 ■of the Union Army were within supporting 
 distance of each otlier. There was, tiien, 
 some motive in the delay of the expedition 
 to Fort Fisher which does not seem consist- 
 ent with patriotism. 
 
 Mr. Secretary Welles had shown the 
 ■greatest patience and persistence all 
 through this affair, and it was owing to 
 the exercise of these qualities that the expe- 
 dition was finally enabled to get off. Gen- 
 eral Butler was at last forced to take 
 some steps to show that he was not setting 
 at defiance the orders i-oceived from Gen- 
 eral Grant early in October. Accordingly, 
 accompa.nied by General Weitzel and his 
 personal staff, General Butler went on 
 
 board the flag-ship " Malvern " at Hampton 
 Roads, and communicated to Rear- Admiral 
 Porter a plan for the destruction of Fort 
 Fisher, the idea having, it seems, been sug- 
 gested by the explosion of a canal - boat 
 loaded with powder at Eric on the Thames, 
 by which a large amount of property had 
 been destroyed. General Butler's idea was 
 that one hundred and fifty tons of powder 
 confined on board a vessel and exploded 
 within a short distance of Fort Fisher 
 would inflict immense damage on the 
 enemy, and he promised, if the powder-boat 
 was prepared, he would detail the necessary 
 troops and have them embarked as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 Any expedient that would get the expedi- 
 tion off was hailed with delight by the Rear- 
 Admiral commanding, who agreed to But- 
 ler's proposition, notwithstanding he had 
 little faith in the project; though, strange to 
 say, the General had met with encourage- 
 ment from scientific men to whom he had 
 disclosed his scheme. It was considered ad- 
 visable to try almost any expedient, and 
 the Navy Department did not, therefore, 
 refuse to countenance General Butler's 
 plan ; although, as the General was then a 
 power in the land, it would, perhaps, have 
 favored ideas still more absurd emanating 
 from that quarter. An officer who could 
 disobey the orders of his immediate com- 
 mander-in-chief for months, delay a large 
 fleet assembled at infinite cost and pains to 
 deal a final blow to the Confederacy, and 
 finally assume command of an expedition 
 assigned to another General, all without 
 rebuke from headquarters, must have had 
 immense infiuence. All men seemed afraid 
 of Butler's political power : it was even 
 potential with the President and Secretary 
 of War, although, in justice to Mr. Secretary 
 Welles, we must say, it had much less 
 weight with him. 
 
 It was towards the last of November 
 when General Butler unfolded his plan of a 
 powder-boat, and it took some days to make 
 all the necessary preparations to get the 
 great torpedo ready. The steamer " Louis- 
 iana." a vessel of little value, was selected 
 for the service, and sent from Newbern to 
 Hampton Roads, where the immense mass 
 of powder required was collected from the 
 Arm)' and Navy magazines, and carefully 
 stowed on board in bags. To Commander 
 A. C. Rhind, a gallant officer, who had on 
 more than one occasion shown the coolness 
 in the face of danger so necessary for such 
 a perilous duty, was assigned the charge 
 of the powder-vessel. Commander Rhind 
 did everything possible with the means at 
 hand to render the explosion successful. 
 
 By the time the '"Louisiana" was pre- 
 pared. General Butler had so identified him- 
 self with the expedition that it was evident 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 693 
 
 to all who knew him that he proposed to 
 command the troops in person, for he was 
 not wont to take so much trouble for any 
 one else. General Grant probably did not 
 know the extent of Butler's interference 
 with the expedition, or else attributed his 
 action to zeal for its success. It is not 
 likely that he supposed that one of his 
 generals would withhold orders that he had 
 issued to a subordinate to command the 
 troops, although it may be that even Grant 
 felt the weight of that political power 
 which oppressed every one who came 
 within its influence. As soon as Butler 
 had succeeded in gaining a secure foot- 
 ing in the expedition, he was all anxiety 
 to embark his soldiers, notwithstanding 
 there was every appearance of a gale com- 
 ing on and the powder-boat was not ready. 
 Without proper preparation, the troops were 
 hurried into the transports, with but a few 
 days' rations and a scant supply of water. 
 The gale came on and the poor soldiers, 
 cooped up in their narrow, uncomfortable 
 quarters, were quite worn out before the 
 expedition sailed. Fortunately, after a 
 few days of wind and raio, the weather 
 cleared up and the transports sailed from 
 Hampton Roads on the 16th of December, 
 1864. 
 
 Up to this time there had been no official 
 notice that General Butler would go on the 
 expedition. General Grant several times 
 went on board the " Malvern" for the pur- 
 pose, no doubt, of talking the matter over 
 with Admiral Porter, but he would scarcely 
 put his foot on board ere General Butler 
 would make his appearance. Butler's pres- 
 ence was always enough to make Gen- 
 eral Grant quiet and meditative, and he 
 soon took his departure. General Weitzel 
 generally accompanied General Butler on 
 his visits to the flag-ship, but lie was as 
 taciturn as Grant, and apparently was un- 
 certain whether he was to have command 
 of the troops in the expedition or not. When 
 asked one day by Lieutenant - Commander 
 K. R. Breese, the Fleet-Captain, what were 
 General Butler's plans, Weitzel replied that 
 he didn't believe Butler had any, which was 
 the general impression. 
 
 Now, here was an expedition in which it 
 was absolutely necessary that the utmost 
 harmony and concert of action should exist 
 between the commanding officers ; but, al- 
 though Admiral Porter did his best to obtain 
 from General Butler some statement of his 
 intentions, he never succeeded in the at- 
 tempt. Butler was furnished with copies 
 of the Admiral's written orders to his fleet, 
 but he sent none in return, and merely noti- 
 fied the Admiral that his transports would 
 assemble off Masonboro' Inlet, thirty miles 
 from Wilmington, where, if one of his ves- 
 sels shnwrprl liprsplf t.hA rifisti nation of thfi 
 
 expedition would be immediately known to 
 the enemy. 
 
 There was never a more beautiful day for 
 a fleet to sail than the one on which the ex- 
 pedition left Hampton Roads. The Moni- 
 tors had to stop at Beaufort, N. C, to coal 
 and receive their ammunition; for now that 
 the expedition had waited two months there 
 was no particular hurry, and the Confeder- 
 ates had by this time learned the particulars 
 of the expedition, and were prepared, as 
 they thought, to defeat it. 
 
 Many combined operations in different 
 parts of the world have failed from want 
 of concert between the Army and the Navy, 
 but none of Grant's or Sherman's opera- 
 tions were endangered by this cause, owing 
 to the harmony with which the two 
 branches of the service acted together; and 
 both those distinguished officers were care- 
 ful to express their wishes in such a way 
 as to be agreeable to all concerned. General 
 Butler could never be made to understand 
 what was due to an officer of another 
 branch of the service, hence he was fre- 
 quently involving himself in difficulties 
 with navy, and indeed with army, officers. 
 
 Neither Butler nor Weitzel were adapted 
 to command the troops in such an expe- 
 dition as that to Fort Fisher. Grant dis- 
 covered this fact later in the season; but it 
 was known in the Navy from the begin- 
 ning, and the Admiral felt the need of all 
 his good fortune to carry him safely 
 through the ordeal. The latter remained 
 in Hampton Roads until the last transport 
 had started and got underway the same 
 evening. General Butler, in his " flag-ship." 
 remaining at the dock. That night, the 
 General, in his fast steamer, got ahead of 
 the fleet, and took his station, with his 
 transports, off' Masonboro' Inlet. 
 
 In the meantime. Admiral Porter had put 
 into Beaufort, N. C., to give another look 
 at the flttings of the powder-boat, for he de- 
 termined to do everything to make the lat- 
 ter experiment a success, even although he 
 knew it was all folly. When all was ready, 
 the Admiral proceeded to the rendezvous off 
 the entrance to Cape Fear River. 
 
 The fleet anchored off Fort Fisher, twenty- 
 miles from shore, in twenty -five fathoms 
 water. General Butler and his transports 
 were at anchor off Masonboro' Inlet, quite 
 out of sight of the naval vessels. The 
 Admiral wrote to the General that he should 
 send the powder-boat in and explode her on 
 the 18th of December, after which he should 
 attack the enemy's works. It was inti- 
 mated to the General that, as the explosion 
 would be in the nature of an earthquake, it 
 would be prudent for him to move at least 
 twenty miles from the scene and let his ves- 
 sel's steam run down ! In order to make as- 
 snrancfi dmiblv sure, the General retired to 
 
694 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Beaufort, sixty miles from the scene of ac- 
 tion, and there awaited the dreadful crash. 
 Fort Fisher and dependencies were a,n im- 
 mense series of works, more than a mile in 
 length, constructed of bags filled with sand, 
 the result of immense labor from the very 
 beginning of the civil war, and the best en- 
 gineering talent in the Confederate Army. 
 It was believed by the Confederates that this 
 work was sufficient to repel any force of 
 ships that might be brought against it or 
 might attempt to pass the batteries. The 
 latter operation was, in fact, impossible, as 
 there was but nine feet of water on the bar 
 of Cape Fear River at ordinary tides. The 
 channel was tortuous, and the bar generally 
 covered with heavy breakers, except when 
 the wind blew from the northwest. 
 
 Fort Fisher consisted of two lines of 
 works at right angles with each other. The 
 land-front ran across the sandy peninsula, 
 whicli was here about half a mile in width, 
 and mounted seventeen heavy guns, bear- 
 ing north, to prevent an attacking force 
 from advancing in that direction. These 
 guns were practically protected from a sea- 
 ward fire by heavy bomb-proof casemates, 
 with capacity for sheltering four or five 
 thousand men. The sea -front extended 
 from the great battery at the angle of the 
 two faces, along the beach to the south- 
 ward, a distance of over three-quarters of 
 a mile, and was terminated by a huge erec- 
 tion eighty feet in height, known as the 
 "Mound Batter^'." This was probably in- 
 tended to command the interior of Fort 
 Fisher, should the enemy gain a footing 
 there ; while the garrison taking shelter in 
 the bomb-proofs could resist an enemy for a 
 long time from those retreats. On the sea- 
 face of the work were mounted fiftj^-four 
 heavy guns protected by traverses against 
 an enfilading fire, and some of these trav- 
 erses were also bomb-proof. In the Mound 
 Battery were three or four 150 -pounder 
 Brooke rifles, making the total number 
 of guns in this formidable work seventy- 
 five. 
 
 The sea-front was intended to prevent 
 the enemy's vessels from running through 
 New Inlet into Cape Fear River, or landing 
 troops on Federal Point — an unnecessary 
 precaution, since nature had placed greater 
 obstacles to vessels of any size crossing 
 the bar, in the shape of shoal water. 
 
 One mile westward of the Mound Bat- 
 tery, at the end of Federal Point, was a 
 heavy-armed earth-work mounting six or 
 eight 11-inch Dahlgren guns, fitted exactly 
 as if on the deck of a ship. This was Fort 
 Buchanan, and it was officered and manned 
 from the Confederate Navy. It commanded 
 the channel and a shoal called the " Rips," 
 over which no vessel drawing more than 
 eleven feet could pass at high water. Tliis 
 
 is a general sketch of Fort Fisher. The de- 
 tails were similar to those of other fortifi- 
 cations of this kind. 
 
 It was the evident intention of the Con- 
 federates to prevent a landing of the Fed- 
 eral troops or to dislodge them as soon as 
 they reached the shore, which might have 
 been done had not a large force of gun- 
 boats been sent to cover the landing, a 
 force which no army could have with- 
 stood. 
 
 At the time when the fleet arrived off 
 Fort Fisher, the Confederates had about 
 eighteen hundred men in the works, but 
 they were by no means the best of troops. 
 The commanding officer of the fort was 
 Colonel William Lamb, a gallant and capa- 
 ble soldier, while Major-General Wm. H. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMAUDER K. BANDOLPH BEEESE. 
 (FLEET-CAPTAIN.) 
 
 C. Whiting, formerly of the U. S. Engi- 
 neers, commanded all the defences of the 
 Cape Fear River. 
 
 When the fleet was all ready to proceed 
 to the attack, Commander Rhind was or- 
 dered to take the powder-boat in and ex- 
 plode her. It had been calm all that day, 
 December 18, with only a light swell on, 
 which increased at night. Fleet-Captain 
 K. R. Breese was sent on board General 
 Butler's vessel to inform the General what 
 was to be done, and that the troops might 
 be landed in the morning for the attack. 
 The General sent word to the Admiral that 
 he thought the attempt premature, and re- 
 quested that it be postponed until the sea 
 went down. To this Admiral Porter at 
 once agreed, yet General Butler afterwards 
 complained of the delay, grounding his 
 failure on that circumstance. It was just 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 695 
 
 as well that the attempt was not made on 
 the day appointed, for, on the following 
 morning, a heavy gale came on from the 
 southeast with a tremendous swell setting 
 towards the beach, so that it was thought 
 at one time all the vessels would have to 
 leave the coast to avoid being driven on 
 shore. General Butler and his transports 
 had disappeared and sought refuge in the 
 harbor of Beaufort. 
 
 No occurrence during the war reflects 
 more credit on the Navy than the way in 
 which that large fleet rode out the gale, 
 anchored in twenty fathoms water, with 
 the whole Atlantic Ocean rolling in upon 
 them. As far as the eye could reach, the line 
 of vessels extended, each with two anchors 
 ahead and one hundred and twenty fathoms 
 of chain on each. The wind blew directly 
 on shore, the sea breaking heavily, and ap- 
 pearing as if it would sweep everything be- 
 fore it, yet only one vessel in all the line 
 left her anchorage and stood out to sea as a 
 place of safety. It was, indeed, a grand 
 sight to see these ships riding out such a 
 gale on such a coast in midwinter. The 
 most experienced seaman will long remem- 
 ber the event as the only case on record 
 where a large fleet rode out a gale at anchor 
 on our coast. It was one of the features of 
 this memorable expedition in the highest 
 degree creditable to the seamanship of the 
 Federal Navy. 
 
 After the gale abated, the Rear- Admiral 
 commanding the fleet looked around in the 
 hope of seeing something of General Butler's 
 command, for, knowing that the wind would 
 come out from the northwest, and blow 
 the sea down, he wished to take advantage 
 of the circumstance and commence the at- 
 tack. As nothing was heard of the General, 
 the Admiral made arrangements, which 
 will appear in the reports of operations 
 annexed. 
 
 We have noticed that the explosion of the 
 powder-boat was postponed at the request 
 of General Butler, after Commander Rhind 
 had started to carry out the order to blow 
 the vessel up. The peril of this service was 
 very great, for it was certain that the Con- 
 federates had been fully apprised that a pow- 
 der-vessel was being fitted to explode undei 
 the walls of Fort Fisher. It was therefore 
 to be expected that the enemy would main- 
 tain a vigilant look-out, and when, through 
 their night-glasses, an object was seen ap- 
 proaching the fort, they would open with 
 shells and blow up the vessel and all on board 
 if they could. Or a mistake might occur in 
 the timing of the Gomer fuse, or in the 
 clock that was to ignite the powder at a 
 given moment, so as to allow the adventur- 
 ous party on board the " Louisiana" time 
 enough to get well clear of the vessel. There 
 
 "vnma rvi*-vT>/-i 
 
 ■fVion 
 
 rw^Oi /* l-> o Ti nc\ r\T o TM^£im a t.n ft* 
 
 explosion. Besides these dangers, there was 
 in the smoothest weather a heavy ground- 
 swell on the beach where the " Louisiana" 
 was to be anchored, and the rolling motion 
 might easily disarrange the intricate ma- 
 chinery designed for the explosion of the 
 powder. To risk so many valuable lives of 
 officers and men seemed almost a crime — 
 the game was not worth the candle — and 
 this useless powder - boat excited more 
 anxiety in the fleet on account of those who 
 had volunteered for so hazardous an ex- 
 pedition than for the expected attack on 
 Fort Fisher. 
 
 The officers and men who volunteered to 
 go with Commander Rhind — himself a vol- 
 unteer — were Lieutenant Samuel W. Pres- 
 ton of the Admiral's staff, Second- Assistant 
 Engineer A. T. E. MuUan, Master's Mate 
 Paul Boyden; Frank Lucas, Coxswain; 
 William Gainn, Captain-of-the-Forecastle; 
 Charles T. Bibber, Gunner's Mate; John 
 Neil, Quarter-Gunner; Robert Montgomerj^ 
 Captain-of -the- Afterguard; James Roberts 
 and Dennis Conlan, Seamen; James Sul- 
 livan, Ordinary Seaman; William Horri- 
 gan, Second-class Fireman; Charles Rice, 
 Coal-heaver. The men were all volunteers 
 from Commander Rhind's vessel, the " Aga- 
 wam." 
 
 General Butler had been again notified 
 that the powder-boat would be exploded on 
 the night of the 23d December, as near the 
 beach at Fort Fisher as it was possible to get 
 her, but the exact distance could not be 
 estimated in the darkness. Although the 
 "Louisiana" had low steam up, she was 
 towed to within a short distance of her 
 station by the steamer "Wilderness," 
 which vessel then remained in the vicinity 
 to take off the pai-ty from the powder-boat. 
 The arrangements of the "Wilderness" 
 were under the direction of Lieutenant 
 R. H. Lamson, assisted by Mr. J. O. Bradford 
 of the Coast Survey, and Acting - Master 
 Geo. F. Bo wen (Pilot)'. The "Wilderness" 
 was under the command of Acting - Master 
 Henry Arey, and he and his officers and 
 men shared with the others the danger at- 
 tending the enterprise. 
 
 The powder-boat was finally anchored as 
 near the beach as possible — a some wliat diffi- 
 cult task, as by approaching too near the 
 breakers the vessel would be liable to drift on 
 shore. Commander Rhind and Lieutenant 
 Preston then lighted the candles, while the 
 fire of pine-knots in the " Louisiana's" cabin 
 was started by Engineer Mullan. Com- 
 mander Rhind was then obliged to let go an- 
 other anchor with a short scope of chain, as 
 he saw that the vessel would not tail in shore. 
 This done, the party jumped into their 
 boats, and pulled for the "Wilderness," 
 which vessel had steamed off shore a con- 
 sirlArablfi flist,fl.ncfi a.nfl tlifin Ifit hfir stfia.m 
 
696 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 go down, as it was supposed that the con- 
 cussion would seriously affect the boilers if 
 a high pressure of steam was maintained. 
 
 The fuzes were set by the clocks to one 
 hour and a half, but the explosion did not 
 take place until twenty minutes after the 
 expected time, when the after-part- of the 
 "Louisiana" was in flames. Exactly at 
 1:30 A. M. of the 24th, the powder-boat went 
 up in the air, the shock being scarcely felt 
 by the vessels of the fleet. For a moment 
 the scene was illuminated, then darkness 
 settled down, and all was still as before — 
 no sound or movement in the fort indicat- 
 ing that any damage had been done. In 
 fact, the Confederates took the explosion 
 for that of a blockade - runner with a 
 quantity of ammunition on board, and 
 were not at all troubled about the matter. 
 
 When, after the lapse of twenty years, we 
 think of this futile attempt to destroy such 
 a powerful work as Fort Fisher at the risk 
 of so many valuable lives, in order that the 
 pet scheme of a Major- General of Volun- 
 teers should be carried out, we may wonder 
 that any one should countenance such an 
 absurdity. The only powder that was needed 
 was that fired from the cannon of the ships, 
 and what would have been fired from the 
 muskets of tlie gallant soldiers had they 
 been permitted by their commanding gen- 
 eral to advance on the enemy. But tliese 
 experiences will teach the soldiers and sail- 
 ors of the future ; and if there is ever a 
 scheme proposed for blowing up a huge 
 earth-work with a powder-boat, the recol- 
 lection of Fort Fisher will deter people 
 from attempting to carry it out. 
 
 It was supposed by Admiral Porter that 
 the explosion would be heard on board the 
 transports and bring them all in by morn- 
 ing ; but, although the water was quite 
 smooth, the transports seemed to keep as 
 far as possible from Fort Fisher. 
 
 Agreeably to the orders issued the pre- 
 ceding evening, the fleet got underway at 
 daylight on the 24th of December, 1864, 
 and stood in, in line of battle. At 11:30 
 A. M. the signal was made to engage the 
 forts, the "Ironsides" leading, and the 
 " Monadnock," '-Canonicus" and "Ma- 
 hopac" following. The '■ Ironsides" took 
 her position in the most beautiful and sea- 
 manlike manner, got her spring out, and 
 opened deliberate fire on the fort, at that 
 time opening on her with all its guns, which 
 did not seem numerous in the northeast 
 face, tliough what appeared to be seventeen 
 guns were counted. These were fired from 
 that direction, but they were silenced al- 
 most as soon as the fleet opened all their 
 batteries. 
 
 The ''Minnesota" took her position in 
 handsome style, and her guns, after get- 
 ting the range, were fired with rapidity; 
 
 while tiie "Mohican," " Colorado " and the 
 large vessels marked on the plan, got to 
 their stations, all firing to cover themselves 
 while anchoring. By the time the last of 
 the large vessels anchored and got their 
 batteries into play, but a few guns of the 
 enemy were fired, this feu (Tenfer driving 
 them all to their bomb-proofs. 
 
 The small gun-boats "Kansas," "Una- 
 dilla," "Pequot," "Seneca," "Pontoosuc." 
 " Yantic " and " Huron " took positions to 
 the northward and eastward of the Moni- 
 tors, enfilading the works. The " Shenan- 
 doah," Ticonderoga," "Mackinaw," "Ta- 
 cony " and " Vanderbilt " took effective po- 
 sitions, as marked on the chart, and added 
 their fire to that already begun. The " San- 
 tiago de Cuba," Fort Jackson." "Osceola," 
 "Chippewa," "Sassacus." " Rhode Island," 
 " Monticello," " Quaker City " and " Iosco," 
 dropped into position according to order, 
 and the battle became general. 
 
 In an hour and a quarter after the first 
 shot was fired, not a shot came from the 
 fort. Two of the magazines in the works 
 had been blown up by shells, and the wood- 
 work in the fort set on fire in several 
 places ; and such a torrent of missiles were 
 falling into and bursting over the works, 
 that it was impossible for anything human 
 to withstand it. Finding that the batteries 
 were completely silenced, the ships were 
 directed to keep up a moderate fire, in 
 hopes of attracting the attention of the 
 transports and bringing them to the scene 
 of action. At sunset General Butler came 
 in with a few transports, the rest not hav- 
 ing arrived from Beaufort. As it was too 
 late to do anything more, the fleet was 
 signalled to retire for the night to a safe 
 anchorage, which movement took place 
 without molestation from the enemy. 
 
 Some mistakes were made this day when 
 the vessels went in to take position, al- 
 though, the plan of battle being based 
 on accurate calculation and reliable infor- 
 mation, it seemed almost impossible to go 
 astray. Those vessels that had not followed 
 the plan of battle closely were required to 
 get underway and assume their proper posi- 
 tions, which was done promptly and without 
 confusion. The vessels were placed some- 
 what nearer to the works, and were able 
 to throw in their shells, which were before 
 falling short. 
 
 One or two leading vessels having an- 
 chored too far off shore, caused those com- 
 ing after them to make a like error; but 
 when they all got into place and com- 
 menced work in earnest, the shower of shell 
 —one hundred and fifteen per minute — was 
 irresistible. So quickly were the enemy's 
 guns silenced that not "an oflScer or man in 
 the fleet was injured by them, but there 
 were some severe casualties bv the bursting 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 097 
 
 of several lOO-pounder Parrott cannon. One 
 burst on board the " Ticonderoga," killing 
 six of the crew and wounding seven others; 
 another burst on board the " Yantic," kill- 
 ing one officer and two men ; another on 
 board the "Juniata," killing two officers, 
 and killing and wounding ten other per- 
 sons; another on board the "Mackinaw," 
 killing one officer and wounding five men; 
 another on board the " Quaker City," 
 wounding two or three persons. The 
 bursting of these guns much disconcerted 
 the crews of the vessels, and gave them 
 great distrust of the Parrott lOO-pounder. 
 
 Some of the vessels were struck once or 
 twice from the fort. The "Mackinaw" 
 had her boiler perforated with a shell, and 
 
 LIEUTEMANT-COMMANDER (NOW REAR-ADMIRAL) 
 JOHN LEE DAVIS. 
 
 ten or twelve persons were badly scalded. 
 The "Osceola" was struck with a shell 
 near her magazine, and was at one time 
 in a sinking condition, but her efficient 
 commander stopped the leak, while the 
 '■Mackinaw" fought out the battle, not- 
 withstanding the damage she had received. 
 Only one vessel left the line to report dam- 
 ages. 
 
 Commander John Guest, in the " Iosco," 
 at the east end of the line, showed his 
 usual intelligence in selecting his position 
 and directing his fire. Twice his shot cut 
 away the flag-staff on the Mound Battery, 
 and he silenced the guns there in a very 
 short time, the " Keystone State " and 
 ■'Quaker City" co-operating effectively. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander John L. Davis in 
 
 i(0 „ j> ,.,:j-u 
 
 ..,AA,^„^ 
 
 ^f V,i 
 
 vessel disabled, got her into close action 
 and assisted materially in silencing the 
 works, and the "Santiago de Cuba" and 
 "Fort Jackson" took such positions as 
 they could get, owing to other vessels not 
 forming proper lines and throwing them 
 out of place, and fought their guns well. 
 The taking of a new position while under 
 fire by the "Brooklyn" and "Colorado" 
 was well done, and when they got into 
 place both ships delivered a fire that noth- 
 ing could withstand. The " Brooklyn " well 
 sustained her good name under her com- 
 manding officer. Captain James Alden, 
 and the "Colorado" gave evidence that 
 Commodore H. K. Thatcher fully under- 
 stood the duties of his position. The " Sus- 
 quehanna " was most effective in her fire, 
 though much hampered by a vessel near 
 her that had not found her right place. 
 The "Mohican" went into battle gallantly 
 and fired rapidly and with effect ; and 
 wlienthe "Powhatan," "Ticonderoga "and 
 " Shenandoah " got into their positions, they 
 did good service. The "Pawtucket" fell 
 handsomely into line, and did good service 
 with the rest, and the " Vanderbilt " took 
 her place near the " Minnesota" and threw 
 in a rapid fire. The firing of the Monitors 
 was excellent, and when their shells struck 
 great damage was done, and the little 
 gun - boats that covered them kept up a 
 fire sufficient to disconcert the enemy's 
 aim. 
 
 The Confederates fired no more after the 
 vessels all opened on them, except a few 
 shots from the Mound and upper batteries, 
 which the "Iosco" and consorts soon 
 silenced. 
 
 The men were at work at the guns five 
 hours and were glad to get a little rest. 
 They came out of action with rather a con- 
 tempt for the enemy's batteries, and anxious 
 to renew the battle in the morning. 
 
 On Christmas Day all the transports had 
 arrived, and General Butler sent General 
 Weitzel to see Admiral Porter, and arrange 
 the programme for the daj\ It was decided 
 that the Navy should again attack the 
 works, while the Army should land and 
 assault them, if possible, under the heavy 
 fire of the ships. The Admiral dispatched 
 seventeen gun-boats, under command of 
 Captain O. S. Glisson, to cover the troops 
 and assist with their boats in landing the 
 soldiers. Finding the smaller vessels kept 
 too far from the beach, which was quite 
 bold, the " Brooklyn" Avas sent in to carry 
 out the Admiral's orders. To the number 
 before sent were added all the small vessels 
 that were acting as reserves ; and, finally, 
 there were sent some eight or nine vessels 
 that were acting under Commander Guest 
 in endeavoring to find a way across the bar. 
 
C98 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 to land the troops, in addition to tlie twenty 
 with whicli the army was already provided. 
 
 At 7 a. m., on the" 25th, signal was made 
 for the sliips to get underway and form in 
 line of battle, which was quickly done. The 
 order to attack was given, and the " Iron- 
 sides " took the position in her usual hand- 
 some style, the Monitors following close 
 after her. All the vessels followed accord- 
 ing to order, and took position without a 
 shot being fired at them, excepting a few 
 fired at the last four vessels that got into 
 line. The firing this day was slow, only 
 sufficient to distract the enemy's attention 
 while the army landed, which they were 
 doing five miles northward of the fleet. 
 
 About three thousand men had landed, 
 when the Admiral was notified they were 
 re-embarking. He had seen the soldiers 
 near the forts reconnoitering and sharp- 
 shooting, and was in hopes an assault was 
 deemed practicable. General Weitzel, in 
 person, was making observations about six 
 hundred yards off, and the troops were in 
 and around the works. One gallant officer 
 went on the parapet and brought away the 
 Confederate flag that had been shot down 
 by the Navy fire ; a soldier went into ' the 
 works and led out a horse, killing the orderly 
 mounted on the animal and capturing his 
 dispatches. Another soldier fired his mus- 
 ket into a bomb-proof among the Confed- 
 erates, and eight or ten others who had 
 ventured near the forts were wounded by 
 shells from the fieet. 
 
 As the ammunition gave out, the vessels 
 retired from action, and the iron - clads 
 "Minnesota," "Colorado" and " Susque- 
 hanna " were ordered to open rapidly, 
 which they did with such effect that it 
 seemed to tear the works to pieces. The 
 fleet drew off at sunset, leaving the iron- 
 clads to fire tlirough the night, expecting 
 the troops would attack in the morning, 
 when the ships would recommence the 
 bombardment. The Admiral, however, re- 
 ceived a message from General Weitzel, 
 informing him that it was impracticable 
 to assault ; and later a letter from General 
 Butler, assigning his reasons for withdraw- 
 ing his troops ; which letter, together with 
 the Admiral's answer to the same, we shall 
 insert in full. 
 
 In the bombardment of the 25th, the fleet 
 fired slowly for seven hours. The enemy 
 kept a couple of guns on the upper bat- 
 teries firing on the vessels, hitting some of 
 them several times without doing them 
 much damage. The "Wabash "and the 
 "Powhatan,"' being within their range, the 
 object seemed mainly to disable them, but 
 a rapid fire soon silenced the Confederate 
 guns. Everything was coolly and system- 
 atically done throughout the day, and there 
 was some beautiful practice. 
 
 The army commenced landing about 2 
 o'clock. Captain Glisson, in the " Santiago 
 de Cuba," having shelled Flag-Pond battery 
 to insure a safe landing, and they com- 
 menced to re-embark about 5 o'clock, the 
 weather corning on thick and rainy. About 
 a brigade were left on the beach during the 
 night, covered by the gun-boats. As the 
 troops landed, sixty-five Confederate sol- 
 diers hoisted the white flag, and delivered 
 themselves up to the seamen landing the 
 troops, and were conveyed to the " Santiago 
 de Cuba." Two hundred and eighteen 
 more gave themselves up to the reconnoiter- 
 ing party, all being tired of the war. We do 
 not pretend to put our opinion in opposition 
 to General Weitzel, whose business it was 
 to know more of assaulting forts than a 
 sailor could know ; but we cannot help 
 thinking that it was worth while to make 
 the attempt after coming so far. 
 
 About noon the Admiral sent in a detach- 
 ment of double-enders under Commander 
 John Guest, to see if an entrance through 
 the channel could be effected. The great 
 number of wrecks in and about the bar had 
 changed the whole formation, and where 
 the original channel had been. Guest found 
 a shallow bar. 
 
 The Admiral then sent Lieutenant W. B. 
 Gushing in to sound and buoy out a channel, 
 if he could find one, with orders for Com- 
 mander Guest to drag for torpedoes and be 
 ready to run in by the buoys when directed. 
 A very narrow and crooked cliannel was 
 partly made out and buoyed, but running 
 so close to the upper forts that boats could 
 not work there. Lieutenant Gushing, in 
 his boat, went in as far as Zeke's Island, 
 but his researches would not justify at- 
 tempting the passage with six double-end- 
 ers, some of which had burst their rifled 
 Parrott guns and injured many of their men. 
 
 One boat belonging to the " Tacony " was 
 sunk by a shell, and a man had his leg cut 
 off; still, they stuck to their work until or- 
 dered to withdraw for other duty. 
 
 At the conclusion of his report to the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, Rear- Admiral Porter 
 makes the following remarks : 
 
 "Allow me to draw your attention to the con- 
 duct of Commander Rhind and Lieutenant Preston. 
 They engaged in the most perilous adventure that 
 was, perhaps, ever undertaken; and, though no 
 material results have taken place from the efleots 
 of the explosion that we know of, still it was not 
 their fault. As an incentive to others, I beg leave 
 to recommend them for promotion ; also tliat of 
 Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, who piloted them in 
 and brought them off. No one in the squadron 
 considered that their lives would be saved, and 
 Commander Rhind and Lieutenant Preston had 
 made an arrangement to sacrifice themselves in 
 case the vessel was boarded — a thing likely to hap- 
 pen. 
 
 " I inclose herewith the report of Commander 
 Rhind, with the names of the gallant fellows who 
 volunteered for this desperate service. Allow me 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 699 
 
 also to mention the name of Mr. Bradford, of the 
 Coast Survey, who went in and sounded out the 
 place where the ' Louisiana ' was to go in, and has 
 al\*aiys patiently performed every duty that he has 
 been cafled on to carry out. 
 
 "My thaifke are due to Lieutenant - Commander 
 K. R. Breese, Fl6©t-Captain. for carrying about my 
 orders to the fleet dilri-ng the action, and for his 
 general usefulness ; to Lieutenant - Commander 
 H. A. Adams, for- his promptness in supplying the 
 fleet with ammunition. Lieutenant M. 'W. "Sanders, 
 Signal-OfHcer, whose whole time was occupied in 
 making signals, performed his duty well, and my 
 aides, Lieutenant S. W. Terry and Lieutenant 
 S. W. Preston, afforded me valuable assistance. 
 
 " I have not yet received a list of the casualties, 
 but beheve they are very few, from the enemy's 
 guns. We had killed, and wounded, about forty- 
 five persons by the bursting of the Parrott guns. 
 I beg leave to suggest that no more of these guns 
 be introduced into the service. There is only one 
 kind of firing that is effective at close quarters, 
 that is, from 9, 10 and 11 inch guns, they cannot be 
 equalled. 
 
 " Until further orders, I shall go on and hammer 
 away at the fort, hoping that in time the people in 
 it will get tired, and hand it over to us. It is a one- 
 sided business altogether, and in the course of time 
 we mast dismount their guns, if, as General Weitzel 
 says, we cannot 'injure it as a defensive work.' 
 The Government may also think it of sufficient 
 importance to undertake more serious operations 
 against these works. 
 
 " An army of a few thousand men investing it 
 would soon get into it, with the aid of the Navy. 
 When smooth water permits, I will go to work 
 looking for a channel over the bar, which has not 
 yet been found to my satisfaction. 
 
 " I must hot omit to pay a tribute to the officers 
 and crews of the Monitors — riding out heavy gales 
 on an open coast without murmuring or complain- 
 ing of the want of comfort, which must have been 
 very serious. They have shown a degree of forti- 
 tude and perseverance seldom witnessed. Equally 
 brave in battle, they take the closest work with 
 pleasure, and the effect of their shells is terrific. 
 
 "The following are the names of the commanding 
 ofScers, and I hope I shall keep them under 
 my command : Commodore William Radford, 
 commanding ' New Ironsides ' ; Commander B. S- 
 Parrott, commanding ' Monadnock ' ; Commander 
 B. R. Colhoun, commanding ' Saugus ' ; Lieutenant 
 George E. Belknap, commanding ' Canonicus ' ; 
 Lieutenant-Commander E. E. Potter, commanding 
 'Mahopac' 
 
 "There are about one thousand men left on shore 
 by the army who have not yet got off on account 
 of the surf on the beach. These will be taken off 
 in the morning, and the soldiers will then be sent 
 home. 
 
 " I inclose general order for the attack." 
 
 rear-admiral porter's general, order no. 70. 
 [genbral orders no. 70.] 
 North Atlanttc Squadron, 
 U. S. Flag-ship " Malvern," 
 Hampton Roads, December 10, 1864. 
 The chart plan of the proposed attack on the 
 batteries of the enemy at New Inlet, mouth of Cape 
 Pear River, will explain itself, but the order of tak- 
 ing position is as follows : 
 
 It is first proposed to endeavor to paralyze the 
 garrison by an explosion, all the vessels remaining 
 twelve miles out from the bar, and the troops in 
 transports twelve miles down the coast, ready to 
 steam up and be prepared to take the works by as- 
 sault in case the latter are disabled. 
 ^ At a given signal, all the bar vessels will run off 
 
 will go in under the forts. When the explosion 
 takes place, all the vessels will stand in shore in the 
 order marked on the plan. 
 
 The " New Ironsides " will steam along shore, 
 coming from eastward, until the flag-staff on Fort 
 Fisher bears southwest by west - half - west, and 
 anchor (chain ready to slip) with her broadside 
 bearing on the largest of the enemy's works, and 
 open fire without delay. The Monitors will come 
 up astern, anchoring not more than one length 
 apart, directly in line along the shore, leaving space 
 only for a gun-boat to lie outside of them, and fire 
 between them or over them. The "New Ironsides " 
 and Monitors will lie in not less than three and 
 a half fathoms "water, which will place them about 
 three-fourths of a mile trom Fort Fisher, and a 
 little over a quarter of a mile from the Tseaeh. 
 
 In the meantime, the large ships will lie formed 
 in line of battle to the eastward of the iron-clads, 
 and heading parallel with the land in a south-half- 
 west course, in five fathoms water. 
 
 When the signal is made to "take position," the 
 "Minnesota" (the headmost vessel) will go ahead 
 slowly and anchor about a mile from Fort Fisher, 
 opening fire the moment she passes the " New 
 Ironsides," and anchoring so that her stern gun 
 will fire just clear of that vessel. The "Mohican" 
 will then anchor ahead of the "Minnesota," " Colo- 
 rado" ahead of "Mohican," "Tusoarora" ahead 
 of "Colorado," " Wabash " ahead of "Tuscarora," 
 " Susquehanna '' ahead of "Wabash,'' "Brooklyn" 
 ahead of "Susquehanna," " Powhatan" ahead of 
 "Brooklyn," "Juniata'' ahead of "Powhatan," 
 with their cables ready to slip, and with not more 
 than fifteen fathoms of chain, the fifteen-fathom 
 shackle inside the hawse-hole. 
 
 The " Seneca," " Shenandoah," " Pawtucket," 
 "Ticonderoga," "Mackinaw," " Maumee," " Yan- 
 tio"and "Kansas" will take their positions be- 
 tween and outside the different vessels, as marked 
 on the plan, anchoring with their cables ready to 
 slip. 
 
 When the large ships and intermediate ones get 
 fairly into position, the "Nyack," "Unadilla," 
 "Huron" and "Pequof'will take positions be- 
 tween and outside the Monitors, in the order 
 marked on the plan, keeping up a rapid fire while 
 the Monitors are loading, 
 
 'The following vessels wall next take their posi- 
 tions as marked on the plan. 
 
 Commencing with the " Fort Jackson," which 
 vessel will anchor ahead of the "Juniata," leaving 
 a space between of three lengths, "Santiago de 
 Cuba," " Tacony," "Osceola," " Chippewa," " Sas- 
 sacus," "Maratanza," "Rhode Island," "Monti- 
 cello," "Mount Vernon," "Montgomery," " R. R. 
 Cuyler," " Quaker City" and " Iosco " will pass on 
 slowly, commencing with the rear, until they 
 form the line marked on the plan. 
 
 The reserves of each division will form a line, as 
 per plan, out of gun-shot, ready to act as occasion 
 may require. 
 
 'This is the main plan of the battle. Circum- 
 stances may require some deviation from it, such 
 as a partial attack (before going seriously to work) 
 to feel the enemy's strength, all of v/hich will be 
 regulated by signal or by orders. Great care and 
 coolness will be required to drop the vessels in their 
 right places, and a too-early commencement of fire 
 on the part of those going into position may create 
 confusion. 
 
 As we know but littleabout the calibre and num- 
 ber of rebel guns, the vessels must concentrate 
 their fire on the heaviest batteries ; but get the 
 range before firing rapidly. For instance, the 
 large vessels and ironclads concentrate on Fort 
 Fisher, while the " Vanderbilt." "Fort Jackson," 
 and the vessels in the line with " Fort Jackson " 
 will open on the forts within their reach between 
 
700 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 All the reserve vessels will prepare to attack 
 Zeke's Island battery by taking a position where 
 they can enfilade it, which is when the fort bears 
 northwest. Vessels drawing fourteen feet can go 
 within a mile and three-quarters with perfect 
 safety, and use their rifle-guns with good effect. 
 They can also reach the forts on Federal Point, 
 and prevent their firing accurately on the other 
 portions of the fleet in closer range. 
 
 All the movements of the different lines will be 
 made by sending orders in a tug, as signals will not 
 be seen in the smoke. 
 
 As it is desirable not to have superfluous direc- 
 tions, each commander will be furnished with a 
 plan, and the matter fully discussed, and points 
 explained at a general meeting of commanders. 
 
 Vessels in distress, and finding it necessary to re- 
 tire from battle, will steer out southeast, excepting 
 the headmost vessels, "Iosco," "Quaker City," 
 "R. R. Cuyler," etc., which had better keep on 
 southwest half-south course, until they clear an 
 eight-foot shoal (at low water) outside of them. 
 
 It is not desirable that the vessels of the squad- 
 ron should show themselves to the enemy until the 
 time comes for them to act, and they wiU keep off 
 shore about twenty-five miles, or far enough not to 
 be seen, with New Inlet bearing west, in about the 
 latitude of 33 56, longitude 77 .20 ; that will be the 
 rendezvous. Commanders of divisions will as- 
 semble the vessels of their divisions, get them into 
 line, and keep them so, each division being far 
 enough from the other to allow them to manoeuvre 
 without interfering. When the signal is made or 
 given to fall in line of battle, every vessel will take 
 her station in line according to the plan of the 
 chart, the first division forming first, and the others 
 dropping in, in order. 
 
 As only low steam will be required, those vessels 
 that can move and work handily with half their 
 boilers will only use those on one side, keeping the 
 boilers (on the side near the enemy) full of water 
 and without steam, with water warm only, and 
 ready to make steam in case of necessity. 
 
 Slow, deliberate firing is desirable ; there will be 
 smoke enough anyhow. Rapid and indiscriminate 
 firing will amount to little or nothing. I hope no 
 shot may be thrown away. 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Rear-Admiral Commanding North Atlantic 
 Squadron. 
 
 lbttbr of major-gbkbrai/ butler to rear- 
 admiral porter. 
 Headquarters, Department \ 
 
 Virginia and North Carolina, V 
 December 25, 1864. ) 
 
 Admiral — Upon lauding the troops and making 
 a thorough reconnoissance of Fort Fisher, both 
 General Weitzel and myself are fully of the opinion 
 that the place could not be carried by assault, as 
 it was left substantially uninjured as a defensive 
 work by the Navy fire We found seventeen guns 
 protected by traverses, two only of which were dis- 
 mounted, bearing up the beach and covering a 
 strip of land— the only practicable route— not more 
 than wide enough for a thousand men in Hne of 
 of battle. 
 
 Having captured Flag -Pond Hill battery, the 
 garrison of which— sixty-five men and two com- 
 missioned officers- were taken off by the Navy, we 
 also captured Half-Moon battery and seven oiflcers 
 and two hundred and eighteen men of the Third 
 North Carolina Junior Reserves, including its com- 
 mander, from whom I learned that a portion of 
 Hoke's division, consisting of Kirkland's and Hay- 
 good's brigades, had been sent from the lines before 
 Richmond on Tuesday last, arriving at Wilming- 
 ton Friday night. 
 
 General Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within 
 fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept 
 
 in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the Navy, and 
 so closely, tliat three or four men of the picket line 
 ventured upon the parapet and through the sally- 
 port of the work, capturing a horse, which they 
 brought off, killing the orderly, who was the bearer 
 of a dispatch from the chief-of-artillery of General 
 Whiting to bring a light battery within the fort, 
 and also brought away from the parapet the flag 
 of the fort. 
 
 This was done while the shells of the Navy were 
 falling about the heads of the daring men who en- 
 tered the work, and it was evident, as soon as the 
 fire of the Navy ceased because of the darkness, 
 that the fort was fully manned again, and opened 
 with grape and canister upon our picket line. 
 
 Finding that nothing but the operations of a 
 regular siege, whicii did not come within my in- 
 structions, would reduce the fort, and in view of 
 the threatening aspect of the weather, wind rising 
 from the southeast, rendering it impossible to make 
 further landing through the surf, I caused the 
 troops with their prisoners to re-embark, and see 
 nothing further that can be done by the land- 
 forces. I shall, therefore, sail for Hampton Roads 
 as soon as the transport- fleet can be got in order. 
 
 My engineers and officers report Fort Fisher to 
 me as substantially uninjured as a defensive work. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 Benj. F. Butler, 
 Major-General Com.manding. 
 Rear-Admiral Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron. 
 
 BEPLT OF REAR-ADMIRAL PORTER TO MAJOR- 
 GBNERAL BUTLER. 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, / 
 U. S. Flag-ship "Malvern." f 
 
 General — I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of this date, the substance of which 
 was communicated to me by General Weitzel last 
 night. 
 
 I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off 
 Beaufort and fill up with auimunition, to be ready 
 for another attack, in case it is decided to proceed 
 with this matter by making other arrangements. 
 
 We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and 
 could keep any rebels inside from showing their 
 heads until an assaulting column was within twenty 
 yards of the works. 
 
 I wish some more of your gallant fellows had 
 followed the officer who took the flag from the 
 parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the 
 horse out from the fort. I think they would have 
 found it an easier conquest than is supposed. 
 
 I do not, however, pretend to place my opinion 
 in opposition to General Weitzel, whom I know to 
 1)6 an accomplished soldier and engineer, and whose 
 opinion has great weight with me. 
 
 I will look out that the troops are aU off in safety. 
 We will have a west wind presently, and a smooth 
 beach about three o'clock, when sufficient boats 
 will be sent for them. 
 
 The prisoners now on board the " Santiago de 
 Cuba" will be delivered to the Provost-Marshal 
 at Portress Monroe, unless you wish to take them 
 on board one of the transports, which would be 
 inconvenient just now. 
 
 I remain, General, respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 
 Hear Admiral. 
 Major- General B. F. Butler, 
 
 Commanding, etc., etc., etc. 
 
 The abandonment of the expedition by 
 General Butler, vs^ith his army, created the 
 greatest indignation on the part of the 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 701 
 
 Navy, who had seen the prize so nearly 
 within their reach. It had been the liope 
 of the Admiral to hand over the fort to the 
 Government as a fitting Christmas present; 
 but now all that could be done was for the 
 Navy to hold on in the hope that General 
 Grant would send the troops back again, 
 under another leader, and bring the matter 
 to a conclusion. The Admiral sent a mes- 
 sage as soon as possible to General Grant, 
 requesting that this might be done, and his 
 request was complied with, the troops re- 
 erabarked, and, under command of Brevet- 
 Major-General Alfred H. Terry, returned to 
 the scene of action. 
 
 In consequence of the improper inter- 
 ference of General Butler, in assuming 
 command of an expedition for which Gen- 
 eral Weitzel had been designated, tlie for- 
 mer was directed to proceed to his home in 
 Lowell, Mass., and report from that place, 
 which virtually ended his career in the Army, 
 while Weitzel succeeded him in command 
 of the Army of the James. In one respect 
 this was unfair to General Butler. It was 
 not considered by the Army that Butler had 
 any military ability, either natural or ac- 
 quired, but he had around him men of tal- 
 ents and reputation, who were supposed to 
 be his advisers. The chief of these was 
 General Weitzel, whose counsel seems to 
 have had great influence with Butler on all 
 occasions, and, particularly, on the Fort 
 Fisher expedition. Instead of asserting his 
 claim to command the military part of the 
 expedition, Weitzel simply figured as But- 
 ler's chief - of - staff , and while all orders 
 were signed by General Butler, as " Major- 
 General Commanding," General Weitzel 
 seems to have really directed all the mili- 
 tary operations. It was a mixed-up affair, 
 and it was evidently General Butler's pur- 
 pose to claim the credit if the fort was cap- 
 tured, and to let Weitzel bear the odium in 
 case of failure. 
 
 It is not at all certain that the result of 
 the expedition would have been different 
 had General Weitzel had sole command of 
 the troops, as he seems to have advised 
 General Butler in all his movements. In 
 a letter we have quoted, from General But- 
 ler to Rear-Admiral Porter, the former says: 
 
 "Both General. Weitzel and myself are fully of 
 the opinion that the place could not be carried by 
 assault, as it was left substantially uninjured as a 
 defensive work by the Navy fire." 
 
 Notwithstanding which statement, he in- 
 consistently relates in the same letter that 
 
 " Gen. Weitzel advanced his skirmish line -within 
 fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept 
 in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the Navy, and so 
 closely that three or four men of the picket line 
 ventured upon the parapet and through the sally- 
 port of the work, capturing a horse, which they 
 brought off," etc. 
 
 Comment on the above is unnecessary; 
 
 yet, in the face of this condition of affairs 
 and with the certain victory that could 
 have been gained. General Weitzel recom- 
 mended a retreat to Hampton Roads ! Tlie 
 officer who was to have gone in command 
 advised the one who liad usurped it, that he 
 had better abandon the field on the eve of 
 victory and let the Navy manage the affair 
 as best they could. 
 
 General Weitzel's course at Fort Fisher 
 was quite in keeping with his previous 
 recorcl at Sabine Pass, where, with a force 
 greatly outnumbering the enemy, he ig- 
 nominiously retired, leaving two frail gun- 
 boats to attack the Confederate works and 
 be cut to pieces; at Baton Rouge, where he 
 was only saved from defeat and capture by 
 a gun-boat; and at Forts Jackson and St. 
 Philip, which works he also reported as 
 " substantially uninjured " by the Federal 
 bombardment. It is possible, if General 
 Weitzel had been in independent command 
 with the entire responsibility resting on his 
 shoulders, he might have viewed matters 
 at Fort Fisher in a different light, espe- 
 cially when seconded by so gallant a soldier 
 as General Curtis, who volunteered to as- 
 sault the works with the military forces 
 that were landed on the beach. 
 
 The author regrets to be obliged to criti- 
 cise the acts of any officer, but the facts 
 must be related in order to account for the 
 utter failure of the Army in the first attack 
 on Fort Fisher, and to show the world that 
 the Navy was in nowise responsible for it. 
 The official correspondence of the time con- 
 tains a pretty full account of what oc- 
 curred between the naval and military com- 
 manders, and a history of the Fort Fisher 
 affair would not be complete without it. 
 
 The plea of General Weitzel, that Fort 
 Fisher was uninjured as a defensive work, 
 is of no avail in the light of the facts as- 
 certained by the commanding officers of 
 the ships. Commodore Thatcher, in his 
 official report, says: 
 
 " On the 24th instant, an explosion took place 
 during a heavy fire from the fleet within the main 
 fort of the rebels, immediately after which flames 
 were observed streajning high above the walls, 
 naturally leading to the conclusion that we had 
 fired tlie barracks and other tenements connected 
 with the fort. During the continuance of this 
 blaze, which continued for hours, not a gun was 
 fired by the enemy except from the isolated work 
 called the ' Mound Battery.' 
 
 " On the 25th instant, the range was shorter and 
 the firing of the fieet more accurate than on the 
 preceding day. It is my belief that not a shot or 
 shell was fired by the advanced line of ships that 
 did not either penetrate the earth-works of the 
 enemy or explode within them. 
 
 "On the first day, 1,569 projectiles were fired from 
 the ' Colorado' into the fort. This ship ('Colorado') 
 planted 230 shot in the enemj^'s works on the 25th, 
 and exploded 996 shells." 
 
 The above will give a general idea of the 
 precision of the firing throughout the fleet. 
 
702 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 How, under such circumstances, an engi- 
 neer-officer could report the work "unua- 
 jured," especially after the strong palisades 
 were nearly all knocked away, is beyond 
 ordinary comprehension. 
 
 The following letter from Rear- Admiral 
 Porter to the Secretary of the Navy gives 
 a more detailed account of the bombard- 
 ment and expresses the disappointment felt 
 at the withdrawal of the troops : 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, 
 U. S. Flag-ship "Malvbrn," 
 Off New Inlet, December 27, 1864. 
 
 Sir— My dispatch of yesterday will give you an 
 account of our operations, but -will scarcely give 
 you an idea of my disappointment at the conduct 
 of the army authorities in not attempting to take 
 possession of the forts which had been so completely 
 silenced by our guns; they were so blown up, burst 
 up, and torn up. that the people inside had no in- 
 tention of fighting any longer. Had the army made 
 a show of surrounding it, it would have been ours ; 
 but nothing of the kind was done. 
 
 The men landed, reconnoitred, and, hearing that 
 the enemy were massing troops somewhere, the 
 order was given to re-embark. 
 
 They went away as soon as the majority of the 
 troops were on the transports, and it coming on to 
 blow rather fresh, about 700 were left on shore. 
 They have been there ever since, without food or 
 water, having landed with only twenty-four hours' 
 rations. I opened communication with them this 
 morning and supplied them with provisions. 
 
 To show that the rebels have no force here, these 
 men have been on shore two days without being 
 molested. I am now getting them off, and it has 
 taken half the squadron (with the loss of many 
 boats in the surf) to assist. 
 
 I can't conceive what the army expected when 
 they came here ; it certainly did not need seven 
 thousand men to garrison Fort Fisher— it only re- 
 quires one thousand to garrison all these forts, 
 which are entirely under the guns of Fort Fisher ; 
 that talven, the river is open. Could I have found 
 a channel to be relied on in time, I would have put 
 the vessels in, even if I had got a dozen of them 
 sunk ; but the channel we did find was only wide 
 enough for one vessel at right angles, and we were 
 not certain of the soundings. There never was a 
 fort that invited soldiers to walk in and take pos- 
 session more plainly than Fort Fisher ; and an offi- 
 cer got on the parapet even, saw no one inside, and 
 brought away the flag we had cut down. 
 
 A soldier goes inside, through the sallyport, 
 meets in the fort, coming out of a bomb-proof, an 
 orderly on horseback, shoots the orderly, searches 
 his bodj', and brings away with him the horse and 
 communication the orderly was bearing to send up 
 field-pieces. 
 
 Another soldier goes in the fort and brings out a 
 mule that was stowed away; and another soldier, 
 who went inside while our shells were falling, shot 
 his musket into a bomb-proof, where he saw some 
 rebels assembled together ; he was not molested. 
 Ten soldiers, who went around the fort, were 
 wounded by our shells. All the men wanted was 
 the order to go in; but because every gun was not 
 dismounted by our fire, it was thought that the 
 fort "was not injured as a defensive work," and 
 that it would be to lose men to attack it. It was 
 considered rash to attack the works with wooden 
 ships, and even the officers who have been on the 
 bar a long time (and witnessed the building of the 
 works) thought that half the ships would be de- 
 stroyed; and it was said that the only hope we could 
 have of silencing the batteries was in case the pow- 
 der vessel did the damage expected. 
 
 We silenced the guns in one hour's time and had 
 not one man killed (that I have heard of), except by 
 the bursting of our own guns, in the entire fleet. 
 
 We have shown the weakne.ss of this work. It 
 can be taken at any moment, in one hour's time, if 
 the right man is sent with the troops. They should 
 be sent here to stay— to land with a month's provis- 
 ions, intrenching tools, guns, and Cohorn mortars. 
 Ten thousand men will hold the whole country. 
 The rebels have been able to send here, j-11 told, 
 about 4,000 men; seventy-five of them that were 
 sent here to observe us gave themselves up to the 
 Navy. Two hundred and eighteen men sent on the 
 same duty gave themselves up to our reconnoitering 
 party, and this would have been the case all 
 the way through. 
 
 If I can't do better, I will land the sailors, and 
 try if we can't have full credit for what we do. I 
 trust, sir, you will not think of stopping at this, 
 nor of relaxing your endeavors to obtain the right 
 kind of troops for the business, the right number, 
 and the proper means of taking the place, even if 
 we fail m an assault. Every attack we make we 
 will improve in firing, and if the weather would 
 permit, I could level the works in a week's firing. 
 
 COMMAMDER (NOW EEAE-.\DMIEAL) JOHN C. HOWELL. 
 
 strong as they are ; but there is only one day in six 
 that a vessel can anchor so close. We had a most 
 beautiful time, and the weather for the attack was 
 just what we wanted. 
 
 If fireneral Hancock, with ten thousand men, was 
 sent down here, we could walk into the fort. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your'obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, Rear-Admiral. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Washington, J}. C. 
 
 additional report of commander j. c. how- 
 ell— capture OF flag-pond battery. 
 
 IJ. S. Steamer " Nereus, I 
 Off Wilmington, December 27, 1864. f 
 Admiral— At 12:40 p. m., in obedience to your 
 verbal order, I anchored off Flag-Pond battery, 
 mooring head and stern in four and a half fathoms 
 of water. Immediately opened fire upon the bat- 
 tery. No response was made by those inside ; and 
 at 2:15 P. M. a white fiag was wavedand the soldiers 
 inside the fort showed themselves. A boat was im- 
 mediately sent from one of the small gun-boats, the 
 American flag planted on the fort, and the surrender 
 of the command received by a naval officer. Some 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 703 
 
 sixty -Ave or seventy men, a captain and lieutenant, 
 were captured. The "Santiago de Cuba" and 
 "Nereus" sent boats, and, by order of Captain Glis- 
 son, the prisoners were transferred to the ' ' Santi- 
 ago de Cuba." Respectfully, Admiral, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 J. C. HOWBIL, 
 
 Commander. 
 Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 efc., e<c., etc.. 
 
 list of vessels, etc., that participated in the 
 attack upon fort fisher. 
 North Atlantic Squadron, 
 
 U. S. Flag-ship "Malvern." 
 Beaufort, IS.. C, December, 31, 1864. 
 
 Sir — In my accounts of the actions of the 34th 
 and 35th instant, against Fort Fisher, I omitted 
 uientioning the names of the commanders of the 
 different vessels, with the exception of one or two ; 
 this might look like an invidious distinction, which 
 was not intended by any means ; and though the 
 name of each commander is well-known to the pub- 
 lic, I desire to correct the omission, that history 
 may give credit to those engaged in these actions. 
 
 The following are the names of all the vessels 
 engaged with the forts, and the names of their com- 
 manders. Having so well performed their part in 
 reducing these formidable works to a condition 
 where they could be easily taken possession of, they 
 are entitled to all the credit they have so well 
 earned: 
 
 " Minnesota," Commodore Joseph Lauman : " Mo- 
 hican, "^.Commander D. Ammen ; " Colorado," Com- 
 modore' H. K.Thatcher; "Tuscarora," Commander 
 J. M. Frailey; "Wabash," Captain M. Smith; 
 "Susquehanna," Commodore S. W. Godon ; 
 "Brooklyn," Captain James Alden ; "Powhatan," 
 Commodore J. F. Schenok; "Juniata," Captain W. 
 R. Taylor; "Kansas," Lieutenant-Commander P. 
 G. Watmough; "Yantic," Lieutenant-Commander 
 T. C. Harris ; " Maumee," Lieutenant-Commander 
 R. Chandler; " Mackinaw," Commander J. C. 
 Beaumont; " Tioonderoga," Captain C. Steedman; 
 " Pa wtucket," Commander J. H. Spotts; "Shenan- 
 doah," Captain D. B. Ridgely; "Seneca," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander M. Sicard ; "New Ironsides," Com- 
 modore William Radford; " Monadnock," Com- 
 mander E. G. Parrott; " Canonicus," Lieutenant- 
 Commander George E. Belknap; "Mahopac," 
 Lieutenant-Commander E. E. Potter; "Saugus," 
 Commander E. R. Colhoun; " Nyack," Lieutenant- 
 Commander L. H. Newman; "Unadilla," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander F. M. Ramsay; "Huron," Lieuten- 
 ant Commander T. O. Seltridge; " Pequot," Lieu- 
 tenant - Commander D. L. Braine; "Pontoosac," 
 Lieutenant-Commander W. G. Temple; "Nereus," 
 Commander J. C. Howell: " Vanderbilt," Captain 
 C. W. Pickering; " Port Jackson," Captain B. F. 
 Sands; "Santiago de Cuba," Captain O. S. GUs- 
 son; "Tacony," Lieutenant -Commander W. T. 
 Truxtun; "Osceola," Commander J. M. B. Clitz; 
 "Chippewa," Lieutenant - Commander A. W. 
 Weaver; "Sassacus," Lieutenant -Commander J. L. 
 Davis; "Maratanza," Lieutenant - Commander G. 
 W. Young; " Rhode Island," Commander S. D. 
 Trenchard; "Mount Vernon," Acting - Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant James Trathen; "Britannia," Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant Samuel Huse; " Quaker City," 
 Commander W. P. Spicer; "Iosco," Commander 
 John Guest; "Howquah," Acting-Volunteer- Lieu- 
 tenant J. W. Balch; "Wilderness," Acting- Master 
 H. Arey; " Cherokee," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 W. E. Dennison; " A. D. Vance," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander J. Upshur; " Moccasin," Acting -Ensign 
 James Brown; "Gettysburg," Lieutenant R. H. 
 Lamson; " Alabama," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant 
 Frank Smith ;" Keystone State," Commander H. 
 
 Porter; " Emma," Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant 
 T. C. Dunn; " Tristram Shandy," Acting-Ensign 
 Ben. Wood; "Governor Buckingham,'' Acting-Vol- 
 unteer-Lieutenant J. McDiarmid ; "Little Ada,'' 
 Acting-Master S. P. Crafts. 
 
 I should have mentioned that the "Saugus," 
 Commander Colhoun, was not in the first day's fight; 
 she arrived from Hampton Roads the morning of 
 the 35tb, just in time to take her place with the 
 other Monitors, and anchored within eight hun- 
 dred yards of Port Fisher ; though there was no 
 response of any consequence from the fort, she did 
 good service in knocking away traverses, etc., and 
 only fired slowly until the army should come up. 
 At no time during this day's work did any of the 
 vessels open all their batteries ; the order was to 
 " fight only one division of guns from each vessel," 
 some vessels only fired one shot or shell per minute, 
 holding on for the moment when it was expected 
 the troops would approach and enter, for that 
 would have been the result. I cannot conceal my 
 dissatisfaction, nor can the officers under my com- 
 mand, at the turn things have taken. My first 
 dispatch to the department will show you how san- 
 guine I was that the works would be ours before 
 sunset if the troops came up. I supposed that the 
 assaulting was a matter of course, knowing that, as 
 soon as the troops landed and surrounded the 
 works in the rear, the white flag would be hung 
 out ; but reports of large armies coming up to the 
 relief of the rebels changed all the General's plans, 
 if he ever had any. To show how absurd such ap- 
 prehension s were, every rebel soldier seen gave them- 
 selves up the moment our troops were ashore, when 
 they had nothing to fear from their own people ; 
 this would have been the case all the way through 
 had the troops all landed. 
 
 General Butler mentions in his letter to me that 
 he had captured Flag-Pond battery with 65 men, 
 and Half-Moon battery with 318 men and seven 
 officers. This is making capital out of very small 
 material. Flag-Pond battery was some loose sand 
 thrown up, behind which the rebels used to lie 
 with field-pieces and fire at our blockaders when 
 they chased runners ashore. It doesn't deserve the 
 name of a work. Sixty -five or seventy rebels in it 
 came forward and delivered themselves up to the 
 Navy and were taken on board the " Santiago de 
 Cuba." The men in Half-Moon battery (which is 
 no work at all, and exactly like the other) came 
 forward and delivered themselves up to the Army. 
 They could easily have escaped had they desired 
 to do so. There were no guns in these temporary 
 works, and no protection in the rear. The country 
 will scarcely be cajoled, as it has been a hundred 
 times this war, by announcement of captures hav- 
 ing no foundation whatever. 
 
 ****** ^ 
 
 We all know very well that a fort on shore, unless 
 attacked by troops at the same time ships are bom- 
 barding, will always hold out against the ships ; 
 that is, the enemy will leave the works (and let the 
 ships fire away), and enter again when the ships 
 have gone. We know, from the history of this war, 
 that in no case have we failed to take a fortification 
 where the troops did their share of the work ; and 
 this is what the troops under the command ot Gen- 
 eral Butler failed to do. 
 
 The brave fellows who showed the way into the 
 works brought off horses, mules, and flags, should 
 have their names chronicled far and near. Had the 
 same spirit been felt in other quarters, Christmas 
 would have been a happier day than usual with the 
 nation. There was evidently a misapprehension on 
 tbe part of the military leader that we could not 
 cover and protect troops on shore. 
 
 This fleet demonstrated its ability to hold on at 
 anchor in deep water and twenty miles from shore, 
 through a heavy gale from the south ward-^all gales 
 
704 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 or blowing less as the shore is approached. The 
 only gales to be dreaded here are tlie northeasters, 
 and then the vessel would lie along the shore with 
 their broadsides bearing on the beach. 
 
 This fleet would drive off an army of three hun- 
 dred thousand men, intrenched or attacking, on 
 such a level field as that where our troops landed. 
 
 Seven hundred men were left on the beach by 
 General Butler when he departed for Fortress Mon- 
 roe, and we had no difficulty in protecting them 
 from the rebel army said to be in the background, 
 which was a very small army, after all. General 
 Bragg must have been very agreeably disappointed 
 when he saw our troops going away without firing 
 a shot, and to see an expedition costing millions of 
 dollars given up wiien the hollowness of the rebel 
 shell was about to be exposed. 
 
 All through this war we have lost chances never 
 to l)e recovered, owing to the timidity of com- 
 manders, and their hesitating to attack what offers 
 itself the most easy of conquest. 
 
 The report of an army coming up — which army 
 never existed — changes the whole plan of a cam- 
 paign, when in my opinion, it would be better to 
 face the army of the enemy and see what stuff they 
 are made of. 
 
 Here was our fleet of six hundred guns, com- 
 manding a peninsula two miles wide only, and able 
 to cover for miles any number of troops we might 
 land. I call this a dead failure. There is no use in 
 mincing matters, for though the navy did all that 
 was expected of it, or could do, we gained no re- 
 sults. We will only have the satisfaction of know- 
 ing that the naval part was weU and handsomely 
 done, and that we will do it again the first oppor- 
 tunity. 
 
 It is now blowing heavy from the southward east- 
 ward, and the larger vessels are riding it out nicely 
 outside. This is the only wind we care for on this 
 coast. In all tlie other gales we can find a lee or a 
 partial protection. 
 
 If you, sir, have no intention of making any 
 change in the number of vessels in this squadron, 
 I would respectfully say, let us work this matter 
 through; at least, defer any changes until I say that 
 we have given up the idea of taking the forts. 
 
 The rebels will, no doubt, claim a victory. A fail- 
 ure is half a victory. They foreshadowed the failure 
 in their papers, and stated what would be the 
 cause, which came true. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Hon. Gidbon Welles, liear-Admiral. 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Washington, B. C. 
 
 letter of rear-admiral d. d. porter rela- 
 tive to the alleged unstecessary delay 
 1^ the attack. 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, \ 
 U. S. Flag-ship "Malvern," - 
 Beaufort, N. U., January 9, 1865. ) 
 Sir — I understand that there is now an attempt 
 being made to create an impression that I delayed 
 much longer than necessary, and could have at- 
 tacked on the 18th as well as the 24th. 1 don't see 
 what that has to do with the question under dis- 
 cussion. We went down to silence ine batteries, 
 demoralize the men in the forts, so that the Army 
 could easily assault the works. It would be a mat- 
 ter of no consequence whether this was done on the 
 18th or the 2.5th, as long as we did our share of the 
 work effectively, which, I believe, no one denies. 
 It the Army after landing on the S.jth would not 
 undertake the assault, they would not have done so 
 on the 18th. The delay, if any, gave them 1,000 men 
 more, a large steamer and another transport under 
 General Ames having come in on that day. 
 
 When General Butler was about to start from 
 Fortress Monroe (having embarked his men in a 
 storm, when I told him he could not possibly leave 
 for three days), I requested him to wait a day after 
 I sailed, as my vessels were slow, and I would have 
 to fill up the powder-Vessel ; but finding that the 
 Monitors were going, he started off for the rendez- 
 vous he had established himself, showed himself 
 and some of the transports to the enemy, was fired 
 at by the forts, and revealed our whole design. 
 
 Now for the log-book. On the 16th December 
 wind was south, with a swell rolling on the beach, 
 so that no boat could land. One hour only during 
 the day was there a northwest breeze ; on the 17th 
 wind southwest, a heavy sea rolling in on the 
 beach ; 18th, wind east and northeast, east-north- 
 east, east by west, blowing right on the beach ; no 
 boat could land ; 19th, wind fresh, east-southeast 
 and southwest, with a swell setting on the beach ; 
 20th, for a little while wind west-northwest, but 
 shifted to east-northeast, blowing fresh, heavy 
 breakers on the beach ; 21st, a gale coming on from 
 the south and east, which ended by blowing heavy 
 from south and west, heavy breakers on beach; 
 23d, wind shifted to west, all the transports out of 
 sight ; gone to make a harbor at Beaufort ; at mid- 
 night wind off the land, but heavy breakers on 
 the beach and all over the bar, heavy swell from 
 seaward ; steamed in under the land ; 23d, wind 
 north-northwest and beach comparatively smooth ; 
 steamed in and reconnoitred ; still too much sea for 
 a boat to land without capsizing ; met General But- 
 ler's dispatch-boat at 5 :30 P. M. ; sent word to General 
 Butler that the time was so fair that I would blow 
 up the boat at midnight and attack in the morn- 
 ing. We were sixty -nine miles from Beaufort ; the 
 captain said his boat could make fourteen miles 
 per hour ; this would give him five hours to go to 
 Beaufort, which would put him there at 11 o'clock 
 P.M. General Butler, leaving with the transports at 
 6 o'clock in the morning, could have reached the 
 bar at 1 o'clock, allowing him to make nine miles an 
 hour, which all his transports could do. We did 
 not attack until 12, and General Butler only came 
 in with his own vessel and two or three transports 
 at sunset. He saw the fort silenced, defeated, as far 
 as the Navy was concerned, and no doubt could be 
 left on his mind about our ability to do the same 
 the next day. It was the preliminary attack to test 
 the strength of the works. 
 
 The programme was made, the troops landed, and 
 without the faintest sign of an assault beyond what 
 was done by one or two gallant soldiers. The 
 Army Commanders concluded that the work was 
 "substantially uninjured as a defensive work." 
 The letter of Lieutenant-Commander Temple, and 
 the testimony of deserters, prove that the works 
 would have been ours had the troops been allowed 
 to assault, as they desired. What matters it, then, 
 whether we attacked on the 18th or 24th? The 
 result would have been the same. General Butler 
 left Fortress Monroe with his troops in transports 
 that could not lie at anchor in rough weather that 
 was ridden out by our Monitors, tugs, and small- 
 wheeled boats; the powder - boat "Louisiana" 
 hanging to the stern of another vessel. General 
 Butler, having left the ground with his vessels, 
 where my lightest vessels held on, was not on the 
 ground to take advantage of the first day's good 
 weather, though that had nothing to do with the 
 matter, as he did not do anything when the landing 
 did take place ; so what matters it when it was 
 done? 
 
 General Butler, with all his soldier-like qualities, 
 could scarcely be considered as good a judge ot 
 weather and the proper time of landing as myself ; 
 and, as a sensible person, would not venture to put 
 his opinion in opposition to mine, even backed by 
 some old sailor on his flag-ship. 
 
 I do not ascribe to him, therefore, the excuse 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 705 
 
 made for not taking Fort Fisher, when -we had 
 opened its gate lor him ; I attribute the report 
 "that we had wasted tim^e''to some of the junior 
 members of the staff, who are not as good seamen as 
 the General. At all events, if we lost any time in 
 the beginning, we made up for it when we went to 
 work ; but allowhig that we lost time, that the 
 beach was as smooth as paper, it doesn't asoount 
 for not taking Fort Fisher when the works were 
 battered and burnt to that degree that there ap- 
 peared no life within the walls. 
 
 The military part of the expedition was got up in 
 most unmilitary manner ; the troops were placed in 
 inferior transports that could not condense water, 
 and' had a short allowance only on hand ; the troops 
 had four days' cooked rations (which were eaten up 
 while lying in the storm at Hampton Roads , and 
 ten days' other rations ; there were no intrenching 
 tools of any kind, no siege guns ; the whole pro- 
 ceeding indicated that the General depended on 
 the Navy silencing the works, and he walking in 
 and taking possession. No allowance was made for 
 contingencies, for bad weather, or for delays after 
 getting onshore ; the powder-boat when it exploded 
 was to have done the whole thing; the walls of a 
 strong sand fort were to have been blown down, and 
 the rebels all to be discomfited. I thought a good 
 deal might be done by the explosion, but still I laid 
 in a double allowance of shell and shot, and did 
 not depend on a doubtful experiment. Start- 
 ing as that expedition did was not the way to 
 make war ; and- landing troops who were full of 
 enthusiasm, and then embarking them again when 
 they were eager to seize the trophy laid at their 
 feet, was not the one to improve the morale of the 
 Army. 
 
 No matter what might be the delay on my part 
 (and there was none , the General failed to take ad- 
 vantage of the opportunity I gave him to take the 
 fort, when a large portion of the troops were 
 landed and stood within one hundred and fifty feet 
 of the works, unmolested, some few of them going 
 on the parapet. No musketry or grape-shot were 
 fired at him during the day; a few muskets, " about 
 twenty," were fired after night-fall by the alarmed 
 rebels, and one or two guns ; but the "Ironsides" 
 opened her broadside, and the firing ceased imme- 
 diately. Ten of the pickets were left by forgetful- 
 ness near the forts after night-fall, and they saw 
 quite a number of men leave the works and embark 
 in boats, which was the garrison leaving to prevent 
 capture. Until late in the day on the 36th the forts lay 
 at our mercy, and if the men had not been brought 
 off, the rebels would have surrendered when they 
 marched up and the Navy opened fire. All the 
 reasoning in the world will not make the affair ap- 
 pear in a better light. I have no doubt that had 
 ^he Army been obliged to assault the works alone, 
 without the fire of the Navy, they would have been 
 well handled ; but, as matters stood, we have every 
 proof that the fort was ours. 
 
 It is useless, then, to excuse a military blunder by 
 trying to make out that the Navy was behind time. 
 The ships lay two months at Hainpton Roads, wait- 
 ing for the army to move, and we were satisfied 
 with the reasons that General Grant gave for not 
 sending troops. There was no necessity after all 
 the delay for rushing into the matter unprepared, 
 and when the weather was unfavorable ; a more 
 flimsy excuse could not be invented. 
 
 In making these statements, I do not do so for the 
 purpose of making any excuse whatever for the 
 naval part of the expedition ; I consider that a set- 
 tled thing in the estimation of the whole country; 
 but I have so often during this war seen attempts 
 made to cast odium on the Navy, and in self-defence 
 I put myself on record, wishing this used only if 
 found necessary to correct false statements. 
 
 miral, hold on where you are for a few days and I 
 will endeavor to be back again with an increased 
 force, and without the former commander:'' 
 
 The remark is not very suggestive of confidence 
 in the late management of affairs. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 David 1). Porter, 
 
 Rear-Admiral. 
 Hon. Gideox Welles, 
 
 Seoretaru of the Navy, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Mr. Secretary Welles, after reading the 
 above dispatches, sent the following tele- 
 gram in cipher to General Grant, for he was 
 determined the Navy should succeed : 
 
 Navy Department, ) 
 December 29, 1864. S 
 Lieute7iant-Gfeneral Gfrant, City Point, Va. : 
 
 The substance of dispatches and reports from 
 Rear-Admiral Porter off Wilmington is briefiy this : 
 The ships can approach nearer to the enemy's 
 works than was anticipated ; their fire can keep 
 the enemy away from their guns ; a landing can 
 easily be effected upon the beach north of Fort 
 Fisher, not only of troops but of all their supplies 
 and artillery ; this force can have its flanks pro- 
 tected by gun-boats ; the Navy can assist in a siege 
 of Fort Fisher precisely as it covered the operations 
 which resulted in the capture of Wagner. The 
 winter also is the most favorable for operations 
 against Fort Fisher. The largest naval force ever 
 assembled is ready to lend its co-operation ; Rear- 
 Admiral Porter will remain off Fort Fisher, con- 
 tinuing a moderate fire to prevent new works from 
 being erected, and the iron-elads have proved that 
 they can maintain themselves in spite of bad 
 weather. Under all these circumstances, I invite 
 you to such a military co-operation as will insure 
 the fall of Fort Fisher, the importance of which 
 has already received your careful consideration. 
 
 This telegram is made at the suggestion of the 
 President, and in hopes that you will be able at 
 this time to give the troops, which heretofore were 
 required elsewhere. If it cannot be done, the fleet 
 will have to disperse, whence it cannot again be 
 brought to this coast. 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 a 
 
 .^,,;j.« ^ +u 
 
 J-rii-i *:\»>o 
 
 1 fciciXa o c T 
 
 (confidential.) 
 
 Navy Department, 
 Saturday, December 81, 1864. 
 Sir — Lieutenant - General Grant will send im- 
 mediately a competent force, properly commanded, 
 to co-operate in the capture of the defences on 
 Federal Point. It is expected that the troops will 
 leave Hampton Roads next Monday or Tuesday. 
 
 This is all the information the Department has, 
 to give you, but relies upon your skill and judg- 
 ment to give full effect to any more that may be 
 arranged. 
 
 The Department is perfectly satisfied with your 
 efforts thus far, and you will convey to all hands 
 the satisfaction the Department feels. 
 I am, sir, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Blockading 
 Squadron off Wilmington. 
 
 After the transports had departed there 
 was nothing for the fleet to do but to pro- 
 ceed to Beaufort, N. C, and fill up with 
 
706 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 promised reinforcements. Besides, the 
 weather was getting stormy, and it was 
 advisable to get the smaller vessels into 
 port. 
 
 It would not do to attempt an assault on 
 the Confederate works with sailors, for they 
 had been heavily reinforced by General 
 Hoke, and, for the present. Fort Fisher was 
 secure against attack. The troops that 
 General Butler, in his hurry to get away, 
 had left on the beach were embarked 
 after the gale was over, and returned to 
 Fortress Monroe. 
 
 This ended the first attack on Fort 
 Fisher ; which, although unsuccessful in 
 reducing the enemy's works, was not with- 
 out its valuable lessons, which contributed 
 to cause in the second attack a final , and 
 gratifying success. 
 
 The reports of the commanding officers 
 
 COMMODORE (^VFTEKWAKDS KEAR-AD.MIBAL, JAS. F. SCHENCK. 
 
 of vessels in the North Atlantic squadron 
 are too many and too voluminous to insert 
 them all here, but we append some of the 
 most graphic and interesting, which are 
 animated with the zeal in tlae performance 
 of duty which is characteristic of the naval 
 profession : 
 
 rbport of commodore schknck, commanding 
 
 u. s. s. "powhatan" and 3d division 
 
 north atlantic squadron. 
 
 United States Steamer "Powhatan,' 
 Off Beaufort, N. C, January 1, 1865 
 Admiral — Your General Order No. 75 did not 
 reach me until this morning, owing to its being 
 sent on board the " Colorado." In reply to that 
 part of it requiring me to make a report of the part 
 I took in the actions of the 24th and 25th ultimo, 
 I have to state that at 1:20 P. M., on the 24th, I took 
 my position in the line, as directed by you, with a 
 
 kedge upon my port quarter acting as a spring, 
 letting go my port anchor with twenty-five (25 1 
 fathoms of chain, which brought my starboard 
 broadside to bear upon the forts. I immediately 
 opened a vigorous fire upon the batteries, paying 
 especial attention to Fort Fisher with my ll-inch 
 gun, and to the Mound with my two (3) 100 pounder 
 Parrotts, and with my 9-inoh guns to the batteries 
 more immediately abreast of us. It is reported 
 and believed on board this ship that one of the 
 shells from our 11-inch, which exploded in Fort 
 Fisher, set fire to it. At 3:45 p. M., finding that 
 some of my 9 -inch shell fell short, and that the 
 " Brooklyn," being underway, occasionally inter- 
 fered with my line of sight, I got underway, con- 
 tinuing the action, and stood into four and a-half 
 (4}) fathoms water, from which position every shot 
 told with great effect. From this time the action 
 was continued underway. At 3:10 p. M. the end of 
 our spanker gaff was shot away, and our flag came 
 down with it ; hoisted it immediately at the mizzen. 
 About the same time, the rebel flag on Fort Fisher 
 was shot away, and was not raised again during 
 the action. At 3:45 P. M. the flag-stafif on the Mound 
 was shot away, which shot is claimed by our pivot 
 rifle. At 5:20 P. M the signal was made to discon- 
 tinue the action. Hauled off, having sustained no 
 loss of life or injury to the ship. 
 
 During this day's action we fired two hundred 
 and thirty-six f236) 9-inch shell, fifty -four (54', 11-inch 
 shell, and eighty.-two (82) 100-pounder rifle shell. 
 Not a shell was wasted from the 11-inch and rifles, 
 and only a few in the early part of the action from, 
 the 9-inch guns. The starboard battery only was 
 used in action, viz : eight (8) 9-inch guns, two (2) 
 100-pounder Parrott rifles, and one (1) 11-inch pivot- 
 gun. 
 
 On the 25th I took my position as before, although 
 nearer the batteries, and further in. The batteries 
 between Fort Fisher and the Mound being abreast 
 of us, my position was an admirable one for engag- 
 ing these Ijatteries, and my 9-inch guns were prin- 
 cipally employed in doing this, as it was only by 
 these we were annoyed, with an occasional shot 
 from the Mound. During this day not a shot fell 
 short, which accounts for my increased expenditure 
 of 9-inch shell. At 2:10 p. M. we opened Are, which 
 was replied to by the batteries abreast of us more 
 \igorously than the day before. I am not aware 
 of having received a single shot from Fort Fisher 
 this day. 
 
 At 8:30 P. M. a port main shroud was shot away ; 
 soon after we were struck three (3i times in pretty 
 rapid succession. One (1) shot struck us under No. 3 
 port, three feet above the water line, passing 
 through into a store-room and depositing itself in 
 a mattress ; it is a solid 8-inch shot. Two (3) shot 
 struck under No. 2 port twenty inches below the 
 water line, one remaining in the side and the other 
 going through and lodging in a beam on the orlop 
 deck, causing the ship to leak badly. A glancing 
 shot struck the stern of the ship, but did no ma- 
 terial injury, and some of our running rigging shot 
 away. At 4:10 p. m., having expended all the am- 
 munition for ll-inch and rifles, and nearly all for 
 my 9-inch guns, made signal, " Ammunition I am 
 short of," which was replied to "Save some," and 
 immediately after, "Discontinue the action," when 
 I weighed my anchor, lifted my kedge, and hauled 
 out of line. 
 
 During this day's action we fired four hundred 
 and ninety-four (494) 9-inch shells, fifty-two (52) 
 ll-inch shell, and seventy -two (72) rifle shell. 
 
 In conclusion, I beg leave to state that every 
 ofBcer and man on board this ship, under my com- 
 mand, did his duty nobly, and I have yet to hear 
 of any complaint, either of ofBoer or man, except as 
 to the failure to take advantage of our two (3) days' 
 work. With regard to the "damage apparently 
 done to the works," I must confess that I was pay- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 707 
 
 ing luore attention to the proper management of my 
 owtt battery than the general effect ; but it appears 
 to me utterly impossible that any works could 
 withstand such a fire and not be terribly damaged ; 
 and I am also fuUy impressed with the belief that by 
 a prompt and vigorous assault late in the after- 
 noon of either day% Fort Fisher might have been 
 taken by a comparatively small force, say one 
 thousand (1,000) resolute men. Fort Fisher was 
 silent, the Mound firing feebly ; the only active 
 firing from the enemy that I witnessed was from 
 the two or three guns that annoyed me, and as 
 long as my ammunition permitted me to fire rapidly 
 I could keep them pretty quiet. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 JAS. FIBTDLAY SCHEJSrOK, 
 
 Comrrndore Commanding U. S. Steamer 
 "■Powhatan," Sd Division J^orth Atlan- 
 tic Squadron. 
 
 w Ironsides,") 
 ring N.N. W., \ 
 eembr 31, 1864. ) 
 
 REPORT OP COMMODORE WILLIAM RADFORD, COM- 
 MANDINa U. S- S. "new IRONSIDES." 
 
 United States Steamer "New Ironsides,"] 
 Anchored at sea, Beaufort, bearing ." " 
 Distant about five miles, Decembr ; 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to your orders, I took possession under the 
 guns of Fort Fisher, from thirteen to fifteen hun- 
 dred yards distant, or as near as the depth of 
 water would permit, the Monitors "Canonicus," 
 "Monadnock,"and "Mahopac" following the "New 
 Ironsides " in. As soon as I anchored, I opened my 
 starboard battery, and continued a well-directed 
 fire for some five (5) hours. Night coming on, I 
 hauled off, in obedience to orders. On the morning 
 of the 25th the iron-clad division again led in under 
 the guns of Fort Fisher and took the position we 
 occupied the day previous. The "Saugus,'' having 
 arrived the night previous, took her station, and 
 this division, in connection with the others, drove 
 the men from the guns in the fort, they only firing 
 one or two guns, and those at long intervals. All 
 the Monitors were handled and fought well. 
 Lieutenant-Commander Belknap took the in-shore 
 berth, and is reported to have dismounted one or 
 more guns in the fort 
 
 Judging from the immense number of shells which 
 struck the fort, it must have been considerably in 
 jured. Several guns were reported to have been 
 dismounted, two explosions took place, and three 
 fires. 
 
 The face of the fort was very much plowed up 
 by the shells from the fleet. If the fort was unin- 
 jured (as a defensive work', no artillery known to 
 modern warfare can injure it. My impression is, 
 that any considerable number of troops could have 
 stormed and taken the fort, im.mediate]y after the 
 second day's bombardment, with but little loss. 
 
 All the officers and men belonging to the "New 
 Ironsides " served their guns and country well ; and 
 I am greatly indebted to Lieutenant-Commander 
 Phythian, the executive officer, for his energy and 
 ability in getting the crew and ship in such good 
 fighting order. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 WM. RiDFORD, 
 
 Commodore Commanding Iron-clad Division. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding N. A. Squadron. 
 
 REPORT op captain JAMES ALDBN, COMMANDING 
 
 united states steamer "brooklyn." 
 
 United States Steamer "Brooklyn, 
 
 Off Beaufort, N. C, December 30, 1864 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
 
 of General Order No. 75, which not only calls upon 
 
 they took in the action of the 24th and 25th instant, 
 but also their impressions as to the damage done to 
 the enemy's work, the effect of our firing, and the 
 defensibility of the fort after we had finished the 
 bombardment. 
 
 On the first day, the 24th, this ship was in line of 
 attack and opened fire on Fort Fisher at 12:50 
 P. M., being then within good "10-second" range. 
 The fire was kept up, with occasional Intermissions 
 for the men to rest, till 5:15 (more than four hours), 
 when darkness intervened, and the signal was made 
 to retire. The enemy's fire, during the whole of 
 that time, was much less than that of one of our 
 large ships ; an occasional shot was fired from Fort 
 Fisher ; a very feeble and desultory reply to our fire 
 was kept up by the forts between the main work 
 and the Mound battery, which latter was heard 
 from but five or six times during the whole after- 
 noon. 
 
 In a word, I am satisfied from past experience, 
 that if this ship, or any one of the larger ones, could 
 have gotten near enough, say within two or three 
 hundred yards, she would not only have silenced 
 
 ..( 
 
 COMMODORE (NOW EEAE-ADMIBAL) WILLIAM RADFORD. 
 
 their batteries fully and entirely, but would have 
 driven every rebel from the point. 
 
 On the second day, the 25th, this ship was sent to 
 silence some of the enemy's earth-works, which were 
 contiguous to the place fixed upon for the disem- 
 barking of the troops, to shell the woods, and to 
 cover their landing. The first troops landed at 
 about 2 P. M. ; sent all our boats to assist. At 4 
 o'clock, just two hours after the landing commenced, 
 the General commanding came alongside this ship 
 and said, ' ' It has become necessary to re-embark the 
 troops; will you send your boats to assist?" You 
 can judge of my surprise at the turn affairs had 
 taken, for at that moment everything seemed propi- 
 tious. The bombardment was at its height, little or 
 no surf on the beach, and no serious indications of 
 bad weather. Still, the order for retiring had gone 
 forth, and our boats were employed tiU very late 
 (the launch not returning till next morning) in re- 
 embarking the troops, the surf not interfering seri- 
 ously with operations till near midnight, when it 
 
 i_ 1 'l-l— J._ 1 J "Xl- j?_ J ■»*■ _i_ 
 
708 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 dissatisfaction, I am told, was shown by the soldiers 
 and their officers vvlien they were informed that 
 tliey were to re-embark, and it was with some diffi- 
 culty that they could be made to get into the boats. 
 They were loud in their denunciation of the order 
 turning them back, saying that they had gone 
 there to take the fort, and tliey were going to do it 
 before they left, etc., etc. 
 
 The next day, the 86th, the surf was too high for 
 sate transit from the shore, and this vessel was em- 
 ployed in making a reeonnoissanoe of the enemy's 
 works. Nothing new, however, was discovered, 
 and after exchanging a few shots with Fort Fisher 
 we returned to the anchorage for tlie night. The 
 following day all our boats were sent, and, after 
 some difficulty, the remaining troops were safely 
 embarked. 
 
 I have endeavored in the above to give you my 
 ideas of the effect of our fire on the enemy's works, 
 which was to almost silence them. In regard to 
 the damage done, it is, under the circumstances, 
 impossible for any one to tell without a closer in- 
 spection, for, as you remember at Forts Jackson and 
 St. Pl^ilip, everything from the outside seemed in 
 statu quo, hardly any trace of injury was apparent; 
 but on entering and lookmg around, the terrible 
 effect of the bombardment was manifest at every 
 turn. So, too, at Fort Morgan, little or no injury 
 could be discovered from without, but upon close 
 examination it was found that almo.st every gun on 
 its carriage was seriously damaged, if not entirely 
 destroyed. 
 
 Now, as to the "defen.sibility " of the fort. The 
 rebels, I am satisfied, considered, from tlie moment 
 that our troops obtained a footing on the shore, the 
 work (battered as it was) was untenaVjle, and were 
 merely waiting for some one to come and take it. 
 
 The General commanding furnishes us with proof 
 of that fact. I think, in his letter to you, informing 
 you of his determination to withdraw, a copy of 
 which you sent me, he says that " threeor four men 
 ventured upon the parapet and through the sally- 
 port of the worlv, capturing a horse, which they 
 brought off ; * * * and also brought away from 
 the parapet the flag of the fort." This was all done 
 in open day and without resistance— if, indeed, there 
 was anybody there who was disposed to question 
 their right to such trophies. From tiiat and other 
 current testimony, lam satisfied that, if our troops 
 had not been stopped in their triumphant march 
 towards Fort Fisher, they would have been in it 
 before dark, in quiet possession without firing as hot. 
 
 With grfeat respect, I am your obedient servant, 
 James Alden, Captain. 
 Rear-Admibal David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OF COMMANDER DANIEL AMMEN, COM- 
 MAIS'DING U, S. S. "MOHICAJS'." 
 
 IJjsriTED States Steamer "Mohican"," | 
 Off Beaufort, N. C, December 31, 1864. )" 
 
 Admiral — I have the honor to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your General Order No. 75, directing 
 commanding officers to make their report in rela- 
 tion to our attack on Fort Fisher and the adjacent 
 earth-worlis, and also a copy of a communication to 
 you from Major-General Benjamin F. But'er, and, 
 in regard to some points touched upon, you request 
 an opinion. 
 
 At about 1 1 ;30 A. m. of the 34th, tlie fleet got un- 
 derway and stood in, in line of battle, towards Fort 
 Fisher, bearing about vvest-,9outhwest, and some six 
 or seven miles distant. The "Mohican" was kept 
 closely in position assigned, following the leading 
 vessel, the frigate " Minnesota," and followed by 
 the frigate " Colorado, ' and she successively \>y the 
 other vessels forming the main line. 
 
 At about 1 P. M., the " Minnesota" sheered in out 
 
 of line and took up her position at anchor, opening 
 at once on Fort i'isher, some twenty -one hundred 
 yards distant. As per plan of battle, the "Mo- 
 hican " was sheered in ahead of her, fired slowly on 
 the fort to get a range and anchored, then opened 
 briskly with the whole battery. The fort had 
 opened on the " Minnesota " and on the " Mohican " 
 previous to our anchoring. The "Colorado' 
 sheered in ahead of us, letting go kedge astern, 
 and then anchored and opened fiercely on the fort. 
 The vessels forming the line then successively, with 
 more or less success, took up their positions and 
 opened. 
 
 The iron-clads, led by the "New Ironsides." had 
 anchored a few minutes preceding the "Minne- 
 sota" some five or six hundred yards to the north- 
 ward and westward, and were slowly getting their 
 range when we anchored, and the outer line of ves- 
 sels moved into position after the main line had 
 anchored and opened on the Mound and several 
 detached casemated guns. 
 
 The fire from the forts became weak as the vessels 
 anchored and opened fire. It was soon apparent 
 that they could not work their barbette guns with- 
 out great loss of life, and the guns' crews, no doubt, 
 retreated under shelter, with a few exceptions, 
 where high traverses and favorable angles gave 
 them great protection. 
 
 Different casemated guns, particularly those 
 mounted in detached mounds and towards the 
 Mound, continued to fire slowly, and evidently with 
 not much effect, nor would the position of tlie guns 
 served favor an effective fire. The whole body of 
 Fort Fisher was filled with bursting shells, andonly 
 at long intervals, if at aU, was a gun fired from the 
 main work. In the meantime, owing to the wind 
 and the set of the tide, I found that the use of the 
 propeller and the helm would no longer enable me 
 to bring the broadside to bear, and was obliged to 
 weigh anclior and manoeuvre under steam, holding 
 our position as nearly as possible, and avoiding in- 
 terfering with the firing of the other vessels. 
 
 After exhausting all the filled 9-inch shells on 
 board ready for use, the "Mohican" was with- 
 drawn from the line at about 4:10 P. M., making 
 signal to you of the cause, and we commenced fill- 
 ing shells without delay. After sunset the fleet 
 withdrew, and the "Mohican" ran into line and 
 anchored. 
 
 At about 9 A. M. of the 35th, signal was made to 
 get underway and form line of battle. The 
 " Mohican " took her position, and the fleet stood 
 in to the attack. When nearly under fire, I was 
 directed verbally from you "not to take position 
 until further orders." The " Minnesota," the lead- 
 ing vessel of the main line, proceeded in and anch- 
 ored, got underway, and, after various attem|its, 
 obtained a well -chosen position, the main line 
 awaiting her movements. The ironclads, having 
 Ijreceded during this time, were in position, firing 
 slowly, and receiving a part of the fire of Fort 
 Fisher. After the position of the " Minnesota" was 
 satisfactory, I received orders from you about noon 
 to take position close astern of the "New Ironsides,'' 
 which I did without delay, firing slowly until a 
 good range was obtained, then opened briskly on 
 the fort. I was enabled to see, through the absence 
 of smoke, that our fire was very effective, delivered 
 at a short ten second range. One of the rebel guns 
 was seen to be dismounted by our fire. Half an 
 hour after we had anchored, the "Colorado" passed 
 ahead of the "Minnesota" and into position, anch- 
 oring and delivering a very effective fire. The 
 wliole line soon took position, and opened very 
 heavily, and evidently with great effect, driving 
 the rebels from tlieir guns, with a few exceptions, 
 as those in casemates and other places sheltered 
 and distant. The position of the "Mohican" enabled 
 me to see well, as I was first at anchor within half 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 709 
 
 a ship's length of the "New Ironsides,'' and, find- 
 ing that anchoring impeded an effective use of the 
 battery, I weighed, and, in delivering fire, drifted 
 one or two hundred yards nearer the fort. 
 
 At 3:05 P. M. the supply of ten-second fuses and 
 the rifle ammunition was exhausted, and the " Mo- 
 hican " was withdrawn from action for the purpose 
 of obtaining more, speaking the " Malvern ' for the 
 purpose, and obtaining none. Not being directed 
 to go under fire again, we remained spectators near 
 the "Minnesota" until about 4 p. m., when I re- 
 ceived orders to aid in debarking troops, and pro- 
 ceeded to execute ; but, instead of debarking, aided 
 in bringing off the soldiers that had already reached 
 the shore. 
 
 It has not been my lot to witness any operations 
 comparable in force or in effect to the bombard- 
 ment of Fort Fisher by the fleet, and I feel satisfied 
 that any attempt to keep out of their bomb-proofs 
 or to work their guns would have been attended 
 with great loss of life to the rebels, and would have 
 proven a fruitless attempt. 
 
 On the first day we delivered two hundred and 
 seventeen (317) 9-inch shells, fifty -nine 59) one hun- 
 dred-pound rifles, and eighty-nine (89) thirty-pound 
 rifle shells. On the second day we delivered one 
 hundred and three (103) 9 inch shells, twenty (30) 
 one hundred-pound rifles, and twenty-five (35) thirty- 
 pound rifle shells, making a total of five hundred 
 and thirteen. 
 
 Our firing was effective as well as rapid, and I 
 have to express my high aopreciation of the ability 
 and zeal of Lieutenant J. I). Marvin, the executive 
 officer of this vessel, and of Acting-Master William 
 Burditt, whose long and varied professional ex- 
 perience proved useful; Acting-Boatswain Josiah 
 13. Aiken, owing to a deficiency of officers, had 
 charge of the one hundred-pounder rifle and served 
 it admirably. I have to express my satisfaction at 
 the excellent behavior of the officers and crew, 
 and do not doubt that, when the occasion arrives 
 when they should do so, they will stand to their 
 guns as long as enough men remain to serve them. 
 
 In relation to the effect of the fire of the fleet on 
 the fort, I beg leave to express my congratulations, 
 as I did verbally on meeting you after the action. 
 It did not require a visit to the fort to see that 
 enormous traverses were nearly levelled, as at the 
 southeast angle. The stockade or abatis must have 
 been much shattered, and the debris from the par- 
 apets must have filled in the ditch greatly. I feel 
 satisfied that everything was effected that can be 
 bj' powerful batteries against a sand-work, and 
 that we could and can keep the enemy in their 
 bomb-proofs pending an advance of troops to the 
 foot of the parapet. 
 
 The official letter of General Butler referred to, 
 states that General Weitzel advanced his skirmish 
 line within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison 
 was kept in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the 
 Navy, and so closely that three or four men of the 
 picket line ventured upon the parapet and through 
 the sallyport of the work, is, I think, entirely con- 
 firmatory as to the effectiveness of our fire. He 
 adds: "This was done while the shells of the Navy 
 were falling about the heads of the daring men who 
 entered the work ;" but he appears to forget that, 
 at any given signal from an assaulting column, 
 this fire would cease, and the enemy be found not 
 defending the parapet, but safely stowed away in 
 bomb-proofs. 
 
 I do not know what more tould be asked of naval 
 guns than to afford a safe approach to the foot of 
 the parapet, with no lines of the enemy drawn up 
 to receive our forces ; beyond that, I suppose every- 
 thing would depend upon the relative forces of the 
 combatants and the vigor of the assault; and al- 
 though the work might not, in a military sense, be 
 much injured, I would think the likehhood of car- 
 
 rying the work would be greatly increased by such 
 disposition, without loss of life to the assaulting 
 forces. 
 
 I liave the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 Dah^ibl Ammen, Commander. 
 Rear- Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OP mbutenant-commandbr m. sicard, 
 commanding u. s. s. "seneca." 
 
 United States Steamer " Seneca," i 
 December 31, 1864. f 
 
 ADMlRAly— I would respectfully report that, in 
 the action of the 24th and 35th instant, this vessel 
 was with the vessels on the extreme rigtit that wera 
 operating with the iron-clads. 
 
 It was evident from the first half-hour of the en- 
 gagement that the enemy did not intend seriously 
 to reply to the fire of the fleet. This vessel fired 
 one hundred and twelve 11-inch shells and one hun- 
 dred and forty 30 - pounder Parrott shells at the 
 northeast face of Fort Fisher during the two days' 
 bombardment. 
 
 Our division fired quite slowly on the second day, 
 and as I was quite close to the fort in the afternoon, 
 and only fired at long intervals, the enemy fired at 
 me several times with a heavy rifle, which, however, 
 did no damage, being evidently hurriedly pointed. 
 This gun could have been silenced in a few minutes 
 if the vessels had chosen to throw away shot on it; 
 and as it was, by an occasional shot from the 
 divi ion, it soon ceased its fire. I refrained from 
 firing much towards the close of the second day's 
 work, because I expected an assault by the troops, 
 and I wished to save my shrapnel for the purpose 
 of covering their advance. 
 
 I was much disappointed that the Army did not 
 make an attempt on the fort. I saw the advance 
 of a skirmish line, and of a reserve (comprising in 
 all about 80 men). 
 
 They advanced quite close to the works — within 
 pistol-shot. After that I lost sight of them until I 
 saw two returning along the beach with the flag of 
 the fort, which had been shot away about an hour 
 previously by a Monitor. 
 
 At dusk, and for a short time after, there was 
 some musketry-firing between this skirmish line 
 and the fort, but up to dark no attempt was made 
 by any adequate body of the Army to assault the fort. 
 
 It is my opinion that the fire of the fort was com- 
 pletely under the control of the fleet, and that we 
 could stop it whenever we chose, as the fire by the 
 two frigates on the afternoon of December 23th 
 abundantly showed. In fact, the fort was silent 
 nine-tenths of the time that w; were engaging it. I 
 am furthermore of the opiuion that the fort could 
 not hold out against a combined attack of the 
 Army and Navy. 
 
 I think it a good proof of the effectiveness of 
 the fire of the fleet, that, though our skirmishers ad- 
 vanced so close to the fort, no serious fire was 
 opened on them. Indeed, I do not know from luy 
 own observation (and I was in a good position to 
 see , that they were fired on at all in this first ad- 
 vance ; and I scarcely think that the enemy would 
 have suffered his flag to be upon the ground so long 
 after it was shot away, i though he must have 
 known that we were landing troops, and that from 
 the flag's position it was very liable to capture), 
 unless he had been fearful to venture out and 
 recover it under our fire. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Montgomery Sicard, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Commanding IT. S. S. 
 " Seneca. ^^ 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
CH A PTER 
 
 SECOND ATTACK ON FOKT FISHER. 
 
 Preparations for the Attack. — The Fleet withstands the Elements. — General 
 Terry arrives and prepares to Co-operate with the Navy. — General Butler vs. 
 General Terry.— Landing of Troops. — Iron-clads Open Fire on the Batteries.— 
 Sailors Land and throw up Intrenchments. — Plan of General Attack by 
 Army and Navy. — Bombardment of the Forts. — Sailors make a Gallant Assault, 
 BUT ARE Repulsed with Great Loss. — The Soldiers surprise the Confederates in 
 Rear of Fortifications. — Fort Fisher Captured. — Fearless Gallantry dis- 
 played by Troops. — Serious Damage to Confederate Cause. — Grappling for 
 Torpedoes.— The " Tallahassee " and " Chickamauga " Blown Up.— Evacuation 
 of Fort Caswell and Works on Smith's Island. — Wilmington, N. C, Blockaded. 
 — List of Officers Killed and Wounded during Attack on Fort Fisher. — 
 General Orders of Second Attack. — Reports of the Admiral and other Offi- 
 cers. — Cases of individual Feats of Heroism. — Casualties. — Evacuation of 
 Forts along Cape Fear River. — Capture of Smithville. — List of Guns mounted 
 IN chain of Forts. — Bombardment and Capture of Forts Anderson, Strong and 
 Lee. — Scrimmage with Infernal Machines. — Capture of Wilmington, N. C. — 
 Firing National Salutes. — Additional Reports of Officers. — Operations after 
 Capture of Fort Fisher. — Confederate Gun-boats and their Movements in 
 James River. — Miscellaneous Operations of North Atlantic Squadron, prom 
 October, 1864, to April, 1865. 
 
 THE reader can imagine the disap- 
 pointment in the North when the 
 failure to talce Fort Fisher was an- 
 nounced, and the numerous reports 
 that were flying about must liave 
 considerably mystified the public. One said 
 the whole expedition had gone back to 
 Hampton Roads, and the chances were that, 
 in the estimation of the public, the Navy 
 should be consigned to oblivion. What an 
 ignominious fate that would have been ! 
 However, the Admiral's equanimity was not 
 in the least disturbed. He knew that this 
 set-back was one of the chances of war, and 
 did not regret it, as it would show the stuff 
 American naval officers were made of. 
 Here was a large fleet of over seventy ves- 
 sels, most of them too large to enter any 
 harbor. They had expended nearly all their 
 coal and ammunition ; the commanders 
 were obliged to anchor their vessels off 
 Beaufort, N. C, on an open coast, with pro- 
 
 tection only from the northwest winds, and 
 with a southeast gale blowing at least once 
 a week. Yet they were ordered to repair 
 there at once and fill up with coal and am- 
 munition without delay. 
 
 To the Admiral's great surprise, he found 
 that General Butler had seized a large 
 quantity of coal (which the Navy had in re- 
 serve) for his transports to get home with, 
 and that the Chief of the Bureau of Equip- 
 ment, through some misunderstanding, had 
 ordered that no more be sent to Beaufort. 
 The naval ammunition had not all arrived 
 from Hampton Roads, and the ships bade 
 fair to be found unprepared in case General 
 Grant ordered the troops to return. No 
 time was lost in sending dispatches over- 
 land to Norfolk, directing Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Nichols to hurry forward every 
 pound of coal and ammunition available. 
 Fortunately, a fair wind brought all this 
 down to Beaufort, and matters looked more 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 711 
 
 cheerful; the Wavy also seized the Army 
 coal in Beaufort, upon the plea that "neces- 
 sity knows no lav/." 
 
 It is difficult to appreciate the hardships 
 and delays encountered by the fleet in coal- 
 ing and getting on board the ammunition. 
 Gale after gale swept over the coast, through 
 all of which the ships-of-war, the coal and 
 ammunition vessels had to ride it out. Many 
 anchors and chains were lost, ships were 
 damaged and boats swamped; but no one 
 left his post. There was a dogged de- 
 termination to take Fort Fisher even if the 
 Navy had to do it alone. When the wind 
 howled at night, and the sound of the 
 breakers was heard booming in the dis- 
 tance, the Admiral would go to sleep feel- 
 ing as secure as if nothing was going on, 
 knowing that he had good sailors with 
 brave hearts in his ships, and that no 
 one would desert his post any more than 
 he would in time of action. Every morn- 
 ing, at daylight, the officer of the watch 
 would come down and report, "The fleet is 
 all right, sir;" and answering, "I knew 
 it," the Admiral would turn over and take 
 another sleep. There was all kinds of flght- 
 ing in the Navy, but this was a new phase 
 of the matter — fighting the elements as men 
 never fought them before. It was a new 
 school of practice to the officers, who had 
 been taught that ours was the worst coast in 
 the world, and that a vessel could not there 
 ride out a gale at her anchors. If they 
 profited by the experience they gained on 
 that occasion, they should feel amply repaid 
 for any anxieties they may have felt. An 
 officer should realize that great risks should 
 be run to insure success. We do not wonder 
 that Admiral Farragut said : " Porter will 
 lose that fleet : he is rash to undertake 
 operations when the elements are so op- 
 posed to him." It was not judicious in him, 
 it is true, and was not an evidence of what 
 he would have done himself ; but if he 
 had remembered the perseverance shown 
 in getting his vessels over the bar at New 
 Orleans, when all others had given it up, 
 he would have said otherwise. 
 
 The moment Butler's troops re-embarked, 
 the Admiral sent a swift steamer to General 
 Grant and told him the situation of affairs, 
 urging him to send " other troops and 
 another General.'" Grant had made up his 
 mind to do so the moment he heard of 
 Butler's failure. The Admiral was daily 
 expecting this force and dreaded its arrival 
 before he was ready. It was a joyful 
 sight when he saw the signals flying from 
 each masthead, reporting, "All ready for 
 action." He had watched all the operations 
 with a critical eye and could see no one lag- 
 ging. He endeavored, with the means at 
 his disposal, to be impartial in supplying 
 
 "Mio mQf£iT»iQlo r\f -xxrciT* T .of. Qmr rvno +.Vn*n V nf 
 
 a fleet of seventy vessels -of- war to be coaled 
 and supplied with ammunition at sea, and 
 all to be done in time to co-operate with an 
 army that could be moved in a week ! We 
 recollect that some of the old officers with 
 whom we sailed at different times would 
 not go within ten miles of Cape Fear shoals 
 in good weather, and would think any man 
 crazy who was rash enough to anchor off 
 Beaufort one night, much less ride out a 
 gale there. It was rough practice, and we 
 sincerely hope the lesson will not be lost on 
 the young men now coming forward, many 
 of whom participated in the events of that 
 period. Many of them were unknown to 
 fame, but they performed their parts well, 
 and will show hereafter of what material 
 the American Navy is made. 
 
 On January 8th, 1865, General A. H. 
 Terry arrived at Beaufort, and communi- 
 cated the intelligence that he was in com- 
 mand of the army that was to co-operate with 
 the Navy in capturing Fort Fisher. The 
 Navy was all ready for its share of the 
 work; but, as a storm was approaching, the 
 Admiral advised Terry of the fact, and 
 suggested that his transports should go in- 
 side, where there was plenty of room for 
 them. To his disappointment, Terry de- 
 clined any advice, and decided that they 
 should ride it out with the Navy. This be- 
 
 f inning did not augur well for a good un- 
 erstanding between General Terry and 
 the Admiral. Terry was rather cold and 
 formal in his manner, and did not meet the 
 Admiral at once with the frankness of a 
 true soldier. He had, however, been a 
 long time under the command of General 
 Butler, who, for a wonder, had treated him 
 very well, because he saw he was a good 
 soldier, and a man of talent besides. Butler 
 also relied on Terry to help him over the 
 rough spots of soldier - life. Of course, 
 Terry had heard Ms side of the story, and 
 was cautious in his first approaches; but all 
 this wore off like snow before a summer's 
 sun when Terry found that the Admiral 
 had but one object in view — the capture of 
 Fort Fisher, and did not care how it was 
 done or who got the credit of it. On his 
 second visit Terry was quite a different 
 man, and they soon understood each other. 
 Here was a different person from the Ad- 
 miral's last "confederate" — we wonder 
 what Butler would say at our calling him 
 a confederate — who was fond of display, 
 and whose staff was exceptionally large. 
 Terry had no staff, wore no spurs, and we 
 do not think he owned a sword. He had a 
 well-formed head, full of sense, which 
 served him in lieu of feathers, sword, boots, 
 spurs and staff — of which a General can 
 have too many. General Terry was ac- 
 companied by General Comstock, of the 
 
 F.ncrinfifirs- 'who had hfifin on Rntlfir's staff 
 
via 
 
 L r tjj-^ J.J.J.KJ J. \^A\.j. 
 
 in the formerexpedition, and this fact made 
 the Admiral careful about expressing his 
 views in his presence. 
 
 He learned finally to appreciate Comstock 
 as a good officer. The Admiral was made 
 to sav a spiteful thing of him by the re- 
 porter of the War Committee, an untrue 
 statement; and, if the General or his heirs 
 are living when this is published, they will 
 alDsolve the Admiral fi'om saying or mean- 
 ing anything disrespectful concerning him. 
 General Grant thought highly of Comstock, 
 and that was the latter's recommendation 
 with the Navy. If Comstock had not been 
 made by that same reporter of the War 
 Committee to say some untrue things about 
 the Admiral, the latter would have taken 
 to him at first sight and endorsed him as an 
 '"A No. 1" engineer, as, no doubt, he was. 
 
 Admiral Porter offered to do all he could 
 for General Terry, and explained to him how 
 matters stood. The Admiral was not shown 
 Terry's instructions, but afterwards saw 
 them printed in General Grant's report. They 
 were, in effect, *' to defer to Admiral Por- 
 ter's opinions in all that related to nautical 
 matters, and to confide in his judgment, as 
 he ivas an officer tvho had the nerve to carry 
 Old anything he might propose." Had the 
 Admiral been shown these orders, Terry 
 and himself would have understood each 
 other at once; but we do not think the Gen- 
 eral appreciated the Navy until after the 
 capture of Fort Fisher, when he saw the 
 fruits of its labors, and witnessed the un- 
 selfish sincerity with which all worked for 
 the public good. 
 
 It was arranged that the fleet should sail 
 from Beaufort on the 12th of January. 
 This was done — the Navy sailing in three 
 lines, the Army transports in another. 
 Terry preserved quite as good order among 
 his vessels, in the matter of sailing, as the 
 Admiral did with his — which is saying a 
 great deal. 
 
 At 8 o'clock A. M., on the 13th of January, 
 I860, the Navy commenced to land General 
 Terry's troops, batteries and provisions, 
 and by 2 o'clock there were 8,000 troops on 
 shore, with all their stores and munitions- 
 of-war. The Admiral then got underway, 
 making signal to the fleet, and attacked 
 the batteries, by way of diverting the 
 minds of some of the soldiers who had 
 been dropped into the water. So Butler 
 would have been landed, but he would not 
 be made a hero of on any such terms, and 
 so lost his chances for the Presidency. 
 
 Quite a change had been made in the 
 Confederate arrangements since the fleet 
 last left Fort Fisher. The enemy gained 
 a great deal of experience in the first bom- 
 bardment, and had strengthened every 
 weakness that had developed under the 
 hammering from the ships. They had also 
 
 repaired all damages as far as was neces- 
 sary to make the fort more enduring, and 
 had placed a larger force within the works. 
 The Confederate authorities had in the first 
 instance placed too much confidence in 
 their strong sand-works, and had no idea 
 of the effect of a steady naval fire from 
 three or four hundred heavy guns; but hav- 
 ing realized this, they did the best they 
 could in twenty days to remedy all defects. 
 The authorities at Richmond became very 
 much alarmed when they heard how near 
 the fort came to falling into Federal hands, 
 and, in consequence. President Davis se- 
 lected General Bragg to command at its 
 second defence. Bragg's name had once 
 been a household word in the United States, 
 but he was not so well thought of by some of 
 the Southern politicians. It was a foregone 
 conclusion to them that Fort Fisher would 
 fall, under his management of affairs. To 
 do justice to Bragg, the best General in 
 the Southern Confederacy could not have 
 held Fort Fisher, with the force he had, 
 against the terrific fire that was poured 
 upon the works by the Federal fleet. 
 
 The most important matter to the Con- 
 federates was to prevent a landing by the 
 Federal troops, or to dislodge them as soon 
 as they got on shore, and drive them into 
 the sea; but this had been anticipated by 
 having a line of sixteen or seventeen gun- 
 boats anchored inside of the transports 
 within one hundred yards of the beach, the 
 " Brooklyn " with her heavy battery lying 
 in the centre of the line ; and, before a sin- 
 gle boat was allowed to leave a transport, 
 there was opened all along the line such a 
 tremendous fire from the vessels reaching 
 as far as Cape Fear River, about a thou- 
 sand yards distant, that no troops could 
 withstand it five minutes. General Terry 
 landed his troops as rapidly as one hundred 
 and twenty boats could put them on shore. 
 With their intrenching tools, within an 
 hour after landing, they had thrown up 
 heavy intrenchments right across the land 
 to the river, and manned them so that at 
 the very first step the fort was compara- 
 tively cut off from all support. By two 
 o'clock, 8,000 troops had been landed, and 
 the artillery posted behind the breastworks. 
 The place of landing was admirably se- 
 lected, the troops being disembarked just 
 above the neck of the Sound, interposing a 
 small stretch of water between them and 
 an attacking force, or compelling such force 
 to work around the lower extreme of the 
 Sound, either of which movements would 
 have to be executed under the fire of the 
 whole fleet. 
 
 General Hoke had the immediate com- 
 mand of the Confederate troops, and it was 
 his purpose to attack the Federals as they 
 landed from the boats. His cavalry was 
 
ii'^ 
 
714 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 thrown out on the right flank to observe 
 the Federal movements, and report the first 
 step towards establishing a line across the 
 neck of land to the river ; but it was found 
 in the morning that, owing to the want of 
 vigilance on the part of the Confederates, 
 the Federals had laid out a second line of 
 defence during the night ; General Terry's 
 troops, passing between Hoke's cavalry 
 and threading their way through the thick 
 undergrowth of the marsh, made their ad- 
 vance to the river, and the next morning 
 held an intrenched line on Hoke's right 
 flank, extending nearly across the penin- 
 sula. General Bragg at first gave the order 
 to charge the Federal troops in their works; 
 but after a reconnaissance, which discov- 
 ered the Federal force and position, he de- 
 termined to withdraw, after managing to 
 increase the number of men in the fort to 
 2,500, which was the force that manned the 
 works on the second attack. The Federals, 
 the same afternoon of the landing, pushed a 
 reconnaissance within five hundred yards of 
 the fort, and held the point attained. 
 
 While all these Army movements were 
 
 f:oing on, the fleet was moving into position 
 or the attack. This time a different plan 
 was pursued from the last. The "Iron- 
 sides " (Commodore Eadf ord) leading, was 
 followed in by the Monitors " Saugus," 
 "Canonicus," " Monadnock" and " Maho- 
 pac," taking a position within eight hun- 
 dred yards of the fort, and much nearer than 
 on the last occasion. At 7:30 a. m. the forts 
 opened on them as they approached, but 
 they took up their position without firing a 
 gun until they were ready, and then opened 
 their batteries. In this way the enemy was 
 tempted to engage the iron-clads, so that 
 their points of fire could be observed and 
 the positions of their guns noted, thus 
 showing how to dismount them. When 
 the iron-clads were well engaged. Com- 
 mander Rhind was sent in a boat to plant a 
 buoy in four fathomj of water at the point 
 where the "Minnesota" was to anchor, and 
 also to serve as a guide for the other vessels. 
 The fleet stood in, in three columns. Line 
 No. 1, led by the "Brooklyn," Captain 
 James Alden, consisted of the " Mohican," 
 Commander Daniel Ammen; "Tacony," 
 Lieutenant - Commander W. T. Truxtun ; 
 " Kansas," Lieutenant - Commander P. G. 
 Watmough ; "Yantic," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander T. C. Harris; "Unadilla," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander F. M. Ramsey; "Huron," 
 Lieutenant - Commander T. O. Selfridge ; 
 "Maumee," Lieutenant-Commander Ralph 
 Chandler; "Pequot," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander D. L. Braine; "Pawtucket," Com- 
 mander S. H. Spotts ; "Seneca," Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander M. Sicard ; "Pontoosac," 
 Lieutenant - Commander W. G. Temple ; 
 ■' Nereus," Commander J. C. Howell. 
 
 Line No. 2, " Minnesota," Commodore 
 Joseph Lanman leading, consisted of the 
 " Colorado," Commodore H. K. Thatcher; 
 "Wabash," Captain M. Smith ;" Susque- 
 hanna," Commodore S. W. Godon ; " Pow- 
 hatan," Commodore J. F. Schenck; "Juni- 
 ata," Lieutenant-Commander T. S. Phelps ; 
 " Shenandoah," Captain D. B. Ridgley ; 
 " Ticonderoga," Captain Charles Steedman; 
 " Vanderbilt," Captain C. W. Pickering ; 
 " Mackinaw," Commander J. C. Beaumont; 
 "Tuscarora," Commander J. M. Frailey. 
 
 Line No. 3, "Santiago de Cuba," Captain 
 O. S. Glisson leading, consisted of the 
 "Fort Jackson," Captain B. F. Sands; 
 " Osceola," Commander J. M. B. Clitz; 
 "Sassacus," Lieutenant-Commander J. L. 
 
 LIEUTENAKT-COMMAKDER (NOW COMMODORE) D. L. BEAME, 
 
 COMMANDING U. S. S. " PEQUOT " 
 
 Davis; "Chippewa," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander E. E. Potter; ' R. R. Cuyler," 
 Commander C. H. B. Caldwell ; " Mara- 
 tanza," Lieutenant - Commander George 
 W. Young; " Rhode Island," Commander 
 S. D. Trenchard; " Monticello," Lieutenant 
 W. B. Cushing; "Alabama," Acting-Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant A. R. Langthorne; " Mont- 
 g ornery," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. 
 . Dunn ; " Iosco," Commander John Guest. 
 The reserve division, under Lieutenant- 
 Commander J. H. Upshur, in the " A.. D. 
 Vance," consisted of the "Britannia," 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant W. A. Shel- 
 don; "Tristram Shandy," Acting- Volun- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 715 
 
 teer - Lieutenant F. M. Green: "Lillian," 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant T. A. Harris ; 
 " Fort Donaldson," Acting-Master G. W. 
 Frost; "Wilderness." Acting-Master H. 
 Arey ; " Aries. " Acting- Volunteer - Lieu- 
 tenant F. S. Wells; "Governor Bucking- 
 ham," Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant J. Mac- 
 diarmid. The "Nansemond," Acting-Mas- 
 ter J. H. Porter; "Little Ada," Acting- 
 Master S. P. Crafts; " Eolus," Acting- 
 Master E. S. Keyser, and " Eepublic," Act- 
 ing-Ensign J. W. Bennett, being used as 
 reserve vessels. 
 
 Some of the vessels that accompanied the 
 last expedition were badly damaged in vari- 
 ous ways. The " Sassacus " had both rud- 
 ders disabled, but her energetic commander, 
 Lieutenant - Commander J. L. Davis, was 
 ready in time. The "Mackinaw," Com- 
 mander J. C. Beaumont, had one of her 
 boilers knocked to pieces, but her com- 
 mander would go with but one boiler. The 
 " Osceola," Commander J. M. B. Clitz, in 
 the same condition— one boiler smashed up 
 with shot and a hole near the bottom — was 
 ready for anything, and no complaint was 
 heard from any one. With such a disposi- 
 tion on the part of the officers, the Admiral 
 anticipated the most favorable results. 
 
 The different divisions, having formed 
 into line of battle, steamed towards Fort 
 Fisher, the " Colorado" leading (the " Min- 
 nesota " having a hawser around her pro- 
 peller). The vessels took their positions 
 handsomely — having had some practice at 
 that place— and delivered their fire as they 
 fell in. The rapid fire of the Monitors and 
 " Ironsides " kept the enemy partly away 
 from their guns, and they inflicted no 
 damage on the fleet, their firing being very 
 unsteady — indeed, it was strange how they 
 could fire at all. After the first and second 
 lines got fairly anchored in position, the 
 bombardment was very rapid and severe. 
 The fire was continued without intermis- 
 sion from 4 o'clock p. m. until some time 
 after dark, when the wooden vessels were 
 ordered to haul out and anchor. The Moni- 
 tors and " Ironsides " were directed to keep 
 up the fire during the night. The enemy 
 had long ceased to respond, and kept in his 
 bomb-proofs. It was seen that the bom- 
 bardment had damaged some of the en- 
 emy's guns, and it was determined, be- 
 fore the Army went to the assault, that 
 there should be no guns within reach to 
 arrest its progress. Having found that the 
 enemy could still bring some heavy guns 
 to bear, which annoyed thefieet somewhat, 
 the Admiral determined to try another 
 plan, and, on the morning of the 14th, 
 ordered in all the small gun-boats carrying 
 11-inch guns, to fire slowly and try to dis- 
 mount the guns on the face of the works 
 
 " Brooklyn " was ordered to throw in a 
 pretty quick fire, to keep the enemy from 
 working their guns. The attack was com- 
 menced at 1 p. M. and lasted till long after 
 dark. One or two guns only were fired this 
 day from the upper batteries, inflicting no 
 serious damage on any of the vessels, ex- 
 cept cutting away the maintopmast of the 
 " Huron " and hitting the " Unadilla " once 
 or twice. These guns were always silenced 
 when a rapid fire was opened. The attack 
 of the gun-boats lasted until long after dark, 
 and one vessel was employed at a time (an 
 hour each) in firing throughout the night. 
 
 On this evening General Terry went on 
 board to see the Admiral and arrange the 
 plan of battle for the next day. The 
 troops had got rested after their long con- 
 finement on shipboard and sea-voyage, 
 and had recovered from the drenching 
 they received when landing through the 
 
 SURGEON (NOW MEDICAl DIRECTOR) GEORGE MAULSBY, 
 FLEET-SURGEON. 
 
 surf. Having been long enough on their 
 native element, they were eager for the 
 attack. It was arranged between the Gen- 
 eral and Admiral that the ships should all 
 go in early, and fire rapidly through the 
 day until the time for the assault arrived. 
 The hour named was 3 p. M. 
 
 The Admiral detailed 1,600 sailors and 400 
 marines to accompany the troops — the 
 sailors to board the sea - face, while the 
 troops assaulted on the land side. Many of 
 the sailors were armed with cutlasses and 
 revolvers, while a number had Sharpe's 
 rifles or short carbines. We insert the order 
 of attack on the fort, and the manner of ap- 
 proaching it. 
 
 The Admiral and General had a perfect 
 
710 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 signals by the Army Code, by which they 
 could converse at pleasure, even amid the 
 din of battle, when they were nearly a 
 mile apart. At 9 a. m., on" the 15th, the fleet 
 was directed by signal to attack in three 
 lines, or assume position, as shown in the 
 plan. The vessels all reached their stations 
 at about 11 a. m., and each opened fire when 
 anchored. The same guns in the upper bat- 
 teries opened again this day, and with some 
 effect; but no vessel was injured enough to 
 interfere in the least with her eflBciency. 
 The fire was kept up furiously all day. 
 The Mound Hill Battery returned a rather 
 galling fire with its heavy guns, but the 
 enemy was driven from its works into the 
 bomb-proofs, so that no vessel was in the 
 least disabled. The signal for the vessels 
 to " change the direction of their fire," so 
 that the troops might assault, was expected 
 at 2 o'clock. The sailors and marines by 
 digging ditches, or rifle-pits, had worked to 
 within two hundred yards of the fort, and 
 were all ready. The troops, however, did 
 not get into position until later, and the 
 signal was not made until 3 o'clock. The 
 vessels then changed their fire to the upper 
 batteries, all the steam-whistles were blown, 
 and the troops and sailors dashed ahead, 
 nobly vying with each other in the en- 
 deavor to reach the top of the parapet. 
 The fleet had evidently injured all the large 
 guns, so that they could not be fired to an- 
 noy any one. The sailors went to the as- 
 sault by the fiank along the beach, while 
 the troops rushed in at the left through the 
 palisades that had been knocked away by 
 the fire of the fleet. All the arrangements 
 on the part of the sailors were well carried 
 out. They succeeded in getting up to 
 within a short distance of the fort, and 
 lay securely in their ditches, with but a 
 few killed or wounded to this point. The 
 marines were to have held the rifle-pits 
 and cover the boarding party, but failed to 
 do so. On rushing through the palisades, 
 which reached from the fort to the sea, 
 the head of the column received a murder- 
 ous fii-e of grape and canister, which failed, 
 however, to check the officers and sailors 
 who were leading in their advance. The 
 parapets then swarmed with Confederates, 
 who poured in a destructive fire of nms- 
 ketry. At this moment, had the covering 
 party of marines performed their duty, 
 every one of the enemy on the parapet must 
 have been killed or wounded. 
 
 The Admiral witnessed the whole affair, 
 saw how recklessly the enemy exposed 
 themselves, and what an advantage they 
 gave the marine sharp-shooters, whose guns 
 were scarcely fired, or fired with no precis- 
 ion. Notwithstanding the hot fire, the offi- 
 cers and sailors in tlie lead rushed on, some 
 even reaching tlie parapet, while a large 
 
 number reached the ditch. The advance 
 was swept from the parapet like chaff; and, 
 notwithstanding all the efforts made by 
 commanders of companies to stop them, the 
 men in the rear, seeing the slaughter in 
 front, and that they were not covered by 
 the marines, commenced to retreat; and, 
 as there is no stopping a sailor if he fails on 
 such an occasion at the first rush, the as- 
 sault on this front had to be abandoned. 
 
 In the meantime, the troops on their side 
 were more successful. The Confederates 
 seeing so large a body of men advancing 
 on the sea-front, were under the impression 
 that this was the main attack. They, there- 
 fore, concentrated their forces at that point, 
 and when they gave three cheers, thinking 
 they had gained the day, they received a 
 volley of musketry in their backs from 
 the gallant soldiers who had been success- 
 ful in gaining the highest parapets. Then 
 commenced such a system of fighting as 
 has seldom been beaten. The soldiers had 
 gained two traverses, while the Admiral 
 directed the " Ironsides " to fire on the trav- 
 erses occupied by the enemy Four, five 
 and six traverses were carried by the 
 troops in the space of an hour. These 
 traverses were immense bomb-proofs, about 
 sixty feet long, fifty feet wide and twenty 
 feet high; seventeen of them in all being on 
 the northeast face. Between each traverse, 
 or bomb-proof, were one or two heavy guns. 
 The fighting lasted until 10 o'clock at night, 
 the " Ironsides " and the Monitors firing 
 through the traverses in advance of the 
 troops, while the level strip of land called 
 Federal Point was enfiladed by the ships, 
 to prevent reinforcements reaching the 
 enemy. General Terry himself went into 
 the fort, and the Admii-al kept up constant 
 communication with him, until three hearty 
 cheers, which were taken up by the fleet, 
 announced the capture of Fort Fisher. 
 Finding that the General felt anxious about 
 the enemy receiving reinforcements, the 
 sailors and marines relieved the troops in 
 the outer line of defences, and a large num- 
 ber of soldiers were thus enabled to join 
 the forces in the fort. It will not be amiss 
 to remark here, that we never saw anything 
 like the fearless gallantry and endurance 
 displayed by the troops — they fought like 
 lions, and knew no such word as fail. They 
 fought and chased the enemy from traverse 
 to traverse, until they finally reached Bat- 
 tery Lamb, or the Mound, a work extend- 
 ing about 1,400 yards. At this point the 
 Confederates broke and fled to the end of 
 Federal Point. The victorious troops fol- 
 lowed, and the enemy surrendered at dis- 
 cretion. 
 
 Thus ended one of the most remarkable 
 battles on record, and one which did more 
 damage to the Confederate cause than any 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 717 
 
 that took place during the war. Twenty- 
 five hundred Confederates manned Fort 
 Fisher : eighteen hundred were taken pris- 
 oners; the rest were killed or wounded. 
 
 We visited Fort Fisher and the adjoining 
 works, and found their strength greatly 
 beyond what had been conceived. An en- 
 gineer might be excused for saying, they 
 could not be captured except by regular 
 siege. We wonder even now how it was 
 done. The Avork was really stronger than 
 the Malakoff Tower, which defied so long 
 the combined power of France and Eng- 
 land, and yet it was captured by a hand- 
 ful of men under the fire of the guns of the 
 fleet, and in seven hours after the attack 
 began in earnest. 
 
 We cannot say too much in praise of the 
 conduct of the fleet during the time it had 
 been engaged in these operations. We do 
 not know an officer in command who did not 
 perform his duty to the best of his ability. 
 There may have been some who did better 
 than others, but, after all, that may be a 
 mere matter of opinion, or a matter of 
 prejudice or partiality — all did their best. 
 To make invidious distinctions would be 
 causing matter for dispute, and we shall be 
 content with saying that the Government 
 might well be proud of those to whom it 
 intrusted the command of its vessels. 
 
 The result of the attempt on the sea-face 
 was not what the Admiral expected when he 
 planned the attack ; but it would have suc- 
 ceeded without severe loss had the marines 
 done better. As it was, the Navy lost heav- 
 ily, including some gallant officers who fell 
 on the ramparts. The success was so great 
 that the country should not complain. Men, 
 it seems, had to die that this Union might 
 live, and the Constitution under which we 
 have gained our prosperity be maintained. 
 We regret the dead heroes and shed a tear 
 over their remains; but, if the Confederates 
 had succeeded, we should have nothing but 
 regret left us, and our lives would have been 
 spent in terror and sorrow. 
 
 As soon as the forts were taken, the light- 
 draft gun-boats were pushed into the river 
 — that is, as soon as they could find and 
 buoy out the channel and take up the tor- 
 pedoes, which were very thick. The 
 searchers found the wires leading to many, 
 and underran them with boats. The tor- 
 pedoes were too heavy to lift with ordinary 
 means, and some of them must have con- 
 tained at least a ton of powder. The Con- 
 federates seemed disposed to pay the fieet 
 back for the famous torpedo "Louisiana," 
 which exploded in their harbor and did them 
 no harm. There was some difficulty in get- 
 ting the vessels across the bar and into the 
 river, as the ciiannel was very narrow and 
 the bar very shoal ; a few of them got 
 
 tide. After three of the gun-boats were in- 
 side the bar and under the Mound, the Con- 
 federates prepared to evacuate Fort Caswell. 
 Two steamers near the fort (the "Tallahas- 
 see" and "Chickamauga") were set on fire 
 and blew up with a heavy explosion after 
 the enemy had set fire to the fort. This 
 was followed by some minor explosions. 
 The barracks were apparently in flames 
 all night, and some small works between 
 Fisher and Caswell were blown up. The 
 enemy commenced burning up everything 
 in Wilmington, and were getting away as 
 fast as they could. In the meantime a large 
 force of gun-boats occupied the river be- 
 tween Caswell and Wilmington. The 
 latter place was hermetically sealed against 
 
 ^A 1 J. 
 
 ,„i„.;i „*e „„„,•„ „,;4-L, j-u„ 
 
 ACTING-ENSIGN (NOW COMMANDER) EOBLEY D. EVANS, U. S. N. 
 OF THE U. S. S. "POWHATAN." 
 
 blockade - runners, and no " Alabaraas " 
 or "Floridas," " Chickamaugas " or " Tal- 
 lahassees " could ever fit out again from that 
 port. Forty-four thousand shells were ex- 
 pended in the bombardment and as many 
 more were left on hand. The fieet was 
 much indebted to the Bureau of Ordnance 
 for so promptly supplying it with guns and 
 ammuniiion. 
 
 The number of guns captured in Fort 
 Fisher amounted to seventy - five, many 
 of them superb rifle-pieces of very heavy 
 calibre. All those facing the ships were 
 dismounted or injured, so they could not be 
 used, or the muzzles filled up with sand or 
 dirt, which rendered them useless. There 
 were only two that were not rendered per- 
 
718 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 lilST OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED 
 DURING THE ATTACK UPON FORT FISHER. 
 
 Killed in the assault — Lieutenant S. W. Preston, 
 Flag-Lieutenant ; Lieutenant B. H. Porter, com- 
 manding flagship "Malvern": Assistant Surgeon 
 Wm. Longshaw, U. 8. steamer "Minnesota" : Act- 
 ing-Ensign Robert Wiley, U. S. steamer " Mont- 
 gomery " 
 
 Killed by explosion of magazine in Fort Fisher, 
 January 16 — Acting - Assistant Paymaster R. H. 
 Gillett, U. S. steamer "Gettysburg"; Acting-En- 
 sign J. S. Leighton, U. S. steamer " Gettysburg." 
 
 Wounded in the assault — Lieutenant-Commander 
 W. N. Allen, U. 8. steamer " Tuscarora " ; Lieuten- 
 ant G. M. Bache, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan" ; Lieu- 
 tenant R. H. Lamson, commanding U. 8. steamer 
 "Gettysburg"; Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant F. F. 
 Baury, U. 8. steamer "Colorado''; Ensign R. D. 
 Evans, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan"; Ensign Ira 
 Harris, U. 8. steamer "Powhatan"; Acting -En- 
 sign L. R. Chester, U. 8. steamer "Pontoosuc"; 
 Acting ■ Ensign James Bertwistle, U. 8. steamer 
 " Minnesota " ; Acting - Ensign F. A. O'Connor, 
 U. 8. steamer "Minnesota" ; Acting-Ensign G. W. 
 Coffin, U. 8. steamer "Gettysburg"; Acting-En- 
 sign B. Wood, U. 8. steamer "Tristram Shandy"; 
 Acting-Master A. J. Louch, U. 8. steamer " Mack- 
 inaw " ; Acting-Master's Mate E. K. Green, U. S. 
 steamer "MacKinaw"; Aoting-Master's Mate J. M. 
 Simms, TJ. 8. steamer "Minnesota"; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate A. P. Aldridge, U. 8. steamer "Tusca- 
 rora." 
 
 Total officers killed and wounded, 21. 
 
 KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSIN& IN THE ATTACK 
 UPON FORT FISHER, INCLUDING THE EX- 
 PLOSION OF THE MAGAZINE. 
 
 Flag-ship "Malvern," 3 killed and 1 wounded; 
 "Saugus,"! wounded; "Pontoosuc," 7 wounded; 
 "Kansas," 1 wounded ; " Tacony," 3 killed and 13 
 wounded ; " Canonicus," 3 wounded ; " Ticon- 
 deroga," 1 killed and 6 wounded ; '' Iosco," 2 killed 
 and 13 wounded; "Shenandoah,'' 6 killed and 5 
 missing; "Tuscarora," 3 killed and 13 wounded; 
 "Rhode Islarfd," 8 killed and 2 wounded ; " Huron," 
 5 wounded ; " Montgomery," 2 killed and 4 wounded; 
 " Monticello," 4 killed and 4 wounded ; " Wabash, 
 (incom^plete) 12 wounded ; "Tristram Shandy," 3 
 wounded and 1 missing; "Susquehanna," 3 killed 
 and 15 wounded; "Juniata,' 5 killed and 10 
 wounded; "Santiago de Cuba," 1 killed and 9 
 wounded; " Fort Jackson," 1 killed and 10 wounded; 
 "Yantic," 2 killed and 3 wounded ; "Powhatan,'" 
 3 killed, 19 wounded and 7 missing; "Minne- 
 sota," 13 killed and 23 wounded; "Colorado," 3 
 killed, 14 wounded and 8 missing ; " Nereus," 3 
 killed and 3 wounded ; " Pequot," 3 killed and 5 
 wounded; "Gettysburg," 6 killed and 6 wounded; 
 " Mackinaw," 3 wounded ; " Mohican," 13 killed. 
 
 Total— Killed, 74 ; wounded, 213 ; missing, 22.— 
 Total killed, wounded and missing, 309. 
 
 general order on second attack. 
 [special order no. 10.] 
 North Atlantic Squadron, ( 
 Flag-ship " Malvern," January 9, 1865. ) 
 The following vessels will form a separate line, 
 under the command of Lieutenant - Commander 
 Upshur, for the purpose of landing the provisions 
 and stores forthe army, viz. : " A. D. Vance," " Fort 
 Donaldson," "Aries," "Emma," "Lillian," "Tris- 
 tram Shandy," "Britannia " and "Wilderness." 
 The "Nansemond," " Moccasin " and "Little Ada" 
 will act as messengers, as before. 
 
 It is proposed now that the troops shall be first 
 landed before any attack is made on the fort by all 
 the vessels. The " Brooklyn " will lead in with the 
 vessels attached to her line, and anchor in a posi- 
 
 tion to cover the landing, and drive away the rebels, 
 if there are any. The landing will probably be made 
 at the same place as before. 
 
 Line No. 2 will anchor where their guns can 
 reach (somewhere in about five fathoms water and 
 not less), and where they can fire clear of the first 
 line. 
 
 Line No. 3 will keep underway a short distance 
 outside the other lines, ready to act as circum- 
 stances may require. 
 
 The transports will anchor in line outside Una 
 No. 1, and be ready to deliver their troops as fast 
 as the boats go alongside. All the vessels will 
 lower their boats as quick as they anchor, and send 
 them to the transports; line No. 3 doing the same. 
 
 When the troops are all landed, the boats will be 
 hoisted upon the port side, and those belonging on 
 the starboard side will be secured alongside for 
 towing, so that they can be manned at a moment's 
 notice when the assault comes off. 
 
 If practicable, the "New Ironsides" and the 
 Monitors will be ordered in to bombard the fort 
 and dismount the guns while the troops are getting 
 on shore. This will be done when the signal is 
 made to the " New Ironsides" to attack, the Moni- 
 tors following her. 
 
 While the vessels are firing, the commanders will 
 keep an intelligent officer at the maintopmast-head 
 to regulate the firing and tell the effect of the shot. 
 The commanders of smaller vessels will have a 
 like look-out kept at the main-mast-head. The 
 officers aloft will note all information that may be 
 valuable, as they can see what is going on in the 
 river inside. 
 
 Datid D. Porter, 
 Rear-Admiral, Commanding North Atlantic 
 Squadron. 
 
 [general order no. 78.] 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, ) 
 Flag-ship " Malvern," January 2, 1865. ) 
 
 The order of attack for the next bombardment of 
 Fort Fisher will be as follows : 
 
 The " New Ironsides," Commodore Radford, will 
 lead in, and anchor with the centre of the northeast 
 face of the fort bearing west by south half -south, 
 Ihe Monitors following The irdn-clads will anchor 
 in succession, as follows: The "Mahopac," "Ca- 
 nonicus," and " Saugus " will anchor in a Une close 
 together, between the "New Ironsides" and the 
 beach ; and the " Monadnock " will select a position 
 in the same line, so that she will have room to swing 
 and bring both turrets to bear. 
 
 When these vessels are fully engaged, signal will 
 be made to the "Brooklyn " to go in and engage 
 the enemy, taking a position at anchor close un- 
 der the stern of the "New Ironsides," with her 
 broadside bearingon Fort Fisher. The "Brooklyn" 
 will be followed in by the "Mohican," "Tacony," 
 "Kansas," " Unadilla," "Huron," " Maumee," 
 "Pawtucket," "Seneca," "Pontoosuc," "Nyack," 
 "Yantic," and "Nereus," in the order in which 
 they are marked on the chart. The Une, when 
 anchored, should be with the " Brooklyn," bearing 
 about south by east. This will be line-of-battle 
 No. 1. 
 
 Line No. 2 will take position when the leading 
 vessel of line No 1 is anchored, with the "Minne- 
 sota" leading, "Colorado" next, "Wabash," "Sus- 
 quehanna," "Powhatan," "Juniata," "Shenan- 
 doah," " Ticonderoga." After the "Minnesota" 
 anchors in her old place (or closer), where her guns 
 will clear the "New Ironsides," the "Colorado" 
 will pass her and anchor, both ships firing slowly 
 to get their range as they go in. When the "Col- 
 orado" is anchored and firing with effect, all the 
 vessels of line No. 2 will anchor in position, exactly 
 as they did on a previous occasion. 
 
 The " Vanderbilt " will then anchor a little out- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 719 
 
 side of and between the "Colorado" and " Wa- 
 bash," "Mackinaw," between "Susquehanna ' and 
 "Wabash," and "Tuscarora" between " Juniata " 
 and "Powhatan." 
 
 When line No. 2 has anchored, line No. 3 will 
 take position, the " Santiago de Cuba " leading, 
 which vessel wiU anchor with the centre of the 
 southeast face of Fort Fisher bearing northwest 
 half-north, or just ahead of " Ticonderoga." The 
 " Fort Jackson " will then pass the "Santiago de 
 Caba," and anchor as close as she can get ; the 
 " Osceola " will pass the "Fort Jackson'' and anchor, 
 and soon with the " Sassacus," "Chippewa," " R. R. 
 Cuyler," "Maratanza," "Rhode Island," "Monti- 
 cello," "Alabama," "Montgomery," "Keystone 
 State," "Quaker City," ending with the "Iosco." 
 
 When the signal is made to form line of battle, 
 all the vessels of lines Nos. 1, 3 and 3 will fall in line 
 in the order mentioned; the "Brooklyn" leading 
 line No. 1, the "Minnesota" line No. 2, and the 
 " Santiago de Cuba " line No. 3. When any vessel 
 is missing, the vessels behind must close up. All 
 the vessels can with safety get in closer than they 
 did the last time. For this they must depend on 
 the lead and past experience. 
 
 All firing against earth-works, when the shell 
 bursts in the air, is thrown away. The object is to 
 lodge the shell in the parapets, and tear away the 
 traverses under which the bomb-proofs are located. 
 A shell now and then exploding over a gun en 
 barbette may have good effect, but there is nothing 
 Uke lodging the shell before it explodes. The red 
 lines on the chart indicate the object each vessel 
 is to fire at, as near as we can make out the works. 
 
 In case it is determined to land the troops before 
 engaging the forts, signal will bemade. Each reserve 
 vessel will have her boats in readiness to disembark 
 the troops as rapidly as possible. When the signal 
 is made, they will run in and anchor close to the 
 shore, covering the landing with their guns. The 
 paddle - steamers will not use their paddle - boats 
 (but only their davit-boats) unless ordered to do so. 
 All these things will be regulated by signal. All 
 the precautions observed in General Order No. 75 
 will be observed on this occasion. 
 
 Fire deliberately. Fill the vessels up with every 
 shell they can carry, and fire to dismount the guns, 
 and knock away the traverses. The angle near the 
 large ships has heavy casemates ; knock it away. 
 Concentrate fire always on one point. With the 
 guns disabled, the fort will soon be ours. 
 
 No vessel wiU retire from line unless in a sinking 
 condition, nor without permission. 
 
 So many accidents have happened with the 100- 
 pounder rifles that I recommend, if they be used at 
 all, the charges be reduced to seven (7) pounds ; 
 and as the time-fuzes burst after leaving the gun, 
 fire them with a patch on or fire percussion shell. 
 
 When the troops are ready for the assault, signal 
 will be made to " change the direction of fire," by 
 hoisting general signal 2211, and blowing the 
 steam- whistle, which whistle every vessel will re- 
 peat, and officers will be stationed at the hatches 
 to pass the word. When the signal 2211 is made, 
 all the vessels wUl stop firing at Fort Fisher, and 
 concentrate their fire on the batteries to the left or 
 above it; the "Tacony," "Kansas," "Unadilla,'' 
 "Huron," "Maumee," "Pawtucket," "Seneca," 
 "Pontoosue," "Nyack," "Tantic" and " Nereus," 
 giving their guns great elevation, and firing over 
 to reach the river, to disturb any rebel troops that 
 may be resting there. To avoid accidents by firing 
 over our troops by these last - mentioned vessels, 
 the patches will not be taken off the shell, until the 
 assaulting column is in the works. 
 
 If the troops are driven back, the firing will be 
 directed on Fort Fisher again when the signal is 
 made, and this plan will be followed from time to 
 time as assaults are made and repulsed. 
 
 attention. When the range is once obtained, the 
 officer of division shall note in a book the distance 
 marked on the sight, so that he will not forget it. 
 When the smoke becomes thick, and objects dim, 
 a reference to the notes and an examination, to see 
 if the sight is properly set, will assist very much 
 in insuring accuracy of fire. 
 
 David D. Porter, 
 Rear- Admiral. Commanding North Atlantic 
 Squadron. 
 
 rbab-admiral porter's lianding orders. 
 Flag-ship "Malvern," ) 
 
 Off New Inlet, N. C, January 15, 1865. ( 
 [Landing Orders.] 
 
 The landing party will land out of gun-shot of 
 the fort, and as fast as the boats get rid of their 
 loads they will be shoved off, and the boat-keepers 
 will pull off and hang to the stern of the "Nanse- 
 mond," which vessel will be anchored off the land- 
 ing. When the men are landed they will be formed 
 and kept together, the marines forming by them- 
 selves. 
 
 Lieutenant S. W. Preston will have charge of the 
 men with shovels. He will advance as near the 
 fort as he safely can, without running the risk of a 
 single mati, and commence throwing up rifle-pits 
 rapidly. He will first advance with a thin line of 
 sappers, and as soon as he can get a ditch deep 
 enough for shelter, the marines will go in, in thin 
 squads, and occupy them. As the sand is thrown 
 up high enough to conceal a person, other sappers 
 will come in behind and dig ]t deeper. There will 
 be required a three and a half feet ditch, and about 
 the same height of earth thrown out. The object 
 is to get as close to the fort as possible, and with 
 perfect safety, so that the men will have shelter to 
 go to in case of the enemy firing grape and canister. 
 
 The officers leading the men must make them 
 keep under command — not sho w themselves until the 
 signal is made and the Army moves to the assault. 
 No move is to be made forward until the Army 
 charges, when the Navy is to assault the sea or 
 southeast face of the work, going over with cutlasses 
 drawn and revolvers in hand. The marines will 
 follow after, and when they gain the edge of the 
 parapet, they will lie fiat and pick off the enemy in 
 the works. The sailors will charge at once on the 
 field-pieces in the fort, and kill the gunners. The 
 mouths of the bomb-proofs must be secured at once, 
 and no quarter given if the enemy fire from them 
 after we enter the fort. Any man who straggles or 
 disobeys orders is to be sent to the rear under a 
 guard. The men must keep their fiags rolled up 
 until they are on top of the parapet and inside the 
 fort, when they will hoist them. 
 
 Remember, the sailors, when they start to board, 
 are to go with a rush, and get up as fast as they 
 can. Officers are directed not to leave their com- 
 panies under any circumstances, and every com- 
 pany is to be kept together. If, when our men get 
 into the fort, the enemy commence firing on Fort 
 Fisher from the Mound, every three men will seize a 
 prisoner, pitch him over the walls, and get behind 
 the fort for protection, or into the bomb-proofs. 
 The fleet-captain will take charge of the landing 
 
 garty, and all the commands wiU report to him. 
 [e represents me on this occasion, and all his 
 orders will be promptly obeyed. 
 
 David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral. 
 
 ^.-.^ 4-X.i.r.^ 
 
 
 report of flbbt-captaiif k. r. breese. 
 
 Flag-ship "Malvern," ) 
 
 Off Fort Fisher, N. C, January 16. ) 
 Sir — I have to report that, in obedience to your 
 order, I represented your flag in commanding the 
 assault on Fort Fisher, and beg leave to state as 
 follows : 
 
 T.ionfiinanf. S W "Pr(iofr,Ti Vinr! plinro-p nf a. ffM*ni> 
 
720 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 of about ten men from each ship, with shovels and 
 picks, and threw up within 600 yards of the fort a 
 well-protected breastwork, and from that gradually 
 advanced to within two hundred yards a succession 
 of rifle-pits, which were most promptly occupied 
 by a line of skirmishers composed of marines under 
 Second - Lieutenant L. E. Fagan, United States 
 marine corps. The manner in which this was done 
 reflects most creditably upon Lieutenant Preston. 
 As the advance was made, he came to me and re- 
 ported his work finished, and asked that he might 
 be employed in any way. Lieutenant Preston's 
 services were most useful to me, and in his last mo- 
 ments he attempted to send me word that he had 
 carried out my orders. 
 
 The assaulting party was composed of about six- 
 teen hundred seamen and four hundred marines, 
 divided into four lines, as follows : First line, com- 
 posed of marines. Captain L. L. Dawson, United 
 States marine corps, commanding. Second line, 
 composed of the landing party of the first and 
 fourth divisions of the squadron, Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander C. H. Cushman, commanding. Third line, 
 
 LIEUT. SAMUEL W. PEESTON OP ADMIRAL PORTEK'S STAFF. 
 
 (KILLED IN THE ASSAULT ON FORT FISHEK). 
 
 composed of the landing party of the second divis- 
 ion of the squadron, commanded by Lieutenant- 
 Commander James Parker, who most generously 
 waived his seniority upon reading your order that 
 I should represent you on shore. Fourth line, com- 
 posed of the landing party of the third division of 
 the squadron, commanded by Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander T. O. Selt'ridge. The second, third, and 
 fourth lines were of about equal strength. 
 
 It was intended that the men should assault in 
 line, the marines acting as sharp-shooters, and the 
 different lines were to charge over them ; but from 
 the difficulty I had of informing myself of the time 
 when the army was to assault, which was to guide 
 our movements, that moment found us too far off 
 to move to the attack unless under cover. When I 
 discovered that the army was moving to attack 
 the fort, I ordered the men to advance by the flank, 
 along the beach, hoping to be able to form them 
 for the assault under cover of the marines; but 
 four hundred yards' distance, exposed to a most 
 
 galling fire of musketry, threw a portion of the 
 marines into the first line, and the rest of them did 
 not talie position as they should. 
 
 The second and third lines came along, and the 
 heads of the three lines joined and formed one com- 
 pact column, which, filing up to the sea-face of Fort 
 Fisher, assaulted to within fifty yards of the para- 
 pet, which was lined with one dense mass of mus- 
 keteers, who played sad havoc with our men. 
 Although exposed to a most severe fire from the 
 enemy, the men were rallied three times under the 
 personal encouragement and exposure of their com- 
 manding officers, but failed to gain much ground. 
 A few officers and men reached the parapet. I don't 
 know their names, but they will doubtless be found 
 in the reports of the officers accompanyingthe party. 
 
 The marines, having failed to occupy their posi- 
 tion, gave the enemy an almost unmolested fire 
 upon us. 
 
 Men armed with Sharpe's rifles, and the few 
 marines in the front, opened fire, but it was too 
 feeble to be of avail. Finding the rear of the men 
 retreating, I hastened toward it to form them un- 
 der cover, and have them use their rifles; but they 
 were too far distant for me to reach them, and I ac- 
 cordingly returned to a position near the works. 
 As I did so, the remaining men, notwithstanding all 
 attempts to stop them, fled, with the exception of 
 about sixty, among whom were Lieutenant-Com- 
 manders James Parker, C. H. Cushman, T. O. 
 Selfridge, and M. Sicard, and Lieutenants N. H. 
 Farquhar and R. H. Lamson, the latter of whom 
 ■was wounded, and several volunteer officers whose 
 names I unfortunately do not know. 
 
 The fire of the enemy was so severe that the few 
 of our men remaining had to seek such cover as 
 they could, and there remained until dark, when a 
 demonstration upon the part of the rebels induced 
 all to make a rush, and most succeeded in escaping. 
 
 The country will regret the death of Lieutenant 
 S. W. Preston, acting as my aide in carrying orders, 
 who was killed in front • and of Lieutenant B. H. 
 Porter, killed in the early assault, at the head of 
 the column ; and of several volunteer officers, sea- 
 men, and marines, killed during the attack. 
 
 Of Assistant Surgeon William Longshaw special 
 mention should be made on account of his great 
 bravery and attention to the wounded under the 
 hottest fire, until finally he fell a victim in the 
 very act of binding up the wounds of a marine 
 
 I can but attribute the failure of the assault to 
 the absence of the marines from their position, as 
 their fire would have enabled our boarders to use 
 their cutlasses and pistols most effectively. By this 
 I would imply the lack of proper organization, it 
 being impossible in the short space of time, on ac- 
 count of throwing so many small squads of men 
 from the different vessels together in one mass, 
 lacking proper company formations, and wholly 
 unacquainted with each other, to secure such 
 organization. 
 
 This led to the confusion exhibited, for it was not 
 due to any want of personal valor on the part of 
 the officers or men. 
 
 Although the officers and men were exposed to a 
 severe fire from the enemy, to them of a novel char- 
 acter and upon a novel element, which would have 
 tried veterans, yet they advanced nobly, and the 
 survivors must be satisfied that they contributed 
 in no small degree to the success of the army. The 
 enemy believing, as I am informed, that the main 
 assault was to come from us, were much surprised 
 upon looking to their rear to find the army so far 
 advanced in their works. 
 
 The medical officers sent on shore with the land- 
 ing party established their field hospital at a work 
 about a mile from the fort, where Assistant Surgeon 
 B. H. Kidder took charge of the wounded who were 
 conveyed there, and attended to their wants as well 
 as circumstances would permit. 
 
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 O'O.N 
 
 FORT FrSHEll. 
 
 "bv-aie U.S.A'A\n' luiJcr 
 
 EEAR^\D]SimAL B.D. P OHIEli. 
 
 .its'.13,li,15J8G5. 
 
 Slloranfihe rpsilimi nrSesaolii !miUiiiBon''ui: 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 ■-e^"v.,„, 
 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 721 
 
 As near as I could estimate, there were about 
 sixty-five killed and two hundred wounded. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander W. B. Gushing, in the 
 extreme front, finding: nothing could be done, left 
 with the retreating men, and succeeded finally in 
 rallying them, and, at the request of General Terry, 
 occupied the lines near his headquarters, which en- 
 abled him to withdraw men to reinforce his force 
 in the fort. 
 
 Being a witness to the assault of the army after 
 our repulse, I cannot but express my admiration of 
 the extreme gallantry of its attack. 
 
 Where one act of personal bravery was displayed 
 on the part of the enemy, a dozen or more were 
 conspicuous on our part ; and it was the most im- 
 posing sight to see how splendidly our brave sol- 
 diers did their worli. 
 
 In conclusion, I would say that I may have omitted 
 the names of officers who have distinguished them- 
 selves by their gallantry, yet I could not fail to 
 mention those above named, who came personally 
 under my notice, and I trust that the commanding 
 officers of the assaulting lines will do justice to all. 
 
 To Lieutenant-Commander James Parlcer I would 
 
 a-- 
 
 
 ADMIRAL'S SECRETARY, CARLISLE P. POETEK (NOW FIRST- 
 LIEUTENANT n. S. MARINE CORPS). 
 
 say that I was a witness to his efforts to advance 
 the men, to the free exposure of liis person, and, 
 although ranking me, he would let no obstacle of 
 that nature interpose and check his endeavors to 
 do his utmost to capture the fort. 
 
 To your secretary, Mr. C. P. Porter, acting as 
 my aide, I am very" much indebted. Thougli fre- 
 quently sent to the rear with orders, he was most 
 promptly back, and at the assault he was found at 
 the front. 
 
 Although the assaulting party failed, I think it 
 but due to those that advanced, and to the memo- 
 ries of the slain, to claim for them, through their 
 strong demonstrations, a corresponding resistance 
 from the enemy, and a weakening of the rebel de- 
 fence toward our army 
 
 I have been informed by the officers who con- 
 versed with nrisoners that the enemy believed ours 
 
 the'r main force. In saying this, I would wish not 
 to be understood in the least to detract from the 
 splendid gallantry exhibited by our army, which 
 was worthy of the highest commendation that can 
 be bestowed. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 K. R. Bbbese, 
 
 Fleet-Capiain. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 dispatch of rear-admiral d. d. porter, 
 commending officers, etc. 
 North Atlantic Squadron, 1 
 
 U. S. Flag-ship " Malvern," [• 
 Cape Fear River, January 28, 1865. ) 
 Sib — After such an engagement and success as 
 this fleet has met with, I think it due to the officers 
 engaged to mention tliose particularly who, in my 
 opinion, deserve the commendation of the Depart- 
 ment or merit promotion. I did not think it well 
 to mention these matters in my late official dis- 
 patch, as such reports seldom or ever give satisfac- 
 tion to officers or their friends, and give rise more 
 often to heart-burnings and jealousies, which it is 
 desirable to avoid on an occasion like this. It is 
 no easy matter for a commander-in-chief to do fuU 
 justice to all concerned, but [ will endeavor to do 
 so to the best of my ability, without partiality to 
 any one beyond what I must naturally feel towards 
 those who have given me their warmest support on 
 tliis occasion. I trust I need not remind the De- 
 partment that our success here has, in material and 
 facts, been greater than on any other occasion dur- 
 ing this war. I trust that some promotions will 
 grow out of this, if only to show the officers that 
 there is reward in store for those who do the fight- 
 ing. First and foremost on the list of commodores 
 is Commodore H. K. Thatcher. Full of honest 
 zeal and patriotism, his vessel was always ready 
 for action, and when he did go into it, his ship was 
 handled with admirable skill ; no vessel in the 
 squadron was so much cut up as the "Colorado' ; 
 for some reason the rebels selected her for a target. 
 I believe Commodore Thatcher would have fought 
 his ship until she went to the bottom, and went in- 
 to the fight with a full determination to conquer or 
 die. There is no reward too great for this gallant 
 officer ; he has shown the kind of ability naval 
 leaders should possess — a love of fighting and an 
 invincible courage. Commodore Joseph Lannian, 
 commanding the " Minnesota," was selected to lead 
 the line, his vessel being the slowest and least man- 
 ageable ; consequently he led into action, except on 
 an occasion when the " Colorado" took his place. 
 I was much pleased with the manner in which he 
 handled his ship and fired throughout the action, 
 the whole affair on his part being conducted with 
 admirable judgment and coolness. I recommend 
 him to the consideration of the Department as one 
 on whom they can place the utmost reliance, place 
 him in any position. Commodore S. W. Godon, 
 commanding the "Susquehanna," is an unusually 
 intelligent officer, and who does not need to be 
 told a second time where to go in time of action. 
 This is the second important affair in which he has 
 been engaged during this war, in both of which he 
 has acquitted himself in the most handsome man- 
 ner. His ship was beautifully handled, and im- 
 pressed me with her good discipline and accurate 
 firing. To me personally he has given his warmest 
 support, and I should fail in my duty if I did not 
 give him the full credit he deserves. His conduct 
 throughout this harassing affair has met my wann- 
 est approbation, and I think he is one who merits 
 pi'omotion when the Government thiidvs proper to 
 reward those who have borne the brunt of the battle. 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 "Powhatan," have come up to my expectations in 
 every respect. This officer in battle has shown 
 himself worthy to command so fine a ship. He per- 
 formed his duty most faithfully, and I am proud 
 not only to have had him under my command, but 
 to see him reinstated in the position to which he 
 has done so much credit. He deserves all I can say 
 of him, and is worthy of promotion. 
 
 Commodore William Radford, in command of 
 that noble ship the "Ironsides," and also in com- 
 mand of the division of Monitors, gained my warm- 
 est admiration by his conduct throughout this a ;- 
 fair. He has shown abilities of a very high char- 
 acter, not only in fighting and manoeuvering his 
 vessel, but in taking care of his division. Ready 
 at all times for battle, and eager to go into the 
 fight alone, he performed admirably when his guns 
 were brought to bear on the enemy. His vessel did 
 more execution than any vessel in the fleet ; and 
 even when our troops were on the parapet, I had so 
 much confidence in the accuracy of his fire that he 
 was directed to fire through the traverses in advance 
 of our troops and clear them out. This he did most 
 
 COMMODORE (AFTEEWAKDS REAR-ADMIRAL) S. W. GODON, 
 
 COMMANDING THE U. 8. S. " SUSQUEHANNA." 
 
 effectually, and but for this, victory might not have 
 been ours. Having broken his rudder in a heavy 
 gale, he rigged up a temporary one under adverse 
 circumstances, and had his ship ready as soon as 
 the rest. He seemed never to tire of fighting, and 
 for three days laid within 1,000 yards of Fort Fisher 
 without moving his anchor, and made the rebels 
 feel that we had come there to stay. Under all and 
 every circumstance, Commodore Radford has ac- 
 quired an enviable reputation, and is deserving of 
 the greatest promotion that can be given him. 
 Captain James Alden, commanding the "Brook- 
 lyn," has been near me, and at times associated 
 with me during this war. He had already done 
 enough to deserve promotion before the commence- 
 ment of operations before Fort Fisher ; but if this 
 matter was at any time doubtful, he has certainly 
 earned promotion now. Always leading heretofore, 
 or assisting with all his energies, he has been en- 
 gaged in all the successful attacks on forts. His aid 
 
 to me on this late occasion has been very valuable. 
 Always intelligent and energetic, he never had to be 
 told to get ready; he always kept ready; he anti- 
 cipated, which is a quality very desirable in an 
 officer, and without which he cannot be expected 
 to be very useful. His vessel was ^ways in the 
 right place and at the right time, and when his bat- 
 teries opened, no frigate could have done more execu - 
 tion. I have spoken before of the high qualities of 
 this officer. I consider him able and worthy to fill 
 the highest rank, and I know that the Government 
 has no one in its navy more full of energy, zeal or 
 intelligence in his profession. I shall feel much 
 disappointed if Captain Alden is not promoted to a 
 rank he has won more than once during this rebel- 
 lion. I am sure the Department will appreciate 
 all I have said of this gallant officer. His record 
 speaks for him. 
 
 Captain Melancton Smith, on the " Wabash,'' has 
 performed his duty well. He has also made a good 
 record at the department, and has been actively 
 engaged in fighting since the rebellion first broke 
 out. His old ship has done good service here ; and 
 if he had done nothing more than assist, as he has 
 done in the capture of this place, he deserves pro- 
 motion, which I hereby recommend. 
 
 I also recommend Captain Charles Steedman, 
 commanding "Ticonderoga,"' and Captain D. B. 
 Ridgley, commanding "Shenandoah." Though 
 commanding smaller vessels than the others, and 
 less effective in their fire, they did the best they 
 could. This is the second important affair Captain 
 Steedman has been in, and Captain Ridgley has 
 been very energetic during the war against block- 
 ade-runners. I recommend them both for promo- 
 tion. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander R. K. Breese, my fleet- 
 captain, has been with me nearly all the time since 
 the rebellion broke out. In command of a division 
 of the mortar fleet, which opened the way to Ne wr 
 Orleans, he made his fh-st record there. In the 
 Mississippi with me for two years, engaged in har- 
 assing and dangerous duties, he always acquitted 
 himself to m^y satisfaction. In charge of the mor- 
 tars at the siege of Vicksburg, he helped to hasten 
 the surrender of that stronghold. At Fort Fisher 
 he led the boarders in the assault, and though we 
 were not successful in getting into the work in the 
 face of equal numbers, yet that assault helped ma- 
 terially to gain the day, as is generally admitted on 
 every side. Our troops obtained a footing without 
 much resistance and then nobly maintained what 
 they had won. Lieutenant-Coiiimander Breese did 
 all he could to rally his men, and made two or three 
 unsuccessful attempts to regain the parapet; but the 
 marines having failed in their duty to support the 
 gallant officers and sailors who took the lead, he 
 had to retire to a place of safety. He did not, how- 
 ever, leave the ground, but remained under the 
 parapet in a rifle-pit, using a musket, until night 
 favored his escape. He is a clever, gallant officer, 
 and I strongly recommend his immediate pi'omotion 
 to a commander. 
 
 I also recommend the promotion of Lieutenant- 
 Commander H. A. Adams, Jr., ordnance officer, 
 without whose services we should have been 
 brought to a standstill more than once. He volun- 
 teered for anything and everything. 
 
 The following officers, who volunteered to lead 
 their men in the assault on Fort Fisher, deserve 
 particular notice. These officers volunteered for the 
 service, and undertook what was considered by the 
 regular army the forlorn hope of the assault. No- 
 where in the annals of war have officers and sailors 
 undertaken so desperate a service, and one which 
 was deemed impossible by a former general and an 
 engineer having a high reputation in the service. 
 Twenty-one officers were killed and wounded in this 
 service, and twenty officers and sixty men were kept 
 for four hours under fire from the enemy's sharp- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 723 
 
 shooters, not being able to escape until night set in. 
 The courage of these oiBcers deserves the highest 
 reward. Their efforts,- though unsuccessful, gained 
 the day, as the enemy considered this the main at- 
 tack, and brought superior numbers from a superior 
 position to bear on it. The names of some of these 
 officers will be found on record on the files of the 
 Department, among which those of Lieutenant- 
 Commander T. O. Selfridge and Lieutenant George 
 M. Bache will be found most conspicuous. I recom- 
 mend that Lieutenant - Commander James A. 
 Parker, Lieutenant-Commander T. O. Selfridge, 
 Lieutenant-Commander C. H. Cushman, Lieuten- 
 ant R. H. Lamson and Lieutenant George M. Bache 
 be promoted. The three latter were severely 
 wounded. Though the marines did not do their 
 duty, Captain L. L. Dawson, Captain George But- 
 ler, and Second - Lieutenants William Wallace, 
 Charles F. Williams and Louis E. Fagan were found 
 in the front, and fought gallantly. I recommend 
 them to the favorable notice of the department. 
 
 To Captain O. S. Glisson, commanding the 
 " Santiago de Cuba," I am particularly indebted 
 for his zeal in covering the troops, landing guns. 
 
 #ffl 
 
 rm. 
 
 CAPTAIN (NOW EEAR-ADMIRAL) O. S. GLISSON, 
 COMMANDING THE U. s. S. "SANTIAGO DE CUBA." 
 
 and taking his division into action; and to Captain 
 B. F. Sands, commanding the " Port Jackson," for 
 performing the different duties he was called on to 
 perform. I recommend them both for promotion. 
 
 I refer to Captain Glisson 's report in relation to 
 the commanding ofBcers in his division. 
 
 I also recommend to the departinent Lieutenant- 
 Commander T. 8. Phelps, in command of the " Ju- 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Upshur, in the 
 " A. D. Vance," had charge of the reserves, and was 
 employed night and day in landing army stores and 
 guns, and covering the troops from the rebels out- 
 side of our lines. His guns did good execution, 
 and though his duties prevented him from part ici- 
 
 gating in the attack on the forts, I cannot with- 
 old his name, and recommend him for advance- 
 ment. 
 
 I recommend that Commander B. G. Parrott, 
 commanding the "Monadnock," Commander E. R. 
 Colhoun, commanding the "Saugus," Lieutenant- 
 Commander A. W. Weaver, commanding the " Ma- 
 
 a world-renowned name to the Monitors, and have 
 shown what they were capable of performing when 
 properly placed and managed. They had the 
 hardest part of the work, and there is no end to 
 their energy, bravery and untiring zeal. 
 
 I can draw no distinction between the following 
 ofHcers, whom I recommend for promotion. They 
 were under fire most all the time, and at close quar- 
 ters, and coolly performed what was required of 
 them : 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander W. T. Truxton, com- 
 manding the "Tacony"; Lieutenant -Commander 
 P. G. Watmough, commanding the "Kansas"; 
 Lieutenant-Commander F. M. Ramsay, command- 
 ing the "Unadilla"; Lieutenant - Commander D. 
 L. Braine, commanding the "Pequof; Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander Ralph Chandler, commanding the 
 "Maumee"; Lieutenant - Commander M. Sicard, 
 commanding the "Seneca"; Commander J. H. 
 Spotts, commanding the" Pawtueket" ; Lieutenant- 
 Commander W. G. Temple, commandingthe "Pon- 
 toosac"; Lieutenant - Commander T. C. Harris, 
 commanding the ''Yantic"; Commander J. C. 
 Howell, commanding the"Nereus"; Commander 
 D. Ammen, commanding the "Mohican"; Com- 
 mander J. C. Beaumont, commandingthe "Mack- 
 inaw '' ; Connnander J. M. B. Clitz, commanding 
 the "Osceola"; Lieutenant - Commander J. L. 
 Davis, commandingthe "Sassacus"; Lieutenant- 
 Commander E. B. Potter, commanding the " Chi|>- 
 pewa"; Lieutenant W. B. Cashing, commanding 
 the " Montioello " ; Commander S. D. Trenchard, 
 commandingthe "Rhode Island"; Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant A. R. Langthorne, commanding 
 the "Alabama"; Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant T. 
 C. Dunn, commanding the "Montgomery." I also 
 recommend for promotion Acting - Master S. P. 
 Crafts, commanding the "Little Ada"; Acting- 
 Master J. H. Porter, commanding the " Nanse- 
 mond " ; Acting- Master B. Keyser, commanding 
 the " Eolus " — for gallant conduct throughout the 
 action ; also Acting- Volunteer John McDiarmid, 
 commanding the "Governor Buckingham." I 
 must refer you to the reports of different com- 
 manders for recommendations of those under their 
 command, as it would be impossible for me to know 
 anything in relation to them. When it is remem- 
 bered that the surrender of the defences of Cape 
 Fear River is one of the most, if not the most, im- 
 portant event of the war, in which the largest 
 stronghold of the enemy was captured under ad- 
 verse circumstances, the justice of promotion will 
 be seen. Its importance will be soon felt in the fall 
 of Richmond, to which it is as necessary now as the 
 main artery is to the human system. I trust the 
 Department will be liberal in its promotions. This 
 is almost a naval affair entirely, for the idea origi- 
 nated in the Navy Department ; and until the 
 reputation of the Army became in danger of being 
 reilected upon, we met from that branch of the ser- 
 vice Uttle or no encouragement. Few promotions 
 have taken place during the war, and it would be 
 gratifying to the friends of all concerned to see the 
 advancement of those who have worked so patientlj' 
 for three years, and have made so handsome a 
 denoueinent. I have heard a matter freely dissussed 
 among the officers, to which I beg leave to draw the 
 attention of the Department. A distribution of 
 medals to officers would be a most popular thing. 
 This is so common a method among modern na- 
 tions, and so universally accepted as a reward for 
 eminent services among officers and men, that I 
 recommend its adoption in our naval service. Any 
 one who has seen the pride with which sailors wear 
 the medals bestowed upon them for gallant conduct 
 can readily imagine how grateful it would be to 
 officers. Trifling as such a mere bauble may be in 
 intrinsic value, yet the history of war tells how val- 
 
 I n nnrr\r\r\ 
 
 +0 +^ ,^^«f^ 
 
724 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 presuming in recomiuending what, no doubt, they 
 ah-eady intend to adopt. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 David D. Pobtbr, Ruar-Admiral. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 COMPLIMENTARY LETTER OF BEAR - ADMIRAL 
 PORTER IN REGARD TO GENERAL TERRY. 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, i 
 
 U. S. Flag-ship "Malvern," y 
 
 Off Smithsville, N. C, Jan. 30, 1865. ) 
 
 Sir— I have been so much pleased with General 
 Terry, and the manner in which he has conducted 
 his part of the operations here, that I deem it 
 worthy of a special dispatch to express what I 
 feel. 
 
 General Terry is, no doubt, well known to his as- 
 sociates in the field, who have served with him, 
 and to the Lieutenant-General who selected him 
 for the service, but the American people should 
 know and feel the very great service he has ren- 
 dered them by his most admirable assault on these 
 tremendous works. Young, brave and unassuming, 
 he bears his success with the modesty of a true 
 soldier, and is willing to give credit to those who 
 shared with him the perils of the assault. No one 
 could form the slightest conception of these works, 
 their magnitude, strength and extent, who had not 
 seen them, and General Whiting, the engineer, 
 must have had an abiding faith in the durability 
 of the Confederacy when he expended so many 
 years labor on them. 
 
 The result of the fall of Fort Fisher was the fall 
 of all the surrounding works in and near this place 
 — Fort Caswell, a large work at the West Inlet, 
 mounting twenty - nine guns, all the works on 
 Smith's Island, the works between Caswell and 
 Smithsville up to the battery on Reeves' Point, on 
 the west side of the river — in all, 169 guns falling 
 into our hands ; 3 steamers were burnt or blown up, 
 and there never was so clean a sweep made any- 
 where. 
 
 A timid man would have hesitated to attack these 
 works by assault, no matter what assistance he 
 may have had from other quarters, but General 
 Terry never for an instant hesitated; and though I 
 feel somewhat flattered at the confidence he reposed 
 in my judgment, I am quite ready to believe that 
 he acted on his own ideas of what was proper to be 
 done in the matter, and was perfectly qualified to 
 judge without the advice of any one. 
 
 Throughout this affair his conduct has been 
 marked by the greatest desire to be successful, not 
 for the sake of personal considerations, but for the 
 cause in which we are all alike engaged. 
 
 I don't know that I ever met an officer who so 
 completely gained my esteem and admiration. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 HecretnryofihejSavy, ^Yashington, D. C. 
 
 additional report of fleet - captain k. r. 
 
 BREESE. 
 
 Flag-ship '' Malvern," { 
 Cape Fear River, January 38, 1865. J 
 Admiral — In my report of the assault of Fort 
 Fisher, I did not mention the fact of Lieutenant- 
 Commander Cushman being wounded, as he made 
 so light of the affair and did not wish to be in- 
 eluded among tho.se mentioned as such. Since, I 
 have learned that Lieutenant-Connnander Cush- 
 inan's wound was more severe than I had even 
 thought, and I think it but right that I should 
 mention that, though in this condition and very 
 much fatigued from his efforts of the day, being re- 
 
 lieved by darkness from the lire of the fort, he col- 
 lected together the men of his column, and posted 
 them in the lines occupied by us that night, re- 
 quiring a great exertion and constant movement 
 until 3 A. M. the following morning. 
 
 I also would wish to bring to your notice the eon- 
 duct of a young lad of the "Wabash," named 
 Myers, who three several times left a good protec- 
 tion from the fire of the enemy and went to the 
 assistance of wounded men, and under fire carried 
 them to the friendly shelter of his hole in the sand, 
 and this within a hundred yards of Foit Fisher. I 
 had hoped to obtain the name of a very brave and 
 gallant officer of the " Vanderbilt," who led their 
 assaulting party, but have been unable to do so. 
 This officer was conspicuous for his gallantry and 
 most richly deserves special mention. 
 
 I would also wish to say that Aeting-Lieutenaut- 
 Commander Danels, of the "Vanderbilt," suffering 
 from ill-health and unable to keep up with the as- 
 saulting party, rendered much valuable assistance 
 in rallying the men and in caring for the wounded. 
 I regret that my personal acquaintance with the 
 
 LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN H. PORTER (OF ADMIE.\L 
 PORTER'S STATE.) 
 
 (KILLED IN THE ASSAULT ON FOKT FISHER.) 
 
 many brave officers and men around me on 
 that day was so slight that I could not soon 
 recognize to what ships they belonged, except 
 in the instances named, and that, necessarily, I 
 have failed to mention particularly some who, I 
 saw, behaved splendidly^ and have trusted to the 
 commanding oiBcers of columns to name them. I 
 wish also to bear witness to the handsome manner 
 in which Lieutenant Pagan, of the marine corps, 
 did his duty with his sharp-shooters, and to the 
 gallantry he exhibited in advancing his men so 
 close to the enemy's works. An additional regret I 
 feel in the loss of Flag-Lieutenant Preston, who 
 could so much better have done justice, that it de- 
 volves upon me to mention how w^ell the officers 
 and men behaved in digging rifle-pits, and of the 
 bravery evinced by many of them in advancing un- 
 der a perfectly exposed "fire to within 300 yards of 
 the fort, and digging their pits under the'fire. A 
 number were killed and wounded in the undertak- 
 ing. Although these men had been hard at work 
 all day% and were told by Lieutenant Preston that 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 r25 
 
 they were not expected to join in the assault, I 
 know of scarcely any who had arms that did not 
 join it. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 K. R. Breesb, Fleet-Captain. 
 Rear- Admiral Dayid D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Ailantio Squadron. 
 
 DISPATCH OF REAR-ADMIRAL D. D. PORTER, TRANS- 
 MITTING REPORT OF FLEET - CAPTAIN K. R. 
 BREBSE, IN REGARD TO THE DEATHS OF LIEU- 
 TENANTS PORTER AND PRESTON. 
 
 KoRTH Atlantic Squadron, 
 
 U. S. Flag-ship " Malvern," 
 Cape Fear River, February 1, 1865. 
 
 Sir — I inclose a communication from my fleet- 
 captain, Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, in 
 relation to the lamented Lieutenants Pi-eston and 
 Porter, who fell together before the walls of Fort 
 Fisher, and while ti-yiiia: to plant the Union colors 
 on the enemy's ramparts. No eulogy passed upon 
 these two gallant men could do them full justice. 
 To me they had both endeared themselves by their 
 noble qualities, and in their deaths I feel as if I 
 had lost two members of my own family. Their 
 names and gallant deeds during their short service 
 in the war will long be remembered by their as- 
 sociates in arms, and the memory of their heroic 
 gallantry will inspire future heroes to emulate their 
 conduct. The officers of the squadron propose to 
 erect a monument at Annapolis to the memory of 
 the gallant dead, but their memories will live in 
 history long after the stone that records their deads 
 has crumbled into dust. I must not omit to pay a 
 just tribute to the memory of the noble Assistant 
 Surgeon William Longshaw, who was shot dead 
 near the enemy's works while engaged in an act of 
 mercy, binding up the wounds of a sailor, and of 
 the gallant Acting-Assistant Surgeon John Black- 
 mer, who fell and died in the same way. Nor must 
 I omit the name of Acting-Ensign Robert Wiley, 
 who died fighting manfully, and endeavoring to 
 reach the enemy's parapets. They all died like 
 heroes, and the nation is as much bound to mourn 
 their loss as those who have held higher positions. 
 
 They are all regretted deeply here, and their 
 names will be forever associated with one of the 
 most gallant attacks ever made on a powerful fort- 
 ress. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral. 
 Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 
 
 report of fleet-captain k. r. breese. 
 
 North Atlantic Squadron, 
 U. S. Flag-ship" Malvern," 
 Off Fort Fisher, January 18, 1865. 
 Admiral — In my report of the assault on Fort 
 Fisher I have scarcely mentioned the names and 
 services of Lieutenant S. W. Preston, your flag-lieu- 
 tenant, and Lieutenant B. H. Porter, your flag- 
 captain, thinking that by a little delay I might the 
 more do justice, yet I seem to feel that impossible 
 in me. Preston, after accomplishing most splen- 
 didly the work assigned him by you, which was 
 both dangerous and laborious, under constant fire, 
 came to me, as my aide, for orders, showing no flag- 
 ging of spirit or body, and returning from the rear, 
 whither he had been sent, fell among the foremost 
 at the front, as he had lived, the thorough embodi- 
 ment of a IJnited States naval officer. Porter, con- 
 spicuous by his figure and uniform, as well as by 
 his great gallantry, claimed the right to lead the 
 headmost column with the "Malvern's" men he 
 had taken with him, carrying your flag, and fell at 
 its very head. Two more noble spirits the world 
 
 trepid men. Young, talented, and handsome, the 
 bravest of the brave, pure in their lives, surely 
 their names deserve something more than a passing 
 mention, and are 'worthy to be handed down to 
 posterity with the greatest and beat of naval 
 heroes. 
 
 Were you not so well acquainted with their char- 
 acters, 1 should deem it my duty to speak of their 
 high merits ; but, as chief of your staff, to which 
 they belonged, I must speak of their wonderful 
 singleness of purpose to do their whole duty ; 
 always most cheerful and willing, desirous of un- 
 dertaking anything which might redound to the 
 credit of the service ; giving me at all times the 
 most ready assistance in my duties; combining with 
 their intelligence a ready perception as to the best 
 mode of accomplishing their orders, the country 
 has lost two such servants as could illy be spared, 
 and your staff its brightest ornaments. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 K. R. Breese, 
 Fleet-Captain, North Atlantic Squadron. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 Thus was Fort Fisher vv^on after a gal- 
 lant attack and as gallant a defence on the 
 
 SUKGEON (AFTERWARDS SDBGEON-GENEEAL) PHILIP S. WALES. 
 
 OF THE V. S. S. "FORT JACKSON." 
 
 part of the Confederates as any one inter- 
 ested in their cause might desire. It vs^as 
 a terrible sight to see those men. all of one 
 blood, sternly fighting in the dark for over 
 four hours, almost breast to breast, shoot- 
 ing or bayonetting each other on the tops 
 of the traverses or around the sides, vs^hile 
 the "Ironsides" would explode her li-inch 
 shrapnel so well timed that they would 
 burst over the heads or in amongst the 
 struggling mass of Confederates, who were 
 doing their utmost to hold on to the trav- 
 erses behind the bomb-proof ; but when the 
 calcium-light of the "Malvern" was thrown 
 upon these desperate soldiers, and exposed 
 
 i-i _i^:^i,^ 4-^ 4-1.^ 
 
 a T„„„„; J„„ 
 
726 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 they were swept away by the dozens. 
 Never did men fight harder than the Con- 
 federates, and never were cooler soldiers 
 than the Federals, who gained traverse 
 after traverse with the aid of the wondrous 
 fire of the " Ironsides," until they stood on 
 the last one, when the enemy fled to the 
 beach near the Mound, pursued by the Fed- 
 eral troops; and the former, having no more 
 hope of escape, laid down their arms and 
 submitted to their captors. 
 
 Three cheers went up from the Federal 
 soldiers, the crews on board the ships made 
 the welkin ring with their shouts of joy, 
 the steam-whistles blew, the bells rang, 
 sky-rockets filled the air, and every yard- 
 arm was illuminated with the Coston night- 
 signals. Not a man there but saw this was 
 the death-blow to the rebellion. No more 
 
 COMMANDEB CHARLEa D. SIGSDEE, 
 
 ENSIGN ON THE U. S. S. " BROOKLYN. " AT FOKT FISHER. 
 
 army provisions or clothing could enter the 
 only open port— Wilmington. Submission 
 might not come immediately, but the end 
 was not far off. The soldiers who had so 
 strenuously fought to gain the stronghold 
 Avould go back rejoicingto Hampton Roads, 
 having wiped out the disgrace inflicted 
 through no fault of theirs, and could now, 
 at the end of the war, join their families 
 with the proud boast that they were the as- 
 saulters that finally carried" Fort Fisher. 
 While the Navj^, that had for so many days 
 breasted the storms of winter on the dan- 
 gerous coast of North Carolina, could hope 
 soon to haul into '•Snug Harbor," where, 
 in years to come, they could tell their com- 
 panions how for thirty-five days they had 
 fought the ocean in its wrath and defied 
 the elements; how they coaled their ships 
 and took in tlieir ammunition while the ves- 
 sels were rolling and pitching '■ like mad," 
 
 and how they battered the heaviest earth- 
 work in the Southern Confederacy until 
 not a gun remained serviceable on its car- 
 riage. 
 
 Amidst all the rejoicing, the Army and 
 Navy had to deplore the loss of a great 
 many gallant men who freely offered their 
 lives that their country might live and 
 move on in the march of progress, civiliza- 
 tion and liberty, that in future ages would 
 make it the greatest nation on the face of 
 the earth. The casualties of the Federal 
 Army were 691 officers and men killed, 
 wounded and missing, while the Navy lost 
 309 more. The defeated but gallant enemy 
 went into the battle 3,500 strong and sur- 
 rendered only 1,800 men. 
 
 A second casualty took place, the morn- 
 ing after the surrender of the fort, by the 
 blowing up of a bomb-proof. How it hap- 
 pened no one knew, but about a hundred 
 bodies were thrown up into the air, soldiers, 
 sailors, and Confederates all mixed up 
 together. It was a sickening sight and 
 took away much of the pleasure of the vic- 
 tory ; but soldiers and sailors grew accus- 
 tomed to such things during the war, and 
 the active work still before them, ere they 
 could reach Wilmington and secure the 
 railroad leading to Richmond, soon drove 
 the dreadful spectacle from their minds. 
 Regarding the gallant soldiers, who so nobly 
 fought their way over the bomb-proofs, too 
 much cannot be said in their praise. Terry, 
 their leader, Ames, Curtis, Lawrence, and 
 Pennypacker, should never be forgotten; 
 while those in the Navy, who fought their 
 ships so well and so persistently, will, in 
 future years, be remembered and lionored 
 as were the heroes of 1813. when our in- 
 fant Navy showed the mistress of the seas 
 that she would one day have to divide her 
 honors with the young'^Republic. 
 
 A number of the 100-poimder Parrott 
 rifles burst while in action, and the com- 
 manders and men, having lost confidence 
 in them, they were no longer used. The 
 consequence was that, before the forts in 
 Cape Fear River could be attacked, a re- 
 quisition had to be made on the Bureau 
 of Ordnance in Washington for twenty- 
 four n-inch guns. These were sent from 
 New York in a fast steamer, and in ten 
 days were all mounted on tlie vessels in 
 Cape Fear River and readv for service. 
 One Monitor, the " Montauk," had been 
 gotten over the bar, and the gun-boat 
 fleet was ready to move up as soon as 
 the Army could make its preparations to 
 advance. The Confederate General, Hoke, 
 was intrenched about six miles above Fort 
 Fisher, where it was said that General 
 Bragg intended to dispute the further ad- 
 vance of the Federal troops— a foolish reso- 
 lution, as there was a force of gun -boats 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 ni 
 
 in the river that could bid defiance to all the 
 guns the Confederates had mounted. 
 
 As soon as General Grant heard of the 
 victory, he proceeded to Fort Fisher in a 
 transport, taking with him General Scho- 
 field and an additional number of troops. 
 General Schofield's seniority gave him the 
 command of the whole, a circumstance that 
 could not be well avoided, as the troops 
 came from his division. As soon as possi- 
 ble after General Grant's arrival, prepara- 
 tions were made for the Army and Navy to 
 move on up the Cape Fear River in concert. 
 
 The effect of the surrender of Fort Fisher 
 was a stampede in all the forts south of 
 Federal Point. Lieutenant Gushing was 
 sent in the gun-boat " Monticello" around 
 to Fort Caswell, a strong fortification, 
 built in former days by the United States 
 engineers as a protection to the Western 
 bar. Lieutenant Gushing found Fort Cas- 
 well blown up, the works at Bald Head 
 destroyed, Fort ShaV blown up, and Fort 
 Campbell abandoned. These works, mount- 
 ing 9 and 10 inch guns and 150-pounder Arm- 
 strongs, completely commanded the chan- 
 nel, and were nearly out of reach of projec- 
 tiles from the seaward. 
 
 After an examination of the forts. Lieu- 
 tenant Gushing hoisted the American flag 
 on Fort Caswell and pushed on to Smith- 
 ville, a heavily fortified point on Cape Fear 
 Eiver. The garrison departed as soon as 
 the "Monticello" hove in sight, leaving 
 everything in this heavy and beautiful for- 
 tification uninjured, and only two 9-inch 
 guns spiked in the work at Deep River 
 Point. 
 
 Up to January 20th, only one gun-boat, 
 the " Tacony," Lieutenant-Commander W. 
 T. Truxton, had succeeded after hard work 
 in getting past the Rip, a bad shoal which 
 barred the way, after passing Fort Bu- 
 chanan, to the fair channel of Cape Fear 
 River. The Admiral at once sent her to 
 Reeves' Point, about three miles above 
 Fort Fisher, on the "west side of the 
 river," to disable the guns at that place, 
 presuming that the enemy had already 
 abandoned it in the panic. 
 
 Thus, in twenty-four hours after the 
 capture of Fort Fisher and its outworks, 
 all the formidable chain of works around 
 the two entrances of Cape Fear River 
 were in the hands of the Navy, and, for 
 want of troops were temporarily garrisoned 
 by sailors. Three of the forts had been 
 built to keep out any force that could be 
 sent against them. They were wonderful 
 specimens of engineering skill, and a credit 
 to the Confederate engineers who planned 
 and constructed them. Any one seeing them 
 would suppose that the whole Southern 
 Confederacy had been at work throwing up 
 
 The following is a list of the guns 
 mounted in these works : Reeves' Point, 
 three 10-inch guns ; Smithville, four 10-inch 
 guns ; above Smithville, two 10-inch guns ; 
 Fort Caswell, ten 10-inch guns, two 9-inch 
 guns, one Armstrong rifled gun, four rifled 
 32-pounders, two 32-pounder smooth-bores, 
 three 8-inch guns, one Parrott 20-pounder, 
 three rifled field-pieces and three 8-inch 
 guns— total 29 ; forts Campbell and Shaw, 
 six 10- inch, six 32-pounder smooth-bore, one 
 32-pounder rifled, one 8-inch, six field-pieces 
 and two mortars ; Smith's Island, three 
 10-inch guns, six 32-pounder smooth-bores, 
 two 22-pounders rified, four field-pieces, 2 
 mortars and six other guns. Grand total, 
 83 guns. 
 
 When General Grant went to Fort Fisher 
 and General Schofield took command, a 
 council-of-war was held on board the 
 "Malvern," at which General Grant pre- 
 sided, and it was concluded to land an 
 Army Corps under General Cox. at Smith- 
 ville, on the west bank of Cape Fear River, 
 march on Fort Anderson by a good road, 
 while the gun-boats attacked it by water ; 
 but this plan was changed after General 
 Grant left, and General Schofield under- 
 took an expedition by way of the beach, 
 covered by some six or eight gun-boats; 
 but it came on to blow and rain heavily 
 and the troops had to return, when the first 
 plan was finally adopted. 
 
 On the 18th of February, the gun-boats 
 having shifted their 100-pounder rifles for 
 11-inch guns, proceeded up the river to- 
 wards Fort Anderson preparatory to an at- 
 tack. The Army Corps under General Cox 
 proceeded by the Smithville road to try and 
 cut off the enemy if he attempted to escape 
 from the works. The Monitor "Montauk," 
 Lieutenant-Commander Edward E. Stone, 
 was anchored eight hundred yards from 
 the fort, which immediately opened fire 
 upon her, but her thick sides and turrets 
 resisted this fire until the other vessels 
 could be brought into position. The river 
 channel was very narrow, crooked and 
 shoal, and the vessels had great difficulty 
 in securing a berth where they could use 
 their heaviest guns. The following gun- 
 boats were engaged : 
 
 " Lenapee," Lieutenant-Commander John 
 S. Barnes; "Sassacus," Lieutenant-Com- . 
 mander John Lee Davis ; '"Mackinaw," 
 Commander J. C. Beaumont; "Maratanza," 
 Lieutenant - Commander Geo. W. Young ; 
 " Nyack," Lieutenant-Commander L. H. 
 Newman; "Chippewa," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander E. E. Potter ; " Shawmut," Lieu- 
 tenant - Commander John G. Walker ; 
 " Seneca," Lieutenant - Commander M. 
 Sicard ; "Malvern," Acting-Ensign Wm. 
 C. Wise; " Pontoosuc," Lieutenant-Com- 
 ma,nder Wm. G. Temnle : "Unadilla." 
 
7:^8 
 
 inn. iv.ir.ij^ niKH\ji\.x 
 
 Lieutenant -Commander F. M. Ramsey; 
 " Pawtucket, Commander J. H. Spotts ; 
 "Huron," Lieutenant -Commander Thos. 
 O. Selfridge ; " Maumee," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Ralph Chandler ; " Pequot," Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander D. L. Braine. 
 
 The "Montauk" bore the fire for some 
 hours and returned it leisurely. The Con- 
 federates, finding they could make no iin- 
 pression on her, reserved their fire until 
 they could find something more vulnerable, 
 and kept in their bomb-proofs. On the 
 18th, the gun -boats moved to within a thou- 
 sand yards and opened a rapid and well- 
 directed fire, which was returned with great 
 vigor for half an hour. The Confederate 
 fire then gradually ceased. They left the 
 fort and retreated toWilmington. The Army 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMMANDEK JOHN S. BARNES, 
 
 CHIEF-OF-STAFF WITH REAR-ADMIRAL S. P. LEE. AND COMMANDING U.S. S. 
 
 " LENAPEE," IN CAPE FEAR RIVER, AFTER THE ATTACK ON 
 
 FORT FISHER. 
 
 came up half an hour afterwards and found 
 the fort in possession of the Navy. In this 
 day's fight the loss was only two killed 
 and six wounded on the "Chippewa" and 
 " Pequot." About fifty boats were sent out 
 at once to drag the river for torpedoes, 
 and, after picking up all that could be 
 found, pushed on and transported General 
 Cox's division over the creeks, where the 
 Confederates had burned the bridges, so 
 that he was delayed but a short time and 
 was enabled to move on to Wilmington. 
 
 In the meantime. General Terry's divis- 
 ion at or near Fort Fisher charged General 
 Hoke's intrenchments, and the Confeder- 
 ates immediately retreated upon Wilming- 
 ton ; so that, while the Army was mai'cli- 
 
 ing on that place on both sides of the river, 
 the gun-boats were pushing up as fast as 
 they could find their way through the intri- 
 cate channel. 
 
 Before General Cox or General Terry had 
 reached the vicinity of Wilmington, the 
 gun-boats reached Forts Strong and Lee. 
 Taking a position at thirteen hundred yards 
 distant, they opened with their 11-inch guns 
 on the forts. The forts were in an elevated 
 position and were armed with eight or ten 
 heavy guns. Soon after the fleet opened 
 fire the forts were evacuated, and the Union 
 flag was hoisted over them by Lieutenant- 
 Commander K. R. Breese, Chief of Staff. 
 The channel had to be dragged for tor- 
 pedoes before the gun-boats could pass up, 
 and night came leaving them huddled to- 
 gether in a mass through which a boat 
 could hardly pass. 
 
 A little before sunset, a faithful " contra- 
 band," who had escaped the vigilance of the 
 Confederates, appeared alongside the flag- 
 ship and informed the Admiral that the 
 enemy intended sending down that night 
 two hundred floating torpedoes with a hun- 
 dred pounds of powder in each. 
 
 Orders were immediately given by the 
 Admiral for the gun - boats to get out their 
 fishing seines — of which each vessel in the 
 Navy carried one — and to unite and spread 
 them across the river in two lines. Thus 
 there were nine hundred and sixty yards 
 of seine presented as an obstacle to the 
 expected torpedoes, placed about five hun- 
 dred yards above the vessels, while on 
 either side of the river fish weirs extended 
 through the shoal water to shore. This 
 seemed to be a perfect obstruction to 
 floating torpedoes, but about 9 o'clock at 
 night a black object was seen from the 
 flag-ship drifting past her. The gun-boat 
 " Shawmut " was hailed and ordered to 
 send a boat to examine it. The officer of 
 the boat, Acting-Ensign W. B. Trufant, 
 standing in the bow, saw that it was a 
 barrel and fired his revolver at it at close 
 quarters, exploding it, by which he was 
 dangerously wounded, two of the boat's 
 crew killed, and one slightly wounded, while 
 the boat was shattered. A short time after, 
 another of the same kind exploded in the 
 "Osceola's" wheel-house, blowing it to 
 pieces and knocking down some bulkheads 
 on board, but doing no damage to the hull. 
 This was all the injury done by these ugly 
 customers, two only escaping the nets out of 
 the hundreds sent down. Next morning 
 boats were sent up to the nets, when it was 
 found that a great number of the infernal 
 machines had been caught and held. 
 They were all disposed of by firing mus- 
 kets into them at a safe distance and ex- 
 ploding them. 
 
 Such were the obstacles and apparatus 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 729 
 
 that opposed a more rapid advance up the 
 river ; but after it had been tlioroughly 
 dragged in the morning, and all the tor- 
 pedoes taken up, the gun-boats pushed on 
 up, hoping to arrive at Wibnington before 
 the army; but General Terry reached there 
 before them, and the divisions of Cox and 
 Terry shook hands in the streets of the 
 captured city. This ended the capture of 
 all the various works in and about Wil- 
 mington, and the Confederates retreated 
 toward Richmond by the Wilmington rail- 
 road. Nothing more remained to be done. 
 
 A quick dispatch - vessel was sent to 
 Hampton Roads immediately on the fall of 
 Fort Fisher to notify the Navy Department 
 by telegram of the result, and now the final 
 victory was announced to the Secretary of 
 the Navy in the same manner. 
 
 The Admiral, after making a proper dis- 
 tribution of the gun-boats to co-operate 
 with the army, proceeded in the steamer 
 "Rhode Island" to Hampton Roads, while 
 all the vessels not needed in Cape Fear 
 River were dispatched to their stations, or 
 sent to several other points which the enemy 
 still occupied. 
 
 On his arrival at Hampton Roads, the 
 Admiral received the following letter from 
 Secretary Welles, which, if not as ardent 
 as some of his congratulations to other 
 officers who had gained victories, it must 
 be remembered that he had written so 
 many hearty congratulations that he could 
 not find words on this occasion to express 
 his gratification : 
 
 Navy Department, Jan. 17, 1865. 
 Sib — The Department has just received your 
 brief, but highly gratifying, dispatch announcing 
 the fall, on the 15th instant, of Fort Fisher, under 
 tlie combined assault of the Navy and Anny, and 
 hastens to congratulate you and General Terry 
 and the brave officers, soldiers and sailors of your 
 respective commands on your glorious success. 
 Accept my thanks for your good work. 
 Very respectfully, 
 Gideon 'WEijiyES, Secretary of the Navy. 
 Rbar-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, 
 off Wiimington. 
 
 The following telegram was sent im- 
 mediately on the receipt of the news to 
 the commandants of the Navy Yards : 
 
 " Fire a national salute in honor of the capture, 
 on the 15th instant, of the rebel works on Federal 
 Point, near Wilmington, by a combined attack of 
 the Army and Navy. 
 
 "Gideon Welles.'' 
 
 To complete the narrative of the events 
 described in this chapter, the following re- 
 ports are added : 
 
 report of commodore h. k. thatcher. 
 
 United States Steam-frigate "Colorado,") 
 
 Off Wilmington, N. C, Jan. 14, 18G5. ) 
 
 Admiral — I have the honor to report the follow- 
 
 ine as the result of the ooerations of this shin on 
 
 the 13th instant: At 4 A. m., in obedience to sig- 
 nal, got underway from our anchorage, near Wil- 
 mington, and steamed towards the forts in line of 
 battle, the " Minnesota" ahead. At 8 A. m., anch- 
 ored within easy range of the coast, in six and a 
 half fathoms * forts about five miles distance, bear- 
 ing N. B. by E. ', to cover the landing of troops, 
 and sent five boats to assist in landing them from 
 the transports. Connnenced shelling the woods 
 skirting the coast; at8:55 ceased firing, in obedience 
 to your signal. At 11:10 the third line of gun-boats 
 steamed along shore, shelling the woods, while the 
 troops were being landed rapidly. At 3 P. M. , recalled 
 boats, in obedience to your signal. Ai 3:15 got un- 
 derway, aU the troops having been successfully 
 landed. At 3:45 proceeded to attack the forts, 
 without regard to the " Minnesota," in accord- 
 ance to your signal, followed by the rest of the 
 line. At 4:40 opened fire upon the forts, with steam 
 hawser fast to the "New Ironsides," and continued 
 the action briskly, in easy range, until 5:50 P. M., 
 when, by your order, we ceased firing, and retired 
 from action lit being then too dark to discern ob- 
 jects on shore). At 7 P. M., anchored in eight fath- 
 oms, Fort Fisher bearing VV. S. W., distance three 
 miles. My casualties were, one killed (Robert Little, 
 seaman, one severely wounded, one wounded. 
 Hulled six times by the forts ; one 150-pound solid 
 shot through berth-deck ; one 150-pound solid shot 
 through gun-deck, cutting through side ; one 150- 
 pound solid shot through port side, above water- ' 
 line, and lodging in a beam end, where it remained; 
 two 150-pound solid shots, striking sheet-chain and 
 cutting it through. The enemy's shell exploded 
 over the hull of this ship, but without serious in- 
 jury. I forward herewith reports of Surgeon Jas. 
 McLelland and of the warrant officers. 
 
 I am much gratified to have it in my power to 
 report that the officers and crew of this ship 
 behaved with their usual gallantry. I have to 
 commend to your notice, especially. Lieutenant M. 
 L. Johnson, who, in the midst of a heavy fire from 
 the enemy, with a boat's crew of volunteers, carried 
 a hawser from this ship to the "New Ironsides," in 
 order to enable us to bring all the guns to bear 
 from the port battery, and was, for more than half 
 an hour, a target for the forts, which they availed 
 themselves of, but fortunately without success. I 
 cannot omit the opportunity to speak in the highest 
 terms of Acting-Ensign W. G. Perry, who, when the 
 action commenced, had just returned to the ship, 
 after having been absent all day with the boats in 
 landing troops, and, although drenched to the skin 
 and worn out with fatigue, went immediately to the 
 second division, which he commanded, and fought 
 his guns splendidly through the action. In addi- 
 tion to this, Mr. Perry is, in all respects, worthy of 
 an additional grade. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 H. K. Thatcher, Comtnodore. 
 Rear- Admiral David D. Porter. 
 
 Commanding N. A. Station. 
 
 report of commodore WM. RADFORD. 
 
 U. S. Ship "New Ironsides," ) 
 At Anchor off Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865. )" 
 Sir — I have the honor to report, that, in obedi- 
 ence to your orders, the iron-clad division steamed 
 m and took their position under the guns of the 
 battery of Fort Fisher, this ship leading ; anchored 
 at 8:29 A. M. on the 13th instant. The "Monad- 
 nock," Commander E. G. Parrott ; " Canonicus," 
 Lieutenant-Commander G. E. Belknap; "Saugus," 
 Commander G. R. Colhoun ; and "Mahopac," 
 Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Weaver. The bat- 
 tery opened on this ship as we came in. I did not 
 reply until I obtained my desired position, open- 
 ins then, deliberately, to get a correct range, as the 
 
730 
 
 THE NA VAL Hl^lUKi 
 
 wooden vessels were engaged landing troops, etc. 
 The iron-clad division received the fire nearly all day 
 alone from Fort Fisher, without receiving any very 
 material damage, and remained in position during 
 the night. By orders from Admiral Porter, the 
 iron-clad division commenced the action at 10;47 
 A. M. on the 14th instant, and continued firing until 
 after dark. Some of the wooden gun-boats came 
 up, and commenced firing at 2;30 P. M., hauling off 
 at dark, the iron-clad division maintaining their 
 position. On the morning of the lath we com- 
 menced the action at 7:16 A. m., and continued to 
 fire during the day, concentrating it upon the guns 
 of the battery which was doing the most effective 
 work, which we invariably soon silenced or dis 
 abled. As the troops were advancing, I observed 
 two field-pieces in the rear of the fort firing on 
 them, which we soon silenced with some well- 
 directed shells from this ship. "When the enemy 
 came out of their bomb-proofs to defend the fort 
 against the storming party, I used my battery with 
 great success against them, every shell bursting, 
 apparently, in the right place. At 5:20 p. m. we 
 ceased firing by orders from the flag-ship, nearly 
 every gun on the fort facing us having been dis- 
 abled in the first two days' action. I cannot close 
 my report without speaking in the highest terms 
 of the battery of this ship, and the manner in which 
 it was served, for three consecutive days, my offi- 
 cers and men fighting all day and taking in am- 
 nmnition during the night. I know of nothing sur- 
 passing it on record. 1 would now speak of the 
 Monitors, and the handsome manner in which they 
 were handled and fought during the time; and the 
 different attacks on Fort Fisher has not only 
 proved that they could ride out heavy gales at sea, 
 but fight their guns in moderately smooth weather, 
 which has been doubted by many intelligent 
 officers. 
 
 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 William Radfokd, 
 Commodore, Commanding Iron-clad Division. 
 Rbar-Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, 
 Flag-ship ''ilalvern,'" off Fort Fisher, N. C. 
 
 REPOHT OF 
 
 LIEUTENANT - COMMAiSDBR 
 PARKER. 
 
 JAMES 
 
 United States Steam-frigate "Minnesota," \ 
 Off Fort Fisher, N. C, January 16, 1865. \ 
 
 Admiral — I have the honor to submit the fol- 
 lowing in regard to the assault made upon Fort 
 Fisher, on the 15th instant, by the officers, sailors 
 and marines of the fleet under your command, who 
 were detailed for the performance of that duty. 
 The signal for landing was made at about 10 o'clock 
 A. M. By nocn all were landed and formed on the 
 beach. 
 
 I found Lieutenant - Commander K. E,. Breese 
 representing you in command. Although I am his 
 senior, still, as you had assigned him to the com- 
 mand, I at once decided to act as his subordinate. 
 
 The sailors were formed in three divisions, ac- 
 cording to the divisions of the fleet. To Lieutenant- 
 Commander C. H. Cushman was assigned the com- 
 mand of the first division. The command of the 
 second division fell to me ; that of the third divi- 
 sion to Lieutenant-Commander Thomas O. Sel- 
 fridge. 
 
 The marines formed a fourth division, under com- 
 mand of Captain L. Jj, Dawson, of the " Colorado." 
 
 After assembling the several divisions on the 
 beach, they were all marched by the flank to a 
 point about a mile from Fort Fisher, and were there 
 formed in parallel hues perpendicular to the beach, 
 and to the fire of the fort ; the marine division in 
 the front, and the others in the order of their num- 
 bers. 
 
 The men who had been detailed for intrenching 
 duty had, as soon as landed, been sent forward un- 
 der command of Lieutenant S. W. Preston, and, 
 under a brisk fire of grape and musketry from the 
 fort, were engaged in digging rifle-pits. 
 
 By the time this last formation was had, the 
 enemy had opened upon us with grape and shell, 
 and from this time out we were constantly under 
 fire. After forming, the force was inarched to the 
 front by the right flank of companies, untU near 
 enough for the enemy to open upon us with rifles, 
 when the divisions were again marched by the left 
 flank along the beach until about half a mile from 
 the fort, where the men were ordered to lie down 
 under cover of the crest of the beach to await the 
 assault of the army. 
 
 The force thus rested for about half an hour, all 
 the time under a flre of musketry and occasionally 
 grape from the fort, by which several were wounded, 
 and, I believe, one or two killed. At the same time, 
 the fleet was firing over us at the fort, and many 
 shells bursting prematurely scattered their frag- 
 ments in alarming proximity. I append a plan 
 showing the line of march from the time of land- 
 ing. 
 
 At about 3 o'clock the army was observed mov- 
 ing to the assault, and the order was given for the 
 sailors and marines to advance. This they gal 
 lantly did, cheering as they went "on the run" tby 
 the flank) along the beach, and In a short time 
 reached the point "A" marked upon the plan, at 
 which the palisades of the fort .join the beach. As 
 soon as the fleet observed that the assault had be- 
 gun, the steam-whistles were sounded, and the fir- 
 ing on the fort completely ceased. Observing this, 
 the enemy opened a heavy fire upon us of musketry 
 and grape, which soon became very hot. A few of 
 the officers and men passed beyond the palisades, 
 but the advance along the beach was there checked 
 and turned along the palisades towards the fort. 
 
 In the hurry of the advance, the different divi- 
 sions had somewhat intermingled, and a large 
 number of officers and sailors and a few marines 
 had congregated at "A," and almost every shot 
 from the enemy carried its message of wound or 
 death to some one of our number. Lieutenants 
 Preston and Porter and Acting-Ensign Wiley, of 
 the " Montgomery," had fallen dead. Lieutenants 
 Lamson and Bache, and many other officers, both 
 regulars and volunteers, had been killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 Seeing the advance had been checked, the rear 
 also at once halted, and sought the cover of the 
 crest of the beach. Quite a large space was left be- 
 tween that part of the force congregated at "A" 
 and the rest of it. The marines, with a few excep- 
 tions, were quite far down the beach. I desire to 
 name Captain George Butler and Lieutenant Wil- 
 liam Wallace as being at the front. At this time 
 Lieutenant-Commander Breese, who had been all 
 the time in front of the advance, endeavored to 
 bring the rear forward, but without avail. The 
 officers and men at the point " A" withstood for a 
 long time the hot flre of the enemy, now not more 
 than sixty or seventy yards off from us, without 
 being able to return it. 
 
 I had been fortunate enough to reach unhurt the 
 point "B," marked upon the plan, and at this time 
 — observing some rebels upon the parapet of the fort 
 who were seemingly unarmed, waving their hats 
 to us, and beckoning us forward — gave the order 
 " forward," and advanced followed by many offi- 
 cers, both regular and volunteer, and iuen, includ- 
 ing a few marines. As I did so, I turned to see if 
 the rest of the men were following, and. to my in- 
 tense surprise and mortification, saw that a panic 
 had seized the force, and that they were inglori- 
 ously flying along the beach away from the fort. 
 Some of the officers (prominent among whom I ob- 
 served Lieutenant-Commander Selfridge) tried to 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 731 
 
 rally them, and their fellow-men who were near 
 me reproached them for their shameful conduct ; 
 but in vain — all but about sixty fled. 
 
 The enemy began to cheer, and at once concen- 
 trated their whole fire upon the small band who had 
 not fled. In an instant four officers, Lieutenant- 
 Commander Oushman, Acting-Ensign Frederick A. 
 O'Conner, Acting-Master's Mate Josepli M. Simms, 
 and A. F. Aldrich (of the "Tuscarora"), were 
 wounded and fell at my side. I saw that any fur- 
 ther attempt at advance would, with our small 
 number, be folly, and so ordered all who were left 
 to seek the protection of the angle " B " of the pal- 
 isades. This we did, and remained there until dark, 
 all the while exposed to the enemy, who never 
 failed to fire at any one who showed himself. After 
 dark we all came safely away, bringing our 
 wounded, our colors, and our arms. Five gallant 
 fellows, viz., Acting-Ensign George T. Davis, of the 
 " Wabash "; Acting-Master s Mate Aldrich, of the 
 "Tuscarora"; Louis C. Sheppard, sailor of the 
 "Wabash"; one man (name unknown to me , a 
 petty officer from the "Tacony," and a private of 
 marines, Henry Thompson, of the " Minnesota," got 
 a few paces beyond "B." Mr. Aldrich was severely 
 wounded, and the petty officer was killed. 
 
 I am utterly at a loss to explain the panic which, 
 after they had so gallantly charged up to the en- 
 emy's works, and the prospect of success was so 
 good, seized upon the force. It was certainly not 
 want of courage, for during the long time the 
 column had been under fire not a man had wavered, 
 and the advance to the assault was as splendid as 
 could have been made by veterans. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander K. R. Breese, who com- 
 manded the assaulting party, added to his already 
 well-earned and established reputation for bravery 
 and cool .judgment in battle. He led the advance 
 to the palisades, and when he saw the rear deliy- 
 ing, endeavored, sword in hand, to bring them for- 
 ward to our support. Failing to accomplish this, 
 he returned, under a shower of bullets directed at 
 him alone, to the sand-hills at "C," and when it 
 seemed no longer useful to remain there, coolly fol- 
 lowed the retreating mass. How he escaped death 
 is a marvel to me. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Charles H. Cushman 
 (wounded) and Montgomery Sicard ; Lieutenants 
 N. H. Farquhar, R. H. Lamson, Smith W. Nichols, 
 and John R. Bartlett ; Acting-Master W. H. Maies, 
 of the " Seneca"; Acting Ensigns George T. Davis, 
 " Wabash" ; James Birtwistle and F. A. O'Connor, 
 "Minnesota " ; Dayton, of the '' Nereus,'' and an act- 
 ing-ensign from the "Gettysburg" (whose name 
 Lieutenant Lamson will supply ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate Joseph M. Simms, "Minnesota," and A. F. 
 Aldrich, "Tuscarora," both wounded, all behaved 
 very gallantly, and did not retreat until I ordered 
 them, alter dark, to do so. I have named them 
 because they are all known to me. There were 
 others there equally brave and worthy, whose 
 names, unfortunately, are not in my possession. 
 
 I have called the attention of my commanding 
 officer (Commodore Lanman) to Acting Ensigns 
 Birtwistle and O'Connor. Both these gentlemen 
 hold their present appointments as a reward of gal- 
 lant conduct under flre. They are both competent, 
 inteUigent, and perfectly correct young men, and 
 they well deserve another step upwards. I ear- 
 nestly press them upon your notice. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate Joseph M. Simms and A. F. 
 Aldrich, "Tuscarora," are fine young men. Simms 
 I personally know to be eminently worthy. Of 
 Aldrich, Commander Frailey, of the "Tuscarora," 
 speaks in high terms. Both were severely wounded 
 while in the extreme front ; both richly merit their 
 promotion. 
 
 I desire to say a few words in respect to Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant-Commander Joseph D. 
 
 J i-:ii 
 
 command of the party from bis vessel, and was of 
 my division. Although fitter for the sick-bed of a 
 hospital than for the field, he pereisted in going to 
 the assault. He started with us, marched until his 
 strength gave out, and his weak body was unable 
 to carry his brave heart forward, when, by my 
 orders, he went into the trench thrown up by Lieu- 
 tenant Preston's party. It was no fault of his that 
 he was not found in the front of the advance when 
 the order to charge came. 
 
 Of those gallant dead the country may well be 
 proud. They can be illy spared, but their names 
 will be treasured as an inspiration for the future. 
 
 Preston and Porter were killed at the front, and 
 Assistant - Surgeon William Longshaw, Jr., after 
 adding to the reputation for bravery which he 
 gained under flre of the batteries at Charleston 
 while serving on board the iron-clad "Lehigh," 
 was shot by the enemy as he was binding up the 
 wounds of a dying man. Their dead bodies were 
 found laying side by side the next morning. 
 
 It is painful to write such a record, but I feel 
 compelled to state that I often saw the rebels delib- 
 erately fire in squads at the wounded who were en- 
 deavoring to crawl away. 
 
 I cannot close this report, Admiral, without say- 
 ing that, although our naval assault did not meet 
 with the i-uccess you hoped for, still it was of vast 
 service to the country. I have conversed, since the 
 fort was taken, with many rebel officers and men 
 (prisoners , and all are unanimous in saying that a 
 large part of their force was kept at the "sea-face " 
 to resist our attack. I know that a large force was 
 there to resist us. It is no detraction from the 
 eminent skill and bravery displayed by our breth- 
 ren of the army to claim this much credit for our 
 sailors. 
 
 I had hoped to send yoa a complete list of all those 
 who were not affected by the panic and remained 
 at " B.' One was taken, but I am not able now to 
 learn who has it. It will doubtless Vje found, and 
 I shall forward it whenever it is found. 
 
 I congratulate you, sir, upon the great victory 
 which the fleet under your command has, in con- 
 junction with the army, so gloriously won, and am, 
 Very respectfully, j'our obedient servant, 
 James Parker, Lieutenant-Commander. 
 Rear- Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Com'dg North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OF LIEUTENANT L. E. FAGAN, U. S. MARINE 
 CORPS. 
 
 United States Steam-frigate "Wabash," f 
 At Sea, January 17, 1865. ) 
 
 Captain — In obedience to your order, I have the 
 honor to make the following report concerning the 
 part taken by the marine guard of this ship in the 
 operations against the rebel Fort Fisher, command- 
 ing the entrance to New Inlet, N. C, on the 15th 
 day of January, 1865. 
 
 My couunand consisted of three sergeants, three 
 corporals, and thirty- eight privates; and to prevent 
 confusion in landing, the company was dividedinto 
 four sections, each commanded by a non-commis- 
 sioned officer. 
 
 On the morning of the 15th instant, at 10:30 
 o'clock, my men were landed and formed on the 
 beach, about two miles to the northward of Fort 
 Fisher. I then received and formed into other 
 companies the marines of the diff'erent vessels, until 
 the arrival of Captain Butler, United States Marine 
 Corps, when I turned the command over to that of- 
 ficer. 
 
 At 11 A. M., I was ordered by Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander K. R. Breese, fleet-captain, through Cap- 
 tain Butler, to take my guard and advance to the 
 support of the sailors at the front, who were throw- 
 ing up intrenchments near Fort Fisher, under the 
 Hli-pption of Lieutenant Preston, United States 
 
732 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Navy. I marched my company up the beach by 
 the llanlc until within a mile of the rebel fort, when, 
 finding the fire severe, I deployed my men as skir- 
 mishers across the plain, and continued to advance. 
 Arriving at the intrenchments, I ordered my men 
 to cover themselves from the enemy's shot, and this 
 they partially did by throwing up heaps of sand 
 with their bayonets and hands. After the sailors 
 had completed their breastworks, 1 was ordered by 
 Lieutenant-Commander Breese to advance my com- 
 mand to the extreme parallel of intrenchments; 
 which I did, my men marching to the front, across 
 a plain swept by fire, with alacrity and spirit. In 
 this advance I frequently ordered my men to lie 
 down; and as soon as the shower of grape had 
 passed, the march was resumed at the double-quick. 
 After a toilsome march through the sand, we 
 reached a line of intrenchments about forty yards 
 from the fort, which I found occupied by the skir- 
 mish line of the 147th New York Volunteers. During 
 the advance two of my men were badly wounded, 
 and they were at once" sent to the rear. I now or- 
 dered a few of my men (good shots) to open fire on 
 the rebel gunners, and it was owing to their skill 
 that a field-piece inside the palisade was forced to 
 be abandoned by the rebel artillerists. 
 
 I now awaited further orders; but finding the 
 beach filling up with soldiers, and supposing the at- 
 taclc about to be made, I collected and marched my 
 men by the flank across the plain towards the beach, 
 where I saw the column of sailors and marines ad- 
 vancing to the front. Seeing no officer to report to, 
 I formed my men with the rest of the marines, who 
 were in the centre of the column, the advance being 
 composed entirely of sailors. In this manner we 
 marched, under a severe fire of musketry from the 
 fort, towards the northeast angle of the work, until 
 the column halted, when I ordered my men to lie 
 down and pick oflf the rebels on the parapet of Fort 
 Fisher until the order was given to charge. My men 
 had opened fire when I gave tlie word to cease firing 
 and prepare for the assault. I now perceived a 
 movement in front of our position, and soon after a 
 body of men rushed past. I endeavored, by every 
 means in my power, to prevent the retreat which I 
 now plainly saw was initiated, but my appeals and 
 threats were of no avail, and I then prepared my- 
 self for the worst, knowing that a retreat would be 
 disastrous and more deadly than a charge against 
 the fort. My command maintained its position 
 until I saw Lieutenant-Commander F. B. Blake, 
 United States Navy, who informed me that the as- 
 sault had been for the present abandoned. I then 
 collected my men and marched down to the beach. 
 Having seen that the retreat was universal on the 
 part of the naval forces, I gave several of my men 
 permission to advance again to the front and annoy 
 the rebels as much as possible with sharp-shooting. 
 Shortly after, hearing that an attempt was about 
 to be made to rally the men, I halted and allowed 
 my men to seek cover, while, in company with 
 Acting Lieutenant - Commander Danels, of the 
 " Vanderbilt," I collected straggling sailors and 
 marines, and formed the men under some sand-hills 
 on the beach, about six hundred yards from Fisher. 
 We had collected quite a number of men, when I 
 received orders from Lieutenant-Commander F. B. 
 Blake to take my men, and as many more as I could 
 find, and report to General Terry, United States 
 Army, the object being to occupy, "with sailors and 
 marines, a line of intrenchments in the rear, then 
 threatened by the enemy I collected about two 
 hundred marines, and marched to General Terry's 
 headquarters, where I reported, and was at orice 
 assigned to a position on the northeast line, which 
 position the marines occupied with vigilance and 
 attention until the morning, when we were relieved, 
 and I embarked my command for the "Wabash." 
 
 It only remains for me to add that one sergeant 
 and six privates, who became detached from my 
 
 guard while in the army intrenchments at the 
 front, accompanied the army in the storming of 
 the fort, and, as I afterwards heard from an army 
 officer, behaved with gallantry and coolness during 
 the hand-to-hand conflict that ensued. In conclu- 
 sion, captain, I would say, that during the time 
 the marine guard of this ship was on shore, they 
 behaved with bravery and subordination on all oc- 
 casions. It pleased the fleet-captain (Lieutenant- 
 Commander Breese) to compliment the handsome 
 manner in which my men advanced in skirmish line 
 to the advanced line of intrenchments under a, 
 heavy fire, and I feel that his words of praise were 
 not undeserved. All my men behaved well, but I 
 would present especially to your attention the con- 
 duct of Corporal Tomlin, of the guard, who, under 
 a heavy fire from the enemy's sharp-shooters, ad- 
 vanced into an open plain close to the fort and as- 
 sisted a wounded comrade to a place of safety. I 
 respectfully ask that his conduct may be made 
 known to the honorable Secretary of the Navy, so 
 that he may receive a medal of honor. 
 
 The marine guard is at present accounted for, 
 and on board the ship in good condition. 
 
 Enclosed please find a list of wounded. 
 
 I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 Louis E. Fagan, Lieut. TJ. S. Marines. 
 Comd'g &uard. Frigate "Wabash.'''' 
 Captain Melancton Smith, U. S. N., 
 
 Commanding U. 8. Steam-frigate "Wabash.'" 
 
 REPORT OF captain CHARLES STEEDMA^f. 
 
 UiSTiTED States Steamer " Ticonderoga," > 
 Off WiLMlJfGTOJV, N. C, January 17, 1865. ( 
 Sir — I have the honor to lay before you the fol- 
 lowing report of the part this ship took in the re- 
 cent attacks upon the forts on Federal Point, which 
 has terminated so gloriously and successfully to the 
 two branches of the service engaged. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 13th instant, after the re- 
 turn of the boats employed in landing troops, in 
 obedience to signal, I took position in line of battle, 
 and at 5:15 p. M. anchored ahead of the line, as di- 
 rected in General Order No. 78. From this point a 
 well-directed fire was kept up on the batteries to 
 the left of Fort Fisher, in accordance with the chart- 
 plan furnished me. Upon hearing the signal- whistle, 
 at 5:55 p. M., I had the battery trained upon the 
 Mound and on the guns in its neighborhood. A 
 continuous fire was then kept up until I received 
 orders to withdraw from action, at 6:20 p. M. 
 
 I am happy to say that no casualties occurred on 
 board, although several of the enemy's shots fell 
 over and around the vessel. The only loss sustained 
 was that of the stern Ivedge-anchor, caused by a 
 rifle shot cutting its hawser. 
 
 On the 15th instant, in obedience to signal, I got 
 underway and took position at the end of the second 
 line. At 10:35 A. M. a storming party of sailors in 
 three (3) boats, in charge of Ensign George W. Cof- 
 fin, and the marine guard, under command of First- 
 Lieutenant Charles F. Williams, were sent from this 
 vessel to report to the flag-ship for orders. At the 
 same time I received your verbal message not to 
 move until further orders. At 11:45 p. m., incom- 
 pliance with signal, I steamed up and took position 
 ahead of the second line, about a cable's length 
 ahead of the "Shenandoah." From tliis point a 
 well-directed fire was kept up with the starboard 
 guns on the liatteries well to the left of Fort Fisher, 
 in keeping with your programme. Before opening 
 fire the enemy threw several heavy rifle shots over 
 and near me, but after a couple of rounds from this 
 ship his fire was silenced. At 1:05 p. m. I received 
 your verbal orders to shift my berth nearer in ; this 
 was done with some little d'elay and considerable 
 trouble, owing to the strength of the ebb-tide and 
 want of a sufficient head of steam. By spreading 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 !3 
 
 fires, I was enabled to get the necessary speed to give 
 me control of the ship and to take a position nearer 
 to the enemy's battery. 
 
 Prom that time my flre was kept up in the same 
 direction as heretofore, until the signal was made to 
 cease firing. I then asked permission to open upon 
 the " Mound," which had turned its guns upon our 
 assaulting columns ; this being granted, a deliber- 
 ate fire was directed upon that fort up to 6:30 p. M., 
 when I discontinued firing and secured tlie battery 
 for the night. For one hour and a half previous to 
 receiving your message (by tug) to cease firing, I had 
 not fired a single shot. It gives me great pleasure 
 to express my entire satisfaction at the thorough 
 and efficient manner the officers and crew performed 
 their duty during the time we were engaged in bom- 
 barding the enemy's works. I am indebted to Lieu- 
 tenant George B. White, the executive officer of this 
 vessel, for his energetic assistance. 
 
 With this communication I transmit copies of the 
 reports of First-Lieutenant C. F. Williams, of tlie 
 marine guard, marked " A," and Ensign G. W. Cof- 
 fin, who had command of the assaulting party of 
 sailors sent from this vessel, marked " B " ; also the 
 gunner s report of expenditure of ammunition. The 
 surgeon's report of casualties has already been for- 
 warded. In conclusion, allow me to congratulate 
 you. Admiral, upon this brilliant and decided suc- 
 cess, which has resulted in planting our flag on one 
 of the strongest fortifications possessed by the 
 rebels. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Charles Steedman, Captain. 
 Bear- Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantio Squadron., 
 Flag-ship ''Malvern." 
 
 eeport of captain^ l. l. dawson, uxitbd states 
 marine corps. 
 
 Marine Barracks, / 
 New York, February 15, 1805. \ 
 
 Admiral — I have the honor to make the follow- 
 ing report of the part taken by the marines under 
 my command in the recent assault upon Fort 
 Fisher : 
 
 Upon landing, on the morning of the 15th of 
 January, I found all the men that were to consti- 
 tute the assaulting column on shore. There were 
 about three hundred and sixty-five 1 365 men in 
 line, exclusive of Lieutenant Fagan, who had been 
 ordered by Captain Breese to occupy a rifle-pit off 
 to the right, near the army advance, before I had 
 reached the shore. 
 
 I hastily divided the line into four (4) companies, 
 under command of Captain Butler, First-Lieuten- 
 ant AVallace, First -Lieutenant Corrie and First- 
 Lieutenant Parker, giving First-Lieutenant Will- 
 iams charge of some twenty -five (35) skirmishers, 
 and First-Lieutenant Meeker acting as adjutant. 
 I received two or three orders from Captain Breese 
 to "bring up the marines at once; that it would 
 be late " : so that I had to move off without 
 time to equalize the companies ; to number them 
 off for pacing and marching ; to select sergeants to 
 replace officers, or post the guides of a single com- 
 pany or platoon. I took the marines up, and filed 
 across the peninsula in front of the sailors, with 
 skirmishers thrown out. Captain Breese pointed 
 out some light intrenchments towards the main bas- 
 tion of Fort Fisher, which were dug and being com- 
 pleted under cover of the flre of the fleet. He 
 ordered me to advance " to those that were finished, 
 and as soon as those nearest the fort were com- 
 pleted, to occupy them ; and when the assault was 
 made, that I should keep up a full tire, when the 
 sailors would rush by me, and, when well past. the. 
 marines follow them into the fort." Thus, in the 
 event of a repulse, we would have had cover to 
 
 I had advanced to the second line of cover, and 
 was waiting for the nearer intrenchments to be 
 finished, when I received an order from Captain 
 Breese "to take the marines down on the beach, 
 about one hundred and fifty (150 yards to the left, 
 and that he woiild bring up the sailors;" "that 
 thei-e was splendid cover on the beach, and that 
 Captain Breese was going that way." 
 
 1 was surprised at this order, and asked the gen- 
 tleman who delivered it if he was not mistaken ; 
 but he replied, "No." I immediately obeyed the 
 order, and in a few minutes the sailors were brought 
 up. My men were formed by the right flank when 
 the sailors came up, the first division passed the 
 marines, and the whole command lying down by 
 the right flank : marines abreast of the second divi- 
 sion, sailors on the upper side of the beach. While 
 at this point I received no orders. I had read the 
 Admiral's order to Captain Breese respecting the 
 assault, and was watching the army, knowing that 
 agreeably to that order the "army were to be seen 
 going in over the northwest parapet of the fort be- 
 fore we were to move to assault the sea -face." 
 AVhen 1 heard the oi'der, " Charge, charge ! " every- 
 one rose up and dashed forward, yelling and 
 cheering so loudly that no order could either be 
 heard or passed. I tried to prevent the noise, but 
 with no success. 
 
 1 maintained the same position I had started in, 
 abreast of the second division of sailors; and as the 
 sand was much heavier on the upper side of the 
 beach, I could gain nothing on the flrst division 
 until they got under the heavy flre of the fort, 
 when the first company of marines got abreast 
 with the centre of the first division of sailors. I 
 had just reached the head of my men, after a hard 
 run, when I saw the head of the line of sailors, 
 who had reached the end of the stockade, begin to 
 falter and turn back, and was myself about forty 
 or fifty yards from the end of the stockade, on the 
 beach. I saw some six or eight men go around the 
 end of the stockade, but immediately return ; and 
 it was at this instant that the whole line com- 
 menced doubling up and flying, everybody for 
 themselves, except some thirty officers and men at 
 the head of the line, who took cover under an 
 angle in the stockade. 
 
 The efforts of the officers to rally the men wei-e 
 wholly unsuccessful, the order to retreat being 
 passed along generally. At the moment when the 
 head of the line gave way, the marines were not 
 near enough to open flre effectually, and were on 
 the double-quick, and quite exhausted ; nor was 
 there the slightest cover this side of the stockade, 
 except a few sand-hills very near the stockade. I 
 saw that the men were hopelessly repulsed. I 
 looked to the rear of the line, which was breaking, 
 as well as the front, and that a good many marines 
 were joining in the retreat, so that I at once oi-- 
 dered the marines to " lie down and fire at the para- 
 pet," with a view of decreasing the rebel fire, and to 
 prevent the confusion and exposure incident to such 
 a crowd retreating on an open beach. Nearly all 
 the marines of the flrst and second companies 
 obeyed this order; the two rear comisanies 1 could 
 not see, but, as few were to be seen after the retreat 
 was effected, I take -t for granted that they went 
 also. 
 
 As soon as the panic Avas over, I ordered those 
 men who had lain down, and were firing, to retreat 
 in squads, as I supposed the fleet would soon open 
 on that bastion of the fort. I did not retreat my- 
 self, but stayed on the beach about flfty yards from 
 the end of the stockade until sunset, watching the 
 progress of the army. 
 
 When I went to the rear, a staff officer informed 
 me that (i-eneral Terry desired all the marines and 
 sailors who had arms to occupy the right of General 
 Paine's line ; that the rebels were demonstrating 
 
734 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 getting about one hundred and eighty (180) marines 
 behind the breastworks, near General Terry's head- 
 quarters, where they remained until morning. The 
 rebels, from the manner in which they met the as- 
 sault, evidently regarded it as the main attack, as it 
 was the first. 
 
 With the result oi our attack no one was more 
 disappointed than myself. I obeyed all the orders 
 I received from Captain Breese promptly, and ex- 
 erted myself all I could to make the assault success- 
 ful ; and, though a portion of jthe marines retreated 
 with the sailors, it is but just to the rest to say that 
 they remained and performed the duty of good sol- 
 diers until I passed the order to retreat. 
 
 I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 L. L. Dawson, 
 Captain United States Marine Corps. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Portbr, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 
 
 REPORT OF LIBUTKNANT-COMMAN'DBR GEORGE E. 
 BELKNAP. 
 
 United States Steamer " Canonicus," 
 Off fort Fisher, N. C, January 17, 1865 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that during the 
 actions of the 13th, 14th and 15th instant, which re- 
 sulted in the captui-e of Fort Fisher, this ship en- 
 gaged that work at a distance of seven hundred 
 1 700) yards, perhaps a little closer on the 15th, as 
 the smoothness of the sea enabled me to go into 
 shoaler water than on the preceding days, having 
 at one time only a foot and a half of water to spare 
 under our keel. 
 
 On the first day of the attack, the 13th, the enemy 
 replied vigorously to our fire until late in the after- 
 noon, when the heavierships, coming into line, soon 
 diove them into their bomb-proofs. Soon after we 
 had taken position, it became evident that, since the 
 previous attack, a reinforcement of experienced 
 artillerists had been received in the fort, as its fire 
 was much more accurate and spirited than before. 
 They soon obtained our range and struck the ship 
 frequently, while many shots fell close alongside. 
 Upon one occasion, two shots out of three, fired 
 simultaneously, struck the side-armor abreast the 
 turret. 
 
 We count thirty -six (36) hits this day, and every- 
 thing about the deck not shot-proof was badly cut 
 up. Two men were knocked down and stunned at 
 the guns by the impact of a 10- inch gun-shot upon the 
 turret. The flag was shot away twice and gallantly 
 replaced by Quartermaster Daniel D. Stevens. 
 
 Not content with solid shot, the enemy fired shells 
 occasionally, to burst over the turret, and now and 
 then the bullet of a sharp-shooter whistled over us. 
 
 On the second and third days the fire of the 
 enemy was comparatively feeble, and principally 
 directed at the gun-boats, and when the larger 
 ships came into action ceased altogether. An oc- 
 casional musket-shot fell near us, and when the 
 naval-assaulting column was driven back, many of 
 the bullets and grape-shot fired at our gallant fel- 
 lows passed over us, some few striking the ship. 
 Second-Assistant Engineer John W. Saville received 
 a severe wound in the left thigh from a grape-shot. 
 At this time we also received a 10-inch shot on the 
 side-armor, fired from the water battery on the right 
 of the sea-face of the fort. 
 
 Our fire was slow and deliberate, and every effort 
 was made to dismount the enemy's guns, and though 
 almost hidden by traverses, I am happy to say we 
 succeeded in dismounting two of them. Acting- 
 Ensign M. W. Weld knocked over a six-inch rifle on 
 the second day, and the executive officer. Lieuten- 
 ant R. S. McCook, disposed of a 10-inch columbiad 
 on the third day of the action. I also saw a shell 
 from the "Monadnock " dismount a gun, and a shot 
 from the "Mahopac'' knoclied the muzzle oil an- 
 other " 
 
 We expended during the three days two hundred 
 and ninety-seven (297) 15-inch shells. 
 
 I have to thank the officers and crew for the zeal 
 and gallant spirit manifested throughout the fight, 
 and for the cheerful manner in which they worked 
 at night, taking on board ammunition after the 
 arduous and exhausting work of the day. 
 
 I again desire to bring to your notice and that of 
 the department, the services of the executive officer, 
 Lieutenant R. S. McCook, to whom I am indebted 
 for the efficiency and readiness which enabled me 
 at all times to be prompt In all movements required 
 of the ship. Equally fortunate in the services of 
 Chief Engineer D. B. Macomb, I beg leave to 
 recommend him to your favorable consideration. 
 
 The powder division was ably commanded by 
 Acting-Master D. 8. Murphy, assisted by Acting- 
 Ensigns Seekins and Center. Acting-Ensign M. W. 
 Weld showed great aptitude in handling the guns 
 under the supervision of the executive officer. 
 Assistant Paymaster R. P. Lisle, acting as aide, 
 merits my thanks for the intelligent manner in 
 which he attended to the duties of signal ofBcer. 
 
 lieutenant (AFTERWARDS COMMANDER) RODERICK S. 
 
 McCOOK, 
 
 ESECUTR'E OFFICER OF THE " CANONICUS." 
 
 Acting-Master and Pilot Edward A. Decker per- 
 formed his duties with his accustomed coolness and 
 discretion. 
 
 I inclose the execiitive officer's report of damages 
 received, and have already forwarded the surgeon's 
 report of casualties. I beg leave to congratulate 
 you. Admiral, upon the brilliant victory which has 
 crowned your elTorts at this point, and which is the 
 more gratifj'ing, as it proves conclusively that on a 
 former memorable occasion the possession "would 
 have been found an easier conquest than was sup- 
 posed," had the attempt been made to occupy it. 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 George E. Belknap, 
 Lieit,tenant-Cominander, Commanding. 
 Rear- Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, Flag- 
 ship " Malvern,^'' off Fort Fisher, N. C 
 
 report of LIEUTENA2CT - COMMANDER THOMAS O. 
 SELFRIDGE. 
 
 United States Steamer " Huron." ) 
 
 Off Fort Fisher, January 17, 1835. ) 
 
 Sir— I have the honor to report that having 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 735 
 
 landed ■with the men of this vessel to join in the 
 land attack on Fort Fisher, I was detailed by Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander Breese to command the third 
 column of attack, composed of detachments from 
 the ships of the third and a portion of the fourth 
 divisions, numbering about four hundred and fifty 
 men. Lieutenant G. M. Bache commanded the 
 right wing, Lieutenant-Commander W. N. Allen 
 the left wing. 
 
 I formed them in column and moved forward by 
 the head of companies, until near our first rifle-pits, 
 when the whole assaulting column was formed in 
 flank alongside the beach, awaiting the signal of 
 assault from the Army. When this was given, I 
 moved my column forward on the double-quick,fol- 
 lowed close on to the second, and for about half a 
 mile under an extremely heavy and withering fire 
 of musketry and grape. 
 
 When we finally reached the palisades, I found 
 the columns which had proceeded me halted and ly- 
 ing down. Going to the front, an effort was made at 
 this time to getthe men to charge; but the fire was 
 so heavy that the few who passed through the 
 stockade were compelled to fall quickly back. At 
 this moment an unexplained panic took place in 
 the rear, which so quickly communicated itself to 
 the whole that it was impossible to rally the men. 
 
 I remained near the fort till night, when I left, 
 with a few, under cover of the darkness. 
 
 My colunm moved up with great gallantry, as by 
 the time I got up the rebels had concentrated their 
 whole fire upon us; and until we came to a halt all 
 seemed to be moving well. 
 
 To Lieutenant -Commander W. N. Allen and 
 Lieutenant G. M. Bache, both woimded, I am in- 
 debted for assistance in forming and maintaining 
 the organization of the division. 
 
 I regret extremely that my entire unacquaintance 
 with any of the officers or crews of my division ren- 
 ders it impossible for me to particularize the de- 
 serving, but until the panic all deserved praise, for 
 none faltered. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 Thomas O. SBiiFRiDGE, 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, 
 Flag ship ' ' Malvern. " 
 
 REPORT OF LIEUTENANT W. B. GUSHING. 
 
 United States Steamer " Monticello," I 
 Off Wilmington, January, 17, 1865. , j 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report the part taken by 
 this vessel in the actions of the 13th, 14th and 15th 
 instant, resulting in the capture of the harbor de- 
 fences of Wilmington, the loss of foreign supplies 
 to the rebels, and the ruin of those holding the 
 Anglo-rebel loan. 
 
 On the 13th and 14th the "Monticello" assisted 
 in guarding the troops in landing and advancing. 
 On the 15th instant, by your order, I took position 
 close in by the fort and shelled the rebel privateer 
 " Chickamauga " and three transport steamers from 
 their position in the river, thus preventing the 
 landing of reinforcements for the garrison. The 
 ship's guns were then turned on the fort, and used 
 with effect throughout the day. 
 
 At noon I landed with forty men from this vessel 
 to take part in the naval assault on Fort Fisher. 
 My men, and those of Lieutenant Porter of the 
 "Malvern," led the advance of the storming party. 
 The marines did not clear the parapet of the fort, 
 as anticipated; hence the assault failed. Our sailors 
 were close under the walls, subjected to a heavy 
 Are, since the main body of the enemy had been 
 drawn to that point to resist what they supposed 
 to be the weight of the attack. We were forced to 
 fall back with the loss of many of our best officers 
 
 gallantry and our diversion in its favor, had effected 
 a lodgment that secured subsequent success. Then, 
 finding myself apparently senior oflBcer, I rallied as 
 many sailors and marines as possible, and at night 
 placed them in the trenches, as requested by Gen- 
 eral Terry, thus relieving some regiments that went 
 to the front. In this I was greatly assisted by your 
 son. Secretary Porter, and by Lieutenant Wood- 
 ward, of the " Minnesota." Acting-Ensign Daniel 
 W. Lalsin, of this vessel, behaved gallantly and ren- 
 dered material aid. My loss during the day con- 
 sisted of four killed and four wounded. 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. B. CUSHING, 
 
 Lieutenant, Commanding. 
 Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, 
 
 Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, etc. 
 
 report of acting-master h. w. grinnell. 
 Headquarters Sherman s Army, ( 
 Fayetteville, N. C, March 12, 1865. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that I have this 
 day succeeded in handing to Ma.ior-General Sher- 
 man the cypher dispatch intrusted to me by Major- 
 General Sohofleld at Wilmington, North Carolina, 
 on the 4th instant. 
 
 I left the " Nyack " on the evening of the 4th in a 
 small dug-out, with a party consisting of Acting- 
 Ensign H. B. Oolby, Thomas Gillespie, seaman, 
 and Joseph Williams, ship's painter, armed with 
 Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, and taking two days' 
 rations. After proceeding up the river about twelve 
 miles I met the enemy's advance picket-post, which 
 I succeeded in passing without discovery ; but at a 
 point near Livingston's Creek I found the picket so 
 strongly posted that I deemed it the more prudent 
 course to abandon my boat, and to attempt to com- 
 municate with General Sherman's forces near the 
 Pedee River. I left my boat on the morning of the 
 5th instant, and struck for the Wilmington and 
 WhitehaU road. On my way I passed through the 
 village of Summerville, where I destroyed some 
 arms which I found in the possession of the citi- 
 zens ; here I got information that a party of cavalry 
 were endeavoring to cut me off at Livingston's 
 Bridge, and I was reluctantly compelled to secrete 
 myself and party in a negro hut near by ; here I re- 
 mained two days, when I received information that 
 the enemy, tired of waiting, had recrossed the river, 
 thus leaving me free to advance. At dark on the 
 7th instant, having secured the services of a negro 
 guide, I started in the direction of Whitesville, ad- 
 vancing with caution, and moving only by night. 
 After much tedious and difficult marching through 
 theswamps, I reachedapoint near Whitesville on the 
 morningof the9thinstant. The town washeldby the 
 enemy in strong force, and, finding traveling on foot 
 consumed too much time, I determined to impress 
 horses, and by a bold dash break through the 
 pickets on the Lumbertown road. With this pur- 
 pose in view, I left my bivouac in the swamps, and 
 succeeded in passing unobserved until I reached the 
 cross-road to Whitehall, which I found picketed. 
 After satisfying myself that the picket had no re- 
 serve, we made a quick dash and captured two men 
 without alarm, and before they became aware of 
 our purpose I disarmed them, and after compelling 
 them to follow me for about five miles I paroled 
 them, leaving them apparently much satisfied at 
 their release. They were members of Company A, 
 51st North Carolina Infantry, and represented their 
 regiment as being much demoralized. After hard 
 riding night and day, I reached Drowning Creek at 
 a point near the town of Lumbertown on the after- 
 noon of the 11th ; here I first learned definitely of 
 the whereabouts of General Sherman's forces. 
 
 I mot a small scouting party near the creek, but 
 they fled to the woods at our approach. On the 
 
736 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 of meeting the rear scouts of General Sherittan's 
 forces on the Lumber Bridge road, about twenty 
 miles from this place. The several roads being 
 blocked up by wagons, artillery, etc., and our horses 
 being quite -worn out by hard riding, I did not reach 
 these headquarters until 1 P. M. this afternoon. 
 
 General Sherman received the dispatch, and ex- 
 pressed himself much surprised at receiving it 
 through the Navv, and by such a route. In parts of 
 Robeson County"! found a very large number of 
 deserters from the rebel army, and quite a strong 
 Union feeling. 
 
 I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of Act- 
 ing-Ensign Colby, also of the two men, Thomas 
 Gillespie and Jos. Williams, who were ever ready 
 to encounter any danger or hardship that came in 
 their way. 
 
 General Sherman wishing me to connnunicate 
 with you as soon as possible, I leave to-night by 
 the army tug, hoping to meet you on my way to 
 Wilmington. 
 
 In conclusion, allow me to thank you for giving 
 me permission to undertake this rather novel naval 
 scout. 
 
 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 H. Walton Grinnbll, 
 Acting-Master U. S- Navy, Commanding 
 Expedition. 
 Lieutenant-Commander George W. Young, 
 
 Senior Officer, off Wilmington, N. C. 
 
 While the fleet was off Wilmington, and 
 Admiral Porter engaged in taking that 
 place, General Grant came very near being 
 put to great inconvenience, if not disaster, 
 owing to a circumstance which at the time 
 seemed rather discreditable to the Navy. 
 Before the fleet left Hampton Roads, every 
 care was taken that the James River, be- 
 low Hewlett's Battery, should be kept so 
 perfectly guarded by a naval force that 
 there could be no possible chance left for 
 the Confederate iron-clads to make an at- 
 tack on the vessels below the obstructions 
 sunk in the river, which consisted of sev- 
 eral large schooners loaded with stones sunk 
 in tlie middle of the stream, and heavy booms 
 and chains extending from the sunken ves- 
 sels to either shore and secured to anchors 
 planted in the bank. 
 
 These obstructions were immediately un- 
 der the fire of the •' Onondago," a double- 
 turreted Monitor, carrying four 15 - inch 
 guns, several double - enders. carrying 11- 
 inch and 9-inch guns, a torpedo-boat of ex- 
 cellent construction, and also a battery on 
 shore belonging to the Army. A pontoon 
 bridge was in place below tlie vessels 
 guarding the obstructions, to enable the 
 Army of the James to retreat across the 
 river under cover of the gun-boats, in case 
 it was attacked by a superior force. Every 
 arrangement had been made to prevent a 
 disaster of any kind, and to punish tlie 
 enemy in case he sliould attempt to make 
 an attack. There could be no possibility of 
 the enemy's fleet getting past the obstruc- 
 tions while the Federal naval force main- 
 tained its position; but, in case it should be 
 driven away, then the Confederates could 
 have blown up tlie obstruction, passed 
 
 through and broken up the pontoon bridge, 
 thus cutting off che Army on the left bank 
 of the James from its supports, and threat- 
 ening Citv Point, where all the stores were 
 gathered "for the use of the Army before 
 Richmond. 
 
 The Confederate naval force at that time 
 in the James River, under the command of 
 Commodore J. K. Mitchell, consisted of the 
 iron-clad " Virginia " ( 4 Brooke rifles). 
 Captain Dunnington ; iron - clad "Rich- 
 mond " (4 Brooke rifles). Captain Johnson; 
 iron-clad "Fredericksburg" (-i Brooke rifles). 
 Captain Wilson; " Nansemond," wooden 
 (2 guns), Captain Butt; "Roanoke," wooden 
 ( 1 gun ), Captain Wyatt, and " Torpedo," 
 wooden (1 gun), commanding officer un- 
 known. This fleet, with its iron-clads and 
 rifle-guns, was no match for the "Onon- 
 daga " and the gun-boats, assisted by the 
 torpedo - boat ; but the Confederate com- 
 mander, either on his own volition or by an 
 order from his Government, determined to 
 make an attempt to pass the obstructions 
 and break up the pontoon bridge. At the 
 same time General Lee was to attack the 
 army on the left bank of the river, and, 
 while the Confederate fleet was occupied in 
 driving away the Union gun-boats and the 
 "Onondaga," push on to City Point, set fire 
 to all the wharves and store-houses, and 
 create a scene of destruction unparalleled 
 in the annals of the war. 
 
 This might have been done under a 
 bold and dashing commander who knew 
 what he w'as about, and was willing to 
 risk the loss of his whole fleet to gain 
 an important advantage. The Confed- 
 erate fleet in James River was not a 
 particle of use in the defence of that 
 stream, which was so filled with obstruc- 
 tions and torpedoes, backed by four heavy 
 forts, that no man having common sense 
 or judgment would have attempted to 
 ascend the river, especially as there was 
 no particular object in doing so. 
 
 The forts on the river were within 
 supporting distance of each other, and 
 under the command of a very able naval 
 officer, John R. Tucker, who also had 
 charge of the torpedo corps. The bed of 
 the river was full of torpedoes, and a dozen 
 vessels, no matter what their size or 
 strength, would have been sunk before they 
 could have reached the first obstruction 
 above Drury"s Bluff. As long as the 
 "Onondaga" floated, the Confederate ves- 
 sels could not get down with safety, any 
 more than the Federal ships could get up, 
 and the only way to meet with any success 
 was for the Confederates to risk a dozen 
 lives and send down a dozen torpedo-boats, 
 and try to destroy the double-turreted 
 Monitor. This may have been the inten- 
 tion, but it was never carried out. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 737 
 
 A night was appointed for Mitchell's fleet 
 to make an attack on the Federal forces. 
 At daylight, next morning, two of the iron- 
 clads appeared around the point near How- 
 lett's Battery and approached the obstacles, 
 where they stopped. Commander William 
 A. Parker, the commanding officer of the 
 Federal naval force, had been instructed in 
 written orders from Admiral Porter that, in 
 case the Confederate fleet should show itself 
 below Howlett's Battery, to get underway 
 and proceed up close to the obstructions, to 
 hold on there and keep up his fire as long as 
 a Confederate iron-clad remained in sight. 
 Strange to say, Commander Parker turned 
 the head of his vessel down stream and 
 seemed for a moment about to destroy the 
 pontoon bridge; but, suddenly reflecting, he 
 attempted to turn his ship in that narrow 
 river, got aground, and knocked off the 
 wings of one of his propellers. His given 
 reason for pursuing this erratic course was 
 "that he wanted to get down stream some 
 distance so that he might go at the enemy 
 with all speed." This was ridiculous, as the 
 Confederates were on the other side of the 
 obstructions, and could not be reached ex- 
 cept by shot or shell. Parker proved after- 
 wards to be of unsound mind, though it 
 was not suspected at the time, and previous 
 to this fiasco stood high in the naval ser- 
 vice both as a brave man and an excellent 
 officer. It would therefore be ungenerous 
 to criticise his conduct, except to regret 
 that the Admiral's original intention to 
 leave Commander A. C. Rhind in com- 
 mand was not carried out, as Rhind would 
 have destroyed the two iron-clads that 
 appeared below Howlett's Battery. 
 
 The commanders of the two Confederate 
 iron-clads behaved in quite as erratic a 
 manner as the captain of the " Onondaga." 
 They both came to anchor at a place called 
 the Crow's Nest, a tall frame-work look-out, 
 built by General Butler to observe the move- 
 ments of the Confederate gun-boats and to 
 communicate by signal with General Grant. 
 The officers of the Confederate iron-clads 
 landed in their boats and seemed to examine 
 this structure with a great deal of curiosity. 
 At first they determined to burn it, but 
 finally retired satisfied with cutting their 
 names on the timbers, and returned to their 
 vessels. 
 
 So far it does not appear as if there was 
 any concert of action between the two iron- 
 clads, nor does the motive of their coming 
 below Howlett's Battery appear. They 
 laid at anchor all night at the look-out and 
 seemed uncertain what to do. Tliat night 
 the torpedo-boat could have blown them 
 both up, but no attempt was made from 
 any quarter to disturb them, and, no doubt, 
 they wondered what had become of the 
 
 up the river, very much shorn of her speed 
 by the loss of one of her propellers. On 
 seeing her, the two Confederate iron-clads 
 got underway and proceeded up toward 
 Howlett's Battery, evidently returning in 
 search of their commander-in-chief. They 
 did not, however, get off without some 
 damage. When the " Onondaga " reached 
 the obstructions. Commander Parker opened 
 fire on the retreating vessels with all his 
 15-inch guns. 
 
 One of the Confederate iron-clads had 
 just turned the point, but the rear one re- 
 ceived a solid shot which pierced her 
 side, inflicting some injuries to her hull, 
 and killing and wounding several of lier 
 men. A 15-inch shell from the "Onon- 
 daga" struck the same vessel on the 
 knuckle and entered three or four feet, but 
 failed to explode. Another solid shot struck 
 the iron-clad on her casemate, shattering it 
 very much, and knocking down a number 
 of her men. By this time she had passed 
 the point and was shut out from further 
 danger. 
 
 Thus ended this remarkable affair, which 
 might have caused serious trouble if it had 
 been conducted with any determined dash, 
 though the fact that the "Onondaga's" 
 shot had inflicted so much damage in so 
 short a time is rather a proof that, if both 
 these vessels could have passed, they would 
 have been knocked to pieces. After this, 
 the obstructions were further strengthened 
 by sinking another large schooner loaded 
 with stone, and that was the last attempt 
 the Confederates ever made to reach City 
 Point with their naval force. But the com- 
 mander of the Federal vessels lost an op- 
 portunity to gather some laurels, an 
 opportunity that never occurred again, 
 while the Federal Navy lost a page in his- 
 tory which might have been chronicled as 
 one of the brightest events of the war. 
 
 After the destruction of the " Albemarle" 
 and the recapture of Plymouth, the opera- 
 tions in the Sounds of North Carolina were 
 comparatively unimportant, for the occa- 
 sional raids of energetic Confederate gueril- 
 las could hardly be considered of much con- 
 sequence. The Confederates still held the 
 Roanoke River above Plymouth, as there was 
 not a sufficient naval force in the Sounds to 
 operate successfully in that quarter. A 
 large portion of the enemy's forces in North 
 Carolina had been drawn off to fill up the 
 ranks of General Joseph E. Johnston's army, 
 which was charged with the duty of im- 
 peding General Sherman in his march to 
 the sea. 
 
 About this time Sherman had captured 
 Savannah and General Grant had received 
 the news of the utter rout of Hood's army 
 in Tennessee by General Thomas, which 
 
 1 _ J!x CW 
 
 .rt««U 4-1-., 
 
738 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the Carolinas without apprehensions of a 
 formidable enemy in his rear, and with 
 sufficient addition to his forces from the 
 troops of Schofield and Terry to enable him 
 to hold his own until he reached Golds- 
 borough, N. C. , his objective point. 
 
 The middle of January, L865, saw Sher- 
 man's army in motion for the Carolina 
 campaign. His right wing, under General 
 Howard, was conveyed by water to Beau- 
 fort, South Carolina, whence it started on 
 its march up the Charleston railroad, while 
 the left wing, under General Slocum, with 
 Kilpatrick's cavalry, crossed the Savannah 
 river and moved towards Augusta. These 
 movements were made for the purpose of 
 deceiving the Confederates as to the point 
 aimed at by General Sherman. The Federal 
 troops destroyed all the railroads in their 
 rear. 
 
 Sherman's object was to effect a junction 
 with Grant, and by force of numbers bring 
 the war to a close. He passed by Augusta 
 and Charleston, since there was nothing to 
 be gained by halting at either place. In his 
 official report General Sherman says : 
 "■ Without wasting time or labor on Branch- 
 ville or Charleston, which I knew the enemy 
 could no longer hold, I turned all the col- 
 umns straight on Columbia." 
 
 From Columbia, after making a feint on 
 Charleston, Sherman advanced to Fay- 
 etteville and Goldsborough, while prepa- 
 rations were making by the Federal Gen- 
 erals on the sea-coast to effect a junction 
 with his army — one body of troops to ad- 
 vance from Wilmington, N. C, and the 
 other from Newbern. 
 
 All the troops that had occupied Charles- 
 ton, Savannah, Augusta, Wilmington and 
 other points along the coast, had united, 
 and did all that was possible to impede 
 Sherman's march; but, although the Con- 
 federate forces had swelled to a consider- 
 able army, they could not withstand the 
 Federal advance, and from desertions and 
 other causes they soon began to melt away. 
 Still Sherman was not master of the situ- 
 ation until he had driven Johnston's army, 
 from winch he had experienced the strong- 
 est resistance, back to Smithfield. The junc- 
 tion of Schofield with Sherman's army was 
 made next day. the 33d of March, 1865, at 
 Goldsborough, and General Johnston and 
 his forces were held as in a vise until the 
 final surrender. 
 
 These movements had changed the whole 
 state of affairs in North Carolina. The 
 Confederate troops along the various 
 rivers, including the Roanoke, had either 
 joined General Johnston or had moved off 
 to Richmond, and Admiral Porter, taking 
 advantage of the situation, had directed 
 Commander Macomb to advance up the 
 Roanoke with a naval force, destroy or cap- 
 
 ture all the enemy's depots of stores, and 
 also an iron-floating battery said to be on 
 the river. 
 
 On the nth of December, 1864, Com- 
 mander Macomb, in connection with a. 
 military force, proceeded up the Roanoke 
 in the double-ender " Wyalusing," accom- 
 panied by the "Otsego" and "Valley 
 City " the tugs " Belle" and " Bazley," and 
 a steam-packet boat. Proceeding slowly 
 up the stream the vessels prepared to an- 
 chor for the night at a sharp bend in the 
 river just below Jamesville, where the com- 
 manding officer of the Army forces had 
 agreed to communicate with the naval com- 
 mander. In obedience to signal, the " Ot- 
 sego " had slowed her engines and was about 
 to let go her anchor when a torpedo exploded 
 under her bottom on the port side, and 
 immediately afterwards another exploded 
 under her forward pivot-gun, which was- 
 capsized on the deck by the concussion. 
 In three minutes the vessel sunk, her spar- 
 deck being three feet below the water. 
 She had anchored over a nest of torpedoes, 
 against which the commanding officer of 
 the expedition had been warned and 
 directed to drag for in boats before pro- 
 ceeding up the river; but this officer satis- 
 fied himself by getting out spars and nets- 
 ahead of his vessels to pick up any subma- 
 rine obstructions. A short time after the 
 sinking of the gun-boat, while the tug" 
 " Bazley " was transferring her crew to the 
 " Wyalusing," a torpedo exploded, and the 
 "Bazley" immediately went down along- 
 side the " Otsego." Matters became at this 
 moment rather embarrassing, for the ves- 
 sels were all anchored close together, audit 
 was not safe to move in the dark for fear 
 of being blown up, so a very anxious night 
 was passed. 
 
 The sinking of the gun -boat and tug 
 put an end to an expedition which, if suc- 
 cessful, would have been a handsome addi- 
 tion to the sinking of the " Albemarle " and 
 the recapture of Plymouth by the Navy. 
 The "Otsego" made the number of naval 
 vessels blown up by the Confederate torpedo 
 corps, since the commencement of the war, 
 about twenty. For miles along the Roanoke 
 torpedoes were thickly planted to prevent 
 the advance of the Navy, and at one turn in 
 the river there were no less than forty of 
 these destructive weapons in one group. 
 
 This was the last important naval move- 
 ment undertaken in the Sounds of North 
 Carolina. Sherman's arrival at Golds- 
 borough, and the arrival of troops by sea at 
 Newbern, warned the guerillas, called by 
 the Confederates the " home forces," that 
 they could no longer hope to hold their own 
 in face of the overwhelming numbers which 
 at any moment might appear in this vicinity; 
 so they quietly dispersed, and all that por- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 739 
 
 tion of the Confederacy fell permanently 
 into the hands of the Unionists. But for the 
 unfortunate sinking of the "Otsego" and 
 the "Bazley," all the operations of the 
 North Atlantic squadron from October, 1864, 
 to April, 1865, would have been crowned 
 with success. 
 
 Although the area of operations in and 
 around Plymouth was not a large one, what 
 thrilling incidents had occurred in that 
 small space ! First: the capture and fortifi- 
 cation of Plymouth by the Union forces ; 
 then the appearance of the "Albemarle" 
 and her sinking the " Southfield " ; the death 
 
 of the gallant Plusser, and the retreat 
 of the "Miami"; the attack of the "Albe- 
 marle " on the Sound flotilla ; the sinking of 
 the "Albemarle" by Gushing; the dash of 
 Macomb upon Plymouth, recovering the 
 place after as handsome an attack at the 
 cannon's mouth as was ever seen anywhere; 
 and, finally, the unfortunate sinking of the 
 "Otsego" and " Bazley" near where the 
 "Albemarle " lay at the bottom of the river. 
 All these vessels were afterwards raised 
 and lay side by side at the wharf, with the 
 Union flag floating over them, as if they had 
 never met in deadly strife. 
 
 NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, JANUARY 1st, 1865. 
 
 Reae- Admiral David D. Portek. 
 
 Staff— LiEUTENANT-CoMMANDBR K. R. Brebsb, Fleet-Captain ; Lieutenant-Commander H. A. 
 Adams, Jr., Ordnance Officer ; Lieutenant S. W. Preston (Flag) ; Lieutenant M. W. San- 
 debs, SiGNAii Officer ; Lieutenant S. W. Terry, Detailing Officer ; Flbet-Patmaster, 
 H. M. Heiskell; Fleet-Surgeok, George Maulsby; Fleet-Engineer, Theo. Zbller; Admiral's 
 Secretary, Carlisle P. Porter ; Assistant-Paymaster, C. F. Guild (Special Duty) ; Acting- 
 Master, James M. Alden ; Acting Ensigns, H. Woodruff, R. Bates, J. W. Grattan and F. W. 
 Grafton ; Acting-Master's Mate, Aaron Vanderbilt, Aides. 
 
 Note. — Those vessels marked with a * were engaged in the capture of Fort Fisher. 
 
 *" COLORADO "—FIBST-RATE. 
 
 Commodore, Henry K. Thatcher ; Lieutenants, 
 George Dewey, H. B. Robeson and M. L. Johnson; 
 Surgeon, James McClelland ; Assistant-Surgeons, 
 Robert Willard and B. H. Kidder ; Paymaster, 
 Wm. A. Ingersoll ; Marines, Captain. L. L. Daw- 
 son; FirstiLleutenant, E. P. Meeker; Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant, F. P. Baury ; Acting-Masters, Ed- 
 win Cofiin and L. B. King ; Acting-Ensigns, J. L. 
 Vennard and W. G. Perry ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. W. Wallace, A. B. Arey, E. A. Gould, M. V. 
 Thomas and A. P. Tucker ; Engineers: Chief, B. F. 
 Garvin ; First-Assistant, J. H. Bailey ; Second-As- 
 sistants, E. E. Roberts, H. M. Quig and C. S. 
 Maurice ; Third - Assistant, M. A. Sutherland ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, C. C. Fernald, J. P. Mes- 
 ser and W. B. Whitmore ; Boatswain, John K. 
 Bartlett; Gunner, William Wilson; Carpenter, J, G. 
 Myers ; Sailmaker, Nicholas Lynch. 
 
 ' MINNESOTA ' 
 
 -FEKST-KATB. 
 
 Commodore, Joseph Laiiman ; Xiieutenant-Com- 
 mander, James Parker ; Lieutenants, M. S. Stuy- 
 vesant and E. T. Woodward ; Passed - Assistant - 
 Surgeon, J. P. Quinn ; Assistant - Surgeons, Wm. 
 Longshaw and W. S. Port ; Paymaster, C. C. Up- 
 ham ; Marines : Captain, Geo. Butler ; Second- 
 Lieutenant, G. M. Welles ; Acting - Master, Theo. 
 Werholf ; Acting-Ensigns, W. C. Wise, J. W. Wil- 
 lard, James Bertwisle, P. A. O'Connor and W. H. 
 Jennings; Acting -Master's Mates, J. M. Simms, 
 Fallas Eager and J. Amos Merrill ; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Chief, A. R. Bddowes ; Acting-First- Assistant, 
 J. E. Cooper ; Second- Assistants, Guy Samson, J. C. 
 Cross and H. A. Delius ; Third - Assistants, J. D. 
 Lee and J. C. Kafer ; Acting - Third Assistant, 
 W. H. Mott; Pilot, F. C. Fowler; Boatswain, 
 Wm. Bunker ; Gunner, R. H. Cross ; Carpenter, 
 
 * " POWHATAN "—FIRST-BATE. 
 
 Commodore, James F. Sehenck ; Lieutenants, 
 Geo. M. Bache and Merrill Miller ; Surgeon, H. O. 
 Mayo ; Assistant-Surgeon, W. H. Johnson ; Pay- 
 master, C. P. Wallaoh ; First-Lieutenant Marines, 
 F. H. Corrie ; Acting-Master, C. R. Wilkins ; En- 
 signs, Ira Harris, Jr., and A. G. Kellogg : Acting- 
 Ensigns R. D. Evans, Francis Morris and Edmund 
 Parys ; Acting - Master's Mates, Geo. P. Abbott, 
 Geo. S. Sands and John Clitz ; Engineers : Chief, 
 John A. Grier ; Acting - First - Assistant, W. H. 
 Dobbs ; Second - Assistants, W. S. Smith, James 
 Long, John Franklin and Michael Dundon ; Third- 
 Assistant, A. C. Bngard ; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 H. F. Grier ; Acting-Boatswain, James Gurney ; 
 Gunner, G. W. Omensetter ; Carpenter, J. Mac- 
 farlane : Sailmaker, B. B. Blydenburg. 
 
 * "SUSQUEHANNA" — FIEST-EATE. 
 
 Commodore, S. W. Godon ; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, F. B. Blake; Lieutenants, J. R. Bartlett and 
 Geo. M. Brown ; Surgeon, J. O'C. Barclay ; Assist- 
 ant-Surgeon, C. H. Perry; Paymaster, A. J. Clark; 
 Chaplain, J. D. Beugless; First-Lieutenant of Ma- 
 rines, Wm. Wallace; Acting-Master, H. O. Porter; 
 Ensign, E. E. Preble; Acting-Ensigns, T. F. Lacock, 
 W. W. Rhoadesand O. C. K. Benham; Acting- Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Chas. Gainsford, W. H. Sprague, M. S. 
 Cooper and S. T. Paine; JEngineers: Chief, John 
 Johnson; First- Assistant, I. S. Finney; Second-As- 
 sistants, James Renshaw, J. H. Hutchinson and 
 H. A. Smith ; Third-Assistants, Thomas Crummey 
 and C. F. Marsland ; Acting - Third - Assistant, 
 Berna Cook; Boatswain, Z. Whitmarsh, Jr. ; Gunner, 
 E. J. Waugh ; Carpenter, J. E. Miller; Sailmaker, 
 J. A. Hoi brook. 
 
 *"NEW ironsides" — FIRST-EATE. 
 
 Commodore, Wm. Radford ; Lieutenant - Com- 
 
740 
 
 THE NATAL HISTORY 
 
 Nair, H. B. Bumsey and H. J. Blake; Surgeon, Ed- 
 ward Shippen; Assistant-Surgeon, G. A. Bright; 
 Paymaster, George Plunkett ; First-Lieutenant of 
 Marines, R. S. Colloni; Acting-Masters, H. P. Con- 
 ner and Jolin Dorey; Acting-Ensigns, Walter Pearce, 
 W. A. Duerand J. \V. King; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 C. C. Bamford, J. F Silva and W. E. Wilson ; En- 
 gineers : Chief, Alex. Greer ; Second - Assistants, 
 J. H. Hunt, W. S. Cherry, W. J. Reid, N. P. Towne 
 and W. S. Wells; Third-Assistants, J. K. Stevenson 
 and A. H. Henderson; Boatswain, Wm. E. Leeds; 
 Gunner, Wm. Cope; Carpenter, J. E. Cox; Sail- 
 maker, G. T. Lozier. 
 
 * " SANTIAGO DE-CTTBA" — SECOND-KATE. 
 
 Captain, O. S. Glisson ; Lieutenant, N. H. Far- 
 quhar; Passed -Assistant Surgeon, A. S. Oberly; 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. D. Murphy ; Acting-Masters, 
 J. A. Hannum and F. H. VVilks ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 T. Delano, E. C. Bowers and C. H. Pierce ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Richard Lyons, S. W. Kempton, 
 E. C. Finney and B. S. Shephard ; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Chief, Solon Farrer ; Acting-Second-Assistants, 
 C.R. Weaver and F. W. H.Whittaker; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, Geo. A. Barnard, R. E. Hurley, C. R. 
 Merrill, Jos. Jordan and G. A. Barnard; Acting- 
 Gunner, J. W. Irwin. 
 
 ' ' WABASH" PIKST-BATE. " 
 
 Captain, Melancton Smith; Lieutenant -Com- 
 mander, C. H. Cushman ; liieutenants, E. C. V. 
 Blake and H. C. Tallman; Surgeon, H. F. McSherry; 
 Passed-Assistant-Surgeon, J. H. Tinkham; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Campbell; Paymaster, Geo. 
 Cochran; Chaplain, C. A. Davis; Second-Lieutenant 
 of Marines, L. E. Fagan; Acting-Masters, W. U. 
 Grozier and S. J. White; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. 
 Davis, Whitman Chase, E. A. Small and J. F. 
 Brown; Acting-Masters Mates, Wm. R. Lyons, D. 
 E. Knox, J. J. Fuller, Jr., Wm. Read, Jr., E. P. 
 Blague, H. C. Thorburn and J. B. Lukens; Engi- 
 neers : Chief, A. C. Stimei-s ; Second - Assistants, 
 J. S. Green, P. R. Voorhees, W. C. Williamson, 
 A. Michenerand N. W. Buckhout ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, J. W. ColMns, W. H. Peabody and J. T. 
 Smith ; Boatswain, Charles Miller ; Gunner, Cor- 
 nelius Dugan; Carpenter, Wm. Hyde; Sailmaker, 
 H. W. Franklaud. 
 
 * " VANDEEBILT " — SECOND-EATE. 
 
 Captain, Charles W. Piclcering; Acting- Volun- 
 teer-Lieutenant-Commander, J. D. Danels; Surgeon, 
 Joseph Wilson; Assistant-Surgeon, L. M. Lyon; 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. E. Tolfree; Captain 
 of Marines, William H. Parker ; Acting - Masters, 
 A. M. Keith and L. F. Timmerman; Acting-Ensigns, 
 A. P. Sampson and E. >;. Snow; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, F. B. Atkinson, Edw. Thompson, J. B. 
 iStrout, E. P. Pojie and Edw. Kearns; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, John Germain; Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, W. H. Golden; Asting - Second - Assistants, 
 WiUiam Welles and A. WiUiauis; Acting-Third- As- 
 sistants, John Hyslop, Martin Glennon, George 
 Germain, John O'JSIeil, William Wright and W. H. 
 Garrison; Boatswain. Jasper Coghlan ; Gunner, 
 George Sirian; Carpenter, T. H. Bishop; Captam's 
 Clerk, Johns. Stodder. 
 
 *" JUNIATA " — SECOND-BATE. 
 
 Captain, William R. Taylor; Lieutenant- Com- 
 mander, Thomas S. Phelps, (cominanded at Fort 
 Fisher ; Lieutenant, F. V. McNair; Surgeon, A. C. 
 Gorgas ; Paymaster, Caspar Schenck ; Acting- 
 Master, C. H. Hamilton; Ensign, Charles McGregor; 
 Acting Ensigns, W. D. Price and 8. S. Bissell; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, Lewis Goeltze, W. F. Warnick 
 and G. H. Prescott; Engineers : Chief, J. Follans- 
 bee; Acting-First Assistant, J. E. Pox; Second-As- 
 sistants, J. Van Hovenburv and John Everding; 
 Third- Assistants, Everett Battelle and F. C. Bur- 
 chard ; Acting-Third-Assistants, B. F. Lewis and 
 
 Thomas Connor ; Boatswain. J. A. Selmer ; Gun- 
 ner, D. A. Roe ; Carpenter, John Mills. 
 
 *•' FOBT JACKSON "—SECOND-RATE. 
 
 Captain, B. F. Sands ; Lieutenant-Commander, 
 Rush R. Wallace ; Lieutenant, S. H. Hunt; Sur- 
 geon, Philip S. Wales ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 E. J. O'Callaghan : Paymaster, Clifton Hellen ; 
 Acting-Masters, J. S. Coney and H. F. Moffatt; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, S. K. Hopkins and J. J. Reagan • Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, H. St. C. Eytinge, J. D. Moore, 
 G. W. Smoot, F. A. Powers and Charles Moran ; 
 Engineers; Acting-Chief, Rodney Smith ; Acting- 
 First-Assistants, Jared Day and J. A. Hill ; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, John Herron and G. T. Gibbs ; 
 Acting -Third -Assistants, C. H. Wakefield and 
 William M. Prentiss; Boatswain, P. A. Chason; 
 Acting - Gunner, Thomas Reese ; Carpenter, E. 
 Thompson. 
 
 *" SHENANDOAH "— SECONDEATE. 
 
 Captain, Daniel B. Ridgely ; Lieutenant, Smith 
 W. Nichols ; Surgeon. James McMaster ; Acting- 
 Assistant-Paymaster, C. M. Guild ; Acting- Masters, 
 J. S. Watson, W. H. Brice and J. A. BuUard ; En- 
 signs, Yates Sterling and J. H. Sands ; Acting-En- 
 signs, L. H. White and T. H. Wheeler; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, T. D. Wendell ; Engineers : Acting- 
 Chief, Nelson Winans ; Second - Assistant, E. A. 
 Magee ; Actlng-Seeond-Assistant, J. S. Kelleper ; 
 Third-Assistants, D. M. Fulmer, F. W. Towner and 
 William Bond; Boatswain, J. H. Polley; Gunner, 
 George Edmonds. 
 
 * " TICONDEEOGA "—SECOND-BATE. 
 
 Captain, Charles Steedman; Lieutenant, Geo. B 
 White; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant,L. G. Vassallo; 
 Surgeon, C. J. Cleborne; Paymaster, H. M. Dennis- 
 ton ; Ensigns, W. W. Maclay, A. S. Crowningshield 
 and Geo. W. Coffin ; First-Lieutenant of Marines, 
 C. F. Williams; Acting-Master's Mates, Wm. Charle- 
 ton, Jr., E. A. 8ibell,Wm. Cooper and L. Norton; En- 
 gineers: Chief, T.J.Jones; Second-Assistant, H. H. 
 Barrett; Acting-Second-Assistants, R. I. Middleton 
 and M.Smith; Acting-Third -Assistants, O. Bassett, 
 H. M. Noyes, M. W. Thaxter and S. J. Hobbs; 
 Boatswain, H. E. Barnes; Gunner, Joseph Smith; 
 Acting-Carpenter, M. E. Curley; Sailmaker, J. C. 
 Herbert. 
 
 ' BEOOKIiTN 
 
 -SECOND EATB. 
 
 Captain, James Alden; Lieutenant, T. L. Swann; 
 Surgeon, George Maulsby; Assistant Surgeon, H. S. 
 Pitkin ; Paymaster, G. E. Thornton ; Captain of 
 Marines, G. P. Houston; Acting- Master, Robt. Bars- 
 tow; Ensigns, D. R. CasseU, O. H. Pendleton and 
 C. D. Sigsbee; Acting-Ensign, C. H. Littlefleld; 
 Acting- Master's Mates, Thos. Stanfield, J. W. De- 
 Camp and R. H. Taylor; Engineers: Chief, Morti- 
 mer Kellogg; Second Assistants, W. H. G. West, 
 Thos. Lynch, G. E. Tower and J. A. Bullard; Act- 
 ing-Second- Assistant, R. D. Giberson ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, John Matthews, H. H. Arthur and 
 Timothy Flanders; Boatswain, Rob't McDonald; 
 Acting-Gunner, John Qiievedo; Carpenter, R. G. 
 Thomas; Sailmaker, D. C. Bray ton. 
 
 OBDNANCE-SHIP " ST. LAWEENCE." 
 
 Commander, D. Lynch ; Acting-Master, G. W. 
 Caswell ; Acting-Ensigns, F. Hopkins, Wm. Chand- 
 ler, Thomas Welsh and Aug. Dame ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, M. C. Drennan ; Assistant Paymaster, 
 W. Goldsborough ; Acting-jNlaster's Mates, G. E. 
 Chipman and T. B. Seavey ; Gunner, John Webber. 
 
 *" TUSCAEOKA"— THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, James M. Frailev ; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Weld N. Allen ; Surgeon, John Y. Taylor ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. J. Painter ; Acting- 
 Master, Alex. Tillinghast ; Acting-Ensigns, S. L. 
 Griffin, C. H. Carey, Oliver Swain and S. E. Wil- 
 letta ; Acting-Master's Mates. J. A. H. Wilmuth and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 741 
 
 A. P. Aldrich, Jr.; Engineers : Chief, A. J. Kiersted; 
 Acting-First Assistant, Jos. A. McKnight ; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, W. A. Andress and A. N. Gil- 
 more ; Acting - Third - Assistants, Alex. Dempster, 
 W. B. Bnow and J. H. Chesney ; Acting- Gunner, 
 Thomas Grail. 
 
 *" MONADNOCK "—THIRD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, E. G. Parrott; Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander, J. N. Miller; Acting-Masters, B. F. Mil- 
 liken and S. H. Mead; Acting-Ensigns, W. B. Mix, 
 T. W. Swift, Jr., and P. Davison ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, James Wilton ; Assistant Paymaster, J. S. 
 Woolson ; Engineers : Acting-Chief, J. Q. A. Zeig- 
 ler ; Acting -First -Assistants, S. A. Randall and 
 W. A. Phillips ; Acting-Second-Assistants, B. C. Du 
 Plaine and B. Smith ; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 R. Aldridge, W. P. Whittemore, John Brice and 
 T. J. Wilde ; Gunner, P. Barrett. 
 
 " ONONDAGA"— THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, Wm. A. Parker; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, J. M. Pritehett; Passed Assistant Surgeon, 
 
 A. Hudson; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, S. T. 
 Browne; Acting-Masters, W. L. Hayes and Henry 
 Stevens; Acting- Ensigns, J. De Kay, S C. Norton, 
 Jr., M. E. Wandell and J. Brennan; Acting-Mas- 
 ters Mate, B. Heath, Jr. ; Engineers : Chief, Alex. 
 Henderson; First- Assistants, J. C. Hull; Second-As- 
 sistants, W. Fort, W. L. NicoU and E. M. Lewis; 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, C. Stanton; Third- Assist- 
 ant, T. Cooke; Acting Thkd Assistant, Julius HiD- 
 man. 
 
 " SHAMEOCK " — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, W. H. Macomb; Lieutenant, R. K. 
 Duer; Acting -Assistant Surgeon, P. H. Barton; 
 Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, Louis Sands; Acting- 
 Master, P. J. Hargous; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Ford, 
 J. W. Lewis, W. W. Meeter and R. B. Brown; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, W. D. Burlingame ; Engineers : 
 Second-Assistants, W. H. Harrison, H. P. Gregory 
 and P. H "White; Acting-Third-Assistants, O. C. 
 Chamberlain and W. F. Blakemore; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, W. Peterkin. 
 
 *"EHODE island" SECOND BATE. 
 
 Commander, Stephen D. Trenchard; Lieutenant, 
 
 F. R. Smith ; Assistant-Surgeon, E. B. Bingham ; 
 Assistant Paymaster, W. L. Darling ; Acting-Mas- 
 ters, C. O'Neill and Z. L. Tanner; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Nichols Pratt, K. O. Lanfare and Lemuel Pope ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. P. Fisher, E. E. Brad- 
 bury, H. Gardiner, G. H. Appleton and R. W. 
 Wallace ; Engineers : Acting - Chief, J. F. Mc- 
 Cutchen ; Acting- Second- Assistants, J. W. Smith 
 and C. W. Radell ; Acting Third -Assistants, 0. W. 
 Rugg, W. J. Patterson, W. H. McCoy, J. A. Hughes 
 and W. B. Bayley : Gunner, Henry Hamilton ; Cap- 
 tain's Clerk, L. S. Rogers ; Paymaster's Clerk, Wm. 
 J. Bennett. 
 
 " CHICKOPEB "—THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, A. D. Harrell ; Lieutenant, E. A. 
 Walker ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. L. Simpson; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Mulford, Jr. ; 
 Acting-Master, J. D. Wells ; Acting-Ensigns, J. A. 
 Grossman and A. D. Henderson ; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, C. C. Johnson, G. H. Good man son and J. A. 
 Belcher; Engineers: First-Assistant, F. J. Lovering; 
 Second-Assistant, William Pollard ; Third-Assist- 
 ants, D. B. Egbert, A. G. BonsallandJ. B. Upham, 
 Jr.; Acting-Gunner, W. Black. 
 
 * "nEBEUS " — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, J. C. Howell; Lieutenant, H. E. Mul- 
 lan ; Acting-Master, E. L. Haines; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. K. Walsh; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 
 B. F. Munroe ; Acting - Ensigns, B. G. Dayton, 
 
 G. M. Smith and George Anderson ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates. W. C. Cushman, Wm. Rushinore, W. B. 
 Spencer, H. E. Giraud and Wm. Groniack ; En- 
 
 Second - Assistant, Philip Eckenworth ; Acting- 
 Second- Assistants, R. F. Roswald and J. A. Patter- 
 son ; Third-Assistants, T. Tilton, H. J. Allen and 
 R. R. Throckmorton; Acting Gunner, J. McCaffrey. 
 
 * " MOHICAN "— THIED BATE. 
 
 Commander, Daniel Ammen ; Lieutenant, J. D. 
 Marvin ; Surgeon, Charles Martin ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, J. C. Canning ; Acting - Master, 
 Wm. Burditt ; Acting - Ensigns, B. F. Blair and 
 H. T. Page ; Acting - blaster's Mates, J. A. Shaffer, 
 J. G. Paine and C. P. Cope; Engineers: First- Assist- 
 ant, H. S. Davids; Second -Assistant, J. K. Smedley; 
 Acting - Second - Assistants, Enocn George and 
 Charles Buckelew ; Acting-Third- Assistants, James 
 O. Herron and W. W. Chadwick ; Acting - Boat- 
 swain, J. B. Aiken ; Acting-Gunner, T. S. Cassldy. 
 
 "KEYSTONE STATS " — THIBD-E.iTE. 
 
 Commander, Henry Roland ; Lieutenant, J. f. 
 Robertson ; Acting-Masters, L E. Degn and Wm. 
 T. Buck; Acting-Ensigns, C. M. Bird, J. C. Murphy, 
 F. E. Ford and J. S. Ridgeway ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, A. E. Emery ; Acting - Assistant Pay- 
 master. J. W. Fairfield ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 D. G. Conger and W. H. Howard; Engineers: Acting- 
 First-Assistant, P. L. Fry ; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, A. B. Kinney ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. 
 Brown, Joseph Smith, J. B. Wilbur and C. A. 
 Blake ; Acting-Gumier, D. L. Briggs. 
 
 " MENDOTA " — THIED-BATB. 
 
 Commander, Edward T. Nichols ; Acting-Masters, 
 Lathrop Wight, Maurice Digard and Thomas 
 Smith , Acting-Ensigns, W. B. Barnes, R. B. Pray, 
 Isaac Thayer and R. E. Peck ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, E. S. McDonaldandP. A. Cleary; Engineers: 
 First-Assistant, A. V. Frazer; Second-Assistants, 
 B. Bunce and D. Jones; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 D. R. McElroy, H. S. Ross and L. L. Poole; Acting- 
 Gunner, James Como. 
 
 *" IOSCO " — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, John Guest ; Lieutenant, C. L. 
 Franklin; Acting-Ensigns, William Jameson, Ulric 
 Feilberg, Henry Baker and Paul Ware, Jr. ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, K. H. Bancroft; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, L. L. Scovel; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 T. A. Comstoek, Halsted Hemans and Charles A. 
 Peacock; Engineers : First-Assistant, Z. Talbot; 
 Second-Assistant, Elijah Laws ; Acting-Third-As- 
 sistants, Harvey Clapp, Jaines McNabb and C. M. 
 S. Gerry ; Acting-Gunner, T. M. Benton. 
 
 ■ OSCEOLA 
 
 -THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, J. M. B. Clitz; Lieutenant, J. Weid- 
 man; Assistant Surgeon, G. F. Winslow; Assistant 
 Paymaster, Edw. Bellows; Acting-Masters, E. B. 
 Hussey and Willett Mott; Acting-Ensigns, S. L. La 
 Dein, J. F. Merry and F. C. Warner; Acting- Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Thomas Rogers, H. G Robinson and 
 
 C. 8. Hardy ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, 
 Thomas McCauslarid; Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 Richard Doran; Acting-Third-Assistants, Robert 
 Berryman, C. J. Cooper and E. J. Swords; Acting- 
 Gunner. J. C. Breslyn. 
 
 *" PAWTUOKET "—THIED-EATE. 
 
 Commander, James H. Spotts; Lieutenant, Alleiv, 
 V. Reed; Acting-Ensigns, A. F. West, J. A. Slamnv, 
 J. O. Winchester and P. J. Markoe; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Henry Johnson ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, G. A. Emerson; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 
 D. H. Bellows, F. Hesslewood ami L. F. Papanti; 
 Engineers: Second- Assistants, A. H. Able, M. N. 
 Knowlton and J. G. Cooper ; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ant, N. G. Vandegiift; Gunner, J. D. Fletcher. 
 
 *" MACKINAW "— THIKD-EATE. 
 
 Commander, J. C. Beaumont ; Acting - Master, 
 A. J. Louch; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Penfield, J. F. 
 Blanchard and Joseph Estes; Acting - Assistant 
 
743 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 W. T. Whittemore; Acting-Master's Mates, J. A. 
 Thomas, Solomon Barstow and E. K. Green; Engi- 
 neers : First- Assistant, Jefferson Younar; Second- As- 
 sistant, D. A. Sawyer; Tliird- Assistants, R. W. Mil- 
 ligan and Sylvanus Melntire; Acting-Tfaird-Assist- 
 ants, I'atriok Hagan and J. W. Reed; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, Thomas Keer. 
 
 *"B. B. OiryLEB "— THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, C. H. B. Caldwell; Lieutenant, J. J. 
 Reed; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, C. D. White; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, A. Wright; Acting - 
 Master, B. Babson; Acting-Ensigns, B. P. Clough, 
 W. H. Mentz, W. L. Hatch and A. T. Hamblen; 
 Acting - Master's Mate, J. F. Jeffries ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, J. D. William.son; Acting-Pirst-Assist- 
 ant, D. L. King; Acting-Second- Assistants, J. Pol- 
 lard and F. V. Holt; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. C. 
 Crocker, I. H. Fuhr, G. VV. Young, D. Gilliland 
 and E. J. Cram; Acting-Gunner, B. P. Palmer. 
 
 " MATTABBSSETT " — THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, John C. Febiger- Lieutenant, A. N. 
 Mitchell; Acting-Masters, J. L. Plunkett and John 
 Fountain; Acting-Ensigns, John Greenhalgh, F. H. 
 Brown and A. F. Dill; Acting-Assistant Surgeon. 
 S. P. Boyer; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. C. 
 Meade; Acting-Master's Mates, A. M. Beck and 
 C. F. Fisher; Engineers : Second-Assistants, J. T. 
 Hawkins, A. Saokett and C. J. McConnell; Third- 
 Assistants, W. A. Mintzer, A. B. Bates and Isaiah 
 Paxson; Acting-Gunner, Wm. H. Herring. 
 
 "MAS3AS0IT " — THIBD BATE. 
 
 Commander, R. T. Renshaw; Lieutenant, Geo. 
 W. Sumner; Acting-Masters, H. Reany, C. F. Taylor 
 and W. C. Williams; Acting-Ensigns, R. Rabadan 
 and Chas. Wilson; Acting-Master's Mate, G. .A. 
 Burt; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. R. Latson; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Stevenson; Engi- 
 neers : First-Assistant, L. R. Green; Acting Second - 
 Assistants, J. H. Dinsmore and R. K. Monson; Act- 
 ing-Third- Assistants, T. R. Jefferson and Wm. Shee 
 han; Acting Gunner, Wm. B. Jarvis. 
 
 * " SAtTGUS "— POtlETH-RATE. 
 
 Commander, Edmund R. Colhoun; Lieutenant, 
 Benj. P. Day; Acting Master, B. W. Leary; Acting- 
 Ensigns, C. A. Henrickson, Ira Barsley and J. P. 
 Arnett; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Westcott; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, G. H. Andrews; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, John L. Peake; Acting-Pirst- 
 Assistants, Andrew Inglis and John Carren; Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, O. C. Lewis; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, A. F. Rockefeller; Acting - Third - Assistant, 
 W. J. Bradley. 
 
 " AGAWAM " — THIED-BATB. 
 
 Commander, A. C. Rhind; Acting-Master, Thos. 
 Symmes; Acting-Ensigns, Clinton Wiley, C. M. 
 Anthony, C. L. Willcomb and P. H. Lathrop; As- 
 sistant Surgeon, H. P. Babcock; Assistant Pay- 
 master, H. M. Hanna; Acting-Master's Mates, Rob't 
 Anderson, T. P. Jones and Paul Boyden; Engi- 
 neei-s : Acting-First-Assistant, J. F. P. Rust; Sec- 
 ond-Assistants, A. T. E. MuUan and T. M. Jones; 
 Third-Assistants, G. C. Nelson and H. Spear; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, H. P. Dunnels. 
 
 " QUAKBE CITY " — SECOND-BATE. 
 
 Commander, W. P. Spicer; Lieutenant, Silas 
 Casey, Jr.; Acting-Master, 8. A. Winnerton; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, C. J. Hill, Rich. Wilkinson and P. D. 
 Jacobson; Aeting-Assistant-Surgeons, I. C. White- 
 head and G. W. Gale, Jr.; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, L. A. Prailey; Acting-Master's Mates, O. W. 
 Clapp, G. B. Sanborne, W. H. Alger and J. B. Tew; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, G. W. Farrar; Second- 
 Assistant, George J. Burnap; Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ants, W. J. Howard, J. K. Hickey, Wm. Mason and 
 J. H. Mathews; Acting-Third-Assistants, E. Prest, 
 
 Jos. R. Peterson, J. D. Wauklin and B. E. Porter; 
 Acting-Gunner, Joseph Furlong. 
 
 *" PONTOOSUC "—THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. G. Temple; Acting- 
 Masters, B. S. Weeks and C. H. Frisbie; Acting- 
 Ensigns, A. D. Campbell, J. J. Kane and L. R. 
 Chester; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Pierson; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, G. A. Lyon; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, E. H. Richardson, P. C. Bailey, 
 Thos, Brown and D. Lewis; Engineers : First- As- 
 sistant, Geo. J. Barry ; Second-Assistants, M. T. 
 Sumstron and E. J. Whittaker; Third- Assistant, 
 •J. H. Thomas; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. C. Brown; 
 Acting-Gunner, C. Moran. 
 
 ' ' EUTAW " —THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, H. C. Blake; Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Simmons; .Assistant- 
 Surgeon, C. H. Page; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 Thos. Carstairs; Acting- Masters, C. P. Keith, S. B. 
 Davis and T. O. Scranton; Acting-Ensigns, C. E. 
 Rich, W. C. King and Thos. Morgan; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, E. A. Galindo, B. C. Devine and H. 
 Gardiner; Engineers : Second-Assistant, J. C. Ste- 
 vens; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. E. Hillard and 
 W. H. Crawford; Third- Assistant, H. C. Christo- 
 pher; Acting-Third- Assistants, C. A. Satterlee and 
 J. C. Hillman; Acting-Gunner, C. A. Sampson. 
 
 " WYALUSINQ " — THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Earl English; Acting- 
 Masters, W. R. Hathaway and J. G. (ireen ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, J. P. Perkins, H. G. C. Kruse and L. 
 H. Fossett ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, S. Holman; 
 Assistant Paymaster, A. J. Pritchard ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. C. Green, W. H. Brown and 
 Henry Watson ; Engineers: Chief, H. H. Stewart ; 
 Acting-Pirst-Assistant, J. McCourt ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, E. P. Hedden, J. J. Donohoe, E. T. 
 Peake and S. G. Cottrell ; Acting-Gunner, T. Car- 
 penter. 
 
 * "a. D. VANCE "—EOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, J. H. Upshur ; Acting- 
 Masters, G. Cottrell and C. M. Lane ; Acting-En- 
 signs, W. W. Smith, C. P. Ware, C. E. Clark and 
 W. J. Eldredge ; Acting-Assistant Surgeons, D. W. 
 Jones and B. F. Howell ; Engineers : Acting-First- 
 Assistant, D. C. Chester: Acting-Second- Assistants, 
 C. G. Stevens, C. S. Servoss and George Devine ; 
 Acting -Third -Assistants, Wm. Madden, G. H. 
 Whittemore and C. B. j^ichols. 
 
 * "yantic"--foueth-eatb. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, T. C. Harris ; Acting- 
 Mabter, L. C. Mclntyre; Acting-Ensigns. J. C. Lord, 
 S. T. Dederer, Edwd. Winnemore, J. P. Churchill 
 and B. B. Sodenberg ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 H. K. Wheeler ; Acting-Assistant-Paymaster, S. B. 
 Huey ; Engineers: Second -Assistants. W. H. Mes- 
 senger, J. J. Noble and H. C. Beckwith ; Tliird- 
 Assistant, H. F. Loveaire ; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 George Holton ; Captain's Clerk, C. M. B. Harris. 
 
 * "SASSACUS" — THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John L. Davis ; Acting- 
 Volunteer -Lieutenant, A. W. Muldaur ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, William H. Mayer, Jr., August Adler, H. W. 
 O'Harra and David Stephen ; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, G. B. McPherson ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, G. W. Garthwaite ; Acting Master's Mates, 
 T. D. Marble and J. S. O'Brien; Engineers: Second- 
 Assistants. J. H. Huxley, R. N. Ellis and O. W. Allis- 
 son ■ Acting Third-Assistants, Wm. Raynor, H. S. 
 Mack and A. Bigelow ; Acting-Gunner, Neil Mar> 
 tin. 
 
 "TALLAPOOSA "—THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. E. DeHaven ; Acting- 
 Master, J. H. Piatt; Acting-Ensigns, Jonathan Jen- 
 ney, W. A. Rich, A. E. Dunham and J. D. Bab- 
 cock ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Warner ; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 743 
 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Daniel Whalen ; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, J. H. Lovejoy, S. T. Ayres and 
 C. M. Tessimond ; Engineers : First- Assistant, 
 David Smith ; Second-Assistants, J. P. Kelly and 
 W. S. Neal ; Acting-Third- Assistant W. E. Renny 
 and G. W. Wakefield ; Acting-Gunner, J. W. Whi- 
 ting. 
 
 * " TAOONY "— THIKD-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, W. T. Truxtun ; Acting- 
 Masters, N. S. Morgan, R. Suuuners and S. Blunt ; 
 Acting - Ensigns, J. B. Taney, Thomas Golding, 
 E. L. Bovu-neand F. H. Fisher; Acting- Assistant- 
 Surgeon, George Hopliins ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, W. S. Hosford ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 J. A. Oreuttand F. W. Worstell; Engineers: First- 
 Assistant, T. M. Dukehart ; Second - Assistants, 
 C. E. Lee and H. Parker, Jr. ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ant, A. D. Wood. 
 
 NAVAL STATION, BBAUPOET. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, W. C. West ; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, S. S. Wood, Jr. ; Gunner, S. D. 
 Hines ; Carpenter, J. P. Carter. 
 
 " MEROBDITA" — THIED-RATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Milton Haxton ; Acting- 
 Master, J. A. French; Acting-Ensigns, H. G. Macy, 
 Wm. Young and E. D. Pettengill ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, J. K. Walsh ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, O. F. Browning ; Acting - Master's Mate, 
 R. M. Cornell ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, 
 3. F. Beckett ; Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. Lan- 
 nan, D. T. Lannahan, Wm. McComb, J. H. Hop- 
 kins and William Ellis ; Acting-Gunner, James 
 Addison. 
 
 *" KANSAS ''— EOtTBTH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, P. G. Watmough; Act- 
 ing-Masters, Samuel Hall, E. 8. Goodwin and W. S. 
 Folson ; Acting - Ensigns, G. C. Williams, C. D. 
 Thompson and C. B. Staples ; Assistant Surgeon, 
 Isaac Poole; Assistant Paymaster, T. Merritt ; En- 
 gineers : Acting Second-Assistant, Hugh Rafferty ; 
 Aeting-Third-Assistants, J. W. Stott, G. L. King 
 ^nd George B. Stone. 
 
 * ' ' MARATANZA " — THIRD-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, G. W. Young; Acting- 
 Masters, D. E. Taylor and J. B. Wood, Jr. ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, J. W. Crowell, H. H. Collamore and E. 
 Lawson; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Alger, A. F. 
 Williartson, George E. Chipman and C H. Grossman; 
 Acting Assistant-Surgeon, J. W. Hamilton ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Noyes ; Engineers : 
 Second-Assistants, W. H Kilpatriek and R. L. 
 Webb; Third-Assistants, L. R. Harvey and R. D. 
 Taylor; Aeting-Third-Assistants, E. J. Gillespie 
 And J, L. Starkey; Acting Gunner, W. W. Bradley. 
 
 *" MAUMBB" — POURTH-KATB. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander, Ralph Chandler; Act- 
 ing-Master Richard Burk; Acting Ensigns, E. R 
 Powers, W. J. Shackford, C. P. Gilford and C. B. 
 Nichols; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, D. P. Goodhue; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Smoot; Engi- 
 neers : Second-Assistant, T. J. MoK. Daniels ; Act- 
 ing Second - Assistant, William Veitch ; Third-As- 
 sistants, J. M. Clark, C. R. Mosher and G. A. Pfeltz. 
 
 *" PBQUOT "— rOURTH-KATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, D. L. Braine; Acting- 
 Masters, L. H. Beattie and W. F. Chace ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, George Lamb, H. W. Loring and A. 
 Smalley; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. R. Watts; 
 Acting -Assistant Paymaster, C. G. Hutchinson; 
 Engineers : Second-Assistants, A. H. Fisher and G- 
 •C. Cook ; Third- Assistants, James Wylie and J. W. 
 Oardner; Acting -Third- Assistants, George W. 
 
 Rymes; Captain's Clerks, J. W. Jones and 
 
 O'Brian f" Kevstone State"). 
 
 " NTACK — POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, L. H. Newman; Acting- 
 Master, H. W. Grinnell ; Acting-Ensigns, H. B. 
 Colby, Charles Nelson, J. W. Hopkins, G. H. Bar- 
 rows and James Jordan; Acting Assistant Surgeon, 
 B. F. Bigelow ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. S. 
 Halliday; Engineers: First-Assistant, B. C. Bamp- 
 ton ; Second-Assistant, John Fornance; Third As- 
 sistant, W- A. Windsor ; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 W. M. Bartram and J. C. Veatch. 
 
 *" CANONICUS "—THIED-RATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, George E. Belknap ; 
 Lieutenant, R. S. McCook; Acting- Masters, D. S. 
 Murphy, E. S. Goodwin and E. A. Decker ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, C. AV. Seekins, M. W. Weld and F. P. Cen- 
 ter; Assistant Surgeon, H. N. Beaumont; Assistant 
 Paymaster, R. P. Lisle; Engineers : Chief, D. B. 
 Macomb ; Acting-First-Assistant, C. G. Conklin ; 
 Second- Assistants, F. F. McKean and J. M. Saville; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, William S. Brown, Wm. 
 Keenan and J. A. Chandler. 
 
 " VICKSBUEQ " — THIBD-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Connuander, F. H. Baker ; Acting- 
 Master, F. G. Osborn ; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. Otis, 
 R. B. Elder and D. P. Coolv ; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, T. W. Bennett ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, T. E. Smith ; Acting- Master's Mate, G. V. 
 Demorest ; Engineers : Second - Assistant, J. L. 
 Bright ; Acting - Second - Assistant, H. Harbenson ; 
 Third-Assistant, A. F. Nagle ; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, Levi Coit and G. W. Yoe. 
 
 ■ CHIPPBWA ' 
 
 -POTJETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. W. Weaver (Lieu- 
 tenant-Commander E. E. Potter commanded at 
 Fort Fisher) ; Acting- Master J. W. Saunders ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, G. H. Wood, Edw. Tilghman, W. H. 
 DeGrosse and W. A. Taylor ; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. E. Gregory; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. M. Flood ; Engineers : Second Assistant, Jos. 
 Watters; Acting-Second-Assistant, A. A. Winship ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, R. W. Wilton and Henry 
 Romaine. 
 
 " SACO " — FOUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Walker ; Act- 
 ing-Master, W. F. Hunt ; Acting-Ensigns, O. F. 
 Wixon, T. J. Rollins, W. H. Potter and A. H. Os- 
 trander; Passed- Assistant-Surgeon, A. Matthewson; 
 Acting - Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Hill ; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First-Assistant, A.W. Harris; Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, J. P. Cloyd and J. A. Crouthers; 
 Acting Third- Assistants, W. J. Barron and W. H. 
 Woodward. 
 
 * "uNADILIiA'' — POUETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Francis M. Ramsey; 
 Acting - Master, J. M. Skillings ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 John CuUaton, Wm. Field, Charles Weidenbein 
 and AVm. Hanson ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, 
 
 D. C. Burleigh ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 1. G. 
 Hobbs ; Acting - Master's Mates, C. H. Smith and 
 
 E. M. Reed ; Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, 
 B. F. Bee ; Acting-Second -Assistant, L. M. Ryf en- 
 burg ; Acting - Third - Assistants, Wm. D. Kay, 
 James Curran and J. S. Larliins. 
 
 ' MAHOPAC ' 
 
 -POTJBTH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant Commander E. E. Potter (Lieuten- 
 ant-Commander A. W. Weaver commanded at Fort 
 Fisher ; Acting- Masters, C. R. Harris and D. K. Ken- 
 nison; Acting Ensigns, J. E. .Tones, W. E. Jones and 
 S. C. Holm; Assistant Surgeon, F. B A. Lewis; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Addison Pool; Engineers: 
 Acting-Chief, M. T. Chevers ; Acting -First -Assist- 
 ant, Charles Dougherty ; Acting-Second -Assistant, 
 Wesley Randall; Acting- Third- Assistants, J. G. 
 Brown, C. A. Enggren, C. O. Putnam and J. W. 
 Buell. 
 
744 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 • "I-IUBON"— POUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Thos. O. Selfridge ; Act- 
 ing - Master, Benj. Whitmore ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 Robert Shepperd, S H. Munder, W. H. H. Curtis 
 and Andrew McCleary ; Acting - Master's Mate, 
 Eugene Coleman; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, James 
 McMillan ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. D. Col- 
 lom ; Engineers : Acting-First - Assistant, James 
 Blenkinsop ; Acting-Second-Assistants, H. F. Hay- 
 den and M. Harloe ; Acting-Third- Assistants, T. F. 
 Burket and E. G. Ingalls. 
 
 * •' SENECA "—I'OUETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Montgomery Sicard ; 
 Acting-Master, Wm H. Males; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. 
 Schutz, Thomas Mason, W. B. Pierce and L. C. 
 Owen ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, R. H. Greene ; 
 Acting - Assistant Paymaster, M. B. Gushing ; En- 
 gineers : Acting-First- Assistant, J. P. Sweet ; Act- 
 ing - Second - Assistant, Alfred Catchpole ; Acting- 
 Third - Assistants, S. A. Slater, A. J. Doty and 
 T. J. Reaney. 
 
 "HUNCHBACK " — FOTJETH BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant, Joseph P. Fyffe; Acting-Master, E. K. 
 Valentine ; Acting - Ensigns, J. W. Thompson and 
 C. W. Jones ; Acting - Master's Mates, J. F. Sias, 
 J. L. Robins, T. W. Rack and F. W. Colton ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. Cushing ; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First-Assistant, A. Barnum ; Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, B. Wilson ; Aoting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, 8. Hart, G. V. Payton, J. E. Edwards and 
 J. W. Smith. 
 
 * " MONTICEIiLO " — FO0ETH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant, W. B. Cushing ; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant, D. A. Campbell : Acting- Masters, C. A. 
 Pettit and E. A. Elliott ; Acting Ensigns, W. H. 
 Gibson, D. W. Lakin, T. B. Huntington, J. H. 
 Puokett and J. B. Edwards ; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. F. BiUard ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 John Furey ; Acting-Master's Mates, Charles Cro 
 ton and J. S. Clark ; Engineers : Second- Assistant, 
 H.Missiner; Acting-Second- Assistants, C.A.Mar- 
 tin and F. McKinley ; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 W. R. Call, and J. McCallum. 
 
 *' aETTTSBUEO'— POTJBTH BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant, R. H. Lamson; Acting-Master, C. B. 
 Dahlgren; Acting-Ensigns, A. S. Leigh ton, F. P. B. 
 Sands, F. A. Gross, M. C. Keith and Charles Miller; 
 Acting - Assistant Surgeon, G. S. Eddy ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, R. H. GUlette ; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, H. J. Derbyshire and T. H. P. 
 Gross; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistants, G. S. 
 Perkins, J. M. Case, E. C. Maloy and A. J. Pixley; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, E. B. Carter and J. W. 
 Homans. 
 
 *"MA1jVEEN " — POTJETH-EATE (PLAG-SHIP) 
 
 Lieutenant, B. H. Porter; Acting-Masters, J. A. 
 Hamilton and John Price ; Acting-Ensigns, Geo. 
 Leonard, John Hill and G. E. Kidder; Acting 
 Master's Mates, W. F. Horton, Henry Gardiner, 
 A. M. Lyon and W. D. Cobb, Jr. ; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, J. S. Ramsey ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 A. B Poor; Engineers: Acting - First- Assistant, 
 W. E. Moore ; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. J. Ash- 
 men and F, J. Hadley ; Third - Assistant, Owen 
 Jones; Acting-Third-Assistants, Edwin Bond, A. H. 
 Perry and William Finn; Sub- Assistant J. S. Brad- 
 ford,' U. S. Coast Survey. 
 
 * "ALABAMA"— THIBD-E ATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, A. R. Langthorn ; 
 Acting- Master, Wm. Bates; Acting-Ensigns, Albert 
 Taylor, Thos. Williams and S. F Graves ; Acting 
 Assistant Surgeon, D. T. T. Nestell ; Acting- Assist 
 ant Paymaster, E. K. Gibson ; Acting - Master s 
 Mates, C. F. Ellmore, C S. Wilcox and D. H Hall; 
 Engineers : First- Assistant, Edward Farmer ; Act- 
 
 ing-Seeond-Assistants, J. G. Rossman, J. C. Lewis 
 and Greenville Lewis; Acting -Third- Assistants, 
 Ezra Gray and Geo. Cowie, Jr. 
 
 * "mONTGOMBEY" — THIKD-EATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, T C. Dunn ; Act- 
 ing-Masters, W. N. Wells and A. F. Davis ; Acting 
 Ensigns, E T. Mauter, C G. Whiting and Robt. 
 Wiley ; Acting Assistant Surgeon, John Blackmer; 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. Watson; Acting- 
 Master s Mates, T. J Walker and C. A. Neill ; En- 
 gineers : Acting First- Assistant, G. H. Wade; Act- 
 ing Second-Assistants, John McEwen, J. Williams- 
 and J. Allen; Acting- Third-Assistants, G. H. Brown 
 and A. Tester. 
 
 * "POET DONELSON " — THIED BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thomas Pickering; 
 'Acting-Master, G. W- Frost, commanded at Fort 
 Fisher ; Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Bennett, E. A. But- 
 ler. H. C. Leslie and J. G. Lloyd ; Acting Master's 
 Mates, Geo. Woodland and A. F. G. Blanfuhr ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, M G- Raefle ; Acting Assist- 
 ant Paymaster J. F. Dunham ; Engineers : Acting- 
 First-Assistant, John Mijler ; Acting-Second-Assis 
 ant, H. L. M. Hodges; Acting- Third -Assistants, 
 G. W. Rymes, L. De Arville, W. A. Fuller. J. H. 
 Sleanman and P. M. Kafer. 
 
 " MIAMI "~THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Geo. W. Graves ; 
 Acting-Masters, M. Rodgers and John Lear ; Acting- 
 Ensign, J. R. Peacock ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 G. H. Marvin ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, R. P. 
 Goodman; Engineers: Acting -Second -Assistants, 
 C. C. Davis and David Newell ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, H. D. Heiser, A. Stewart and A. Moore. 
 
 * "GOVEENOE BUCKINGHAM "—THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, John Macdearraid ; 
 Acting Ensigns, C. H. Sawyer, L. W. Smith, D. M. 
 Gaskins and L. P. Cassan ; Acting- Assistant-Sur- 
 geon, W. S. Parker ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 G. B. Tripp ; Acting-Master's Mates, J. W. Gard- 
 ner, F. H. Poole and W. W. Hunter ; Engineers: 
 Acting-First-Assistant, F. E. Porter; Acting-Second 
 Assistant, Eugene Mack ; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 Thos. Foley, Owen Kaney, James Fitzpatrick and. 
 Chas. Ward. 
 
 • ' 'ABIES " — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. S. Wells ; Act- 
 ing Ensigns, G. F. Morse, J. A. Brennan and Seth 
 Hand ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, A. C. Fowler ; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. A. Downes; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, D. McCool and F. A. Haskell ; En- 
 gineers : Acting-Second-Assistant, Simeon Smith ; 
 ActLng-Third-Assistants, R. H. Cornthwait, T. E. 
 Wilson and J. F. Eraser. 
 
 ' ' CAMBEIDGE " —THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. F. Nickels ; Act- 
 ing-Master, S. K. Luce ; Acting-Ensigns, I. S. Brad- 
 bury and A. J. Iverson ; Acting - Assistant -Sur- 
 geon, John Spare; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. J. Pratt ; Acting-Master's Mate, F. U. Northup ; 
 Engineers : Acting First - Assistant, G. B. Orswell ; 
 Acting - Second - Assistants, W. W. Tunis and John 
 Whittaker; Acting-Third-Assistant, S. D. Edwards; 
 Acting-Gunner, Wm. Scott. 
 
 " CHEBOKEE"— POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. E. Dennison ; 
 Acting - Ensigns, T. F. DeLuce, John Parry, A. F. 
 Parsons and C. B. Dickman ; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geon, E. T. T. March ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. C Ooterloh ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, 
 A. W. Reynolds ; Acting -Second- Assistants; F. H. 
 Thurber and J. H. Potts ; Acting-Third- Assistants 
 John Gilmore and A. I. Sanborn. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 743 
 
 " HOWQUAH " — POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Balcli ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, G. P. St. Jolin and Jolin Sayres ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, E. W. Brooks ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, R. B. Smitii and F. P. Hasltell; 
 Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistants, W. G. Mo- 
 Lean, U. R. Wylie and J. L. DeMott ; Acting-Tliird- 
 Assistants, P. W. Moores, Jr., and Artliur O'Brien. 
 
 " EMl^A " — POURTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, J. M. Williams ; 
 Aotuig-Ensigns, C. Zimmerman, D. 8. Beete, I. S. 
 Sampson, C. A. Stewart and I. C. Fuller ; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, R. P. Herrick ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, George Doig ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, C. H. Hammatt ; Engineers : Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, E. Barry; Acting-Third -Assistants, A. S 
 Churchill, J. C. Smith, R. H. Ryan, J. W. Grant, 
 and J. C. Wells. 
 
 "BIGNONIA" — FOURTH RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. D. Roath ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, T. H. Marks and H. D. Trott ; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, G. C. Short and W. H. 
 Howland ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 John Moir ; Acting-Third- Assistants, W. 8. Dob- 
 son, T. MeCreary and James Boyd. 
 
 "COMMODORE BARNEY " -POUBTH-RATE 
 
 Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, Geo. B. Living- 
 ston ; Acting- Master, J. B. Stover ; Acting-Ensigns. 
 Joseph Avant, Albert Buhner, John Aspinwall, 
 Jr., and James Auld ; Acting-Master's Mate, W. H. 
 Richmond ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. C. 
 Webber- Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Thomas Jer- 
 negan ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistants, Hiram 
 Warner ; Acting - Second - Assistants, C. B. Culver 
 and D. 8. Leffler ; Actmg-Third-Assistants, F. G. 
 Shannon and David Reed. 
 
 ' SHOKOKON 
 
 -FOURTH HATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, W. B. Sheldon; 
 Acting - Ensigns, P. C. Asserson, A. O. Kruge and 
 D. W. Lalcin ; Acting-Master's Mates. R. 8. Proud- 
 flt and P. Bradley; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 C. J. Todd; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. D. 
 Forbes ; Acting-Third Assistant, James Wilson. 
 
 " DONBARTON "— POTJETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant. Henry Brown; Act- 
 ing-Master, Hamilton Bingham ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 O. A. Thompson, C. T. Somes, Daniel Merrill and 
 J. A.Williams; Acting-Master's Mate, H. M.Guilford; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. W. Holmes; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-Second Assistant, Charles Bremon ; 
 Acting-Third Assistants, J. W. Mead, G. L. Shoe- 
 maker, Clark Thurston and J. T. Boyd. 
 
 " CLEMATIS "— POUETH-RATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, E. D. Bruner ; Act- 
 ing Ensigns, C. T. Beth, Isaac Miller and Geo. H. 
 Gooding; Acting- Master's Mates, M. P. Butts and 
 O. C. Currier; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assist- 
 ant, Wm. Deacon ; Acting-Tliird-Assistants, G. Mc 
 AUister, W. S. Kenworthy and Wm. Snedeker. 
 
 'TEISTAM SHANDT. 
 
 POURTH-RATE 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. M. Green ; Act- 
 ting-Ensign, Benj. Wood, J. H. Wash, T. M. Smith, 
 S. T. Dederer and John Owens; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Robert Clifford, Maurice Wagg and F. T. 
 Baldwin; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. R. Stow; 
 Engineers: Acting- First-Assistant, W. W. Whiting; 
 Acting-Second Assistants, W. S. Pratt and H. W. 
 Miller; Acting- Third-Assistants, Richard Wareham, 
 Thomas Pentony, William Gladden and Thomas 
 Holten. 
 
 *" LILLIAN "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, Thomas A. Harris; 
 Actinff-Master, J. S. Gilett; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. C. 
 
 Underhill, Joseph H. Clark, T. B. Tucker, Jr., and 
 J. G. Lloyd; Acting- Master's Mate, J. P. Sturgeon; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Charles Sturdevant; Act- 
 ing - Assistant Paymaster, Herman Dorr ; Engi' 
 neers : Acting-Second- Assistants, J. C. Mockabee, 
 H. W. Moore and David Morris; Acting-Third- As- 
 sistants, Henry Greatorex, T. J. Foster and A. T. 
 Donegan. 
 
 " OEUSADEE "— POUETH-KATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Peter Hays ; Act- 
 ing-Master, C Hallett; Acting-Ensigns, H. TayJor, 
 W. W. Leonard and Geo. Kendall; Acting Assistant 
 Surgeon, R. H. Whedon; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, Cornelius Carr; Acting-Second- Assistant, 
 W. F. Andrews ; Acting - Third - Assistants, C. C. 
 Howe, W. Barnet and J. H. Wilson. 
 
 • ' MOUNT VERNON " - POUETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer- Lieutenant, James Trathen; 
 Acting-Masters, E. W- White and F. M. Paine; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, C. G. Walstrom, H. F. Cleverly and 
 Jason Ryon; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Ber- 
 rett; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. B. Brown; 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Henry Rogers ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, J. H. Horsford and H. 8. 
 Short ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Geo. Ducker and 
 Wm. H. Smith. 
 
 ' ' ATLANTA ' ' — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, T. J. Woodward; 
 Acting-Masters, Curtis Redmond and D. V. N. 
 Wrights ; Acting- Ensigns, Paul Armandt, A. C. 
 Southworth and H. Wakefield; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, Thomas Owens ; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, D. 8. Bostwick; Acting-Master's Mate, A. 
 Loisons; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. S. 
 Thompson; Acting-Second- Assistants, Wm. Collier, 
 Wm. Gumphert and J. W. Harnett; Acting Third- 
 Assistants, F. O. Brown, D. A. McDermott and 
 T. B. Speakman. 
 
 * ' ■ BRITANNIA. "—POURTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenants, Samuel Huse, and 
 W. A. Sheldon (commanded at Fort Fisher); Acting- 
 Masters, J. S. Coney and S. J. White; Acting-En- 
 signs, A. J. Lowell and W. H. Bryant; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, F. Niclierson; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, C. B. Culver; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 R. L. M. Jones and W. W. Reed; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second Assistants, J. Fernald and J. M. Barron; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, W. D. Butts, Samuel Dale, 
 Jr., and F. 8. Andrews. 
 
 "BANSHEE ' — FOURTH RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, W. H. Garfield; 
 Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Prindle, W. C. Gibson, Paul 
 Greene and J. 8. Young; Acting Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. M. Garner; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. P. 
 Shuler; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, C. Crans- 
 ton; Acting-Second- Assistants, Geo. F. Case and 
 Thomas McNeills; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. L. 
 Lowe, J. H. Radclifle, J. W. Little and Charles 
 Green. 
 
 ' MYSTIC 
 
 -FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Masters, Wm. Wright and S. B. Meaders; 
 Acting-Ensigns, A. T. Hamblen, H. L. Pierce and 
 Geo. W. Conner; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Alex. 
 Mackenzie; Assistant Paymaster, Augustus Parrot; 
 Engineers; Acting- First- Assistant, J. B. Lowell; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, Isaac Buck and T. W. De 
 Klyne. 
 
 " DAWN "—FOURTH RATE. 
 
 Acting- Master. J. A. Jackaway; Acting-Ensigns, 
 W. B. Avery, E. T. Sears and P. W. Morgan; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, 8. W. Crossley; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, A. 8. Lanbaeh; Acting- Assistant Pay 
 master, R. C. Peirce; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 
740 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Assistant, Sam'l Tomlinson ; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, T. K. Payson, C. W. Williains and J. D. 
 Averill. 
 
 " WESTERN 'WOBLD "— FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Edward Herrick; Acting-Ensigns, 
 
 A. J. L. Barlter, Chas. Hall, R. D. Sparrow and E. H. 
 McDonald; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R. F. Brooks, 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Amos D. Allen; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Second-Assistant, F. R. Shoemaker; 
 Acting-Third Assistants, A. Anderson, H. L. Per- 
 rine, J. E. Thumbert and Edw. (j. Schwartz. 
 
 " COMMODOEE HULL "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting Masters, F. Josselyn and J. O. Johnson; 
 Acting - Ensign, F. J. Runnells; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, Henry Fleet ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. Ciiapman • Engineers : Acting-Third-Assistants. 
 O. L. Smith, W. C. Remick and S. T. Hand. 
 
 "KACHABL SEAMAN "—FOrrBTH-KATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Samuel Curtis; Acting - Ensigns, 
 F. T. Strong and D. Organ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 H. B. Arbecam and W. H. Wording ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, T. Thompson. 
 
 "WHITEHEAD " — FOTJETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Greo. W- Barrett ; Acting-Ensign, 
 Jarvis Wilson; Acting-Master's Mates, T. E. Quayle, 
 T. M. Nelson and W. S. Baldwin; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, G. B. McDermott and G. S. 
 Snaith. 
 
 " DBLAWABE "— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Masters, J. H. Eldredge and H. Vander- 
 veer ; Acting-Ensigns, Robert Price and H. Liver- 
 more ; Acting - Master's Mates, George Mackay, 
 
 B. Heath, Jr., and Thos. Topliff ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. F. Henry; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 W. W. Woodhull; Engineers: Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, Chas. Bennett; Acting-Third-Assistants, C. H, 
 Keener and Thos. F. Hannigan. 
 
 'DAYLIGHT 
 
 -POUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Master. H. A. Phelan ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 F. L. Harris, B. F. Macintire. C. F. Russell, C. Lin- 
 derman and F. Bradley; Acting-Master's Mates, J. E. 
 Merriman ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. R. May ; 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, F.C. Imlay; Engineers: 
 Acting-First- Assistant, D. B. Overton ; Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, R. Pallet : Aoting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. B. Rice, H. R. Allen, A. P. Smith and Jas. Hill. 
 
 "COMMODOBB MOEBIS " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting Master, R, G. Lee ; Acting-Ensigns, J. D. 
 Gossick, A.J. Kane and Jos. Ware; Acting- Master's 
 Mate, L. Dempsey; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, R.W. 
 Clark ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, T. Higgins ; 
 Engineers ; Acting - Second ■ Assistants, V. Cronk 
 and J. H. AVatkins ; Acting-Third-Assistants, L. L. 
 Copeland, J. Callahan and D. A. Bandell. 
 
 • "EOLUa"— FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Master E. S. Keyser ; Acting -Ensigns, 
 Thos. Stothard, C. A. Stewart, S. M. Lane and H. N. 
 Crockett; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. Jen- 
 kins; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant. A. Rocker- 
 feller ; Acting -Third -Assistants, G. L. Rockwell, 
 J. M. Hennesy and M. L. Ruth. 
 
 "SAMUEL BOTAN" — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, W. G. Nutting; Acting-Ensigns, 
 T. W. Spencer and W. A. Dailey ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. J. Keller, W. P. Brownell and F. H. 
 Forbes. 
 
 " RELEASE' 
 
 -FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Jonathan Baker; Aoting-Ensitrns 
 C. H. Beckshaflft, L. Turlow, H. C. Bowen, J m' 
 Taylor and F. B. Owens ; Acting - Master's Mate, 
 
 F. W. Kimball ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, R. C. 
 Tuttle ; Acting Assistant Paymaster, G. L. Ely. 
 
 " CEEES "—FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting - Master. H. H. Foster ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 T. S. Russell and Saml. Weskett ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, J. B. Hopkins; Engineers: Aeting-Third-As- 
 sistants, J. A. Frank, W. H. Touchton and Rich. 
 Fowler. 
 
 * "LITTLE ADA" — POTTETH-EATE 
 
 Acting - Master, S. P. Crafts ; Acting - Ensign, 
 I. F. Atkins ; Acting- Master's Mates, W. H. Joseph 
 and G. W. Lane ; Engineers : Aeting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, W. H. Johnson -Acting -Third -Assistants, 
 B. Converse and J. R. Peterson. 
 
 " FAHKEE '' — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Masters, F. R. Webb and D W. Carrall ; 
 Acting - Ensigns, E. W. Pelton, Peter Williams, 
 J. W. Luscomb, H. A. Winslow and A. W. Harvey, 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, A. B. Thornton ; En- 
 gineers : Acting - First - Assistant, G. W. Foster ; 
 Acting - Second - Assistants, E. F. Lewis and J. H. 
 Hurton ; ActingThird-Assistant, J. B. Edson. 
 
 *" WILDEENESS " — rOUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, H. Arey ; Acting-Ensigns, B. O. 
 Low, C. P. Hull, C. E. P. Noyes and E. McKeever; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Rogers; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, Wm. Phyflfe ; Engineers : Acting- 
 Second -Assistant, Richard Anderson; Acting-Third 
 Assistants, E. A. Robinson, Walter Taylor and 
 David Bodden. 
 
 * ' ' NANSEMOND " — FOUBTH EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, James H. Porter; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. B. Henderson, Wm. Hunter and Henry Waring ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. Hudson, Jr.; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, A. K. Brown; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second -Assistant, Edward Aspald ; Acting -Third- 
 Assistants, C. M. Goodwin, J. T. Earl and E. A. 
 ReiUy. 
 
 ' ' MOUNT WASHINGTON " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting -Master, H. H. Haynie ; Acting- Ensign, 
 John Nason; Acting-Master's Mates, Theo. Morse; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Sydney Smith; 
 Acting-Tiiird- Assistant, F. A. Whitfield. 
 
 " ZOUAVE "— FOUETH-BATE 
 
 Acting-Master, Jacob L. Haves ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Chas. Attmore ; Second' Assistant Engineer, 
 Samuel H. Magee 
 
 " BEN MOEOAN ' — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting Master, A. B. Mulford. 
 
 ' ' PHLOX " — FOUETH-EATE. " 
 
 Acting-Ensign, D. F. O'Brien; Acting-Blaster, T. A. 
 Wyatt (Pilot) ; Acting- Master's Mate, Samuel Gor- 
 don ; Engineers: Acting -Third - Assistants, W. C. 
 Wright, G. Morrison and J. H. Coombs. 
 
 " EPSILON "—FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, F. M. Muitzer; Engineers : G. B. 
 Polen and Chas. Gould. 
 
 " CHAKLES PHELPS "— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Ottiwell and C. B. Parry. 
 
 "EOMAN "-FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, H. Merchant. 
 
 " GAMMA ■ — TUG. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Henry F. Curtis; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant Engineer, Thomas Lee. 
 
 " MOCCASIN ' —FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, James Brown ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Joseph Fuller, John Johnson and J. S. Sin- 
 clair; Engineers: Acting- Second- Assistant, T. T. 
 Archer, Acting - Third ■ Assistants, C. H. Wilson, 
 W. H. Garrecht and W. B. Boyd. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 747 
 
 " IjIIiAO "— FOTTBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. A. Chadwick; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, D. 8. IngersoU; Engineers: Acting-Tliird- As- 
 sistants, W. T. Graff, J. C. Garner and J. B. Games. 
 
 "WIIililAM BADGEB" — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, S. G. Swain; Acting- Master's Mate, 
 J. B. Soines. 
 
 " POPPY ' — rOtlBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Wm. Clark; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 T. P. Jones; Acting- Second- Assistant Engineer, 
 C. W. O'Neill. 
 
 ' anemone" — POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, W. C. Borden ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, G. W. Briggs and Theo. Stone ; Engineers : 
 Acting- Second- Assistant, Wra. Higman; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, J. L. Wright and H. Litchfield, 
 
 " ALEET " — rOUETH BATE. 
 
 Acting- Ensign, John Bishop ; Acting-Master and 
 Pilot, D. M. Abbott; Engineers: Acting-Second-As- 
 sistant, Wm. Mahan ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Eli 
 Tympenny and J. W. Briggs. 
 
 ' ' HEIilOTEOPE ''- -POTJETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, G. B. Griffin; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 Samuel Davis; Engineers: Acting Second -Assistant, 
 S. G. Flynn; Acting-Third- Assistants, John McKen- 
 ney and Edward J. Cahill. 
 
 ' EPSILON " -POUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Eli M. Boggs; Engineers: Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, F. M. Wagner and Prank Blocki. 
 
 ' ' COHASSETT "—POUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, M. K. Henderson; Engi- 
 neers: Acting- Second Assistant, J. H. Finn; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, H. Haney and R. F. Baker. 
 
 "DELTA" POtTETH-EATE 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, Wm. P. Gragg; Engineers : 
 Acting-Third Assistants, Geo Schultz and J. N. 
 Schenck. 
 
 " ALBEMAEIjE "— fotjeth-bate. 
 
 Acting- Assistant Paymasters, E. Mellackand J. G. 
 Orme ; Acting- First- Assistant Engineer, Newton 
 Eggleston ; Gunner, E. A. McDonald ; Carpenter, 
 M. W. Paul. 
 
 "picket launch." 
 
 Acting-Gunner, Herman Peters; Acting- Second- 
 Assistant Engineer, Marceline Villazon. 
 
 "spuyten duyvil." 
 
 Engineers: First- Assistant, J. L. Lay; Second- As- 
 sistant, C. H. Stone ; Acting- Second -Assistants, 
 I. R. Smith and J. E. Chadwick ; Aeting-Third-As- 
 sistant, Byron S- Heath. 
 
 * "BEPUBIilC." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. W. Bennett. 
 
C H A PTER LI. 
 
 EFFECTS OF THE FALL OF FORT FISHER, AND CRITICISMS ON GENERAL 
 BADEAU'S MILITARY HISTORY OF GENERAL GRANT. 
 
 General Butler's Influence. — Condition of General Lee's Army. — Movements of 
 Armies under Generals Grant and Sherman. — Honor to whom Honor is Due. — 
 Extracts from General Grant's Memoirs, showing the Origin of Fort Fisher 
 Expedition. — Letters of Instruction from General Grant to Generals Butler 
 AND Terry. — Why General Butler abandoned the Attempt to Capture Fort 
 . Fisher after First Attack. — Why Second Attack on Fort Fisher was Success- 
 ful. — Letters of Secretary op the Navy to the President. — Criticisms on Gen- 
 eral Badeau's Military History of General Grant.— Incidents of Final As- 
 sault ON Fort Fisher. — Effects of Fall of Fort Fisher, etc. 
 
 THERE was a great deal of acrimony 
 and recrimination growing out of 
 the first attack on Fort Fisher. 
 The " Committee on the Conduct 
 of the War" took the matter up, 
 and it proved a feast for the politicians. 
 
 General Butler, with strong political in- 
 fluence, had, of course, a host of supporters, 
 and these flew to his assistance as soon as 
 he returned from Fort Fisher, in the hope 
 of finding some flaw in the armor of General 
 Grant or Admiral Porter through which 
 they could thrust their lances. 
 
 Just as the committee were accumulat- 
 ing testimony in support of General Butler, 
 the sound of the one hundred guns fired at 
 the Washington Navy Yard, in honor of 
 the capture of Fort Fisher, thundered 
 through the Capitol, and the baseless fabric 
 of evidence melted into thin air. Fort 
 Fisher was won, and nobody cared to hear 
 about the failure of the first attack. 
 
 Having given a detailed account of the 
 naval operations before Fort Fisher, it now 
 becomes in order to show the effect of the 
 capture of that stronghold, and its influence 
 in hastening the close of the civil war. 
 
 The capture of the defences of Wilming- 
 ton closed the last door through which the 
 Southern Confederacy received their sup- 
 plies of clothing, arms and ammunition ; 
 
 therefore, when Fort Fisher fell, it was only 
 a matter of a short time when the rebellion 
 would collapse. No matter how brave an 
 enemy may be, or how well commanded, he 
 must have provisions and military stores ; 
 and at this time General Lee had not 
 enough material of war to last him three 
 months. 
 
 General Grant confronted the Confeder- 
 erates at Petersburg and Richmond with a 
 greatly superior force, and the James River 
 was blockaded by the Navy ; yet Lee held 
 his own with his diminished army, and 
 General Grant had to wait until necessity 
 should bring the enemy to terms. 
 
 Despite Grant's great numerical supe- 
 riority, Lee had secured the approaches to 
 Richmond so well that all attacks on his 
 lines were unsuccessful. Sherman, with 
 50,000 men, was advancing from the South, 
 but his forces were in such position that it 
 would have been somewhat difficult to con- 
 centrate them in case of being confronted 
 by a large army. He had occupied Savannah 
 after considerable resistance from Hardee, 
 who, when he evacuated the place, marched 
 northward to make a junction with the 
 40,000 men under General J. E. Johnston. 
 
 Sherman always supposed that Fort 
 Fisher and the other defences of Wilming- 
 ton would flnally have surrendered to him, 
 
 (74R1 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 749 
 
 had it not fallen when it did ; but because 
 Savannah and Charleston fell on the ap- 
 proach of the Federal troops, it was no 
 reason that the defences of Cape Fear River 
 should do the same. The forts about 
 Charleston and Savannah were far less cal- 
 culated to stand a siege than those at Wil- 
 mington, and it was shown, by the heavy 
 naval bombardment of the latter, how diffi- 
 cult it was to injure the works sufficiently 
 to enable an assaulting party to capture 
 them. Even after all the guns were ren- 
 dered useless, a powerful resistance was 
 offered to the assailants, covered as were 
 the latter by the heavy batteries of the fleet, 
 which swept the enemy from the parapets 
 as the troops advanced over the bomb- 
 proofs. Sherman, with all his soldiers, 
 could never have reduced the forts on Cape 
 Fear River, except after a long siege, if the 
 enemy had shown any military intelli- 
 gence. 
 
 Previous to the capture of Savannah, 
 General Sherman had informed Grant that 
 he had initiated measures towards join- 
 ing him with 50,000 infantry, and, inci- 
 dentally, to capture Savannah. No doubt 
 the General reflected that the troops from 
 Savannah and Charleston, combined with 
 those at Wilmington and Johnston's army 
 of 40,000, with 20,000 from the vicinity of 
 Richmond, would have given the enemy at 
 least 80,000 of the best troops to meet him 
 before he could make a junction with Grant. 
 The enemy held the Wilmington and 
 Weldon railroad all the way to Richmond, 
 the points along the Sounds only were held 
 by the Federal Navy. General Johnston 
 was in advance of Sherman all the time ; 
 and, having assembled his army at a con- 
 venient point, it is hardly to be supposed 
 that so skillful a commander, with a force 
 of 80,000 men, would allow Sherman to join 
 Grant without a struggle, which might have 
 proved disastrous to the Union forces. 
 
 The capture of Fort Fisher by the Army 
 and Navv put an end to any doubts on the 
 subject. " The Northern public was in such 
 a state of excitement that it would have 
 borne with bad grace a reverse of any kind; 
 and, although it was impossible to prolong 
 the rebellion owing to the exhaustion of 
 the South, yet it would have been a great 
 satisfaction to the latter to have dealt a 
 final blow to their conquerors, not only to 
 injure the prestige of the North, but to en- 
 able the South to demand better terms than 
 they could otherwise have hoped for. 
 
 When the Federal troops entered Wil- 
 mington, all of Cape Fear River and the 
 Wilmington and Weldon railroad were 
 placed in possession of the Federal authori- 
 ties ; and, as the Navy held the principal 
 points on the sounds of North Carolina, the 
 
 TTni+crl Qfctoa rtrnrf>rnmp.nt coulfi thrOW anV 
 
 number of troops into the enemy's rear by 
 way of the Weldon railroad, Newborn and 
 Plymouth, and furnish them with provis- 
 ions by the same routes; so that Sherman 
 could advance through Georgia and South 
 Carolina without fear of opposition from 
 General Johnston, who after the fall of 
 Fort Fisher evidently gave up the idea of 
 successful resistance, though he did attempt 
 to prevent Sherman reaching Goldsbor- 
 ough — a forlorn hope. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln appreciated the difficulty 
 with which the Federals had to contend as 
 long as General Johnston with a powerful 
 army kept the field. A check to General 
 Sherman in his progress through the South- 
 ern swamps might have prolonged the war 
 for six months, but this could not happen 
 after Fort Fisher had fallen and the Wil- 
 mington road was in Federal hands. 
 
 Many inaccuracies have been stated in 
 regard to the capture of Fort Fisher and the 
 original proposers of the expedition, and no 
 one has done more in this direction than 
 the " military historian." We will not pre- 
 tend to criticise " General " Badeau when he 
 treats of purely military movements in his 
 " history " of General Grant, although our 
 connection with the several commands of 
 the latter have made us familiar with them ; 
 but we claim a right to express views fully 
 in cases where the Navy was concerned, 
 and to expose the mistakes of a writer 
 when he undertakes to reflect upon officers 
 of the Navy without any valid reason for 
 so doing. 
 
 Some of the military historian's state- 
 ments assign the origin of the Fort Fisher 
 expedition other than where it belongs, 
 for it originated in the Navy Department. 
 General Grant in his Memoirs ingenuously 
 disposes of these statements, and gives an 
 impartial account of the matter, which is 
 inserted in this history. 
 
 Some of the assertions of the military 
 historian are also disposed of by this ac- 
 count from General Grant's Memoirs : 
 
 " Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most im- 
 portant sea-coast port left to the enemy througrh 
 which to get supplies from abroad, and send cotton 
 and other products out by blockade-runners, be- 
 sides being a place of great strategic value. The 
 Navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal 
 the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial 
 effect. The nature of the outlet of Cape Fear River 
 was such that it required watching for so great a 
 distance that, without possession of the land north 
 of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for 
 the Navy to entirely close the harbor against the 
 entrance of blockade-runners. 
 
 "To secure the possession of this land required 
 the co-operation of a land force, which I agreed to 
 furnish. Immediately commenced the assemblage 
 in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of 
 one of the most formidable armada ever collected 
 for concentration upon one given point. 
 
750 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ''This necessarily attracted the attention of the 
 enemy, as -well as that of the loyal North ; and 
 through the imprudence of the public press, and, 
 very likely, of officers in both branches of the ser- 
 vice, the exact object of the expedition became a 
 subject of common discussion in the newspapers 
 both North and South. 
 
 " The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it. 
 This caused a postponement of the expedition un- 
 til the later part of November, wlien, being again 
 called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary 
 of the Navy, 1 agreed to furnish the men required 
 at once, and went myself, in company with Major- 
 General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we had 
 a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force re- 
 quired and the time of starting. 
 
 "A force of 6,500 men was regarded as sufficient. 
 The time of starting was not definitely arranged, 
 but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th 
 of December, if not before. Learning, on the 30th 
 of November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, tak- 
 ing with him most of the forces about Wilmington, 
 I deemed it of the utmost importance that the ex- 
 pedition should reach its destination before the re- 
 turn of Bragg, and directed General Butler to 
 make all arrangements for the departure of Major- 
 General Weitzel, who had been designated to com- 
 mand the land forces, so that the Navy might not 
 be detained one moment. 
 
 "On the 6th of December the following instruc- 
 tions were given : 
 
 ' City Point, Virginia, \ 
 •December 6, 1864. j 
 'General — The first object of the expedition 
 under General Weitzel is to close to the enemy the 
 port of Wilmington. If successful in this, the 
 second will be to capture Wilmington itself. 
 
 ' There are reasonable grounds to hope for suc- 
 cess, if advantage can be taken of the ab- 
 sence of the greater part of the enemy's forces, 
 now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The direc- 
 tions you have given for thenumljers and equipment 
 of the expedition are all right, except in the unim- 
 portant matter of where they embark and the 
 amount of intrenching tools to be taken. 
 
 ' The object of the expedition will be gained by 
 effecting a landing on the main land, between Cape 
 Pear River and the Atlantic, north of the north en- 
 trance of the river. Should such landing be effected 
 while the enemy still holds Port Pisher and the 
 batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then 
 the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co- 
 operating with the Navy, effect the reduction and 
 capture of those places. These in our hands, the 
 Navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wil- 
 mington would be sealed. 
 
 'Should Fort Pisher, and the point of land on 
 which it is built, fall into the hands of our troops 
 immediately on landing, then it will be worth the 
 attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march 
 and surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the 
 first object of the expedition, the second will be- 
 come a matter of after consideration. 
 
 ' The details for execution are intrusted to you 
 and the officer immediately in command of the 
 troops. 
 
 ' Should the troops under General Weitzel fail 
 to effect a landing at or near Fort Pisher, they will 
 be returned to the armies operating against Rich- 
 mond without delay. 
 
 ' U. S. Grant, Lientenant-General. 
 ' Majob-Genbral B. p. Butler.' 
 
 "General Butler commanded the Army from 
 which the troops were taken for this enterprise, and 
 the territory within which they were to operate— 
 military courtesy required that all orders and in- 
 structions should go through him. They were so 
 sent; but General Weitzel has since officially in- 
 
 formed me that he never received the foregomg in- 
 structions, nor was he aware of their existence 
 until he read General Butlers published official re- 
 port of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorse- 
 ment and papers accompanying it. I had no idea 
 of General Butler's accompanying the expedition 
 until the evening before it got off from Bermuda 
 Hundred, and then did not dream but that Gen- 
 eral Weitzel had received all the instructions and 
 ■would be in command. 
 
 "I rather formed the idea that General Butler 
 was actuated by a desire to witness the effect of 
 the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition 
 was detained several days at Hampton Roads, 
 awaiting the loading of the powder-boat. 
 
 "The importance of getting the Wilmington 
 expedition off without any delay, with or without 
 the powder-boat, had been urged upon General 
 Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter. 
 The expedition finally got off on the 13th of De- 
 cember, and arrived at the place of rendezvous, off 
 New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening of the 
 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of 
 the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get ammu- 
 nition for the Monitors. 
 
 " The sea becoming rough, making it difficult to 
 land troops, and the supply of water and coal being 
 about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to 
 Beaufort to replenish; this, with the state of the 
 weather, delayed the return to the place of rendez- 
 vous until the24th. The powder-boat was exploded 
 on the morning of the 24th, before the return of 
 General Butler from Beaufort ; but it would seem, 
 from the notice taken of it in the Southern news- 
 papers, that the enemy were never enlightened as 
 to the object of the explosion until they were in- 
 formed by the Northern press. 
 
 " On the 25th a landing was effected without op- 
 position, and a reconnoissance under Brevet-Briga- 
 dier-General Curtis pushed up towards the fort. 
 But, before receiving a full report of the result of 
 this reconnoissance, Genei-al Butler, in direct viola- 
 tion of the instructions given, ordered the re-em- 
 barkment of the troops and the return of the expe- 
 dition. The re-embarkment was accomplished by 
 the morning of the 27th. 
 
 " On the return of the expedition, officers and 
 men — among them Brevet-Major-General (then 
 Brevet-Brigadier-General) N. M. Curtis, First-Lieu- 
 tenant G. W. Ross, 117th New York Volunteers; 
 First-Lieutenant William H. WalUng and Second- 
 Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volun- 
 teers—voluntarily reported to me that when re- 
 called they were nearly into the fort, and, in then- 
 opinion, it could have been taken without much loss. 
 
 "Soon after the return of the expedition, I re- 
 ceived a dispatch from the Secretary of the Navy, 
 and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me 
 that the fleet was still off Port Fisher, and express- 
 ing the conviction that under a proper leader the 
 place could be taken. The natural supposition 
 with me was, that when the troops abandoned the 
 expedition the Navy would do so also. Finding it 
 had not, however, I answered on the 30th of Decem- 
 ber, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I 
 would send a force and make another attempt to 
 take the place. 
 
 " This time I selected Brevet- Major-General (now 
 Major-General) A. H. Terry to command the expe- 
 dition. The troops composing it consisted of the 
 same that composed the former, with the addition 
 of a small brigade numbering about one thousand 
 five hundred, and a small siege-train. The latter 
 it was never found necessary to land. 
 
 " I communicated direct to the commander of the 
 expedition the following instructions : 
 
 ' City Point, Virginia, January 3, 1865. 
 
 ' General — The expedition intrusted to your 
 command has been fitted out to renew the attempt 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 751 
 
 to capture Fort Fisher, N. C, and Wilmington ul- 
 timately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed 
 ■with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet 
 lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival 
 of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, 
 commanding the North Atlantic Blockading Squad- 
 ron. 
 
 ' It is exceedingly desirable that the most com- 
 plete understanding should exist between yourself 
 and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, 
 that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and 
 get from him the part to be performed by each 
 branch of the public service, so that there may be 
 unity of action. 
 
 ' It would be well to have the whole programme 
 laid down in writing. 1 have served with Admiral 
 Porter, and know that you can rely on his judg- 
 ment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. 
 1 would, therefore, defer to him as much as is con- 
 sistent with your own responsibilities. 
 
 'The first object to be attained is to get a 
 firm position on the spit of land on which Port 
 Fisher is built, from which you can operate against 
 that fort. 
 
 ' You want to look to the practicability of re- 
 ceiving your supplies, and to defending yourself 
 against superior forces sent against you by any of 
 the avenues left open to the enemy. If such a 
 position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher 
 wDl not be abandoned until the reduction is accom- 
 plished, or another plan of campaign is ordered 
 from these headquarters. , 
 
 ' My own views are, that, if you effect a land- 
 ing, the Navy ought to run a portion of their fleet 
 into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it 
 operates on the outside. 
 
 'Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut 
 it off from supplies or reinforcements while the 
 river is in possession of the enemy. A siege train 
 will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, 
 in readiness to be sent to you if required. All 
 others supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you 
 need them. 
 
 'Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your 
 position is assured. When you find they can be 
 spared, order them back, or such of them that you 
 can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders. 
 
 ' In case of failure to effect a landing, bring 
 your command back to Beaufort, and report to 
 these headquarters for further instructions. You 
 will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. 
 
 'General Sheridan has been ordered to send a 
 division of troops to Baltimore, and place them on 
 sea-going vessels. These trooi^s will be brought to 
 Fort Monroe, and kept there on the vessels until 
 you are heard from. Should you require them, 
 they will be sent to you. 
 
 ' U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. 
 ' Bbbvet-Major-Gbneral A. H. Tbbbt.' 
 
 "Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp 
 (now Brevet-Brigadier-General), who accompanied 
 the former expedition, was assigned, in orders, as 
 chief-engineer of this. It will be seen that these 
 instructions did not differ materially from those 
 given for the first expedition, and that in neither 
 instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. 
 This was a matter left entirely to the discretion 
 of the commanding officer. The expedition sailed 
 from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, arriv- 
 ing at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, 
 where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it 
 lay until the morning of the 13th, when it got 
 underway and reached its destination that evening. 
 Under cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the 
 troops commenced on the morning of the 13th, and 
 by 3 o'clock P. M. was completed without loss. 
 
 " On the 14th a reconnaissance was pushed to 
 within five hundred yards of Fort Fisher, and a 
 
 email aAtrannCk wrr^vlr ^-n IrPTl TinSSflSfiinn nf_ flTlfl t-lTPTlpd 
 
 into a defensive line against any attempt that 
 might be made from the fort. 
 
 "The reconnaissance disclosed the fact that the 
 front of the work had been seriously injured by the 
 Navy Are. In the afternoon of the 15th the fort 
 was assaulted, and after most deperate fighting was 
 captured with its entire garrison and armament. 
 Thus was secured, by the combined efforts of the 
 Navy and Army, one of the most important suc- 
 cesses of the war. Our loss was, killed, 110 ; 
 wounded, 536. On the 16th and 17th, the enemy 
 abandoned and blew up Port Caswell and the 
 works on Smith's Island, which were immediately 
 occupied by us. This gave us entire control of the 
 mouth of the Cape Fear River." 
 
 In vol. 3. page 224, of his work, the mili- 
 tary historian states as follows : 
 
 " While thus zealously watching the varied inter- 
 ests and changing circumstances in Georgia and 
 Tennessee, as well as at Richmond and in the val- 
 ley. Grant had also planned [!] to take advantage 
 of Sherman's march by a new movement on the At 
 lantic coast. Wilmington, near the mouth of Cape 
 Fear River, in North Carolina, was the only im- 
 portant seaport open to the enemy. 
 
 " It was originally intended that the expedition 
 should set out in October, but through the impru- 
 dence of officers both of the Army and the Navy, and 
 afterwards of the public press, the exact object of 
 the enterprise became known, and the enemy thus 
 warned prepared to resist it." 
 
 For this reason, we suppose, the expedition 
 was postponed until the middle of winter, so 
 that the enemy could make his own ar- 
 rangements; for the military historian says: 
 "This caused a postponement of the expe- 
 dition, but towards the end of November 
 the project was revived, and e,500 men were 
 vro7nised [!] from the Army of the James." 
 
 It would only require forty-eight hours to 
 equip 8,000 troops and collect the trans- 
 ports, yet no move was made from October 
 until the middle of December. General 
 Grant had appointed General Weitzel to 
 command the troops, but from the very be- 
 ginning Butler made himself the prominent 
 figure, and Weitzel had little more to say 
 than if he had been the General's orderly. 
 General Grant evidently supposed that But- 
 ler was acting only as the commander of a 
 division of an army, and had a right to in- 
 terfere in getting the troops ready to em- 
 bark; but Butler, for some unaccountable 
 reason, was delaying the expedition. 
 
 General Butler, with a large body of 
 troops, held an almost impregnable position 
 north and east of the James. General 
 Grant held Lee and his army tight in Rich- 
 mond, while a bridge of boats connected 
 the two armies, and a large force of naval 
 vessels, including the heaviest iron-clad, oc- 
 cupied the river, which was also blocked 
 with sunken vessels filled with stones. The 
 Federal Army had therefore nothing to fear 
 from Lee, and certainly 8,000 men could 
 have been spared from Butler's army. 
 
 Referring back to the military historian, 
 who says that the Fort Fisher expedition 
 "had been delayed in November, owing: to 
 
752 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the indiscretion of Army and Navy offi- 
 cers, by which the enemy were notified of 
 the projected movement, and were fortify- 
 ing the place strongly in consequence," and 
 who further says: "On the 30th of No- 
 vember Grant notified Butler that Bragg, 
 who had been in command at Wilmington, 
 had set out for Georgia, taking with him 
 most of the forces"! Let us ask, then, 
 why, with such information in his posses- 
 sion, did Butler delay the expedition ? It 
 can only be accounted for by that indomit- 
 able will for which he was celebrated, and 
 feeling himself master of the situation, 
 from his great political prestige, he did as 
 he pleased — for the power of politics at 
 that time overshadowed everything else, 
 and even General Grant was careful not to 
 ignore it. 
 
 "It is important," said Grant to Butler, 
 "that Weitzel should get off during his 
 (Bragg's) absence, and if successful in 
 making a landing, he may, by a bold dash, 
 succeed in capturing Wilmington." The 
 Navy had been ready from the middle of 
 October, and yet the military historian 
 speaks of the delays of the Navy, and 
 want of co-operation between Butler and 
 the Admiral. 
 
 To illustrate how little delay there was 
 on the part of the Navy, we give the fol- 
 lowing letter from Mr. Secretary Welles to 
 the President : 
 
 "Navy Departme^^t, Oct. 28, 1864. 
 
 Sir — Tou are aware that, owing to shoal water 
 at tlie ruouth of Cape Fear River, a purely naval 
 attack cannot be undertaken against Wilmington. 
 Had there been water enough for our broadside 
 ships of the " Hartford " class, the naval attacks of 
 New Orleans, Mobile and Port Royal would have 
 been repeated there. I have, as you are aware, 
 often pressed upon the War Department the im- 
 portance of capturing Wilmington, and urged \ipon 
 the military authorities the necessity of undertak- 
 ing a joint operation against the defences of 
 Cape Fear River, but until recently there never 
 seems to have been a period when the department 
 Av.is in a condition to entertain the subject. 
 
 Two months ago it was arranged tliat an attack 
 should be made on the 1st of October, but subse- 
 quentlj' postponed to the 15th, and the naval force 
 has been ready since the 15th inst., in accordance 
 with that agreement. One hundred and fifty ves- 
 sels-of-war now form the North Atlantic squadron. 
 
 The command, first offered to Rear- Admiral Far- 
 ragut, but declined by him, has been given to Rear- 
 Admiral Porter. Every other squadron has been 
 depleted, and vessels detached from other duty to 
 strengthen this expedition. The vessels are con- 
 centrated at Hampton Roads and Beaufort, where 
 they remain — an immense force lying idle, awaiting 
 the movements of the army. 
 
 The detention of so many vessels from blockade 
 and cruising duty is a most serious injury to the 
 public service, and if the expedition cannot go for- 
 ward for want of troops I desire to be notified, so 
 that the ships may be relieved and dispersed for 
 other service. 
 
 The importance of closing Wilmington is so well 
 understood by you that I refrain from presenting 
 any new arguments. I am aware of the anxiety of 
 
 yourself and of the disposition of the War Depart- 
 ment to render all the aid in its power. 
 
 The cause of the delay is not from the want of a 
 proper coneejjtion of the importance of the subject, 
 but the season for naval coast operations will soon 
 be gone. General Bragg has been sent from Rich- 
 mond to Wilmington to prepare for the attack; and 
 the autumn weather, so favoraV)le for such an expe- 
 dition, is fast passing away. The public expect this 
 attack, and the country will be distressed if it be 
 not made. To procrastinate much longer will be to 
 peril its success. Of the obstacles which delay or 
 prevent military co-operation at once, I cannot 
 judge; but the delay is becoming exceedingly em- 
 barrassing to this Department, and the importance 
 of having the military authorities impressed with 
 the necessity of speedy action has prompted this 
 communication to you. 
 
 I have the honor to be, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles. 
 The President." 
 
 According to the military historian, Gen- 
 eral Butler never received any detailed or- 
 ders regarding the expedition until Decem- 
 ber 6th, at which date General Grant writes: 
 " The first object of the expedition, under 
 General Weitzel, is to close the port of Wil- 
 mington. There are reasonable grounds to 
 hope for success, if advantage can betaken 
 of the absence of the greater part of the 
 enemj^'s forces now looking after Sherman 
 in Georgia." This would indicate that Gen- 
 eral Grant did not intend that Butler should 
 accompany the expedition, but that the 
 military part of it should be managed 
 entirely by Weitzel. Yet, according to the 
 military historian — 
 
 ''Butler, on the night when the troops embarked, 
 proceeded to City Point, and informed General 
 Grant that he was going himself, and this in viola- 
 tion of his command ing-generals orders ! who 'did 
 not desire to intrust the command of the expedi- 
 tion to Butler ;' for, as repeatedly shown, although 
 Grant was entirely satisfied with that officers zeal 
 and general ability, he was convinced that he 
 lacked some qualities essential in a commander in 
 the field. Grant did not pronounce, but he felt 
 certain, that the peculiar talent of a successful gen- 
 eral was not possessed by the Commander of the 
 James. He therefore directed Butler to place 
 Weitzel in command of the expedition, and had, in 
 fact, comndtted to Butler movements in support 
 of those of Meade, which he intended should de- 
 tain him in Bermuda Hundred. 
 
 "Nevertheless, he did not now forbid Butler to 
 accompany Weitzel. It was difficult thus to affront 
 a commander of such high rank unless it was in- 
 tended to relieve him entirely from command, and 
 this Grant was not prepared to do without consult- 
 ing the Government, which he knew would dislike 
 and perhaps forbid the step. He fancied, besides, 
 that Butler's object might be to witness the explo- 
 sion of the powder-boat— in which he took great 
 interest — rather than to direct the expedition 
 itself. 
 
 •***■*«. 
 
 " It is certain, however, that it would have been 
 better if Grant had frankly ordered Butler back to 
 the Army of the James, to superintend the move- 
 ments there. 
 
 "His dislike to wound the feelings of another 
 should, doubtless, at this crisis have been sacrificed. 
 
 "Those who have never been placed in situations 
 of great delicacy and responsibility, or who cannot 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 r53 
 
 realize the various considerations — military, polit- 
 ical and personal — which affect the decisions ot men 
 in power, will, doubtless, here find cause to censure 
 Orant." 
 
 General Grant might well have exclaimed 
 on reading this, "Save me from my 
 friends ! " The military historian does not 
 give his authority for the foregoing state- 
 ments, but it is certain that, when General 
 Butler reported his return from Wilming- 
 ton to General Grant, the latter relieved 
 Mm from command. 
 
 On the 9th of December, 1864, General 
 Grant telegraphed to Butler at Fortress 
 Monroe. ' • Let General Weitzel get off as 
 soon as possible; we don't want the Navy 
 to wait an hour." Yet the Navy had 
 waited patiently from the 15th of October 
 until the 6th of December, fifty-one days! 
 
 It will be seen throughout this narrative 
 that we have given General Grant on all 
 ■occasions credit for the highest military 
 ability, and in this instance we do not 
 desire to take from him one iota of it. We 
 only refer to the revelations made by the 
 military historian, in relation to which 
 General Grant is not responsible. 
 
 In volume 3, page 390, of his book, the 
 author states that : 
 
 " About the 18th of December, 1864, there was 
 doubtless a lack of concert, and even of cordial 
 ■co-operation, between the naval and military 
 ■chiefs. Butler was not popular with the other 
 branch of the service, and, after the expedition 
 started from Hampton Roads, neither commander 
 visited the other ! " 
 
 Now, here is a paragraph that ought to 
 make our " historian " happy. Imagine a 
 General and an Admiral calling upon each 
 other on the salt-sea waves, amid tumbling 
 "billows, in the dead of winter, and leaving 
 ■cards ! 
 
 The Admiral's reason for not communi- 
 cating with Butler personally was, that he 
 did not see the General from the time he 
 left Fortress Monroe until the time when 
 the General stated he was going to leave the 
 Navy in the lurch at Fort Fisher, and But- 
 ler did not communicate with the Admiral, 
 as he might easily have done, because he 
 had been informed of all that was going to 
 be done, what he had to do, and what 
 means would be placed at his disposal. 
 There was no communication necessary 
 until just before landing, when General 
 Weitzel went on board the flag-ship to see 
 Admiral Porter, who agreed to all Butler's 
 propositions, although some of them were 
 needless. 
 
 To refer to that portion of the military 
 "history," which seems to have been written 
 without consideration, in regard to a 
 matter of which the author really knew 
 nothing, or perhaps to let up General 
 Butler, of whom he had spoken harshly, he 
 
 "Their written communications were few, and it 
 was the chief -of-staff of the Admiral, and the rank- 
 ing officer under Butler (Weitzel) [who was sup- 
 posed to be in command of the Army forces], 
 through whom the views or wishes of either were 
 made known to each other. Porter thought that 
 his advice was not taken at times when it should 
 have been controlling, and Butler thought that 
 Porter acted without duly considering or consult- 
 ing him.'' [!] 
 
 That is, Porter managed his fleet to suit 
 himself, and left Butler to manage his own 
 forces until the time came for action: 
 
 " Bach was besides annoyed at delays which, 
 though inopportune, were unavoidable, and neither 
 made suflBcient allowance for the difficulties of that 
 branch with which he was less familiar. They 
 seemed, indeed, to be playing at cross purposes. 
 When Butler was supplied with coal. Porter wanted 
 ammunition, and when Porter had all the ammuni- 
 tion he wanted, Butler was out of coal ! Even the 
 elements conspired against them, and when one 
 could ride on the open sea, the other was obliged to 
 stay inside." [! !] 
 
 This is the most crooked narrative ever 
 written by one claiming to be a historian. 
 The author affirms that there was no con- 
 cert of action between General Butler and 
 the Admiral, and yet he says (vol. 3, page 
 315) : 
 
 " On the morning of the 25th, Butler sent Weitzel 
 to Porter to arrange the programme for the day. 
 It was decided that the fleet should attack the fort 
 again, while the troops were to land, and, if possi- 
 ble, assault under cover of the naval fire as soon as 
 the Half- Moon and Flag- Pond Batteries were si- 
 lenced. At 7 o'clock the fleet again took up a position 
 within a mile of the fort [three-fourths of a mile], 
 not a shot being fired by the enemy except at the 
 last four naval vessels as they were moving into line. 
 [This for the reason that nearly all the guns had 
 been disabled by the ships' fire and by the sand 
 that had been driven by shells into their bores.] 
 
 " At 13 o'clock the batteries above the forts were 
 reported silenced, and a detachment of about 2,300 
 men of General Ames' command was landed two 
 and a half miles north of the fort [without a gun 
 being fired on them]. The debarkation was effected 
 under the cover of seventeen gun-boats, which 
 raked the woods and could drive away any force 
 that might have opposed the landing. 
 
 " Five hundred men under General Curtis were 
 the first to land. He pushed his skirmish - line 
 within a few yards of Fort Fisher, causing on the 
 way the surrender of the garrison of Flag-Pond 
 Battery, already silenced by the naval fire. Weitzel 
 accompanied Curtis and approached within 800 
 yards of the worlvs. He counted seventeen guns 
 in position bearing up the beach, observed the 
 traverses and stockades, the glacis, ditch, and 
 counterscarp, and decided that the work had not 
 been materially injured by the naval fire. [!] Weit- 
 zel, too, had been in many unsuccessful assaults, 
 and never in a victorious one; he had a distinct and 
 vivid recollection of tliis experience, and returned 
 to Butler and reported that it would be butchery 
 to assault. 
 
 "Curtis was now within fifty yards of the fort 
 [not a shot fired at him] and sent word to Ames 
 that he could take the work, whereupon Aiues sent 
 orders for an assault. Curtis at once moved for- 
 ward, but by the time he reached his position 
 night had come on, and the fleet had nearly ceased 
 to fire ; [and yet, Ames and Curtis, under Terry, 
 assaulted, and continued to assault, Fort Fisher 
 
 
754 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 ■' Some; of the rebel troops who had been driven 
 to their bomb-proofs returned to Their guns" 
 [which they could not fire as the guns were dis- 
 disabled]. At this juncture the order to embark 
 arrived (ind no assault was made. Curtis and the 
 officers with him declared that the fort could 
 have been easily carried. That at the moment 
 when they were recalled they virtually had 
 possession, having actually approached so close 
 that the rebel flag (which the Navy fire had 
 knocked down> had been snatched from the para- 
 pet, and a horse brought away from inside the 
 stocliade. Three hundred prisoners had been cap- 
 tured outside, etc. That night, Butler informed 
 the Admiral that he and Weitzel were of the 
 opinion that the place could not be carried by 
 assault, having been left substantially uninjured 
 by the naval lire ! 
 
 " Seventeen guns, he said, two of which only were 
 injured [and yet none of them fired on the 
 troops], were bearing up the beach, covering a 
 strip of land, the only practicable route, not more 
 than wide enough for 1,000 men in line of battle — 
 [the place where Curtis finally assaulted without 
 losing a man]. 
 
 "Hoke's reinforcements were approaching, and, 
 as only the operations of a siege would reduce the 
 fort, he had caused the troops to re embark. • I 
 shall, therefore," said he, 'sail for Hampton Roads 
 as soon as the transpoi-t fleet can be got in order.' " 
 
 Now this is what Badeau calls " a want of 
 concert of action "" between General Butler 
 and Admiral Porter. Of course, Porter 
 could not join Butler in his retreat, as will 
 be seen by Badeau's next paragraph: 
 
 "The Admiral, however, was of a different mind, 
 and replied, 'I have ordered the largest vessels to 
 proceed off Beaufort and fill up with ammunition, 
 to be ready for another attack in ease it is decided to 
 proceed with this matter by making other arrange- 
 ments [meaning sending another General]. We 
 have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could 
 keep any rebels inside from showing their heads 
 until an assaulting column was within twenty yards 
 of the work.s. 1 wish some more of your gallant 
 fellows had followed the officer who took the 
 flag from the jiarapet, and the brave fellow who 
 brought the hoi-so from the fort. I think they would 
 have found it an easier conquest than is supposed.' 
 
 " I5utler, nevertheless, remained unshaken in his 
 determination, and on the night of theS.'Jth Decem- 
 ber he embarked all his troops except Curtis' com- 
 mand, when the surf became high and he sailed 
 away, leaving these ashore." 
 
 They were under cover of the guns of tlie 
 fleet and they were all safely taken off. 
 On the '37th Butler arrived at Fortress Mon- 
 roe, and on the 2Sth had an interview with 
 General Grant, after which the General- 
 in-chief telegraphed to the President : 
 
 " The Wilmington expedition has proved a gross 
 and culpable failure. Manv of the troops are back 
 here. Delays and free talk of the expedition en- 
 abled the enemy to move troops to AVilmington to 
 defeat it. After the expedition started from Fort- 
 ress Monroe three days of fine wealher were squan- 
 dered, during which the enemy was without a force 
 to protect himself. Who is to blame, will, I hope, 
 be known"! 
 
 As if the blame could rest on anj- but the 
 one who went to Fort Fisher in command 
 of the troops, and disobeyed orders by not 
 intrenching himself under the protection 
 of the guns of the fleet. 
 
 Grant had seen enough of the Navy on 
 the Mississippi to know that it would not 
 back out of such an adventure as the taking 
 of Fort Fisher. The Navy had given him 
 sufficient evidence in much more desperate 
 undertakings to have satisfied him that it 
 would stay before Fisher as long as a shot 
 or pound of coal was left. 
 
 The historian says : "This dispatch was 
 written before Grant had heard from Porter, 
 or from Butler s own subordinates ; subse- 
 quently he was inclined (!) to attribute the 
 failure to other causes." Other causes than 
 the Navy, we suppose; and here Badeau 
 relates the difficulties with which the fleet 
 and transports had to contend in getting to 
 tlie scene of action, and makes the follow- 
 ing sensible remark : 
 
 "But whatever the delay, and whatever the 
 cause, these made no difference in the result. The 
 troops and the fleet were at the rendezvous, the 
 work was silenced, and the landing effected before 
 any reinforcements reached the fort. 
 
 " On the morning of the 25th only 1,600 men had 
 arrived at Wilmington. This day General Lee tele- 
 graphed Sedden: 'Bragg reports the enemy made 
 a landing three miles north of Fort Fisher about 
 3 P. M. to day, and were still landing at 5:30 p. m. 
 General Kirkland's, the only troops arrived, except 
 400 of Haygoods, etc' 
 
 " Whatever number arrived before the 27th, they 
 made no attempt to molest Curtis' little band of 
 500 men, who remained on shore two days after 
 Butler left, with no support except the guns of the 
 fleet. On the 25th of December, therefore, there 
 were only 3,500 men opposed to Butler's 6,500. The 
 garrison was only about 1,600 men. It is true the 
 latter occupied a strong work, but Butler had the 
 most formidable fleet that was ever assembled to 
 cover and protect his movements.'' 
 
 We will make one more quotation from 
 this part of the military historian's book. 
 It was, no doubt, reviewed by General 
 Grant. The latter, after inquiring into all 
 the circumstances, had sent Butler directly 
 home to Lowell: 
 
 "Butler, indeed, maintained that he had not ef- 
 fected a landing, that only a third of his troops 
 were on shore, when the sea became so rough that 
 he could land no more. But his subordinates did 
 not confirm this statement, and, as he was able to 
 get all his troops except Curtis' conuuand back to 
 the transports, he coidd certainly have put them 
 on shore if he had been at all anxious to do so." 
 
 The latter part of Baileau's remarks about 
 Butler are not complimeutarj', but he tries 
 to ease him up on the gi-ound that 
 
 " He simi"i]y displayed on this occasion once more 
 the unmilitai-y features of his character. . . But, 
 above all, he had not appreciated the force of 
 Grant's order in regard to remaining and intrench- 
 ing ou the peninsula, or else he forgot them alto- 
 gether at the crisis ! Weitzel had never seen the 
 orders, and knew nothing of them, or he would 
 doubtless have reminded Butler of their charac- 
 ter." (!) 
 
 Let any one read this and consider the 
 total lack of militarj' arrangement and the 
 absence of obedience to the orders of the 
 General - in - chief of the Federal armies, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 755 
 
 a disobedience that would have rendered 
 General Butler liable to be shot if tried by 
 court-martial. 
 
 The military historian comments on the 
 lack of co-operation between Butler and the 
 naval commander, not saying decidedly 
 where the blame rested, but rather imply- 
 ing that it rested with the Navy. A truth 
 only half told often does more harm than a 
 falsehood, although we are not aware that 
 it did the Navy any harm in this instance. 
 The author says: 
 
 "The lack of co-operation between Porter and 
 Butler was at this juncture again apparent, 
 and again most unfortunate. The Admiral was 
 a man not only of brilliant talent but of extra- 
 ordinary nerve and force of character, and though 
 extravagant and inconsiderate in language, written 
 as well as spoken, he understood his profession 
 thoroughly, He was aggressive in his nature, and 
 always favored an attack. He doubtless, in this 
 instance, overrated the results accomplished by the 
 fleet, but that very circumstance would have made 
 his counsels more audacious, and audacity is some- 
 times a very desirable quality in a commander. 
 If, instead of writing or sending to Porter and 
 announcing his withdrawal, Butler, who was the 
 senior in rank, had waived his prerogative and 
 sought and obtained a personal interview, it is pos- 
 sible that he might have been convinced by the 
 arguments or incited by the sf)irit of the sailor into 
 remaining on shore. As it was, he sailed off, leaving 
 Porter to pick up the troops he (Butler) had left ; 
 and, in his dread of incurring disaster, he incurred 
 what to a soldier is infinitely worse, the imputation 
 of unnecessary failure." 
 
 We don't see where the " lack of co-oper- 
 ation " on the Admiral's part comes in. If 
 the author had confined the lack to Butler, 
 he would have stated the actual fact. 
 
 The historian comments freely on the 
 commander of the naval forces, in regard 
 to a letter he wrote to the Navy Depart- 
 ment, and which finally came out in inves- 
 tigations on the conduct of the war. In 
 reference to the letter, the military historian 
 says the Admiral could not be accused of 
 concealing his sentiments. The following 
 is the communication alluded to as part of 
 the history of the war. There does not 
 seem to be anything peculiar in it beyond 
 its decided tone: 
 
 " My dispatch of yesterday will give you an ac- 
 count of the operations, but -will scarcely give an 
 idea of mv disappointment at the conduct of the 
 Army authorities in not attempting to take pos- 
 session of the fort. Had the Anuy made a show of 
 surrounding it,it would have been ours; but nothing 
 of the kind was done. The men landed, reconnoitred, 
 and hearing that the enemy were massing troops 
 
 MwewAere, the ordei-s were given to embark 
 
 There never was a post that invited soldiers to walk 
 in and take possession more plainly than FortFisher. 
 ... It can be taken at any moment in one hour's 
 time if the right man is sent with the troops. They 
 should be sent to stay. I trust, sir, you will not 
 think of stopping at this, nor relax your endeavors 
 to obtain the right number of men and the means 
 of taking the place." 
 
 Now, where the peculiarity of which the 
 
 letter, we leave to others to determine. The 
 Admiral wrote very decidedly, and it had 
 the desired effect. Mr. Secretary Welles 
 wrote to General Grant : 
 
 "The ships can approach nearer to the enemy's 
 works than was anticipated; their fire can keep the 
 enemy away from their guns. 
 
 "A landing can easily be effected upon the beach 
 north of Fort Fisher, not only of troops, but all 
 their supplies and artillery. This force can have 
 its supplies protected by gun-boats. 
 
 " Admiral Porter will remain off Fort Fither, con- 
 tinuing a moderate fire to prevent new works being 
 erected. 
 
 "Under all these circumstances, I invite you to a 
 military co-operation, as wiU insure the fall of Fort 
 Fisher." 
 
 After receipt of this letter General Grant 
 wrote to the Admiral : 
 
 " Please hold on wherever you are for a few days, 
 and I will endeavor to send the troops back again 
 with an increased force and xuithout the former com- 
 mander- 
 
 "Your dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy was 
 only received to-day. I took immediate steps to 
 have transports collected and am assured they will 
 be ready with coal and water by noon of the 2d of 
 January. There will be no delay in embarking and 
 sending off the troops. If they ellect a lodgment, 
 they can at least fortify and maintain themselves 
 until reinforcements can be sent. Please answer by 
 bearer, and designate where you will have the fleet 
 of transports congregate." 
 
 The letter of which Badeau speaks had 
 the effect of drawing forth the above com- 
 munication and bringing about tlie capture 
 of Fort Fisher. Yet the Navy never re- 
 ceived any particular credit for this oper- 
 ation, which was the final stab that brought 
 the enemy to his last throes. 
 
 To those who take an interest in the 
 naval operations of the war, some of the 
 remarks of the military historian on Fort 
 Fisher are interesting. In spite of many 
 inaccuracies, he shows the pertinacity with 
 which the Navy held on to what they had 
 begun, and the difficulties tliey had encoun- 
 tered against the fierce gales that swept the 
 coast during those months of December 
 and January. Not a vessel left her post, 
 and the Navy could have protected the 
 landing of any number of troops. 
 
 It was manifestly the object of the mili- 
 tary historian to give the Army more credit 
 than was due them, and make the Navy 
 play a secondary part in the reduction of 
 the defences in Wilmington. The Navy 
 covered the attack of the troops and the 
 sailors attacked the sea-face of Fort Fisher; 
 the garrison, supposing this to be the main 
 attack, rushed to the sea-face, and, as 
 Badeau says, swept the officers and sailors 
 "away like chaff." The repulse of the 
 naval storming party might not have hap- 
 pened had the troops, who were to have 
 attacked with the sailors and marines, 
 come to time. It was only when the whole 
 inrof. of thft ftnfimv ■w^as r^nnr-An trntf>rl q+ tbp 
 
756 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 sea-face that the order was given for the 
 troops to advance, and 
 
 "Curtis' brigade at once sprung from tlie 
 trenches and dashed forward in line, and in a few 
 moments the Army occupied three or four ti-a verses 
 which protected them from the fire of the enemy, 
 and there Curtis held on until Ames and Penny- 
 packer could obtain a secure footing in the fort 
 with him. Bell's brigade was brought up and the 
 fort was occupied by the troops.'' 
 
 It must be remembered that vp^hile this 
 assault was going on behind traverses, the 
 "New Ironsides," with her 11-inch guns, 
 and three Monitors, were firing througli the 
 traverses in front of the Federal soldiers, as 
 the enemy would assemble to meet their 
 approaches, and the Confederates were 
 swept away by the Navy shells. 
 
 At this time General Terry requested the 
 Admiral to reinforce the troops on the 
 outer line by the seamen and marines who 
 had been repulsed from the sea-face, which 
 was done at once. This stopped the ad- 
 vance of General Hoke, who had com- 
 menced skirmishing with Terry's northern 
 outposts, apparently with a design of 
 attacking in that quarter to make a diver- 
 sion. Hoke's withdrawal enabled Abbott's 
 brigade and a regiment of colored troops to 
 be brought into action on the southern 
 front. 
 
 There never was harder fighting any- 
 where by soldiers than on this memorable 
 occasion; and while the Federal troops 
 behaved like heroes, it is but justice to say 
 of the enemy that they fought equally well, 
 and it was only after seven hours of stout 
 resistance that they surrendered. 
 
 The militarj' historian relates all this 
 part of his story in a graphic manner; but, 
 to show how essential was the fire of the 
 Navy to the success of the assault, we 
 mention the following incident : 
 
 " Terry, finding the advance so slow, directed Cur- 
 tis to stop fighting and intrench, which so excited 
 that officer that he exclaimed, 'Then we shall lose 
 what we have gained ' Fortunately, the firing from 
 the ' Ironsides ' and the Monitors was so effective, 
 that at ten o'clock p. M. every traverse was emptied 
 and the enemy in full retreat towards the end of the 
 sand-spit on which Fort Fisher was situated." 
 
 It would be scarcely worth while for 
 Army or Navy to claim on this occasion 
 more tlian their share of honor. Each did 
 in its own sphere what was required, and 
 neither could have succeeded without the aid 
 of the other. That the naval fire was per- 
 fect was evidenced by the fact that every 
 gun in Fort Fisher was either destroyed or 
 so injured that they were practically use- 
 less; so that, from the moment the army ad- 
 vanced to the assault, they had nothing to 
 apprehend from the enemy's heavy bat- 
 teries. 
 
 In all the last seven hours' fighting the 
 Federal army lost but 110 killed, 536 
 
 wounded, and 45 missing, while the enemy 
 lost over 700. 
 
 The high praise bestowed on the officers 
 of the Army by the military historian is 
 well deserved; the assault on Fort Fisher 
 was the most remarkable affair of the war: 
 
 "The difficulties of the weather and the season on 
 one of the stormiest coasts, in the world were over- 
 come, the disadvantages incident to all combined 
 operations entirely disappeared, and the disposi- 
 tions of the Admiral and the military chief at the 
 time of the landing, and during the subsequent 
 operations up to and including the assault, were a 
 marvel of harmonious effect." 
 
 To all this we subscribe, only asserting 
 that up to the time when Butler left Fort 
 Fisher the naval co-operation with him was 
 just as effective as with Terry. 
 
 Butler had no obstacles to overcome, 
 Terry had many. Badeau says : 
 
 "The importance of this victory was instantly 
 recognized by the rebels and loyal people alike. The 
 effect was felt at home and abroad. Lee knew its 
 significance as well as Grant, and the rejoicing at 
 the North was not more general or heartfelt than the 
 despondency it occasioned inside the Confederacy. 
 The gates through which the rebels obtained their 
 largest and most indispensable supplies was forever 
 sealed. 
 
 " In little more than a year before the capture, the 
 ventures of British capitalists and speculators with 
 Wilmington alone had amounted to $66,000,000, 
 and $65,000,000 worth of cotton had been exported 
 in return. In the same period 397 vessels had run 
 the blockade ; all this was at an end. Europe per- 
 ceived the inevitable consequences, and the British 
 Government, which till now had held out hopes to 
 the Confederate emissaries, after the fall of Fort 
 Fisher sent a communication to Jefferson Davis, 
 through Washington, rebuking the rebels for their 
 stubbornness. There could be no surer evidence 
 that the case was desperate." 
 
 We will further add that a telegraphic 
 dispatch was captured from General Lee to 
 the commanding officer at Fort Fisher, 
 which read as follows: "If Fort Fisher 
 falls, I shall have to evacuate Eichmond." 
 
 The military historian remarks: "At 
 this crisis the possession of Cape Fear River 
 opened another base for operations into the 
 interior. It enabled the general-in-chief to 
 look forward to supporting Sherman's fu- 
 ture movements and presented an oppor- 
 tunity to complete the isolation of Lee." 
 
 In fact, Lee, with Cape Fear River in his 
 possession, might have prolonged the war 
 greatly, in the hope of obtaining terms for 
 the Confederacy, which might have been a 
 triumph for them. 
 
 After making the proper disposition of 
 the vessels of the fleet, the Admiral hast- 
 ened to City Point in a fast steamer to 
 witness the end. It came two months later, 
 when Lee, having eaten up all his provis- 
 ions, and threatened by large armies whom 
 he had no longer power to resist, surren- 
 dered, and thus ended the most extraordi- 
 nary war of modern times. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 757 
 
 While our armies in many instances im- 
 mortalized themselves by acts of heroism, 
 and submitted to hardships and privations 
 for which the country can hardly ever repay 
 them, the Navy performed its fair share of 
 hard service, and without its aid the rebel- 
 lion could not have been suppressed. 
 
 As long as the Confederates could be fed, 
 and supplied with munitions of war, it 
 would have been extremely difficult to con- 
 quer them, for they would have prolonged 
 the war and inflicted such injuries on the 
 North as to finally have obtained whatever 
 terms they might demand. 
 
 In the enthusiasm of the Northern people 
 to welcome home the soldiers, and in the 
 honors paid to them on all sides, the Navy 
 seemed to have been forgotten, and but for 
 the published dispatches of the command- 
 ing officers of the Federal naval forces, the 
 general public would hardly have known 
 that such an organization as the Navy ex- 
 isted. 
 
 From the battle of Shiloh, where the gun- 
 boats covered the retreating troops, which 
 rallied under their protecting fire and finally 
 gained the day, to the fall of Fort Fisher, 
 the Navy played a more active part than 
 was perhaps ever before taken by naval 
 forces, and though illy supplied with the 
 
 proper kind of vessels, they seldom experi- 
 enced reverses. 
 
 There were the fights of Hatteras, Port 
 Royal, New Orleans, Mobile, Vicksburg, 
 and all along the Mississippi and its tribu- 
 taries. Red River, Arkansas, White, Ten- 
 nessee, Cumberland and Ohio Rivers, Grand 
 Gulf, Port Hudson, Charleston, Galveston, 
 and the whole coast of Texas brought under 
 control. This was a large field of naval 
 operations, seldom equalled in the history 
 of war, and never exceeded, as far as naval 
 successes are concerned. 
 
 In this account of the Fort Fisher affair 
 we have endeavored to do justice to all 
 parties, but as General Butler was not 
 partial to the Navy, and might perhaps 
 think that a naval writer would not do him 
 full justice, we have quoted liberally from 
 the work of General Badeau, who had a 
 favorable leaning toward General Butler, 
 and who gave him credit for military quali- 
 ties wherever he could possibly do so. 
 
 We have reviewed the circumstances con- 
 nected with Fort Fisher at some length, 
 because we consider such review neces- 
 sary for a proper understanding of this im- 
 portant victory, and also with a view to 
 correct misrepresentations which have long 
 since been made apparent. 
 
CHAPTER LII. 
 
 OPERATIONS ABOUT CHARLESTON, 1865.— FALL OF CHARLESTON, 
 
 SAVANNAH, Etc. 
 
 Formation op the Naval Brigade. — Operations of Generals Sherman and Foster in 
 
 THE vicinity OP SaVANNAH. — EXPEDITION UP BrOAD RiVER AND BOYD'S CrEEK. — SA- 
 VANNAH Invested. — Evacuation op Savannah and its Defences by the Confeder- 
 ates. — The Naval Vessels again in Charleston Harbor. — Movements op Army 
 AROUND Charleston. — Naval Pickets Captured. — Landing of Naval Forces at 
 Bull's Bay. — G-un-boats and Batteries open a Terrific Fire on Fort Moultrie 
 and Works on Sullivan's Island. — Charleston Evacuated. — Isolation of the 
 Confederacy. — Naval Officers Commended. — Confederate Vessels Captured. — 
 Ingenious Methods USED BY Confederates to prevent Union Vessels from pene- 
 trating the Inner Harbor. — Plans op Forts along the Rivers. — Georgetown, 
 S. C, Occupied. — The Flag-ship " Harvest Moon" Sunk by Torpedoes. — Admiral 
 Dahlgren Relieved. — Complimentary Letter from Secretary op the Navy, — 
 List op Vessels and Officers op South Atlantic Squadron, 1865. 
 
 IN the latter part of November, 1864, 
 Rear- Admiral Dalilgren received in- 
 formation that General Sherman had 
 reached Milledgeville and was about 
 to march upon Savannah. He accord- 
 ingly entered into an arrangement with 
 General Foster to co-operate with Sherman 
 in case the latter might require assistance. 
 It was decided to form a naval brigade, 
 to be furnished with two field-howitzer bat- 
 teries of four guns each. All the forces 
 that could be spared from the vessels on 
 blockade were withdrawn, and the night of 
 November 28th was appointed for proceed- 
 ing up the Broad River and into Boyd's 
 Creek, one of its branches, whence a short 
 march only was necessary to reach the rail- 
 road connecting Savannah witli Charleston. 
 The vessels of the Navy selected for this 
 service were the "Pawnee," Commander 
 Balch ; "Mingoe,"' Commander Creighton ; 
 "Pontiac," Lieutenant-Commander Luce; 
 " Winona," Lieutenant-Commander Dana; 
 " Wissahickon," Lieutenant-Commanding 
 McGlensey ; "Sonoma," Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Scott ; all carrying heavy guns. 
 There were four half-companies of well- 
 driUfid .tieamen under T,i(iiit,(=nnnt .TarriAs 
 
 O'Kane ; Lieutenant - Commander E. O. 
 Mathews commanded tlie Navy artillery, 
 and the marines from the different vessels 
 were under the command of First-Lieu- 
 tenant George G. Stoddard. 
 
 After a harassing progress of twenty 
 miles through a thick fog, Admiral Dahl- 
 gren had the satisfaction of reaching the 
 appointed landing with five of the six ves- 
 sels with which he had started, for the 
 "Wissahickon" had grounded near the en- 
 trance of the river and did not succeed in 
 joining the other gun-boats. The troops 
 were somewhat later in arriving, but finally 
 the transports were seen coming up the 
 river, and in half an hour afterwards two 
 batteries of naval howitzers and nine com- 
 panies of seamen and marines were landed 
 under Commander Preble, and advanced in 
 skirmishing order, to cover the landing of 
 the troops. Admiral Dahlgren returning to 
 his duty afloat. 
 
 After General Foster had landed all his 
 soldiers, an advance was made towards the 
 railroad above Grahamsville. The Confed- 
 erates had assembled in considerable force, 
 and did all they could to impede the march 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 759 
 
 and field-pieces, and at length the Federal 
 forces came to a halt before a strong earth- 
 work commanding the road, and flanked 
 by a heavy growth of timber and other ob- 
 structions. The troops under General Hatch 
 assaulted the works, but were repulsed with 
 heavy loss, while the men from the fleet 
 did their duty Avith boat - howitzers and 
 musketry. 
 
 Skirmishing and reconnaissances went 
 on for several days, the Federals slowly 
 advancing towards their objective point, 
 tlie railroad. This was a new experience 
 for the seamen and marines, but their spir- 
 ited conduct won for them the applause of 
 the soldiers. On the 6th of December the 
 Army and Navy forces proceeded up the 
 Tulfiny River, and at about S a. m. landed 
 on an island. The Confederates sent troops 
 to meet them, and for a time it looked as if 
 the Federals would get the worst of the en- 
 counter; but the naval contingent coming 
 rapidly on the fleld, and opening a heavy 
 fire with howitzers and musketry, the en- 
 emy finally gave way, retreating in good 
 order. This skirmishing lasted all day 
 through a heavy rain, the seamen and 
 marines behaving like veteran soldiers in 
 an experience entirely new to the greater 
 portion of their number. The object of the 
 expedition was effected in spite of all op- 
 position, and on the \t\A\ of December Rear- 
 Admiral Dahlgren opened communication 
 with General Sherman, who was then near 
 Savannah. 
 
 The news of Sherman's arrival in the 
 "vicinity of Savannah gave great satisfac- 
 tion to the people of the North, who had 
 hegun to feel uneasy in regard to him, ow- 
 ing to the exaggerated reports from Con- 
 federate sources. Prompt steps were taken 
 to place vessels-of-war at every point on the 
 ■coast where the General was likely to ap- 
 pear, and on the 18th of December Sherman 
 m person presented himself on board Ad- 
 miral Dahlgren's flag-ship, and was warmly 
 greeted by officers and men, who held this 
 gallant commander in the highest respect. 
 Arrangements were made by General Sher- 
 man with Admiral Dahlgren, that, while 
 the former should invest Savannah on the 
 land side, the latter should hold every avenue 
 by water ; and when it was considered that 
 the investment was complete, Sherman 
 summoned General Hardee, the Confederate 
 commander, to surrender, which request 
 being declined Sherman prepared to attack 
 the enemy's works. The Federal army was 
 gradually drawing down to the Savannah 
 River, and, in order to cut off the escape 
 of the Confederates, it was concluded 
 to reinforce the troops under General Fos- 
 ter on Broad River, and make a demonstra- 
 tion in the direction of the railroad, while 
 
 naval cannonade, which was begun and 
 continued by Lieutenant- Commander Scott 
 in the " Sonoma," assisted by the schooner 
 " Griffith," Acting-Master James Ogilvie. 
 
 In order to complete the arrangements 
 for cutting off the escape of the enemy and 
 to insure the co-operation of all the Federal 
 forces in the vicinity, General Sherman 
 visited Hilton Head in company with Rear- 
 Admiral Dahlgren, to communicate with 
 General Foster, and make the latter ac- 
 quainted with his plans ; but on his return 
 he was overtaken by a tug, with the follow- 
 ing telegram : 
 
 To General Sherman : 
 
 General Howard reports one of General Legget's 
 brigades near Savannah, and no enemy. Prisoners 
 say the city is abandoned and enemy gone to 
 Hardeesville. 
 
 From Station, near Headquarters. 
 
 On receipt of this dispatch General Sher- 
 man hastened to his headquarters, and the 
 Admiral to the division of vessels lying in 
 front of Beaulieu, when the facts of the 
 case became apparent. Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Scott, of the " Sonoma," was in 
 possession of Forts Beaulieu and Rose Dew, 
 and all the otlier fortifications had been 
 evacuated, leaving Sherman master of 
 Savannah and its defences. 
 
 Although, no doubt, the Army would have 
 captured Savannah unaided, j-et the Navy 
 was of great assistance in blocking up the 
 rivers and preventing the Confederates from 
 sending reinforcements to General Hardee. 
 The Navy visited many points inaccessible 
 to the Army, and secured a large quantity 
 of guns, ammunition and stores which the 
 Confederates had not time to destroy. Gen- 
 eral Hardee's boast, that he held two lines 
 of intrenchments and was in communica- 
 tion with superior authority, did not prevent 
 him from beating a speedy retreat as soon 
 as Sherman's advance-guard hove in sight 
 of his outposts. 
 
 In all these affairs the brigade from the 
 fleet, composed of seamen and marines, re- 
 mained with General Foster's conamand, 
 and the officers and men were transferred 
 to their respective vessels only when Savan- 
 nah and all the points around it were gar- 
 risoned by Sherman's troops. 
 
 As it was General Slierman's intention to 
 move northward as soOn as he had secured 
 Savannah against any attempts on the part 
 of the Confederates to repossess it, he re- 
 quested such co-operation on the part of 
 the Navy as could be extended; and while 
 his army was apparently advancing on 
 Ciiarleston, Rear -Admiral Dahlgren de- 
 termined on making further attacks on the 
 works within the harbor of that place, which 
 with the assistance of the army he had 
 some hope of reducing. Sherman, however. 
 
760 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Charleston would necessarily fall, o\Ming to 
 his own interior movements. 
 
 Admiral Dahlgren now collected all his 
 vessels near Charleston, ready to co-operate 
 with Sherman as he approached, and to 
 keep the rivers clear of torpedoes and light 
 batteries, so that the Federal transports 
 could reach certain points and supply the 
 wants of the Union army. 
 
 In order to deceive the Confederates with 
 regard to the point for which he was aim- 
 ing in his march to the northward, General 
 Sherman requested that the Navy would 
 make such demonstrations as would draw 
 the attentions of the Confederates from his 
 operations. The gun-boat "Dai Ching" and a 
 tug were placed in the Ossabaw River, the 
 " Sonoma" was sent out to the North Edisto 
 and the "Pawnee" to the Ashepoo River, 
 with orders to drive off the enemy's troops 
 and knock down his batteries wherever 
 thev could be reached. The " Tuscarora," 
 "Mingoe," " State of Georgia "and "Nip- 
 sic" were stationed at Georgetown, S. C, 
 to prevent the enemy from erecting bat- 
 teries at that point, and the " Pontiac " was 
 in the Savannah, advancing with General 
 Sherman's extreme left. Nearly all the 
 Monitors of the squadron were collected at 
 Charleston. 
 
 On the 24th of January, 1865, General 
 Sherman marched on Pocotaligo and the 
 Coosawatchee. and the next day made a 
 demonstration on Salkahatchee, while the 
 gun-boats went up the Edisto and Stono 
 Rivers to ascertain whether the enemy in- 
 tended to hold Charleston or retreat to Col- 
 umbia. It would require General Slocum 
 at least five days to get his troops clear of 
 the swamps near Savannah, and in the 
 meantime General Howard was, appar- 
 ently, moving directly on Charleston, al- 
 though with no intention of going beyond 
 Salkahatchee. 
 
 The enemy had still a considerable force 
 near Savannah, and his cavalry, under Gen- 
 eral Wheeler, was exceedingly active in 
 watching the movements of the Federal 
 army and picking up stragglers. The 
 "Pontiac," Lieutenant - Commander Luce, 
 was left with Slocum's command, and on 
 the 24th anchored off Merrill's Landing or 
 the Three Sisters, forty miles above Savan- 
 nah, to cover the crossing of the river by a 
 portion of the 20th Corps. Lieutenant- 
 Commander Luce threw out pickets to see 
 that the enemy did not bring guns to bear 
 on the " Pontiac " from the high bluffs, 
 which could not be reached by the ship's 
 battery. This party had been warned 
 against scouting too far from the ship, but 
 in spite of this they were captured by a 
 squad of Confederate cavalry. 
 
 On the evening of the 27th the scouts of 
 General Davis' column reached the point 
 
 where the " Pontiac " was lying at anchor; 
 and, soon after, the remainder of the 14th 
 Corps appeared, after a most arduous march 
 over corduroy roads which had to be con- 
 structed in advance of the forces. Here 
 the soldiers took some needed rest, with the 
 knowledge that they were not likely to be 
 disturbed while the " Pontiac " lay in their 
 vicinity, although there were reported to be 
 two Confederate gun-boats about eighty 
 miles up the river. 
 
 Meanwhile the " Pawnee " and " Sonoma "■ 
 were making their way up the North Edisto, 
 in company with transports conveying- 
 troops under the command of General Pot- 
 ter, which troops were landed at a place 
 called White Point. Some few of the enemy 
 were seen and shelled by the gun-boats, but 
 the Confederates were not in force, and their 
 guns had mostly disappeared from the river 
 banks. 
 
 Thus, while Sherman was advancing 
 through the enemy's country, everything- 
 was done by the Navy that could disconcert 
 the Confederates and prevent them from 
 annoying the Union army. At this time, 
 owing to heavy rains, the freshets had 
 swept away most of the bridges along the 
 line of Sherman's march, and the move- 
 ments of the gun - boats were in every re- 
 spect desirable to cover the advance of the 
 army. Almost every stream where a gun- 
 boat could float was guarded by the Navy- 
 their good services enabled General Sher- 
 man to reach midway on the South Carolina 
 road by the 7th of February without moles- 
 tation. The fate of Charleston was now 
 sealed, and the only thing left the garrison 
 to avoid capture was to evacuate the place. 
 
 On the 11th of February a movement was- 
 made by the army contingent under Gen- 
 eral Potter, and a considerable naval force 
 under Rear- Admiral Dahlgren, consisting^ 
 of the "Shenandoah," "Juniata," "Ca- 
 nandaigua," "State of Georgia," "Paw- 
 nee." "Sonoma," "Ottawa," "Winona,"" 
 "Wando," "Geranium" and "Iris," with 
 launches in which to land troops at Bull's- 
 Bay. Great difficulty was experienced 
 in finding a channel into the harbor, but a, 
 landing was finally effected ; after which, 
 the " Pawnee " and " Winona " was sent Xo 
 South Edisto River to assist General Hatch, 
 who was moving on Wellstown with his di- 
 vision. 
 
 On the 17th a movement was made from 
 Stono River on the Confederates, while the 
 iron-clads "Lehigh," the " Wissahickon " 
 and a mortar schooner were sent up the 
 Stono to press the right flank of the enemy, 
 while the gun-boat "McDonough" was sent 
 with a mortar schooner up the Filly 
 branch to bear on his left flank. General 
 Schimmelfennig, in command of the troops 
 before Charleston, moved on the enemy's 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 761 
 
 front from Cole's Island. Admiral Dahl- 
 gren also sent orders to Lieutenant Hay- 
 ward, commanding the battery of 11-inch 
 guns on Cummings' Point, to open on Sul- 
 livan's Island and fire continuously through 
 the night. The contiguous batteries were 
 also put in operation by General Schimmel- 
 fennig, and the advance Monitors were 
 ordered to open fire on Fort Moultrie. The 
 cannonading during the night was sharp 
 and continuous; the Confederates replied 
 with a few guns from Fort Moultrie, but as 
 the night wore on their fire entirely ceased. 
 In fact, the main body of the enemy's 
 troops had evacuated Sullivan's Island at 
 about 8 p. M., leaving about one hundred 
 and fifty men to keep up a fire and delay 
 the knowledge of the evacuation. 
 _ On the morning of the 18th the anticipa- 
 tions of the Union forces that the Confeder- 
 ates were retreating from Charleston were 
 confirmed. Acting-Master Gifford entered 
 the harbor in a tug, and at Mount Pleasant 
 met the Mayor of the city, who tendered the 
 submission of the civil authorities to the 
 Federal Government, and requested pro- 
 tection for the citizens and their property. 
 
 Rear- Admiral Dahlgren was up the Stono 
 River when he received a message that 
 there were indications that the Confed- 
 erates were retreating from Charleston, 
 and he immediately proceeded in his flag- 
 ship to the city which for four years had 
 resisted the continued attacks of the Army 
 and Navy, for the reason that its strength 
 had been underrated by the Federal Gov- 
 ernment and a sufficient force had not been 
 sent against it. The place only fell because 
 of the advance of General Sherman, and 
 the fear of the garrison that they would be 
 cut off and captured. The powerful defences 
 on Sullivan's Island, the shapeless but still 
 formidable ruins of Sumter, the numerous 
 
 freat earth-works clustered around Fort 
 ohnson. Castle Pinckney and the heavy 
 water batteries that lined the wharves, 
 looked grim and terrible, though deserted. 
 They were a monument to the zeal, ability 
 and gallantry of those who had to the last 
 defied the power of the Federal forces. 
 
 Charleston, the city that struck the key- 
 note of the rebellion, now lay helpless in 
 the power of the Federal Government ; its 
 citizens, worn out and impoverished by the 
 long war which they had themselves in- 
 augurated, now seemed willing to return 
 to the shelter of the flag, since it was evi- 
 dent that the secession cause could not 
 prevail. The officers of the fleet walked 
 through the streets of the city whose out- 
 works had so long defied them. All the 
 houses were closed, and few of the citizens 
 appeared. But for the presence of the 
 negroes, it might have passed for a city 
 
 JiU *u^ »,, 
 
 r,+;i 
 
 
 Notwithstanding the great outcry that 
 had been made by some of the Confederate 
 officers against General Gillmore's barbarity 
 in firing from the " Swamp Angel " into the 
 town, the place gave little indication of 
 having suffered from an enemy's guns. 
 
 Here and there the ground was plowed 
 up by a rifle-shell, or the front of a house was 
 scarred by the fragments; but it is pleasant 
 to be informed that the women and chil- 
 dren received no injury. 
 
 The fall of Charleston was of course an 
 important event at any time, since it was 
 the Mecca of the Confederacy, on which 
 the eyes of every Southern enthusiast were 
 fixed. The courage and determination of 
 its garrison inspired those who were in- 
 clined to waver in their allegiance to the 
 Confederacy, and, while Charleston held 
 out the cause could not be considered alto- 
 gether desperate. The heroic example set 
 by the besieged was telegraphed daily 
 all . over the South, and the name 
 "Charleston" was a watchword every- 
 where. Even the most radical and un- 
 compromising Unionists could not help ad- 
 miring the courage and devotion shown by 
 the defenders of Charleston, and the city 
 escaped any injury from the Union forces, 
 except such as naturally follows the occu- 
 pation by troops of a place lately in hostil- 
 ity, where vacant houses are taken posses- 
 sion of and their contents not too scrupu- 
 lously respected. 
 
 There was considerable disappointment 
 expressed in the South because Charleston 
 was so suddenly abandoned on the approach 
 of General Sherman's army ; but the Con- 
 federates in the city did not know what 
 Sherman's intentions might be, and they 
 very naturally thought it best to evacuate 
 the place before the Union General should 
 envelope them and compel their surrender. 
 But General Sherman was anxious to 
 join General Grant before Richmond as 
 soon as possible and get out of the 
 lowlands of the coast, where his soldiers 
 were worn out with building corduroy 
 roads through swamps, bridging the count- 
 less streams, and living in a malarious 
 country. 
 
 The capture of Fort Fisher and other de- 
 fences of Wilmington had doubtless a con- 
 siderable effect on the fall of Charleston; 
 for, now that the stronghold on Cape Fear 
 River was taken, a small garrison could 
 hold it, and the Union forces employed in 
 the reduction of those works could, if neces- 
 sary, march on Charleston. 
 
 Whatever claims may have been ad- 
 vanced that the final result was brought 
 about by the movements of the Navy in co- 
 operation with the Army under General 
 Foster, we can only say that the attempt to 
 
762 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Stono River was bravely undertaken, al- 
 though it would liave probably experienced 
 a severe repulse but for the position held 
 by Sherman at Columbia. 
 
 The fall of Charleston was in every 
 aspect a great success for the Union cause. 
 Although it had long been nearly impos- 
 sible for a blockade-runner to land her 
 cargo inside the harbor, yet, even with the 
 close watch constantly maintained, cotton 
 could be sent out. When the city was taken 
 this tra,ffic was at an end, and the credit of 
 the Confederate States in England sank to 
 a low ebb. Henceforth the Confederate 
 armies would be obliged to depend on the 
 scanty supplies obtained at home, and their 
 surrender was now considered only a mat- 
 ter of time. 
 
 Owing to the fall of Charleston, the ITavy 
 Department was enabled to greatly deplete 
 the naval forces hitherto employed in that 
 vicinity, and, although the saving thus ef- 
 fected was but a trifle compared with the 
 large sums expended upon the army, yet it 
 was a change in the right direction, as the 
 country was beginning to feel uneasy at 
 the vast sums daily paid from the treasury 
 to maintain the military and naval forces. 
 
 The Confederacy was now isolated from 
 the outer world by way of the sea, and there 
 could no longer be a pretext for the inter- 
 ference of foreign powers, the trouble being 
 at this time purely domestic. Now, also, 
 was ended that fiction of belligerent rights 
 which excluded United States vessels-of- 
 war from the customary hospitalities of 
 foreign ports. What was left of our mer- 
 cantile marine could pursue its avocations 
 without fear of molestation by Confederate 
 cruisers, which so lately roamed the ocean 
 at their will. 
 
 Much credit is due to the commanding 
 naval officers at Bull's Bay for the manage- 
 ment of their vessels, and the energy with 
 which they responded to the Confederate 
 batteries which were striving to prevent a 
 landing of the troops. So effective was the 
 fire of the gun-boats that the Confederates 
 were soon driven away and the vessels suf- 
 fered little damage. 
 
 The officers particularly commended by 
 Rear-Admiral Dahlgren were : Captain D. 
 B. Ridgely, Commander F. Stanly, Com- 
 mander G. B. Balch, Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander T. S. Fillebrown, Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander A. A. Semmes, Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander A. W. Johnson, Lieutenant -Com- 
 mander S. B. Luce, Acting -Master W. H. 
 Mallard and Acting-Master G. W. Parker, 
 
 At the fall of Charleston the following 
 Confederate vessels fell into the hands of 
 the Navy: Iron -clad ram "Columbia," 
 steamer-transport " Lady Davis," a cigar- 
 shaped steamer 160 feet long, two side- 
 wheeled steamers and three torpedo-boats. 
 
 As everything relating to the defence of 
 Charleston has a historic interest, we insert 
 the report of Rear- Admiral Dahlgren in re- 
 gard to the instructions issued by the Con- 
 federates to prevent the Union vessels from 
 penetrating the inner harbor. At the pres- 
 ent day these arrangements seem rather 
 primitive, but they exhibit skill and in- 
 genuity on the part of the Confederate en- 
 gineers, and they completely answered their 
 intended purpose, by preventing the Union 
 
 vessels from proceeding to Charleston : 
 * ** » « * « 
 
 " The only passage from the outer roads into the 
 harbor of Charleston is less than a mile at its nar- 
 rowest part, between Sullivan's Island and the 
 shoals on which Port Sumter is built. Across this 
 lay the first series of obstructions. When first re- 
 sorted to, these were of different kinds — of rope, or 
 of heavy masses of timber, floating bars of railroad 
 iron. 
 
 "It is difficult to ascertain with exactness at 
 what time each of these were adopted. Common 
 report was never precise, and in that respect was 
 probably a fair exponent of the common informa- 
 tion at the time. 
 
 "The statements of the persons who knew any- 
 thing of the matter, and were acceptable, differ as 
 to which of these were used first. 
 
 "According to Mr. Smith, who had been actually 
 employed on this work, the rope obstructions were 
 first put down in 1861, formed into one continuous 
 line, and floated across the channel from Sumter to 
 Battery Bee. But this was so frequently displaced 
 by the current that it was cut into lengths, which, 
 with the addition of others, were anchored at one 
 end in two lines, and rode to the tide. 
 
 '"It is probable that the casks seen on the 7th 
 April were the turpentine barrels of this obstruc- 
 tion: and, moreover, a plan of the entrance, signed 
 by Major Echols, engineer, shows the double Une 
 of rope obstructions. 
 
 "In the summer of 1863 the boom of railroad- 
 iron was placed, consisting of several timbers 
 banded into a mass and floating the railroad bars. 
 And this account is so far confirmed that in Decem- 
 ber, 1863, a quantity of boom answering to this 
 description was washed away by the winter gales 
 and came down the channel. Some of it was hauled 
 up on the beach of Morris Island. I saw this work 
 in progress one day, and was told that as many as 
 thirty-three of the bars had been secured. 
 
 " I have been at a loss to understand the exact 
 manner in which these bars were connected to the 
 timbers. The accounts given do not accord, and 
 some separation had generally been effected before 
 any of them were seen by us. 
 
 "They may have been encased in the timbers, 
 or suspended from them, as described by Mr. Smith; 
 but in any case they would have been difficult to 
 remove under the heavy fire of the rebel works. 
 
 " It is probable, from the several statements, that 
 whenever the use of the boom obstructions across 
 the entrance between Sumter and Moultrie may 
 have begun, the parts were not renewed as they 
 disappeared, but were replaced from time to time 
 by those of rope, until at last the winter freshets of 
 1863 and 1864 carried away the whole structure. 
 
 " The obstructions which were actually found in 
 position between Sumter and Moultrie, after we 
 entered, were of rope only. 
 
 " The entire line is reported to have been made 
 up of a number of separate parts, each of which 
 consisted of a stout shroud-laid rope, floated at in- 
 tervals by buoys of pine logs, and anchored by a 
 heavy grapnel. Prom this floating rope hung down 
 at intervals six parts of a lighter rope. The exact 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 703 
 
 dimensions are variously given, as well as the num- 
 bers of floats and hangers. 
 
 "The pine buoys, -which were used as samples, 
 were thirty-nine (39) inches long and fifteen (15) 
 inches in diameter, with a stout iron staple near 
 each end, through which passed the part of rope 
 that was to be floated. 
 
 " It was said to have been the design to place 
 these parts or sections in two lines, about sixty (60) 
 or one hundred (100- feet apart, with similar inter- 
 vals. But it may be easily conceived that the in- 
 tention could not be carried out with exactness in 
 the first place, and that subsequently, in replacing 
 sections that were lost ornotvisible, the plan would 
 be still further confused, partly by the impossi- 
 bility of knowing with certainty at night where the 
 sections were missing, and partly because in doing 
 so it seemed better to err in having too many than 
 too few. 
 
 " Hence the directions of the lines were not main- 
 tained with exactness, and the allotted number of 
 sections was in excess of that contemplated. Nor 
 was the exact, po-ition and number of those which 
 were found in place noted as well as they should 
 have been, for the reasons already stated; and when 
 my attention was drawn to the subject, it was too 
 late to remedy the omission. Drawings were, there- 
 fore, necessarily made from the several parts, but 
 it is believed they afford a fair representation of the 
 entire whole. 
 
 " As diilerent tugs and boats were employed at 
 different times, there was some discrepancy in the 
 returns sent me, which, as already stated, were 
 not made as they should have been. 
 
 " Mr. Gray gives the whole number as 226, which, 
 at intervals of one hundred (100) feet, would be too 
 many to be included in the distance of one mile; 
 but it may be explained by the continued renewal 
 of what was supposed to be lost, and which were 
 not so really, though not distinctly visible. 
 
 " The care and perseverance which the rebels gave 
 to the maintenance of these rope obstructions is 
 well shown by the report of Acting-Master Gifford 
 (annexed) ; they watched them closely, and, when- 
 ever a section disappeared from sight, it was re- 
 placed. 
 
 " Our boats were always observed, and driven off 
 if possible, and it was necessary, besides, to work 
 with great caution, as they were near powerful bat- 
 teries, and liable at any moment to a destructive 
 fire of grape. 
 
 " The purpose of the boom obstructions was evi- 
 dently to bar the passage of a vessel entirely, while 
 that of the rope obstructions was to entangle the 
 screw and prevent further progress, or even detain 
 the vessel under fire of the batteries, for the grapnel 
 which anchored the rope would also serve as a drag 
 on the steamer, and it would be almost impossible 
 to cut it loose when under fire. 
 
 " That the rope obstructions were in use before I 
 took command, and afterwards, is satisfactorily as- 
 certained from other evidence than that of Mr. Gray. 
 
 " A plan of the harbor of Charleston, signed by 
 Major Echols,* and dated April, 1863, exhibits two 
 lines of obstructions, designated as rope obstruc- 
 tions, the general direction being from Sumter to a 
 point midway between Port Moultrie and Battery 
 Bee. The delineation shows a number of dotted 
 lines, resembling the section of rope just described: 
 the dots indicate only four buoys. They correspond 
 closely with the description given by Commodore 
 Rogers of what he saw from the ' Weehawken ' dur- 
 ing the attack of 7th of April. 
 
 ' ' In his official report he says : ' We approached 
 very close to the obstructions extending from Fort 
 Sumter to Fort Moultrie — as near, indeed, as I could 
 get without running upon them. They were marked 
 by rows of casks very near together. To the eye 
 thev anneared almost to touch one another, and 
 
 " To me they appeared thus : 
 
 D n u □ 
 
 ' ' When we landed on Sullivan's Island (February, 
 1865), several telegrams came into my possession. 
 One of them, dated Sumter, April 8, 1868, runs thus: 
 
 ' ' ' Blue and red Coston lights indicate the enemy's 
 boats trying to cut the net; the batteries will open 
 with grape' 
 
 "Colonel Freemantle, ofthe Coldstream Guards, in 
 the published account of his visit to Charleston, 
 June, 1863, says: 
 
 " ' There are excellent arrangements of and 
 
 other contrivances to foul the screw of a vessel be- 
 tween Sumter and Moultrie.' 
 
 "As soon as the picket and scout boats of the 
 fleet were able to approach the entrance, the pres- 
 ence of the obstructions was verified; but in the 
 obscurity of the night it was difficult to ascertain 
 precisely what they were, particularly as the rebels 
 were then in strong force at the locality, and very 
 little time was permitted for examination. 
 
 " General Gillmore's impressions at the time may 
 be gathered frona the following portion of his tele- 
 gram to me August 4: 
 
 "'My scout has just reported that the line of 
 floating buoys reaching from Sumter to Moultrie 
 has disappeared since yesterday. These buoys are 
 supposed to have torpedoes attached to them, 
 etc' 
 
 " This disappearance was probably a mistake, 
 owing to the difficulty of discerning with certainty 
 objects so small at such a distance, for no report 
 was made by the Navy pickets, and soon after En- 
 sign Porter, who was specially charged with the 
 duty, reported that 'two steamers and three 
 schooners were at anchor in the centre of the chan- 
 nel, apparently at work on the obstructions, or else 
 sinking others,' etc. Ensign Porter, who was very 
 active and daring, assured me that chains formed 
 some part of the obstructions, as he had been close 
 enough to the buoys to feel them. 
 
 " The buoys themselves were visible to the eye 
 from the picket Monitors which were stationed in 
 the advance. Their reports, being verbal at first, 
 cannot now be quoted; but subsequently I directed 
 them to be made in writing. 
 
 "Captain J. L. Davis, commanding the 'Mon^ 
 tauk,' reports 25th September : 
 
 " 'At low water to-day, a rip was discovered ex- 
 tending from Fort Sumter in a line to the western 
 end of the buoys, stretching from near Moultrie in 
 a westerly direction across the channel. At first I 
 thought it was the meeting of the tides, but as it 
 did not alter position I came to the conclusion some 
 hidden obstructions might be there.' 
 
 " September 26th, the ' Catskill' reports a steamer 
 plying between Sumter and Moultrie on the pi-evious 
 night, supported by two iron-clads. On the 27th, 
 the ' Nahant ' reports that the obstruction buoys 
 were counted by several officers, and the average 
 number was about eighty (80 . ' The buoys do not 
 seem to be in a continuous line, but as if they were 
 in groups of five or six. There seems to be another 
 short line of larger buoys beyond the first, which I 
 judge to be a separate obstruction across Hog 
 Island Channel.' Which description is remarkably 
 in accord with all the facts since ascertained. 
 
 "In October (31st\ 1863, a part of the rope obstruc- 
 tions floated out of the harbor, and was discovered 
 
764 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 inside the bar. The floatingaway of these sections 
 —owing to various causes, sometimes to their re- 
 moval by our scouts — explains the variations in the 
 numbers of the buoys counted at different times 
 from the Monitors; and their renewal by the rebels 
 ■whenever they did disappear is fully estabUshed by 
 the nightly experience of Acting-Master Gifford, 
 ■who rarely failed to be at his post as a scout. His 
 report, which is annexed, is of interest, as it ex- 
 hibits the results of much arduous service and close 
 observation. 
 
 " The accounts of deserters and refugees confirmed 
 in a general way the existence and locality of the 
 obstructions ; but their opportunities for observa- 
 tion were seldom as good as our own, for none but 
 those engaged in the work were allowed opportuni- 
 ties of knowing more than could be seen from a 
 short distance, and the rebels were singularly for- 
 tunate in the precautions to keep their own counsel 
 as to the nature of the submerged defences. 
 
 " The general existenceof obstructions at an early 
 date was set forth in a circular order of General Rip- 
 ley (December 26, 1862\ regarding the defence to be 
 made against our attack. 
 
 " In speaking of these impediments it says : ' The 
 obstructions will also be designated, and under no 
 circumstances will the enemy be permitted to re- 
 connoitre them.' 
 
 "Besides the obstructions at the entrance, the 
 middle channel was closed by a double row of piles 
 extending some distance across the harbor, which 
 were distinctly visible when the first operations 
 were initiated against Charleston. 
 
 " In the Hog Island Channel was also a set of 
 boom obstructions, found in April last by the 
 ' Clover ' while engaged in clearing away the frame 
 torpedoes placed there. 
 
 " The massive and complicated character of these 
 gave much trouble in their removal. They con- 
 sisted of a stout chain (J-inch iron) that had been 
 floated by blocks of timber secured to it at short in- 
 tervals. 
 
 " These blocks were made of four-squared logs. 
 fifteen (15) feet long and one il) foot square, kept 
 together by an iron band at each end. 
 
 "Railroad iron linked together, and suspended 
 from squared timber, was associated with the chain- 
 boom. This boom had been stretched across a neck 
 in the Hog Island Channel when there was least 
 water, and the passage so narrow that the shoals on 
 each hand were bare at low water, and hardly five 
 hundred (500) feet apart, besides being directly un- 
 der fire from Battery Bee at 1,100 yards, and of 
 Mount Pleasant battery at 1,000 yards. At this 
 time they had been so much worm-eaten that they 
 sank, but the depth at low tide would still have 
 rendered them troublesome to all but light-draught 
 vessels.* 
 
 In this way the main entrance was obstructed 
 between Sumter and Moultrie, and two of the chan- 
 nels leading from it were barred by piles and booms, 
 leaving open only the main channel to the south, 
 which was left to the control of the hea^vy batteries 
 that lined it. 
 
 "These obstructions were defended by torpedoes, 
 and by a series of batteries, iron-clads and torpedo- 
 boats. 
 
 "After obtaining possession of the harbor, the 
 examination which was made disclosed the use of 
 three kinds of torpedoes. The floating torpedo 
 was miade of a small barrel, capable of containing 
 seventy (70) pounds of powder, generally mounting 
 two fuzes on the bilge, anchored so as to come 
 in contact with the bottom of vessels. By means 
 of a small weight these fuzes were kept upper- 
 most. 
 
 "These torpedoes were well known in the squad- 
 
 * And Captain Gray statea that they were afloat up to the last that 
 he saw of tbein, which was iu August, 1864. 
 
 ron, having been picked up and encountered at 
 various times in the St. John's and Stono, explod- 
 ing occasionally with full effect. They were liable 
 to be lost by getting adrift ; or, if not tight, might 
 be spoiled by water; but the rebels kept a vigilant 
 eye on them, examining them at times and replac- 
 ing them. There was a regular establishment here 
 for their fabrication, under the charge of Mr. Gray, 
 who held the position of captain. 
 
 "A part of thecorrespondence of this branch is now 
 in my hands, from which it appears that there were 
 thirty-five (35) to forty (40) hands emploj^ed, and 
 that Mr. Gray distributed the barrel torpedoes 
 along the coast from Georgetown to St. John's; 
 he also transmitted a variety of material even as 
 far as Mobile, and his connection was direct with 
 several commanding officers. 
 
 " Woods and Thompson were employed in the 
 department to 'build the torpedoes,' as they ex- 
 press it. 
 
 " It appears that no great number of these was 
 kept placed permanently in Charleston harbor, be- 
 cause they were dangerous to vessels moving about 
 on the ordinary communications by water, and ac- 
 cidents had occurred. They could readily be put 
 down in a very short time on the appearance of a 
 move on our part. 
 
 " In the middle of January, for instance, when 
 this was suspected, an order was given to put down 
 several lines of them. Woods and Thompson placed 
 sixteen (16) of them in the vicinity of the rope ob- 
 structions, between Sumter and Moultrie, and seven 
 (7) at the entrance of the Hog Island Channel. 
 Others were directed to be laid down from Fort 
 Johnson to Castle Pinckney, which seems to have 
 been deferred until the attack began. 
 
 "One of those near the obstructions was en- 
 countered by the Monitor ' Patapsco,' on the night 
 of the 15th of January, when, in the expectation of 
 co-operating with General Sherman, I had ordered 
 a vigorous effort to be made to remove the rope 
 obstructions, and the picket Monitors covered the 
 boats so engaged. 
 
 " It seems that the work of placing these tor- 
 pedoes had been completed that very night, and 
 the ' Patapsco ' went down, with two-thirds of her 
 crew, almost immediately on being struck, being at 
 the time about six hundred (600) yards from Sum- 
 ter. 
 
 ' 'Immediately after entering the harbor of Charles- 
 ton, vigorous efforts were made to remove these 
 floating torpedoes; but, although some of the very 
 men who had put them down were employed, with 
 the aid of steam tugs and boats, and all the ordi- 
 nary appliances, to recover them, dragging and 
 sweeping the water for many days, only four (4) 
 could be found of the sixteen (16). 
 
 " The ' Bibb ' came in contact ■with and exploded 
 oneonthel7thof March, and the 'Massachusetts' 
 grazed one on the 19th, so that the balance remain 
 undiscovered. 
 
 " A set of the same kind, placed across the mouth 
 of the Wando, were recovered and destroyed. Act- 
 ing-Master Gifford found as many as sixty-one (.61) 
 at different points of the shore, about the harbor, 
 ready for service, or nearly so, and at hand to be 
 put down if needed. 
 
 " At Causten s Bluff, in St. Augustine Creek (one 
 of the approaches to Savannah), were found a num- 
 ber lying on a wharf all ready for immediate use. 
 They were conveniently handled, and could be laid 
 down rapidly and easily. Woods and Thompson 
 say that with one boat they placed them at the rate 
 of four in an hour. 
 
 "This kind of torpedo was the most convenient 
 of all, and the most dangerous, though, being liable 
 to shift with the current, they were apt to trouble 
 those who used them. One rebel steamboat 
 ( Marion') had been blown up in the Ashley River 
 some time ago by one of them; and, in June, 1864, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 765 
 
 another rebel steamer, plying from Sumter up the 
 harbor, -was struck by one and beached on the 
 shoal near Johnson, to prevent sinking in deep 
 water, supposed at the time to have been run ashore 
 accidentally. 
 
 " It is probable that the ' Tecumseh ' was sunk at 
 Mobile, in Admiral Farragut s attack, by one of 
 this kind; also the 'Milwaukee,' the ' Osage,' the 
 'Rudolph,' and a tin-clad (48, in the recent cap- 
 tures of the forts. 
 
 " My own flag-ship, the ' Harvest Moon,' was de- 
 stroyed by the same device, in Georgetown, and 
 three army transports in the St. John's— ' Maple 
 Leaf,' ' Harriet Weed, ' and another. 
 
 " Mr. Gray states they were placed in such num- 
 bers about the main entrance and channel, about 
 the time of our operations against Morris Island, 
 that it would have been impossible for any vessel to 
 escape that entered. 
 
 ' ' There were also permanent torpedoes. One spe- 
 cies of these consisted of a frame of three or four 
 heavy timbers, parallel to each other and a few feet 
 apart, tied together by cross-timbers; at the head 
 of each timber was a cast - iron torpedo with a 
 fuze. * 
 
 The frame was placed obliquely, and held by 
 weights, so as to present its torpedoes to the bottom 
 of a vessel approaching. Series of them were placed 
 in particular parts of the channel. 
 
 "Four frames, mounting fifteen (15) torpedoes, 
 were found at the entrance of Ashley River; they 
 had been there some time, and yet were in such 
 good condition that one exploded when towed 
 away carelessly, and though a dozen feet from the 
 tug the explosion hurt and knocked overboard sev- 
 eral men. 
 
 "Frames were also found in the narrow pass of 
 the Hog Island Channel, just as it branches from 
 the main channel near Battery Bee, and close to the 
 boom obstructions already described; and another 
 set in the neck of the middle channel near Castle 
 Pinckney. 
 
 " There is said to be another set in the shoal con- 
 necting the middle and the north channel, not re- 
 moved at this date. 
 
 " One of these frames was found lying in a dock 
 of the Cooper River, with the torpedoes mounted 
 ready for use. 
 
 " In many cases the frames had been much worm- 
 eaten, so that in attempting to remove them the 
 timber broke and fell to the bottom. 
 
 ' ' On the wharf near it and the adjoining buildings, 
 which had been used as a factory for the torpedoes 
 until our shells rendered it dangerous, were thirty 
 (30 1 cast-iron torpedoes for framing. 
 
 " This kind of torpedo was used in the Ogeechee 
 and Savannah Rivers, where they were distinctly 
 visible at very low water; and probably it was one 
 of this kind that struck the 'Montauk' in February, 
 1863, when attacking Fort McAllister. 
 
 "As torpedo frames could not be fixed in very 
 deep water, another kind was used for the purpose. 
 This was a large sheet-iron boiler, capable of con- 
 taining 1,000 to 3,000 pounds of powder, to be ex- 
 ploded by a galvanic battery connected by an insu- 
 lated wire. 
 
 " Three of these were located in the main chan- 
 nel between Battery Bee and Fort Johnson; the 
 wire rope of each was led to Sullivan's Island, and 
 all were found in good condition. 
 
 "Persevering efforts were made by the squadron 
 divers to follow the wires from the shore to the tor- 
 pedoes, but they had become so overlaid by depos- 
 its of sand as to resist all attempts to release them, 
 and were broken several times in the proceeding. 
 A large quantity of the wire rope was taken up.f 
 Some of the range-poles having been removed, it 
 
 *A model of this kind was made for me by William Flynn, j 
 off whn had worked on them in Charleston. 
 
 refu- 
 
 was found impossible to determine with precision 
 the exact locality where the divers could reach them 
 without following the wires. 
 
 "A torpedo boiler ready to receive powder was 
 found on the wharf, where the cast-iron torpedoes 
 for the frames already mentioned were discovered, 
 together with a large quantity of the wire rope. 
 
 " This was made in the best manner, probably in 
 England. The copper wire was insulated by a tube 
 of India-rubber, protected by. a wrapper of hemp, 
 and over that closely laid wire. 
 
 " In this connection I may also mention the tor- 
 pedoes designed for the rams and torpedo-boats, 
 samples of which were recovered by divers from, the 
 bed of the river, where they had been thrown. 
 
 " There were two sizes, both being elongated cop- 
 per cylinders with hemispherical ends, and diame- 
 ters of ten (10) inches, but one was thirty-two inches 
 long, the others twenty-four inches. 
 
 "At the outer end were screw-sockets for eight 
 fuzes, so as to present points of explosion in every 
 direction. The torpedo for the bow of a ram was 
 of copper, barrel-shaped, and tapering to a point 
 at the outer end. It had sockets for seven fuzes 
 on the upper bilge and end. Its contents of 
 powder was about one hundred and thirty - four 
 pounds. 
 
 " The three torpedo-boats in service had been sunk 
 in the Cooper River, off the city wharves. Two 
 have been raised, and one put in good order so as 
 to steam about the harbor; in length about sixty- 
 four (64) feet, and five and one-half (5^) feet in di- 
 ameter, capable of steaming about five (5) knots. 
 There were six others that were under repairs, or 
 being completed, of which two are now ready for 
 service. Just above those that had been sunk were 
 the three iron-clads, ' Chicora,' ' Palmetto,' and 
 ' Charleston,' all of which had been fired and blown 
 up on the day we entered. The ' Chicora ' alone is 
 visible in any part,, and that only a few inches of 
 the casemate at low water. 
 
 " Up a small creek was found a fourth iron-clad, 
 the ' Columbia,' of the same size as the ' Charles- 
 ton, 'but plated with six (6) inches of iron; a new 
 well-built vessel, just ready for service 
 
 " It seems that about a month before the entrance 
 of the Union forces (January 13), the vessel had 
 been docked in the creek above the city, and in 
 getting her out of the dock she grounded. The 
 rebels seem to have begun to extricate the vessel, 
 but had not sufficient time before they abandoned 
 Charleston. Why she was not destroyed is difficult 
 to conceive, as they sank the three that were in 
 service, and burned two new iron-clads that were 
 not completed. This vessel was fully ready for 
 service, even guns mounted, which, it was said, 
 were taken out after grounding, and a portion of 
 the plating had been removed as a preparation for 
 lightening and floating the vessel, under the belief 
 that they could be saved. I gave the neces- 
 sary directions, and on the 26th had the satisfac- 
 tion of seeing her floated, which was effected by the 
 exertions of several officers — Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Matthews, Fleet Engineer Danby, Chief 
 Engineer Kierstead — by Master Carpenter Davis, 
 by Lieutenant Churchill, and the divers. This ves- 
 sel has an extreme length of two hundred and sixteen 
 (216) feet ; beam, fifty-one and one-third (Sl.J) feet ; 
 is plated with six (6 ) inches of iron ; carries six (6) 
 guns of the heaviest calibre, has two engines ; high 
 pressure, ample accommodations on berth-deck for 
 cabin, ward-room and men, with good quarters in 
 the casemates. Her leakage is very small, indicat- 
 ing no great injury from the grounding. Her 
 steam-power was in good order, only requiring the 
 stack-pipe and smoke-box to be replaced, and some 
 of the interior pipe that had laeen cut. The 
 ' Columbia ' left on the 23d of May, in tow of the 
 ^3 anderbilt,' and was commanded by Lieutenant 
 

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 (766) 
 
768 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 " I propose to place four of my own new lO-inch 
 guns in the casemate ; one at each corner. They 
 weigh about 16,000 pounds, and will throw a solid 
 shot, -with forty pounds of powder, which has 
 pierced four and a half inches of good iron at two 
 hundred yards. If the two other guns are needed 
 they may be of 9-inch. 
 
 "Annexed are eighteen sketches illustrating the 
 various devices which are referred to in the forego- 
 ing, as well as the defences of the harbor : 
 
 " 1. General plan of the harbor, showing the posi- 
 tions of the batteries, obstructions of booms, ropes 
 and piles, torpedoes, barrel, frame and boiler, sites 
 ■where lie the wrecks of the Monitors ' Weehawken ' 
 and 'Patapsoo,' steamship ' Housatonic, ' rebel 
 steamer 'Etiwan,' etc. 
 
 " This has been prepared with great care by Cap- 
 tain Boutelle, from drawings on the spot, of the 
 batteries, determination of the locality of the ob- 
 structions, etc., from observations, or from the 
 statements of those who removed them, it is a 
 valuable and highly executed specimen of coast 
 survey work, which is highly creditable. 
 " 2. Fortifications on James Island. 
 " 3. Fortifications on Sullivan's Island. 
 " 4. Defences of Charleston Harbor. 
 " These three maps were also executed by Captain 
 Boutelle, of the coast survey. 
 
 " 5, 6 and 7. Rope obstructions between Sumter 
 and Moultrie, their anchors and floats. 
 
 " 8. Portion of boom obstructions in Hog Island 
 Channel. 
 ' ' 9. Barrel torpedo 
 
 '• 10. Torpedo frame found in Ashley Elver, Hog 
 Island and middle channel. 
 " 11. Its torpedo. 
 
 " 13. Torpedo frame and its torpedo, used in the 
 Ogeechee near Fort McAllister, and in the Savannah 
 River near the city. 
 
 " 13. Torpedo from bow of rebel ram." 
 "14 and 15. Torpedoes of the ' Davids' or torpedo- 
 boats. 
 
 "16. Specimen of the 'David' or torpedo-boat, 
 found in Charleston. 
 
 "17 and 18. Sketch of rebel ram ' Columbia,' cap- 
 tured with Charleston. 
 
 " 13, 16, 17 and 18 are by Second-Assistant-Bngi- 
 neer Smith. All the rest were made under the 
 supervision of Captain Boutelle, of the coast sur- 
 vey, and with great care, from actual samples. 
 
 " The foregoingconveys the best information that 
 I could collect by the means at my disposal in re- 
 gard to the submerged impediments of the harbor; 
 and their efliciency, when kept in good order, is not 
 to be judged from the condition in which we found 
 those which were composed more or less of heavy 
 timber. The daily care and renovation that they 
 received from the rebels had ceased for two and 
 even three months before we handled them The 
 boom obstructions and frames in Hog Island Chan- 
 nel were reached only two to two and a half months 
 after the city was abandoned, and the frames in 
 the middle channel had been left unnoticed for 
 three months. It may be conceived that daily care 
 was indispensable to their preservation, and this 
 they did not receive after the rebels evacuated 
 Charleston. 
 
 "Annexed will be found the statements of various 
 persons in regard to what they know of the various 
 kinds of obstructions, etc , used to defend the har- 
 bor of Charleston, and also extracts from a .iournal 
 found at the headquarters of the torpedo depart- 
 ment in Charleston. 
 
 " There is no greater diversity in these accounts 
 than might be expected from the nature of the de- 
 vices and the circumstances under which the differ- 
 ent parties obtained information of them. Quite 
 sufficient is certain to show that these several con- 
 trivances of obstruction and torpedoes would have 
 been as troublesome as it was expected they would 
 
 be. in connection with the heavy batteries that 
 Uned the harbor, and the rebel iron-clads 
 
 " I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 "J. A. Dahlgbbn, 
 " Rear-Admiral, Commanding South 
 " Atlantic Blockading Squadron. 
 "Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy.''' 
 
 The best illustration that can be given of 
 the strength of Charleston is this notice of 
 the obstructions added to an account of its 
 fortifications. The strong positions in which 
 the latter were placed, and the skill dis- 
 played in their construction, show what ob- 
 stacles had to be overcome by the Federal 
 Army and Navy. A new era in military en- 
 gineering had commenced on the outbreak 
 of the civil war ; and although the Confed- 
 erates made use of the forts within their ter- 
 ritory constructed of masonry, these were 
 either strengthened by sand-bags or sup- 
 ported by earth-works of the most formida- 
 ble description. Most of these fortifications 
 were ultimately mounted with foreign guns 
 of the largest size and most approved pat- 
 tern; and, while we render due credit to 
 those who overcame such gigantic obstacles, 
 we should not fail to acknowledge the 
 ability and energy of those who created 
 them. 
 
 The old-fashioned system of forts was 
 necessarily ignored by the Confederates 
 from the first. It was impossible to build 
 fortifica.tions of m.asonry in time to meet 
 the crisis which followed the attack on Sum- 
 ter, and in the sand of the Southern coast 
 nature had supplied an excellent material 
 for rapidly building, at smaller expense, 
 the military works required. We were 
 taught by the civil war that, instead of ex- 
 pending millions of dollars on fortifications 
 of masonry, we could secure the same or 
 better results at comparatively little ex- 
 pense of time or labor, and have our money 
 to spend on guns and torpedoes. The best 
 way to understand these matters is to ex- 
 amine the plans of fortifications built along 
 the Southern coast. Nothing was ever be- 
 fore constructed of sand-bags so formidable 
 as Fort Fisher and the other defences of 
 Cape Fear River, and the works at Charles- 
 ton and Savannah. They were master- 
 pieces of military engineering. 
 
 In order to show the difSculties to be en- 
 countered at Charleston, we append the 
 general plan of the Confederate works. 
 
 When the Union forces took possession 
 of Charleston, they were rather surprised 
 to find but one hundred and forty-nine 
 heavy guns in all the forts. This, however, 
 was quite sufficient to secure the place 
 against a naval attack, while the army- 
 contingent was never sufficient by many 
 thousand men to make much impression on 
 
. OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 769 
 
 "the land defences. At the same time the 
 troops were useful in co-operating with the 
 Navy to annoy the garrison. The duty of 
 the army was harassing beyond descrip- 
 tion, and the privations of the soldiers were 
 many. The enemy generally outnumbered 
 the attacking force two to one, so that if 
 Charleston could be called "in a state of 
 siege" it was a most incomplete invest- 
 ment. 
 
 As for naval success in an attack on 
 Charleston, it was out of the question. The 
 force supplied the naval commanders-in- 
 chief was so small, and the obstructions, 
 torpedoes and forts so numerous, that it 
 would have been little less than a miracle 
 for a hostile ileet to reach the city. Had 
 there been any doubt on this subject, it 
 would be removed by the evidence given 
 after the fall of Charleston by persons who 
 had charge of the obstructions. That every 
 effort was made to overcome the difficulties 
 of the situation by Rear- Admiral Dahlgren 
 and his gallant officers and men is certain. 
 They were always ready for any adventure, 
 no matter how hazardous. Many acts of 
 gallantry were performed by the Army and 
 Navy; but, take it altogether, the siege of 
 Charleston was in the highest degree har- 
 assing and unsatisfactory to both the Army 
 and Navy of the Union. 
 
 General Hardee evacuated Charleston to 
 enable him to get in the advance of General 
 Sherman and reach Raleigh and join his 
 forces to those of General Beauregard, and 
 with the garrison at Augusta, who were 
 aiming to reach the same point. This left 
 ■the coast of South Carolina comparatively 
 free of Confederate troops; yet there were 
 still points that required attention. Forti- 
 fications along the rivers had to be de- 
 stroyed. In the panic at the movements of 
 Sherman's army most of these places had 
 been hurriedly evacuated without injuring 
 them, and the enemy might again occupy 
 them. 
 
 On the 25th of February, 1866, George- 
 town, S. C, was occupied by the naval 
 forces, in view of the movements of General 
 Sherman, who might desire to be placed in 
 communication with it before entering 
 North Carolina. There were at this point 
 well-constructed works, mounting sixteen 
 guns, two of them 10-inch columbiads, but 
 no resistance was made, the garrison hav- 
 ing departed. 
 
 Acting-Ensign A. K. Noyes, commanding 
 TJ. S. S. " Catalpa," was sent to the city of 
 Georgetown to hoist the Union flag, the 
 municipal authorities having offered sub- 
 mission, and some of the seamen climbed 
 the dome of the town hall and ran up the 
 Stars and Stripes. As soon as the flag was 
 raised, a party of Confederate horseman 
 
 the alarm was given the seamen from the 
 "Mingoe" and " Catalpa" were landed and 
 drove off the enemy. 
 
 Gun-boats were sent as far as they could 
 go — about forty miles — up the Cooper River, 
 to co-operate with an army force under 
 General Schimmelfennig, to break up any 
 parties of Confederate troops that might 
 still linger in the vicinity; but it was found 
 that the enemy's forces had all crossed the 
 Santee, burning the bridges behind them. 
 These movements of the gun-boats involved 
 great care to avoid the sunken torpedoes 
 known to exist in all the rivers. 
 
 Even the " Harvest Moon," the flag ship 
 of Admiral Dahlgren, did not escape un- 
 scathed. While proceeding down to a point 
 two or three miles below Georgetown, this 
 vessel, with the Admiral on board, was 
 blown up by coming in contact with a tor- 
 pedo. The shock was tremendous, the ves- 
 sel shivered in every timber, bulkheads 
 were driven in, and it seemed as if the boil- 
 ers had burst and the magazine exploded. 
 Before any one could fairly realize the 
 situation, the " Harvest Moon" had sunk to 
 the bottom. Had the torpedo struck the 
 vessel a little further forward or aft there 
 would have been great loss of life, but, as 
 it was, only one life was lost. These infer- 
 nal machines were met with when least ex- 
 pected, and with the greatest care in drag- 
 ging for them were often overlooked. 
 
 By the end of March, 1865, the coast of 
 South Carolina and Georgia may be said to 
 have been free from Confederate raiders, 
 and the inhabitants were rather glad to see 
 the boat expedition sent out by Admiral 
 Dahlgren. These were a check upon the 
 parties of deserters from General Johnston's 
 army who were trying to reach their 
 homes, and were rendered indifferent, by 
 poverty and suffering, on whom they sub- 
 sisted. The condition of affairs all along 
 the coast was deplorable, owing to the 
 disasters of the civil war, and the strong 
 hand of power was necessary to put an end 
 to it. 
 
 By the last of May there was nothing 
 left for Rear- Admiral Dahlgren to accom- 
 plish, and he was quite ready to be relieved 
 from a command that had brought upon 
 him so much labor and care, without his 
 having accomplished what the Navy De- 
 partment desired, the capture of Charlestoii 
 by the fleet, a thing which under the cir, 
 cumstances was almost, if not quite, im^ 
 possible. On the 23d of June, 1865, the 
 Admiral was relieved from his command, 
 and received the following complimentary 
 letter from the Secretary of the Navy : 
 
 Navy Department, Jane 23, 1865. 
 Sir— Tour dispatch of the 21st instant, reporting 
 your arrival in Washington in pursuance of the 
 
770 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 On the receipt hereof, you wiU haul down your 
 flag and regard yourself as detached from the com- 
 mand of the South Atlantic Squadron, which you 
 have conducted with ability and energy for two 
 years. 
 
 The Department takes the occasion to express to 
 you its approbation of your services, and of the ser- 
 vices of those who have been associated with you in 
 efficient blockade of the coast and harbors at a cen- 
 
 tral and important position of the Union, and in the 
 work of repossessing the forts and of restoring the 
 authority of the Government in the insurgent 
 States. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 GriDEON Welles, 
 
 Secretary of fhe Navy. 
 Rear- Admiral John A. Dahlgren, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON", JANUARY 1, 1865. 
 
 Rear-Admiral J. A. Dahlgren, Commanding. 
 
 Staff— Lieutenant-Commander Joseph M. Bradford, Fleet-Captain ; Lieutenant-Commander 
 E. O. Mathews, Flag-Lieutenant-Commander; Lieutenant Alfred T. Mahan, Ordnance- 
 Officer; Lieutenant James O'Kane, Flag-Lieutenant; Ensign Ernest J. Dichman, Aide; 
 Fleet-Engineer, Robert Danby; Fleet-Paymaster, James H. Watmough ; Fleet-Surgeon, 
 William Johnson; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant and Pilot, Wm. Haffards; Acting-En- 
 sign, Walter Cooper ; Acting-Ensign and Signal-Officer, Geo. H. Rexford. 
 
 " CANANDAIGTJA "—SECOND-BATE. 
 
 Captain, Gustavus H. Scott; Commander, N. B. 
 Harrison; Lieutenants, S. B. Gillett and Walter Ab- 
 bott; Acting-Masters, Calvin C. Childs, J. L. Gif- 
 ford and R. G. Lelar; Acting-Ensigns, T. E. Harvey 
 and Andrew Wiilard; Acting- Master's Mates, S. S. 
 Willard and James Wilbar; Surgeon, C. H. Bur- 
 bank; Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Anderson; Engi- 
 neers: Chief, G. B. N. Tower; Second Assistant, J. J. 
 Barry ; Acting - Second - Assistants, Wm. McGrath 
 and J. W. Mellor ; Acting-Third-Assistants, W. M. 
 Smith and H. B. Goodwin; Boatswain, Charles 
 Fisher; Gunner, E. J. Beecham. 
 
 STOKE-SHIP " NEW HAMPSHIRE." 
 
 Commander, William Reynolds; Acting-Masters, 
 H. W. Hand, R. B. Hines, J. C. Cox and W. A. 
 Morgan; Acting Ensigns, C. S. Lawrence, Wood- 
 ward Carter and Frank .Jordan; Chaplain, John 
 Blake; Surgeon, H. C. Nelson; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, Levi S. Bingham; First-Lieutenant of 
 Marines, G. G. Stoddard; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. B. Flynn, H. A. Rogers and Harry Lueus; Third - 
 Assistant Engineer, William Charlton ; Acting- 
 Boatswain, Edward Hughes; Acting-Gunner, Geo. 
 W. Allen. 
 
 ' ' FLAG " — THIRD-KATE. 
 
 Commander, James C.Williamson; Acting-Volun- 
 teer-Lie utenanc, Wm. H. Latham; Acting-Master, 
 Wm. Lallman; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. Kelley, 8. A. 
 Gove, E. W. Watson and John Denson ; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, Wm. Merrill; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 jnaster, O. B. Seagrave; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 W. J. Burge; Engineers: Second-Assistant, I. R. 
 McNary ; Acting-Second-Assistant, Campbell Mc- 
 Ewen ; Acting - Third - Assistants, Lory Bennett, 
 Theodore Scudder and H. A. Chase ; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, J, H. Pennington. 
 
 "ST. LOUIS" — THIRD-RATE. 
 
 Commander, Geo. H. Preble; Lieutenant, Wm. F. 
 Stewart; Acting-Master, S. W. Hadley; Acting-En- 
 signs, Hazard Marsh, Henry Pease, Jr., S. 8. Minor 
 and Fred. Wood ; Actint; - Master's Mate, F. L. 
 Bryan; Passed Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Maeomber; 
 Paymaster, J. 8. Post; Acting-Boatswain, George 
 Brown; Gunner, G. P. Cushman; Sailmaker, 1. E. 
 Crowell. 
 
 "JAMES ADGER " — THIRD-RATE. 
 
 Commander, T. H. Patterson ; Lieutenant, Gil- 
 bert C. Wiltse; Acting-Master, A. F. Holmes; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, G. E. Halloway, O. C. Snow and Chas. 
 Danenhower; Acting- Master's Mates, L. W. Smith, 
 
 Robert Steel and J. W. Thode; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, W. W. Myers; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Wilbur Ives; Engineers : Acting-Chief, E. A. 
 Whipple; Acting-Second- Assistants, G. W. Scobey 
 and J. B. Place; Acting - Third - Assistants, P. J. 
 Holmes, Timothy Woodruff, Richard Morgan and 
 John Roach; Acting Gunner, Joseph Venable. 
 
 ' PAWNEE 
 
 -SECOND-RATE. 
 
 Commander, George B. Balch; Lieutenant, Wm. 
 Whitehead; Acting-Masters, .1. C. Champion, Thos. 
 Moore and E. A. Magone; Ensign, Henry Glass; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Poor, Jr., T. L. Fisher 
 and Jacob Kemp; Assistant Surgeon, 8. F. Shaw; As- 
 sistant Paymaster, C. S. Perley; Engineers : Chief, 
 B. E. Chassaing; Second- Assistants, W. J. Clark, 
 Jr., Arthur Price and J. G. Brosnahan; Third-As- 
 sistant, Robert Crawford; Boatswain, James Brown; 
 Gunner, James Hays. 
 
 ' ' CIMARRON " — THIBD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, Egbert Thompson ; Acting- Master, 
 Wm. E. Thomas; Acting Ensigns, Geo. F. Howes 
 and Charles Penfield ; Acting-Master's Mate, N. Gold- 
 smith: Acting Assistant Surgeon, T. S. Keith; Act- 
 ing - Assistant Paymaster, J. T. Lee • Engineers : 
 Second-Assistants, J. B. Carpenter, C. F. Meyer, 
 Jr., W. H. Kelly and W. L. BaUey. 
 
 " MINGOE " — third-rate. 
 
 Commander, J. B. Creighton; Acting - Masters, 
 J. W. Cangdon and J. C. Wentworth; Acting-En- 
 signs, Sam 1 Merchant, S. R. Carlton, R. F. Dodge 
 and J. A.Phipps ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. A. 
 Cabel; Acting Assistant Surgeon, G. 'H. Napheys; 
 Engineers : First- Assistant, E. A. C. DuPlain; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, James Mitchell, W. F. Wor- 
 rell and Levi Smetzen; Acting -Third -Assistants, 
 Wm. Emmarick and G. G. Blake; Acting-Gunner, 
 Andrew Harmand. 
 
 " catskill" — foubth-rate. 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Edward Barrett ; Lieu- 
 tenant, Chas. W. Tracy; Acting - Masters, J. C. 
 Hamlin and Wm. Reed ; Acting- Ensigns, J. D. Bar- 
 clay, E. B. Cox and Charles Clauson ; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, John W. Coles ; Assistant-Pavmaster, H. P. 
 Tuttle ; Engineers ; Acting-First-Assistant, J. P. 
 Butler; Acting-Second-Assistants, J. G. Dennett 
 and Jonas T. Booth ; Third - Assistant, Wm. M. 
 Barr ; Acting Third-Assistant, H. M. Test. 
 
 " PATAPSOO 
 
 Lieutenant 
 Lieutenant, Wm 
 
 THIRD-RATE. 
 
 Commander, S. P. Quackenbush ; 
 Sampson ; Acting- Master. John 
 
 T. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 771 
 
 "White ; Acting-Ensigns, J. S. Johnson, A. B. Bash- 
 ford and J. C. Brown ; Assistant-Surgeon, S. H. 
 Peltz ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. 8. Creevey; 
 Engineers ; First-Assistant, Reynolds Driver ; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, G. li. Palmer ; Third-Assist- 
 ants, D. C. Davis, G. P. Sweet and J. J. Ryan ; 
 Pilot, G. Pinckney. 
 
 " PONTIAC " — THIED-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, S. B. Luce ; Acting- 
 Master, Geo. P. Winslow ; Acting-Ensigns, Thomas 
 Stevens, E. M. Clark, T. E. Lawton and James E. 
 Carr ; Acting-Master's Mates, W. H. Fitzgerald and 
 E. L. Keinp ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, H. S. 
 Skelding; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. W. Sherfy; 
 Engineers : Second - Assistants, Francis Cronin, 
 Cipriano Andrade and H. F. Bradford ; Third-As- 
 sistants, C. P. Tiber and J. G. Littig ; Acting-Gun- 
 ner, Chas. F. Adams. 
 
 "JiEHI^lH" — TOTTETH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, Alex. A. Semmes ; Lieu- 
 tenant, John H. Reed ; Acting - Masters, W. N. 
 Price and John H. Bolles ; Acting-Ensigns, D. W. 
 Hodson, J. H. Cromwell and Rich. Lanphier ; Assist- 
 ant-Surgeon, David V. Whitney ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, W. F. A. Torbert ; Engineers : First- 
 Assistant, W. W. Hopper ; Second-Assistant, O. B. 
 MUls ; Acting-Second- Assistants, Henry Wanklin 
 and J. H. Vaile ; Acting - Third - Assistant, H. C. 
 Wilkins. 
 
 " SANGAMON "— POTJETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Jonathan Young ; Act- 
 ing-Master, 8. A. Waterbury ; Acting-Ensigns, C. A. 
 Pike, R. P. Leary and G. A. Johnston ; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, W. J. Simon ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, D. Coming ; Engineers : Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant, \V. S. Hazzard; Acting-Second- Assistant, W. J. 
 Barrington ; Third - Assistant, J. A. Kaiser ; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, W. E. Coster and C. H. Hunt. 
 
 '' NAHANT "— POtTBTH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. K. Mayo; Lieuten- 
 ant, Henry F. Picking; ActingMaster, Wm. Shack- 
 ford; Acting-Ensigns, C. J. Rogers, A. B. Prince, 
 
 E. H. Frisbie and W. C. Mendell; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, S. G. Webber ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 Wm. H. Palmer; Engineers: Acting First -Assistants, 
 John H. Foster and T. B. Grene ; Second-Assist- 
 ant, L. T. Stafford; Third- Assistant, J. L. Hannum; 
 Aeting-Third-Assistant, Morris McCarty. 
 
 " PASSAIC " — THIED-KATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, T. Scott Fillebrown ; 
 Lieutenant, H. L. Johnson; Acting-Masters, A. A. 
 Owens and Charles Cook ; Acting-Ensigns, L. A. 
 Waterman, Richard Hepburn and Sylvester Eld- 
 ridge; Assistant Surgeon, Wm. P. Baird; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, F. A. Wheeler; Engineers : 
 First- Assistant, James Sheridan; Second-Assistants, 
 
 F. H. Fletcher, Webster Lane and Joseph Hooper; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, G. S. Odell. 
 
 "MONTAUK"— POUBTH BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, E. E. Stone; Lieutenant, 
 E. F. Brower; Acting-Master, W. W. Crowning- 
 shields; Acting-Ensigns, G. W. Bourne, W. T. 
 Mitchell and B. Gabrielson; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, G. B. Todd ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 C. A. Robbins ; Engineers : Second - Assistants, 
 A. Adamson and J. W. Hollihan ; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Simeon Rockburn and Charles Amberg; 
 Acting-Third-Assistants, J. F. Walton and Richard 
 Bell. 
 
 " NANTUCKET " — POITETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Robert F. R. Lewis; 
 Lieutenant, J. F. McGlensey; Acting-Master, J. M. 
 Forsyth ; Acting-Ensigns, G. T. Chapman, Frank 
 
 G. Walter Allen; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, 
 D. P. Gerrish; Second-Assistant, C. F. HoUings- 
 worth ; Acting-Second-Assistant, P. C. Russell; 
 Third- Assistant, H. H. Kimball ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant, J. F. Kingsley. 
 
 " WISSAHICKON"— POTJETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Cf)mmander, A. W. Johnson; Acting- 
 Ensigns, H. B. Francis, H. F. Dorton and Alonzo 
 Elwell ; Acting-Master's Mates, D. J. King and 
 Joseph Gregory. Jr.; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, 
 S. C. Johnson ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Chas. 
 Dutcher : Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, John 
 Fallon; Third-Assistant, C. W. Kenyon • Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, C. E. Jevins and James F. Miller. 
 
 ' SONOMA 
 
 -THIED-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, R. W. Scott; Acting- 
 Master, H. M. Merrill; Acting-Ensigns, S. H. Pal- 
 lock, Geo. Couch, 8. G. Bryer and M. J. Daly; 
 Acting - Master's Mate, D. W. Spinney ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, David Fairdrey, Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Wm. Sellew; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, A. B. Cullins ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, Rufus Barton, R. G. Lewis, George Paul 
 and John O'Keefe ; Gunner, J. M. Hogg. 
 
 ' NIPSIO ' 
 
 -POUETH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, Edmund W. Henry ; 
 Acting-Masters, George P. Lee, J. E. Stickney and 
 H. A. Green; Acting-Ensign, Geo. E. Thomas; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, W. 8. Howland and J. C. Butler; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. J. GilfiUan; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, H . T. Mansfield ; Engineers : 
 First-Assistant, 8. L. P. Avres ; Second-Assistant, 
 E. W. Koehl; Third -Assistant, C. R. Roelker; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistant, Wm. J. Dougherty. 
 
 " OTTAWA "—FOTJETH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James Stillwell ; Acting- 
 Master, Wm. H. Winslow ; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, L. H. Willard; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 G. W. Huntington ; Acting-Ensigns, Benj. Mitchell, 
 C. H. Choate, W. H. McCormick and W. N. Smith; 
 Engineers: Second- Assistants, Geo. H. White and 
 R. ]3. Hine; Acting-Second Assistant, Wm. Ross; 
 Acting-Third- Assistant, C. G. Mead. 
 
 ' WINONA ' 
 
 -POTTETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. H. Dana; Acting- 
 Masters, E. H. Sheffield and Wm. McKendry; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, Walter Sargent and J. Severns; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, Alfred Staigg; Acting- Assistant- 
 Surgeon, Charles Little; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, T. H. Dickson; Engineers : Second-Assistant, 
 Alfred Hendrick; Acting-Second- Assistant, J. B. A. 
 Allen, Jr.; Third- Assistant, R. L. Wamaling; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistant, C. W. Plaisted. 
 
 " DAI CHING '' — FOUETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. C. Chaplin; Acting- 
 Masters, J. W. Crosby and Geo. Howorth; Acting- 
 Ensign, Walter Walton; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 J. R. Richardson; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, 
 Edw. Sherwin; Engineers: Acting First-Assistant, 
 G- R. Bennett ; Acting-Third-Assistants, D. Cas- 
 tana, J. R. Fulcher and Montgomery West. 
 
 "COMMODOEE M'DONOUaH "— POirETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Alex. F. Grossman; Act- 
 ing-Masters, Wm. Knapp and John Myers; Acting- 
 Ensigns, N. W. White and George Glass ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Sam'l Flaxington and L. F. Strant; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, R. Freeman; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, D. J. Harris; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistants, Sylvanus Warren, 8. S. Hettrick 
 and Nelson Ross. 
 
 NATAIi BATTBET. 
 
 Lieutenant, Geo. W. Hay ward ; Acting-Ensign, 
 J. A. Edgron; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, B. F. 
 
772 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 " SARATOGA " — THIRD-BATB. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer Lieutenant, Edgar Bred head ; 
 Acting-Masters, B. S. Melville and (J. H. Baldwin; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Edw. Rogers and G. O. Pabeus; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, C. H. Chase and W. A Stan- 
 nard; Acting Assistant Surgeon, Winthrop Butler; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Louis A. Yorlie; Boat- 
 swain, Phihp J. Miller; Gunner, Stephen Young; 
 Carpenter, O. H. Gerry; Sailmaker, J. C. Bradford. 
 
 "JOHN ADAMS"— THIKD-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Alvin Phiniiy ; Act- 
 ting-Masters, C. 0. Ricker, T. C. Chapinand Henry 
 Vaughan ; Acting-Ensigns, H. D. Burolett, T. S. 
 Avery,. A. A. Franzen, P. W. Fragen, G. S. John- 
 son and Frank Fisher ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 W. M. Gregg, S. E. Adamson, John Ostega, Nathan 
 Brown and Oliver O'Brien ; Acting-Assistant-Sur- 
 geon^ N. M. Randlett ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 Arch'd McVey ; Gunner, J. M. Ballard ; Acting- 
 Gunner, A. C. Holmes ; Carpenter, J. G. Thomas. 
 
 "FLAMBEAU "— THIED-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Edward Cavendy ; 
 Acting-Master, Gilbert Richmond ; Acting Ensigns, 
 J. W. Griffiths, J.T. Carver, J. S. Thomles and J. M. 
 Hudson ; Acting - Master's Mate, J. F. Peterson ; 
 Acting - Assistant Surgeon, P. H. Pursell ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, F. V. D. Horton ; Engineers : 
 Acting - First - Assistant, John Harris; Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant^ C. B. Curtes ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, Ai P. Bullard and Edw. Humstone. 
 
 " SOUTH CABOLINA '' — THIED-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Wm. W. Kennison; 
 Acting- Master, Wm. Bailey ; Acting-Ensigns, John 
 Gunn, E. M. Dimon, C. G. Boyer and Ansel S. 
 Hitch ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. C. Vaughan ; 
 Acting -Assistant Paymaster, S. W. Tanner; En- 
 gineers : Acting - First - Assistant, J. T. Hathaway ; 
 Acting - Second - Assistants, J. H. Rowe and Henry 
 Gormley ; Acting-Third-Assistants, S. C. Lane and 
 John Agnew. 
 
 " LODONA " — THIRD-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, R. P. Swann ; Act- 
 ing-Masters, H. G. McKennee and R. C. McKenzie ; 
 Acting- Ensigns, Wm. S. MeNeilly and L. B. Brig- 
 ham ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. W. Meekly ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, A. M. Stewart ; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-Second-Assistant, M. C. Heath ; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, James Mollineaux, Wm. Leon- 
 ard and W. H. H. Hawes. 
 
 ' HOPB 
 
 -POUBTH RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Wm. L. Churchill; 
 Acting- Ensign, Andy Hartshorn ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Wm. E. Sauld and J. S. Leon. 
 
 " VAIiPAEAISO " — POUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Geo. E. Welch ; 
 Acting-Masters, H. S. Blanchard, J. W. Tuck. A. S. 
 Gardner and S. W. Rhoades; Acting- Ensign, R. W. 
 Parker; Engineers: Acting-Secfmd-Assistants, E. H. 
 Keith and John Lardner; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 Jesse Wright; Gunner, Wm. Bartlett ; Carpenter, 
 Samuel N. Whitehouse. 
 
 ' STETTIN 
 
 -BOtTETH-EATE. 
 
 Moore ; Acting - Assistafii Sufg-eon, W. H. Bates ; 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, Wm. E. Foster; Engi- 
 neers : Acting -Second -Assistants, C. H. McCarty 
 and Peter Anderson ; Third-Assistant, 8. C. Mc- 
 Lanahan; Acting Third- Assistant, Wm. Adams. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, C. J. Van Alstine ; 
 Acting-Master, J. M. Butler; Acting- Ensigns, C. B. 
 Pray, .J. C. Staples and Wm. Jenny; Acting- Mas- 
 ter's Mate, Edward W. Mosier ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Robert Stone; Acting -Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, C. M. Burnes; Engineers: Actin^-Second-Assist- 
 ant, John Hawkins ; Acting - Thn-d - Assistants, 
 Anthony Gale, J. W. BUiott and W. AV. Smith. 
 
 " MB-MPHIS" — THIED BATE 
 
 Acting-Masters, R. O. Patterson and J. B. Childs; 
 Acting - Ensigns, S. W. Cowing, B. D. Reed and 
 G. C. Chamberlain ; Acting-Master's Mate, John W. 
 
 ' MABY SANBOED 
 
 -THIBD-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Master, Z. Kempton ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 John Ross, J. F. Otis, G. W. Pease and Wm. Cald- 
 vyell, Jr.; Acting- Master's Mate, N. F. Rich; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Geo. E. Bissell ; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas. O. Davis; Acting 
 Third-Assistant, A. N. Odell, Thos. Stimson and 
 James Hare. 
 
 "HOME" — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Benj. Dyer; Acting- Ensigns, A. E. 
 Barnett, R. E. Anson and A. D. Anderson; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Howard : Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Ichabod Norton; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, Cornehus Dandreau; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, Paul Dandreau, T. J. Hamilton, 
 Wm. Smith and G. W. Hughes. 
 
 " AZALIA "~B0UBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Fred. W. Str.ong; Acting-Ensign, 
 Joseph Frost; Acting-Masters Mates, F C. Simond 
 and Robert N. Turner; Engineers : Atcting-Second- 
 Assistant, Chas. Gewans; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 W. W. Fish, F. L. Strong and J. Priest. 
 
 ' ' PEEEY " — BOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, S. N. Freeman ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 R. R. Donnell and Fred. Elliott ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Edw. H. Sheer, T. H. McDonald and C. S, 
 Bridges; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Benj. Marshall; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. A. Emerson. 
 
 "HAEVEST MOON" — POUBTH-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Master, John K. Crosby ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 W. H. BuUis, D. P. McKevan, A. N. Bates and L. A. 
 Cornthwait; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, A. Sumner 
 Dean ; Acting -Assistant Paymaster, L. E. Rice ; 
 Engineers : Acting-Seeond-Assistant, J. A. Miller 
 and G. A. Geer; Acting-Third-Assistants, Henry 
 Fisher and F. W. Racoe. 
 
 PHIIiADELPHIA 
 
 -FOTJBTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Geo. H. Avery ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Geo. B. Bailey, Geo. Edwards, E. R. Davison, John 
 B. Starr and C. D. Duncan ; Assistant - Surgeon, 
 J. H. Culver ; Assistant Payroaster, H. L. Wait ; 
 Engineers : Acting - First - Assistant, Robert Mulr 
 ready ; Acting-Third-Assistants, C. T. Wamaling 
 and John Ryan. 
 
 ' ' POTOIISKA "— BOUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, F. M. Montell; Acting-Ensigns; 
 A. Cartes, Frank Watson, W. H Millett and G. T. 
 Joshn ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, H. E. Rand; 
 Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, Edwin 
 Vaughn; Acting -Third -Assistants, S. M. Van 
 Clief, E. W. Cross and L. McNeil. 
 
 ' ' WANDO " — POTJETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Fred'k T. King ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 E. K. Smith, M. A. Nickerson, Lewis Jennings and 
 Alex. Cormack ; Acting - Master's Mate, W. C. 
 N. Sanford ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, P. C. Whid- 
 den ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. L. G. Thayer; 
 Engineers: Second-Assistant, J. P. Kelly ; Acting- 
 Second- Assistant, J. J. Sullivan; Ac ting-Third- As- 
 sistants, Wm. Norie, T. T. Sanborn and G. W. 
 Wakefield. 
 
 ' ' W AMSUT f A " - BOtTBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Charles W. Lee; Acting-Ensigns, 
 E. R. Warren and T. R. Dayton ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, F. L. Wheeler and Thos. Nickerson ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Charles Loueks ; Engi- 
 neers : Acting -First -Assistant. William Johnston; 
 Actmg-Third-Assistants, B. P. Napheys, David Mc- 
 Donald and T. T. Risbell. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 773 
 
 "AMABANTHtrS "— FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Enog O. Adams ; Acting-Ensign, 
 Wm. R. Cox ; Acting-Master s Mates. Wasliington 
 Van Wyck, James O'Donnell and A. D. Damon ; 
 Engineers : Acting-Second- Assistant, C. R. Jones ; 
 Acting-Third -Assistants, Samuel Fowler and H. W. 
 Force. 
 
 "ETHAN ALLAN "--FOUETH-E ATE. 
 
 Acting-Masters, J. A. Pennell, W. L. Kempton 
 and Jos. McCart ; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. Bunting 
 andWm. Mero ; Acting - Master's Mate, Edwards 
 Dexter ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Isaiah Dowling; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Wm. R. Woodward. 
 
 "CHAMBEES" — FOUETH BATE, 
 
 Acting-Master, William Watson; Acting Ensigns, 
 William Jennings and L. P. Delan ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, A. K. Baylor ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 W. D. Walker. • ^ J' . 
 
 " OLEANDER "— tFOUETH-KATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, R. Price Walter ; Acting Ensigns, 
 H. G. Seaman and Geo. Dunlap; Acting - Master's 
 Mate, George Newlin ■ Engineers : Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, Samuel Swartwout ; Acting - Third- 
 Assistants, Robert B. Dick, H. S. Brown and L. B. 
 Joyce. 
 
 " PAEA " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, David P. Health ; Acting-Ensign, 
 Edward Ryan ; Acting - Master's Mates, John Mc- 
 Donough and Wm. H. Morse. 
 
 "NOBWICH"— FOTJETH KATE. 
 
 Acting • Master, W. H. DeWolf ; Acting -Ensigns, 
 J. H. Sinscatt, J. P. Chad wick and R. W. Laid ; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, Henry Sinclair and Wm. 
 White ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, J. A. Petrie; 
 Acting - Assistant Paymaster, C. F. Gardner ; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, P. B Robinson ; 
 Third - Assistant, L. H. Lamdim ; Acting - Third- 
 Assistants, H. J. Tarr and J. B. Johnston. 
 
 " FEBNANDINA "— FOUKTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Masters, Lewis West and George 
 P. HoUis ; Acting - Ensigns, Christopher Flood, 
 B. H. Chadwick and Charles Sawyer ; Acting- 
 Masters Mate, Wm. C. King ; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, S. B. Kenney ; Acting - Assistant Pav- 
 master, T. N. Murray. 
 
 ' ' HOUGHLEN " — FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting - Master, E. S. Fusher ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 ■ 0. M. Shirving and Jacob Cochran; Acting Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, Israel Bashong; Acting - Assistant 
 Paymaster, R W. Allen. 
 
 " DAFFODIL "^FOtTBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Wm. H. Mallard ; Acting-Ensign, 
 John McGlathery ; Acting - Master's Mate, N. B. 
 Walker ; Engineers : Acting-Third- Assistants, Wm. 
 H. Capen, Thomas Forrest and John Tucker. 
 
 " OKVETTA " — FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. Fales ; Acting-Ensigns, E. W. 
 Halcro, Charles Nellman and D. W. Andrews; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Paymaster, Samuel A. Kay. 
 
 'HXDBANGA 
 
 -FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Charles W. Rodgers; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, J. B. Newcomb, J. G. Underbill and 
 John Wolstenholme ; Engineers : Acting - Second 
 Assistant, A. N. Koones; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 H. E. Whitworth, W. B. Hall and C. M. Adams. 
 
 " B. B. HALE " - FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Master, Charles F. Mitchell; Acting-En- 
 signs, Henry Stohl, G. A. Smith, J. N. VanBuskirk. 
 Wm. L. Pary and Wm. Lamee; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, O. B. Gilman; Engineers: Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, Frank Marsh; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 
 " 0. P. WILLIAMS "—FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting - Master, L. W. Parker; Acting -Ensign, 
 J. W. North; Acting-Master's Mates, L. E. Daggett 
 and W. J. Lane. 
 
 "GEOBGB MANGHAM'' FOUETH-EATE 
 
 Acting-Master, John Collins, Jr. ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. E. Wallis and A. Tuttle; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, T. G. Holland. 
 
 ' ' DAN SMITH " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Barker Van Voorhis; Acting-En- 
 signs, A. H. L. Bowie and Robert Craig: Acting- 
 Master's Mate, H. P. Diernianse. 
 
 " GEOBGB W. BODGBBS" — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Loring G. Emerson; Acting-En- 
 sign, J. H. Handy; Acting- Masters Mate, A. Trens- 
 dale. 
 
 "acacia'' — FOUETH BATE. 
 
 Acting- Masters, Wm. Barrymore and J. E. Jones; 
 Acting-Ensigns, H. F. Blake and A. S. Rounds; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mates, Win. J. McFadden and James 
 Hawkins; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Joseph Fos- 
 ter ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, T. D. 
 Crosby; Acting-Third- Assistants, J. K. Wright; 
 A. V. Harvey, E. H. Haggens and Robert Henry. 
 
 "T. A. WAKD" — FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Robert T. Wyatt ; Acting-Ensign, 
 W. C. Odroine ; Acting - Master's Mates, M. M. 
 Baker, Jr., and A. Olmstead. 
 
 " BACEB "--FOUETH KATE. . 
 
 Acting- Master, E. G. Martin ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 
 D. B. Corey and J. F. Kavanaugh ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, James Williams ; Acting- Assistant-Pay mas- 
 ter, Charles Smith. 
 
 "JOHN GBIFFITH " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting - Master, James Ogilvie; Acting - Ensigns, 
 Wm. Knight, W. G. Pitts and Thos. Perry. 
 
 "SARAH BRUEN " — FODBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. F. Redding ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 8. P. Edwards and J. Richardson ; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Wm. H. Olmey. 
 
 " IBIS "—FOURTH- BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Wm. H. Anderson ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter s Mates, W. W. Brandt, Ehsha Hubbard and 
 Roger Conoly ; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 Richard Nash; Acting - Third - Assistants, Dennis 
 Lyng and James Hankey. 
 
 " dandelion" — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting Ensign, George W. WiUiams; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, W. F. Vincent, J. K. Gould and James 
 Sullivan; Engineers: Acting- Third- Assistants, 
 
 E. Babbit and John McKeezer. 
 
 ■ ABETHUSA 
 
 -FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting Ensign, John V. Cook ; Acting Master's 
 Mates, I. D. Lovett andF. H. Newcomb; Engineers: 
 Acting Second Assistant, Geo. W. Howe : Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, William J. Moore and J. T. Green- 
 wood. 
 
 " OAMELIA'' — FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, David B. Howes ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Abraham Leach, F H. Munroe and Wm. P. 
 Lard; Engineers : Acting-Third-Assistants, Benja- 
 min Cobb, Jr., John Grimes and John Corson. 
 
 "SWEET BBIEE" - FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, .1. D. Dexter ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, T. J. Dill. J. R. Grove and L. H. Brown; 
 Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistants, M. V. B. 
 Darling and T. J W. Cooper; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ant, J. W. Blake. 
 
 -FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 IVil" .1 c + r^-v* c" 
 
774 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Engineers: Aeting-Second- Assistants, Reuben Mc- 
 Clenahan and Augustus Wendell ; Aeting-Third- 
 Assistants, Edw. Bannaclough and W. J. Phillips. 
 
 " GLADIOIiUS " — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Ensign, Napoleon Boughtoii : Acting- 
 Master's Mates, 8. W. Byram, H. B. Eaton and 
 Wm. C. Parker; Engineers: Acting-Third Assist- 
 ant, John D. Williams, Geo. W. Beard and Au- 
 gustus IStraub. 
 
 " CARNATION " POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, William Boyd ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. D. Reed, Albion Burnham and A. H. 
 Francis ; Engineers : Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 Win. C. Boone and D. M. Spangler. 
 
 " IjABITBNUM"— FOUKTH-KATE. 
 
 Acting -Ensigns, Sturgis Center, J. D. Kihlborn 
 and J. P. Thompson ; Acting-Master's Mate, Peter 
 Moakley ; Engineers : Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 James Stevens ; Acting - Third - Assistants, Benis 
 Hayes and Walter S. Jarboe. 
 
 ' OATALPA ' 
 
 -FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Allen K. Noyes ; Aoting-Master'§ 
 Mates, J. W. Mathews, A. S. Tafte and John Mo- 
 Gee; Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, Timothy 
 McCarty; Acting-Third- Assistants, Nicholas Cassin 
 and J. Nicholson. 
 
 , "OliOVEE" — FOtTETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting -Ensign, Frank S. Leech; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, S. H. Bryant ; Engineers ; Acting Third 
 Assistants, W. W. Shane, W. F. Henderson and 
 M. Griffiths. 
 
 " GEEANIUM " — FODETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Ensign, David Lee ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, J. D. Wingale, Benjamin Russell and Wm. 
 
 Earle; Engineers: Acting Second- Assistants, S. W. 
 Widlam and C. J. Henry; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 Geo. E. Norris and H. B. Garabedian. 
 
 ' ' JONQUIL " —FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Charles H. Hanson; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Thos. Newton and Henry Lynch; En- 
 gineers: Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. H. Barclay 
 and J. C. Batchelder. 
 
 ' NOBFOLK PACKET 
 
 -POUBTH BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Geo. W. Wood and S. A. Dayton; 
 Acting -Assistant Paymaster, Andrew Tower; Act- 
 ing - Master s Mates, Charles Bedell and Allen 
 Moore. 
 
 ' ' BEAZIIilEEA" — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Ensigns, J. H. Bennett, N. C. Borden and 
 Horace Dexter; Acting-Masters Mates, P. W. H. 
 Harrington and C. A. Austen; Acting-Assistant Sur- 
 geon, George S. Fife; Acting- Assistant Paymaster 
 C. H. Longstreet. 
 
 " G. W. BLUNT " — FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, G. G. Curtis; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, W. R. Lyons. 
 
 " CHATHAM" — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, George W. Post and Win. 
 Woods; Engineers: Acting-Tliird-Assistants, Fred- 
 erick Wagner and H. A. Brown. 
 
 " LARKSPUR " — FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mates, John O'Conner, W. A. Ar- 
 kins and David Wilson ; Engineers: Aeting-Thi>-'^- 
 Assistants, W. J. Cannon and A. L. Grow. 
 
CH A PTER LI II. 
 
 OPERATIONS OP THE WEST GULF SQUADRON IN THE LATTER PART OF 
 
 1864, AND IN 1865. 
 
 joint opekations in mobile bay by rear-admikal thatcher and general canby. 
 
 Gallant Services of Commodore Palmer — Blockade-runners on Texas Coast. — De- 
 moralizing Tenacity of Confederate Government. — Cutting out of the Schooner 
 '■ Golden Belle." — Capture of the " Delphina," "Annie Sophia," and "Pet," 
 Prize-laden Schooners. — The Steamer " Will-o'-thb-Wisp " Boarded and set on 
 Fire. — Exciting and Hazardous Adventures. — The Confederate Privateer 
 "Anna Dale" Captured and Burned. — Conspicuous Gallantry of the Volun- 
 teer Element of the Navy. — Acting-Rear- Admiral Thatcher Relieves Commo- 
 dore Palmer. ^ Shelling Confederate Batteries near Mobile. — Capture op 
 Spanish Fort, Forts Alexis, Huger and Tracy.— Mobile Surrenders.— Operations 
 OP the Gun-boats in Rivers of Alabama. — Confederate Rams " Huntsvillb" and 
 "Tuscaloosa" Sunk. — Federal Gun-boats Sunk by Torpedoes. — Confederate 
 Gun-boats and other Property Surrendered to the Navy. — Conditions of Sur- 
 render. — Instructions to Flag-Captain Simpson. — Parole given by and List op 
 Officers and Men Surrendered.— Entrance of Gun-boats into Blakely' River. — 
 Complimentary Letter relative to Commodore Palmer. — Destruction of Con- 
 federate Ram "Webb." — Galveston Surrenders. — List of Vessels and Officers 
 of West Gulf Squadron, 1865. 
 
 COMMODORE James S. Palmer com- 
 manded the West Gulf Blockad- 
 ing Squadron up to the time Rear- 
 Admiral Thatcher took command 
 in the latter part of February or 
 ■early part of March, 1865. After being re- 
 lieved, he continued to give Rear - Admiral 
 Thatcher that hearty and effective support 
 that always distinguished him in his former 
 commands under Admiral Farragut on the 
 Mississippi and elsewhere, marking him as 
 one of those cool and gallant men who 
 perhaps in time of peace would not attract 
 much attention, but whose services in time 
 of war are strongly marked by judgment and 
 gallantry combined. These qualities always 
 leave a strong impression on a ship's com- 
 pany that has the good fortune to possess 
 such a commander. Whatever duty Com- 
 modore Palmer undertook he performed it 
 
 in the records of the war, where the com- 
 manders under whom he served never 
 parted with him without the warmest eulo- 
 giums in his praise, all of which were de- 
 served. While he had the temporary com- 
 mand of the West Gulf Blockading Squad- 
 ron he kept the vessels of the fleet actively 
 employed, which will be better appreciated 
 and understood by a brief outline of the 
 operations. 
 
 Commodore Palmer was one of those who 
 encouraged intrepidity in young officers; 
 and as there was not a large field for dar- 
 ing deeds, and as the duty of the vessels 
 under his command was cliiefly confined 
 to the dull routine of blockading the Texas 
 coast, no opportunity was lost to obtain 
 distinction, and at the same time inflict in- 
 jury upon the enemy. 
 
 Since the closing of the Confederate ports 
 
776 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 made attempts to reach the coast of Texas, 
 though it would seem that it was scarcely 
 profitable for them to carry on their illicit 
 trade in the Gulf, where they could be so 
 easily cut off, and at the time when the war 
 must have appeared to any one with an ob- 
 servant mind to be so rapidly approaching 
 a close. But as long as there was life there 
 was hope, and the Confederate Government, 
 to the very last moment of its existence, 
 put on a bold front and acted as if in the 
 heyday of its power. The only way it 
 could keep up its credit abroad was bj^ now 
 and then getting out a load of cotton on a 
 steamer, or some of the schooners that had 
 been left to them after the several raids 
 that had been made on such coasting vessels 
 
 that the Texan soldiers — a very brave set 
 of men — had never felt that they had been 
 worsted in the least. On the contrary, they 
 had not only prevented the Federal gener- 
 als from making a permanent lodgment in 
 their State, but had given a large quota 
 of their troops to assist the Confederates 
 in every other quarter of the Southern 
 domain. It would have been, indeed, a 
 grievous infliction if the Texans had suc- 
 ceeded in drawing to their State the remains- 
 of the Confederate armies who had not been 
 driven to surrender, for they might have 
 kept up the war two or three years longer, 
 with great loss to the North in expense and 
 with no gain to themselves. 
 But the same demoralization of the Con- 
 
 OOMMODOEE (AFTERWARDS BEAR-ADMIEAL) .TAMES S, PALMER. 
 
 as they possessed. Though the communi- 
 cations with Texas and the northern portion 
 of the Confederacy had been almost en- 
 tirely cut off by the vigilant watchfulness 
 of the Navy on the coast and on the great 
 river which divided the Confederacy, yet 
 the Texans were as active as ever in 
 carrying on operations, particularly in the 
 introduction of arms of all kinds, provisions, 
 clothing and military stores, apparently 
 with a view to carrying on the war on their 
 own account if Richmond fell, or to offer a 
 place of retreat to those dissatisfied spirits 
 who could see nothing good in a union with 
 the Northern States. The Federal in- 
 vasions had, so far, been so unsuccessful, 
 
 federacy which was so painfully apparent 
 in Richmond was also felt in Texas. 
 Though they appeared to be imbued with 
 the popular enthusiasm that had done so 
 much to prolong the contest, and though 
 they had given as many proofs of devotion 
 to the cause and evidences of endurance 
 and noble sacrifice, yet they were not car- 
 ried away with the bitterness of feeling 
 that seemed to animate the people further 
 north. 
 
 The Texans could see plainly enough that 
 official mismanagement on the part of the 
 Confederate authorities, together with the 
 Union victories and the popular resolution 
 of the Northern people to prosecute the war 
 
 ;ti 
 
 ["1 von c^yxTcc 
 
 -\T-\ rfr\-v 
 
 ^Ar. 
 
 ^1^«U1« 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 777 
 
 that Texas would become the great battle- 
 ground, and that, whatever way the tide of 
 war might turn, the State would be im- 
 poverished. So far, Texas had borne no 
 hardships that soldiers could not reasonably 
 endure, for her plains were full of hogs and 
 cattle, and her fields were well supplied 
 with corn, and they had sufficient military 
 ardor to uphold them to the last. 
 
 But there were large amounts of cotton 
 on hand from which no revenue was de- 
 rived, and attempts were now and then 
 made to get the fabric to market in any- 
 thing that would float, which, in many 
 cases, succeeded when success was least ex- 
 pected. Emboldened by their first attempts, 
 the blockade-runners from the Texan ports 
 became more audacious, so much so that 
 the Federal naval officers were put upon 
 their mettle, and hence resulted a number 
 of small but gallant affairs which, in justice 
 to the officers concerned in them, should 
 not be omitted. They are the small links 
 that make up the chain of history, and were 
 as important in the eyes of the performers 
 as more prominent affairs. 
 
 On the 36th of December, 1864, a large 
 schooner, named the "Golden Belle," was 
 lying in Galveston harbor, watching a 
 chance to evade the blockaders outside, 
 and make a run to Havana or Nassau. 
 Acting -Ensign N. A. Blume, of the "Vir- 
 ginia," asked and received permission from 
 his commanding officer, Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant Charles H. Brown, to go in and 
 cut out the schooner. Obtaining volun- 
 teers from the crew for the expedition, he 
 left with the third cutter about 8:30 p. m. 
 Having five miles to pull against a heavy 
 head sea, Mr. Blume did not reach Boliver 
 Point and get in sight of the schooner until 
 1 A. M. of the 27th. She was lying about a 
 quarter of a mile from Fort Jackson, about 
 a mile from Fort Greene, and less than 
 four hundred yards from the Confederate 
 guard-schooner "Lecompte." When within 
 five hundred yards of the schooner, a light 
 was seen moving about her decks. The 
 boat passed her and came up astern, not 
 being discovered till alongside. She was 
 then immediately boarded and carried, and 
 the prisoners secured. The captors im- 
 mediately made sail, slipped the schooner 
 cable and stood down the bay, the guard- 
 boat supposing that she had started out to 
 run the blockade. Coolness and clever man- 
 agement was manifested in piloting the 
 "Belle" out of Galveston harbor, which is 
 an intricate one. In going out. the prize had 
 to pass almost within hail of Fort Point on 
 Galveston Island, then find her way in the 
 dark through the main channel and cross 
 the bar at the right point; all of which was 
 done without a mistake. At daylight, the 
 
 that morning the owner of the "Golden 
 Belle" could see her from Galveston care- 
 fully anchored under the guns of the Fed- 
 erals. 
 
 As it resulted, there was no loss of life ori 
 this expedition, and the glamour which 
 generally attends a bloody affair was miss- 
 ing ; but it was none the less a dangerous 
 one, and all engaged in it deserve as much 
 credit as if some had been shot. We have 
 made it a rule to mention the names of the 
 participants when good work was per- 
 formed, and, this being a case in point, the 
 following are entitled to a place : N. A. 
 Blume, Acting - Ensign ; William Steven- 
 son, Master-at-Arms ; James Webster, Gun- 
 ner's Mate ; Thomas Wallace, Coxswain ; 
 Jacob Bowman, Captain Forecastle ; Wil- 
 liam Thompson, Captain Forecastle ; Au- 
 gustus Miller, Captain After-guard ; Peter 
 Miller, Seaman ; Thomas K. Fenley, Lands- 
 man. 
 
 On January 34th, 1865, quite as clever an 
 affair took place off Calcasieu River, by a 
 cutting-out expedition, under Lieutenant- 
 Commander Richard W. Meade, which was 
 a complete success witliout any casualties. 
 A three-masted schooner, loaded with cot- 
 ton, was lying at the second bend of the 
 Calcasieu River, about two and a half miles 
 from its mouth, ready to slip out at the first 
 opportunity, and the object of the expedi- 
 tion was her capture. As a large force of 
 the enemy was encamped close at hand, it 
 was deemed best to take a force sufficiently 
 large to insure success. Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Meade accordingly fitted out the 
 " Chocura's " launch and first cutter, and 
 took forty men of her crew under his per- 
 sonal command. The night of the 33d of 
 January was chosen for the attempt, and as 
 it was cold and dark, with drizzling rain 
 and a norther blowing, it was just such a 
 night as a blockade-runner would select to 
 evade the blockaders. The party left the 
 "Chocura" at dark and pulled in silently 
 for the river. Just as they entered it, the 
 schooner was discovered coming down un- 
 der sail with a fresh breeze. Had the boats 
 been ten minutes later she would have 
 reached open water and escaped. She was 
 at once boarded and carried ; but, unfortu- 
 nately, her captain saw the boats before 
 they reached his vessel, and, putting his 
 helm hard down and letting fly his sheets, 
 ran the schooner hard and fast aground on 
 the flats close to the beach and not far from 
 the enemy's force. Six prisoners were se- 
 cured at once, and a boat that was towing 
 astern was seen to push off and pull rapidly 
 up the river, in which, doubtless, some of the 
 crew escaped. The prize proved to be the 
 schooner "Delphina," with one hundred 
 and eighty bales of cotton on board — one of 
 
778 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the habit of making to raise money, which, 
 though small in quantity, was none the less 
 valuable to the captors when it could be 
 secured. This cargo would have been 
 worth in England over one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. Every effort was made to 
 get the " Delphina " afloat. The after-deck 
 load was thrown overboard and her anchor 
 carried out ; but as the norther caused the 
 water to fall rapidly, leaving in an hour 
 only about a foot of water alongside, the 
 efforts to float her were unavailing. The 
 launch grounded in the meantime, and it 
 was deemed best not to expose the men to 
 an attack from an overwhelming force. 
 The schooner was therefore set on fire and 
 the expedition returned to the "Chocura." 
 Acting-Ensigns Tracy and Beardsley ac- 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COMM.\NDEB (NOW CAPTAIN) B. W. MEADE. 
 
 companied Lieutenant-Commander Meade. 
 The officers and men behaved as all men 
 will when they are led by a judicious and 
 gallant commander. They were not alto- 
 gether unfortunate in not receiving some 
 prize-money. Eighty bales of cotton were 
 thrown overboard before they set fire to the 
 schooner ; this drifted out to sea, and thirty 
 bales were picked up on the following 
 morning, and very likely more were secured 
 later. This was "hard on the shippers ; but 
 such are the fortunes of war, and it was the 
 onlj^ way to cripple the resources of the 
 Confederacy. Captain Semraes, of Alabama 
 fame, railed at Union naval officers a great 
 deal for what he called their greedy spirit 
 in capturing cotton coming out and arms 
 going in, whicli he called destroying the 
 property of Southern people, and makes an 
 
 excuse on this account for inflicting harm 
 on Federal merchant-ships. It was not to 
 be supposed that Union officers would let a 
 vessel put to sea with a hundred thousand 
 dollars' worth of cotton on board without 
 using every effort to capture it, when they 
 knew that if it reached England it would 
 soon be converted into cash to buy arms 
 with which to shoot Union people. There 
 was really no greedy intent which induced 
 officers to follow up vessels in port loaded 
 with cotton, but simply a desire on their 
 part to put an end to the war. Half the 
 time the vessels and cotton were burned 
 when it might frequently have been saved, 
 but it was not considered worth the while 
 to risk the lives of officers and men. This 
 was the case on this occasion, as there was 
 a force of three hundred cavalry at the 
 point where the "Delphina" was burned. 
 
 The Confederates were very watchful and 
 alert in getting vessels ready for sea and 
 loaded with cotton bales, but the blockaders 
 were equally so; and, if we may judge by 
 the results, much more active in the pur- 
 suit of the blockade-runners and in the cap- 
 ture of them than their owners were in get- 
 ting their wares to market. 
 
 On February 8, 18C6, an expedition was 
 fitted out by Commander Mullany, of the 
 "Bienville," assisted by Commander 
 Woolsey, of the " Princess^Royal." for the 
 purpose of destroying the steamer ■' Wren," 
 a blockade-runner lying in the harbor of 
 Galveston, and also of capturing two cot- 
 ton-ladened schooners that were lying at 
 anchor under the forts, ready to go to sea 
 when the wind and weather permitted. 
 
 Two boats were sent on this expe- 
 dition, viz. : The " Bienville's " first cutter, 
 with thirteen men, Acting-Ensign George 
 H. French, in charge, and the"" Princess 
 Royal's " first cutter, with a crew of nine 
 men, Acting-Ensign A. H. Reynolds, in 
 charge, assisted by Acting-Master's Mate 
 Lewis Johnson, the whole under the com- 
 mand of Acting-Ensign French, of the 
 "■ Bienville." The boats left the " Bien- 
 ville " about 8.20 p. M., and stood in for the 
 harbor, Mr. French intended to pass inside 
 the schooners and make his first attack on 
 the "Wren," destroy her, and then capture 
 the schooners; but he failed in this, owing 
 to the tide, which carried him so far out of 
 his course that he found himself close 
 aboard the schooners. Without hesitation, 
 orders were given Mr. Reynolds to board 
 one. while Mr. French carried the other. 
 Both were taken without resistance, though 
 the crews aggregated twenty men. nearlv 
 equal to the crews of the two boats. The 
 "Princess Royal's" cutter captured the "An- 
 nie Sophia," and the " Bienville's," the 
 " Pet," both supposed to be English. After 
 getting the schooners underway and secur- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 779 
 
 ing their crews, one was placed in charge 
 of Boatswain's Mate, Thomas Gallyer, of 
 the " Bienville," and the other in charge of 
 Acting- Master's Mate Johnson, with orders 
 to proceed to the "Bienville," where they 
 suDsequently arrived in safety. Mr. French 
 then proceeded in company with the other 
 boat to perform the duty of destroying the 
 "Wren"; but, finding it impracticable (ow- 
 ing to the strong current and wind against 
 him, with his reduced crews) to find the 
 " Wren," or make good headway, and hav- 
 ing parted company from the other boat in 
 the darkness, he concluded that it would be 
 injudicious to proceed further, as day was 
 approaching, and returned to his ship. On 
 the whole, this might be called a good 
 catch. The "Pet" had two hundred and 
 fifty-six bales of cotton, and the "Annie 
 Sophia" two hundred and twenty, — a hand- 
 some reward to the adventurous sailors who 
 went on the expedition. 
 
 The dearth of blockade-running steamers 
 made it more easy to capture this cotton, for 
 the long, low runners generally laid well 
 up the harbor under the protection of the 
 forts, while the schooners had to move 
 down to the lower baj' to await a fair wind 
 and get to sea when an opportunity offered. 
 
 Yet the steamers that did attempt to 
 run the blockade often failed, as was the 
 case with the " Will -o'-the- Wisp " (steamer), 
 which was burned off Galveston by an ex- 
 pedition under Lieutenant O. E. McKav, of 
 the "Princess Royal." The " Will-o"'-the 
 Wisp " had been run on shore off the har- 
 bor of Galveston, where she was caught in 
 the act of landing some heavy guns, and 
 was chased on shore. On the night of the 
 9th of Februa.ry, 1865, a boat expedition 
 was fitted out by Commander M. B. Wool- 
 sey, consisting of two boats' crews, one 
 from the " Princess Royal," and the other 
 from the gun-boat "Antona,'" the whole 
 under command of Lieutenant McKay, 
 with orders to go in and destroy the 
 steamer and prevent her landing the arms 
 and stores she had on board. The boats 
 shoved off from the " Princess Royal" be- 
 tween 2 and 3 a. m., while the ship and 
 the "Antona" moved in toward shore 
 and took up a position about nine hundred 
 yards from the " Will-o'-the-Wisp." The 
 boats soon reached and boarded the stranded 
 steamer, set her on fii-e in the wheel-houses, 
 and then returned to the "Princess Royal." 
 She had previously been riddled by the fire 
 of the two blockaders, and had been set on 
 fire by their shells, so that she was almost 
 a total wreck. The Confederates had 
 shown their usual energy in getting out the 
 cargo, the decks being torn up to enable 
 them to do so. Even the engines had been 
 taken to pieces and carried away, so that, 
 
 1 ^U^ U^^*-^ ^r^^nX^^A Urt« f.1-.^ -ITTi^rt ■.^^4- 
 
 worth wrecking. Although there was no 
 resistance offered by the enemy, the at- 
 tempt made by the boats was worthy of 
 all praise. The Confederate cavalry had 
 thrown up heavy breastworks, and it was 
 expected that the landing party would meet 
 with a stout resistance. 
 
 One gallant affair would inspire another, 
 and these cutting-out expeditions became 
 the order of the day. When they started 
 out, no man knew what would be the result 
 of an expedition until it was over, or 
 what force was likely to be encountered. 
 The enemy, knowingthe adventurous spirit 
 of the officers of the squadron, might set a 
 trap for them, and, instead of getting a load 
 of cotton, they might get a load of grape- 
 shot. 
 
 The Confederates had fitted out a priva- 
 teer or vessel-of-war, or whatever name 
 that class of vessel might be recognized un- 
 der — an armed schooner, the " Anna Dale," 
 — which, on February 18. 1865, was lying in 
 Pass Cavallo, Texas, waiting for part of her 
 crew, when she intended to slip out to prey 
 on Federal commerce. This vessel had been 
 observed for several days apparently watch- 
 ing an opportunity to get to sea when the 
 wind favored her. Lieutenant-Commander 
 Henry Erben, Jr., of the "Panola," had 
 been watching her closely, and at night 
 kept picket-boats close to the inlet to see 
 that she did not slip out without due notice 
 from the boats. On the night of the 18th 
 he sent in two armed boats, the gig and 
 third cutter, to cut the schooner out, with 
 Acting-Ensign James W. Brown in charge, 
 assisted by Acting-Master's Mate John 
 Rosling. The work was handsomely per- 
 formed. The boats crossed the bar, which 
 was quite smooth at the time, and found the 
 schooner made fast to a wharf with a bat- 
 tery on shore close aboard. She had a pivot- 
 gun mounted, and everything indicated that 
 she was an armed vessel with this battery 
 to protect her. Lights were seen moving 
 about the decks, and men heard talking, 
 when Mr. Brown made a dash for the 
 schooner, boarded her, drove all the crew 
 below that were on deck, and fastened 
 down the hatches. The fasts were then cut 
 and the vessel drifted out into the stream. 
 Sail was made on the " Anna Dale," and 
 everything done to take her out, but she 
 grounded, and it was determined to destroy 
 her. The prisoners, with their baggage, 
 vs^ere put in one of the schooner's boats with 
 some small arms and a la-pounder howitzer, 
 and the vessel was then set on fire. 
 
 The "Anna Dale" proved to be a Con- 
 federate privateer, but had not yet attained 
 the dignity of being called a cruiser. She 
 was of seventy tons burden, well armed, 
 and commanded by Joseph L. Stephenson, 
 
 , i-„ "NT.,.,,, 
 
780 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 he expected twenty-five more men at sun- 
 set, and would have sailed soon after. He 
 expressed great surprise that the boats 
 were not fired upon by the battery, which 
 consisted of three guns and a hundred men 
 stationed only a short distance off. The 
 "Anna Dale" was a fast schooner, and, had 
 she escaped the vigilance of the blockaders 
 and reached the northern coast, would no 
 doubt have done much damage before she 
 was captured. 
 
 This affair was certainly well executed 
 and was without loss of life, which makes 
 such events all the more acceptable. Act- 
 ing-Ensign Brown was, no doubt, a gallant 
 officer. He speaks in the highest terms 
 of the behavior of Mr. Rosling and of Boat- 
 swain's Mate James Brown and Quarter- 
 Master Benton Bunker, and the boat's crew 
 generally. It will be observed that, in most 
 of these affairs, the acting or volunteer of- 
 ficers bore very prominent parts. In all 
 this kind of duty the volunteer element of 
 the Navy was always conspicuous, it being 
 more congenial to them than parading the 
 deck and following the routine of a regular 
 man-of-war. They were a tough, brave set 
 of men, full of resources and worthy of 
 every trust. 
 
 Captain Semmes, of the "Alabama." in 
 his journal of that vessel's cruise, berates 
 the volunteer officers of the Federal Navy, 
 and calls them a low-lived set of fellows ; 
 but it must be remembered that, in the fight 
 between the "Kearsarge" and "Alabama," 
 nearly all the officers of the former were 
 volunteers raised in the merchant service, 
 then as fine a school of seamanship as any 
 in the world; and under the training of 
 their gallant and efficient first-lieutenant, 
 Thornton, made a practice in gunnery that 
 put to shame the firing of the English gun- 
 ners that are said to have joined the " Ala- 
 bama" from the English naval gunnery 
 training-ship, the "Excellent." In this, 
 perhaps, can be found the reason why Cap- 
 tain Semmes did not approve of them. 
 
 Joint Operations in Mobile Bay by Rear- 
 Admiral Thatcher and General Canby. 
 
 After the capture of Wilmington, Com- 
 modore James S. Palmer was relieved of 
 the command of the West Gulf Squadron 
 by Acting-Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher, 
 an officer of great merit, who had shown 
 good judgment and gallantry at Fort 
 Fisher. 
 
 The moment Rear-Admiral Thatcher ar- 
 rived at the scene of his command, he placed 
 himself in communication with that gallant 
 and efficient military commander. Gen- 
 eral Canby, and offered all the co-opera- 
 tion the Navy could give toward the 
 capture of Mobile, which still held out. 
 
 notwithstanding all the forts in the bay 
 had surrendered and the Confederate 
 fleet had been captured. There was not 
 the slightest chance of arms, munitions- 
 of - war, or provisions reaching the Con- 
 federate army through Mobile, and the 
 enemy continued to hold it simply from the 
 same sentiment that governed every other 
 part of the South. Though the demoraliza- 
 tion in the Confederacy was plainly appar- 
 ent to those who had eyes to see, yet the 
 majority could not be made to believe that 
 the Confederates could be subjugated. They 
 could not be made to understand that there 
 was anything fatal, in a military point of 
 view, in Sherman's memorable march, 
 though they received daily news of his suc- 
 cessful marchings, his occupation of At- 
 
 EEAB-ADMIRAL HENEV K. THATCHEB. 
 
 lanta, Savannah, Columbia, and his advance 
 to Goldsborough, driving before him an 
 army quite equal in numbers to his own, 
 before he was joined by Generals Schofield 
 and Terry with some thii-ty thousand troops, 
 and causing the ablest generals of the Con- 
 federacy to fall back before his triumphant 
 legions. If the demoralization of the 
 country could ever be brought to the sur- 
 face, it was when General Joe Johnston 
 was brought to bay at Smithsville, with 
 Sherman's hardy veterans (that had 
 marched through the South) confronting 
 him, and tlie victorious troops of Schofield 
 and Terry, just from Wilmington, hemming 
 him in. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 781 
 
 Some of the most intelligent men in the 
 Confederacy (though the most deluded) 
 clung to the idea that it was a physical im- 
 possibility for the South to be subjugated 
 by the troops of the North. This impossi- 
 bility was clearly stated by the Confederate 
 Congress in an address to the Southern 
 people as late as the winter of 1864-5 ; that 
 the passage of hostile armies through the 
 Southern country, though productive of 
 cruel suffering to the people and great 
 pecuniary loss, gave an enemy no perma- 
 nent advantage or foothold. To subjugate 
 a country, its civil government must be 
 suppressed by a continuing military force, 
 or supplanted by another, to which the in- 
 habitants would be obliged to yield obedi- 
 ence. They insisted that the passage of 
 troops through their country could not pro- 
 duce any such result. Permanent garrisons 
 would have to be stationed at a sufficient 
 number of points to strangle all civil au- 
 thority and overawe the people before it 
 could be pretended by the Federal Govern- 
 ment that its authority could be extended 
 over the Southern States. They claimed 
 that to subdue the South would require 
 more soldiers than the United States could 
 raise to garrison all the different points. 
 In a geographical point of view, therefore, 
 it was asserted that the conquest of the 
 Confederate States was impracticable. The 
 geographical point of view was decisive to 
 those who fomented the war in the first 
 place, who adopted this as their creed with 
 which to delude their suffering people ; arid 
 when Sherman was marching his irresist- 
 ible army all through the South, they could 
 see nothing in it but a harbinger of good to 
 their cause ; though he had passed through 
 the country, they asserted that he had not 
 conquered it, and had not been able to 
 leave a single garrison on his way since he 
 left Dalton. They argued that, even if he 
 passed out of the Carolinas, he would be de- 
 feated then, and all the country he had 
 passed through would be re-opened to the 
 Confederate armies. All such sophistries 
 might pass muster with the ignorant, and 
 this appeal to the common hprd, no doubt, 
 had its effect ; but it was most absurd and 
 criminal, to say the least of it, for the pro- 
 moters of this rebellion to try and delude 
 those upon whom all the suffering fell, 
 when they could see the handwriting on 
 the wall as plainly as it was seen at the 
 feast of Belshazzar. All the deluded people 
 should have known that, as Sherman's 
 army sped along, everything in the shape 
 of a soldier left the side-points of defence 
 and joined the fleeing mass in the front. 
 There was no use leaving garrisons in the 
 rear, there was nothing to garrison. Wild 
 desolation and ruin are always left in the 
 
 could prevent it any more than Lee could 
 prevent destruction on his march to and 
 from Gettysburg. The fact is, the Confed- 
 eracy was in its last throes when Sherman 
 started from Columbia, and the people of 
 the South everywhere (owing to what the 
 promoters of the rebellion called "the decay 
 of public spirit") were getting impatient 
 with the hardships of the war, having no 
 longer any confidence in the ultimate re- 
 sults. Yet there were places, like Mobile, 
 that had for a time flourished, owing to the 
 constant flow of blockade-runners to their 
 ports, and who knew but little of the suffer- 
 ings of the war, and had never, in fact, 
 been subjected to any hardships, deter- 
 mined to hold on to the last, even after 
 Charleston fell. Ever since Admiral Far- 
 ragut attempted and failed to reach the 
 city of Mobile, the channel to which would 
 not admit the Union vessels, that city had 
 settled down to fancied security, no doubt 
 waiting till Richmond should fall, and they 
 could surrender with some show of deter- 
 mination to resist to the last. They did 
 no harm to the Union, but their defiant 
 attitude was offensive, and Canby and 
 Thatcher determined to reduce their preten- 
 sions. 
 
 On the 8th of March, 1865, Rear- Admiral 
 Thatcher received information from Gen- 
 eral Canby that there were indications that 
 the enemy's forces in Mobile were about to 
 evacuate their works, and had torn up some 
 thirty miles of the Mobile and Montgomery 
 railroad, in the neighborhood of Pollard, 
 and were removing the material in the di- 
 rection of Mongomery, and suggesting a 
 reconnaissance in force. This Admiral 
 Thatcher immediately undertook with the 
 fiNQ Monitors he had at his disposal; and 
 proceeding to reach a point in as close prox- 
 imity to the city as the shallow water and 
 the obstructions would permit, succeeded 
 in drawing from the enemy a heavy fire, 
 and demonstrated that the defences were 
 intact and the Mobilians still determined on 
 resistance. 
 
 It was therefore determined by the two 
 Federal commanders to make a combined 
 attack on the works and city without delay, 
 and on March 31st the landing commenced 
 from the transports under cover from the 
 gun-boats on the right bank of Fish River, 
 at a point called Danley's Mills, about sev- 
 enteen miles above its junction with Mobile 
 Ba.y. The gun-boats kept shelling the 
 woods from Point Clear to Blakely River 
 bar, while the troops were landing, to clear 
 the coast of the enemy's forces supposed to 
 be lurking in that vicinity, and also to draw 
 the fire of the enemy's batteries, should 
 there be any erected between Point Clear 
 and Spanish Fort. Numerous streams had 
 
782 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the passage of artillery. The troops set to 
 work, as soon as landed, to construct the 
 bridges and to make tlieir advance, while 
 the light-draft gun-boats kept open commu- 
 nications with the army along shore by 
 boats or signals. 
 
 General Granger had the immediate com- 
 mand of the Army, and this accomplished 
 officer lost no time in pressing forward his 
 troops. The first fruits of their labor was 
 the fall of Spanish Fort and Fort Alexis, 
 which surrendered on the 8th of April, 1865, 
 after a heavy bombardment of ten hours 
 from the Army and Navy. The Navy 
 landed a battery of heavy guns under the 
 command of Lieutenant-Commander G. H. 
 Gillis, late of the "Milwaukee." General 
 Canby commended the services of this bat- 
 tery higldy in the attack on these forts, 
 which the Confederates regarded as the 
 key to Mobile. 
 
 Nearly two thousand prisoners and sixteen 
 heavy guns, with ammunition in abun- 
 dance, were taken in these works, while the 
 enemy lost heavily in killed and wounded. 
 Apalache and Blakely Rivers were at once 
 dragged by the sailors in boats, and six- 
 teen large submerged torpedoes were taken 
 up. On the 10th instant the "Octorara," 
 Lieutenant - Commander W. W. Low, and 
 the iron - clads were succesful, by the 
 diligent exertions of Commander Pierce 
 Crosby, of the " Metacomet," in clearing 
 the rivers of torpedoes, in moving up nearly 
 abreast of Spanish Fort. From this posi- 
 tion, Lieutenant-Commander Low, with his 
 rifled gun, shelled forts Huger and Tracy 
 with such effect that both forts were evacu- 
 ated on the 11th instant, and the naval 
 forces took possession, capturing a few 
 prisoners in the adjoining marshes. The 
 sailors held then* position in these works 
 till General Canby could garrison them 
 with troops. 
 
 On April 12th, Rear-Admiral Thatcher 
 moved with the gun boats, convoying 8,000 
 men of General Granger's force to the 
 west side of Mobile Bay, for the purpose of 
 attacking Mobile. On their anchoring at 
 the objective point, it was found that the 
 Confederates had evacuated all their de- 
 fences and retreated with their gun-boats 
 up the Alabama River. The city of Mobile 
 was thereupon summoned to an immediate 
 and unconditional surrender by Rear-Ad- 
 miral Thatcher and General Granger (Gen- 
 eral Canby being at Blakely), on the ground 
 that it was entirely at the mercy of the 
 Federal forces, they being in possession of 
 the outside forts. The officers sent to make 
 the formal demand for the surrender of the 
 city were met by the Mayor and other civil 
 authorities at the City Hall, where the for- 
 mer addressed the following letter to the 
 Federal commanders : 
 
 mayor's office, \ 
 
 City of Mobile, April 12, 1865. ) 
 Gentlemen— I have the honor to acknowIedf<e 
 the receipt of your communication at the hands of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel R. G. Laughlin, of the staff of 
 Major-General Granger, commanding Thirteenth 
 Army Corps, and Lieutenant - Commander 8. R. 
 Franklin, United States Navy, of the staff of Ad- 
 miral Thatcher, demanding the immediate and un- 
 conditional surrender of this city. The city has 
 been evacuated by the military authorities, and its 
 municipal authority is now within my control. 
 Your demand has been granted, and I trust, gen- 
 tlemen, for the sake of humanity, all the safeguards 
 which we can throw around our people will be 
 secured to them. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 R. H. Slough, 
 Mayor of the City of Mobile. 
 Majob-General Gordon Granger, 
 
 Commanding Thirteenth Army Corps. 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher, 
 
 Commanding West Gtulf Squadron. 
 
 The flag of the United States was then 
 hoisted on the City Hall, and a portion of the 
 troops immediately advanced to preserve 
 order and prevent pillage. A provost 
 guard was established, and the works 
 around the city, which were of immense 
 strength and extent, were garrisoned. 
 
 Thus ended the contest with Mobile, 
 which from the beginning of the war had 
 enjoyed great immunity from battle and 
 strife. It had been the medium through 
 which millions of dollars worth of arms, 
 provisions and clothing had reached the 
 Confederate armies, and after defying the 
 Federal forces unnecessarily when the war 
 was virtually over, it was evacuated in a 
 panic before the Federal gun-boats had 
 fired a shot into the city. 
 
 While the Army was landing in front of 
 Mobile, the "Octorara" and three river 
 iron-clads worked their way up the Blakely 
 River, and thence down the Tensas, and 
 anchored in front of the city. They were 
 sent at once up the Tombigbee River" where 
 the Confederate iron-clad " Nashville " and 
 the gun-boat "Morgan" had fled. The 
 two powerful rams, "Huntsville" and 
 "Tuscaloosa," were sunk in the Spanish 
 River before the place was evacuated. The 
 naval forces were at once set to work clear- 
 ing the main ship channel of torpedoes and 
 obstructions, which proved to be a formid- 
 able task. While picking up torpedoes, the 
 tug-boat "Ida" was blown up and de- 
 stroyed, as well as a steam-launch belong- 
 ing to the " Cincinnati." The tug-boat 
 "Althea"was destroyed by a torpedo in 
 Blakely River, and the gun-boat "Sciota" 
 was blown up while underway, running 
 across the bay, in twelve feet of water, 
 making the fifth vessel (with the " Mil- 
 waukee ") sunk by torpedoes since Admiral 
 Thatcher's operations began against the 
 city. 
 
 On May 4, 1865, Rear- Admiral Thatcher 
 received written proposals from Commo- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 783 
 
 dore Ebenezer Farrand, commanding the 
 Confederate naval forces in Mobile waters, 
 to surrender his ships, ofRcers, men and 
 public property generally, and desiring a 
 meeting with the Admiral to arrange the 
 terms. The two commanders met at Cit- 
 ronelle, a point about thirty - five miles 
 above Mobile, and the surrender was 
 agreed upon and accepted on the same 
 basis and terms as were granted by General 
 Grant to General Lee, by General Sherman 
 to General J ohnston, and by General Canby 
 to General Taylor, which last surrender 
 was made at the same place and time. 
 
 The day previous to the receipt of the 
 proposal for surrender, Rear -Admiral 
 Thatcher had made preparations for attack- 
 ing the Confederate vessels in the Tombig- 
 bee, and the attack would have undoubtedly 
 been made had Commodore Farrand de- 
 layed his surrender a day longer. As a 
 matter of record, and as an interesting epi- 
 sode of the war, the conditions of the sur- 
 render are herewith inserted, with accom- 
 panying papers, which will be found to be 
 interesting reading. It will be seen, on 
 looking over the list of naval ofRcers who 
 surrendered, how many familiar names of 
 those who once belonged to the United 
 States Navy are found in that list — men 
 who, after four years of hard work, found 
 out how futile was the attempt to overturn 
 a properly constituted and well-organized 
 Government by a set of malcontents, who 
 led away those whose true interests lay in 
 supporting the Constitution and the flag to 
 which they had sworn allegiance. They 
 had no interest in supporting the political 
 agitators who, for their own purposes and 
 with no love of their Southern country, 
 wanted to dissever themselves from the 
 great union of States which alone made their 
 country a great one. No doubt, when those 
 who laid down their arms:, on that occasion 
 look back and remember the fallacious hopes 
 with which they were beguiled, and how 
 little was done to make the condition better 
 than it was in the United States, will, in 
 their hearts, regret the day when they were 
 tempted by State's-rights fallacies to desert 
 a flag whose march from the time of our 
 first Revolution has been an onward one of 
 glory and honor. Not a star of its galaxy 
 had ever been dimmed until those whose 
 duty it was to hold it aloft, beyond the reach 
 of treason, undertook to trail it in the dust 
 and trample it under their feet. It shines 
 brighter after all it has gone through than 
 ever it did before, as gold is brightened by 
 being purified by fire. 
 
 This was the last of the naval fighting 
 of the war. The great fabric of the re- 
 bellion, with all its supports knocked 
 away, toppled to the ground ; and all who 
 
 of their cause, seemed anxious to deliver 
 up their trusts into the hands of the right- 
 ful proprietors, and make amends, as far 
 as possible, for the injuries attempted 
 against the Federal Government. Every- 
 thing in Mobile and in the Confederate 
 Navy Department was turned over in as 
 good condition as might have been ex- 
 pected under existing circumstances. 
 Among other prizes were four hundred 
 heavy guns mounted in and about Mo- 
 bile. 
 
 The Confederates evidently understood 
 the importance of Mobile as a military 
 base, and it was their intention to hold it 
 at all hazards ; yet, at one time, General 
 Banks might have snatched this rich prize 
 by weight of his superior numbers at New 
 Orleans ; but he preferred to go flounder- 
 ing around in the swamps and morasses of 
 Texas and Louisiana, where no object was 
 to be gained, and when he could not hold 
 his own even with the large force he carried 
 into those States. 
 
 COMPLIMBSTTARY LETTER TO ACTING - BEAR - AD- 
 MIRAL THATCHER AND MAJOR-GENERAL GRAN- 
 GER. 
 
 Navy Department, April 29, 1865. 
 
 Sir— -The Department has received your several 
 dispatches, from time to time, advising it of your 
 operations before Mobile; the last one, dated the 
 15th instant, announcing the surrender, on the day 
 previous, to the Army and Naval forces commanded 
 respectively by Major- General Granger an d yoursel f . 
 
 The Department has watched with considerable 
 interest, but with no fear of an unsuccessful result, 
 the combined Army and Naval movements against 
 the immediate defences of Mobile for the last few 
 weeks, and after the capture of Fort Alexis and 
 Spanish Fort, and the successful shelling resulting 
 in the evacuation of Forts Tracy and Huger, was 
 not surprised to learn of the retreat of the insurgent 
 force to the interior, and the abandonment of their 
 last formidable foothold on the coast. 
 
 Although no bloody strife preceded the capture 
 of Mobile, the result was none the less creditable. 
 Much had been expended to render it invulnerable, 
 and nothing but the weU-conducted preparations 
 for its capture, which pointed to success, could have 
 induced the rebel commander to abandon it with 
 its formidable defences, mounting nearly four hun- 
 dred guns, many of them of the newest pattern and 
 heaviest calibre, its abundant supply of ammuni- 
 tion and ordnance stores, and its torpedo-planted 
 roads and waters, without a serious conflict. 
 
 I am happy in extending to you and those under 
 your command, and to Major-General Granger and 
 those under his command, the congratulations for 
 this victory, which places in our possession, with 
 but one exception, all the chief points on the South- 
 ern coast, and bids fair to be the closing naval con- 
 test of the rebellion. 
 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 
 Gideon Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 Acting-Rear-Admiral H. K. Thatcher, 
 
 Commanding West Gulf Blockading 
 Squadron, etc. 
 
 ■^TTj^T"/^ *^1-» i-11'*^ j-ll«*-k/> 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 J-K* 'fVl f 
 
 ■\ f~<-r\f\l e^i 
 
 l«o,„„. 
 
 conditions of surrender. 
 Memorandum of the conditions of the surrender 
 
 /•II /-^ P t . J__.___1J?. •. __T J.l_ _ 
 
/84 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 command of Commodore Ebenezer Farrand in tlie 
 waters of the State of Alabama, made at Sidney, 
 Alabama, May 4, 1865 : 
 
 First — The officers and men to be paroled until 
 duly exchanged, or otherwise released from the 
 obligations of their parole, by the authority of the 
 ■Govei'nment of the United States. Duplicate rolls 
 of all officers and men surrendered to be made, one 
 copy to be delivered to the officer appointed by 
 Acting-Rear-Adniiral II. K. Thatcher, and the other 
 to be retained by the officer appointed by Com- 
 modore E Farrand; officers giving their individual 
 paroles, and commanders of vessels signing a like 
 parole for the men of their respective commands. 
 
 Second — All vessels-of-war, their guns and equip- 
 ments, all small arms and ammunition and stores 
 on board the said vessels, to be delivered over to 
 an officer appointed for that purpose by Aeting- 
 Rear-Admiral Thatcher. Duplicate inventories of 
 the property surrendered to be prepared; one copy 
 to be retained by the officer delivering, and the 
 other by the officer receiving it, for our informa- 
 tion. 
 
 Third — The officers and men paroled under this 
 agreement -will be allowed to return to their homes, 
 with the assurance that they will not be disturbed 
 by the authorities of the United States so long as 
 they continue to observe the condition of their 
 paroles and the laws in force where they reside, ex- 
 cept that persons resident of Northern States will 
 not be allowed to return without special permis- 
 sion. 
 
 Fourth — The surrender of property will not in- 
 clude the side-arms or private baggage of officers. 
 
 Fifth — The time and place of surrender will be 
 fixed by us, respectively, and will be carried out by 
 officers appointed by us. 
 
 Sixth — After the surrender, transportation and 
 subsistence to be furnished by Acting-Rear- Admiral 
 Thatcher for officers and men to the nearest practi- 
 joal point to their respective homes. 
 
 H. K. Thatcher, Acting-Rear- Admiral, 
 Commanding Western Gfulf Squadron. 
 E. Farrand, Flag-officer, 
 
 Commanding C. S. Naval Force in waters of 
 Alabama. 
 
 crews to navigate the surrendered vessels will ac- 
 company you to the place of surrender, and they 
 alone will man them. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 H. K. Thatcher, Acting-Rear- Admiral, 
 Commanding West Gulf Squadron. 
 Commandbr Edward Simpson, Fleet Captain, 
 
 West Gtulf Squadron. 
 
 instructions from acting-rbar-admiraii h. k. 
 
 THATCHBR to fleet-captain EDWARD SIMP- 
 SON. 
 
 West Gulf Squadron, ) 
 
 U. S. Flag-ship " Stockdale," [■ 
 Off City of Mobile, May 8, 1865. ) 
 Sir — Having signed and exchanged copies of an 
 agreement with Commodore E. Farrand, command- 
 ing officer of the vessels of the Confederate States 
 Navy in the waters of the State of Alabama, on the 
 4th instant,the terms of which are contained in the 
 inclosed document, you will proceed with the 
 United States steamer " Cincinnati " to the Tom- 
 bigbae River, the point designated for the surren- 
 der of the vessels under the command of Commo- 
 dore Farrand and receive from the officer appointed 
 by Commodore Farrand the said vessels, their guns, 
 equipments and stores, the paroles of officers for 
 themselves individually, and for the seamen, ma- 
 rines, etc., on board thereof who were under the 
 command of Commodore E. Farrand on the 4th in- 
 stant. Having received the surrender of said ves- 
 sels, their appurtenances and stores, you will cause 
 them to be l3 rough t down to a safe anchorage in 
 front of the city of Mobile and report to me. Should 
 any of tlie paroled officers or men desire to remain 
 where they now are, they may do so; the others, in 
 accordance with the terms of surrender, will receive 
 transportation and subsistence to the nearest prac- 
 tical point to their respective homes. The steamers 
 designated in verbal orders will accompany you to 
 the Tombigbee. Suitable officers, engineers and 
 
 report op FLKBT-CAPTAIN EDWARD SIMPSON. 
 
 United Statf,s Flag ship " Stockdale," ) 
 
 West Gulp Squadron, \ 
 
 Off Mobile, Ala., May 11, 1865. ) 
 
 Sir — I have the honor to report that, in obedi- 
 ence to your order, I proceeded in the iron-clad 
 steamer " Cincinnati " on the I9th instant up the 
 Tombigbee River to Nanna Hubba Bluff for the pur- 
 pose of receiving the surrender of the vessels under 
 the command of Commodore Ebenezer Farrand, of 
 the Confederate States Navy. The iron-clad steamer 
 " Chickasaw " and the tin-clad " Nyanza " accom- 
 panied the "Cincinnati."' On the morning of the 
 10th instant the vessels had all assembled at the 
 bluff. Lieutenant-Commanding J. Myers, the offi- 
 cer appointed by Commodore Farrand to make the 
 surrender, came on board, and after some consulta- 
 tion with me on the points of the condition of the 
 surrender, surrendered the following vessels, viz.: 
 "Morgan," side-wheel gun-boat ; "Nashville," side- 
 wheel iron-clad; "Baltic,' side-wheel transport; 
 "Black Diamond," side- wheel river-boat. 
 
 I received inventories of the stores on board each 
 vessel, as well as an inventory of stores brought 
 from the naval station, which were stored on board 
 of the river steamboat "Southern Republic,'" which 
 vessel had been seized by Commodore Farrand for 
 the purpose of receiving these articles when the 
 naval station at Mobile was evacuated. A letter 
 from the captain of the "Southern Republic" ac- 
 companies this report. 
 
 The only use that I have made of the vessel was 
 to transport the Confederate officers and men to 
 Mobile. 
 
 I received the accompanying rolls of all the offi- 
 cers and men, after which I paroled one hundred 
 and twelve officers, two hundred and eighty-five 
 enlisted men, and twenty-four marines. The offi- 
 cers gave their individual paroles in duplicate, and 
 the commanding officers gave their paroles for the 
 men of their respective commands. 
 
 Ha\'ing completed the duty on which I was or- 
 dered, I have returned to Mobile with a portion of 
 the vessels. 
 
 I inclose the memorandum of the conditions for 
 the surrender, a copy of my instructions, and a copy 
 of the instructions given to Lieutenant -Command- 
 ing J. Myers by Commodore Farrand, and also the 
 invoices of the stores, etc., received. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 E. Simpson, 
 Fleet Captain, West Chilf Squadron. 
 Acting-Rear- Admiral H. K. Thatcher, 
 
 Commanding West &ulf Squadron. 
 
 instructions prom commodore farrand, c. s. n., 
 to lieutenant commanding julian myers, 
 
 C. S. N. 
 
 Headquarters Naval Command, ) 
 Steamer "Southern Republic," >• 
 McDowell's Landing, May 5, 1865. ) 
 Sib— You will proceed to Nanna Hubba Bluff 
 for the purpose of carrying out the terms of surren- 
 der of the naval forces under my command, agreed 
 upon on the 4th instant, a copy of whicli is here- 
 with inclosed. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Eben. Farrand, Flag-officer, etc. 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Julius Myers, 
 
 P. N. C. S., Steamer ''Southern Republic." 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 785 
 
 'ABOLE GITEN BY, AND LIST OF, OFFICERS AND 
 MEN SURRENDERED. 
 
 We, the undersigned, prisoners-of-war belonging 
 o the Confederate naval forces serving under the 
 ommand of Commodore Ebenezer Farrand, in the 
 vaters of the State of Alabama, this day surren- 
 lered by Commodore Ebenezer Farrand to Acting- 
 lear-Adtnirar Henry K. Thatcher, United States 
 'J'avy, commanding the West Gulf Squadron, do 
 lereby give our solemn parole of honor that we will 
 lot hereafter serve in the Navy of the Confederate 
 States, orin any military capacity whatever, against 
 he United States of America, or render aid to the 
 inemies of the latter, until properly exchanged in 
 luch manner as shall be mutually approved by the 
 ■espeotive authorities. 
 
 Done at Nanna Hubba Bluff, on the Tombigbee 
 aiver, Alabama, this tenth day of May, eighteen 
 lundred and sixty-five. 
 
 L. Rosseau, Captain; Ebenezer Farrand, Flag- 
 )fflcer; Charles W. Hays, Lieutenant; Julian Myers, 
 Lieutenant; C. P. MoGavy, Lieutenant: Charles E. 
 Meatman, Lieutenant; F. Watlington, Lieutenant ; 
 E. G. Booth, Assistant Surgeon: N. E. Edwards, 
 Assistant Surgeon; Wm. W. J. Wells, Paymaster; 
 Robert C. Powell, Assistant Surgeon; Wm. Fisk, 
 Ir., Chief Engineer ; Albert P. Hulse, Secretary; 
 E. Lloyd Winder, Lieutenant; P. U. Murphy, Lieut- 
 mant; J. E. Armour, Paymaster; Lewis W. Munro, 
 Surgeon; A. L. Myers, Master; D. R. Lindsay, Naval 
 Storekeeper- Thos. G. Lang, Third- Assistant Engi- 
 leer; D. B. Conrad, Fleet Surgeon; Geo. H. Oneal, 
 A.ssistant Paymaster; J. M. Pearl, Assistant Paymas- 
 ;er; J. R. Jordan, First- Assistant Engineer ; S. S. 
 Herrick, Assistant Surgeon; F. B. Dorwin, Passed- 
 Midshipman: J. S. Wooddell, Clerk; John H. Pip- 
 oen, Clerk; John E. O'Connell, Second Assistant 
 Engineer; W. B. Patterson, Third-Assistant Engi- 
 neer; Edward Cairy, Assistant Surgeon; Jos. Preble, 
 A.cting- Master ; G. W. Turner, Acting- Master's 
 Mate; W. A. Gardner, Third-Assistant Engineer; 
 J. E. Courtin, Paymaster's Clerk; E(Jward P. Hers- 
 
 iend, ; Jos. L. Wilson, Paymaster's Clerk; 
 
 Fas. H. Marsh, Navy Yard Clerk; Benjamin G. 
 ^llen, Gunner; J. R. Shackett, Pilot; G. H. Linden- 
 
 Derger, Mechanic; W. D. Crawford, ; J. H. 
 
 Hunt, A. M. M., Commanding steamer "Baltic" ; 
 [ra W. Porter, Acting-Gunner; B. H. Weaver, 
 Acting - Assistant Engineer; J. W. Bennett, Lieu- 
 :enant-Commanding; G. A. Joiner, Passed- Mid- 
 ihipman ; Wm. Carroll, Passed-Midshipman ; G. H. 
 ^Vellington, Third - Assistant Engineer ; Z. A. 
 3ffutt, Gunner ; Howard Quigley, First - Assist- 
 mt Engineer ; H. S. Smith, Gunner ; C. H. 
 Vlallery, Gunner ; J. M. Smith, Paymaster's 
 31erk; George Newton, Sailmaker; Thos. L. Har- 
 bison, Lieutenant; O. S. Iglehart, Passed-Assist- 
 mt Surgeon; D. G. Raney, Jr., First-Lieuten- 
 mt, M. C; W. G. Craig, Master P. N. C. S.; Jos. R. 
 Je Mahy, Master P. N. C. S. ; M. M. Seay, Assistant 
 i'aymaster P. N. C. S. ; N. M. Read, Assistant Sur- 
 geon; G. D. Lining, First-Assistant Engineer; 
 r. R. Y. Fendall, First Lieutenant C. S. M.: A. P. 
 Seinre, Passed-Midshipman; R. J. Deas, Passed- 
 Hidshipman; E. Debois, Second -Assistant Engi- 
 leer; M. M. Rogers, Third-Assistant Engineer; F. A. 
 jombard, Third-Assistant Engineer; Charles A. 
 foullian, Third - Assistant Engineer; J. Fulton, 
 Third-Assistant Engineer ; G. W. Nailor, Third- 
 assistant Engineer; Wm. Pink, Paymaster's Clerk; 
 r. B. Green, Masters Mate; Avery S. Winston, 
 
 (Taster's Mate P. N. C. S.; John Carney, ; 
 
 Tos. M. Walker, Pilot; W. L. Cameron, Paymaster's 
 }lerk; Louis Williams, Engineer; M. L. Shropshire, 
 ^cting-First-Assistant Engineer; J. V. Harris, As- 
 istant Surgeon; Benj. Herring, First -Engineer; 
 ". P. Redwood, Clerk; E. W. Johnson, Master's 
 date; James White, Master's Mate; Wm. C. Dogger, 
 
 :t ...1 -mr — Tj A i~*«,««T^.^n tii;™.,* t i«,, j-^ 4.. 
 
 Julian M. Spencer, First - Lieutenant ; Jasan 
 C. Baker, First - Lieutenant ; W. F. Robinson, 
 Second-Lieutenant; Robert F. Freeman, Passed- 
 Assistant Surgeon; G. W. Claiborne, Assistant Sur- 
 geon; H. E. MoDuffle, Assistant Paymaster; A. N. 
 Bully, Master; W. Youngblood, Chief-Engineer; 
 John L. Rapier, Second-Lieutenant; Wm. Faunt 
 leroy, Second-Assistant Engineer; Geo. J. Weaver, 
 Second-Assistant Engineer; J. Thomas Maybury, 
 Gunner ; S. H. McMaster, Paymaster's Clerk; 
 H. L. Manning, Master's Mate: Joseph Fry, Lieuten- 
 ant Commanding ; Page M. Baker, Master's Mate ; 
 John G. Blackwood, First-Lieutenant; Wm. H. 
 Haynes, Gunner ; Hiram G. Goodrich, Third- Assist- 
 ant - Engineer ; John Applegate, Third -Assistant- 
 Engineer : Jacob H. Turner, Acting-Master's Mate ; 
 Thomas A. Wakefield, Third- As.sistant-Engineer ; 
 J. D. Johnson, Commander ; W. W. Graves, Assist- 
 ant Surgeon ; W. T. J. Kunsh, Third-Assistant- 
 Engineer ; Henry D. Bassett, Acting-Constructor. 
 
 The next inolosure is the parole given by the 
 seamen of the Confederate States Navy serving on 
 different vessels, fifty-three in number, entered into 
 in their behalf by Julian Myers, Acting-Fleet Cap- 
 tain. 
 
 The next, the parole given by one hundred and 
 twenty men of the steamer "Morgan," entered into 
 in their behalf by Joseph Fry, Lieutenant Com- 
 manding the "Morgan.'' 
 
 The next, the parole given by one hundred and 
 twelve men of the "Nashville," entered into in 
 their behalf by J. W. Bennett, Lieutenant Com- 
 manding the "Nashville.'' 
 
 The next, the parole given by twenty-four ma- 
 rines entered into in their behalf by D. G. Raney, 
 Jr., First Lieutenant, Confederate States Marine 
 Corps, commanding marines. 
 
 entrance of gun-boats into bi/akely river — 
 
 complimentary letter relative to com- 
 
 modobb palmer. 
 
 United States Flag-ship "Stockdalb," 1 
 
 West Gulf Squadron, \ 
 
 Mobile, Ala., May 3, 186.5. ) 
 
 Sir — The Department was informed by Com- 
 modore Palmer, under date of February 10, 1865, 
 that he would avail himself of the permission 
 granted by it to return North after the fall of 
 Mobile ; and as he is now about to leave this squad- 
 ron, I beg leave to say that he has rendered me 
 most efficient and untiring service throughout the 
 attacTi upon the defences of the city, which has re- 
 sulted so favorably to our arms ; and I am indebted 
 to him for the admirable manner in which the vessels 
 to be employed for this service were prepared un- 
 der his supervision previous to my arrival on the 
 station, and I part with him with reluctance and 
 regret. 
 
 It was the belief of the enemy that it would be 
 impossible for our Monitors and gun-boats to cross 
 the Blakely River bar, owing to the shallowness 
 of the water ; but, should we succeed in doing so, 
 their hope rested in our entire destruction by the 
 innumerable torpedoes with which they had filled 
 the river, combined with their marsh batteries ; 
 and they well knew that our success in overcoming 
 these obstacles would be fatal to them; but by 
 great exertions night and day we succeeded. 
 
 Commodore Palmer commanded the first division, 
 consisting of the Monitors and " Octorara," and suc- 
 cessfully ascended the Blakely with them, coming 
 down the Tensas, directly in front of the city ; the 
 remainder of the gun-boats, led by the flag-ship, 
 convoying General Granger's command for the pur- 
 pose of making a joint attack in fiank and front. 
 These movements, having been anticipated by the 
 enemy, led to the evacuation ; and, although Com- 
 modore Palmer did not have the satisfaction of 
 
786 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 position to do so effectually had not the rebels de- 
 prived him of the opportunity by flight. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 H. K. Thatcher, Acting Rear-Admiral^ 
 
 Commanding West Qulf Squadron. 
 Hon. Gideobt Welles, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 There seems to have been an unusual loss 
 of Federal vessels in these combined opera- 
 tions, from the effects of torpedoes, which 
 might indicate a want of due care in ap- 
 proaching the rivers, where it was known 
 that quantities of these infernal machines 
 were planted ; but, because these vessels 
 were destroyed in their anxiety to get 
 ahead, it detracts nothing from the char- 
 acter of Rear-Admiral Thatcher and his 
 officers for the apparent want of that 
 prudence which every officer should exhibit 
 in all military operations, who has the lives 
 of officers and men at his disposal. It is 
 well known now that Mobile was better 
 supplied with torpedoes than any other 
 point, with perhaps the exception of the 
 James River, and those at Mobile having 
 been put down at the last moment were 
 more than usually dangerous. 
 
 The ''Milwaukee," Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander J. H. Gillis, and the "Osage," 
 Lieutenant - Commander W. M. Gamble, 
 were sunk at the entrance to Blakely River, 
 the former on the 38th of March and the 
 latter on the 29th. The tin-clad "Ro- 
 dolph " was sunk by a torpedo on the 1st of 
 April, while towing a scow with imple- 
 ments to try and raise the "Milwaukee." 
 These, with the two steam -tugs, two 
 launches, and the gun -boat "Sciota" 
 (blown up), made eight vessels in all de- 
 stroyed on this occasion. Fortunately the 
 war was over and the Government did 
 not need the vessels, which were valuable 
 ones. 
 
 The following is a list of the losses ex- 
 perienced by the sinking of the vessels 
 named above : 
 
 "Osage," 3 killed, 8 wounded; "Ro- 
 dolph," 4 killed, 11 wounded; "Cincin- 
 nati's" launch, 3 killed ; "Althea," Skilled, 
 3 wounded; "Sciota," 4 killed, 6 wounded; 
 " Ida," 3 killed, 3 wounded. 
 
 Though the war may be said to have vir- 
 tually ended by the surrender of General 
 Lee, on April 9th, 1865, and of General Joe 
 Johnston, on April 37th, and naval and 
 military operations against the Confed- 
 erates may be said to have ceased, yet up 
 to the last moment the Texans were ap- 
 parently as active as ever in their domain, 
 and for a short time it looked as if they 
 were going "to fight it out on that line, if 
 it took all summer." 
 
 One of their last acts was an attempt to 
 run the blockade with the ram "Webb," 
 which had made herself so famous in sink- 
 
 ing the "Indianola," The "Webb" was 
 remarkably fast and a good sea-going ves- 
 sel. She was loaded with cotton by private^ 
 ■parties, who at the same time were pre- 
 pared to fight, and had put on board a crew 
 of forty-five men. Besides the cotton, part- 
 of her cargo was made up of rosin and. 
 turpentine. 
 
 No one was thinking of such an attempt, 
 when the "Webb" appeared above New 
 Orleans on April 34th, 1865, running at full 
 speed, and passed down the river. She was. 
 fiying the United States flag, and had a tor- 
 pedo on a pole projecting from the bow. 
 Every one who saw the " Webb" took her 
 for an army transport, but, being finally rec- 
 ognized by some one, she received two shot 
 in her hull, which, however, did no damage. 
 
 The " Hollyhock," Lieutenant - Com- 
 manander Bancroft Gherardi ; the "Flor- 
 ida," Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant - Com- 
 mander Wm. Budd ; the "Quaker City,"' 
 Commander Wm. F. Spicer, and the " Ossi- 
 pee," Commander Wm. E. LeRoy, got un- 
 derway as soon as they could get up steanr 
 and went in pursuit of the " Webb," the- 
 " Hollyhock " far in the lead. When the 
 " Webb " was about twenty-five miles belo\v 
 New Orleans, she encountered the " Rich- 
 mond," Captain Theodore P. Green, coming- 
 up the river. The chances for her escape 
 being thus cut off, the " Webb " was headed 
 for the left bank of the river and run 
 ashore, and was set on fire by her com- 
 mander, Edward G. Reed, formerly of the 
 United States Navy. Her cargo, being very 
 infiammable, she was soon ablaze from stem 
 to stern and blew up, the crew escaping to- 
 the shore. 
 
 Thus ended the career of this remarkable 
 ram, that had caused, at times, a good deal 
 of uneasiness along the river and had done- 
 considerable damage. She followed in the 
 footsteps of all the Confederate rams, and 
 was the last one that we know of that was 
 at that time owned by the Confederacy. 
 The following officers of the "Webb"' 
 gave themselves up, after having been pur- 
 sued to the swamps by the Navy : Lieu- 
 tenant Read, her late commanding oflicer;. 
 Lieutenant Wm. H. Wall, Master S. P. 
 LeBlanc, Passed-Midshipman H. H. Scott, 
 Assistant Surgeon W. J. Addison, - and. 
 Pilot James West. 
 
 It was not until the 35th of May that the- 
 Confederates began to evacuate their forti- 
 fied places in Texas and return to their 
 homes. The first place evacuated was the 
 works at Sabine Pass, which had been a 
 point both parties had contended for 
 throughout the war. 
 
 About May 37th, the Confederate Army 
 in Texas generally disbanded, taking ad- 
 vantage of the terms of surrender entered, 
 into and executed at New Orleans be- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 787 
 
 tween the Confederate Commissioners and 
 General Canby, of the U. S. Army, where 
 all the Confederate fortifications and prop- 
 erty was given up. 
 
 No Confederate naval force was left in 
 Texas except the remains of the ram "Mis- 
 souri," which was surrendered to the com- 
 mander of the Mississippi Squadron. 
 
 Galveston was suri-endered on the 7th of 
 June, and the place taken possession of by 
 the gun-boats under Captain B F. Sands, 
 who took the proper steps to buoy out the 
 channel and take charge of the Govern- 
 ment property. Rear - Admiral Thatcher 
 visited the civil authorities on shore, who 
 seemed to be well satisfied with the turn 
 affairs had taken, and again and again re- 
 iterated their desire that there should be no 
 disturbance of the existing state of affairs, 
 and requesting that a portion of the gun- 
 boats should be kept at Galveston for the pro- 
 tection of the city ! All the forts through- 
 out the State as far as Brownsville were 
 
 soon after garrisoned by United States 
 troops, and thus ended the war in Texas. 
 
 When peace was concluded, the Texans 
 were determined to observe the terms 
 religiously. These people had fought 
 bravely and squarely, resorting to few, if 
 any, of the tricks and offensive measures 
 pursued by the home-guards along the 
 Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers ; and 
 when they laid down their arms and re- 
 turned to their homes, it was evidently 
 with the intention of not taking them up 
 again except to defend the flag against 
 which they had been so lately fighting. 
 
 The gallant old officer, Acting-Rear-Ad- 
 miral Thatcher, was relieved a short time 
 after from his command, which he had con- 
 ducted with vigor and remarkable judg- 
 ment. He was made a full Rear- Admiral 
 for the services he had rendered during 
 the war, and no officer in the Navy better 
 deserved the honors he had won or the re- 
 wards he had reaped. 
 
 WEST GULF SQUADRON, JANUARY 1, 1865. 
 
 Commodore James S. Palmer. 
 
 Staff— LlBUTEBTANT-COMMANDER 8. R. FRANKLIN, FliEBT-CAPTAIN ; FlBBT-PATMA.STEB, ED-WARD T. 
 
 Dunn; Fleet-Surgeon, Jambs C. Palmer; Flbet-Enghneer, William H. Shock; Assistant- 
 Surgeon, Theobon Woolvebton ; Acting-Ensigns, Frederick T. Mason, Alex. S. Gibson, 
 T. M. L. Chrystie, Aides. 
 
 ' ' BICHMOND ' - SBOOND-EATB. 
 
 Captain, Thornton A. Jenkins; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Edw. A. Terry; Acting- Volunteer-Lieuten- 
 ant, Chas. J. Gibbs ; Surgeon, L. J. Williams ; 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. McD. Rice ; Paymaster, Ed- 
 win Stewart; Second- Lieutenant of Marines, C. L. 
 Sherman ; Acting-Masters and Pilots, J. W. Grivet 
 and C. J. Lawrence; Ensign, P. H. Cooper; Acting- 
 Ensigns, C. M. Chester, Lewis Clark and A. H. 
 Wright; Acting-Master's Mate, T. J. Werner; En- 
 gineers : Chief, Jackson McElmell ; First- Assistant, 
 
 E. J. Brooks ; Second- Assistants, John Wilson, A. J. 
 Kenyon, Absalom Kirby, Robert Weir and William 
 H. Crawford ; Third- Assistant, C W. Senter ; Act- 
 ing-Third Assistant, Thomas McElmell; Boatswain, 
 I. T. Choate ; Acting-Gunner, Addison Fisk ; Act- 
 ing-Carpenter, O. W. Grifaths; Sailmaker, William 
 Rogers. 
 
 " LACKAWANNA "—SECOND- BATE. 
 
 Captain, George F. Emmons; Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander, Chas. S. Norton ; Lieutenants, S. A. Mc- 
 Carty and C. D. Jones; Surgeon, Thomas W. Leach; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. F. Hutchinson ; 
 Assistant Paymaster, Geo. S. Benedict; Acting-Mas- 
 ter, John H. Allen ; Ensigns, Geo. H. Wadleigh and 
 Frank Wildes; Acting-Ensigns, Clarence Rathbone, 
 
 F. A. Cook and W. J. Lewis ; Engineers : Acting- 
 Chief, W. A. R. Latimer ; Second-Assistant, G. W. 
 
 ■ Roche; Acting-Second- Assistant, John Miller; Third- 
 Assistant, I. B. Fort; Acting-Third- Assistants, G. W. 
 Russell and T.W. Sillman; Acting-Boatswain, J. G. 
 Briggs; Gunner, J. G. Foster. 
 
 "POTOMAC — FOUBTH bate. 
 
 L C-* 
 
 Wood; Chaplain, Robert Given ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 R. Canfield, T. H. Baker, Thos. McLeavy, J. B. 
 Barker and J. H. Church ; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 A. Whiting. 
 
 " MONONGAHEIjA"~SE0OND-BATE. 
 
 Commander, James H. Strong; Lieutenants, T. C. 
 Bowen and Oliver A. Batcheller ; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Henry Rookwood ; Assistant Paymaster, 
 Forbes Parker ; Acting-Ensigns, Geo. Gerrad, 
 P. F. Harrington and D. W. Hullan ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, W. B. Arnaud; Engineers: Chief, Geo. 
 F. Kutz ; First-Assistant, Joseph Trilley ; Second- 
 Assistants, John J. Bissett, Edward Cheney and 
 P. J. Langer; Acting-Third- Assistants, A. C. Wilcox 
 and H. L. Churchill ; Boatswain, Wm. Green ; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, M. B. Means. 
 
 " pobtsmouth "— thibd-eate. 
 Commander, Louis C. Sartori ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, William C. Lyman; Assistant Paymaster, 
 E. Putnam; Acting-Masters, John Wallace and H. M. 
 Peirce; Acting-Ensigns, J. F. Perkins and J. P. 
 Pearson; Acting-Master's Mates, T. H. Jenks and 
 T. S. Flood; Gunner, W. Cheney; Carpenter, G. E. 
 Burcham; Sailmaker, L. B. Wakeman. 
 
 "ossipee "— second-katb. 
 Commander, Wm. E. LeRoy; Lieutenants, John 
 A- Howell and Richard S. Chew; Surgeon, B. F. 
 Gibbs; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, W. L. Pynchon; 
 Acting-Masters, C. C. Bunlier and H. S. Lambert ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Charles E. Clark and W. A. Van 
 Vleck; Engineers: Acting-Chief, James M. Adams; 
 Second-Assistants, W. W. Vanderbilt and W. H. 
 De Hart; Acting-Second-Assistants, M. H. Gerry, 
 
 T 1-* "YTT _ r. 1_ t~\ TTT Ty • Jl Jl _T "ITT." 11 • j— < 11 • 
 
788 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 " BIENTILLB " - SBCOND-EATE. 
 
 Commander, J. R. M. Mullany ; Lieutenant, 
 Henry L. Howison; Passed-Assistant Surgeon, A. C. 
 Rhoades ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, W. W. 
 Goodwin; Acting-Master, T. N. Meyer; Acting-En- 
 signs, Bmile J. Enfer, G. H. Frencii and F. O. Ab- 
 bott; Acting-Master's Mates, J. R. Lee, T. H. Soule, 
 Jr., and 0. O. Spear; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. 
 F. Wright; Acting-First-Assistant, Warren Ewen ; 
 Acting-Second Assistants, P. O. Brightman and 
 E. 1). Merritt ; Acting - Third - Assistants, D. J. 
 O'Keefeand Edward Torallas; Acting-Gunner, Wm. 
 T Laforge. 
 
 '■ SEMINOLE " —THIBD-E ATE. 
 
 Commander, Albert G. Clary; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant, George Mundy; Surgeon, J. C. Spear; 
 Paymaster, L. 8. Stoclcwell; Acting-Master, Wm. A. 
 Maine: Acting - Ensigns, D. K. Perliins, Francis 
 Kempton and W. S. Church; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Henry Webb and C. A. Thome; Engineers: Acting- 
 First- Assistants, Claude Babcock and A. R. Calden; 
 Acting -Third- Assistants, Wm. Drinliwater, P. J. 
 Hughes and Geo. Ellis. 
 
 " ONEIDA "-THIBD-RATB. 
 
 Commander, Thomas H. Stephens; Lieutenants, 
 0. L. Huntington and E. N. Kellogg; Surgeon, John 
 J. Gibson; Assistant-Paymaster, G. R. Martin; Act- 
 ing-Ensign, Chas. V. Vridley; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Edward Bird and Daniel Clark; Engineers: Chief, 
 Wm. H. Hunt ; Second - Assistant, David Hardie ; 
 Acting-Second -Assistants, B. S. Cooke and \V. C. 
 Barrett ; Acting-Boatswain, Hallowell Dickinson. 
 
 " PRINCESS KOYAI; " — THIKD-BATE. 
 
 Commander, M. B. Woolsey ; Lieutenant, Chas. 
 E. McKay; Acting Assistant Surgeon, T. R. Chan- 
 dler ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. T. Morton ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, A. H. Reynolds, T. A. Witham, J. J. 
 Moule and C. K. Porter ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 Wm. E. Cannon and Lewis Johnson; Engineers : 
 Acting-First-Assistant, Wm. Huntley ; Second-As- 
 sistant, J. E.Fallon; Aeting-Third-Assistants, A. J. 
 Redmond, Peter Taylor and Geo. W. Caldwell. 
 
 " OCTOEAKA "— THIBD-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Wm. W. Low ; Acting- 
 Volunteer - Lieutenant, Wm. D. Urann ; Assistant 
 Surgeon, E. R. Dodge; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. H. Pynchon ; Acting-Masters, H. S. Young and 
 M. W. McEntee; Acting-Ensigns, Geo. H. Dodge and 
 J. N. Frost; Acting- Masters Mates, Geo. P. Gififord 
 and Geo. W. Adams ; Engineers : W. W. Shipman, 
 R. B. Plotts and Joseph Knight. 
 
 ' KICKAPOO 
 
 -POUETHEATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, M. P. Jones; Acting- Vol- 
 unteer-Lieutenant, D. C. Woods ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, Foster Thayer; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, P. B. Gilbert; Acting-Masters, S. V. Bennis and 
 DeWayne Stebbins; Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Chand- 
 ler, Ezra Bassett, F. W. Gvantzourand G. G. Tripp; 
 Acting- Master's Mates. E. R. Bradley and L. AV. 
 Sedam; Engineers: Acting-Chief, D. C. Riter; Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, G. W. Lumpkins ; Aeting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistants, N. F. Johnson, Andrew Dolan and 
 Samuel M. Sykes; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. T. 
 Baxter, Wm. S. Robb, John Feihl and Martin Hi- 
 lands; Acting Gunner, J. H. Howe; Acting-Carpen- 
 ter, Wm. Osteruieyer. 
 
 " METACOMET " — THIRD-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James E. Jouett; Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, H. J. Sleeper; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, E. D. Payne; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 H. M. Harriman ; Acting - Masters, C. C. Gill and 
 H. C. Nields ; Acting-Master and Pilot, R. Riggs ; 
 Acting - Ensigns, James Brown and R. N. Miller ; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, J. K. Goodwin and Chas. 
 Harcourt; Engineers: First-Assistant, James Atkins; 
 
 Second- Assistants, C. H. Ball and G. P. Hunt; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, J. H. Nash, S. W. King and 
 Patrick Maloney; Acting-Gunner, James Lamon. 
 
 " KINBO "— POTTETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John Watters; Lieuten- 
 ant, Chas. S. Cotton ; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, 
 E. S. Perkins; Aeting-As.sistant Paymaster, Allen J. 
 Clark; Acting-Ensigns. H. W. Mather, W. S. Keen 
 and D. J. Starbuck; Engineers: Acting-Second- As- 
 sistant, J. S. Harper; Acting-Third- Assistant, Rich- 
 ard Thall. 
 
 ' J. p. JACKSON "— POtTBTH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Bancroft Gherardi; Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant, L. W. Pennington ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas S. Yard; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Chas. B. Perry; Acting-Master, 
 H. R. Billings; Acting - Masters and Pilots. James 
 Maycocliand Henry Rehder; Acting-Ensigns, W. H. 
 Howard and Jos. H. Wainwright ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Achilles Kalniski and C. T. Taylor ; Engi- 
 neers: Aeting-Second-Assistant, Charles Goodman; 
 Actmg- Third -Assistants, J. D. Caldwell, Albert 
 Mayer and J. E. Hare. 
 
 "CAYUGA" POUETH-SATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander. Henry Wilson ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. E. Parsons ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Wm. A. Mann ; Acting - Master, John 
 Hanson ; Acting-Ensigns, W. F. DoUiver, Isaac A. 
 Abbott, Robert Morris and E. P. Stevens ; Engi- 
 neers: Second-Assistants, J. C. Chaffee and W. A. H. 
 Allen ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Thomas Kidd and 
 J. D. Thompson. 
 
 "PENOBSCOT " — FOTTRTH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, A. E. K. Benham ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. C. Sargeant ; Assistant 
 Paymaster, F. P. Hinman; Acting Master, Charles 
 E. Jack; Acting-Ensigns, Edw. Pendexter, T. McL. 
 Miller, W. G. Campbell and Wm. Wingood, Jr.; En- 
 gmeers: Acting-First- Assistant, W. M. Rodes; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, Warren Howland, E. T. Henrj' 
 and John Carey. 
 
 ' ' GENESEE "— THIED-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John Irwin; Acting- As- 
 sistant Surgeon, W. L. Wheeler ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, F. C. Alley; Acting- Masters, F. H. Grove, 
 Wm. Hanson and Edwin Crissey; Acting-Ensigns, 
 Sydney Hall, John Cannon and &. B. Foster; Act- 
 mg-Master"s Mate, J. N. Peabody; Engineers: Sec- 
 ond-Assistants, T. W. Rae, M. W. Mather, Michael 
 McLaughlin and Christopher Nulton; Thu-d-Assist- 
 ant, E. W. Clark; Acting - Third - Assistant, John 
 H. Dee. 
 
 " AROOSTOOK " — POUETH-K-ATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Joseph S. Skerrett; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, J. H. Richards; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, E. St. C. Clarke; Acting-Master, 
 P. S. Borden; Acting-Ensigns, John Griffin and Wm. 
 Barker ; Acting - Master's Mate, Edward Culbert ; 
 Engineers: Second - Assistants, S.amuel Gragg and 
 James Entwistle; Acting-Third-Assistants, Nathan 
 Brown, L. M. Reenstjerna and J. P. Somerby. 
 
 " VINCENNBS" -THIED-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, C. H. Greene; Assistant 
 burgeon, J. W. Newcomer; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, Samuel Jordan ; Acting- Masters, A E Hun- 
 ter and L. A.Brown; Acting-Ensign, Robert Hen- 
 derson; Acting -Boatswain, John Smith- Acting- 
 Gunner, Wm. Kneeland; Sailmaker, Geo. Thomas. 
 
 " MILWAUKEE"— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James H. Gillis- Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant, F. John Grover; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon N. Brewster; Acting- Assistant Pav- 
 master, G. S. Home ; Acting-Master, Geo. W Gar- 
 rison; Acting-Ensigns, N. T. Crocker, E. D. Sorineer 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 789 
 
 R. L. E. Coombs and J. "W. Crocker; Actinfr-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Geo. H. Cole, T.W. Stuart and G. W. Per- 
 rigo; Engineers: First-Assistant, John Purdy, Jr.; 
 Acting-Second- Assistants, Otias. Metzger, John Ad- 
 liins, Henry Bauer, S. W. Evans and Prank Leon- 
 ard; Acting-Third- Assistants, F. A. Hurd, Jacob 
 Wahl, H. L. Dickerson, Morgan Lutton, J. Henry 
 Blanch and W. A. Blanch. 
 
 ■ SBBAGO 
 
 -THIED-KATB. 
 
 Lieutenant- Commander, Wm. E. Fitzhugh; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, T. Munson Coan; Assistant 
 Paymaster, Henry A. Strong; Acting- Master, J. B. 
 Rodgers; Acting Master and Pilot, J. H. Collins; 
 Acting -Ensigns, E. D. Martin, S. G. Blood and 
 J. T. Hamilton; Acting - Master's Mates, Thomas 
 Elsmore and W. A. Hynard; Engineers: Acting- 
 First Assistant, Wm. H. Morris; Aeting-Second-As- 
 sistant, W. P. Ayres; Acting-Third- Assistants, Rob- 
 ert Miller and Franklin Babcock; Acting-Gunner, 
 John Roberts. 
 
 ' KENNEBEC 
 
 - FOtTETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Trevett Abbott; Acting- 
 Volunteer - Lieutenant, Edward Baker ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, W. H, Taggert; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Elisha Ward; Acting-Masters, A. L. 
 Emerson and J. J. Butler; Acting - Ensigns, J. D. 
 Ellis; Acting-Master's Mate, A. A. Mann: Engineers: 
 Second-Assistant, L. W. Robinson: Aoting-Second- 
 Assistant, J. S. Pearce ; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 J. N. Johnson and James Eocles. 
 
 " ITASCA "— EOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George Brown; Surgeon, 
 David Kindleberger; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 A. G. Lathrop; Acting-Master, Richard Hustaee ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Hurd, James Igo and E. S. 
 Lowe; Acting-Master's Mates, Marcus Chapman and 
 L. E. Heath; Engineers: Second-Assistants, John 
 Borthwick and G. C. Irelan; Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, Alfred Hoyt ; Acting-Third-Assistant, C. A. 
 Laws. 
 
 • ' KANAWHA " — FOUETH-E ATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Bushrod B. Taylor; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, P. W. Brigham ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, W. O. Jube ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 W. A. Purdie, R. P. Boss, P. H. Deering and E. R. 
 Westcott; Acting-Master's Mate, James J. Clark; 
 Engineers: Second-Assistant, M. M. Murphy; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, B. F. Sanborn, Anthony Hig- 
 gins, W. D. Pancake and P. H. Priel. 
 
 " PEMBINA"— FOTTETH- BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. G. Maxwell ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. R. Holmes; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, Walter Puller; Acting- Masters, Bowen 
 Allen and P. E. Ellis; Acting-Ensigns, Wm. Lyd- 
 don, B. M. Chester, Chas. Putnam and C. L. Cran- 
 dall; Acting-Master's Mate. H. T. Davis; Engineers: 
 Third- Assistants, C. P. Nagle, C. P. Stroud and 
 Augustus Dewitt. 
 
 " PANOIiA.''— FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Henry Erben ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, A. Y. Hanson; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. B. Robinson ; Acting-Ensigns, C. V. 
 Rummell, J. W. Brown and A. P. Gibbs; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, John Rosling; Engineers: Second- 
 Assistant, Howard D. Potts; Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ants, S. A. Appold and J. B. McGavern; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, Philip Ketler and P. E. Hosmer. 
 
 " CHOCUEA ''— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Richard W. Meade, Jr. ; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Charles Gaylord ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. G. Tobey : Acting-Master, 
 Alfred Washburn ; Acting - Ensigns, T. F. Tracy, 
 M. Carver, Robert Beardsley, A. P. Atwood and 
 T. G. Watson ; Enirineers : Second - Assistants, 
 
 Second -Assistant, O. D. Hu^es; Third- Assistants, 
 N. H. Lawton and Andrew Bly the. 
 
 ' ' WINNEBAGO "— POtTETH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, W. A. Kirkland; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, J. G. Bell; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, Henry Gerrard; Acting- Master, A. S. Meg- 
 gathlin; Acting-Master and Pilot, Wm. H. Wroten; 
 Acting-Ensigns. James Whit worth, Michael Mur- 
 phy and John Morrisey, Jr. ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Wm. Edgar, H. C. Atter and J. L. Hall; Engineers: 
 Acting-Chief, Simon Schultice; Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant, James Munroe; Second- Assistant, John Wilson; 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, Philip AUman ; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, J. M. Quin, R. D. Wright, T. J. 
 Myers, James Morris, S. W. Dalton, Jr., and .John 
 Donaldson. 
 
 " CHICKASAW"— FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, George H. Perkins ; 
 Acting -Volunteer Lieutenant, Wm. Hamilton ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. K. Bacon; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. S.Wheeler; Acting-Master 
 and Pilot, Benj. Lancashier ; Acting-Ensign, G. L. 
 Jordan; Acting-Master's Mates, P. A. Case, M. F. 
 Keeshan, Chas. Atkins, W. A. Osborn and M. J. 
 Jones; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. Rodgers; 
 Acting- First - Assistant, E. P. Bartlett; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, J. M. Maratta; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, Alfred Wilkinson, A. H. Goif, George 
 Harris, Henry Duckworth and Alexander Wig- 
 gins; Gunner, J. A. McDonald. 
 
 ' SELMA 
 
 -FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Lieutenant, Arthur R. Yates ; Acting- Volunteer- 
 Lieu tenant, Felix McCurley; Assistant Surgeon, 
 Frederick Krecker ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 C. W. Clapp; Acting • Master and Pilot, J. H. 
 Collins; Acting-Ensigns, L. R. Vance and W. A. 
 DeWitt; Acting-Master's Mate, T. G. Gilmore; En- 
 gineers: Second Assistants, John D. Pord and J.W. 
 Patterson; Acting-Third- Assistants, H. W. Whiting 
 and Edward Kenney. 
 
 "ARKANSAS "— THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, David Cate ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, E. D. G. Smith ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, B. G. Bishop; Acting-Ensigns, 
 P. H. Beers and R. C. Dawes; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, James Scully, T. E. Tinker and M. J. Nichol- 
 son; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, J. C. Cree; 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, A. M. Clements; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, George Anderson and Charles 
 Wolff. 
 
 "TEITONIA " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, George Wiggin; 
 Acting-Master and Pilot. J. Nicholson; Acting -En- 
 sign, P. R. laschke; Acting-Master's Mates, C. A. 
 Trundy and H. P. Pish; Engineers: Acting-Second - 
 Assistant, James Findley; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 Abraham Geer. 
 
 " VIE&INIA " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer - Lieutenant, Charles H. Brown ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Kinney; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. B. Hoff; Acting-Master, 
 W. G. Mitchell: Acting-Ensigns, M. A. Blume and 
 P. E. Brackett ; Acting-Master's Mates, Herman 
 Wissing and E. P. Small; Engineers: Second- 
 Assistant, J. D. Toppen : Aoting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. S. Essler, J. E. Soribner, Charles Hoskins and 
 Daniel Ward. 
 
 ' ' PENGUIN "— FOUETH -BATE. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, James R. Beers; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, H. R. Ruckley; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, T. C. Hutchinson ; Acting- 
 Master, Tolford M. Durham; Acting-Ensign, Benj. 
 Cantlett; Acting- Master's Mates, C. G. Smith, P. C. 
 Aliny and W. A. Hannah ; Acting-Engineers: Act- 
 
790 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Assistant, M. P. Randall ; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 John Webster, Richard Reilly and Dewitt C. Mc- 
 Bride. 
 
 "CORNELIA "— FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer - Lieutenant, John A. John- 
 stone; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, J. G. Dearborne ; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, A. Eastlake ; Acting- 
 Master, Geo. Ferris; Acting-Ensigns, G. A. Harri- 
 man, Frank Millett and G. P. Brailey ; Acting- Mas- 
 ter's Mates, W. H. Wood and G. H. Russell; Engi- 
 neers : Acting - First - Assistant, 8. R. Brumage; 
 Acting-Second- Assistant, T. J. Lavery ; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants; J. A. Boynton and George Al- 
 tham. 
 
 " BTJOKTHOEN "— FOTTBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, Washington God- 
 frey; Acting- Master's Mates, B. F. Robinson, H. J. 
 Wynde and H. A. Mayo; Engineers: Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, E. R. Hubbard and W. H. Allen. 
 
 " AUGUSTA DINSMOEE " — THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, M. B. Crowell ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Ezra Pray ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, D. P, Power; Acting -Ensigns, C. F. R 
 Wappenhaus.T. H. Paine, C. H. Blount and F. A. G. 
 Bacon; Acting- Master's Mate, A. S. Eldredge; En- 
 gineers: Acting-First- Assistant, John Seaman; Act- 
 ing - Third - Assistants, Henry Lyon, Jr., W. E. 
 Deaver, F. V. Christin and F. Scott. 
 
 "ANIONA " — EOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer - Lieutenant, John F. Harden ; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, S. B. Doty ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, H. M. Whittemore ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, F. W. Hearn, John Sears, \V. G. Jones 
 and John Bowman; Acting- Master's Mates, C. E. 
 Schofield and G. T. Carey; Engineers: Acting 
 Second-Assistant, S. T. Reeves ; Acting - Third- 
 Assistants, Thos. Petherick, Jr., J. H. Burchmore 
 and John Chambers. 
 
 " STOCKDALE " — POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thomas Edwards; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymasters, J. W. Day and W. R. 
 Sherwood; Actina:- Ensign, H. F. Martin; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, S. H. Johnson, C. H. Cleveland, 
 Daniel Dennis and George Rogers; Engineers: Act- 
 ing - Third - Assistants, A. MoH. Geary, Ambrose 
 Kimball and Wm. W. Lewis. 
 
 " ELK " — POUKTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, Nicholas Kirby ; 
 Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, H. H. Wilkins; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, W. C. Robbins; Acting-Master 
 and Pilot, Jacob Lindee; Acting - Ensigns, W. D. 
 Taber and H. W. Brackett; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 Alfred A. J. Emery; Engineers: Acting-Second -As- 
 sistants, Benj. Labree, T. H. Nelson and R. W. 
 Mars; Acting-Third- Assistants, T. R. Thompson 
 and John S. Hays. 
 
 ' CABEABASSBTT 
 
 -FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Ezra Leonard; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, C. AV. Knight; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, D. W. Riddle; Acting-Ensign, 
 A. L. C. Bowie; Acting- Master's Mates, A. A. Delano 
 and John Devereux; Engineers: Acting-First- Assist- 
 ant, J. W. Hindman; Acting - Third -Assistants, 
 T. Harding, James Crooks and Jerome Haas. 
 
 " NTANZA " — POUBTH-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, C. A. Boutelle ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, W. G. Frost; Acting-As- 
 sistant Paymaster, H. S. Gregory; Acting-Master, 
 J. F.Beyer; Acting-Ensign, J. M. Chadwick; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, .J. H. Mallon; Engineers: Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Wni. Doyle; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, Bernard Martin; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 R. G. Watson and Henry James. 
 
 " SCIOTA " — POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. H. Magune; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, R. P. Sawyer; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, B. H. Franklin; Acting - Ensign, 
 Chas. A. Cannon; Engineers: Second - Assistants, 
 Wm. F. Pratt and Daniel Dod. 
 
 " SAM HOUSTON " — POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer - Lieutenant, Martin Freeman; 
 Acting-Master, Wm. Stewart. 
 
 "POET EOTAL " — POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas M. Gardner; Acting-As- 
 sistant Surgeon, L. R. Boyce; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, F. K. Moore; Acting- Master, Wm. Hull; 
 Acting-Ensigns, E. W. Snare and P. S. Hopkins; 
 Acting- Master's Mate, E. V. Tyson, S. S. Bumpers, 
 W. A. Presoott and Wm. Campbell; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, Henry Moyles; Third As- 
 sistant, W. C. F. Reichenbach; Acting -Third- As- 
 sistant, T. B. Brown. 
 
 " TAllAHATCHIE " — POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Thos. J. Lennekin ; Acting Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, A. I'Anglois ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. C. Sawyer ; Acting- Master and Pilot, 
 James Redding ; Acting-Ensigns, Haskell Crosby, 
 8. H. Berino and W B. Pease; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Wm. McKnight, John Smith and Thomas 
 Pindar; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, D. R. 
 Sims; Acting - Second - Assistant, W. M. Stewart; 
 Acting - Third - Assistants, John A. Dalton and 
 J. Moran. 
 
 " GLASGOW "—POUETH EATB. 
 
 Acting- Master, Richard J. Hoffner; Acting- Master 
 and Pilot, Frank Kane; Acting-Ensign, Charles 
 Welles; Acting - Master's Mates, F. A. Sherman, 
 J. F. Baker, and W. H. Childs; Engineers : Second- 
 Assistant, John F. Bingham ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, R S. Ly tie and John McAuliffe. 
 
 " PAMPEEO "—POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Oliver Colbourn; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, E. C. Neal; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 A. B. Clark ; Acting- Master's Mates, Rodger Far- 
 rell and J. L. Blauvelt. 
 
 " AEIZONA "— POUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting-M.aster, Howard Tibbits; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, S. 8. Green; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 G. B. Tripp; Acting-Master, Wm. Harcourt; Act- 
 ing-Ensisrn, F. Aug. Miller; Engineers: Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, W. H. Thomson; Second- Assistant, 
 P. G. Eastwick; Acting - Third - Assistant, John 
 Lewis. 
 
 ' GEETEUDB 
 
 -POUETH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Henry C. Wade; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, Adam Shirk; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 R. R. Brawley; Acting - Ensigns, Wm. Shepard 
 and Fred. Newell; Acting - Master's Mates, Benj. 
 Leedsand C. A. Osborn; Engineers; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, W. H. Brown; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. H. Nesen, F. C. Morey and C. O. Parciot. 
 
 ' ' POCAHONTAS "—POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, E. E. Pendleton; Assistant Sur- 
 geon, C. L. Green; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 A. J. Wright, Jr.; Acting-Ensign, I. J. McKinlev; 
 Acting Master's Mates, B. W. Tucker, Jr., J. H. 
 Pray and J. L. Gould; Engineers: Acting-Second - 
 Assistants, W. T. Warburton and Alex. McDonald; 
 Acting - Third - Assistants, R. F. Carter, J. H. 
 Doughty and W. D. Hyde. 
 
 " ABTHUE "—POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Joseph E. Stannard; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, C. E. Mitchell; Acting - Ensign, 
 G. M. Bogart; Acting-Master's Mate, Robert Wood. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 791 
 
 "NEW LONDON "— rOTTBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Lyman Wells; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, Geo. M. Beard; Acting-Assistant Paymas- 
 -ter, E. A. Chadwick; Acting-Ensigns, J. M. C. Rev- 
 ille, V. W. Jones and H. Z. Howard ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mate, E. J. Hennessy; Engineers: Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, H. P. Powers; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, John Dunlap, James Creevy and John Quinn. 
 
 "FOBT GAINES" — POUKTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, John R. Hamilton; Acting-Ensign, 
 S. A. Ryder; Acting-Master's Mates, W. J. Thorn- 
 iton, Bernard Segersteen and Wm. Brown; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Third-Assistants, Lucas Golden, Wm. 
 ■Clark, Henry Moxley and Thomas Smith. 
 
 " OWASCO " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Masters, Thomas B. Sears and John Utter; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, J. J. Smith; Acting-As- 
 isistant Paymaster, Wm. B. Coleman; Acting-Mas- 
 ier's Mates, F. C. Duncan and A. L. Stevens; Engi- 
 neers: Second-Assistant, Haviland Barstow; Act- 
 ing - Third - Assistants, T. H. Carton and G. W. 
 iatham. 
 
 " BOHIO "— FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Wm. M. Stannard; Acting-Mas- 
 ■ter s Mate, Daniel Parsons. 
 
 " METEOR "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Meletiah Jordan; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, John M. Skillman; Acting-Ensigns, 
 W. 8. Romme, J. L. Hall and 0. H. Sawyer; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, T. W. Jones and J. F. Porter; En- 
 .gineers: Acting -Third -Assistants, Wm. Connell, 
 Wm. Boyle, WiUiam Brown and P. J. Murphy. 
 
 " KATAHDIN " — FOTJETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Edward Terrill; Acting- Assistant 
 •Surgeon, G. D. Buckner; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, L. D. Bradley ; Acting-Master and Pilot, Ber- 
 nard Crone; Acting-Ensigns, G. A. FaunceandWm. 
 Ross; Engineers: Second-Assistant, N. B. Clark; Act- 
 ing - Second - Assistant, Thomas Tattle; Acting- 
 'Third-Assistants, Sam'l Wallace and H. C. Reynolds. 
 
 " BSTREIiLA " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, G. P. Pomeroy; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, T. E. Clark; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 ■G. L. Hoodless; Acting-Master's Mates, E. G. Cas- 
 well and Charles Sidney; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, R. G. Pope; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 ■Geo. R. Marble and J. P. Winters. 
 
 "EODOLPH "—FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, N. M. Dyer; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, E. P. Colby; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. C. Graves; Acting-Master and Pilot, John Rob- 
 inson ; Acting - Ensign, J. F. Thomson ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, N. B. Hinckley and John Dickson; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second Assistant, J. W. Smyth ; 
 Acting - Third - Assistants, Levi Bobbins, Joshua 
 JIalsall and Charles Robinson. 
 
 " PINK " — FOrrETH-RATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Samuel Belden ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 ■George A. Steen and H. D. Packard; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, A. B. Besse; Acting Third- 
 Assistants, 8. 8. Pettingell, H. C. Jewett and J. G. 
 ■Cunningham. 
 
 " COBTPHEUS" — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, J. S. Clark ; Acting-Ensign, J. H. 
 Gregory; Acting-Master's Mate, William McCann. 
 
 "glide" — FOUETH-BATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Levi 8. Fickett ; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, Abraham Depue; Acting-Ensigns, Jas. 
 Sheppard and J. P. Cole; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Joseph Griffin, W. D. Gregory and Charles Heath; 
 Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, M. F. Rogers; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, W. Matthews and T. R. 
 
 "MAEIA A.WOOD" — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, John Ross; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Charles Fort and E. 8. Stover. 
 
 ' ' cowslip "-fourth bate. 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. T. Bacon ; Acting-Ensign, 
 John Dennett ; Acting-Ensign and Pilot, A. Bel- 
 landi; Acting-Master's Mates, Jacob Teal and F. A. 
 Gross, Jr.; Engineers: Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 John Rogers; Acting-Third-Assistant, J. R. David- 
 son. 
 
 " HOLLYHOCK " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Franklin Ellms; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Lewis Milk ; Engineers : Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, Abraham Wilcox; Acting-Third-Assist- 
 ants, Thomas Kennedy, Frank Rodgers, Frank 
 Royce and Thos. Armstrong. 
 
 " KITTATINNT "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, N. J. Blaisdell and W. F. Chat- 
 field. 
 
 " EOSE "-FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Walter D. Maddocks ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. A. Plander, B. E. Treat and G. E. 
 Symms; Engineers: Acting-Second-Assistant, Wm. 
 R. Nutz; Acting-Third- Assistants, AlpheufS Nichols, 
 H. A. Guild and W. L. Lewis. 
 
 " ALTHEA '' — FOUBTH-KATB. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, John Boyle and C. C. Wilbur; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, Harry White and C. A. 
 Blanchard; Engineers : Acting Second-Assistants, 
 Jas. Kelren, Frederick D. Henriques and J. P. Smith. 
 
 " JASMINE "— FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting - Ensign, J. F. Brenton; Acting - Third- 
 Assistant Engineer, Ij. R. Burgoyne. 
 
 ' ' FEAE NOT " — FOUHTH-BATE. 
 
 Aoting-Ensigns, Abraham Rich and P. P. Hawks; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, T. E. Ryan; Acting- 
 Master's Mate, W. Freeman. 
 
 " J. C. KUHN " —FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Sewall H. Newman. 
 
 " W. G. ANDEBSON " — FOUBTH BATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Robert H. Carey and 8. A. 
 Brooks ; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. M. Drum- 
 mond; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, T. S. Dabney; 
 Acting - Master's Mates, G. H. Rowen and Allan 
 Reilley. 
 
 "BLOOMEB "— POUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting - Third - Assistant Engineer, Thomas G. 
 Jones. 
 
 " CHAELOTTE " — FOUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master's Mate, A. Whiting. 
 
 "IDA " — FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Pilot, Ben j.Tarbell; Acting Master's Mate, Henry 
 Kent. 
 
 NEW OELEANS, LA., NAVAL RENDEZVOUS. 
 
 Acting-Master, E. H. Howell ; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, D. M. McLean. 
 
 NAVAL HOSPITAL. 
 
 Surgeon, J. Jones ; Assistant Surgeons, Thomas 
 Hiland and Heber Smith. 
 
 MOBILE BAT. 
 
 Acting-Master, F. H. Grove ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, C. R. Marple and E. A. Morse; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant Engineer, J. L. Young. 
 
 COAST OF TEXAS. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Robert M. Hanson. 
 
 SOUTHWEST PASS. 
 
 Acting- Master, Wm. Jones. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI EIVEE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Wm. Mitchell, Ordnance 
 OfBcer; Assistant Paymaster W. C. Cook, Naval 
 
CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 CAPTURE OF RICHMOND.— THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CONFEDERATE 
 FLEET IN THE JAMES RIVER, Etc. 
 
 Assembling of the Naval Vessels in Hampton Roads and on the James River. — 
 Operations of the Armies around Richmond. — President Lincoln Visits City" 
 Point.— The Memorable Council on board the "River Queen." — Decision of the 
 Council. — The Terms of Surrender offered to General Johnston. — Ability of 
 THE Confederate Generals. — The Example op President Lincoln. — The Confed- 
 erate Iron-clads Blockaded in the James River. — The Confederate Fleet as 
 Re-organized under Rear-Admiral Semmes. — Richmond Enveloped. — Attack on 
 Petersburg. — Removal of Torpedoes and Obstructions in the River. — Rich- 
 mond Evacuated. — Semmes' Instructions from the Confederate Secretary of 
 the Navy. — Blowing up of the Confederate Fleet. — End of the Confederate 
 Navy. — The President visits Richmond. — At the Residence of Jefferson Davis. 
 — An Ovation worthy of an Emperor. — Tactics of Assassins.— Justice Campbell 
 visits the President. — Duff Green receives a Merited Rebuke. — President Lin- 
 coln RETURNS TO WASHINGTON. — SCATTERING OF THE VESSELS OF THE NaVY. — ThE 
 
 War Ended. — A New National Anniversary. 
 
 THE naval operations on the South- 
 ern coast having terminated, ow- 
 ing to the capture of the enemy's 
 ports, the vessels-of-war were dis- 
 tributed to other points, leaving 
 only a suflBcient number of guu-boats to 
 preserve the peace and protect the inhabit- 
 ants against the depredations of deserters 
 from the Confederate army, who were mak- 
 ing their way home in large numbers, and 
 like hungry wolves eating up everything 
 which came in their way. 
 
 Sherman's army on its march through the 
 South has been compared by Confederate 
 writers to a swarm of locusts; but these 
 Confederate deserters were ten times worse 
 than Sherman's men, who were supplied 
 with abundant rations from their own com- 
 missariat. 
 
 The naval vessels on the coast wei"e con- 
 stantly called upon to fit out boat expedi- 
 tions ; which, with three or four hundred 
 well -equipped men, would drive off the 
 marauders and send them elsewhere in 
 search of plunder. Thus, the Navy, not be- 
 ing governed by any feelings of rancor 
 
 towards the Confederate sympathizers on. 
 shore, stood ready to shield from harnx 
 many who had been the bitterest foes of 
 the Union. 
 
 Meanwhile, a large number of naval ves- 
 sels assembled in Hampton Roads and on 
 the James River, in anticipation of coming' 
 events, for all eyes now centred on Rich- 
 mond, Avhere General Lee and his army of 
 veterans were making their final stand witli 
 little prospect of success against the over- 
 whelming force brought to bear on them. 
 The Federal Army was ready to move as 
 soon as General Grant should know to a cer- 
 tainty that General Sherman had reached 
 Goldsboro', where it was expected lie 
 would come in contact with General J. E. 
 Johnston's army of some forty thousand 
 men, which was being daily strengthened 
 by Confederates who had evacuated Savan- 
 nah, Charleston and Wilmington. 
 
 This was one of the most anxious mo- 
 ments of the war. Hitherto Sherman had 
 met with no serious opposition since leaving- 
 Columbia, but as he approached Golds- 
 boro' the increasing numbers of the Con- 
 
THE NA VAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 793 
 
 federates in his front gave evidence that he 
 was to meet with strong resistance. 
 
 Everything had been done by General 
 Grant that was possible to reinforce Sher- 
 man. A column of troops from Wilming- 
 ton and another from Newbern were dis- 
 patched to meet him, and to repair the rail- 
 roads so that supplies could be rapidly sent 
 to the Federal armies. All these movements 
 were observed by the enemy with intense 
 interest, and they hoped to be able to over- 
 whelm and defeat these detached divisions 
 before Sherman could come up. The column 
 from Newbern, under Schoifield, was at- 
 tacked by General Bragg with his army, 
 reinforced by Hill's division of the Army 
 of the Tennessee. According to Confed- 
 erate accounts, Schofield was routed, and 
 fifteen hundred of his men captured ; but 
 as General Schofield crossed the Neuse 
 River and entered Goldsboro' on the ylst, it 
 would seem that the Federal progress was 
 little, if any, impeded. The column from 
 Wilmington, under General Terry, reached 
 the Neuse River a short distance above 
 Goldsboro' on the 32d, ready to cross when 
 it suited him to do so. 
 
 Goldsboro' was evidently one of the cul- 
 minating points of the war, and it was evi- 
 dent that, before Sherman could finish the 
 last stage of his march and make a junc- 
 tion with Schofield and Terry, he would 
 have some hard fighting to do. It had, 
 doubtless, seemed to the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment good policy to let Sherman advance 
 to a point where all their forces could be 
 easily concentrated against him, and on 
 the result of the General's attempt to reach 
 Goldsboro ', in face of all the attending diffi- 
 culties, depended, in a great measure, the 
 ultimate course of the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 General Grant's movements also largely 
 depended on the success of Sherman. The 
 winter had been rainy, and the almost im- 
 passable condition of the Virginia roads 
 made it impracticable to move an army 
 with anything approaching to celerity, even 
 as late as the end of March. This was, 
 therefore, an anxious moment. Had it been 
 possible for General Johnston to accumu- 
 late an army sufficiently strong to defeat 
 Sherman, Grant could not have gone to the 
 latter's assistance, owing to the condition 
 of the roads. Sherman was then the cen- 
 tral figure of the war — on his management 
 depended the terms that would be demanded 
 of General Lee when Grant should move on 
 Petersburg and Richmond. 
 
 President Lincoln, being no longer able to 
 restrain his anxiety, now proceeded to City 
 Point, and would doubtless have been 
 joined by the members of the Cabinet had 
 he not expressly forbidden it. 
 
 General J. E. Johnston, Sherman had some 
 of the ablest generals in the Confederacy to 
 contest his march. General Beauregard 
 had been reinforced at Charlotte, N. C., by 
 General Cheatham and the garrison of 
 Augusta, and was moving towards Raleigh. 
 General Hardee, with the troops from 
 Savannah and Charleston, was marching 
 towards the same point, as were General 
 Bragg and Hoke from Wilmington ; so that 
 it appeared as if Sherman would encounter 
 an army of eighty thousand men, com- 
 manded by one who was considered by 
 many competent judges the ablest of the 
 Confederate generals. There was certainly 
 no general on the other side for whose abili- 
 ties Sherman had so great a respect as for 
 those of Johnston. Beauregard, Hardee 
 and Bragg gave him comparatively little 
 uneasiness, and he was glad when Hood 
 relieved Johnston at Atlanta, as he then 
 felt assured of victory. 
 
 But the Confederate army, which in the 
 enumeration of its parts appeared so im- 
 posing, was no match for Sherman's vic- 
 torious hosts, who had gained a prestige 
 they did not intend to forfeit. Circum- 
 stances also combined to favor Sherman's 
 advance. When the Federal campaign in 
 South Carolina commenced, Hardee had 
 eighteen thousand men ; when he reached 
 Cheraw he had but eleven thousand, and at 
 Averyboro' the number had diminished to 
 six thousand. Most of this falling off: was 
 due to desertions, and it afforded an indica- 
 tion of the rapid collapse of the military 
 enthusiasm which had once prevailed in 
 the Southern Confederacy. 
 
 General Hardee attempted to impede Sher- 
 man's march when the latter reached the 
 narrow territory between the Cape Fear and 
 the Black River, but was able. to effect very 
 little, retreating as night came on towards 
 Smithfield, N. C. On the 18th, the Federal 
 Army moved on Goldboro' in two columns, 
 the loth and 17th Corps on the direct road 
 from Fayetteville, and the 14th and 20th 
 Corps on the road from Averyboro'. The 
 former column was supposed by the Con- 
 federates to be a day's march in advance of 
 the other, and it was therefore determined 
 to concentrate all their available troops 
 against it on the 19th. 
 
 Then was fought the battle of Bentonville 
 by the combined forces of Bragg and Har- 
 dee, with the object of crippling Sherman 
 before he could effect a junction with Scho- 
 field and Terry, and the action was for a 
 time so severe that it looked as if General 
 Johnston would accomplish his purpose. 
 But on the 20th General Sherman's whole 
 army confronted the Confederates ; before 
 daybreak, on the 22d. General Johnston 
 moved towards Smithfield, leaving many 
 
794: 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 three days' fighting, according to Confed- 
 erate accounts, was 224 killed and 1,499 
 wounded, the small loss being accounted 
 for by the fact that the Confederates fought 
 under cover, which gave them a great ad- 
 vantage over the Federal troops. Next day 
 {the 23d) the junction was made by General 
 Sherman with the troops of Schofield and 
 Terry, which disposed of General John- 
 ston's army for the time being. 
 
 All the principal lines of railroad leading 
 South were now within the reach of Sher- 
 man's forces or under their control, and 
 the ultimate result could not be doubtful. 
 It was impossible for General Johnston to 
 retreat south without danger of his army 
 breaking up through desertion, and his only 
 chance was to strongly intrench himself 
 and maintain a threatening attitude. 
 
 General Sherman felt so sure of the final 
 surrender of General Johnston, that, after 
 placing General Schofield in command of his 
 army at Goldsboro', he proceeded in the little 
 steamer "Russia" to City Point, Virginia, 
 to confer with General Grant on the situa- 
 tion, arriving on the 27th of March. Presi- 
 dent Lincoln was then on board the steamer 
 "River Queen,'' at City Point, and he re- 
 ceived General Sherman with the warmth 
 of feeling which distinguished him, for- he 
 felt that the presence of Sherman at City 
 Point was an assurance that the latter haci 
 Johnston's army in such a position that it 
 could do no further mischief. 
 
 The arrival of General Sherman brought 
 joy and confidence to every one in the 
 Army and Navy on the James River, for it 
 was understood that he now held General 
 Johnston in a position from which the lat- 
 ter could not move without precipitating a 
 battle with over eighty thousand veteran 
 soldiers, well supplied with everything nec- 
 essary, while the Confederates were badly 
 provided with provisions, clothing, and 
 even ammunition. 
 
 At one time it was thought that General 
 Johnston would endeavor to break away 
 from Smithfield and effect a junction with 
 General Lee. In the light of subsequent 
 events, this is seen to have been impossible. 
 Again, it was thought that Lee would, per- 
 haps, evacuate Richmond and make a junc- 
 tion with Johnston — a movement equally 
 impracticable, for Grant was extending his 
 left below Petersburg, and should Lee leave 
 his fortified lines Grant would follow him 
 so closely that it would be impossible for 
 him to unite with General Johnston or fall 
 on Sherman's army. Besides, with his 
 eight}^ thousand men, Sherman felt confi- 
 dent that he could hold his own against 
 Johnston and Lee combined until Grant 
 could come upon the scene with his troops. 
 
 The morning after General Sherman's 
 arrival at City Point, a council of war was 
 
 held on board the steamboat "River Queen, " 
 at which were present the President, Gen- 
 eral Grant, General Sherman and Admiral 
 Porter. As considerable controversy has 
 arisen over the terras of surrender offered 
 to General Johnston, and the truth of the 
 matter is not generally known, we will here 
 narrate what occurred on the occasion, as 
 we violate no injunction of secrecy by so 
 doing. 
 
 The principal conversation was between 
 the President and General Sherman. The 
 former stated his opinion at length. He 
 feared that General Lee, seeing the Federal 
 lines closing about him day by day, the 
 coast completely blockaded, the Confeder- 
 ate army almost destitute of clothing and 
 provisions, might attempt to break away 
 from his fortifications at Richmond, make 
 a junction with Johnston, and escape to the 
 south. This was rather an extreme view 
 to take of the matter, for, in the opinion of 
 those best qualified to judge, such an a.t- 
 tempt on the part of General Lee could not 
 have succeeded. General Sherman had 
 eighty thousand fine troops at Goldsboro', 
 only one hundred and fifty miles from 
 Richmond and one hundred and twenty 
 miles from Greensboro', at which latter 
 point the Richmond and Danville railroad, 
 the only route by which Lee could escape, 
 was cut. All this General Sherman ex- 
 plained to the President, who was somewhat 
 reassured, yet the number of shrewd ques- 
 tions propounded by Mr. Lincoln was re- 
 markable, and some of them were found 
 difl&cult to answer. His topographical 
 knowledge of the country traversed by 
 Sherman's army, as well as other military 
 matters he was not supposed to be familiar 
 with, surprised those who listened to him. 
 
 Like the rest of those present at the coun- 
 cil, the President was confident that the end 
 of the war was close at hand, and, although 
 a bloody battle might yet be fought, Rich- 
 mond must soon be in possession of the 
 Federal Government. It was the great de- 
 sire of the President to secure the surren- 
 der of the Confederate armies without fur- 
 ther loss of life, to which end he desired the 
 most liberal terms should be granted. " Let 
 them surrender and go home," he said ; 
 " they will not take up arms again. Let 
 them all go, officers and all, let them have 
 their horses to plow with, and, if you like, 
 their guns to shoot crows with. Treat them 
 liberally. We want these people to return 
 to their allegiance and submit to the laws. 
 Therefore, I say. give them the most liberal 
 and honorable terms." These sentiments 
 were worthy of the man who uttered them. 
 
 General Sherman, however, took a mili- 
 tary vievv of the situation. He had made 
 a long and toilsome march and desired to 
 reap the honors due to a victorious general. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 795 
 
 Feeling certain that the game was in his 
 own hands, he did not hesitate to differ with 
 the President, assuring the latter that he 
 had sufficient force and strength of position 
 to dictate his own terms to General John- 
 ston, and he graphically illustrated, with 
 the aid of a map. the condition of affairs 
 at Goldsboro' and Smithfield. 
 
 "All I want," said General Sherman, "is 
 two weeks' time in which to clothe my 
 soldiers I will then be ready to march 
 on Johnston and compel him to surrender. 
 He is short of everything, and in two 
 weeks would have to surrender, anyway." 
 
 "Yes," replied the President, "but two 
 weeks is a long time, and the first thing 
 you know General Johnston will have 
 gone south again with those veterans of 
 his, and will keep the war going indefi- 
 nitely. No, General, he must have no ex- 
 cuse for going away; we must have his 
 surrender at all hazards, so be easy with 
 him about terms." 
 
 " Mr. President," said General Sherman, 
 "there is no possible way for Johnston to 
 escape as he is now situated. I can com- 
 mand his unconditional surrender." 
 
 "What is to prevent Johnston from es- 
 caping with his army by the southern 
 railroads while you are fitting out your 
 men?" inquired General Grant. 
 
 "There are no southern railroads to speak 
 of," replied Sherman, "by which Johnston 
 could escape. My 'bummers' broke up 
 the roads, and did their .work too well to 
 permit them to be used by any one." 
 
 " But," said General Grant, " cannot the 
 Confederates re-lay the rails, as our troops 
 have done from Newbern to Goldsboro'?" 
 
 Sherman smiled. "No," he said, "my 
 boys don't do things by halves. They 
 make a fire of the ties, and the rails are 
 twisted until they are as crooked as rams' 
 horns; all the blacksmiths in creation 
 couldn't straighten them out again. Mr. 
 President," said Sherman, turning to Mr. 
 Lincoln, " give yourself no uneasiness ; the 
 Confederacy will collapse in a few days ; 
 we hold the line between Goldsboro' and 
 Wilmington ; my transports can come as 
 far as Newbern ; we can overrun the 
 South without hindrance ; we are masters 
 of the situation, and General Johnston 
 must surrender." 
 
 "All very well," said the President, " but 
 we must make no mistakes, and my way 
 is a sure one : Offer General Johnston the 
 same terms that will be offered Lee ; then, 
 if he will not accept them, try your plan ; 
 but as long as the Confederates lay down 
 their arms I don't think it matters much 
 how they do it. Don't let us have any 
 more bloodshed if it can be avoided. 
 General Grant is in favor of giving Gen- 
 
 " Well, Mr. President," said General Sher- 
 man, "I will carry out your wishes to the 
 best of my ability, and I am satisfied when 
 Richmond falls and Lee surrenders Gen- 
 eral Johnston will follow his example." 
 
 This ended the memorable council on 
 board the " River Queen." On what took 
 place on that occasion might depend whether 
 the Confederates would lay down their arms 
 or continue hostilities, thereby reducing the 
 South to still greater straits, if possible, 
 than it was then in. The President, being 
 desirous that General Sherman should re- 
 join his command as soon as possible, the 
 latter returned, the afternoon of the council, 
 in the U. S. steamer " Bat " to Newbern, 
 N. C. 
 
 At this day the policy of Mr. Lincoln will 
 be recognized as good, both on the ground 
 of expediency and of humanity. We wpre 
 engaged in a war, not with foreigners, but 
 against our own countrymen, with no ob- 
 ject except to vindicate the authority of the 
 Federal Government. There were no 
 knotty questions involved, it was simply a 
 question whether the Confederates could 
 carry on the war any longer, or whether 
 they would return to their allegiance. 
 Even then the Confederates were more 
 dangerous foes than a dozen European na- 
 tions would have been, although in the 
 most straitened circumstances, deficient 
 in food, clothing and forage, and even in 
 ammunition, so indispensable to an army. 
 They had still a formidable force about 
 Richmond, which, if it could effect a junc- 
 tion with Johnston's army, would offer a. 
 stout resistance under those able com- 
 manders. The Federal Government had 
 had too many proofs of the ability of the 
 Confederate generals and the gallantry of 
 their soldiers to need any further evidence, 
 and had no desire to drive them to desper- 
 ation by requiring a degrading submission 
 to its authority. The Government was now 
 in a position to display not only its military 
 strength but its magnanimity. It was 
 right that, when the soldiers of the North 
 clasped hands with those who had so long 
 and bitterlj'^ opposed them in the field, they 
 should desire to bury the past in oblivion, 
 and resume once more the bonds of frater- 
 nal affection. The example set by Presi- 
 sident Lincoln was followed by those who 
 had borne the brunt of the conflict, and had 
 learned to appreciate the courage and 
 liardihood of their late antagonists. Gen- 
 eral Grant shared in the President's desire 
 for the most liberal arrangements that 
 could be entered into for the surrender of 
 the Confederate armies ; and while Mr. 
 Lincoln had implicit confidence in Grant's 
 military abilities, he relied no less on his 
 good judgment and kind feeling, and it is 
 
 ■f r»T»f:n n Q f.o i:ViQ+. +.li^ lac+. cinf. in ^.l-io Klr\rkrl-\r 
 
796 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 drama of the civil war was under the 
 direction of the two men acting in perfect 
 accord, whose names will be handed down 
 to posterity with increase of honor as the 
 years roll by. 
 
 When General Lee surrendered at Ap- 
 pomattox the work of the North Atlantic 
 Squadron was over, for all the James River 
 region was in the hands of the Federals. 
 Up to that time the squadron in Trent's 
 Reach was quietly holding the Confederate 
 iron-clads, under the command of Raphael 
 Semmes^recently created Rear- Admiral — 
 above Drury's Bluff, where they were quite 
 harmless and would either have to be blown 
 up or surrendered. 
 
 Admiral Semmes assumed command of 
 the James River fleet on the 18th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1866, relieving Commodore J. K. 
 Mitchell. The fleet as reorganized com- 
 prised the following named vessels : 
 
 "Virginia" (iron-clad), flag-ship, four 
 guns, Captain Dunnington ; "Richmond" 
 (iron-clad), four guns, Captain J. D. John- 
 son ; "Fredericksburg" (iron-clad), four 
 guns. Captain Glasse ; "Hampton" 
 (wooden), two guns. Captain Wilson (late 
 of the "Alabama"); "Nansemond" 
 (wooden), two guns. Captain W. K. Butt ; 
 "Roanoke" (wooden) two guns, Captain 
 Police; "Beaufort" (wooden), two guns. 
 Captain Wyatt ; " Torpedo " (wooden), one 
 gun, Captain Roberts. 
 
 This fleet was assisted in the defence of 
 the river by shore batteries under command 
 of naval officers — such as Drury's Bluff 
 Battery, Battery Brooke. Battery Wood, 
 and Battery Semmes. The Confederate 
 vessels were not in the most efficient condi- 
 tion as regarded their personnel, which was 
 mostly drawn from tlie army. The real 
 difficulty in getting to Richmond with the 
 Federal gun-boats was in the heavy fortifi- 
 cations along the James River above Hew- 
 lett's Battery, the sunken torpedoes, and the 
 obstructions in the channel, which could not 
 be removed under fire. 
 
 While theFederal and Confederate forces 
 on the river were in this position. General 
 Grant was gradually enveloping Richmond 
 with his armj\ The Confederate lines in 
 the vicinity of Petersburg having been 
 weakened by the necessity of withdrawing 
 troops to defend Lee's extreme right at Five 
 Forks, General Grant, on the morning of 
 the 2d of April, ordered a vigorous assault 
 to be made on the enemy, which gave 
 the Federals possession of Petersburg, 
 and rendered Richmond no longer ten- 
 able. 
 
 The night following this success. Presi- 
 dent Lincoln went on board the flag-ship 
 " Malvern" as the guest of Admiral Porter. 
 On every hand was heard the sound of 
 artillery and musketry, showing tliat the 
 
 Federals were closing in on the Confeder- 
 ate lines. 
 
 The night before Richmond was evacu- 
 ated by the Confederate forces, the Presi- 
 dent and Admiral Porter were seated on 
 the upper deck of the flag-ship "Malvern," 
 when the President made the remark to the 
 latter : " Can't the Navy do something 
 at this particular moment to make his- 
 tory ? " The Admiral replied : " The Navy 
 is doing its best just now, holding the en- 
 emy's four heavy iron-clads in utter useless- 
 ness. If those -vessels could reach City 
 Point they would commit great havoc — as 
 they came near doing while I was away at 
 Fort Fisher. In consequence, General Grant 
 ordered the channel to be still further ob- 
 structed with stones, so that no vessel can 
 pass. We can hold the fort with a very 
 small force and prevent any one from re- 
 moving the obstructions. Therefore, the 
 enemy's ironclads are useless." 
 
 "But, can't we make a noise?" asked 
 the President. "Yes," replied the Admiral, 
 " and if you desire it I will commence." 
 
 The Admiral telegraphed to Lieutenant- 
 Commander K. R. Breese, Fleet-Captain, 
 who was just above Dutch Gap, to have the 
 vessels' guns loaded with shrapnel, to point 
 in the direction of the forts and to keep up 
 a rapid fire until directed to stop. The 
 firing commenced about 11 o'clock p.m., 
 and the President listened attentively while 
 the flashes of the guns lighted up the hori- 
 zon. In about twenty minutes a loud ex- 
 plosion shook the flag-ship and the Presi- 
 dent exclaimed : " I hope to Heaven one of 
 our vessels has not blown up ! " The Ad- 
 miral assur-ed him that the explosion was 
 much further up the river and that it was 
 doubtless one of the Confederate iron-clads. 
 A second explosion soon followed, and not 
 long after two more, which caused the Ad- 
 miral to remark : "That's all of them ; no 
 doubt the forts are evacuated and to-mor- 
 row we can go up to Richmond." 
 
 By eight o'clock the following morning 
 the work of removing the obstructions in 
 the channel was completed sufficiently to 
 allow the passage of the flag-ship, and sev- 
 eral of the smaller vessels went up the river 
 and with their boats began sweeping the 
 stream for torpedoes. It was soon discov- 
 ered that all the forts had been evacuated, 
 and nothing was to be seen of the Confed- 
 erate iron-clads except their black hulls, 
 partly out of water. 
 
 In the meantime, General Weitzel, who 
 was on the left bank of the James with a 
 large body of troops, hearing the firing of 
 the gun-boats and the explosions of the Con- 
 federate iron-clads, got all his men under 
 arms, supposing that the Federal gun-boats 
 were engaging the enemv's vessels and 
 forts. A large force of Confederates in 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 797 
 
 Weitzel's front, which barred the way to 
 Richmond, seems to have been of the same 
 opinion, and, leaving their trenches, re- 
 treated on the city. When dayliglit ap 
 peared, finding that there was no force 
 opposing him. and that the road to Rich- 
 mond was clear, Weitzel marched in and 
 took possession of the city. This was the 
 way it appeared to the Federal officers 
 present on the occasion; but we insert the 
 Confederate side of the story, as told by 
 Rear- Admiral Raphael Semmes, who cer- 
 tainly ought to have known something 
 about the matter. Admiral Semmes states 
 that when sitting down to his dinner on 
 board his flag-ship, about 4 o'clock on 
 the 3d of April, the day Grant had broken 
 through Lee's lines, a special messenger 
 brought him a letter from the Confederate 
 Secretary of the ISTavy. As Semmes had 
 not heard of the occurrences at Petersburg, 
 he was somewhat surprised at the contents 
 of this epistle, which were as follows : 
 
 COUTFEDERATB STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 Executive Office, I 
 
 Richmond, Va., April 2, 1865. \ 
 Rear-Admiral Raphael Semmes, Commanding 
 Jam,es Rive?- Squadron : 
 Sir — General Lee advises the <-TOvernment to 
 "withdraw from the city, and the officers will leave 
 this evening accordingly. I presume that General 
 Lee has advised you of this and of his movements, 
 and made suggestions as to the disposition to be 
 made of your squadron. He withdraws upon his 
 lines towards Danville this night ; and, unless 
 otherwise directed by General Lee, upon you is de- 
 volved the duty of destroying your ships this night, 
 and with all the forces under your command .ioin- 
 ing General Lee. Confer with him, if practicable, 
 before destroying them. Let your people be ra- 
 tioned as far as possible for the march, and 
 armed and equipped for duty in the field. 
 Veiy respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 S. R. Mallory, 
 Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 It was evident that Richmond was to 
 have been evacuated that night, and by a 
 curious coincidence the firing from the 
 Federal gun-boats commenced early the 
 same evening, which doubtless caused 
 Semmes to expedite his movements. He 
 signalled for all commanding officers of 
 vessels to repair on board the flag-ship, and 
 impressed upon them the importance of 
 keeping the intended operations secret, lest 
 the suspicions of the Federals might be ex- 
 cited. 
 
 Semmes remarks : "The sun was shining 
 brightly, the afternoon was calm, and 
 Nature was just putting on her spring at- 
 tire." He could not help contrasting the 
 peace and quiet of Nature "with the descrip- 
 tion of a great Government and the ruin of 
 an entire people, which was at hand : " 
 
 "So unsusx^ioious were the Government subordi- 
 nates of what was going on, that the flag-of-truoe 
 
 Federal headquarters, a few miles below on the 
 river, carrying backward and forward exchange 
 prisoners. As these boats would pass the ships-of- 
 war, filled to overflowing with the poor fellows just 
 released from Yankee prisons, broken, wan and 
 hollow-eyed, the prisoners would break into the 
 most enthusiastic cheering as they passed the Con- 
 federate flag. It seemed to welcome them home. 
 They little dreamed that it would be struck that 
 night forever, and the fleet blown into the air that 
 their own fetters had been knocked off in vain, and 
 that they were to pass henceforth under the rule of 
 the hated Yankee." 
 
 Thus mused Rear - Admiral Semmes on 
 the eve of blowing up his squadron. Cir- 
 cumstances prevented him from commu- 
 nicating with General Lee; and, seeing that 
 it was a case where every one must take 
 care of himself, Semmes determined to de- 
 stroy his vessels at once, especially as the 
 Confederate Army seemed to be setting fire 
 to everything around them, and leaving 
 in a hurry. Semmes had originally intended 
 to sink his vessels quietly, so that the Fed- 
 erals would have no idea of what was go- 
 ing on ; but soon after dark he saw the 
 whole horizon to the north of the James 
 lighted up, rendering concealment on his 
 part no longer necessary. Semmes omits 
 to mention that the Federal gun-boats were 
 thundering at the gates, which was the 
 real reason for so hastily destroying the 
 iron-clads. The officers and men were put 
 on board the small gun-boats, and at about 
 midnight the iron clads blew up, one after 
 another, with a terrific explosion, adding 
 to the grandeur of the scene already exist- 
 ing of Ijurning barracks. The shells burst- 
 ing as the fire came in contact with them, 
 the signal-rockets from both sides filling the 
 air like thousands of shooting-stars ; the 
 booming of guns in the distance, the long 
 roll of the drums calling the troops to fall 
 in, mingled with the sound of trumpets, all 
 combined to make a spectacle and an up- 
 roar as though pandemonium had broken 
 loose. It seemed as if heaven and earth 
 had united to celebrate the conclusion of a 
 struggle that had caused so much sufiiering. 
 
 That was the end of the Conf ederateNavy, 
 which went up in what might have been 
 considered a blaze of glory, but for the fact 
 that the James River fleet had been the 
 most useless force the Confederates had ever 
 put afloat — the forts, torpedoes and obstruc- 
 tions on the river being far more formid- 
 able adversaries, and quite sufficient, if 
 properly managed, to keep any hostile ves- 
 sels from ascending the narrow channel, 
 where, if one should happen to be sunk, it 
 would effectually bar the progress of those 
 behind it. 
 
 The work of the Federal Navy was all 
 over in this quarter, and those who for 
 many months had guarded the obstructions 
 in the river rejoiced when the monotonous 
 
 — 1, ,,, — ^ — ^.i,,j,.j 
 
 Ti2 1,„4.^ 
 
798 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 up, and blue lights burned, and national 
 salutes fired, the demonstration was as 
 much on account of the return of peace as 
 in honor of victory. It signalized the end 
 of that fraternal strife between people who 
 could never live apart, but who, united un- 
 der one Government, could bid defiance to 
 the world in arms. 
 
 Whether our country will profit as much 
 as it should do from past experience remains 
 to be seen; but, so far, we have not given 
 much evidence "of progress in matters per- 
 taining to the defence of our coasts and 
 the construction of a Navy adequate to pro- 
 tect the nation from foreign and domestic 
 enemies ; which latter exist in every 
 country, no matter how beneficent may be 
 its laws. 
 
 When the channel was reported clear of 
 torpedoes, a large number of which was 
 taken up. Admiral Porter proceeded up to- 
 wards Eichmond in the " Malvern, with 
 President Lincoln on board the steamer 
 "River Queen." Finally, the "Malvern" 
 grounded below the city, and the Admiral, 
 taking the President in his barge, accom- 
 panied by a tug with a file of marines, con- 
 tinued on to Richmond. 
 
 About a mile below the landing, the tug 
 was permitted to go to the relief of a party 
 in a small steamer who were caught under 
 a bridge and held by the current, and the 
 barge proceeded alone. The street along 
 the river-front was deserted, and, although 
 the Federal troops had been in possession 
 of the city some hours, not a soldier was to 
 be seen. At the landing was a small house, 
 and behind it a dozen negroes were digging 
 with spades. Their leader, an old man, 
 sprang forward exclaiming: "Bress de 
 Lord, dere is de great Messiah!" and he fell 
 on his knees before the President, his com- 
 rades following his example. The Presi- 
 dent was much embarrassed. " Don't kneel 
 to me," he said, " kneel to God onlj% and 
 thank Him for the liberty you will here- 
 after enjoj^" It was a minute or two before 
 the officers could get the negroes to leave 
 the President; but time was precious. The 
 negroes joined hands and sang a hymn, to 
 which the President listened respectfully. 
 
 Four minutes had passed since the party 
 had landed in apparently deserted streets; 
 but, now that the hymn was sung. the streets 
 seemed to be suddenly alive with the col- 
 ored race, the crowd around the President 
 became very oppressive, and it was neces- 
 sary to order the boat's crew to fix bayonets 
 and surround him to keep him from being 
 crushed. The negroes, in their ecstasy, 
 could not be made to undei-stand that they 
 were detaining tlie President, and would 
 not feel that tliey were free unless they 
 heard it from his own lips. Mr. Lincoln, 
 therefore, made a few remarks, assuring 
 
 them that they were free and giving them 
 good advice, after which the party man- 
 aged to move slowly on to the city. 
 
 Passing the Libby Prison, the President 
 paused for a moment to look at the place 
 where so many Union soldiers had dragged 
 out a dreadful existence. " We will pull 
 it down ! " shouted the crowd of poor 
 whites and negroes. " No." said the Presi- 
 dent, " leave it as a monument." 
 
 As the party slowly reached the city, the 
 sidewalks were lined with people, white and 
 black, but there was no anger on any face. 
 It was like a gala-day, and no man was 
 ever accorded a warmer welcome. The 
 heat of the weather was suffocating; the 
 President towered a head and shoulders 
 above the crowd, fanning himself with his 
 hat, and looking as if he would give the 
 Presidency for a glass of water. Now the 
 windows flew up, and eager, peering faces 
 seemed to ask : " Is this man, with soft eyes 
 and kind face, the one that has been held up 
 to us as the incarnation of wickedness, the 
 destroyer of the South ? " The city was still 
 on fire, and the smoke almost choked the 
 Presidential party. 
 
 While stopped a moment by the crowd, a 
 white man in his shirt-sleeves rushed to- 
 wards the President. When he got within 
 ten feet of him he stopped, took off his hat. 
 and cried out, "Abraham Lincoln, God 
 bless 3'ou ! you are the poor man's friend!" 
 Just after this, a beautiful girl struggled 
 through the crowd and presented Mr. Lin- 
 ' coin with a bouquet of roses. There was 
 no cheering at this, nor any evidence of 
 disapprobation, but it was evidently a mat- 
 ter of great interest, for the girl was sur- 
 rounded and plied with questions on return- 
 ing to tlie sidewalk. 
 
 What could all this mean but that the 
 people of Richmond were glad to see the 
 end of the war and the advent of a milder 
 form of Government ? They had, no doubt, 
 felt that the late Government should have 
 remained at the capital and surrendered in 
 a dignified manner, making terms for the 
 citizens, guarding their rights and acknowl- 
 edging that they liad lost the game. There 
 was nothing to be ashamed of in such a 
 surrender. Their armies had fought as 
 people never fought before, and all that was 
 wanted to make them glorious was the 
 submission of the leadei's with the troops 
 in a dignified way, while they might have 
 said: " We liave done our best to win. but 
 you are too strong for us; we pledge our- 
 selves to keep the peace." Instead of re- 
 maining to protect the citizens against 
 the ruffianism of the mob, the Confederate 
 authorities of Richmond left that to the 
 Federal troops, and no soldiers ever per- 
 formed a trust more faithfully. At the 
 moment when President Lincoln entered 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 799 
 
 the city, the majority of them were engaged 
 in putting out the fires that were started 
 by the Confederates as they left the place, 
 determined, it would seem, to destroy the 
 public works, so that the Federals could 
 derive no benefit from them. 
 
 At length, a cavalry-man was encoun- 
 tered sitting his horse and gazing at the 
 President with much interest. The Ad- 
 miral sent him at once to inform the gen- 
 eral-in-command of the arrival of the Presi- 
 dent, and to request a military escort to 
 guard him and enable him to force his way 
 through the crowd. A troop of cavalry 
 soon arrived, the streets were cleared, and 
 the President soon reached the mansion 
 just vacated by Mr. Davis, and now the 
 headquarters of Generals Weitzel and 
 Shepley. It was a modest house, comfortably 
 but plainly furnished. 
 
 A great crowd of civilians now assem- 
 bled around this house, greeting the Presi- 
 dent with loud cheers. General Shepley 
 made a speech, after which the President 
 and party entered a carriage and visited 
 the State-House, the late seat of the Con- 
 federate Congress. The building was in 
 dreadful disorder, showing the sudden 
 flight of the legislators. 
 
 After this inspection. Admiral Porter 
 urged the President to go on board the 
 " Malvern," as he began to feel the respon- 
 sibility resting on him for the care of his 
 person. The Admiral was oppressed with 
 uneasiness until he once more stood with 
 Mr. Lincoln on the deck of the flag-ship, 
 and he determined the President should go 
 nowhere again, while under his charge, 
 without a guard of marines. 
 
 That evening, at about eight o'clock, a 
 man hailed the "Malvern," which was then 
 anchored off the city, saying that he had 
 dispatches for the President. A boat was 
 sent on shore, with orders to bring the dis- 
 patches, but not the bearer of them; but re- 
 turned with neither dispatches nor man. 
 The boat officer said the person would de- 
 liver the dispatches to no one but the Presi- 
 dent himself. After some discussion, the 
 boat was sent back to bring the man on 
 board, but he had disappeared. The Admiral 
 inquired about his appearance, and from 
 the description was afterwards satisfied 
 that the pretended bearer of dispatches was 
 Wilkes Booth. Half an hour later another 
 hail came from the shore, which was not 
 more than twenty yards distant. A sailor 
 from the "Saugus" wanted to report on 
 board. There was no such vessel in the 
 fleet, though there was one of that name in 
 the Navy. A boat was sent to bring the 
 man off, but he was nowhere to be seen. 
 These circumstances made those charged 
 with the care of the President more suspi- 
 
 r*tr\fic^ e\-v-\i\ 
 
 1-1 1 T /-> »i 1 r T-v ■*» /-I /^ *^ T» t* 1 /*\ -n IT 
 
 rri ci ■{■ t~i\7- 
 
 + l,r 
 
 no one should get on board the "Malvern " 
 without full identification. The President 
 himself felt a little nervous, and that night 
 a marine kept guard at his state-room door. 
 
 Next morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr. John A. 
 Campbell, late Associate Justice of the Su- 
 preme Court of the United States, sent a 
 request to be allowed to come on board with 
 General Weitzel, to call on the President. 
 He spent an hour on board, Mr. Lincoln 
 and himself seeming to enjoy themselves 
 very much, to judge from their laughter. 
 After General Weitzel and Mr. Campbell 
 had returned on shore, Admiral Porter 
 went below, and the President said to him : 
 "Admiral, I am sorry you were not here 
 when Mr. Campbell was on board. He has 
 gone on shore happy. I gave him a writ- 
 ten permission to allow the State Legisla- 
 ture to convene in the Capitol in the absence 
 of all other governments." The Admiral 
 was astonished at this piece of information, 
 and felt that this course would bring about 
 complications. He found it all had been 
 done by the persuasive tongue of Mr. 
 Campbell, who had promised the President 
 that, if the Legislature of Virginia could 
 meet, it would vote the State right back 
 into the Union, and cause all the Virginia 
 troops to lay down their arms ; that it 
 would be a delicate compliment paid to 
 Virginia, and would be appreciated, etc. 
 General Weitzel agreed with Mr. Campbell, 
 and the President was won over to agree to 
 what would have been a most humiliating 
 thing if it had been accomplished. 
 
 When Mr. Lincoln informed the Admiral 
 that General Weitzel had gone on shore 
 with an order permitting the Legislature to 
 meet, the Admiral reminded the President 
 that the city of Richmond was under mar- 
 tial law, and that no civil authority could 
 exercise any power without the sanction of 
 the General commanding the Army. This 
 order should go through General Grant, 
 who would doubtless protest against this 
 arrangement with Mr. Campbell. 
 
 The President remarked, " Weitzel made 
 no objection, and he commands here." 
 " That is because he is Mr. Campbell's par- 
 ticular friend," replied the Admiral, "and 
 wished to gratify him." 
 
 "Run and stop them," said the President, 
 "^nd get my order back." 
 
 To make things sure, the Admiral had an 
 order signed by the President, and directed 
 to General Weitzel as follows: "Return 
 my permission to the Legislature of Vir- 
 ginia to meet, and don't allow it to meet at 
 all." An ambulance wagon was at the 
 landing, and, giving the order to an officer, 
 the Admiral said to him, " Jump into that 
 wagon and kill the horse, if necessary, but 
 catch the carriage which carried General 
 
 ~KKr r\\^rrci\ o n rl IV/Tt^ ^o -rvi TAl-\r\l 1 n t» /-I /-l/-\li 
 
 TT r\-v> T ll 1 c- 
 
800 
 
 THE NAVAL JtilSTUKY 
 
 order to the General." The carriage was 
 overtaken, the President's order was sent 
 back, and no attempt was made to induce 
 the latter to reconsider his decision. This 
 was a clever scheme on the part of Mr. Jus- 
 tice Campbell to soothe the wounded feel- 
 ings of the South, and no doubt was kindly 
 meant, but it would have created a com- 
 motion in the North. 
 
 About an hour after the departure of Mr. 
 Campbell, a man dressed in gray home- 
 spun, with a huge rough stick in his hand, 
 appeared at the landing and demanded to 
 see the President. " I am Duff Green," he 
 said; " I want to see Abraham Lincoln, and 
 my business concerns myself alone. You 
 tell Abraham Lincoln that Duff Green 
 wants to see him." The officer of the deck 
 delivered this message in the cabin, and 
 the President said, "Let him come on 
 board ; Duff is an old friend of mine, and I 
 would like to talk with him." 
 
 When Mr. Duff Green passed over the 
 side, he stood defiantly on deck, scowled at 
 the flag, then turning to Admiral Porter, 
 whom he knew very well, said : " I want to 
 see Abraham Lincoln." "When you come 
 in a respectful manner," said the Admiral, 
 "the President will see you; but throw 
 away that cord of wood you have in your 
 hand before entering the President's pres- 
 ence." 
 
 " How long is it," inquired Duff Green, 
 " since Abraham Lincoln took to aping roy- 
 alty ? Man clothed in a little brief author- 
 ity cuts such fantastic capers before high 
 heaven as make the angels weep. I expect 
 airs from a naval officer, but not from a 
 man with Abraham Lincoln's horse-sense." 
 
 The Admiral thought, and still thinks, 
 the man was crazy ; but he made Mr. Green 
 throw his stick overboard, which was done, 
 with the remark: "Has it come to that? 
 Is he afraid of assassination ? Tyrants gen- 
 erally get into that condition." 
 
 The Admiral reported all this to the Presi- 
 dent, who remarked: " Let him come down; 
 he always was a little queer ; I shan't mind 
 him." 
 
 When Mr. Green was shown into the 
 cabin, the President arose and offered him 
 his hand. " No," said Green, with a tragic 
 air, " it is red with blood ; I can't touch it. 
 When I knew it, it was an honest hand. It 
 has cut the throats of thousands of my peo- 
 ple, and their blood, which now lies soaking 
 into the ground, cries aloud to heaven for 
 vengeance. I came to see j'ou, not for old 
 remembrance' sake, but to give you a piece 
 of my opinion. You won't like it, but I 
 don't care, for people don't generally like to 
 have the truth told them. You have come 
 here, protected by your Army and Navy, to 
 gloat over the ruin and desolation you have 
 caused. You are a second Nero, and had 
 
 you lived in his day you would have fiddled 
 while Rome was burning." 
 
 When the fanatic commenced his tirade, 
 Mr. Lincoln stood with outstretched hand, 
 his mouth wreathed in a pleasant smile. 
 He was pleased at meeting an old and es- 
 teemed friend. As Duff Green started on 
 his talk, the outstretched hand was with- 
 drawn, the smile left his lips and the soft- 
 ness in the President's eyes faded out. He 
 was another man altogether. Green went 
 on without noticing the change in the Presi- 
 dent's manner and appearance: "You 
 came 'here," he continued " to triumph over 
 a poor conquered town, with only women 
 and children in it. whose soldiers have left 
 it, and would rather starve than see your 
 hateful presence here ; those soldiers — and 
 only a handful at that — who have for four 
 years defied your paid mercenari3S on those 
 glorious hills, and have taught you to respect 
 the rights of the South. You have given 
 your best blood to conquer them, and now 
 you will march back to your demoralized 
 Capitol and lay out your wits to win them 
 over so that you can liold this Government 
 in perpetuity. Shame on you ! Shame 
 on " 
 
 Mr. Lincoln could stand it no longer, his 
 hair stood on end and his nostrils dilated. 
 He stretched out his arm until his lean fore- 
 finger almost touched Duff Green's face. 
 "Stop, you political tramp," he exclaimed; 
 "you, the aider and abettor of those who 
 have brought all this ruin upon your coun- 
 try, without the courage to risk your person 
 in defence of the principles you profess to 
 espouse ! A fellow who stood by to gather 
 up the loaves and fishes, if any should fall 
 to you ! A man who had no principles in 
 the North, and took none South with him ! 
 A political hyena, who robbed the graves 
 of the dead and adopted their language as 
 his own ! You talk of the North cutting 
 the throats of the Southern people. You 
 have all cut your own throats, and unfor- 
 tunately have cut many of those of the 
 North. Miserable impostor, vile intruder ! 
 Go, before I forget myself and the high 
 position I hold ! Go, I tell you, and don't 
 desecrate this national vessel another min- 
 ute ! " 
 
 This was something Mr. Duff Green had 
 not calculated upon. His courage failed 
 him, and he fled out of the cabin, never 
 stopping until he reached the deck, where 
 he stood looking at the shore, seemingly 
 measuring the distance to see if he could 
 swim to the landing. The Admiral followed 
 close behind him. and said to the officer of 
 the deck, "Put that man on shore, and if 
 he appears in sight of this vessel while we 
 are here, have him sent awav with scant 
 ceremony." 
 
 When the Admiral returned to the cabin, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 801 
 
 fifteen minutes later, the President was 
 perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened, 
 and did not refer to the subject for some 
 hours. " This place seems to give you 
 annoyance, sir," said the Admiral ; " would 
 you prefer going to City Point, where we 
 are more among friends than here?" "Yes," 
 replied the President, " let us go. I seem 
 to be putting my foot into it here all the 
 time. Bless my soul ! how Seward would 
 have preached and read Puffendorf, Vattel 
 and Gfrotius to me, if he had been here when 
 I gave Campbell permission to let the 
 Legislature meet ! I'd never have heard 
 the last of it. Seward is a small compen- 
 dium of international law himself, and 
 laughs at my horse - sense, which I pride 
 myself on, and yet I put my foot into that 
 thing about Campbell with my eyes wide 
 open. If I were you. Admiral, I don't 
 think I would repeat that joke yet awhile. 
 People might laugh at you for knowing so 
 m^ch more than the President." 
 
 Several incorrect accounts of the Presi- 
 dent's visit to Richmond have from time 
 to time appeared in print, for which reason 
 we have inserted this narrative of Mr. 
 Lincoln's proceedings. 
 
 The President returned to Washington, 
 and with the surrender of General Lee the 
 war was virtually at an end ; so that the 
 services of the Navy in the James River, 
 with the exception of a few gun-boats, 
 could be dispensed with. The latter were 
 needed for police duty along the river and 
 to pick up stragglers from the Confederate 
 army. No one but an eye-witness could 
 realize the great change in the aspect of 
 affairs that suddenly took place. Naval 
 vessels headed down stream towards Fort- 
 ress Monroe, then to proceed to such Navy 
 Yards as they might be ordered to. Army 
 transports were hurrying to City Point 
 to remove troops and stores as might be re- 
 quired. Officers no longer wore an anxious 
 look, everywhere contentment reigned, for 
 each one was pleased that the long struggle 
 was over and there was a prospect of soon 
 seeing a united country. 
 
 Notwithstanding Rear- Admiral Semmes, 
 in his Memoirs, dilates on the joy of the 
 exchanged prisoners at once more saluting 
 the Confederate flag waving on board his 
 vessels, it is well known that the Confed- 
 erate soldiers and sailors had for a year 
 past been heartily tired of the war ; and 
 that their armies were gradually becoming 
 demoralized, as was evident from the great 
 number of desertions, which reduced Lee's 
 forces to such a small number at the sur- 
 render. Those who remained with their 
 General to the end may be compared to the 
 Old Guard of Napoleon. Yet even these 
 
 veterans were anxious to reach their homes, 
 and every one who knew anything about 
 the matter felt with Mr. Lincoln that it was 
 well to give them their horses with which to 
 plow their fields, and their nauskets to 
 shoot the crows with, for which indulgence 
 they would feel so grateful that they would 
 probably never again raise their hands 
 against the Government. 
 
 Had it been necessary to equip an army 
 for the purpose of driving the French from 
 Mexico, the very troops that had fought so 
 persistently against the Federal Govern- 
 ment would have been the foremost to vol- 
 unteer for the service, and would have been 
 preferred for the duty, since it was well that 
 such unsettled spirits should have had em- 
 ployment, and they would have had an op- 
 portunity to strike a blow for the old flag 
 which would tend to make them faithful to 
 it forever. It may, therefore, be considered 
 a misfortune that the French made their 
 exit from Mexico on the flrst demand of the 
 United States Government, for to have 
 driven them out with a combined army of 
 the blue and the gray would have contrib- 
 uted more to make our country united 
 than all the arts of politicians. 
 
 We have several days appointed during 
 the year for national observance — July 
 4th, February 22d, etc. — but there is one 
 day which brought more happiness to the 
 country than any other, which is the day 
 when peace was established between the 
 North and South, and the nation was once 
 more restored to its entirety. There should 
 be a national anniversary established to 
 commemorate the return of peace — the anni- 
 versary of the day when General Lee laid 
 down his arms with the determination 
 never to take them up again against the 
 Union, in which he was followed by Gen- 
 eral Johnston and all the other generals of 
 the Confederacy. 
 
 Such a national anniversary should not 
 be observed with any purpose of exulting 
 over those who laid down their arms and 
 returned to their allegiance, but simply to 
 commemorate the return of peace and the 
 union of the whole nation — that union on 
 which the prosperity of all the States de- 
 pends. That would be a day in which every 
 one could take part ; for he must be blind, 
 indeed, who cannot see the innumerable 
 blessings that have been poured upon our 
 country. 
 
 We join hands now over the resting-places 
 of the gallant dead and strew flowers alike 
 on the graves of the boys in blue and the 
 boys in gray. Let there, be a common An- 
 niversary, where all can clasp hands, and 
 let that be the memorable day when the 
 Confederacy laid down their arms. 
 
CHAPTER LV. 
 
 OPERATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON IN THE LATTER PART 
 
 OF 1864 AND IN 1865. 
 
 Acting Rear- Admiral S. P. Lee takes Command. — Loss of the Tin-Clad " Undine." 
 — Burning of the Gun-boats " Tow ah," "Key West" and "Elfin." — Operations, 
 of the Army under General Thomas against General Hood. — The Effective 
 Work Performed by the Squadron in Conjunction with the Army. — Destroy- 
 ing the Confederate Batteries on the Tennessee River. — General George H. 
 Thomas Compliments the Navy.— General Hood's Retreat and Losses. — The 
 Confederate Ram " Webb."— Gallantry of Lieutenant-Commander Fitch and 
 HIS Men. — End of the Confederate Navy in the Mississippi Region. — Surrender 
 OP Confederate Property at Shreveport. — List of Vessels and Officers of the 
 Mississippi Squadron, 1865. 
 
 ACTING - REAR - ADMIRAL S. P. 
 Lee, who followed Rear- Admiral 
 Porter in October, 1864, in the 
 command of the Mississippi 
 Squadron, was not fortunate on 
 his arrival in the West. 
 
 On the 4th of November, Admiral Lee 
 reports the loss of the " tin-clad" gun-boat 
 " Undine " in an engagement with the Con- 
 federates on the " Tennessee." The enemy 
 had seven pieces of artillery against the 
 gun-boat's four. 
 
 On the 4th of November the light-draft 
 gun-boats " Towah," "Key West" and 
 " Elfin " had a severe engagement with the 
 enemy, lasting several hours, when Acting- 
 Volunteer-Lieutenant E. M. King, finding 
 it impossible to save the vessels, ordered 
 them to be set on fire and abandoned. These 
 gun-boats had previously recaptured and 
 burned what was left of the " Undine" and 
 also the transport "Venus." The latter 
 and seven other transports were obliged to 
 be destroyed to prevent their falling into 
 the hands of the enemy. 
 
 The commanding officers of these light 
 gun-boats fought their vessels with great 
 bravery, but they had been sent on duty 
 that more properly belonged to iron-clads, 
 and in contending against the enemy's 
 
 (802) 
 
 works their ardor eclipsed their judgment. 
 In their desire not to dim the record of the 
 Mississippi Squadron, these officers held 
 their position longer than they should have 
 done, by which eleven steamers, including 
 transports, were given to the flames. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy Fitch, a 
 most gallant officer, was in command of 
 the 10th District, Mississippi Squadron, 
 which included the vessels destroyed. Had. 
 he been present, his good judgment would 
 have led to a different result. Fitch ar- 
 rived on the scene when the batteries of the 
 gun-boats had been mostly disabled, and to 
 have run the enemy's batteries to join the 
 
 fun-boats would only have added to the 
 isaster. So he witnessed the desperate 
 engagement from below the enemy's- 
 works, and had time to reflect on the want 
 of judgment displayed in sending such, 
 frail vessels against strong earth-works- 
 mounting rifled field-pieces in a narrow 
 river full of shoals and sand-bars. 
 
 Notwithstanding it had been evident 
 from the commencement of the civil war 
 that Tennessee was one of the prizes for 
 which the Confederacy would contend, and 
 in spite of all the trouble the Federal Army 
 and Navy had incurred to get the State un- 
 der subjection, it had again been abandoned 
 
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 803 
 
 to the tender mercies of the Confederate 
 rangers. General Thomas, with a compara- 
 tively small force, was left to occupy the 
 whole State, so that when General Sherman 
 defeated Hood, at Atlanta, the latter fell 
 back upon Tennessee, and but for the gen- 
 eralship and foresight of that sturdy old 
 Roman, George H. Thomas, a great disaster 
 would have overtaken the Union cause. 
 
 The Confederate General, Forrest, had 
 invested Johnsonville, and Hood's entire 
 army was reported as moving on that place, 
 the scene of the late destruction of the gun- 
 boats and transports. It is not likely that 
 Acting Rear- Admiral Lee had been apprised 
 of the advance of Hood's army into Ten- 
 nessee, as otherwise he would have sent 
 some iron-clads to that quarter, since the 
 " tin-clads " were entirely too light to con- 
 tend against the heavy batteries opposed to 
 them. 
 
 Soon after these events, the "Carondelet" 
 was sent to Lieutenant-Commander Fitch, 
 who, on the 3d of December, had pushed on 
 up to Nashville in the expectation of co- 
 operating with General Thomas against the 
 advancing forces of Hood. The " Caron- 
 delet," Acting-Master Charles W. Miller, 
 was stationed to assist that portion of the 
 army resting on the river, while the other 
 vessels of Fitch's command were kept in 
 readiness to move wherever they might be 
 required. During the day, Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Fitch made constant trips up and 
 down the river in the gun-boat "Moose," 
 getting everything in readiness to co- 
 operate with the Army to the best advan- 
 tage. 
 
 At 9 p. M., Fitch received intelligence 
 that the enemy's left wing had reached the 
 river and planted batteries at Bell's Mill, 
 four miles below Nashville by land, but, 
 owing to the bends in the river, eighteen 
 miles by water. It was learned that the en- 
 emy had captured two steamers, and, al- 
 though the night was dark and a storm 
 threatening. Fitch determined to recapture 
 or destroy the vessels, so that the Confed- 
 erates would derive no benefit therefrom. 
 
 The squadron moved in the following 
 order: "Neosho," Acting- Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant Samuel Howard; "Carondelet," 
 Acting-Master Charles W. Miller; "Fair 
 Play," Acting - Master Geo. J. Groves ; 
 "Moose," Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy 
 Fitch; " Reindeer," Acting-Volunteer-Lieu- 
 tenant H. A. Glassford; "Silver Lake," 
 Acting-Master J. C. Coyle. Acting-Master 
 Miller, in the "Carondelet," was directed 
 to run below the enemy's lower batteries, 
 giving them grape and canister as he 
 passed, then round-to and fight the bat- 
 teries heading up stream. The " Fair Play" 
 •r„r,r. +/^ ■f/^^l<^^J^ nlnsA t,r> t,b(=> "Ca.rondelet" 
 
 was to follow the " Moose," and the " Silver 
 Lake " was to bring up the rear. All these 
 vessels, with the exception of the "Caron- 
 delet" and "Neosho," were light gun-boats, 
 known in the vernacular of the Mississippi 
 Squadron as "tin-clads." 
 
 The vessels moved quietly down the river, 
 with no lights visible, and were not seen by 
 the enemy until the " Carondelet " opened 
 fire on his lower battery and encampment. 
 The Confederates sprang to arms, and vol- 
 ley after volley of musketry was poured 
 into the Union vessels, while the shore bat- 
 teries kept up a brisk fire. 
 
 The gun-boats responded with equal rapid- 
 ity, and. the narrow river was soon filled 
 with smoke, which caused great confusion 
 for a time, preventing the vessels from fir- 
 ing, while it was no hindrance to the en- 
 emy, who could see the position of the gun- 
 boats and kept up a galling fire upon them. 
 
 The chances of the vessels coming in col- 
 lision with each other, in the thick smoke, 
 caused Lieutenant -Commander Fitch, ia 
 his flag-ship, to back up the river past the 
 upper batteries, as that portion of the 
 stream was clear of the smoke. In per- 
 forming this manoeuvre, the " Moose" was 
 subjected to a severe fire from the enemy's 
 20-pounder rifles ; but in a short time 
 the fire of the "Moose" began to tell, and 
 the enemy were driven from their guns by 
 the shower of shrapnel. The "Reindeer," 
 now coming to the assistance of the 
 "Moose," the two vessels swept the field. 
 The "Moose" and "Reindeer" were 
 lashed side by side together, and kept up 
 the engagement through the night. The 
 enemy's fire was not well directed, most of 
 their shots passing over the vessels. The 
 latter, although a good deal cut up, were 
 not in any way disabled, and there was no 
 loss of life on board. 
 
 At about midnight the enemy ceased fir- 
 ing, and in the morning were nowhere to 
 be seen. The "Moose" then moved 
 down the stream and met the "Carondelet" 
 and " Fair Play," in company with the 
 transports the enemy had captured the day 
 before. The enemy had been driven out 
 of these vessels before they had time to de- 
 stroy them or to remove the forage and 
 stores with which they were loaded. Tlie 
 prisoners captured by the Confederates in 
 the transports escaped from their guards 
 and rejoined the vessels. 
 
 This whole affair, like everything else 
 undertaken by Lieutenant - Commander 
 Fitch, was well managed. Although his 
 command was not a large one, this young 
 officer was often mentioned for gallant and 
 efficient service, and he ever displayed 
 sound judgment, no matter in what position 
 he was placed. His officers and men, in- 
 
804 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 their bravery. The management of the ves- 
 sels on the occasion we have just mentioned 
 required great judgment and coolness to 
 avoid collision. The greatest width of the 
 stream was seventy-five yards, and it was 
 so filled with smoke that it was almost im- 
 possible to see anything. The little flotilla 
 arrived in Nashville with the two recap- 
 tured transports, "Prairie State" and 
 " PrimaDonna,'"'in tow, and also the " Mag- 
 net," which had been retaken from the 
 enemy. The loss of the Confederates in 
 their engagement with the gun-boats was 
 afterwards found to be considerable. 
 
 On the 4th of December the iron -clad 
 steamer "ZSTeosho" had joined the flotilla 
 of Lieutenant-Commander Fitch. She car- 
 ried two 11-inch smooth-bore guns and was 
 well protected against shots from field bat- 
 teries. 
 
 On the 9th of December Lieutenant- 
 Commander Fitch started down the river 
 with the " Neosho " and some of the lighter 
 gun-boats of his command, together with 
 a number of army transports. When nearly 
 abreast of the scene of the encounter of the 
 3d inst., a large force of Confederates was 
 discovered advantageously posted to dis- 
 pute the passage of the vessels. Fourteen 
 pieces of artillery at once opened on the 
 gun -boats, accompanied by heavy volleys 
 of musketry from rifle-pits. Fitch, with 
 his usual judgment, had left the transports 
 three miles in the rear under charge of 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant Glassf ord, 
 and when so furiously assailed did not hesi- 
 tate a moment what to do. He ordered the 
 pilot of the "Neosho" to proceed slowly, 
 while the enemy's fire was deliberately re- 
 turned, until the vessels arrived abreast of 
 the lower battery. Fitch then rounded-to 
 and fought with his vessel's head up stream 
 using grape and canister, while the 
 "Neosho" was receiving the concentrated 
 fire of all the enemy's batteries. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Fitch's position 
 was the only one from which he could bring 
 his guns to bear upon the different bat- 
 teries, owing to the manner in which they 
 were sheltered behind the spurs of hills. He 
 had also great faith in the " Neosho," which 
 had been built to defy the enemy's field 
 batteries. She was now in a position to 
 test her strength and to allow her to use 
 grape and canister at a distance of thirty 
 3^ards. The enemy kept up a terrific 
 cross-fire, and their sliot and shell rattled 
 against ever}^ part of the vessel ; but the 
 deliberate and accurate fire of the gun- 
 boat soon drove back the sharp-shooters 
 and infantry, although the artillery, being 
 strongly posted on the high blufiis with a 
 plunging fire, was found more difficult to 
 silence. 
 
 In a short time everything perishable on 
 
 the outside of the "Neosho" was demol- 
 ished, yet the little vessel maintained her 
 position for two hours and a half, until, 
 finding that the enemy's shells were cut- 
 ting away the " fair-weather pilot-house," 
 and letting it down so that it would hide 
 the " fighting pilot - house," and thus ob- 
 struct the sight of the commanding offi- 
 cer and pilot, Fitch, steamed up the river 
 again under a raking fire, and gained the' 
 convoy of transports. Finding it would 
 be inipossible to get the transports be- 
 low the batteries, without having them 
 cut to pieces. Fitch sent them back to Nash- 
 ville under convoy of the "Fair Play" and 
 "Silver Lake." 
 
 But Fitch was not to be balked by the 
 Confederate batteries as long as his am- 
 munition lasted. He set all hands to work 
 to clear away the debris, and then pro- 
 ceeded down the river to his old position, 
 taking with him the " Carondelet," a ves- 
 sel which had withstood the tempest of 
 shot and shell from Forts Henry. Donelson, 
 Vicksburg and Grand Gulf. Having secured 
 the "Carondelet" to the bank above the 
 enemy's batteries, with orders not to open 
 fire until after the "Neosho" should en- 
 gage, Fitch, in the latter vessel, proceeded 
 below the Confederate batteries, rounded-to, 
 and opened as before. 
 
 As on the former occasion, the enemy 
 opened also, but this time they got the 
 worst of it, the " Carondelet," with her 
 heavy guns, dealing destruction right and 
 left. Two of the enemy's pieces were soon 
 dismounted, and by dark all but two of 
 them were silenced. These were fired as 
 the "Neosho" proceeded up stream, there 
 being nothing more for her to do. 
 
 This event is mentioned as an exhibition 
 of pertinacity and courage seldom equalled. 
 The gallant Fitch never shrunk from the 
 performance of any duty however hazard- 
 ous. He was always under fire whenever 
 opportunity offered, not owing to chance 
 circumstances, to which sluggards often at- 
 tribute a man's reputation for heroism, but 
 to a determined will. This gallant officer 
 gained little promotion for his war services, 
 and his highest recognition was a compli- 
 mentary letter from the Secretary of the 
 Navy on the occasion when he brought 
 about the capture of General John Morgan, 
 the celebrated Confederate partisan leader. 
 In the engagement with the Confederate 
 batteries, the "Neosho" was struck one 
 hundred and ten times with shot and 
 shell, ranging in size from 50 to 30 
 pounders, but she received no injury that 
 would have prevented her frona going into 
 battle immediately afterwards. 
 
 From the 7th to the 15th of December, 
 1864, Lieutenant-Commander Fitch's little 
 flotilla was most active in co-operating with 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 805 
 
 the Army, making reconnoissances and at- The efficient co-operation of the Navy on 
 tacks on Confederate batteries whenever the Tennessee River, in fact, contributed 
 they showed themselves along the river, largely to the demoralization of General 
 On the 14th inst., ITitch was requested to Hood's forces, as the gun-boats chased the 
 co-operate with the Army in order to cap- Confederates along the banks and gave them 
 ture some artillery. By a very skillful no rest. For thirtv days and nights the 
 manoeuvre on the part of the Army and officers of the gun-boats had very little rest, 
 Kavy, a battery of four guns was captured, such was their zeal in their effort to defeat 
 While the Navy were advancing in front, Hood's army, which had come so far to be 
 the cavalry surrounded and captured the beaten, and was never again able to make 
 battery. In the afternoon the same tactics headwav against the Federal forces, 
 were successful against- another battery of In this important campaign the following 
 four guns, which fell into the hands of the was achieved by the Federal army : Four- 
 Federal cavalry. The loss of these guns teen thousand Confederates killed, wounded, 
 was a severe blow to General Hood at that and prisoners, including nineteen general 
 moment, for he was deficient in artillery officers, seventy guns captured, over three 
 
 thousand stand of arms taken, twenty am- 
 munition wagons, and a great quantity of 
 ammunition. The only reason that pre- 
 vented the capture of the whole Confeder- 
 ate army was the wretched condition of the 
 roads, which prevented any rapid pursuit. 
 The Confederates were also greatly aided 
 by the water falling in the river, preventing 
 the gun-boats from reaching Muscle Shoals, 
 the point were Hood crossed the Tennessee. 
 All along the river, where the vessels of the 
 Navy could penetrate, the destruction of 
 pontoons and ferry fiats was immense, so 
 that the main body of the Confederate 
 Army was forced to push on to the Shoals be- 
 fore they could cross the Tennessee. This de- 
 struction extended from twelve miles below 
 Florence for a distance of one hundred and 
 seventy-five miles, and enabled the Federal 
 troops to cut off large portions of Hood's 
 demoralized army, and filled the woods 
 with Confederate stragglers. 
 
 Anything which bears the signature of 
 that glorious hero. General George H. 
 !i Thomas, will ever be interesting, and a 
 compliment from him paid to the Navy will 
 be appreciated. General Thomas immedi- 
 ately telegraphed to Acting-Rear-Admiral 
 Lee the result of his operations against 
 General Hood, and expressed his thanks for 
 the aid the Army had received from the 
 naval flotilla on the Tennessee : 
 
 SURGEON NINIAN PINKNEY, FLEET SURGEON, MISSISSIPPI 
 SQUADRON. 
 
 In this expedition the Federals found them- 
 selves, on the 15th inst., in possession of the 
 field. 
 
 Throughout the long and harassing opera- 
 tions which followed the invasion of Hood 
 into Tennessee, the Navy co-operated most 
 zealously with the Army, patrolling the 
 river, destroying Hood's pontoons, and con- 
 veying troops from point to point in the 
 gun-boats in the absence of other means of 
 transportation. In this way General A. J. 
 Smith, that gallant officer of the Red River 
 expedition, was enabled to effect a secure 
 
 United States Military Telegraph, \ 
 Paducah, Kentucky, Dec. 30, 1864 ( 
 
 [By telegraph from Headquarters Department 
 Cumberland, Pulaski, Dec. 29, 186i.] 
 
 Sir— Your two telegrams have been received. 
 We have been pressing the worii as hard as tho 
 condition of the roads would permit, and have suc- 
 ceeded in taking some few prisoners — probably 
 some five or six hundred— since the enemy crossed 
 Duck River. From the best information I have at this 
 time, Hood's losses since he invaded the State of Ten- 
 nessee sum up as follows : Six (6) general oflBcers 
 killed, six (6) wounded and one (1) taken prisoner at 
 Frankhn— thirteen in all, and about six thousand 
 (6,000) men killed, wounded and taken prisoners at 
 same battle. On the 8th instant, at Murfreesboro', he 
 had one (1) general officer wounded, about one 
 thousand (1 000) men killed, and two hundred and 
 
806 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 artillery. In the battles of the 1st and 16th instant, 
 before Nashville, he had one (1) lieutenant-general 
 severely wounded, one (1) major-general and three 
 (3) brigadier-generals, with four thousand four hun- 
 dred and sixty-two (4 462) officers and men made 
 prisoners, besides losing fifty-three (53) pieces of 
 artillery and over three thousand (3,000) stand of 
 small-arms. 
 
 During his retreat we have captured fifteen (15) 
 more guns, and from fifteen hundred (1,500) to two 
 thousand (3,000) prisoners, and a large number of 
 sinafl-arms have been picked up by the way. Citi- 
 zens report that he passed this place with his army 
 completely disorganized, except the rear - guard, 
 composed of about five thousand (5,000) men. He de- 
 stroyed a considerable quantity of ammunition at 
 this place, besides abandoning an ammunition-train 
 of fifteen U5 1 or twenty (20 ) wagons about a mile be- 
 yond. Your official co-operation on the Tennessee 
 River has contributed largely to the demoralization 
 of Hood's army. 
 
 Major-General A. J. Smith, commanding detach- 
 ment of the Army of the Tennessee, will probably 
 reach Clifton by Sunday next, January 1, 1865, 
 where transports are expected to meet him to take 
 his command to Eastport. 
 
 Please afford him every assistance in your power 
 in effecting a secure lodgment at Eastport ; and as 
 I consider the " Cumberland " now entirely safe, I 
 will be obliged to you if you will have a strong 
 force kept in the "Tennessee " to keep open naviga- 
 tion on that river. In concluding this telegram, it 
 gives me great pleasure to tender to you, your offi- 
 cers and men, my hearty thanks for your cordial 
 co-operation during the operations of the past 
 thirty days. 
 
 G. H. Thomas, 
 Major-Qeneral. 
 Rbab-Admibal 8. P. Lbb, 
 
 Commanding Mississippi Hqiiadron, Chicka- 
 saw, Alabama. 
 
 These were about the last important 
 events in the history of the Mississippi 
 Squadron, as the war was now drawing 
 rapidly to a close. The retreat of Hood 
 left the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers 
 comparatively free from Confederates, and 
 there was little prospect of another in- 
 vasion of the State while G-eneral Thomas 
 remained in command. The vessels of the 
 Mississippi Squadron were scattered along 
 the great river, where the guerillas still 
 carried on their operations on a small scale. 
 Very little occurred that could embellish 
 the pages of history. The Red River region 
 was revisited, the Washita and Black 
 Rivers patrolled, and every precaution taken 
 to guard those inland waters. 
 
 At this time the Confederate ram " Webb " 
 succeeded in making her way past all the 
 vessels of the fleet and reached a point 
 twenty-five miles below New Orleans, where 
 she was destroyed, as we have heretofore 
 mentioned. This episode created quite an 
 excitement in the fleet for the time, but it 
 appears that no one was to blame for the 
 "Webb" getting so far down the river 
 unharmed. The dash of the " Webb " 
 was the last affair of the expiring Confed- 
 erate Navy, and the last attempt to carry 
 out a valuable cargo of cotton and naval 
 stores ; which, had it been left on the 
 
 levee at Shreveport, La., a few days longer, 
 could have been shipped to New Orleans, 
 openly insuring the owners a good profit. 
 
 The Confederate naval officer in command 
 at Shreveport, Lieutenant J. H. Carter, 
 notified the U. S. naval authorities at the 
 mouth of Red River that he was ready to 
 surrender to the United States Government 
 all the property in his possession, consist- 
 ing of one useless iron-clad and a quantity 
 of naval stores. Twenty -four. officers and 
 eighteen men surrendered themselves and 
 were paroled, and that was the last of the 
 Confederate Navy in the Mississippi region. 
 
 When Lieutenant - Commander W. E. 
 Fitzhugh proceeded to Shreveport to take 
 possession of the Confederate naval prop- 
 erty at that place, he was received in a 
 friendly manner, and all seemed anxious 
 that he should secure everything that had 
 belonged to the Confederate Government. 
 Above Alexandria, the few ravages made 
 by the invasion of General Banks' army had 
 been obliterated, and the people were living 
 quietly on their farms, although deprived 
 of many comforts to which they had 
 been accustomed. They were delighted 
 at the return of peace, and in their hearts, 
 no doubt, welcomed the Union flag as an 
 old and well-tried friend. They saw in the 
 Union gun-boats the symbols of lawful 
 authority, that would respect the rights of 
 citizens and punish law-breakers; and so 
 conscious were the civil authorities on Red 
 River that it was necessary to have within 
 reach the strong arm of power, that they 
 requested a sufficient naval force should be 
 stationed in their vicinity to overawe the 
 malcontents, if there should be any, and 
 assure those anxious to return to their al- 
 legiance that they should receive protec- 
 tion. 
 
 As a rule, however, the people of Louis- 
 iana were only too glad to lay down their 
 arms and return to the pursuits of peace. 
 Many of them had seen, from the time when 
 the Navy obtained possession of the Missis- 
 sippi and its tributaries, that it would be 
 useless to contend against the power of the 
 North. It is true that the Confederate 
 forces in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas 
 showed an indomitable spirit in resisting 
 the advance of the Federal armies, j^et they 
 received a sufficient number of checks to 
 convince them that the subjugation of the 
 \yhole country was merely a question of 
 time. 
 
 It is a fact, which has been little com- 
 mented on, that at least three hundred and 
 fifty thousand soldiers from the slave 
 States fought on the side of the Union, and, 
 had Texas and Western Louisiana been 
 securely held, there would have been a 
 number of recruits in that quarter ob- 
 tained for the Federal Army. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 807 
 
 MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, JANUARY, 1865. 
 
 Acting Rear-Admieal, Samuel P. Lee, Commanding. 
 
 Staff— LiEUTBNANT-CoMMANDEB C. A. Babcock, Acting-Fleet-Captain ; Lieutenant F. J. Naile, 
 Flag-Lieutenant ; Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, William G. Saltonstall ; Fleet-Sub- 
 
 GEOK, NiNIAN PiNKNEY ; FLEBT-PATMASTEB, ElISHA W. DUNN ; FLEET-BNGINEER, SAMUEL BiCK- 
 
 erstaff; Acting-Master, C. R. Knowles ; Acting Ensigns, Wm. R. Cooper and C. C. Gushing. 
 
 " ESSEX " — FOUKTH-BATB. 
 
 Commander, Andrew Bryson; Acting-Volunteer- 
 Lieutenant, J. C. Parker; Acting- Ensigns, Spencer 
 Johnson, E. M. Wood and J. H. Barry ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. A. Whitesides and R. D. Punch; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Thomas Allan; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Chas. W. Slamm; Engineers: 
 Acting-Chief, Joseph K. Heap; Acting-First- Assist- 
 ■ant, J. L. Hilliard; Acting-Second-Assistants, E. P. 
 Spragueand C. H. Burt; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 Ifieholas Sauer; Gunner, Charles Earnshaw; Acting- 
 darpenter, Geo. H. Stevens. 
 
 ' BENTON 
 
 -POTJKTH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, E. Y. McCauley; Acting- 
 Master, W. J. Lees; Acting-Ensigns, P. H. Randolph 
 and P. Frazer, Jr. ; Acting-Master's Mates, William 
 Kisnei, Hiram Simonton, A. T. Bisel, R. L. Evans 
 And Henry Clifton ; Assistant Surgeon, C. J. S. 
 Wells ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, C. J. Lowndes; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, Joseph V. Starr; Actiug- 
 First-Assistants, H. W. Fairfowl and S. L. Walkin- 
 ;shaw; Acting-Second Assistants, Oliver Bray, A. A. 
 JenkS and B. A. Farmer; Acting-Third -Assistant, 
 William Hatfield; Acting-Carpenter, Richard Ratch- 
 ford. 
 
 " MANHATTAN " — FOUKTH-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Edw. C. Grafton; Act- 
 ing- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Robert B. Flv; Acting- 
 Ensigns, G. B. Mott, J. B. Trott, C. H. Sinclair and 
 J. L. Harris; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. W. 
 Mitchell ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, H. G. 
 Thayer; Engineers: Acting-Chief, C. L. Carty; Aot- 
 ing-Second-Assistants, W. H. Miller, J. B. Ferrand 
 And Thomas Finnie. 
 
 "CHOCTAW '' — THIRD-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, J. J. Cornwell ; Acting- 
 IMaster, Ezra C. Beaman; Acting-Ensigns, M. B. 
 Jiluncy and H. C. Marsh; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 A. V. Forgey, E. F. Crane and James Stoddard; 
 Assistant Surgeon, Edw. Kershner • Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, E. jS^. Whitehouse; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Chief, N. P. Baldwin; Acting-First-Assistants, 
 C. E. Arbuthnot and J. Blake; Acting-Second - 
 Assistants, J. F. Stone and H. G. Moreland; Acting- 
 Third Assistant, S. C. Babbitt ; Acting-Carpenter, 
 John A. Stuart. 
 
 'LAFAYETTE' 
 
 -FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James P Foster; Act- 
 ing-Masters, J. R. Neeld, F. G. Sampson and J. H. 
 Welsh; Acting-Ensigns, Paul Morgan and C. H. 
 Slocum; Acting-Master's Mates, S. O. Lovell, Wm. 
 E. Atkins and Edw. C. Eraley; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, D. Haj^den; Acting-Assistant- Pay master, 
 J. P. K.elly; Engineers: Acting-Chief. Robert Tate; 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, James Wilkins, J. W. 
 Paul and E. H. Kidd; Aeting-Third-Assistant, A. A 
 J6hnson ; Acting-Gunner, Geo. Price ; Acting-Car- 
 penter, J, W. Lister. 
 
 "BLACK hawk'' — THIED-RATB. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, James A. Greer; Acting 
 Masters, Edw. Alford and Henry Baker ; Acting En- 
 signs, C. A. Calvert, R. T. Howell, J. A. Jones, J. O. 
 
 Baker, A. S. Ludlow, D. A. Boies, A. H. Ahrens 
 and Jay Nyman ; Passed-Assistant-Surgeon, Michael 
 Bradley; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, C. H. Kirk- 
 endall; Second Lieutenant of Marines, P. L. Church; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, Geo. W. Walker; Acting- 
 First - Assistant, O. G. Richey ; Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, C. B. Adams ; Acting-Third - Assistants, 
 W. B. Richey and J. W. CasseU ; Gunner, John R. 
 Halt; Acting-Carpenter, Noah Dean. 
 
 " sybil" — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, John G. Mitchell; Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. W. Atkinson; Acting- 
 Ensigns, John McCleane and Wm. Hammett, Jr.; 
 Acting-Master'sMates, J. R. Hugle, H. B. Sprague, 
 W. H. Smith and W. W. Rumsey; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, H. A. Bodman; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, T. B. Reed ; Engineers : Acting-First-Assistant, 
 Samuel Tubbs; Acting - Second - Assistant, F. G. 
 Seavey ; Acting-Third- Assistant, W. M. Piercy. 
 
 " NEOSHO"— FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Robert Boyd, Jr.; Act- 
 ing-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Samuel Howard; Acting- 
 Master, E. F. Brooks; Acting -Ensigns, James 
 Downs and W. P. Higbee; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 C. C. Royce and C. T. Rees; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, M. A. Miller ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 W. H. Byrm; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. MUls; 
 Acting -First- Assistant, W. C. Sanford; Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, J. S. Miles; Acting- Third- Assistants, 
 J. F. Humphrey, W. H. Dunning and M. C. Noland, 
 Acting- Gunner, W. T. Devlan. 
 
 " LOUISVILLE '' — FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, George Bacon ; Acting- 
 Master, H. D. Cofianberry; Acting-Ensigns, R. H. 
 Langslands, Geo. V. Mead and Chas. Smith; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. J. Drew,W. H. English and J. T. 
 Hensley; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, W. R. Semans; 
 Engineers: Acting-Chief, Isham J. Hardy; Acting- 
 First- Assistant, C. W. Reynolds ; Acting- Second- 
 Assistant, C. F. Degelman; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 L. A. Salade ; Acting-Carpenter, James McKuen. 
 
 'TENNESSEE 
 
 -FOURTH RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander, Edward P. Lull ; Acting- 
 Master, C.W. Adams; Acting-Ensigns, W.W. Duley, 
 A. A. Ward and J. J. P. Zettiok; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, Henry Wyman, Thos. Kennedy and J. Cana- 
 day ; Assistant Surgeon, W. H. Jones ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, P. H. Tawo ; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-First-Assistants, W. C. Perry and Chas. Chad- 
 wick; Second- Assistant, F. C. Goodwin; Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, B. D. Mulligan; Acting-Third -As- 
 sistants, W. J. Mack and D. S. Clarke. 
 
 '■ MOOSE"— FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander, LeRoy Pitch ; Acting- 
 Master, W. C. Coulson; Acting- Ensigns, John Revell, 
 D. B. Dudley and Isaac Wiltse; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, Daniel Molony, O. W. Miles and W. S. Hol- 
 den; Assistant Surgeon, W. M. Reber; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Jas. W. Clark; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-Chief, Wm. D. McFarland; Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Thos. N. Hall; Acting-Second-Assistant, Chas. 
 
808 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 " ODIOHITA"— POTJETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant - Commander Byron Wilson; Acting- 
 Master, Eugene Zimmerman- Acting-Ensigns, M. M. 
 Wheeler, R. T. Lamport and J. W. Adams; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, Rivers DraKe, E. P. Marshall, A.W. 
 Widup, S. A. Park and J. H. Moss ; Acting-Asistant 
 Surgeon, Geo. E. Francis; Acting Assistant Pay- 
 master, J. R. Meeker; Engineers: Acting - Chief, 
 Thos. Hebron; Acting - First - Assistants, John 8. 
 Moore; Acting-Second-Assistants, G. T. Wilson and 
 A. H. Tyler; Acting-Third-Assistants, Thos. Reed 
 and F. A. Morse; Acting-Carpenter, Richard Nisbet. 
 
 " GENERAL BDENSIDE "— FOtTETH-EATB. 
 
 Lieutenant, Morean Forrest ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 David Putman; Acting- Master's Mates, Roddie 
 Reynolds, Francis McGlincey, W. C. Mudge, Louis 
 Hartlet, Hans Trulsen and Edw. McGaughey ; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, R. J. Curtis; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Geo. I). Rand; Engineers; Acting- 
 First-Assistant, Benj. Chester; Acting- Second- As- 
 sistant, Wm. W. Smith; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 J. G. Burkley and Jos. Walter. 
 
 ' ' OSAGE " — rOUBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, George W. Rogers; 
 Acting-Master, Wm. S. Pease; Acting-Ensigns, W. J. 
 Durney and Arthur O'Leary ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 John C. Winslow and R. W. Rogers; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, J. R. Bowler; Engineers: Aoting- 
 Cliief, Thos. Doughty; Acting-First- Assistant, R.J. 
 Stone; Acting-Second-Assistants, W. C. Gabbrith 
 and Wm. Grant; Acting -Third - Assistants, Wm. 
 Burke and J. M. Wilson; Acting-Carpenter, C. C. 
 Gilliland. 
 
 " OAEONDELET "— FOUKTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer -Lieutenant, Chas. P. Clark; 
 Acting-Master, C. W. Miller; Acting-Ensigns, Oliver 
 Donaldson, S. D. Jordan and T. A. Quinn- Acting- 
 Master's Mates, L. W. Hastings, W. H. H. DeGroot, 
 Geo. F. Bean, Wm. J. Fraks and W. D. McKean, 
 Jr.; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, D. Curtis; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, G. W. Robertson; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, Chas. H. Caven; Acting-Second-As- 
 sistants, Michael Norton and W. S. Barlow; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, John McWilliams and Thomas 
 Mattingly; Acting-Carpenter, Geo. W. Kenny. 
 
 ' • CHIIiIiIOOTHE "- -FOUKTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Geo. P. Lord; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. M. Holmes; Acting-Ensigns J. D. 
 Buckley, H. A. Hannon, H. Shoemaker and R. H. 
 Day; Acting-Master's Mates, W. S. Thomas, James 
 Harrington and JohnH. Ely: Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, G. C. Osgood; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. H. Hathaway; Engineers : Acting-Chief, A. W. 
 Hardy; Acting-First- Assistant, Chas. Trotter; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistants, J. W. Hymen alid Anthony 
 Lane; Acting-Third-Assistant, J. W. Ferrell; Act- 
 ing-Gunner, Wm. E. Keyes; Acting-Carpenter, J. H. 
 Fink. 
 
 ' ' AVENGER " — rOTJETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Charles A. Wright; 
 Acting-Ensigns, John Gregg, J. H. Neely and John 
 Maloney; Acting - Master s Mates, Henry Walters, 
 J. D. Moore and B. W. Perry; Acting Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. H. Moses; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, 
 J. W. Van Cleve, Jr.; Engineers: Acting - Chief, 
 John G. Scott; Acting-First-Assistant, J. A. Burns; 
 Acting-Second-Assistant, 8. S. Patterson; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, Wm. Jayne and Thomas McGar- 
 rity ; Acting-Carpenter, Benj. H. Brink. 
 
 " EXCHANGE " — FOUETH-KATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James C. Gipson; 
 Acting-Ensigns, C. L. Meany and R. W. Brown; 
 Acting-Master's Mates. G. T. Miller, B. F. Saunders 
 and J. W. Clawson; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, E. M. 
 Goodwin; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. Davis, 
 Jr.; Engineers: Acting-First- Assistant, A. G. Per- 
 
 kins; Acting-Second-Assistant, C. C. Streepey; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistant, B. F. Graham. 
 
 ' PITTSBURGH ' 
 
 -FOUETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant -Commander, Wm. 
 R. Hoel; Acting-Master, S. B. Coleman; Acting-En- 
 signs, James Ovatt and Freeman Vincent; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, John Scott, C. B. Jones and F. M. 
 McCord: Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. M. Follett, 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Charles H. Gould; En- 
 gineers : Acting-Chief, Geo. H. Atkinson; Acting- 
 Pu'st- Assistant, E. R. Pavy; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ants, W. H. Mitchell and Robert Milby; Acting- 
 Gunner, P. C. Green; Acting-Carpenter, Wm. C. 
 Boggs. 
 
 " EEIKDEEE " — FOUETH-RATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer - Lieutenant, H. A. Glassford ; 
 Acting-Master, JohnH. Rice; Acting-Ensigns, C.W^ 
 Spooner and 'T. M. Lewis ; Acting - Master's Mates, 
 G. S. Upton, E. Gasaway and W. H. Burton; Act 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Jordan; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, W. W. Barry; Engineers : Acting- 
 First-Assistant, A. H. Bagby; Acting Second-As- 
 sistant, N, Conner; Acting-Third-Assistant, G. M. 
 Hayman. 
 
 ' ' TAYLOR " — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, Fred'k S. Hill; 
 Acting- Masters, W. T. Power and Charles Ackley; 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. W. Lalor and W. H. C. Michael; 
 Acting- Master s Mates, W. P. Eakle and H. S. 
 Allen; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, Saml Menden- 
 hall; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, Geo. H. Holt; 
 Engineers : Acting-Chief, James Fleming; Acting- 
 First-Assistant, J. R. Ramsey; Acting-Second-AS- 
 sistants, Wm. Furck and Philip Sheridan; Acting- 
 Third - Assistants, Walter Mossington and S. H. 
 Lancaster; Acting-Carpenter, J. M. Peabody. 
 
 ' TINDICATOE 
 
 -THIED-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, Henry H. Gorringe; 
 Acting-Masters, J. F. Reed and D. P. Slattery; 
 Acting-Ensigns, W. Zimmerman, B. C. Wheeler and 
 J. W. Foster; Acting- Master's Mates, L. C. Ball,. 
 John Davis, Lewis Lehman, Henry Kane and A. A. 
 King; Acting - Assistant Surgeon, C. E. Vaughn; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. W. Hanson; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, Thomas Cook; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Chas. Tistandt, Anthony Courtway and 
 James O'Neil ; Acting -Third- Assistants, S. H. Bro- 
 gan, Andrew Lusk and John Link; Acting-Gunner» 
 Wm. H. Barton; Acting-Carpenter, James Trulty. 
 
 " HASTINGS " — FOURTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, J. S. Watson; Act- 
 ing-Master, Wm. Neil; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. Reed 
 and Jas. McDonald ; Acting- Master's Mates, E. C. 
 Urner and W. H. Gray ; Assistant Surgeon, James 
 M. Flint; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, P. J. Stone, 
 Jr.; Engineers: Aeting-First-Assistant, H. L. Juce; 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, Edwin Senior and An- 
 drew Wilson ; Acting-Third- Assistants, A. M. Was- 
 son and Geo. W. Amsden. 
 
 "FOREST EOSE "— FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, A. N. Gould ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, H. B. Graves, C. W. Johnston and 
 Geo. G. Cox ; Acting-Master's Mates, Ira Athearn. 
 C. W. Crooker and J. M. Stewart; Acting- Assistant 
 Surgeon, R. Cadwallader ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, A. J. Myers; Engineers: Acting - First- 
 Assistant, Francis Marsh ; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, Joseph Kennedy; Acting-Third- Assistant, Silas 
 Huskey. 
 
 " ST. CLAIE " — FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, James S. French; 
 Acting-Ensigns, Joseph Sawyer, W. A. Burchard 
 and H. O. Proctor; Acting -Master's Mates, W. S. 
 Culbertson. James Reid and W. T. Ross ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, E. H. Johnson; Engineers: 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 809 
 
 Acting-First- Assistant, Wm. McLean ; Acting-Sec- 
 ond-Assistant, Edward Lozier; Acting-Tliird-Assist- 
 ant, Mieliael J. Soden. 
 
 " IiEXIN»TON" — POUBTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer • Lieutenant, William Flye • 
 Acting - Ensigns, Henry Booby, J. G. Megler, 
 C. C. Briggs and .Howard Hale ; Acting - Mas- 
 ter's Mates, O. W. Botten and Ezra McDunn ; 
 Acting - Assistant Surgeon, H. M. Mixer ; Acting- 
 Assistant PaA^niaster, T. Doane; Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, W. H. Meredith ; Acting - First - Assistant, 
 A. L. Mann ; Acting - Second - Assistant, Reuben 
 Story; Acting -Third -Assistants, Jacob Vittinger 
 and Wm. T. Neal; Acting-Gunner, Louis Frederick; 
 Acting-Carpenter, R. Can-oil. 
 
 ' CINCINNATI 
 
 -FOURTH-BATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieu tenant, Jason Goudy; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. B. Williams; Acting-Ensigns, Walter 
 Pinner and S. J. Benight ; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 J. G. Abbott, A. B. Allen and J. B. A. Conant; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, E. Dayton ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, J. R. Carmody ; Engineers : Acting- 
 Chief, J. W. Hartuper ; Acting-First- Assistant, E. D. 
 CoUett ; Acting - Second - Assistants, T. Guernsey 
 and G. W. Dean ; Acting- Third-Assistants, Andrew 
 Bolandand John Henry; Acting-Gunner,L. K. Ellis; 
 Acting-Carpenter, John Cronan. 
 
 " NATJMKBAG"— rOTJRTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, John Rogers ; Act- 
 ing-Ensigns, Thos. Cadwell; Acting-Master s Mates, 
 Alex. Procter, H. R. Ferris and J. P. Popejoy; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Edgar L. R. Draper; Acting- 
 Assistant-Paymaster, Henry B. Mears ; Engineers : 
 Aoting-First-Assistant, Edward Cage ; Acting-Sec- 
 ond - Assistant, J. A. McCormick ; Acting - Third- 
 Assistant, J. R. Byland. 
 
 "POET HINDMAN "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, John Pearoe ; Act- 
 ing - Master, J. J. Rogers ; Acting - Ensigns, N. T. 
 Rennell and Chas. Marsden ; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 
 C. F. A. McCord, S. N. Barker and E. C. Ellis ; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, N. L. Gerould ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. R. Bowler ; Engineers : 
 Acting-First-Assistant, Thos. Girty; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, John Coock ; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 
 D. B. Cox, Eli Powell and R. Yocum. 
 
 " BEILIiIANT " - POrBTH-EATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Chas. G. Perkins ; 
 Acting-Master, G. D. Little ; Acting-Ensign, N. F. 
 Vaughan; Acting-Master's Mate, C. D. Griggs ; Act- 
 ing - Assistant Surgeon, Milton James ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, B. Page ; Engineers : Acting- 
 First - Assistant, W. E. Willey ; Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, Jas. Cutler; Acting-Third- Assistant, C. W. 
 Egster and R. M. Myers. 
 
 " OZAEK" — POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting -Volunteer -Lieutenant, Geo. W. Brown; 
 Acting-Master, John Powell ; Acting-Ensigns, Jos. 
 Moyer, C. M. Bragg and C. M. Puller; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, N. T. Brown, G. A. Ege and D. C. Fra- 
 lick ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, F. T. Gillette ; 
 Engineers : Acting-First- Assistants, J. H. Everhart 
 and A. J. Sypher ; Acting-Second- Assistants, J. L. 
 Parsons and G. M. Baker; Acting-Third- Assistants, 
 C. Beal and Southwell Lyon; Acting Gunner, J. F. 
 Riblett ; Acting-Carpenter, H. J. Ervin. 
 
 " PBOSTA "— POUBTH BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, J. E. Smith; Act- 
 ing-Master, J. L. Bryant ; Acting-Ensigns, C. H. 
 Gullick, R. T. Nelson, J. W. Richards and W. W. 
 Phillips; Acting - Master's Mates. E. A. Dumont ; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, Isaac T. Coates ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, J. C. Spalding ; Engineers : 
 
 jack; Acting-Second-Assistant, T. M. Sloan; Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, G. W. Marfleld ; Acting-Carpenter, 
 m. Reid. 
 
 " JULIBT" — POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Volunteer-Lieutenant, Thos. B. Gregory ; 
 Acting - Ensign, E. C.Williams; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, G. A. Gregory, J. 8. McCoy, G. W. Ball and 
 W. M. Mullen ; Actmg - Assistant Surgeon, W. W. 
 Wentworth ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. Linsly, 
 Jr., Engineers: Acting -First- Assistant, W. H. 
 Hardin ; Acting - Second - Assistant, J. G. Briggs ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, Thomas Hanna. 
 
 " KENWOOD " — POUETH BATE. 
 
 Acting - Volunteer - Lieutenant, John Swaney ; 
 Acting-Ensigns, J. C. Weeks, J. L. Reed and ISf. H. 
 Conklin; Acting- Master's Mates, M. M. Yorstonand 
 W. R. Moffatt ; Acting-Assistant Paymaster, D. W. 
 Van Houten ; Engineers : Aoting-First-Assistant, 
 T. J. Mallon ; Acting - Second - Assistant, W. J. 
 Milligan ; Acting-Third- Assistant, J. H. Holman. 
 
 " INDIANOliA "—POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer-Lieutenant, James Lanning. 
 
 " GENEEAL BEAGG " — POUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer- Lieutenant, Cyrenius Deminey ; 
 Acting - Master, W. L. Holcomb ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 M. Houston and F. H.Waite; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 James Williams, C. L. Chapman and Wm. Dickson; 
 Acting- Assistant Surgeon, F. A. Castle; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, L. C. Stebbins ; Engineers : 
 Acting-Chief, James Miller ; Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ants, Jos. Anderson and J. A. Wilson ; Acting-Car- 
 penter, J. W. Kennedy. 
 
 "GENEEAL PEICE"— POUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Volunteer Lieutenant, W. R. Wells ; Act- 
 ing-Master, H. E. Bartlett ; Acting-Ensigns, J. H. 
 Leever and D. P. Bosworth, Jr.; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, D. McKay, P. Barclay and W.W. McCracker; 
 Acting - Assistant Surgeon, Geo. Harvey ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, T. F. Croft ; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-Chief, Thos. Sheffer ; Acting -First -Assistant, 
 A. R. Calhoun; Acting-Second-Assistant, A. Camp- 
 bell ; Acting-Third-Assistants, J. B. Baldwin and 
 R. A. Hyle ; Acting-Carpenter, W. C. Stiver. 
 
 " PAW-PAW " — POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, M. V. B. Haines ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. H. Rivers and W. L. Constantine ; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, John Pybus and J. D. Coriell ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, O. A. Rives ; Acting - Assistant 
 Paymaster, A. S. Me Williams ; Engineers : Acting- 
 First- Assistant, E. Reynolds; Acting-Second Assist- 
 ant, B. S. Bull ; Acting-Third-Assistant, T. K. HOI. 
 
 " PEAIBIE BIRD" — POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Burns ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. W. Chambers and W. M. Ernst ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. B. Morton, J. K. Lull, Jr., W. D. Bangs 
 and AV. D. Carley ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, 
 Lafayette Harter ; Engineers : Acting-First-Assist- 
 ant, Geo. Rodabaugh ; Acting - Second - Assistant, 
 Joseph Grippin ; Acting - Third - Assistant, M. G. 
 Marsillot. 
 
 " MOUND CITY " — POUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Frederick T. Coleman ; Acting- 
 Ensigns, W. H. Decker and T. J. Dean; Acting- Mas- 
 ter's Mates, B. W. Herr, S. S. Spangler, W. M. Ster- 
 ritt and C. B. Hapgood ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, Wm. H. Baer ; Engineers : Acting-Chief, Edw. 
 Merriman ; Acting - First - Assistant, Alex. Magee ; 
 Acting-Second- Assistants, J. M. Hartwell, J. B. At- 
 wood, G. N. Heisel and P. Vanzant ; Acting- 
 Gunner, T. H. Green ; Acting - Carpenter, Jerome 
 Burns. 
 
 "JUDGE TOBBENCB" — POUBTH-EATB. 
 
 :i? j_ * -• 
 
 c\ J_l_ 
 
810 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Wm. Sill; Acting - Master's Mate, Chas. White; 
 Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. H. Marshall ; Engi- 
 neers: Acting-Chief, P. E. Hartwig; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Jasper Holman and E. C. Jones; Acting- 
 Third- Assistant, John Denhart. 
 
 ' ' ABGOST. " 
 
 Acting- Master, John C. Morong; Acting-Ensigns, 
 G. T. Hazlett and A. B. Homer; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, Peter Lake and J. A. McCreary ; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, R. E. Patterson ; Engineers : 
 Acting-First- Assistant, Thos. Blanchard ; Aoting- 
 Second-Assistant, Chas. Silvercahn ; Acting-Third- 
 Assistant, A. Donnelly. 
 
 " ALEXANDRIA "— FOTTETH-KATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, D. P. Rosemiller; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, D. M. Stauffer ; Engineers : Acting - First- 
 Assistant, H. C. Shibly ; Acting-Second-Assistant, 
 J. S. Willcoxan; Acting - Third - Assistant, J. W. 
 Morton. 
 
 " MARMORA " — ^FOTJRTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, Thomas Gibson ; Acting- Ensigns, 
 D. D. Bond and Thos. West; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 Wm. Arnold, E. C. Nye and W. B. Tice ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Emile Gavarret ; Acting- Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, Chas. R. Howard; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, A. H. Armstrong ; Acting-Sec- 
 ond- Assistant, F. A. Cramer ; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ant, C. S. Hamiiton. 
 
 ■' PAIR PIjAI " — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, George J. Groves; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. H. Singleton, L. R. Hamersley and J. S. De For- 
 rest ; Acting-Master's Mates, C. B. Thatcher, J. W. 
 Harbin and W. H. Roberts ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, John G. Sankey; Engineers : Acting-First- 
 Assistant, Robert Mattratha; Aeting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, John Mayhugh ; Acting-Third-Assistants, Wm. 
 Davizley and C C. Rusford ; Acting - Carpenter, 
 Thomas Manning. 
 
 " PAWN "— POURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, John R. Grace ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 John Sullivan and John Conden ; Acting - Master s 
 Mates, Chas. Murray, E. D. O'Bryon and J. A. Lea- 
 man ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, A. S. Apgar ; 
 Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, Edw. C. Peck ; 
 Acting - Second - Assistants, G. W. Gough and 
 Michael O'Reiley ; Acting- Third - Assistant, C. A. 
 Cooper. 
 
 ' HUNTRESS 
 
 -POURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, John S. Dennis ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 J. M. Flynt and Fi-ank Middleton; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, H. Z. Allphin, B. F. Brumback and J. R. 
 Thomas; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, H. S. DeFord; 
 Acting Assistant Paymaster, E. J. Hurling : Engi- 
 neers: Acting-First Assistant, John CuUin; Acting- 
 Second - Assistant, Isaac Ackley ; Acting - Third- 
 Assistant, Johnson Crawford. 
 
 "NEW era" — POURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, A. C. Sears; Acting-Ensigns, W B. 
 Shilleto andC. A. Schetky; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 W. P. Renner, A. Hamilton and Henry Ufford ; 
 Acting- Assistant-Surgeon, Geo. A. Warren; Acting- 
 Assistant-Payniaster, Wm. B. Purdy ; Engineers : 
 Acting-First-Assistant, Israel Marsh; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, A. W. Smith and J. W. Edmundson ; 
 Acting- Carpenter, Byard Martin. 
 
 ' CRICKET " — POURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Master, M. J. Cronin ; Acting - Ensigns, 
 N. A. Closson and Ignatius Daum ; Acting- Master's 
 Mates, H. C. Bates, J. W. Summers, Louis J. Mar- 
 shall and Walter Lawrence ; Acting- Assistant Sur- 
 geon, Stephen Cushing ; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, C. 8. Dunscomb; Engineers: Acting - First - 
 Assistant, Jebin Fox; Acting-Second- Assistant, T. C. 
 Ridgly ; Acting-Third-Assistant, R. A. Halderman. 
 
 ' ' NTMPH " — ^TOtTBTH BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Patrick Donnelly; Acting-Ensigns, 
 F. M. Hathaway and L. Gardner ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, W. C. WilUams, W. C. Frost, C. A. Benham, 
 F. W. Whiteside and W. W. Hosea ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Surgeon, D. P. Taylor ; Acting-Assistant Pay- 
 master, Arthur Sibley; Engineers: Acting - First- 
 Assistant, N. D. Smith ; Acting-Second- Assistant, 
 Z. Brickell ; Acting-Third-Assistants, A. T. Homer 
 and W. H. Poulson. 
 
 " NAIAD "—FOURTH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Henrv T. Keene ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 R. W. Alson and B. G. Van Dyke ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, L. A. Cole, C. H. Leamanand C. E. Townley; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, M. P. Lowry ; Engi- 
 neers : Acting-First-Assistant, R. P. Morrow; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, C. Abbott; Acting - Third- 
 Assistants, W. H. Collins, Edw. W. Brooks and 
 J. H. Henderson. 
 
 " GBBAT WESTEEN " — FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Benj. Sebastian ; Acting-Ensign, 
 
 D. W. Tainter; Acting-Master's Mates, A. S. Thomp- 
 son, N. E. Moore, W. F. Thomas and B. P. Bos- 
 worth ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, F. W. Wunder- 
 lich ; Paymaster, Geo. L. Davis ; Chaplain, W. H. 
 Stewart; Engineers : Acting-First- Assistant, G. W. 
 Fulton ; Acting-Third-Assistant, A. L. Sinis. 
 
 " PAIEY " — FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting - Masters, W. E. H. Fentriss and Chas. 
 Swendson ; Acting - Ensigns, J. S. Roberts, J. 8. 
 Hurlbut and C. B. Plattenburg ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, H. A. Thoburn and James Lawler ; Acting- 
 Assistant Surgeon, Geo. F. Beasley ; Acting-Assist- 
 ant Paymaster, H. T.Wright; Engineers: Acting- 
 First-Assistant, S. H. Linn ; Acting-Second-Assist- 
 ant, W. H. Stiles ; Acting-Third-Assistant, Lorenzo 
 Fulton. 
 
 "SIIiVEE CLOUD" — FOUBTH-EATB. 
 
 Acting-Master, Wm. Ferguson j Acting-Ensigns, 
 Rob't Wilkinson J. M. Reidand J. C. Hall; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, J. M. Darrah, R. S. Critchell and 
 J. H. Bentley ; Acting - Assistant - Surgeon, O. B. 
 Damon ; Acting - Assistant Paymaster, W. H. Ha- 
 thorne ; Engineers : Acting - First -Assistant, B. F. 
 Clark; Acting Second-Assistant, W. A. Collins; Act- 
 ing-Third-Assistants, J. W. SheUenberger and C. M. 
 MiUigan. 
 
 " PEEI "— FOUETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Thos. M. Farrell ; Acting-Ensign, 
 
 E. C. Higgins ; Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Carter 
 and W. H. Haven; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, T. P. 
 Leech ; Acting- Assistant-Paymaster, C. W. Bull ; 
 Engineers : Acting-Third-Assistants, J. A. Good- 
 win, David Pace and John W. Ross. 
 
 " GENEEAIi THOMAS "— POUETH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Gilbert Morton ; Acting-Ensign, 
 Richard McCallister; Acting-Master's Mates, Joseph 
 Grenlick, A. C. Orcutt, L. D. Simonds and Hans 
 Trulsen; Engineers: Acting-Pirst-Assistant, G. W. 
 Burrows; Acting-Second-Assistant, W. E. Cowle; 
 Acting-Third- Assistants, Jackson Andrew and J.W. 
 Miles. 
 
 ' ' BOMEO "—FOUETH-BATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Thomas Baldwin ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 R. P. Shaw and J. E. Ernst; Acting-Master's Mates, 
 John Winram and W. J. Franks; Acting-Assistant 
 Paymaster, E. R. Moffatt; Engineers: Acting-First- 
 Assistant, J. N. McCurdy; Acting-Second- Assist- 
 ant, W. E. Taylor ; Acting - Third - Assistant, Wm. 
 Teal. 
 
 "BATTLEB "— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, N. B. Willetts ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 H. N. Wells, S. H. Strunk and H. E. Church; Act- 
 ing-Master's Mate, John Cronin and W. N. Bock; 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 811 
 
 . Acting- Assistant Surgeon, "W. B. Hartman; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, George P. Peck; Engineers ; 
 Acting-First- Assistant C. F. Seager; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, G. W. Sliields and J. H. Hume. 
 
 ' SIKEN 
 
 -FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Master, James Fitzpatrick ; Acting - En- 
 signs, T. G. Herron and Z. T. Tibbatts ; Acting- 
 Master's Mates, E. H. Thompson, J. P. Jordan, C. E. 
 Jordon and H. W. Gray ; Acting-Assistant Surgeon, 
 Lewis Westfall ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, S. S. 
 Davis ; Engineers : Acting-First Assistant, William 
 Bishop ; Acting-Second- Assistant, James Abrams ; 
 Acting-Third- Assistant, J. R. Meredith. 
 
 ■ SILVER IiAKE ' 
 
 -FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Masters, J. C. Coyle and G. W. Bone ; 
 Acting- Masters Mates, Samuel McKee, J. S. Dubois 
 and F. N. Schooley ; Acting - Assistant - Surgeon, 
 J. H. Mills; Engineers: Acting-First-Assistant, Sam'l 
 Ecoff ; Acting-Seeond-Assistant, WUIiam J. O'STeill. 
 
 'SPRINGFIELD' 
 
 -FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Edm. Morgan ; Acting- Ensigns, 
 H. D. Disereus and J. E. Wright ; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, J. Cunningham, H. Homkomp and Wilham 
 J. Rudd; Engineer: Acting-First-Assistant R. Mc- 
 Lean ; Acting-Third- Assistants, William Bell and 
 H. J. Spence. 
 
 " VICTORT " — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Master, Frederick Read; Acting - Ensigns, 
 W. B. Trufant and John Fisher; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, R. L. Taylor, J. L. Kelso and G. W. Kepler; 
 Acting-Assistant Surgeon, G. W. Shields; Acting- 
 Assistant Paymaster, Benj. Page; Engineers: Act- 
 ing-First-Assistant, J. L. Winston ; Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, J. C. Jones; Acting - Third - Assistants, 
 Sam'l Henery and G. W. Postlethwaite. 
 
 "GENERAL SHERMAN "— FOUBTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting- Master, J. W. Morehead ; Acting-Ensigns, 
 E. D. Hurd and C. L. McChing ; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, D. J. Chad wick and M. Pinney; Engineers: 
 Acting-Second-Assistants, J. W. Street and David 
 Street; Acting-Third- Assistants, Horace Stedman 
 and T. H. Hamilton. 
 
 " GENERAL GRANT." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Joseph Watson and S. H. Harbe 
 son; Acting-Master's Mates, E. B. McSweeney, D. G. 
 Porter and H. W. Kruse; Acting- Assistant Surgeon, 
 W. D. Hoffman : Engineers : Acting- First- Assistant, 
 H. W. Taylor; Acting- Second- Assistant, Edw. Cos- 
 tello ; Acting-Third-Assistants, William McKenzie, 
 D. Shaw and G. E. Reno. 
 
 " CHAMPION "—FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Ensigns, Thomas Devine, M. Allen and 
 A. Hagerup; Acting-Master's Mates, Herman Alms, 
 Benj. Nelson, T. J. Eokert and C. F. Beall; Act- 
 ing-Assistant Surgeon, Geo. O. Allen ; Acting- As- 
 sistant Paymaster, Geo. F. Bennis; Engineers : Act- 
 ing-First- Assistant, John Johnston; Acting-Second- 
 Assistants, Geo. Walde and C. A. Fisher; Acting- 
 Third-Assistants, J. J. Suor and Wm. Lingle. 
 
 ' CURLEW 
 
 -FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, H. B. O'Neill and M. G. Bailey; 
 Acting - Master's Mate, Thomas Crawford, C. \V. 
 Dunlap and Robert S. Balestier; Acting-Assistant 
 Surgeon, John Gorden; Acting- Assistant Paymas- 
 ter, J. R. Morris ; Engineers : Acting- First- Assistant, 
 Benj. A. Hoffman ; Acting-Second-Assistant, L. 8. 
 Everson ; Acting-Third- Assistant, C. C. Grain. 
 
 '' GAZELLE" — FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, A. S. Palmer, James Derring 
 and Conrad Erickson ; Acting- Master's Mates, A. G. 
 Boggs and J. W. Mullen ; Acting - Assistant Pay- 
 master, H. A. Mitchell; Engineers: Acting-First-As- 
 sistant, A. H. Armstrong; Acting-Second-Assistants, 
 F. M. Peak and Frank S. Wyman; Acting-Third- 
 
 " LITTLE REBEL "—FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensien, Jos. P. Pettey; Acting-Master's 
 Mates, N. P. Jacobs, J. F. Rulow, Isaac H. Brown 
 andW. H. Evans; Engineers: Acting - Second - As- 
 sistants, Julius EUiter and J. M. Miller; Acting- 
 Third- Assistants, E. H. Burton and G. Dorsey. 
 
 " ROBB "—FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, James Tushy and Howard Hale; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. H. Jacoby and W. L. 
 Berrian; Engineers : Aeting-First-Assistant, Benj. 
 Everson ; Acting - Second - Assistant, J. G. Moore ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, B. H. Colher. 
 
 " TENSAS "—FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting - Ensigns, A. C. Van Pelt and Jacob 
 Rutherford; Acting- Master's Mate, Henry Van Vel- 
 sor; Engineers : Acting-Second Assistants, Sam'l 
 Weaver and Park Scanlan; Acting-Third- Assist- 
 ants, Nathan Spear and N. J. Brooks. 
 
 " VOLUNTEER '' — FOUBTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, M. R. Haines and Louis Kenny; 
 Acting-Master's Mates, J. A. Coleman and M. L. 
 Kirk; Engineers: Acting- First- Assistants, Peter 
 Wagner and G. W. Taylor; Aoting-Seeond-Assist- 
 ant, R. A. Benneson; Acting- Third-Assistant, Wm. 
 T. Moore. 
 
 " SAMSON "-FOURTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting Ensign, Geo.W. Painter ; Acting- Assistant 
 Paymaster, H. A. Mitchell: Engineers: Acting- 
 Chief, C. H. Christopher; Acting-First-Assistant, 
 Wm. Paul, Jr. 
 
 "GENERAL PILLOW"— FOUBTH-RATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Frank W. Halsted; Acting-Mas- 
 ter's Mates, Geo B. Hall, B. F. Craig and W. H. Do- 
 bell ; Engineers : Acting - Third - Assistants, J. T. 
 Slack and W. H. Cornell. 
 
 " NEW NATIONAL "— FOUETH-EATE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. M. Farmer; Acting - Master's 
 Mates, J. D. Holmes, W. B. FloycL W. E. Jelleyand 
 H. A. Taylor ; Acting- Assistant Paymaster, J. W. 
 Keley ; Engineers: Acting - First - Assistant, W. O. 
 Logue; Acting-Third -Assistants, G. W. Aikin, G. R. 
 Bell, Oliver Rosebush and W. M. Ulix. 
 
 RECEIVING-SHIP "GRAMPUS." 
 
 Acting - Ensigns, J. W. Litherbury and Robert 
 Howden; Acting-Masters Mates, C. J. Dananda, 
 A. H. Lewis and W. H. Corey; Acting - Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. J. McElhany ; Acting - Assistant Pay- 
 master, Edw. D. Hayden. 
 
 HOSPITAL-SHIP "RED BOVEB." 
 
 Acting-Ensigns, Charles King and J. J. Irwin; 
 Fleet-Surgeon, Ninian Pinkney ; Passed-Assistant 
 Surgeon, J. S. Knight ; Acting- Assistant Surgeons, 
 G. H. Bixby and J. P. Field; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, A. W. Pearson; Acting-Master's Mate, R. G. 
 Van Ness; Engineers: Acting-Chief, Wm. J. Buf- 
 finton; Aoting-First-Assistant, Wm. Sprague; Act- 
 ing-Second-Assistant, W. M. Fletcher; Acting-Third- 
 Assistants, W. H. Vanwert and J. T. English; Act- 
 ing-Carpenter, Harlow Kinney. 
 
 TUG "PERN.'' 
 
 Acting-Ensign, John M. Kelly; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Jacob Bomgarnar; Engineers: Acting-Sec- 
 ond- Assistant, John Reed; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 A. K. Porter. 
 
 TUG "MISTLETOE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Janes L. Lingley; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, John Thompson; Engineers: Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, D. S. Miller; Acting - Third - Assistant, 
 Allison Haywood. 
 
 TUG "MIGNONETTE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, H. D. Green; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second-Assistant, W. L. Calhoun ; Acting-Third- 
 
812 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 TTJO ' ' MTKTLE. 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Isaac N. Goldsmith; Engineers: 
 Acting-Seeond-Assistant, Geo. Longwell; Acting- 
 Third-Assistant, J. H. Wright. 
 
 TUG "PANSY." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Wm. Harris; Acting-Master's Mate, 
 A. McCarthy; Engineer: Acting-Second- Assistant, 
 H. A. Cady. 
 
 TtrO " LAUEEIi." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, W. R. Owen; Engineers: Acting- 
 Second - Assistant, Chas. Hilling; Acting - Third 
 Assistant, L. E. Davis. 
 
 TTJG "DAHLIA." 
 
 Acting-Ensign. "W. H. Strope ; Acting - Master's 
 Mate, Thomas Roach ; Engineer : Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, A. R. Smith. 
 
 TUa "HTAOINTH." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, J. B. Hizerman; Acting-Master's 
 Mate, James Malis ; Engineers : Acting - Second- 
 Assistant, M. L. Andrews ; Acting-Third-Assistant, 
 L. C. Thatcher. 
 
 TUG "IVY." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, Perry C. Wright: Acting-Master's 
 Mate, Daniel Sullivan; Acting - Second - Assistant 
 Engineer, Thomas Nerley. 
 
 TUG " THISTLE." 
 
 Acting-Ensign, R. J. Ettingham ; Acting-Master's 
 
 Mate, J. W. Hambrick ; Engineers : Acting-Second- 
 Assistant, W. P. Clugsten; Acting-Third-Assistants, 
 L. H. Jones and Byrd Allen. 
 
 TUG "DAISY." 
 
 Acting - Master's Mates, Joseph Graham ; Engi- 
 neers : Acting - Second - Assistant, F. M. Magers ; 
 Acting-Third-Assistant, J. E. Henderson. 
 
 "W. H. BBOWN "— POUBTH-BATE. 
 
 Pilot, Jeflferson A. French; Actii^ - Ensign, J. 
 Shinn ; Acting - Master's Mates, O. Deweese, Jr., 
 R. H. Hopkins and C. W. Dimmock; Engineers: 
 Acting-First-Assistant, R. Cutter ; Acting-Seeond- 
 Assistants, A. C. P. French and G. W. Hart. 
 
 " GENERAL L YON " — FOtTETH-BATE. 
 
 Pilot, Richard E. Birch ; Acting-Ensigns, James 
 Martin and Thos. Cad well; Acting- Master's Mates, 
 E. W. Robinson, D. V. Balthis and F. B. Chase; 
 Acting-Assistant Paymaster, Wm. H. Doane; Engi- 
 neers : Acting- First- Assistant, W. J. Hamilton ; 
 Acting-Second- Assistants, James Baldwin and R. A. 
 Smith ; Acting-Third- Assistants, G. C. ShuU and 
 H. Workhouse. 
 
 " ABBAHAM "— POUETH-EATE. 
 
 Paymaster, A. E. Watson; Acting- Assistant Pay- 
 master, Louis Jorgensen ; Acting - Ensign, William 
 Wagner ; Acting - First - Assistant Engineer, Enos 
 Hoshier. 
 
CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 COMMERCE-DESTEOYERS. 
 
 theik inception, kemakkable career, and ending. 
 
 The "Florida" ("Oreto"), "Clarence," "Tacony," "Alexandria," "Georgia" 
 ("Japan"), "Rappahannock," " ISTashvillb," "Shenandoah" ("Sea King"), 
 " Tuscaloosa," •' Chickamauga " (" Edith "), " Tallahassee " ("Atlanta "), 
 "Olustee," "Chameleon," etc.— Cutting out of the U. S. Revenue Steamer 
 " Caleb Cushing " from the Harbor of Portland, Me. — Capture of the "Florida " 
 ON THE Coast of Brazil. — An Apology to the Brazilian Government. — Captain 
 Collins' Punishment. — The "Florida" Sunk in Hampton Roads. — Destruction of 
 the Whaling Fishery in the Arctic Ocean. — Neutrality Laws Violated by 
 Foreign Governments. — Scenes on board the Confederate Cruisers. — Actual 
 Losses inflicted by the "Alabama" and "Shenandoah." — Criticisms, Remarks, 
 ETC., etc. 
 
 WE have told the story of the 
 "Sumter" and "Alabama," 
 and partly that of the " Flor- 
 ida," which latter, after her 
 escape from the Federal 
 squadron off Pensacola, particularly the 
 "R. R. Cuyler," in January, 186.3. com- 
 menced the business of destruction for 
 which she was fitted out. 
 
 In her first attempts at destruction the 
 " Florida " was not particularly fortunate, 
 for in the course of ten days Captain Maffitt 
 only succeeded in destroying three small 
 vessels. He then put into Nassau, where, 
 it will be remembered, the "Florida," for- 
 merly the " Oreto," had been seized by the 
 authorities and her case brought before the 
 courts for violation of the ' 'Enlistment Act. " 
 The merchant to whom the vessel was con- 
 signed swore that the " Oreto" was a bona 
 fide merchant vessel, while at that very 
 moment her guns and munitions of war 
 were on board another vessel in the harbor. 
 When the ship returned to Nassau in July, 
 under the name of the "Florida," her ap- 
 pearance a,t first caused considerable con- 
 fusion among the witnesses and officials, 
 
 the British Foreign Enlistment Act had 
 been committed. 
 
 However, this circumstance did not seri- 
 ously influence the British authorities at 
 Nassau. Maffitt had entered a bona fide 
 Confederate port, and now that he was 
 again in Nassau, with a regular commis- 
 sion, a good crew, and the Confederate flag 
 at his peak, he received an ovation. The 
 officials allowed the "Florida" thirty-six 
 hours to remain in port and take coal and 
 whatever else she might require, although 
 the orders of the Home Government limited 
 the supply of coal to what was supposed to 
 be necessary to enable a Confederate cruiser 
 to reach one of the ports of the Confed- 
 eracy. 
 
 From Nassau the "Florida" proceeded to 
 Barbadoes, where she received on board one 
 hundred tons of coal, in further violation of 
 the orders of the Home Government, which 
 provided that a second supply of coal 
 should not be allowed within three months. 
 Doubtless, the instructions were similar to 
 those issued by Earl John Russell to the 
 British Minister at Washington in the case 
 of the " Trent," — one set to be shown to the 
 
 CI j._ 
 
814 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 stating the real intentions of the Govern- 
 ment. There seemed to be the same desire 
 at Barbadoes as elsewhere to see American 
 commerce destroyed, and, with such a feel- 
 ing in existence, the chances for the escape 
 of Federal merchant vessels were nauch di- 
 minished. 
 
 The " Florida " did not commit such havoc 
 as the " Alabama," for in the space of five 
 months she captured but fifteen vessels, 
 which were all destroyed in the usual style 
 of the Confederate cruisers. Her cruising- 
 ground extended from the latitude of New 
 York to the southward of Bahia, in Brazil. 
 
 In the vicinity of Fernando Noronha, Maf- 
 fitt picked up a vessel called the " Lap- 
 wing," loaded with coal, and, by converting 
 her into a tender, was enabled to supply 
 himself with fuel as long as he wished to 
 remain on the station. 
 
 On the 6th of May the brig "Clarence" 
 was captured off the coast of Brazil, armed 
 by Maffitt with some light guns, and placed 
 in command of Lieutenant Charles W. 
 Read, formerly a midshipman in the U. S. 
 Navy — and another Confederate State's ves- 
 sel-of-war was created in the shortest pos- 
 sible time, with orders to burn, sink and 
 destroy; although it was doubtful if Maf- 
 fitt's authority to commission vessels would 
 have been recognized in case he should 
 have fallen in with a superior force. 
 
 Lieutenant Read was bold and full of re- 
 sources, seeming to disdain all danger. He 
 shaped his course for the coast of the United 
 States, and by the 10th of June had captured 
 five vessels, four of which were destroyed. 
 The fifth was the schooner "Tacony," and 
 this vessel, being better suited to his purpose 
 than the "Clarence." Read burned the latter, 
 after transferring her crew, guns and stores 
 to the "Tacony." 
 
 During the next fortnight the "Tacony" 
 made ten prizes. Here was a Confederate 
 cruiser right upon the coast, burning and 
 sinking coasting vessels with impunity, for 
 not a single United States vessel was to be 
 seen. This was a new style of warfare in- 
 augurated by the Confederacy, without the 
 least expense to them and without any of 
 the difficulties of violating the British For- 
 eign Enlistment Act, or hoodwinking colo- 
 nial authorities to procure necessary sup- 
 plies. As to the pay of officers and men, 
 as that was probably made in Confederate 
 money, the expense was nothing. 
 
 Read soon tired of the "Tacony." His 
 ideas enlarged as his vessel grew plethoric 
 with spoils, and his prolific brain was at 
 work devising new schemes for Federal 
 discomfiture. The last of his prizes, a ves- 
 sel called the "Archer," captured off the 
 capes of Virginia, seemed preferable to the 
 "Tacony," and he accordingly made her 
 into a cruiser and burned the latter. Had 
 
 Lieutenant Read kept off shore he would 
 doubtless have made the "Archer's" name 
 as famous as that of her predecessor; but, 
 not satisfied with destroying peaceable 
 merchantmen, he longed for higher distinc- 
 tion, for Read had in him the stuff to make 
 a gallant naval commander. 
 
 The career of the " Archer " was short. 
 The news of a privateer on the coast of New 
 England was spread far and wide. Several 
 gun-boats were cruising up and down the 
 coast in search ot Maffitt, who was reported 
 off Nova Scotia ; but their commanders do 
 not seem to have been aware of Read and 
 his peculiar performances. 
 
 In the latter part of June, two days after 
 the " Archer" had been commissioned as a 
 cruiser, Read determined to cut out the 
 revenue-cutter "Caleb Cushing," from the 
 harbor of Portland, Maine. In this design 
 he was successful; the vessel was surprised 
 by the boats of the " Archer" and carried 
 by boarding. The people on shore hastily 
 manned and armed several steamers, and 
 followed the " Caleb Cushing "to sea. As 
 Read saw that he must be overtaken, and 
 that he could make no successful resistance, 
 he set fire to the " Cushing " and attempted 
 to escape in his boats, but was captured and 
 imprisoned in Fort Warren. 
 
 This was a remarkable raid and showed 
 great gallantry on the part of Lieutenant 
 Read, although the presence of a single 
 Federal gun-boat, under an intelligent cap- 
 tain, would have nipped the whole scheme 
 in the bud. As it was, Read's capture was 
 due to the courage of private citizens, who 
 did not know what force the Confederates 
 had outside to back them. After the affair 
 was settled, gun-boats flocked in from the 
 North Atlantic Squadron in pursuit of the 
 raiders, but too late to be of use. 
 
 After the " Florida's " cruise on the coast 
 of Brazil, she refitted and coaled at Ber- 
 muda, and thence sailed for Brest, where 
 she was docked and thoroughly repaired. 
 Maffitt was relieved by Captain Joseph N. 
 Barney, who was in turn succeeded by Cap- 
 tain Charles M. Morris. The " Florida " re- 
 mained nearly six months at Brest, sailed 
 from that port in February, 1864, and, after 
 cruising for three months against American 
 commerce, put in again at Bermuda, where 
 Captain Morris was allowed to take in coal 
 and provisions. The Captain announced 
 his intention of proceeding to Mobile, 
 but, instead of doing so, made a cruise of 
 three months on the coast of the United 
 States against Federal merchant vessels, 
 proceeding thence to Teneriffe, and on the 
 5th of October, 1864, he arrived at Bahia. 
 
 For a wonder, the U. S. S. " Wachusett" 
 happened to be in Bahia when the "Florida " 
 entered the port and anchored a mile distant, 
 while a Brazilian corvette, in anticipation 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 815 
 
 of. a difficulty between the vessels, took 
 position near the " Florida." The latter 
 vessel had received permission from the 
 authorities to remain in port forty-eight 
 hours to repair and coal ship, which was 
 twenty-four -hours longer than the usual • 
 time allowed these vessels; although Cap- 
 tain Semmes had been allowed to do pretty 
 much as he pleased by the Governor of 
 Bahia, and also by the Governor of Fer- 
 nando de Noronha. 
 
 American officers in pursuit of Confeder- 
 ate cruisers were kept in constant excite- 
 ment by hearing of excesses committed by 
 these " sea-rovers," as the latter were some- 
 times called, and were greatly disappointed 
 at not falling in with them, although there 
 was not one chance in a hundred of their 
 doing so. The Northern press had also in- 
 dulged in strictures on the Federal Navy 
 for not overtaking the Confederate cruisers, 
 while the Southern newspapers sneered at 
 the Yankee officers, whom they asserted 
 were afraid to meet the Confederate vessels 
 for fear of being captured. All this had its 
 effect, and Commander Napoleon Collins, of 
 the " Wachusett," determined that the 
 "Florida" should not do anymore damage 
 if he could prevent it. Collins thought of 
 the violation of neutrality, and dared all 
 the consequences, including the probable 
 loss of his commission. 
 
 About 2 A.M. the "Wachusett" got un- 
 derway, crossed the bow of the Brazilian 
 corvette, and steered directly for the " Flor- 
 ida," with the intention of running her 
 down and sinking her; but, instead of strik- 
 ing the Confederate ship in the gangway 
 as was intended, the "Wachusett" crashed 
 into the " Florida" on her starboard quarter, 
 cutting down her bulwarks and carrying 
 away her mainyard and mizzenmast. The 
 crew of the "Florida" seized what arms 
 they could lay hold of in the confusion, 
 and fired into the "Wachusett," wounding 
 three of her crew ; but, the latter vessel 
 pouring in a volley of small arms and dis- 
 charging two broadside guns at the Confed- 
 erate ship, the latter surrendered. Sixty- 
 nine officers and men were captured, but 
 Captain Morris and many of his officers and 
 crew were on shore. The "Florida" was 
 then towed out to sea, the Brazilian man-of- 
 war offering no opposition, except that an 
 officer was sent to inform Collins that, if he 
 persisted in his attack on the "Florida," 
 the fort and vessels would open fire on him, 
 and one gun was subsequently fired by the 
 corvette. It was afterwards claimed by the 
 Brazilians that Commander Collins had 
 promised to desist from his purpose of cap- 
 turing the "Florida"; but this seems to be 
 merely an excuse to account for their 
 supineness in taking no steps to prevent 
 
 ida" out of the harbor. The fact is, the 
 Brazilians had no intention of proceeding 
 to extremities, fully realizing that the cor- 
 vette was no match for the " Wachusett." 
 
 That the capture of the " Florida " was a 
 deliberate violation of the rights of neutrals 
 no one can deny, and it placed the United 
 States Government in a very awkward 
 position. It would have been much better 
 for Commander Collins to have waited out- 
 side for the coming of the " Florida," even 
 at the risk of her escaping, than to have so 
 grossly affronted a nation whose Emperor 
 sympathized with the Union cause. Com- 
 mander Collins' action was entirely inde- 
 pendent of instructions, and he was willing 
 to run the risk of losing his commission in 
 order to put a stop to the "Florida's" 
 career. 
 
 The Federal Government at once disa- 
 vowed Collins' action, and made ample apol- 
 ogy, which the Government of Brazil ac- 
 cepted, only stipulating that the "Florida" 
 and those captured in her should be sent 
 back to Bahia. Mr. Secretary Seward did 
 all in his power to make amends for the 
 mistake which had been committed, de- 
 nouncing it as "an unauthorized, unlawful 
 and indefensible exercise of the naval force 
 of the United States within a foreign coun- 
 try, in defiance of its established and duly 
 recognized Government." The fact of Mr. 
 Seward's disapproval was quite enough to 
 make Mr. Secretary Welles give his sym- 
 pathy to Commander Collins, and, although 
 the Secretary did not express himself openly, 
 there is little doubt that he would have been 
 glad if all the Confederate cruisers could 
 have been disposed of in the same manner. 
 
 Collins' action, indeed, met with the popu- 
 lar approval, and it would have been a diffi- 
 cult matter to have convicted him had he 
 been brought to trial before a court-martial. 
 The little regard that had been shown by 
 neutral nations, during the civil war, to 
 their obligations, and their favoring the 
 Confederate cruisers, had awakened great 
 indignation in the Northern States, so that 
 the community was little disposed to censure 
 Collins' action in the case of the " Florida." 
 
 Commander Collins made little effort to 
 defend his course. In his report to the Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, he says: "I thought 
 it probable that the Brazilian authorities 
 would forbear to interfere, as they had done 
 at Fernando de Noronha, where the Con- 
 federate steamer ' Alabama ' was permit- 
 ted to take into the anchorage three Ameri- 
 can ships, and to take coal from the ' Cora 
 Hatch ' within musket-shot of the fort, and 
 afterwards, within easy range of their guns, 
 to set on fire those unarmed vessels. I re- 
 gret, however, to state, that they fired 
 three shotted guns at us while we were tow- 
 
816 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 the Brazilians may have taken, it seems to 
 have been extremely mild under the cir- 
 cumstances, for they had certainly a right 
 to compel the " Wachusett " to relinquish 
 her prize if they had had sufficient force to 
 back their demand. The only punishment 
 inflicted on Commander Collins was an or- 
 der to tak& the " Florida " back to Brazil 
 with all his prisoners, and deliver the vessel 
 to the Brazilian Government intact. For 
 this purpose the "Florida" was sent to Ad- 
 miral Porter, at Hampton Roads, that she 
 might be properly prepared for sea. 
 
 The expedition against Fort Fisher was 
 thenfittingout, and the Roads were crowded 
 with vessels of every description. While 
 the "Florida" was lying in the stream an 
 army transport came in collision with her, 
 but did her no damage. It was reported 
 that the collision was intentional, and to 
 avoid further accident Admiral Porter di- 
 rected the " Florida " to be stripped of every- 
 thing valuable, her guns taken out and tfie 
 vessel moored securely head and stern at 
 Newport News, just at the spot where the 
 " Cumberland " was sunk in very deep 
 water. An engineer was placed on board in 
 charge, with two men to assist him in look- 
 ing after the water-cocks ; but, strangely 
 enough, although the " Florida" was to all 
 appearances water-tight when she reached 
 Newport News, she sank that night at two 
 o'clock in ten fathoms, and there she lay 
 for some years after the war. This was 
 about the best thing that could have hap- 
 pened to the " Florida," for the Northern 
 people would not have been satisfied to see 
 her sent back to Brazil to continue her 
 depredations on their commerce, and it 
 would have been a most humiliating duty 
 for Commander Collins to perform. When 
 the sinking of the vessel was reported to 
 Admiral Porter, he merely said, "Better so"; 
 while the Secretary of State and Secretary 
 of the Navy never asked any questions 
 about the matter, being too well satisfied 
 to get the elephant off their hands. 
 
 In 1863, after the appearance of the 
 "Alabama" and the "Florida," many at- 
 tempts were made by the Confederate 
 agents abroad to get cruisers to sea, but 
 these attempts were not always successful, 
 as the British Government was beginning 
 to realize the impolicy of neglecting 
 so completely their neutral obligations, 
 and Mr. Adams, the American minister, 
 lost no opportunity of calling attention 
 to the numerous violations of the For- 
 eign Enlistment Act which were taking 
 place. In consequence of the determined 
 stand taken by Mr. Adams, several iron- 
 clads building by Laird & Co. were seized. 
 The "Alexandria" was released in Eng- 
 land, but was subsequently libelled at Nas- 
 sau, where the courts, having learned some- 
 
 thing from the case of the "Florida," de- 
 tained her until the end of the war. 
 
 Notwithstanding all the watchfulness of 
 the American minister, the " Georgia" and 
 " Rappahannock " got to sea in 1863. The 
 career of the latter was brief. She had 
 been a dispatch vessel in the Royal Navy, 
 and was sold by the British- Government to 
 persons acting for the Confederacy. She 
 was refitted at Sheerness under the direc- 
 tion of employees of the Royal Dock Yard; 
 but the Government proposing to inspect 
 her, in order to avoid detention she hastily 
 put to sea with but a small portion of her 
 crew on board, and these had been enlisted 
 by the connivance of the Government offi- 
 cial who aided in getting the vessel off. 
 The " Rappahannock " was commissioned 
 as a Confederate vessel-of-war in the Brit- 
 ish Channel, and was seized by a French 
 gun-boat off Calais. 
 
 The "Georgia," a screw - steamer of 
 seven hundred tons, was launched on the 
 Clyde, and put to sea in April, 1863. A 
 British merchant was her ostensible 
 owner, and her guns and munitions of war 
 were put on board the vessel off Morlaix. 
 The case of this vessel was no greater vio- 
 lation of the neutrality laws than that of 
 others; but the British Government, wish- 
 ing perhaps to show that it would be neu- 
 tral in 1863 if it had not been in 1861, in- 
 stituted proceedings against the persons 
 concerned in sending the "Georgia" to 
 sea, and upon conviction they were each 
 sentenced to pay the enormous fine of fifty 
 pounds, a penalty not likely to deter British 
 subjects from violating the Foreign Enlist- 
 ment Act. 
 
 The career of the "Georgia" was not 
 very exciting, although extending over a 
 period of a year. The "Sumter," "Ala- 
 bama " and " Florida " had been beforehand 
 with her, and there was little left for the 
 gleaner. Fifteen millions of dollars worth 
 of United States commerce had been swept 
 from the ocean, and the American vessels 
 had either sought protection under other 
 flags, or were laid up in port until the war 
 should be over. The " Georgia," not being 
 very successful in taking prizes, was finally 
 taken to Liverpool, her crew discharged, 
 and the vessel sold by Captain J. D. Bul- 
 lock, agent of the Confederate Navy De- 
 partment, to an English shipowner. This 
 was a questionable transaction, and the 
 transfer was, no doubt, made to prevent the 
 seizure of the " Georgia" by the British au- 
 thorities ; for the latter, owing to the firm 
 stand taken by Mr. Adams, had begun se- 
 riously to refiect on the probable conse- 
 quences of further trespassing on the pa- 
 tience of the United States Government, as 
 it was evident the collapse of the Confed- 
 eracy was now not far off. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 817 
 
 In -writing of the probability that Laird's 
 rams would be permitted to get to sea, Mr. 
 Adams remarks: 
 
 '' In the notes which I had the honor to address 
 to your Lordship on the 11th of July and the 14th 
 of August, I believe I stated the importance 
 attached by my Government to the decision in- 
 volved in this case, with sufficient distinctness. 
 Since that date I have had the opportunity to re- 
 ceive from the United States a full approbation of 
 their contents. At the same time I feel it my pain- 
 ful duty to make known to your Lordship, that in 
 some respects it has fallen short in expressing the 
 earnestness with which I have been in the iaterval 
 directed to describe the grave nature of the situa- 
 tion in which both countries must be placed, in the 
 event of an act of aggression committed against the 
 Government and people of the United States by 
 either of these formidable vessels." 
 
 This diplomatic remonstrance was easily 
 understood by those who had tampered 
 with the United States to the verge of war, 
 and now that almost all of the American 
 commerce left afloat had been transferred 
 to the British flag, much to the advantage 
 of Great Britain, they were unwilling to 
 have that commerce depleted by hostilities 
 with the United States, for the Federal 
 Navy was now adding to its forces a class of 
 steamers well adapted, in speed and arma- 
 ment, to repeat against Great Britain the 
 tactics of the Confederate cruisers against 
 the United States. It would have perhaps 
 been better policy for the United States to 
 have declared war with Great Britain than 
 to have submitted longer to open violatioris 
 of neutrality, for the former had little com- 
 merce to lose and could have swept the 
 trade of the latter from the ocean. 
 
 When Mr. Adams heard that the 
 " Georgia " was sold to a British merchant, 
 he informed Commodore Thomas T. 
 Craven, then in command of the U. S. S. 
 '"Niagara," lying in the port of Antwerp, 
 that he must endeavor to intercept and 
 capture the converted Confederate. The 
 "Georgia" was captured by Commodore 
 Craven off Lisbon, was sent to Boston and 
 condemned by the Admiralty Court, her 
 alleged owner never receiving a penny of 
 the £15,000 he had paid into the Confeder- 
 ate treasury as the price of the vessel. 
 
 The fate of the "Nashville" has already 
 been mentioned. In January and Febru- 
 ary, 1863, several attempts were made to de- 
 stroy her as she lay above Fort McAllister, 
 on the Great Ogeechee River. On the 27th 
 of February, 1863, she was set on fire and 
 blown up by shells from the Monitor 
 " Montauk," Commander John L. Worden. 
 The "Shenandoah," originally called the 
 " Sea King," was the last and the most 
 dangerous of all the Confederate cruisers. 
 She was a full-rigged ship of about eight 
 hundred tons, with so - called auxiliary 
 steam power, and very fast under either 
 Qoil nr stfiam. canable of makiner three hun- 
 
 dred and twenty miles in twenty- four hours 
 under favorable circumstances, which ex- 
 ceeded the speed of any vessel in the U. S. 
 Navy. 
 
 On the 8th of October, 1864, the "Sea 
 King " cleared from London for Bombay. 
 As she was not equipped for war purposes, 
 there was no question in regard to her; but 
 the same day she sailed, the steamer " Lau- 
 rel " cleared from Liverpool for Nassau, 
 with several Confederate naval officers and 
 a cargo of cases marked "Machinery," but 
 contaming guns and their equipments. 
 Near Madeira, the " Sea King" received her 
 armament and stores from the "Laurel," 
 and was transferred by her master, who 
 had a power of sale from her owner, to 
 Commander James J. Waddell, of the Con- 
 federate Navy, who put her in commission 
 as the "Shenandoah." 
 
 The plans for the "Shenandoah's" oper- 
 ations had been carefully matured at Rich- 
 mond by Commander Brooke, of the Con- 
 federate Navy, and were based upon the 
 movements of the Pacific whaling fleet. 
 The latter habitually cruised in the neigh- 
 borhood of the Carolina Islands for sperm 
 whale, going north to the Sea of Ochotsk 
 for right whale, thence to Behring's Straits 
 and the Arctic Ocean. Returnmg from 
 the north, the whalers generally reached 
 the Sandwich Islands in October or Novem- 
 ber for refreshment. The plan was for the 
 " Shenandoah " to be at these various points 
 simultaneously with the whaling fleet, and 
 thus to sweep it from the sea. There was 
 no longer much opportunity of injuring 
 United States commerce in the ordinary 
 channels of trade, for the " Alabama" and 
 "Florida" had done their work pretty 
 thoroughly, and a number of new and fast 
 cruisers had been sent by the Federal Gov- 
 ernment to guard what remained. The new 
 cruising-ground mapped out for the "Shen- 
 andoah " was, therefore, the most inviting 
 fleld of operations now remaining for a 
 Confederate cruiser. 
 
 The " Shenandoah" cruised three months 
 in the Atlantic, taking several prizes, and 
 then proceeded to Tristan d'Acunha, where 
 the crews of the captured vessels were 
 landed. She next proceeded to Melbourne, 
 where she was well received and allowed to 
 repair and refit, take in all the coal required — 
 in short, do anything that would assist her in 
 her attempt to destroy the American whal- 
 ing fleet. In violation of the Foreign En- 
 listment Act, Commander Waddell was here 
 permitted to ship forty-three men as an ad- 
 dition to his crew ; but the Australians had 
 little respect for their obligations as neu- 
 trals. Their ruling sentiment was hatred 
 to the United States Government and peo- 
 ple. This was shown in the early mining 
 davs of 1852. when the British Government 
 
818 
 
 THE NA VAL UlSU UKr 
 
 gave American merchant vessels the privi- 
 lege of trading on the Australian coast on 
 the same terms as were accorded to those 
 of Great Britain ; but the colonists placed 
 so many restrictions on United States ves- 
 sels, steam-ships especially, that the latter 
 were driven away. 
 
 On the 18th February, 1865, the " Shenan- 
 doah " proceeded under sail to the vicinity 
 of Behring's Straits, where a large number 
 of whaling vessels were captured and de- 
 stroved. Until the 28th of June, the ocean 
 was' ablaze with burning ships, whose crews 
 were subjected to very inhuman treatment. 
 Waddell continued his operations for over 
 two months after hostilities between the 
 North and South had terminated, professing 
 that he had no intimation of the surrender 
 of the Confederate armies until the date 
 above mentioned; but he must have known 
 when he left' Melbourne that the Confed- 
 erate struggle for independence was prac- 
 tically at an end. When Waddell was as- 
 sured that the Confederate Government 
 had ceased to exist, instead of surrender- 
 ing his vessel to the nearest United States 
 authority as he should have done, he pro- 
 ceeded to Li verpool and delivered the " Shen- 
 andoah " to the British authorities. 
 
 This was the last scene in the terrible 
 drama inaugurated by Semmes and fin- 
 ished by Waddell. The story of the Confed- 
 erate cruisers carries with it a moral which 
 should not be forgotten. The civil war is 
 now remembered as a dreadful episode in 
 our history, bringing death and misery to 
 the North and South; but the ravages of 
 the Confederate commerce-destroyers were 
 inflicted upon men pursuing a peaceful 
 avocation, and were thus of peculiar hard- 
 ship. 
 
 The Confederates had in their proceed- 
 ings some show of justification ; but, as a 
 mode of canying on warfare, it was lack- 
 ing in the chivalry upon which Southern 
 oflBcers peculiarly prided themselves. With 
 one exception, we do not believe that a 
 Southern officer, engaged in the business 
 of destroying United States merchant ves- 
 sels, ever boasted after the war of what he 
 had done, or cared to dwell on events that 
 were calculated to leave an unpleasant im- 
 pression on the mind. 
 
 The destruction of United States com- 
 merce did not fulfill the object desired — 
 to benefit the Confederate cause — on the 
 contrary, it created great indignation, even 
 among the peace party of the North, and 
 caused Congress to make increased appro- 
 priations for the Navy. Indeed, but for 
 that circumstance, it is not likely that the 
 money allowed the Navy would have been 
 more than enough to maintain the blockade 
 of the Southern coast with such commercial 
 vessels as the Navy Department could pur- 
 
 chase. The lessons of the civil war will 
 not be lost, if ever the United States is en- 
 gaged in hostilities with either of the na- 
 tions that assisted the Confederates in their 
 raid on American commerce. It is true 
 that Great Britain made the amende honor- 
 able, after years of discussion, in regard to 
 her part of the business; but, by permitting 
 Confederate cruisers to roam at will over 
 the ocean, the British Government taught 
 her future foes how much mischief could 
 be done by three or four ordinary cruisers 
 against her own commerce, which is spread 
 all over the world, and on which her pres- 
 tige as a nation so largely depends. Other 
 nations will, doubtless, resort to the " Ala- 
 bama" mode of warfare, so inexpensive, 
 and so easily carried on, and calculated to 
 do so much injury to the chief commercial 
 nation of the world. 
 
 As the original "Monitor " changed the 
 system of building vessels of war, so the 
 plan inaugurated by Semmes has made an 
 entire change in the class of vessels to be 
 used as cruisers and commerce-destroyers. 
 Such strenuous efforts are put forth by the 
 naval powers in this direction, that there is 
 little difference between them in respect to 
 the perfection of their fast steamers. After 
 years of idle speculation, the United States 
 have at length entered into competition for 
 the best vessels for general war purposes, 
 and we are not likely to forget the lesson 
 ta'Ught us by Captain Semmes, with his 
 carefully-considered plan of operations. 
 
 Commerce - destroying has always been 
 practiced during war, and, in spite of the 
 protests of civilization and humanity, it 
 seems likely it will be practiced in the fu- 
 ture, since it is too strong a temptation to 
 the weaker powers to permit it to be abol- 
 ished. It furnishes also a strong induce- 
 ment for adventurers to enlist in vessels-of- 
 war, with the hope of excitement and prize- 
 money ; the latter, a stimulus which will 
 always keep a navy manned in time of war. 
 If it should ever happen that the commerce, 
 of the ocean should be allowed to pass un- 
 molested by belligerents, and that ships-of- 
 war simply be kept to enter into conflict, 
 with each other or with fortifications, war 
 would become a comparatively uninterest- 
 ing business, and might be lengthened out 
 interminably, so that, in the long run, there 
 would be nothing gained by the departure 
 from the old system. 
 
 The question has never been settled in 
 the popular mind as to whether the Confeder- 
 ate cruisers were properly constituted ves- 
 sels-of-war. The fact that most of them 
 were fitted out in defiance of the law of the 
 country in which they were built, and that, 
 the aiders and abettors of the scheme were 
 liable to a heavy penalty, would seem to be 
 a bar against their regularity. The fact 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 819 
 
 that Great Britain subsequently paid for 
 allowing her laws to be violated to the ex- 
 tent of jeopardizing the peace with a 
 friendly nation, must be taken as additional 
 evidence against the Confederate cruisers. 
 
 Great Britain, with propriety, might have 
 sent out her ships-of-war and captured the 
 Confederates on the high seas, or held them 
 on entering her ports to refit. The inviola- 
 bility which is supposed to surround a 
 national vessel should not shield her for 
 violation of the laws of a neutral nation, 
 especially when she belongs to a govern- 
 ment not recognized by any other. Other- 
 wise there would soon be an end to law and 
 order upon the ocean, and every little island 
 that could man a steamer might claim bel- 
 ligerent rights, and prey upon the enemy's 
 commerce after the manner of the Confed- 
 erate cruisers. 
 
 That the success of those vessels was due 
 to the inaction of the British Government 
 cannot be doubted, for, if Great Britain had 
 been mindful of her neutral obligations, she 
 would have renapnstrated so emphatically 
 with the Confederate Government against 
 the actions of their' ships-of-war as would 
 soon have put an end to the career of the 
 latter. 
 
 Although the Confederate Government 
 claimed that their cruisers were ships-of- 
 war, that assertion did not make them so ; 
 and the question arises, were they entitled 
 to the privileges accorded such ships by the 
 usages of nations ? Their position w;as cer- 
 tainly anomalous, being recognized as bel- 
 ligerents, although the State to which they 
 belonged had not been recognized by any 
 Government. The only recognition ac- 
 corded the Confederates by Great Britain 
 was the Queen's proclamation of neutrality, 
 forbidding either belligerent from taking 
 prizes into British ports. It is difficult to 
 understand how a nation can concede bel- 
 ligerent rights to another and recognize 
 the seizure of neutral property — as did 
 England and other powers — and yet main- 
 tain no official relations with her. The 
 clearest and most convincing statement of 
 this question is embraced in a work on 
 " The Blockade and the Cruisers," by Pro- 
 fessor James R. Soley, U. S. IST. A vast 
 amount of indulgence was shown the Con- 
 federate cruisers in every stage of their 
 proceedings, and it is not unlikely, if a sim- 
 ilar state of affairs should ever again oc- 
 cur, that neutrals will find it necessary to 
 draw the lines closer than heretofore, in 
 order not to be liable to penalties which 
 are apt to follow so liberal a course as was 
 pursued towards the Confederates, during 
 the American civil war, by certain Euro- 
 pean governments. 
 
 So many arguments have been advanced 
 
 Confederate Government in fitting out 
 cruisers, that it may not be amiss to inquire 
 how far the said cruisers were justified, in 
 committing the havoc they infiicted on the 
 merchant vessels of the United States. It 
 is well for us to ascertain whether the acts 
 of the Confederates came within the strict 
 limitations of the law of nations, for, in 
 case of war between any mother country 
 and her colonies, the acts of these cruisers, 
 if recognized as legal, would establish in- 
 jurious precedents. 
 
 Every government owes it to its citizens 
 to extend every possible safeguard around 
 the commerce of the ocean, for it is the 
 faith which merchants place in their gov- 
 ernments to protect them at all hazards, 
 which induces them to embark their prop- 
 erty on the high seas ; therefore, the differ- 
 ent powers should combine to establish 
 rules of action binding upon them all. 
 
 There were a dozen ways in which Great 
 Britain might have prevented her neutral- 
 ity laws from being violated. Had the 
 authorities adhered to the terms of the 
 Queen's proclamation, the Confederate 
 cruisers could never have extended their 
 operations beyond the coast of the United 
 States, where their career would have 
 speedily terminated after they had perhaps 
 destroyed a few unimportant vessels. Hav- 
 ing issued this proclamation, it was the duty 
 of the British Government, not only to ab- 
 stain from aiding in the destruction of 
 United States commerce, but to order all 
 Confederate cruisers to depart at once 
 from colonial or home ports ; and, in case of 
 neglect to obey the order, the Confederates 
 should have been summarily dealt with. 
 
 No government can afford to remain pas- 
 sive while its laws are being violated, for 
 this would indicate either weakness or 
 duplicity. If the Confederate vessels fitted 
 out in England were sent from English 
 ports in violation of English laws, they 
 were not legally authorized to capture or 
 destroy an enemy's commerce; and, if cap- 
 tured in their turn, the Confederate officers 
 and men could very properly have been 
 held for trial before the United States 
 courts. That the Confederate cruisers were 
 subject to capture by British vessels-of-war, 
 for violation of British law, there can be 
 little doubt. This would suggest that the 
 proceedings of the Confederate cruisers 
 were not strictly legal. 
 
 It was natural that the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment should take advantage of any flaw 
 in British laws to enable them to get their 
 vessels to sea ; but it was due to British 
 self-respect to be sure that those laws were 
 not violated, and the British Government, 
 should therefore have emphatically remon- 
 strated with the Confederate agents for 
 
'820 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ish as well as international law. No 
 better use could have been made of Brit- 
 ish cruisers — had one of these purchased 
 vessels escaped from a British port — than 
 to send them in pursuit of the offending 
 vessels. 
 
 The Confederate cruisers were British 
 vessels, subject to the laws of Great Britain, 
 and were commissioned as ships-of-war on 
 the high seas ; and it was supposed that the 
 high seas being common to all nations, 
 their being so commissioned was justifiable. 
 But this would not obliterate the former 
 delinquency — the violation of British laws 
 enacted to prevent the very course pursued 
 by the Confederate agents. The first steps 
 taken by these agents were so clearly 
 illegal, that the consummation of their pur- 
 pose could not be lawful, and the resultant 
 consequences were so in violation of all law, 
 that it is not strange the Federal Govern- 
 ment could never be brought to look upon 
 these vessels as legitimate cruisers. 
 
 To show the very dubious character of 
 some of the Confederate cruisers, we will 
 mention that it was not uncommon for 
 them to run the blockade under the British 
 flag, with British papers, taking in cargoes 
 of goods and carrying out cotton, and then 
 to figure for a time as vessels-of-war, vary- 
 ing their character to suit circumstances. 
 Of course, such proceedings cannot be justi- 
 fied by any of the usages of war. We will 
 quote a few cases mentioned by Professor 
 Soley, who has taken great pains to ascer- 
 tain the facts, and the reader will be struck 
 with the absurdity of claiming for vessels 
 so irregularly fitted out the character of 
 properly constituted ships - of - war. We 
 cannot call them pirates or privateers, but 
 we do say that the Confederate cruisers 
 were not regular ships-of-war, and were 
 acting in violation of the laws of Great 
 Britam as well as those of the United 
 States. 
 
 The " Japan," or " Georgia," left the Clyde 
 registered in the name of a British subject, 
 and remained for nearly three months still 
 registered in the name of her ostensible 
 owner, although during this time she was 
 engaged in hostilities against the Federal 
 Government. A year later she returned to 
 Liverpool, was dismantled and sold to a 
 British subject, the bill of sale being signed 
 by Captain James D. Bullock, of the Con- 
 federate Navy. The " Eappahannock " left 
 Sheerness in haste as a merchant vessel, 
 with workmen still on board, who were car- 
 ried off against their will. She assumed 
 the character of a Confederate cruiser while 
 crossing the British Channel, and sought 
 admission into the port of Calais as a ship- 
 of-war in distress ! The case of the " Tus- 
 caloosa," already mentioned, is too glaring 
 to need discussion. 
 
 Towards the close of the civil war the 
 Confederate Navy List must have presented 
 a curious aspect, for one day a vessel would 
 figure as a blockade-runner under the Brit- 
 ish flag, and the next she was a Confederate 
 cruiser; but, strange to say, the British colo- 
 nial courts could not find any law for in- 
 terfering with such vessels. The blockade- 
 runner " Edith" escaped from Wilmington, 
 N. C, one night in October, 1864, under the 
 name of the Confederate States steamer 
 "Chickamauga." She was armed with a 
 64 - pounder and a 33-pounder, and steering 
 north along the coast destroyed several 
 unfortunate vessels ; when, her where- 
 abouts becoming known, she was compelled 
 to run the gauntlet into Wilmington again, 
 and resumed her former character. What 
 particular object it was proposed to accom- 
 plish by such proceedings as those of the 
 "Chickamauga" is hard to conceive, for at 
 that stage of the civil war a cruise against 
 the coasting trade of the North could only 
 show the desperate straits to which the 
 Confederates were reduced, and was merely 
 an attempt to keep up the semblance of a 
 war on the ocean. 
 
 The "Atlanta" made two trips to Wil- 
 mington as a blockade-runner. She was 
 then converted into a cruiser and named 
 the " Tallahassee." Under this name she 
 left the Cape Fear River early in August, 
 1864. and on the 19th of that month arrived 
 at Halifax, after capturing and destroying 
 several vessels. Owing to the vigilance of 
 the authorities, who in this instance were 
 upon the alert to prevent a violation of the 
 neutrality laws, the " Tallahassee " was un- 
 able to obtain coal or othersupplies, and was 
 obliged to return to Wilmington. In Novem- 
 ber this vessel made another attempt, under 
 the name of the " Olustee," and took a few 
 prizes, but, returning to Wilmington, as- 
 sumed her old character of merchant vessel 
 and blockade-runner. She received the ap- 
 propriate name of "Chameleon," and in 
 December, 1864, went to sea under the com- 
 mand of Captain John Wilkinson, of the 
 Confederate Navy, with the object of re- 
 turning from Bermuda laden with provis- 
 ions for the Confederate army. Although 
 the Governor of Bermuda was duly apprised 
 of the character of the "Chameleon," he 
 expressed himself as satisfied that she had 
 been sufficiently whitewashed to be ad- 
 mitted as a merchant vessel. The cargo 
 was sold, a supply of stores laid in, and the 
 vessel returned to the Confederacv, only 
 to find that Wilmington was in Jederal 
 hands. Wilkinson then tried to get into 
 Charleston; but, failing in his attempt, he 
 proceeded to Nassau, landed his cargo, and 
 the vessel was taken to Liverpool and de- 
 livered to Fraser, Trenholm & Co., the 
 Confederate agents ; but as the British au- 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 821 
 
 thorities had now become very particular 
 in regard to the proceedings of these non- 
 descript vessels, the " Chameleon " was 
 seized and ultimately surrendered to the 
 United States Government. 
 
 It is only within a late period that we 
 have ascertained anything of the inner life 
 on board the Confederate cruisers, for Cap- 
 tain Semmes' voluminous narrative of the 
 " Sumter" and "Alabama" does not by any 
 means supply this want. The gallant cap- 
 tain represents his vessels as men-of-war, 
 with most able officers and subordinate 
 crews, where affairs were conducted in a 
 manner to meet the approbation of the 
 most hypercritical person. A lately pub- 
 lished narrative of life on board the 
 "Alabama," written by one of the crew, 
 represents things very differently from 
 the rose-colored view of the command- 
 ing oflScer. According to this account, 
 the usages of civilized nations were not 
 observed by the crew of the Confederate 
 cruiser, who were a riotous and abandoned 
 set of men, who paid little heed to the rules 
 and regulations of the vessel or the orders 
 of their officers. This is not to be wondered 
 at, when we consider that the men were 
 shipped in illegal fashion and were most of 
 them the lowest class of adventurers. We 
 give a few quotations from this interesting 
 article: 
 
 " I was pleased to find that I had not an old ship- 
 mate aboard. The best man in the port-watch, to 
 which I belonged, was a Scotchman named Grill. 
 He was about forty, very powerful, and could hold 
 an ordinary man at arm's length clear off the deck. 
 He was saturated with Calvinism, and could quote 
 Scripture and sermons by the hour, but was, all the 
 same, a daring, dangerous ruffian. According 
 to his own account, he had been in numerous 
 mutinies, in one case taking a Spanish brig, 
 killing the officers, beaching her on the Des- 
 eada Key, in the Leeward Islands, and getting to 
 Porto Rico in the launch with the plunder. This 
 man's influence was bad, and he was the cause of 
 much of the insubordination that took place on 
 board. 
 
 " We were now taking prizes rapidly, being not 
 over four hundred miles from New York, in the 
 'rolling forties,' directly in the track of American 
 commerce. 'The treatment of the prisoners was 
 fairly good, and they were not ill - used on board, 
 but the conduct of the boarding-crews was shame- 
 ful; the officer in charge of the boat had no control 
 over them, and they rushed below like a gang of 
 pirates, breaking open the sailors' chests, and tak- 
 ing from the persons of the prisoners everj^thing 
 that took their fancy. I never saw them injure 
 prisoners, or use their weapons, except to frighten 
 their victims, but the wanton destruction of the 
 clothes and effects of captured sailors was simply 
 disgraceful. This sort of thing seriously affected 
 the morale of the men, and, had we then met an 
 enemy of equal force, but of the usual standard of 
 man-of-war discipline, we should have made a very 
 poor show. The prisoners were of all nationalities, 
 but their officers all seemed to be Americans by 
 birth, and were mostly a fine, gentlemanly lot. The 
 old sea-dog element, so common among English 
 shippers in the East, does not seem to exist among 
 
 they might easily be mistaken for clerks or even 
 professors. Not so the old sailor, in command of 
 the 'tea wagons' and East Indian ships — their 
 walk and lingo proclaimed them sailors, and noth- 
 ing else. One of the mates of a whaling-ship we 
 took and burned was a parson-like man, and 
 preached and prayed to his fellows. He was long 
 and lanky, and two of our roughs began to haze 
 him, but they mistook their calling, and in two 
 minutes were so mauled and man-handled that it 
 was reported aft ; but the first-officer said it served 
 them right, much to the satisfaction of the honest 
 man between decks. ****** 
 
 " November 18th (1863), we arrived at Martinique 
 and had an ' ovation ' ; the exultation of the 
 French over the disasters to Yankee commerce im- 
 pressed me. A French corvette lying there gave a 
 dinner to the officers. Gill licked two of the French- 
 man's petty officers nearly to death, as his share of 
 the entertainment, and our liberty was stopped in 
 consequence. Forest swam on shore that night, 
 and, eluding sharks and look-outs, was hauled into 
 one of the berth-deck ports, with five gallons of the 
 worst liquor I ever drank. It set the entire watch 
 crazy. Forest kept comparatively sober, but old 
 Gill 'bowsed up his jib ' until he could scarcely 
 stand. Such an uproar I never heard ; the lanterns 
 were lit in defiance, and, when the watch was called, 
 the officer of the deck was saluted with all manner 
 of ' skrim-shander.' The boatswain was knocked 
 down and hurt by a blow from a belaying-pin, and 
 everything loose was fired aft. The officers and 
 marines with the sober portion of the crew now 
 charged forward, and a terrible melee ensued. Gill 
 knocked a gunner's-mate's jaw out of place, and 
 was laid out by a capstan-bar, and finally the 
 drunken men were secured. ***** 
 
 " We now sailed for Jamaica, going into Port 
 Royal, and had a pleasant time. Here something 
 occurred that few knew of. An Irishman called 
 " King-post," from his build, being short and thick, 
 was suspected of giving the' officers information of 
 the plans of Forest and his mates. He was closely 
 watched and he knew it, but was on his guard. He 
 took his liberty with the others, and, of course, got 
 drunk. Seeing Gill and another man leading a 
 third and going towards the suburbs, I followed, 
 and made out the third man to be King-post. I 
 missed them, and, as I knew that GUI was well 
 acquainted with the port, I at once conjectured 
 that he had seen me following them, and had 
 changed his course. An hour after, both men came 
 back and I joined them. I asked where the Irish- 
 man was. Gill looked at me with his hard gray 
 eyes, and significantly said : ' I dunna know, lad- 
 die, but he'll haud his tongue noo ; and ye had 
 better say naithing, yir a wise fallow !' King-post 
 never came back and was supposed to have de- 
 serted ; but, no doubt, he fell a victim to those two 
 ruffians. The crew broke all bounds here, and 
 nearly all the petty officers were disrated, much to 
 their satisfaction, as they had no respect from the 
 crew and were responsible for them to their officers. 
 ******* It was a very com- 
 mon thing for the crew that boarded a prize to 
 bring liquor back with them. Once some fifteen 
 bottles of brandy were smuggled aboard, and all 
 hands partook, A.s usual, there was a terrible time 
 between decks. One petty officer was so badly hurt 
 that it was thought he would die. Many of the 
 men had grape-shot in a netted bag fastened to the 
 wrist by a lanyard, and many a coward blow was 
 given with these." 
 
 Whether such performances as those 
 mentioned above were consistent with the 
 discipline of a vessel-of-war, we must leave 
 to the judgment of our naval readers. 
 
832 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 of the Confederate cruisers with the prece- 
 dents which have governed vessels-of-war 
 in modern times, and their toleration by 
 European governments must be due to the 
 fact that the said governments believed the 
 union of the States was finally dissolved, 
 and that the fragments would have no 
 power to exact reparation for damages. 
 The present condition of our country shows 
 what a mistaken idea prevailed abroad dur- 
 ing the civil war. 
 
 What is now chiefly required by the 
 United States is an adequate naval estab- 
 lishment such as will command the respect 
 of European powers. Under such circum- 
 stances, we would never have to fear a 
 recurrence of such dreadful scenes as 
 were common on board the Confederate 
 cruisers. 
 
 In the glamour attending the remarkable 
 cruise of Semmes, Waddell, in the " Shenan- 
 doah," has almost been lost sight of. Cap- 
 tain Semmes lost no opportunity of advertis; 
 ing himself through the vessels he bonded^ 
 through foreign vessels, or otherwise. His 
 object was to show the people of Europe 
 the dreadful havoc the Confederates were 
 making on American commerce; and, al- 
 though by this course he ran the risk of be- 
 ing followed and overtaken by the Federal 
 cruisers, yet he was so adroit in his pro- 
 ceedings that he always managed to leave 
 a cruising-ground before the United States 
 Government could get a vessel there. 
 Semmes frequented some of the best-known 
 ports, where there was constant communi- 
 cation with England, so that the Britons 
 were, constantly informed of the effect of 
 their policy in allowing Confederate cruisers 
 
 to be fitted out in their harbors. At the same 
 time this news was transmitted by British 
 packets to the United States, having its 
 effect there, but not exactly what Semmes 
 wanted. Semmes pursued this course, with- 
 out attempt at concealment, until his vessel 
 was sunk by the " Kearsarge." 
 
 Waddell, in the "Shenandoah," pursued 
 an entirely different course. He followed 
 the line of the whale fisheries which was 
 unfrequented by other vessels, and he car- 
 ried on his work, with little chance of its be- 
 ing found out, until he had destroyed the 
 entire whaling fleet. The actual losses in- 
 flicted by the "Alabama"— $6, 547, 609. SB- 
 was only about $60,000 greater than those 
 inflicted by the " Shenandoah," yet the lat- 
 ter was only in commission about one- half 
 as long a time as the "Alabama." Com- 
 mander Waddell kept his movements con- 
 cealed, and left no trace behind him by 
 which he could be followed. He eluded the 
 vigilance of the United States cruisers that 
 were in pursuit of him, and, after lightening 
 his vessel of a portion of her cargo, de- 
 livered her to the British authorities, and 
 she was at last turned over to the United 
 States Government. An account of the 
 inner life on board the " Shenandoah" has 
 never, to our knowledge, been published, 
 although from the records of the Court of 
 Alabama Claims we know the exact num- 
 ber of vessels Waddell captured and the 
 damage committed ; but, if ever an account 
 of this cruise is published, even in the 
 boastful spirit which characterizes so many 
 Confederate narratives, it will no doubt be 
 found equally interesting with the story of 
 the " Alabama," and quite as disreputable. 
 
CH A PTER LV II 
 
 THE RAM "STONEWALL." 
 
 Remarkable Energy and Fidelity of the Confederate Agents Abroad.— The Build- 
 ing, Purchase and Fitting out of Confederate Cruisers.— The Ram " Stonewall " 
 
 BUILT, sold to the DaNISH AUTHORITIES, AND REPURCHASED BY THE CONFEDERATE 
 
 Government. — The Ram in Commission.— The Federal Vessels-of-war " Niagara" 
 AND '* Sacramento" Blockaded in the Port of Corunna.— Actions of Commo- 
 dore Craven.— The Ram Proceeds to Lisbon.— Commodore Craven Court-mar- 
 tialed AND Sentenced. — The Secretary of the Navy Censures the Court, and 
 the Proceedings set aside.— Commodore Craven Restored to Duty. — The Ram 
 ends her Career at Havana, and is finally Surrendered to the United States 
 BY THE Spanish Authorities. — Remarks. 
 
 THE management of the agents of the 
 Confederate Government abroad 
 in supplying it with cruisers was 
 very remarkable, and shows that 
 the Confederacy was extremely 
 fortunate in the selection of the officers 
 thus employed. The agents not only suc- 
 ceeded in eluding the supposed vigilance 
 of the authorities in England, but were 
 even able to contract for two powerful 
 rams and four corvettes in France to 
 carry the most formidable guns then 
 known. 
 
 One of the cleverest of these officers, 
 and, as far as we know, the best, Captain 
 James D. Bullock, was the principal agent 
 in England for the purchase of vessels, and 
 though the laws were violated in the trans- 
 action of building or purchasing, the viola- 
 tion rested principally with the builder or 
 seller. In all his business transactions, it 
 is fair to say of Captain Bullock that the 
 only charge brought against him was too 
 great a fidelity to the cause he had espoused, 
 coupled with the ability he manifested in 
 getting Confederate cruisers afloat. Though 
 it is true that he was the prime-mover in 
 getting these cruisers to sea, it has not been 
 charged that he ever resorted to dishonor- 
 able means to attain his ends. It is said 
 that he made contracts fairly and openly 
 
 -Mrit.Vi Vinilrlf»rs and left, it with thp.m tn Hp- 
 
 liver the ships at such time and place as 
 they thought best. That the latter were 
 adepts in violating their own laws, no one 
 will doubt, and it is not to be supposed that 
 the Confederate agents would hesitate to 
 accept a well-fitted ship in a very irregular 
 manner, as it seemed to the Federal Gov- 
 ernment, for human nature is too weak on 
 such occasions to resist temptation. 
 
 Bullock was a man of ability. He never 
 tired in his efforts, and if he met with diffi- 
 culties at one turn he tried another; and 
 when the British Government, seeing "the 
 handwriting on the wall," realized the im- 
 portance of not becoming involved in a war 
 with the United States, and suddenly exer- 
 cised all its power to put a stop to fitting 
 out cruisers, Bullock transferred his talents 
 to France, or, at least, pointed the way to 
 constructing the vessels mentioned in that 
 country. The career of the cruisers was 
 nearly over; but they had been so success- 
 ful that the Confederate Government was 
 determined to show that it was able to drive 
 off the large frigates and other vessels be- 
 fore the Southern ports, and raise the block- 
 ade all along the coast. Perhaps, had the 
 vessels contracted for in France all got off 
 together, and operated in concert, they 
 might have created some confusion along 
 the coast of the United States. 
 
834 
 
 run. iVAVJiJ^ niaiuKx 
 
 in securing joint action with England 
 against Mexico, and, seeing that the South- 
 ern rebellion was fast collapsing, felt sure 
 that the first step of the Federal Govern- 
 ment would be to march a large army into 
 Mexico to drive out the French troops. 
 That army might possibly have been com- 
 posed of Federal and Confederate soldiers 
 marching shoulder to shoulder to defeat the 
 common enemy, who, taking advantage of 
 an intestine war, had presumed to establish 
 an Empire right at our doors on the ruins 
 of a sister Republic. 
 
 The construction of the vessels for the 
 Confederate Government in France was 
 undertaken by the builders with the tacit 
 understanding that the French authorities 
 would not prevent their delivery on comple- 
 tion. But owing, undoubtedly, to the Euro- 
 pean apprehensions, when the rams were 
 about ready for sea, peremptory orders were 
 given by the French Government that all 
 the vessels should be sold. The orders were 
 obeyed, and the "Stonewall" (then the 
 "Sphynx") was purchased by Denmark, 
 just as the Schleswig-Holstein war was clos- 
 ing. Delay in the completion and final 
 delivery of the ram to Denmark made that 
 government lukewarm in carrying out the 
 terms of the purchase, as by this time the 
 war was at an end and the ship was not 
 required. When, therefore, a proposition 
 was made by the builder to repurchase the 
 "Sphynx," after delivery at Copenhagen, 
 the Danish authorities accepted it without 
 hesitation, and, as a natural sequence, she 
 passed into the possession of the Confed- 
 erate agents, was by them put into commis- 
 sion, and christened the " Stonewall." The 
 history of the four corvettes is not pertinent, 
 as they never came into the possession of 
 the Confederate Government. The "Stone- 
 wall" was placed under the command of 
 Captain Thomas Jefferson Page, an able 
 officer, formerly of the United States Navy. 
 She had, we regret to say, an opportunity 
 of inflicting a humiliation upon the Amer- 
 ican Navy which was hard to bear, consid- 
 ering that its name almost throughout the 
 conflict had been without a stain, and that 
 the reputation it had gained in the war of 
 1812 had not diminished in the least. 
 
 The "Stonewall" got to sea January 
 28th, 1865, having received her stores and 
 crew from another vessel dispatched by 
 Captain Bullock from England, at Quiberon 
 Bay, Belle Isle, France, but, owing to defects 
 in the rudder casing, the " Stonewall " put in 
 to Ferrol, Spain, for repairs, where she ar- 
 rived February 3d, and fell in with the Fed- 
 eral frigate "Niagara" and sloop-of-war 
 " Sacramento," under the command of Com- 
 modore Thomas T. Craven. The "Niagara" 
 was a large and fast vessel of 4,600 tons dis- 
 placement, carrying ten 150-pounder Parrott 
 
 rifles. The " Sacramento " mounted two^ 
 11-inch guns, two 9-inch guns and one 60- 
 pounder rifle, with some smaller pieces. 
 The "Stonewall" carried one 300-pounder 
 Armstrong rifle in a casemate in the bow 
 and two 70-pounder rifles in a fixed turret, 
 aft. Her sides were armored with 4| inches 
 of iron ; she had also a heavy ram. Such 
 was the force of the three vessels now con- 
 gregated in a , Spanish port, the Confeder- 
 ate evidently determined to try conse- 
 quences with the Federal vessels. 
 
 The commander of the " Niagara," not 
 wishing to lay in the same port with the 
 Confederate vessel, moved his ship to 
 Corunna, where, when her repairs were 
 completed, she was followed by the " Stone- 
 wall," which remained before the port 
 blockading the two American ships-of-war, 
 and, as the Commodore expressed it, 
 "flaunting her flags in his face." Cap- 
 tain Page, in fact, did everything he could 
 to provoke an encounter; and it must have 
 been with much mortiflcation that the 
 Union commodore decided to remain at his 
 anchors, and not run the risk of a battle 
 with a foe that was represented as built 
 with impervious sides, and with a battery 
 (though smaller in numbers) very much 
 superior to his own. Unfortunately, the 
 Spaniards looking on could not be made to 
 understand how two large vessels, mount- 
 ing between them fifteen heavy guns, could 
 decline a contest with a much smaller ves- 
 sel carrying only three guns, and hence 
 arose some misconstruction as to the exist- 
 ence of that prestige which American of- 
 ficers claimed for their Navy. It must have 
 required great moral courage in an officer 
 commanding two such ships to refrain from 
 attacking the " Stonewall," on the ground 
 that an engagement would result disas- 
 trously for the Union vessels. At the same 
 time, no commander would be held justifi- 
 able, merely for the sake of making a repu- 
 tation for himself, in neglecting other in- 
 terests and attacking an enemy so superior 
 to him that he would have no chance of 
 success. But the question arises, was the 
 " Stonewall" so superior to the " Niagara " 
 and "Sacramento ? And it was a ques- 
 tion that could only be ascertained by a 
 contest at sea, when each vessel would 
 have an opportunity of testing the other's 
 qualities. 
 
 As the "Stonewall" was seen by the 
 commander of the " Niagara," who was a 
 capital sailor, she appeared to be a most 
 powerful antagonist, and if well handled 
 she would probably have inflicted serious 
 injury upon the two vessels he commanded. 
 He thought, perhaps (and so thought other 
 professional men), that, under certain cir- 
 cumstances, the ram would have sunk the 
 two Federal ships ; while others, who hav» 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 835 
 
 since seen the weak points in the " Stone- 
 wall," are of the opinion that she would 
 have been no match for the Union vessels. 
 No results would ever be arrived at, if a 
 commander of a vessel should be unwilling 
 to attack another about which he knew 
 nothing. It is very questionable whether 
 naval actions which are based exclusively 
 on too nice calculations, and where too 
 much consideration is given to the risk to 
 be run in engaging an enemy, are ever fol- 
 lowed by any gallant results. 
 
 There was great excitement in the Navy 
 Department on hearing the conclusion the 
 commander of the " Niagara "had reached 
 in regard to the "Stonewall," and that, in 
 consequence, the Confederate vessel had 
 proceeded to Lisbon, coaled, and continued 
 on her way toward the coast of the United 
 States, without being followed further than 
 that place. The several squadrons on the 
 coast were warned that this formidable 
 vessel was about to attack them, and di- 
 rected to keep a good look-out for her; but, 
 as a general rule, her advent was not at all 
 apprehended, and, if she had appeared, 
 steps had been taken to dispose of her as 
 all Confederate rams had been disposed of 
 before her. 
 
 It would not be fair for any one to judge 
 harshly of the action of the Federal com- 
 mander in this matter, unless he had been 
 placed in the same position himself. No 
 officer should be deprived of the discretion- 
 ary power due to his command, or be 
 trammelled by the opinions of those who 
 have no responsibility resting upon them. 
 It would never do to establish a principle 
 that, for the sake merely of his reputation, 
 an officer under all circumstances should 
 attack an iron-clad with two wooden ves- 
 sels. Very little was known of the power 
 of sea-going iron-clads at that time, and 
 the " Stonewall," for all the commander of 
 the " Niagara " knew, might be impervious 
 to shot or shell, and with manoeuvering 
 powers that were unequalled by the two 
 ships under his command. Yet there may 
 have been some justification for censure in 
 the want of judgment in the commodore 
 on the 24th day of May, 1865, in not making 
 some exertion to obtain constant and per- 
 sonal observation of the Confederate ram 
 while at Ferrol, and thus ascertain the 
 truth or falsehood of the received reports 
 of her character. There might also be 
 some cause for reflection on the conduct of 
 the Federal commander in remaming 
 quietly at anchor in the Bay of Corunna, 
 instead of going outside with his two ves- 
 sels in the same neutral water, and there 
 making observations of the " Stonewall's " 
 speed power of turning, etc. ; and he might, 
 with ' propriety, have consulted with his 
 -innmr commander. Captain Henry Walke, 
 
 of the " Sacramento," who had boldly en- 
 gaged on the Mississippi River a much 
 more powerful ram — the " Arkansas " — 
 while in command of the " Carondelet," a 
 much inferior vessel — at least, he might 
 have formed with his consort some plan of 
 attack. This was not done, perhaps for 
 the reason that, as, in his judgment, no en- 
 gagement should take place, it was useless 
 to form plans he did not propose to under- 
 take. 
 
 Some of these ideas were evidently para- 
 mount in the mind of the Secretary of the 
 Navy when the commander of the " Niag- 
 ara " returned to the United States, as he 
 brought him to trial by court-martial on the 
 following charge : " Failing to do his ut- 
 most to overtake and capture or destroy a 
 vessel which it was his duty to encounter." 
 The court was composed of nine of the most 
 distinguished officers of the Navy, with 
 Vice- Admiral Farragut as President. The 
 court decided that Commodore Craven had 
 been remiss in his duties, and sentenced 
 him to two years' suspension on leave-pay. 
 This sentence was either inadequate to the 
 offence charged, or it was very unjust, 
 which will be plain to the nautical reader. 
 Secretary Welles seemed to think that, not- 
 withstanding the opinion of nine officers of 
 the Navy, the sentence was inadequate to 
 the offence, and addressed a severe com- 
 munication to the president of the court in 
 returning the proceedings for revision. 
 Whether he was right or not in doing so 
 depends on the latitude the revising author- 
 ity is allowed in disapproving the finding 
 of a court of officers who are sworn to do 
 their whole duty in the premises. It would 
 seem to be an attempt to deprive them of 
 that discretionary power which is gener- 
 ally a beneficent feature in a military 
 court-martial. It also detracts from that 
 dignity which properly belongs to such a 
 body, holding, as it does, the power even of 
 life and death. The following is an extract 
 from the Department's letter, returning the 
 record to the court for revision : 
 
 "Navy Department, \ 
 "Washington, December 1, 1865. ) 
 " Sir — The record of the proceedings of the court 
 of which you are President, in the case of Commo- 
 dore Thomas T. Craven, is herewith returned for a 
 revision of the finding, which, in the opinion of the 
 Department, is in conflict with law, and, if ap- 
 proved, would tend to render the provisions of 
 law, which the accused is charged with violating, a 
 'dead letter."" 
 
 Having received this letter, the court pro- 
 ceeded to revise its action upon the charge 
 and specifications, and, after more mature 
 deliberation, " doth find the charge j3rot;en, 
 except the words, ' as it was his duty to 
 have done,' and doth find the accused, 
 Commodore Thomas T. Craven, of the 
 charge, guilty, and doth award the follow- 
 
836 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 ing punishment : That the accused, Com- 
 modore Thomas T. Craven, be suspended 
 from duty for two years on leave-pay." In 
 his final revision of this finding, the re- 
 marks of the Secretary of the Navy are a 
 severe censure on the action of the court, 
 the proceedings were set aside and the ac- 
 cused restored to duty. 
 
 The above is a very important part of 
 the history of the war, which we would be 
 glad to be able to omit; but there are facts 
 in the case having a very important bear- 
 ing upon the future actions of officers of 
 the Navy, and it would not be right in a 
 historian to omit that which is unfavor- 
 able to the naval service and publish only 
 that which is creditable. This case may 
 be referred to hereafter as a test question, 
 and the finding of the court and the opinion 
 of the revising power may be adduced to 
 show what duties are enjoined on members 
 of courts-martialj and how far the revising 
 power can go in virtually setting aside the 
 sentence of a court when it is not consid- 
 ered to be severe enough, and in censuring 
 a court in an official letter. 
 
 It is a well-established principle in mili- 
 tary or naval law, that when charges are 
 brought against an officer to any one of 
 which the penalty of death is attached, no 
 other sentence can be awarded. The law 
 is imperative that courts - martial shall 
 adjudge a punishment adequate to the of- 
 fence committed and only leaves it discre- 
 tionary with the court to recommend the 
 convicted person to clemency, that clem- 
 ency to be exercised only by the revising 
 authority. The court has no discretion but 
 to make its finding accord with the law. 
 In the case under consideration, the court 
 may have deemed that the law under which 
 the accused was tried was one of a harsh 
 character, as, no doubt, it was as far as 
 regards the case in question, but it was 
 bound by a solemn obligation to administer 
 it as it stood on the statute-books, and not 
 to modify it to suit their own views of jus- 
 tice. They had full authority to make 
 recommendations to mercy that the revis- 
 ing power would hardly feel justified in 
 disregarding, especially as a similar case 
 had never been presented to a court dur- 
 ing the war, and when it was a question 
 whether an officer had any discretionary 
 power in avoiding a combat with a vessel 
 of an entirely different character from his 
 own, and constructed on principles many 
 years in advance of vessels of the class he 
 commanded. 
 
 The great mistake the court made was in 
 endeavoring to modify the charge of which 
 the accused was or was not guilty. They 
 had either to say one thing or another, and 
 that in accordance with their opinion such 
 was the case, and the revising power could 
 
 say no more. No ill results followed the 
 " flaunting" of the " Stonewall's " flag, and 
 it was in some respects a very doubtful 
 case. Three of the officers of the court, 
 Vice - Admiral Farragut, Rear - Admiral 
 Davis and Captain Melancton Snaith, had 
 had some rough experiences with iron-clad 
 rams, and, under the circumstances, were, 
 no doubt, disposed to judge leniently, and 
 willing to allow the commander of the 
 "Niagara" discretionary rights in regard 
 to attacking the " Stonewall." The court 
 made a grave mistake in not more care- 
 fully considering this matter, and in not 
 inquiring more closely into the points of 
 law ; and for this reason it may be said 
 that the court jeopardized, in a measure, 
 the interests of the accused by finding him 
 guilty of that which was not proved ; inas- 
 much as they declared by implication that 
 it was not his duty to have attacked the 
 "Stonewall," the finding being as follows: 
 " Specification of the charge proven, except 
 in so far as the words, ' as it was his duty 
 to have done,' declare it to have been the 
 imperative duty of the accused to join 
 battle with the ' Stonewall ' on the 34th day 
 of March"— (1865). 
 
 How, under the finding of the court, the 
 commander of the "Niagara" could be 
 censured for " want of zeal and exertion in 
 not making constant and personal observa- 
 tion of the ' Stonewall ' while at Ferrol, 
 and thereby endeavoring to ascertain the 
 truth or falsehood of the various reports of 
 her character," does not appear ; for, while 
 qualifying their finding, they reflect upon 
 him in three several instances : First, in 
 the words just quoted ; second, " on the 
 conduct of the accused in remaining quietly 
 at anchor in the bay of Corunna while the 
 ' Stonewall ' was parading about in neutral 
 waters, flaunting her flags," etc ; and, 
 third, in that no plans were formed for con- 
 certed action between the "Niagara" and 
 " Sacramento " by the accused. Under the 
 circumstances, and considering the incon- 
 sistency of the court, the revising power 
 found it impossible to determine whether the 
 accused was guilty or not, the finding on 
 the charge declaring him guilty, but that 
 on the specification, not guilty. As the 
 court adhered to its finding when the pro- 
 ceedings were returned for revision, the 
 Secretary of the Navy concluded to set the 
 proceedings aside, and restore the com- 
 mander of the " Niagara " to duty. 
 
 As this case ended, the matter is left in 
 abeyance, and it may yet happen that an 
 officer may be tried under the same circum- 
 stances which present the simple question, 
 Shall an officer be allowed any discretion- 
 ary power in deciding whether or not to join 
 battle with an enemy's ships or with an 
 enemy's forts ? — for the principle applies to 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 837 
 
 "both. In the light of later events, the leni- 
 ency of the court at that time is generally 
 approved, and, taking into consideration 
 the high character of the officers who com- 
 posed it, it would have been but courteous 
 to them had the revising power yielded to 
 their opinion, which was, without doubt, the 
 result of their honest convictions. It has 
 been conceded that Admiral Byng, of the 
 British Navy, was unjustly shot, to satisfy 
 public opinion. There was no necessity on 
 this occasion for such an example. No 
 man could know whether or not the affair 
 at Corunna was an error of judgment — in 
 
 fact, no one could tell whether it was not 
 the right course to pursue. Any officer 
 commanding two wooden ships of the same 
 kind to-day could feel perfectly justified in 
 avoiding a battle with a modern iron-clad 
 ram — whether the cases are analagous, the 
 reader must be the judge. 
 
 After all the trouble and excitement cre- 
 ated by the " Stonewall," she never suc- 
 ceeded in getting beyond Havana, where, 
 at the termination of the war, she was 
 given up to the Spanisli Government by her 
 commander in an honorable manner and 
 surrendered to the United States. 
 
CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 CONCLUSIOK 
 
 WHEN the war ended, the United 
 States had attained a position 
 as a Naval power never be- 
 fore reached by the Republic, 
 and could claim to b6 able to 
 meet either France or England upon the 
 ocean. Both of these nations had looked on 
 with surprise at the rapid manner in which 
 the Federal Government was adding to its 
 Navy. If not anxious for the dissolution of 
 the United States, both France and England 
 were quick to throw their weight against 
 it by proclamations, giving to the Con- 
 federates a character that did much to 
 strengthen their cause, by offering them 
 most substantial aid, and in permitting 
 them to build, arm and equip vessels-of-war 
 in their ports for the destruction of Ameri- 
 can commerce. Even at a time when the 
 Federal armies had advanced so far in the 
 enemy's country that the final result was 
 apparent to the most indifferent observer, 
 the Confederate sympathizers in France and 
 England declared that the Federal Govern- 
 ment was making no progress in subduing 
 the Confederacy, and insisted that the Navy, 
 in particular, was incapable of putting down 
 the few cruisers that were destroying 
 American commerce at their pleasure. 
 
 France, the ancient ally of the United 
 States, that had stood by the young Repub- 
 lic in its hour of need, and who had always 
 been bound to it in the closest ties of 
 amity, under the avaricious policy of her 
 emperor, who had his eyes fixed on Mexico, 
 went over to England and supported her in 
 the proclamations issued in the Queen's 
 name, but dictated by Earl Russell. The 
 emperor hoped to persuade England to em- 
 bark in a scheme that was to benefit France 
 only in the subjection of Mexico to French 
 rule, and to add to the French crown that 
 jewel which would enrich and strengthen 
 any nation that possessed it. In his insane 
 desire to obtain possession of that beauti- 
 
 ful country, the French emperor beheld in 
 the supposed waning power of the United 
 States the opportunity he sought to enable 
 him to plant his foot firmly on the soil of 
 the Montezumas, thinking that, once the 
 City of Mexico was occupied by his troops, 
 the United States would never again be 
 in a condition to offer any obstacles to the 
 permanent establishment of French au- 
 thority. It was this ambitious project 
 only that induced France to abandon her 
 old friendship for the United States, and 
 uphold England in her questionable policy 
 of permitting the construction of Confed- 
 erate cruisers in her ports. Had France 
 remained strictly neutral, and shown Eng- 
 land that she did not approve of the 
 pretended neutrality the latter was prac- 
 ticing, the moral effect of her course 
 would have been to prevent England from 
 assisting the Confederates. 
 
 When the "Trent" affair took place (which 
 did not in the least concern France), and 
 when the British Government had taken 
 such precipitate measures to humiliate the 
 Federal Government — not giving it time 
 even to make an explanation — the French 
 emperor, through his minister in Washing- 
 ton, entered an entirely uncalled-for protest 
 against the action of the United States ves- 
 sel-of-war " San Jacinto," stating that such 
 a course was as offensive to France as to 
 England, and, in fact, to all European gov- 
 ernments ; and announcing in his dispatch 
 the course France would pursue under like 
 circumstances — his real policy being to urge 
 England into a war with the United States, 
 which would further French views in re- 
 gard to Mexico. This shows the animus 
 actuating the emperor; though the Federal 
 Administration had its hands full at that 
 time, his object was apparent, while the sin- 
 cerity of England was strongly suspected. 
 
 The first step of the Navy Department, 
 when it could command the money, was to 
 
 i«m 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 839 
 
 construct a Navy not only for the purpose 
 of blockading the Southern coast, but to 
 
 Krotect our shores from foreign foes, and 
 old their own iipon the ocean with the 
 cruisers of either France or England. We 
 have shown how inadequate the Navy was 
 at the breaking out of the rebellion even to 
 blockade the Confederate ports, much less to 
 offer resistance to a powerful naval antag- 
 onist ; but even the first year of the war was 
 one of wonderful development for the 
 Navy, not only in establishing a complete 
 blockade, but in the usefulness of naval 
 vessels in assisting the Army to carry out 
 plans of conquest that it could never have 
 achieved alone. 
 
 In a very short time after the Confeder- 
 acy was established, all the great rivers of 
 the West and their tributaries were in Con- 
 federate hands, and the most inaccessible 
 points therein armed with ponderous guns, 
 manned by an excited soldiery. The Poto- 
 mac River was blockaded almost from 
 Alexandria to the Chesapeake; the Sounds 
 of North Carolina were filled with powerful 
 batteries, and the channels closed by 
 sunken obstructions. Every port on the 
 Southern coast was protected by well-con- 
 structed forts, and closed against the few 
 vessels the Government owned, and for a 
 time the Federal cause looked so hopeless 
 that Europeon despots might well be ex- 
 cused for supposing that it would be an im- 
 possible task to recover the lost domain, 
 unprovided as the Federal Government 
 was with ships of a character to contend 
 with all the peculiar difficulties of naviga- 
 tion in the inland waters. 
 
 The difficulties to be overcome have only 
 been described in this work in a partial 
 way, for no description could give an ade- 
 quate idea of all that was done by the Navy 
 and how it was done. Compare the results 
 of this great war in matters connected 
 with the Navy alone with those of any 
 other scene of action in Europe or else- 
 where, and it will be seen that history of- 
 fers no example where so much was accom- 
 plished in so short a time, or where so 
 many events were crowded into the space 
 of four years, in which the Navy was em- 
 ployed subduing a coast over four thou- 
 sand miles in length, and recapturing a 
 river-coast of more than five thousand 
 miles. 
 
 Let us compare the operations of England 
 and France in the Crimea with those on 
 our own coast, and note the results. These 
 two nations had but a small amount of 
 territory to subdue — four hundred square 
 miles at the most; the two great navies of the 
 world were at their command, with a much 
 larger proportion of troops than ever co- 
 operated with the Federal naval forces dur- 
 ino- t.ho war of the rebellion : thev started 
 
 with the greatest armada the world ever 
 saw — sixty or seventy ships of the line, and 
 numerous other vessels-of-war, transports 
 (filled with troops), that almost covered the 
 sea ; and still they were months making 
 any impression upon the Russian strong- 
 hold, which did not in any way compare 
 with Vicksburg. 
 
 The Federal Government commenced 
 with four small vessels (carrying in all 
 twenty -five guns), the duty of capturing 
 or blockading the South Atlantic coast. In 
 the Gulf of Mexico were eight more ships; 
 in the Mediterranean, three more; seven 
 were on the coast of Africa; two on that of 
 Brazil; three were in the East Indies, and 
 eight in the Pacific — scattered, in fact, all 
 over the world ; and these had to be col- 
 lected to satisfy England and France that a 
 perfect blockade could be established. They 
 naturally ridiculed the attempt, yet in less 
 than a year the blockade was accomplished, 
 so that the most hypercritical sovereign 
 could not object to it, and every foreign 
 government acknowledged that it was the 
 great feat of the war. All the skill and 
 capital of England could not keep this 
 blockade open, though they might at times 
 succeed in getting their vessels into South- 
 ern ports to supply the Confederate armies 
 with the means of carrying on the war. 
 The Navy was so watchful that multitudes 
 of English vessels were captured; the coasts 
 of the South were strewn with the wrecks 
 of English clipper-steamers which were 
 chased on shore in calm and in storm by 
 officers who seldom slept, and were scan- 
 ning the horizon night and day for the 
 sight of an incoming blockade-runner. 
 
 This was but a small part of the naval 
 service performed. The Navy was called 
 upon to help open the Potomac, and guard 
 the capital; directed to capture the Hatteras 
 forts, and the fortifications in the sounds 
 and rivers of North Carolina. The forts at 
 Hilton Head defied them, but naval officers, 
 with their wooden vessels, dismantled them 
 with shell. Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 
 which French and English officers said 
 would sink the whole Federal Navy, barred 
 the way to New Orleans ; the guns of the 
 Navy opened the gates and laid New 
 Orleans captive at the conqueror's feet. 
 
 Then came the demand that the Navy 
 should open the Mississippi from the Ohio 
 River to the sea, clear out the obstructions 
 in the shape of four hundred guns, and 
 restore the different towns on the banks 
 of that great river to the control of the 
 United States Government. With what 
 was it all to be done ? Could their frail 
 vessels, improvised from river-boats and a 
 few thin-plated vessels, be able to force 
 the barriers that were placed on every 
 elis-ible site ? Yet. with the aid of the 
 
830 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Army, a little over two years after the war 
 began, the Mississippi was open to the sea. 
 The ideas of the Navy Department grew 
 with the success of the Navy afloat, and 
 the work-shops of the country teemed with 
 mechanics who entered heaf t and soul into 
 the business of building iron-clads that 
 could not only cope successfully with the 
 heavy forts of the enemy, but could remind 
 unfriendly nations that the more severely 
 this nation was tested, the more she would 
 rise in her strength. 
 
 The State of Tennessee, the great prize 
 and battle-ground (upon which the enemy 
 expended a large portion of their resources, 
 and through which they hoped to attack 
 the northwestern States), was under the 
 control of the gun-boats, and the Army 
 was placed by their aid securely in the 
 heart of the State. From the time a naval 
 force was placed on the Tennessee and 
 Cumberland Rivers, the stay of the Con- 
 federate forces was very problematical, 
 and it cannot escape the attention of the 
 reader how persistent were the naval offi- 
 cers who commanded the Western Squadron 
 in keeping open two rivers, which were in 
 all cases the keys to the situation. 
 
 Only two important points on the sea- 
 coast had been maintained by the enemy — 
 Charleston and Wilmington — but, though 
 they flourished for a time, afforded great 
 assistance to the Confederate cause, and 
 kept up the drooping spirits of the infatu- 
 ated Confederacy, the rebellion received its 
 death-blow on July 4th, 1863. Its after- 
 struggles were only like those of the dying 
 lion, that for a short time exhibits his 
 greatest strength without power to do any 
 injury in his dying throes, no matter how 
 much prolonged. 
 
 At the end of the war the United States 
 Government had just begun to realize its 
 strength, and those who had the direction 
 of its affairs might well feel proud of the 
 great Army and Navy which stood ready, 
 now that the intestine troubles were over, 
 to take in hand those who had so inso- 
 lently interfered with the Federal Govern- 
 ment, not from any real sympathy with the 
 Southern cause, but from a desire to see the 
 free institutions of this country over- 
 thrown, and the whole land become a scene 
 of anarchy — to show that man was in no 
 place fit for self-government. 
 
 What the Navy Department and the war 
 did towards building up a Navy, and a 
 Navy altogether of a new type, can only be 
 judged by a reference to the tables anne'xed 
 to this chapter, which give a correct exhibit 
 of the ships built, building, and altered, 
 during the four years' war — a feat only one 
 other nation (Great Britain) could have ac- 
 complished in the same space of time. 
 
 All of this Navy that is known in his- 
 
 tory as having performed the greatest feat 
 in the war (the most complete blockade of 
 a coast ever established), is among the 
 things of the past. Its dissolution was even 
 more rapid than its creation. It was 
 allowed to dwindle away without an effort 
 to replace those ships, that had fallen vic- 
 tims to decay, with others of a' suitable 
 character. The vessels were sold "under 
 the hammer," as no longer suitable for the 
 purposes of war, which had changed its 
 character entirely since the beginning of 
 the American contest. A few old vessels 
 still remain to attest the uselessness of a 
 branch of the service on which the Gov- 
 ernment must depend for protection in 
 time of war with a foreign nation, or to 
 keep the peace at home against insurrec- 
 tionists of whatever character that may 
 present themselves. 
 
 It is no compliment to the intelligence of 
 sixty millions of people to have it said, 
 that the United States has not one iron- 
 clad to defend her coast ; not a perfectly 
 equipped cruiser of steel to carry her flag' 
 upon the ocean ; not a single gun in her 
 coast defences that could pierce the shield 
 of a foreign iron-clad, and not a fortifica- 
 tion that could resist the attack of two or 
 three foreign-built iron-clads. We may be 
 said to be a great nation of people, but cer- 
 tainly not a nation of great people ; for, 
 who will call us the latter, when there 
 seems to be such a love of accumulating 
 wealth, without the manly desire to have 
 the means of defending it against the ag- 
 gressions of any power that may choose to 
 make war upon us ? The Government of 
 the United States cannot defend themselves 
 against the weakest naval power, much less 
 against a strong one, and we must, per- 
 force, rely on that old system, so much in 
 vogue in Thomas Jefferson's time, of pay- 
 ing tribute, as we did from 1804 to 1815 to 
 the Barbary powers, to prevent them from 
 preying on our commerce and carrying our 
 citizens to captivity. 
 
 We had experience enough during the 
 war of the rebellion to satisfy us that there 
 were certain European governments that 
 desired the downfall of the American 
 Union, and it was only by means of an 
 abject compliance with their demands that 
 we escaped war, which would have been 
 the signal of the complete triumph of the 
 South and the dissolution of the Union 
 which our forefathers exercised so much 
 wisdom in building up. What a noble 
 sight it would have been, after the settle- 
 ment of our difficulties at home, to see the 
 American people set to work and build a 
 Navy that would bid defiance to any naval 
 power in the world — to rebuild the com- 
 merce that had been driven from the sea 
 by the "Alabamas" and " Floridas," and 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 831 
 
 which was once the pride and wealth of 
 the nation — to give an exhibition of our 
 wealth and resources and . our indomitable 
 will, that no nation should oppose us, or 
 interfere with our domestic affairs. But, 
 instead of this we stood still, while other 
 nations worked on, and taking advantage 
 of our lethargy robbed us of our com- 
 merce, took the carrying trade all in their 
 own hands, and now laugh at our inane 
 attempts to build up a Navy, which, if it 
 ever reaches a reputable standard, will show 
 that we are so deficient in the elementary 
 science of naval construction that we can- 
 not keep pace even with the modern ex- 
 amples that have been set us by European 
 powers. 
 
 We can be no more exempt from war 
 than others; indeed, our weak condition is 
 so well understood by all the world that it 
 only invites aggression ; and, if we would 
 not desire to rest under the imputation of 
 being the poorest government under the 
 sun, and unfit to take care of the interests 
 of sixty millions of people, we must shortly 
 awake from an apathy that would disgrace 
 any country, and begin to provide for the 
 national defence. 
 
 In the war of the rebellion the people on 
 both sides exhibited the greatest examples 
 of courage, resources and perseverance, 
 showing what we could do were our shores 
 to be invaded ; for which, no doubt, in the 
 opinion of the world, we have gained that 
 reputation which generally follows heroic 
 deeds. But all that credit would disappear 
 to-morrow if we were involved in a foreign 
 war : our coasts would be devastated, our 
 harbors sealed up by a foreign foe, and we 
 would again be obliged to pay tribute as we 
 did to the Barbary powers of old. 
 
 Taking into consideration the situation 
 of the United States at the present time, 
 it looks as if the rebellion had taught us 
 nothing, and that we are giving wild theo- 
 rists of the past and present some show of 
 reason to assert that republican forms of 
 government are unnecessarily expensive, 
 revolutionary, and deficient in the elements 
 for the maintenance of a proper protection 
 from an outside enemy or intestine foe. A 
 government which maintains no army or 
 navy for the preservation of law and order 
 simply runs an even race with anarchy and 
 rebellion. This is true of us in a tenfold 
 degree, for we give our enemies in all quar- 
 ters the opportunity of getting their forces 
 first into the field. This applies more particu- 
 larly to the Navy of the United States, which 
 never seems to attract the attention of those 
 who have charge of the national defence. 
 They never for a moment think that, if the 
 dreadful reality of war was sprung upon us, 
 not only could any of the greater powers 
 witViin twentv davs lav our laree sea-coast 
 
 cities in ashes, and exact any amount of trib- 
 bute they might think proper, but even the 
 smallest States, with any pretensions as 
 naval powers, could humiliate us to any 
 extent. This is a terrible confession to 
 make, but it is nevertheless true, and, unless 
 those who have these matters in charge 
 rise to a proper conception of their duty, 
 they may live to "reap of the whirlwind," 
 and receive the condemnation of the sixty 
 millions of people who now depend on them 
 for that protection every government owes 
 its citizens. 
 
 The people of the United States can readily 
 dispose of their anarchists on the land, and 
 provide against all their revolutionary 
 ideas by the bullet or bayonet, when they 
 become tired of listening to these wild 
 theorists who would upset, if they could, 
 any government, no matter how desirable. 
 But they are helpless when it comes to de- 
 fending themselves against the attacks of 
 heavy ironclads, which can only be met by 
 great vessels-of-war designed for the pur- 
 pose ; which we do not possess, and which 
 there seems very little prospect of our ob- 
 taining. 
 
 There is but one remedy for the evils un- 
 der which we are resting, and that is, for 
 the people to take the matter in hand and 
 demand a Navy that will help put down 
 rebellion at home at its first inception, and 
 bid defiance to those abroad who would 
 commit aggressions upon our commerce, or 
 treat our citizens unjustly in any part of 
 the world. 
 
 Let us not forget that something akin to 
 Barbary powers still exists, though in the 
 garb of Christian civilization, and that they 
 are not as limited in number as they were 
 in 1804. They may have the strongest 
 treaties binding them to us in terms of 
 amity, but they are ever ready, like the 
 Algerines of old, to take advantage of our 
 weakness. 
 
 We might naturally be supposed to have 
 retained some bitter feelings against Eng- 
 land and France on account of the un- 
 friendliness they exhibited when we were 
 passing through the greatest struggle of 
 our history as a nation, but, though we 
 might very properly be so influenced, this 
 idea has no foundation in fact ; though it 
 might well be impressed upon the con- 
 sciences of many of the British people who 
 do not remember with complacency the 
 course England (as a nation) pursued, con- 
 sidering her intimate relations with the 
 United States. But the Americans are a 
 forgiving people, and forget injuries, only 
 to have them repeated even when they 
 know they were intended to be fatal. We 
 found no sympathy in our great revolution, 
 which became a struggle for our actual ex- 
 istence: least of all did w^e find it whfirfi -wa 
 
832 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 had a right to expect it — in free England, 
 ■who had taken the first broad step towards 
 the emancipation of the slave. But our dis- 
 appointment in finding a foe where we 
 should have found a friend only added a 
 vigor to our action. We found ourselves 
 strong enough to fight our way to victory. 
 We could well afford to do without the 
 sj'mpathy of either England or France; for, 
 though the task became harder, owing to 
 their opposition, we were perfectly con- 
 scious from the first that their aid was not 
 needed, and that their opposition would be 
 futile. 
 
 The adventurous Napoleon III., who 
 staked an empire on the acquisition of 
 Mexico by the downfall of the United 
 States, has long since paid the penalty of 
 his treachery in his opposition to the great 
 
 Eepublic, once the ally of France. Even his 
 descendants, to the last generation, have 
 disappeared from the face of the earth, 
 vtrhile, in his old age, he was deprived of 
 all he held dear— power and wealth. There 
 seems to be a Nemesis at work in all such 
 matters, bringing retribution where it is 
 most deserved. England prospers, and ex- 
 tends her dominions, spreading freedom to 
 all parts of the earth, and, apparently, 
 strengthening her power; but she will live 
 to see her colonies, one after another, going 
 from her, each one seeking in turn to attain 
 a larger degree of autonomy than they now 
 possess, and she may find arrayed against 
 her the very element on which she de- 
 pended to increase her prestige, and may 
 then miss some of that sympathy she de- 
 nied us in our hour of need. 
 
CHAPTER LIX 
 
 Prizes Adjudicated from the Commencement op the Rebellion to November 1, 1865, 
 WITH THE Names op Vessels or Other Material Captured, and the Names op 
 Vessels Entitled to Share in Distribution op Proceeds. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sch. Anna Belle 
 
 Sch. Adeline 
 
 Sch. Aristides* 
 
 Sch. Agnes 
 
 Sch. Ariel 
 
 Sch, Avenger 
 
 Sch. Agnes 
 
 Sch. Adventure 
 
 Brig Amy Warwick 
 
 Sch. Alma 
 
 Sloop Ann Squires 
 
 Sch. American CoaBter . . 
 
 Ship Ameliat 
 
 Sch. Albion 
 
 Brig Ariel 
 
 Sch Active 
 
 Sch. Aqullla 
 
 SloopAurelia 
 
 Sch. Alert 
 
 Str. Alicet 
 
 Sch. Albion 
 
 Sch. A. J. View 
 
 Sch. Agnes H. Ward . . 
 
 Sch. Albemarle 
 
 Str. Albemarle, schs. Old 
 North State, Susan Ann 
 Howard, and sloop Jeff. 
 Davis 
 
 Sloop Annie 
 
 Sch. Annie Sophia 
 
 Sch. Advocate 
 
 Str. Anna 
 
 Sch. Annie Dees 
 
 Str. Anglia.. 
 
 Sch. Aigburth 
 
 Sch. Antelope 
 
 Sch. Annie 
 
 Sch. Active , 
 
 Sch. Alma 
 
 Sch. Annie B 
 
 Sch. Ascension 
 
 Sch. Avon 
 
 Sloop Angelina 
 
 Str. Ann 
 
 Boat Alligator 
 
 Boat Anna Maria 
 
 Sch. A. J. Hodge 
 
 Sch. Arctic 
 
 Sch. Albert 
 
 Sch. Anna 
 
 Sch. Ann 
 
 Sch. Alabama 
 
 Sloop Ann 
 
 Sch. Ann — 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $6,743 74 
 
 4,086 87 
 
 125 00 
 
 24,162 76 
 
 8,633 64 
 
 1,190 01 
 
 436 00 
 
 2,046 97 
 
 139.202 08 
 
 3,748 06 
 
 2,118 11 
 
 360 00 
 
 30,446 32 
 
 9.664 67 
 
 5,249 88 
 
 3,136 18 
 
 30,104 72 
 
 20,136 71 
 
 6,741 67 
 
 1,100 00 
 
 1,966 86 
 
 16,262 38 
 
 19,675 28 
 
 600 00 
 
 16,990 00 
 
 10,677 22 
 
 1,629 92 
 
 600 00 
 
 18,423 82 
 
 18,637 09 
 
 ,110 21 
 ,106 64 
 ,346 79 
 ,406 00 
 ,410 00 
 ,232 60 
 ,647 98 
 ,448 93 
 261 11 
 ,793 15 
 ,071 12 
 
 119 90 
 ,002 12 
 
 120 39 
 ,410 00 
 ,434 08 
 ,630 67 
 ,299 40 
 ,867 38 
 
 50 00 
 322 61 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $1.3.55 .37 
 
 1,244 82 
 
 67 37 
 
 1,761 96 
 
 739 25 
 
 233 70 
 
 165 17 
 
 621 63 
 
 676 89 
 
 886 32 
 
 345 69 
 
 119 27 
 
 1 16,708 32 
 
 i 6,671 10 
 
 2,077 85 
 
 1,618 61 
 
 1,064 56 
 
 1,877 90 
 
 1,277 96 
 
 1,506 22 
 
 267 86 
 
 1,116 91 
 
 2,227 96 
 
 2,771 26 
 
 249 36 
 
 617 06 
 
 1,626 38 
 
 795 71 
 
 240 86 
 
 3.139 28 
 
 2,027 89 
 
 10,260 31 
 
 1,784 74 
 670 63 
 
 1,074 97 
 483 40 
 695 86 
 621 08 
 716 89 
 860 37 
 905 23 
 
 6,736 95 
 118 35 
 662 21 
 327 57 
 183 46 
 
 3.237 02 
 351 80 
 308 22 
 
 1,291 66 
 60 16 
 147 21 
 
 Am 'tfor dis- 
 tribution. 
 
 $5,388 37 
 
 2,844 05 
 
 57 63 
 
 22.400 80 
 
 7,794 29 
 
 966 31 
 
 269 83 
 
 1,625 34 
 
 138,026 13 
 
 2,862 74 
 
 1,772 52 
 
 230 73 
 
 1 18,066 90 
 
 7,486 72 
 
 3,631 27 
 
 2,071 6! 
 
 28,226 82 
 
 18,858 75 
 
 6,235 45 
 
 832 15 
 
 850 95 
 
 14,034 43 
 
 16,904 02 
 
 260 66 
 
 16,372 96 
 
 9,051 84 
 
 834 21 
 
 359 15 
 
 16,282 44 
 
 14,609 20 
 
 84,849 90 
 1,321 80 
 2,776 26 
 1,330 03 
 2,926 60 
 3,136 75 
 3,926 90 
 4,732 04 
 3,400 74 
 1,887 92 
 
 47,334 17 
 1 56 
 4,339 91 
 1,792 82 
 2,926 60 
 8,197 00 
 2,178 87 
 2.991 18 
 8,575 82 
 No proceeds 
 176 40 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 Key West . 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston. ... 
 
 ..do 
 
 Washington 
 do. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ... do 
 
 ....do.. - 
 
 .. do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do.. 
 New York, 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do.. 
 ....do.. 
 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 do 
 
 Washington. 
 
 ■ do 
 
 Key West. . 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New York... 
 
 . do 
 
 Key West... 
 
 ...do 
 
 . do 
 
 Washington. 
 New York... 
 Key West .. 
 
 ...do 
 
 ... do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ....do 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 July 12, 1802 
 Oct. 16, 1662 
 
 Feb. 
 Oct. 
 Oct. 
 Oct. 
 Oct. 
 July 
 Nov. 
 Oct. 
 Oct. 
 
 17, 1863 
 14, 1863 
 17, 1863 
 24, 1863 
 17, 1863 
 14, 1863 
 6. 1863 
 19, 1863 
 19, 1863 
 
 Dec. 3, 1862 
 
 July 17, 1863 
 July 17, 1863 
 July 18, 1863 
 May 19, 1863 
 May 1, 1863 
 Sept. 16, 1863 
 
 Nov. 25, 1863 
 Nov. 6, 1863 
 Feb. 11, 1863 
 Nov. 25, 1863 
 Dec. 20, 1863 
 
 July 17, 1863 
 Mar. 2, 1863 
 July 21, 1863 
 .Tuly 21, 1863 
 Dec. 8, 1863 
 
 Nov. 5, 1863 
 Deo. 2, 1863 
 Dec. 17, 1863 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 July 28, 1864 
 June 4, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1804 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 
 Mar. 
 Feb. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 
 29, 1864 
 17, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 17, 1864 
 17, 1864 
 17, 1864 
 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Pursuit. 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Henry Jones, Kensington, Rachel Seaman. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Perry. 
 
 William Bacon. 
 
 Currituck. 
 
 Yandalia, Flag. 
 
 Roanoke, Seminole. 
 
 Gemsbok. 
 
 Flambeau. 
 
 Huron, Augusta. 
 
 Arizona. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Ceres. 
 
 Penguin, Alabama. 
 
 R. R. Cuyler, New London, MassachusettH. 
 
 Northern Light. 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 Delaware, Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Com- 
 modore Perry, Valley City, Underwriter, 
 Morse. Commodore Barney, Southfield, 
 Hunchback, Philadelphia, Henry Brincker, 
 Lock wood. 
 
 Kanawba. 
 
 R. R. Cuyler. 
 
 New London, R. B. Cuyler, Massachusetts. 
 
 New London, R. R. Cuyler, Massachusetts. 
 
 Seneca, G. W. Blunt, Canandaigua, Flag, Mem - 
 phis, Powhatan, Housatonic, Marblehead, 
 Mercedita, Flambeau, Keystone State. 
 
 Restless, Flag. 
 
 Jamest ^wn. 
 
 Memphis, America. 
 
 State of Georgia. 
 
 Ladona. 
 
 8eneca. 
 
 Wanderer. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 Tioga 
 
 Courier. 
 
 Susquehanna, Kanawha, Preble. 
 
 Tahoma. Julia. 
 
 Port Henry. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 Ladona. 
 
 Huron. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Restless. 
 
 Susquehanna. 
 
 Gem of the Sea. 
 
834 
 
 THE NA VAL HISTORY 
 
 Name. 
 
 Str. Aries 
 
 Str. Antona 
 
 Str. Atlanta 
 
 Boat Alice* 
 
 Str. AIODzo Childs ...... 
 
 Sell. Anita 
 
 Sells. Active and Blue Bell . 
 
 Str. Alabama 
 
 Str. Alice Vivian 
 
 Str, Alliance 
 
 Sch. Alma 
 
 Sch. Agnes 
 
 Anchors, etc., from the 
 Queen of the Wave. .. 
 
 Str. A. 1). Vance 
 
 Sch. Artist 
 
 Sch. Annie Verden 
 
 Sch. Albert Edward 
 
 Str. Armstrong 
 
 Sloop Annie Thompson . 
 
 Sch. Ann Louisa 
 
 Sch. Anna Sophia 
 
 Str. Annie 
 
 Sch. Aufiusta 
 
 Kam Albemarle 
 
 Sloop Annie 
 
 Sch. British Empire 
 
 Sch. British Queen 
 
 Boats, 3 sail, and cargoes. 
 
 Schooner Blossom . 
 
 Boat, llife 
 
 Boat. 1 yawl 
 
 Boat, aflat-bottomed 
 
 Str. Britannia 
 
 Sch. Beauregardt 
 
 Sch. By-George 
 
 Sch. Brave . . 
 
 Sch. Bettie Kratzer 
 
 Sloop Bright 
 
 Sch. Brothers 
 
 Boat, sloop, name unknown 
 
 Boat Buckshot 
 
 Sloop B!azer 
 
 Boat, name unknown 
 
 Sch. Betsey 
 
 Brandy, 29 cases of, etc 
 
 Sch. Belle 
 
 Boat, sail, 1 
 
 Boats, sail, 3 
 
 Boat and cargo, 1 
 
 Boats and cargoes, 4 
 
 Boots, 1 case, etc X 
 
 Str. Boston 
 
 Str. Banshee 
 
 Sloop Buffalo 
 
 Boat and cargo 
 
 Boats, 2, and 4 bales of cotton 
 
 Str. Bloomer 
 
 Sch, Belle 
 
 Str. Blenheim 
 
 Sch. Badger 
 
 Boat and sundries 
 
 Boat, no name 
 
 Sch. Baigorry 
 
 Schs. Comet, J. J. CritteU' 
 den, and sloop America. . . 
 
 Sch. Captain Speddeng . . 
 
 Sch. Crenshaw 
 
 Str. Calhoun 
 
 Str. Oatalina 
 
 Str. Cambria and part of 
 
 cargo 
 
 Str. Calypso 
 
 Cotton, 28 bales 
 
 Cotton, 30 bales. 
 
 Cargo of 4 canoesi 
 Sloop Clara Ann . . . 
 
 Sch. Charlotte 
 
 Sch. Oubair 
 
 Sch. Curlew . .. 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $147,008 40 
 
 136,202 02 
 
 360,829 26 
 
 697 62 
 
 6,000 00 
 
 76,489 99 
 
 876 10 
 
 131 ,,964 10 
 
 237,300 81 
 
 26,041 96 
 
 3,631 00 
 
 74,361 30 
 
 746 96 
 
 288,286 49 
 
 6,416 42 
 
 26,445 68 
 
 44,461 82 
 
 261,382 26 
 
 14,847 96 
 
 7,437 67 
 
 29,146 09 
 
 358,951 71 
 
 6,561 28 
 
 79,944 00 
 
 192 05 
 
 3,929 73 
 
 2,108 31 
 
 1,463 89 
 
 270 8S 
 
 1,106 95 
 
 682 70 
 
 387 79 
 
 173,670 56 
 
 2,146 67 
 
 512 76 
 
 893 18 
 
 4,642 00 
 
 5,672 85 
 
 7,641 38 
 
 633 78 
 
 1,918 05 
 
 8,836 66 
 
 31 75 
 
 1,7(10 00 
 
 183 00 
 
 1,439 31 
 
 462 55 
 
 1,078 15 
 
 29 76 
 
 492 67 
 
 365 95 
 
 23.036 03 
 
 111,216 65 
 
 13,328 86 
 
 390 25 
 
 2,700 00 
 
 26,686 74 
 66,778 22 
 
 10,834 32 
 194 22 
 891 67 
 
 61,568 43 
 
 3,600 00 
 
 1,387 60 
 61,016 82 
 45,631 00 
 
 6.096 05 
 
 191,424 64 
 80,265 0:i 
 2,212 16 
 
 6,276 05 
 
 676 00 
 1,300 76 
 31,369 19 
 2,811 49 
 6,902 00 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $3,036 48 
 
 4,626 60 
 
 789 30 
 
 143 66 
 275 91 
 
 6,660 70 
 
 172 71 
 
 10,412 60 
 
 20,240 28 
 
 1,760 22 
 
 746 14 
 
 3,822 74 
 
 428 42 
 6,047 71 
 1,421 64 
 2,698 31 
 4,183 34 
 7,321 63 
 
 1,639 60 
 
 476 92 
 
 4,245 48 
 
 24,639 97 
 
 313 70 
 
 2,645 30 
 108 89 
 604 76 
 999 90 
 277 00 
 86 81 
 273 79 
 168 36 
 119 11 
 
 3,974 83 
 291 76 
 209 45 
 196 85 
 
 1,081 28 
 614 96 
 
 1,675 78 
 
 144 04 
 294 77 
 884 69 
 
 32 01 
 866 42 
 123 32 
 678 85 
 221 71 
 361 65 
 
 274 19 
 
 96 39 
 
 2,308 49 
 
 6,268 17 
 
 2,416 37 
 
 201 78 
 
 261 46 
 
 3,430 19 
 3,666 77 
 
 947 89 
 
 90 82 
 
 123 61 
 
 4,316 65 
 
 322 86 
 
 289 60 
 6,192 22 
 2,118 II, 
 
 994 04 
 
 12,383 m 
 
 4,930 10 
 
 446 92 
 
 869 25 
 
 301 40 
 
 308 12 
 
 1,425 93 
 
 1,390 39 
 
 1,540 46 
 
 Am'tfordiS' 
 tribution. 
 
 $143,971 98 
 131,676 42 
 
 350.039 96 
 463 96 
 
 4,724 09 
 
 69,839 29 
 
 702 39 
 
 120,961 60 
 
 217,060 63 
 
 23,281 74 
 
 2,786 86 
 
 70,538 66 
 
 317 63 
 283,238 78 
 4,994 86 
 22,847 37 
 40,278 48 
 244,060 73 
 
 13,208 46 
 
 6,960 95 
 
 24,900 21 
 
 329,311 74 
 
 5,237 68 
 
 77,298 70 
 
 83 16 
 
 3,423 97 
 
 1,108 41 
 
 1,186 89 
 
 184 07 
 
 833 16 
 514 34 
 268 68 
 
 169,696 72 
 
 1,864 92 
 
 303 31 
 
 696 33 
 
 3,660 72 
 
 6,067 90 
 
 6,065 60 
 
 389 74 
 
 1,623 28 
 
 7,962 06 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 834 68 
 69 68 
 
 760 46 
 
 230 84 
 
 706 60 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 218 38 
 
 260 66 
 
 20,727 54 
 
 104,948 48 
 
 10,912 48 
 
 188 47 
 
 2,438 66 
 
 1,700 00 
 
 23,166 25 
 
 62,122 45 
 
 9,886 43 
 
 103 40 
 
 768 06 
 
 57,272 68 
 
 2,27T 15 
 
 1,098 00 
 45,824 60 
 43,412 4il 
 
 6,101 01 
 
 179.040 98 
 75,334 93 
 
 1,765 24 
 
 6,416 80 
 
 273 60 
 
 992 63 
 
 29,943 26 
 
 1,121 10 
 
 6,366 65 
 
 Where adjudi. 
 cated. 
 
 Boston 
 
 New York 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West ... 
 Springiield , . 
 New Orleans , 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West . . . , 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans , 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia , 
 
 New York 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 New Orleans 
 ...do.. 
 New York . . . 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Key West 
 
 New Orleans . 
 New York 
 
 Key West 
 
 Washington . 
 Key West . . . 
 
 New York 
 
 do 
 
 Washington. . 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 .. do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West . . . . 
 
 .. do 
 
 ....do. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Key West . . 
 
 . do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 .do.. 
 New Orleans , 
 
 ...do 
 
 New York . . . 
 New Orleans . 
 ... do. . 
 Washington. . 
 New Orleans 
 Springfield... 
 Boston. 
 New York , . , . 
 Philadelphia 
 New Orleans , 
 ....do. 
 
 ...do. 
 
 .. do. 
 New York 
 
 Key West 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 New York 
 
 ... do. 
 do. 
 
 Philadelphia 
 ....do.. 
 
 ....do.. 
 ....do.. 
 ...do.. 
 
 ..do... 
 
 Washington 
 
 ....do 
 
 Boston 
 
 ...do.. ... 
 Key West . . 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution 
 
 Mar. 22, 1864 
 May 10, 1864 
 April 23, 1864 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 April 23, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 July 21, 1864 
 July 28, 1864 
 Oct. 7, 1864 
 
 Not. 17, 1864 
 Jan. 19, 1866 
 Feb. 21, 1865 
 Feb. 14, 1865 
 Aprll20, 1866 
 
 May 13, 1865 
 Aug. 25, 1866 
 June 26, 1865 
 June 22, 1865 
 
 Aug, 16, 1866 
 Aug. 28, 1866 
 Sept. 29, 1866 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 Nov. 26, 1862 
 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Oci. 19, 1863 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Oct. 5, 1865 
 Oct. 26, 1863 
 
 Oct! 24,' 1863 
 Oct. 24, 1863 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 June 4, 1864 
 Dec. 19, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 Aprill2,' 1864 
 Aprill2, 1864 
 Aprill2,1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 April26, 1866 
 
 June 4, 1864 
 
 Oct. 10. 1864 
 Oct. 25,1864 
 Nov. 23, 1864 
 Feb. 2. 1865 
 Mar. 27, 1865 
 Oct. 3, 1865 
 April 20, 1865 
 June 19, 1865 
 
 June 29, 1866 
 
 Aug. 16, 1865 
 Aug. 16, 1866 
 
 Oct. 22, 1863 
 
 Dec. 2, 1863 
 Dec. 1, 1863 
 May 2, 1863 
 
 May 2, 1863 
 Jan. 19, 1864 
 Jan, 4, 1864 
 
 Jan, 4, 1864 
 
 Jan. 11, 1804 
 Jan. 12, 1863 
 
 Nov. 26, 1862 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Ftettin. 
 
 Pocahontas. 
 
 Weehawken, Nahant, Cimarron. 
 
 Annie Williams. 
 
 Baron De Kalb. 
 
 Granite City. 
 
 Owasco, Cayuga. 
 
 San Jacinto, Eugene, Tennessee. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 South Carolina, T. A. Ward. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 Conemaugh. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Santiago do Cuba. 
 
 Bermuda. 
 
 Mobile. 
 
 Katahdi'n. 
 
 R. R. Cuyler, Gettysburg, Mackinaw, Mont- 
 gomery. 
 
 Fernandina. 
 
 Proteus. 
 
 Bienville, Princess Royal, 
 
 Niphon, Wilderness, Alabama, Kansas, How- 
 quah. 
 
 Honeysuckle. 
 
 Lieutenant-Commander Cushing and party. 
 
 Hibiscus. 
 
 Isiac Smith. 
 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Reliance. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Reliance, Anacostia, Thomas Freeborn. 
 
 Jacob Bell. 
 
 Freeborn, Eureka. 
 
 Dan. Smith. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 W. G. Anderson. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Oetorara. 
 
 Flambeau. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Tioga. 
 
 Restless. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 Ariel. 
 
 Antona. 
 
 Cayuga. 
 
 Potomska. 
 
 Corypheus. 
 
 CorypheuB. 
 
 Commodore. 
 
 Alfred Robb. 
 
 Fort Jackson. 
 
 Fulton. Grand Gulf. 
 
 Braziliera. 
 
 Tallahatchie. 
 
 Commodore. 
 
 Potomac. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Tristam Shandy, Lillian, Britannia, Osceola. 
 
 Gettysburg. 
 Adela. 
 
 San Jacinto. ; Waiting for prize list.) 
 Ino. 
 Bainbridge. 
 
 Commodore Perry, Morse, Underwriter, Gen- 
 eral Putnam, Whitehead. 
 Henry Lewis, New London, Water Witch. 
 Star (now Monticello). 
 Samuel Rotan, Colorado, Rachel Seaman. 
 Alabama, Keystone State. 
 
 Huron, Augusta. 
 
 Florida. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Dela- 
 ware, Commodore Perry, Philadelphia, 
 Valley City, Underwriter, Commodore Bar- 
 ney, Southfield, Morse, Hunchback, Lock- 
 wood. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Under- 
 writer, Morse, Commodore Perry, South- 
 fleld, H. Brincker, Delaware, Lookwood, 
 Commodore Barney, Valley City, Hunch- 
 back, Philadelphia. 
 
 Currituck. 
 
 Yankee. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Somerset. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of Annie Williams. 
 
 t Distributed under acts of March 3, 1819, and August 5, 1861. 
 
 \ Waiting for prize list of the Robb. 
 
 8 Waiting for prize list of the Water Witch. 
 
 II Waiting tor prize list of the Currituck. 
 
 IF Part of cargo taken for use of army not paid for. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 835 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sch. Corelia 
 
 Str, Columbia 
 
 Sch. Courier 
 
 Sch. Oanuita 
 
 Cargo of 9 boats and sloop 
 
 Queen of the Fleet. . 
 Canoe, 1; flatboat, 1*.. 
 
 Sch. Cora 
 
 Cotton, 208 bales 
 
 Cotton, 62^ bales 
 
 Cotton, 37 "^ bales.... 
 Cotton, 282 bales, 222 bar- 
 rels rosin, and 2,000 
 staves 
 
 Cotton, 27 bales 
 
 Cotton, 42 bales, etc 
 
 Cotton, 5 bales 
 
 Cotton, 17 bales 
 
 Cotton, 55 bales. 
 
 Canoe and cargo 
 
 Cotton, 12 bales 
 
 Cotton, 20 bales 
 
 Sch. Charleston 
 
 Str. Cronstadt 
 
 Str. Cherokee 
 
 Cotton, 39 bales 
 
 Cotton, cargo of Emma, 
 
 120 bales 
 
 Sch, Caroline and Virginia. 
 
 Str. Caroline 
 
 Sch. Charmert 
 
 Sloop Clara Louisa . . . 
 
 Sloop Clotilda 
 
 Sch. Crazy Jane 
 
 Sch. Clara 
 
 Sloop C. Bonterean t. . 
 
 Str. Cuba, cargo of 
 
 Sch^ Comet, No. 8 
 
 Sch. Clarita 
 
 Cotton, 22 bales 
 
 Cotton, 139 bales 
 
 Cotton, 114 bales 
 
 Str. Comet 
 
 Cotton, 14 bagsg 
 
 Cotton, 13 bales 
 
 Sch. Charm 
 
 Corn, 250 bushels 
 
 Cotton, 27 bales, cargo of 
 sch. Mary Ann 
 
 Cotton, 3 bales and 2 
 cratesll 
 
 Cotton. 179 bales. 
 
 Cotton, 10 bales 
 
 Sch. Corse 
 
 Cotton, 10"^ bales 
 
 Cotton, 64 bales 
 
 Cotton, 154 bales, and 5 
 hogsheads sugar 
 
 Cotton, 6 bales 
 
 Cotton, 10 bales 
 
 Cotton, 3 balesll 
 
 Cotton, 4 bales** 
 
 Cotton, 8 bales , 
 
 Cotton, 14 bales 
 
 Cotton, 3 bales and 2 
 pieces of bales 
 
 Cotton, 2,129 bales, 28 bar- 
 rels molasses. 18 bales 
 wool 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Sob. Cecilia D 
 
 Sch. Cassandra 
 
 Canoe, 1; 1 box tobacco. . 
 
 Sch. Champion . . 
 
 Sch. Camille 
 
 Cotton, 50 bales 
 
 $1,430 02 
 
 151,623 20 
 
 3,647 10 
 
 2,426 98 
 
 3,105 79 
 1,101 41 
 624 60 
 28,922 90 
 14,037 90 
 8,642 26 
 
 62,179 36 
 
 6,676 15 
 
 13,784 62 
 
 1,017 72 
 
 3,542 64 
 
 16,434 52 
 
 292 41 
 
 3,662 72 
 
 4,971 70 
 
 13,872 49 
 
 301,940 60 
 
 162,607 02 
 
 7,923 09 
 
 31,499 60 
 3,060 00 
 
 106,008 11 
 700 00 
 153 00 
 7.533 86 
 1,367 05 
 3,898 26 
 1,842 66 
 
 778 84 
 
 3,669 06 
 
 2,289 66 
 
 3,727 42 
 
 39,192 93 
 
 42,459 13 
 
 6,461 73 
 
 199 13 
 
 2,694 24 
 
 • 9,756 26 
 
 62 00 
 
 8,910 75 
 
 1,095 22 
 38,312 98 
 2,351 62 
 6,860 66 
 2,735 11 
 16,867 72 
 
 33,901 53 
 l,a4 97 
 2,202 48 
 334 56 
 498 02 
 1,609 98 
 3,124 78 
 
 667 30 
 
 465,234 96 
 
 5,399 88 
 40 00 
 27 30 
 
 4,622 37 
 32,960 89 
 
 7,254 19 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $494 96 
 
 16,419 82 
 
 613 62 
 
 498 92 
 
 674 83 
 279 14 
 626 90 
 1,784 30 
 276 25 
 207 19 
 
 13,680 90 
 
 406 43 
 
 708 98 
 
 138 66 
 
 268 12 
 
 717 63 
 
 130 47 
 
 246 78 
 
 296 20 
 
 2,646 66 
 
 7,675 92 
 
 4,732 47 
 
 604 76 
 
 2,294 01 
 1,007 47 
 
 6,853 85 
 129 00 
 90 11 
 762 39 
 253 00 
 744 71 
 490 84 
 
 129 54 
 
 665 86 
 
 513 90 
 
 390 68 
 
 3,569 67 
 
 2,829 36 
 
 728 32 
 
 83 64 
 
 334 79 
 
 1,017 64 
 
 6 49 
 
 978 07 
 
 238 69 
 
 1,866 85 
 
 231 66 
 
 764 51 
 
 394 60 
 
 1,735 06 
 
 7,916 89 
 140 13 
 168 86 
 107 36 
 
 114 06 
 146 01 
 203 31 
 
 115 83 
 
 13,732 79 
 
 1,009 96 
 
 903 22 
 
 2.782 99 
 841 60 
 
 Am'tfordis- 
 tribution. 
 
 $936 66 
 
 136,103 38 
 
 3,033 48 
 
 1,928 06 
 
 2,630 96 
 
 822 27 
 
 97 60 
 
 27,138 60 
 
 13,761 65 
 
 8,336 07 
 
 48,498 46 
 
 6,169 72 
 
 13,076 64 
 
 879 16 
 
 3,274 62 
 
 14,716 89 
 
 161 94 
 
 3,306 94 
 
 4,676 60 
 
 11,225 84 
 
 294,264 68 
 
 147.774 56 
 
 7,318 34 
 
 29,205 69 
 2,042 63 
 
 99,154 26 
 671 00 
 62 89 
 6,771 47 
 1,104 06 
 3,163 55 
 1,361 71 
 
 649 20 
 
 3,003 20 
 
 1,775 76 
 
 3,336 74 
 
 85,633 26 
 
 39,629 77 
 
 4,733 41 
 
 115 49 
 
 2,369 45 
 
 8,738 71 
 
 1 51 
 
 7,932 68 
 
 856 63 
 
 36,446 13 
 
 2,119 86 
 
 5,096 16 
 
 2,340 51 
 
 15,132 66 
 
 25,984 64 
 1,304 84 
 2,033 62 
 227 21 
 383 97 
 1,364 97 
 2,921 47 
 
 641 47 
 
 451,602 16 
 
 4,389 93 
 No proceeds 
 No proceeds 
 
 3,619 16 
 30,177 90 
 
 6,412 69 
 
 New York. 
 
 Springfield. 
 
 ...do.. 
 
 ...do.., 
 
 ....do.., 
 
 -do.., 
 
 Washington. 
 
 Springfield. . 
 
 ..do.. 
 Philadelphia 
 Boston. . 
 
 ..do 
 
 Key West 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 Key West . . . 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington, 
 do. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Springfield.. 
 
 Boston 
 
 ....do 
 
 Philadelphia 
 ...do 
 
 .do , 
 
 Key West 
 
 .do , 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do , 
 
 ..do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Key West . . 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do; 
 
 ...do 
 
 Springfield.. 
 Key West . . . 
 
 ...do 
 
 ....do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 .do 
 
 Springfield. 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West.. 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Springfield. 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 .do 
 
 ...do.. 
 
 New Orleans 
 Washington. 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 ...do 
 
 New York... 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 July 18, 1863 
 Oct. 6, 1863 
 Oct. 14. 1363 
 Oct, 17, 1863 
 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 
 Nov. 25, 1862 
 Oct. 16,1863 
 Nov. 9, 1863 
 Nov. 6, 1863 
 
 Dec. 31, 1863 
 
 June 11, 1864 
 Dec. 3, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 June 4, 1864 
 June 11, 1864 
 Nov. 17, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 June 11, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Jan. 28, 1864 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 Jan. 23, 1864 
 Jan. 27, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29,1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 April 23, 1864 
 
 April 23, 1864 
 April 23, 1864 
 Jan. 7, 1865 
 June 1, 1864 
 June 2, 1864 
 
 May 19, 1864 
 Jan. 6, 1866 
 Mar. 1, 1865 
 
 May 19, 1864 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 
 May 19, 1864 
 
 Mar. 1, 1865 
 
 May 21, 1864 
 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 Oct. 7, 1864 
 May, 1864 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 James S. Chambers. 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 Huntsville. 
 Magnolia. 
 
 Currituck. 
 
 Jacob Bell, Yankee, Satellite. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Baron de Kalb. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Tioga. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Louisiana, Hetzel, Commo- 
 dore Barney, Valley City, Underwriter, 
 Commodore Perry, Southfield, Hunchback, 
 Philadelphia, Morse, H. Brincker, Lock- 
 wood, Delaware, George Maugham. 
 
 Gonestoga. 
 
 Linden. 
 
 Pittsburg. 
 
 Pittsburg. 
 
 Conestoga. 
 
 George Maugham. 
 
 Lexington. 
 
 Conestoga. 
 
 Seminole. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Oanandaigua. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Kittatinny. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Delaware, Louisiana, Com- 
 modore Perry. Hetzel, Valley City, Under- 
 writer, Hunchback, Commodore Barney, 
 Philadelphia. Southfield, Morse, H. Brinck- 
 er, Lockwood. 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 Sagamore, Oleander, Beauregard, Para. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 McLellan. 
 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Powhatan, Newlronsides, Canandaigua, Hou- 
 satonic, Paul Jones, Huron, Unadilla, Mar- 
 blehead, Wamsutta, Augusta, Lodona, Stet- 
 tin, Dandelion, Para, South Carolina. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Hendrick Hudson. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 General Sterhng Price. 
 
 Port Koyal. 
 
 Sagamore, Gem of the Sea. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Antona. 
 
 Granite City. 
 
 Osage. 
 
 Niphon. 
 
 Rachel Seaman, Kensington. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 James L, Davis. 
 
 Conestoga. 
 
 Pittsburg. 
 
 Osage, Choctaw, Champion. Fort Hindman. 
 
 Juliet, Great Western, Rattler. 
 
 Lexington . 
 
 Champion. 
 
 Kenwood. 
 
 Tuscumbia. 
 
 Black Hawk, Eastport, Lafayette, Neosha, 
 Ozark, Choctaw, Osage, Chillicothe, Louis- 
 ville, Carondelet, Fort Hindman. Benton, 
 Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lexington, 
 Ouachita, Cricket, GazeUe, General Price, 
 W. H. Brown. [718 bales of cotton still 
 pending.] 
 
 Antona. 
 
 Potomac. 
 Virginia. 
 Vanderbilt. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of the Jacob Bell. 
 + Waiting for prize list of the Oleander. 
 
 § Waiting for prize list of the General Sterling Price, 
 li Waiting for prize list of the Granite City. __ 
 
836 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Name. 
 
 Cotton, 12 bales and 14 
 
 bags 
 
 Cotton, 11 bales* 
 
 Cotton, 1 balet 
 
 Cotton, 207 bales 
 
 Cotton, 8 bales 
 
 Cotton, 8 bales? 
 
 Cotton, 10 bales 
 
 Cotton, 16 bales§ 
 
 Scb. Calhoun 
 
 Cotton, 2i bales 
 
 Cotton, 75 balesi! 
 Cotton, 63 bales 
 Cotton, 5 bales,. . 
 
 Cotton, VS% bales. 
 Str. Ceres 
 
 Canoes, 25, and cargoes. . . 
 
 Str. Caledonia 
 
 Str. Calhoun 
 
 8cb. Carmita 
 
 Coffee, 80 bags 
 
 Cotton, 22 bales 
 
 Cotton, 88 bales 
 
 Cotton, 61 r.^ bales 
 
 Cotton, 236 bdles, etc. . 
 
 Cotton, 19 bales 
 
 Cotton, 10 bales 
 
 Scb. Cora Smyser 
 
 Cotton, 60 bales and 2 bags 
 
 Cotton, 38 bales 
 
 Cotton, 83 bales 
 
 Cotton, 67 bales 
 
 Scb. Caroline and Gertrude. 
 
 Coffee, Whiskey, etc 
 
 Str. Cu tnberland 
 
 Sloop Caroline 
 
 Sch. Cora 
 
 Str. Chatham 
 
 Cotton, 5 bales, 9 bags, etc. 
 
 Cotton, 31 bales 
 
 Sch. Carrie Mair 
 
 Sloop Caroline, No. 2 
 
 Cotton, 12 bales; 8 barrels 
 turpentine 
 
 Cotton, 4 bales 
 
 Cotton, 42 bales and 11 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Costs and Am'tfordis 
 expenses. 
 
 $2,831 69 
 
 3,023 34 
 
 340 90 
 
 80,777 86 
 
 2,i)84 37 
 2,910 89 
 4,116 70 
 7,479 08 
 14,600 00 
 8,126 71 
 
 497 00 
 
 36,391 08 
 
 2,169 35 
 
 2,397 28 
 17,200 00 
 
 929 40 
 13,3.53 00 
 
 1,385 62 
 14,659 47 
 
 6,227 29 
 2,138 00 
 0,877 92 
 
 27,034 89 
 
 16,437 87 
 
 773 66 
 
 163,461 29 
 
 306 07 
 
 46,064 97 
 
 81,684 78 
 
 3,033 64 
 
 Cotton, 50 bales 
 
 Cotton, 89 bales 
 
 Cotton, 78 bales 
 
 Cotton, 4 bales 
 
 Cotton, 44 bales 
 
 Cotton, 90 bales 
 
 Str. Cora 
 
 Cotton, 35 bales 
 
 Cotton, 156 sacks, etc.. 
 
 Sch. Com us 
 
 Sch. Cora 
 
 Str. Circassian 
 
 Cotton, 80 bales 
 
 Cotton, 52 bales 
 
 Cotton, 82 bales 
 
 Cotton, 45 bales 
 
 Sch. Delight 
 
 Brig Delta 
 
 Sch. Dixie 
 
 Sch. Defiance 
 
 Sch. Director 
 
 Str. Diamond 
 
 Sch. Dart 
 
 Sch. David Crockett. 
 Sloop, D. Sargent. , . . 
 Sch. Dart, No. 2 .... 
 Str. Dolphin 
 
 Dry Goods, lot of. . 
 
 Sch. Defy 
 
 Str. Donegal 
 
 Str. Don 
 
 6,363 65 
 211 05 
 
 45,626 01 
 
 2,701 44 
 
 20,484 00 
 
 00,955 68 
 
 6,140 00 
 
 6,166 62 
 
 32.697 63 
 
 352,313 65 
 
 23.652 63 
 67,210 33 
 
 ,977 77 
 600 00 
 628 00 
 ,950 87 
 ,773 78 
 286 10 
 ,683 10 
 :a0 84 
 462 73 
 ■117 97 
 2ri8 22 
 ,641 73 
 465 4.1 
 473 03 
 000 00 
 310 78 
 
 $524 19 
 287 21 
 107 93 
 
 3,767 04 
 
 197 49 
 210 06 
 267 37 
 403 33 
 889 36 
 335 21 
 
 192 87 
 
 2,651 30 
 
 290 64 
 
 634 28 
 935 49 
 
 249 93 
 
 1,149 28 
 
 680 94 
 634 76 
 
 907 48 
 
 638 90 
 
 1,073 12 
 
 2,270 83 
 1,219 33 
 
 172 06 
 '18,943 50 
 
 124 23 
 6,402 67 
 6,036 38 
 
 265 76 
 
 1,109 49 
 163 71 
 
 2,077 91 
 192 46 
 608 15 
 
 3,767 78 
 861 03 
 
 700 81 
 
 3,167 78 
 
 86,942 20 
 
 1,826 68 
 2,984 08 
 
 1,623 27 
 
 261 65' 
 
 6,931 18 
 
 2,429 64 
 
 1,073 40 
 
 128 99 
 
 1,958 08 
 
 SCO 95 
 
 1,389 77 
 
 1,094 91 
 
 493 1(1 
 
 8.382 88 
 
 169 51 
 
 197 37 
 
 4,047 10 
 
 3,438 13 
 
 tribution. 
 
 $2,310 60 
 
 2,736 13 
 
 232 97 
 
 77,010 82 
 
 2,386 88 
 2,700 83 
 3,848 33 
 7,076 75 
 13,610 64 
 7,790 60 
 
 304 13 
 33.739 78 
 1,878 81 
 
 Where adjudi. 
 Gated . 
 
 Key West . . 
 
 ..do 
 
 Springfleia. 
 .do 
 
 ...do 
 
 . do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 Springtield , . 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 Springfield. . 
 
 ..do 
 
 1.863 00 
 16,264 61 
 
 679 47 
 
 11,903 72 
 
 28,636 95 
 
 65,698 21 
 
 804 68 
 
 14,024 72 
 
 17,465 63 
 
 20,823 45 
 
 69,239 66 
 
 6,319 84 
 
 1,499 10 
 
 5.864 80 
 12,655 66 
 
 8,487 62 
 
 16,383 07 
 
 24,764 08 
 
 16,218 64 
 
 601 60 
 
 134,617 79 
 
 181 84 
 
 40,252 40 
 
 76,048 40 
 
 2,767 88 
 
 953 78 
 
 5,254 16 
 
 42 34 
 
 3,269 25 
 46 40 
 
 24,216 64 
 
 1,939 37 
 
 3,610 38 
 
 43,548 10 
 
 2,603 9D 
 
 19,975 85 
 
 63,187 90 
 
 5,278 97 
 
 17,676 20 
 
 15.150 0) 
 
 4.466 71 
 
 29 539 75 
 
 315,371 39 
 
 32,037 76 
 
 21.725 95 
 
 64,226 65 
 
 20.364 60 
 
 348 25 
 
 4,096 82 
 
 28.521 23 
 
 2,700 38 
 
 1.56 11 
 
 27,725 02 
 
 1,869 89 
 
 13,072 90 
 
 4,323 06 
 
 2,765 12 
 
 28,161 85 
 
 295 94 
 
 275 68 
 
 135,962 90 
 
 94,878 05 
 
 .do 
 
 Washington . 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Philadelphia , 
 ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Philadelphia , 
 
 ...do.. 
 
 .. do 
 
 New Orleans , 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 .. do 
 
 Key West. .. 
 
 ....do 
 
 New Orleans. 
 Key West .. 
 
 .. do 
 
 New Orleans. 
 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans . 
 
 Key West . . . . 
 New Orleans 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston 
 
 ...do 
 
 . do. 
 
 Philadelphia., 
 New Orleans., 
 New York 
 
 ...do.. 
 
 Key West 
 
 . ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ...do 
 
 ,...do 
 
 Sent to 4tb 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 Dec. 21, 1864 
 
 June 19, 1866 
 July 2!), 1864 
 
 .do 
 
 New York . . 
 
 do. 
 Philadelphia 
 
 do 
 
 Washington. 
 
 do 
 
 Key West , . . 
 Philadelphia. 
 New York, . . 
 Key West ... 
 
 .do 
 
 Washington. 
 
 do 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 Boston. .. 
 
 July 25. 1864 
 
 Deo. "i, 1864 
 June 20, 1865 
 
 Oct. 7, 1864 
 AprU 12, 1864 
 
 Oct, 12. 1804 
 Nov. 12, 1864 
 
 Feb. 16, 1866 
 
 Nov. 4,1804 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Nov. 12, 1864 
 Oct. 6, 1865 
 2, 1864 
 7, 1866 
 7, 1863 
 7, 1866 
 Mar. 23, 1865 
 Mar. 23, 1866 
 April 22, 1866 
 Feb. 21, 1865 
 Feb. 21, 1866 
 Feb. 21, 1865 
 Mar. 22,1865 
 Mar. 22, 1866 
 Oct. 4, 1866 
 April 21, 1865 
 April 21, 1865 
 May 9, 1866 
 May 9, 1866 
 
 Dec. 
 Jan. 
 Jan. 
 Jan. 
 
 Sept. 1, 1806 
 Aug. 21, 1866 
 
 Aug. 25, 1866 
 Sept. 1, 1865 
 
 Aug. 25, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Aug. 9, 
 Aug. 16, 
 Aug. 16, 
 Aug. 21, 
 Aug. 21, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Sept. 1, 
 Sept. 8, 
 Sept. 22, 
 Sept. 29, 
 Sept. 29, 
 
 Oct. 6, 
 July 21, 
 Nov. 25, 
 Mar 13, 
 Mar. 11, 
 May 4, 
 Jan. 11, 
 Oct. 21, 
 Oct. 6, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Mar. 17. 
 Jan. 11. 
 Oct. 12, 
 Oct, 27, 
 Nov. 19, 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 1805 
 1805 
 1865 
 1866 
 1866 
 1866 
 1865 
 1865 
 1866 
 1866 
 1866 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1863 
 
 1865 
 1863 
 1803 
 1863 
 1803 
 1862 
 1861 
 1863 
 18S6 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 Port Eoyal. 
 
 Somerset. 
 
 Lexington. 
 
 Louisville, 1100160, Petrel, Prairie Bird, Ex- 
 change, Marmora. 
 
 Cricket. 
 
 Marmora. 
 
 Osage. 
 
 W. H Brown, 
 
 Samuel Eotan, Colorado, Kaohel Seaman. 
 
 Black Hawk, Fort Hindman, Cricket, East- 
 port, Lafayette, Neosha, Ozark, Choctaw, 
 Osage, Chillicothe, Louisville, Oarondelet, 
 Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lex- 
 ington, Oaachita, Gazelle, General Price, 
 W. H. Brown. 
 
 Narcissus, Cowslip. 
 
 Black Hawk. 
 
 Black Hawk, Fort Hindman, Cricket, East- 
 port, Lafayette. Neosha, Ozark, Choctaw, 
 Osage, Chillicothe, Louisville, Oarondelet, 
 Benton, Pittsburg, Mound City, Essex, Lex- 
 ington, Ouachita, Gazelle, General Price, 
 W. H. Brown, Juliet. 
 
 Cimarron. 
 
 Violet, Aries, Connecticut, Maratanza, Mer- 
 cedita, Montgomery. 
 
 Eureka, Yankee, Freeborn, Currituck, Com- 
 modore Read, Teazer, Fuchsia, Jacob Bell. 
 
 Keystone State, Massachusetts. 
 
 Samuel Botan, Colorado, Eachel Seaman. 
 
 Bermuda. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Tallahatchie. 
 
 Tallahatchie. 
 
 Sciota. 
 
 Mobile. 
 
 Arostook. 
 
 Sciota. 
 
 Clyde. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, 
 
 Elk. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Princess Royal. 
 
 Huron, Dan Smith. 
 
 Kanawha. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 Itasca. 
 
 Union. (Waiting for prize list. ) 
 
 Magnolia. 
 Cayuga. 
 
 Clyde. 
 
 Gertrude. 
 
 Cornubia. 
 
 Vicksburg. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Connecticut, Keystone State. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Governor Buckingham, Niphon. 
 
 Gettysburg. 
 
 luka. 
 
 Panola. 
 
 Somerset 
 
 Gettysburff, KeystoneState, $620 counsel fees 
 
 R. E. Cuyler. 
 
 Aries. ( S500 counsel fee deducted from cap- 
 tor's s'hare,) 
 
 Santiago de Cuba 
 
 New London, R. R Cuyler, Massachusetts. 
 
 Santee. 
 
 Keystone State, Gem of the Sea. 
 
 Braziliei-a. 
 
 Corwin, Currituck. 
 
 Stettin. 
 
 Kensington, Rachel Seaman. 
 
 America. Flag, Canandaigua. Flambeau. 
 
 Kittatinny. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Wachusett. 
 
 Oceur de Lion. 
 
 Midnight. 
 
 Metacomet. 
 
 Pequot. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of the Somerset. 
 ^ Waiting for prize list of the Lexington. 
 
 X Waiting for prize list of the Marmora, 
 
 ) Waiting forprize list of the W. H. Browi^- 
 
 I Waiting for prize lists of Narcissus and Cowslip. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 837 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sch. Delia 
 
 Sell. Eugenie 
 
 Sch. Emma 
 
 Sch. Eugeuie Smith 
 
 Sch. EliasReed 
 
 Sloop Ellen 
 
 Sloop Elizabeth 
 
 Sch. Emily 
 
 Str. Eureka 
 
 Boh. Emily Murray 
 
 Sch. E. J. Waterman 
 
 Sloop Express 
 
 Sch. Edward Barnard 
 Str. Ellis and armament 
 
 Sloop Expro'^s. 
 
 Sloop Emeline 
 
 Str. Elmira 
 
 Sch. Emma 
 
 Boat Emma 
 
 Boat Enterprise 
 
 Str. Eagle 
 
 Str. Ella Warley 
 
 Sch. Emma Amelia 
 
 Sloop Elisha Beckwith.. 
 
 Sch. Emma Tuttle , 
 
 Str. Eugenie 
 
 Str. Eureka 
 
 Str. Elizabeth 
 
 Sch. Exchange 
 
 Sch. Ellen 
 
 Sch. Edward 
 
 Sch. Excelsior 
 
 Str. Emilie 
 
 Sch. Experiment 
 
 Str. Elsie and cargo 
 
 Sch. Emma 
 
 Str. Ella and Annie 
 
 Str. Emma Henry 
 
 Sch. Eliza 
 
 Sch.BzUda 
 
 Brig Eco 
 
 Sch. Plash 
 
 Brig Falcon... 
 
 Sch. Florida 
 
 Sch. Pairwind 
 
 Sch. Falrplay 
 
 Sch. Fannie Laurie 
 
 Sch. F.J. Capron 
 
 Sloop Flying Cloud 
 
 Sch. Fashion •• 
 
 Sch. Frances. 
 
 Sloop Flying Fish 
 
 Sch. Fannie Lee 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Sloop Florida 
 
 Sch.Frolic 
 
 Sch. Fashion, No. 2 
 
 Sch. Five Brothers 
 
 Sch. Floren ce Nightingale. 
 
 Sloop Fashion 
 
 Sch. Friendship 
 
 Sch. Fanny , 
 
 Sch. Frederick 2d 
 
 Sloop Fortunate 
 
 Sch. Forest King 
 
 Sloop Florida 
 
 Sch. Fly 
 
 Sch. Flash 
 
 Str. Florida 
 
 Sch. Fannie McEae 
 
 Sch. Florida 
 
 Sloop Florida 
 
 Sch. Grace E. Baker 
 
 Sloop Good Luck 
 
 Goods.lot oft. 
 
 Goods, lot of. 
 
 Schooner Gold Leaf 
 
 Goods and money, lot of 
 
 Ship General Parkhill 
 
 Sch. George G. Baker 
 
 Sch. Guide 
 
 Sch. Glide 
 
 Sch. Garonne ■ 
 
 Sch, Gipsy ■ 
 
 Sch Granite City 
 
 Str. Gertrude 
 
 Sch. George Chisholm 
 
 $6,450 16 
 
 29,061 42 
 
 13,:f62 62 
 
 2,90i 36 
 
 21,7P1 63 
 
 235 00 
 
 841 12 
 
 15,406 91 
 
 293 75 
 
 600 00 
 
 8,222 96 
 
 859 25 
 
 32,068 74 
 
 18,000 00 
 
 600 00 
 
 6,880 33 
 
 8,038 30 
 
 1,486 15 
 
 98 12 
 
 872 00 
 
 35,476 33 
 
 102,709 88 
 
 3,649 62 
 
 2,174 39 
 
 6,ll33 64 
 
 24,239 67 
 
 27,273 88 
 
 83,112 92 
 
 6,052 87 
 
 6,657 23 
 
 2,343 64 
 
 2,630 88 
 
 28,305 97 
 
 20,786 18 
 
 216,619 79 
 
 32,122 15 
 
 186,600 01 
 
 294,869 01 
 
 6,745 41 
 
 3,416 07 
 
 4,281 21 
 
 2,486 61 
 
 3,655 93 
 
 1,865 00 
 
 2,250 00 
 
 2,208 65 
 
 15,627 77 
 
 910 00 
 
 226 00 
 
 Costs and Am'tfordis- 
 expenses. tributiou. 
 
 •£1.0 UU 
 
 231 88 
 
 1,208 48 
 
 627 60 
 
 19,940 64 
 
 1,115 69 
 
 27,648 32 
 
 1,396 99 
 
 7,313 66 
 
 37,362 61 
 
 12,348 87 
 
 8,209 94 
 
 10,317 61 
 
 66,933 98 
 
 1,270 68 
 
 899 59 
 
 1,276 90 
 
 660 18 
 
 7,856 90 
 
 91,672 65 
 
 4,384 87 
 
 8,560 29 
 
 702 32 
 
 17,198 69 
 
 1,401 83 
 
 696 04 
 
 197 46 
 
 205 00 
 
 288 66 
 
 9,803 86 
 
 6,840 60 
 
 20,407 67 
 
 22,980 84 
 
 3,130 70 
 
 9,162 97 
 
 68,829 81 
 
 88,987 60 
 
 1,327 86 
 
 $301 64 
 2,766 42 
 4,070 48 
 
 640 36 
 3,401 46 
 
 161 06 
 
 266 25 
 1,115 37 
 
 134 93 
 
 366 34 
 1,194 68 
 
 541 17 
 3,379 23 
 
 665 86 
 
 247 66 
 
 970 13 
 
 634 47 
 
 878 60 
 
 84 16 
 
 172 66 
 
 5,355 46 
 
 18,976 31 
 
 503 94 
 
 528 35 
 
 1,332 62 
 
 1,597 99 
 
 2.665 00 
 
 16.862 74 
 
 1,052 66 
 
 970 58 
 
 203 66 
 
 678 31 
 
 3,929 13 
 
 1,460 11 
 
 5,249 22 
 
 3,727 88 
 
 6,486 62 
 
 6,973 92 
 
 666 71 
 
 1.255 71 
 
 1,039 36 
 
 1,117 18 
 
 1,263 29 
 
 1,106 76 
 
 900 93 
 
 1,392 02 
 
 2,491 26 
 
 181 74 
 
 126 48 
 
 138 23 
 
 374 66 
 
 222 66 
 
 (*4,213 22 
 
 I 2,185 44 
 
 172 86 
 
 3,742 36 
 
 336 70 
 
 1,084 87 
 
 2,904 04 
 
 1,176 91 
 
 850 37 
 
 1,126 66 
 
 3,204 48 
 
 462 32 
 
 833 65 
 
 172 18 
 
 201 33 
 1,917 05 
 6,760 77 
 
 293 16 
 645 56 
 
 202 41 
 2,830 42 
 
 220 09 
 
 202 63 
 
 116 50 
 
 86 12 
 
 170 45 
 
 ( X 222 66 
 
 ( 2,392 43 
 
 2,050 76 
 
 1,549 63 
 
 1,609 21 
 
 1,079 44 
 
 1,897 23 
 
 4,263 44 
 
 8,913 31 
 
 296 60 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 $5,148 
 
 26,296 
 
 9,282 
 
 2,364 
 
 18,390 
 
 73 
 
 574 
 
 14,291 
 
 168 
 
 143 
 
 7,028 
 
 318 
 
 28,689 
 
 17,444 
 
 362 36 
 
 4,410 20 
 
 7,403 33 
 
 607 65 
 
 13 97 
 
 699 44 
 
 30,119 87 
 
 83,733 67 
 
 3.145 68 
 
 1,646 04 
 
 4,501 12 
 
 22,641 68 
 
 24,608 88 
 
 66,250 18 
 
 6,000 32 
 
 4,686 66 
 
 2,139 98 
 
 1,962 67 
 
 24,376 84 
 
 19.325 07 
 
 211,370 67 
 
 28,394 27 
 
 381,013 79 
 
 288,896 09 
 
 6,078 70 
 
 2,159 36 
 
 3,246 86 
 
 1,368 43 
 
 2,392 64 
 
 758 24 
 
 1,349 07 
 
 816 53 
 
 13,136 51 
 
 728 26 
 
 98 62 
 
 93 65 
 
 833 92 
 
 404 95 
 
 I 13,641 88 
 
 942 73 
 
 23,905 96 
 
 1,059 29 
 
 6,229 28 
 
 34,458 67 
 
 11,172 96 
 
 2,359 57 
 
 9,191 95 
 
 53,729 60 
 
 808 28 
 
 65 94 
 
 1,104 72 
 
 458 85 
 
 5,939 85 
 
 84,911 88 
 
 4,091 71 
 
 7,914 73 
 
 499 91 
 
 14,368 27 
 
 1,181 74 
 
 493 41 
 
 80 96 
 
 118 88 
 
 118 20 
 
 } 7,188 76 
 
 4,789 85 
 18,858 14 
 21,.371 63 
 
 2,061 26 
 
 7,766 74 
 64,576 37 
 80.074 29 
 
 1,032 26 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 Key West . . . . 
 do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ....do 
 
 Washington. 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ...do 
 
 New York . . . 
 
 ...do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Springfield... 
 Philadelphia . 
 
 Key West 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 New York 
 
 Key West . . 
 
 ....do 
 
 Philadelphia . 
 
 Key West 
 
 New Orleans . 
 
 New York 
 
 New Orleans . 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 New Orleans., 
 Philadelphia. 
 New Orleans., 
 Boston . 
 New Orleans. 
 
 Boston 
 
 New York . . . 
 Key West.... 
 
 New York 
 
 New Orleans. 
 New York 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 Washington.. 
 
 .do 
 
 Key West.... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do , 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Key West ... 
 
 do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ..do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 New York... 
 
 Aug. 12, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Feb. 6, 
 Oct. 9, 
 Oct. 24. 
 Oct. 23, 
 Oct. 19, 
 April 20, 
 Feb. 9, 
 Nov. 6, 
 Feb. 18, 
 Nov. 26, 
 Dec. 6, 
 
 1865 
 1862 
 1862 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1862 
 1863 
 1862 
 1864 
 1862 
 1863 
 
 Key West.... 
 
 .. .do 
 
 New Orleans 
 Philadelphia 
 Key West — 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 . ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington.. 
 
 ....do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 -..do 
 
 New York ... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Washington . 
 
 July 21, 1863 
 Dec. 24, 1863 
 Jan. 11, 1804 
 Feb. 18. 1864 
 June 7, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 22, 1804 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 April 23, 1864 
 April 12, 1861 
 April 23. 1804 
 June 10, 1864 
 June 2, 1864 
 May 21, 1864 
 April 26, 1865 
 .Tuly 28, 1864 
 Dec. 2, 1864 
 Feb. 21, 1866 
 Feb. 24, 1865 
 Feb. 28, 1865 
 April 21, 1866 
 April 21, 1866 
 Aug. 23, 1865 
 Deo. 1, 1863 
 Jan. 2, 1863 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 May 19, 1863 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 April 29, 1862 
 Jan. 11, 1864 
 Nov. 26, 1862 
 Oct. 15,1863 
 Oct. 21, 1863 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 June 22, 1864 
 June 29, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 July 28, 1864 
 Oct. 7,1864 
 Feb. 7, 1866 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Mar. 22, 1866 
 April 20, 1865 
 May 13, 1866 
 Aug. 12, 1866 
 Aug. 16, 1865 
 
 Oct. 6, 1862 
 Oct. 24, 1862 
 
 Oct. 13, 1865 
 Jan. 11, 1864 
 Oct. 17, 1862 
 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 Nov. 6, 1862 
 Oct. 14, 1864 
 Mar. 11, 1863 
 Aug. 20, 1863 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 Nov. 20. 1863 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 
 Mahaska. 
 
 Owasco. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Bohio. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Hatteras. 
 
 Satellite, Anacostia. 
 
 Dan Smith, George Mangham, Cceur de Lion. 
 
 Chocura, Maratanza. 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Ceres, Valley City, Delaware, Louisiana, Un- 
 derwriter, Hetzel, Commodore Perry, 
 Morse, H. Brincker, Whitehead, Shawsheen, 
 Lock wood. General Putnam, J. N. Seymour- 
 New London, B. R. Guyler, Massachusetts. 
 
 Petrel, Forest Bose. 
 
 Adirondack. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Pembina. 
 
 Hope. 
 
 K. B. Ouyler, Kennebec, Kanawha. 
 
 Aroostook. 
 
 Keystone State, James Adger. 
 
 Antona. 
 
 Gertrude. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Katahdin. 
 
 Flag, Restless. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Quaker City, Keystone State. 
 
 Mobile. 
 
 Niphon. 
 
 Cherokee. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Soutn Carolina. 
 
 Gertrude, Princess, Royal, Kanawha, Cayuga. 
 
 Restless, Onward. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Matthew Vassar, 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Gem of the Sea. 
 
 Shepherd Knapp. 
 
 Freeborn. 
 
 Anacostia, Primrose. 
 
 Ethan Allen. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Magnolia. 
 
 St. Lawrence. 
 
 Stars and Stripes. 
 
 Sagamore, Two Sisters. 
 
 Juniata. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Tioga, Octorara. 
 
 Port Royal. 
 
 Tennessee. 
 
 Owasco. 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 Bermuda. 
 
 Crusader, Mississippi. (Waiting for prize 
 
 list of Mississippi.) 
 Honeysuckle. 
 Honeysuckle. 
 Princess Royal. 
 Pursuit. 
 
 Hendrick Hudson. 
 James L. Davis. 
 Hibiscus. 
 B. R. Cuyler. 
 St. Lawrence. 
 George Mangham. 
 Dan Smith. 
 Jacob Bell. 
 Western World. 
 
 Niagara, 
 
 Union. 
 
 Huron. 
 
 Marblehead, Passaic, Arago, Caswell. 
 
 Santee. 
 
 New London, Massachusetts. 
 
 Tioga. 
 
 Vanderbilt. 
 
 Dai Ching. 
 
 * Liberated, $4,213.22. 
 
 t Waiting for prize hst of the George Mangham. 
 
838 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sloop Gophen 
 
 Sell. Gipsy 
 
 Sloop G. L. Brockenborougli 
 
 Sch. General Taylor 
 
 Sell. General Prim 
 
 Goods, lot of* 
 
 Str. General Sigel, 4 boxes 
 bitters, 12 boxes wine, 2J4 
 barrels brandy, 6^ bar- 
 rels whiskey t 
 
 Str. Greyhound 
 
 Sloop Garibaldi 
 
 Sloop General Finuegan . . . 
 
 BrigH. C. Brooks 
 
 Str. Henry Lewis 
 
 Sch. Hanna M. Johnson 
 
 Sch. Hallie Jackson 
 
 Sch. Henry Middleton.. . 
 
 Seh. Hettiwan 
 
 Bark Hiawatha 
 
 Seh. Harriet Byan 
 
 Sch. Havelock 
 
 Sch. Harvest 
 
 Hoop Skirts, 2 boxes whis- 
 key, etc 
 
 Sch. Hampton 
 
 Sch, Henry Travers 
 
 Sch. Hermosa 
 
 Sch. Hattie ...'.'.'.'. 
 
 Sch. Hunter 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Seh. Herald 
 
 Sch. Harriet \\ 
 
 Sen. Handy '.'.'..'.. 
 
 Sch. Horteuse 
 
 Str. Herald .'. 
 
 Bark H . M. McGuinnt 
 
 Sch. Helena 
 
 Sch. Henry Colthirst '. 
 
 Str.Hattie 
 
 Str. Hope 
 
 Sloop Hannah W'^. 
 
 Sloop Hancock 
 
 Sloop Hope 
 
 Sloop Henrietta 
 
 Seh. Isabel or W. E. King. 
 
 Seh. Ida ..' 
 
 Briglntended \, 
 
 Seh. Ida 
 
 Sloop Isabella 
 
 Seh . Independence 
 
 Iron, railroad, 1,200 barsj 
 Iron, railroad, 658 barsg 
 
 Sch. Island Belle 
 
 Str.Ida 
 
 Sch. John and Nathaniel 
 Taylor 
 
 Seh. J. W. Wilder 
 
 Sch. Joana Ward 
 
 Sch. J. G. McNeil .'.'.' 
 
 Sch. James Norcomll 
 
 Sch. Julia Worden 
 
 Sch .Julia 
 
 Sloop Julia 
 
 Sch. Julia 
 
 Str. Juno 
 
 Sloop John Wesley 
 
 Sloop Jane Adelie 
 
 Sloop Julia 
 
 Sloop Juatina 
 
 Sch. Juniper 
 
 Sch. Joe Planner.,.. . . 
 
 Str. Jeff Davisir 
 
 $113 62 
 
 744 23 
 
 12,128 69 
 
 7,180 21 
 
 17,302 26 
 
 702 08 
 
 183 60 
 
 497,868 65 
 
 6,424 60 
 
 3,661 05 
 
 61,982 62 
 
 37,337 76 
 2,470 26 
 8,626 00 
 24,607 05 
 13,466 37 
 269,319 27 
 
 1,718 63 
 2,770 36 
 16,031 31 
 
 200 08 
 
 6,686 42 
 
 7,643 76 
 
 27,621 (16 
 
 64,399 30 
 
 12,658 10 
 
 2,584 72 
 
 6,556 86 
 
 979 06 
 
 2,647 73 
 
 87,866 77 
 
 700 00 
 
 6,.595 51 
 
 4,434 56 
 
 18,000 00 
 
 271,192 36 
 
 339 60 
 
 239 62 
 
 6,299 47 
 
 8,961 96 
 
 4,672 87 
 
 784 15 
 
 8,874 90 
 
 486 74 
 
 76 87 
 
 1,600 00 
 
 3,467 08 
 
 6,942 62 
 
 10,717 30 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 Str. James Battle 
 
 Sch. John Seott 
 
 Seh. J.T. Davis 
 
 Sch. John Douglas. 
 
 Sch. Jupiter 
 
 Seh. Judeon 
 
 Str. Jupiter 
 
 Sch. James Williams... 
 
 Sch. J. C. McCabe 
 
 Sch. John 
 
 Sloop Josephine 
 
 Sch Joseph H. Toone. 
 
 Sch. Julia 
 
 Sch. Josephine 
 
 Sch. John Hale 
 
 Str. Julia 
 
 1,700 00 
 
 24,618 44 
 7,503 00 
 e,536 90 
 2,200 00 
 3,090 34 
 
 17,347 96 
 571 39 
 9,942 50 
 135,102 00 
 1,875 90 
 6,699 71 
 
 15,428 96 
 1,720 53 
 2,228 69 
 
 11,747 21 
 600 00 
 
 240, 
 37, 
 9 
 41 
 35, 
 23, 
 
 32, 
 
 1,1 
 
 15,1 
 
 6, 
 
 16, 
 
 14, 
 
 159, 
 
 896 62 
 723 84 
 ,926 00 
 ,011 62 
 ,982 40 
 ,495 74 
 ,331 73 
 ,610 15 
 452 11 
 514 71 
 821) 77 
 606 48 
 468 81 
 046 81 
 032 46 
 129 41 
 
 $70 22 
 
 469 49 
 
 2,718 19 
 
 2,021 21 
 
 1,627 00 
 
 211 23 
 
 67 07 
 
 12,896 64 
 
 653 80 
 
 414 37 
 
 6,467 83 
 
 4,041 62 
 932 81 
 1,217 47 
 4,394 59 
 1,997 62 
 29,616 56 
 
 824 68 
 1,500 28 
 1,108 28 
 
 87 72 
 684 80 
 1,142 61 
 4,019 90 
 6,247 67 
 1,142 23 
 
 377 30 
 
 646 46 
 
 326 38 
 
 350 86 
 
 3,483 97 
 
 376 75 
 
 922 02 
 
 861 42 
 
 722 40 
 
 7,896 62 
 
 123 00 
 
 107 67 
 
 937 28 
 
 768 38 
 
 480 16 
 
 455 10 
 
 1,866 43 
 
 230 16 
 
 66 68 
 
 751 32 
 
 1,204 77 
 
 1,734 75 
 
 1,865 31 
 
 294 85 
 
 3,431 26 
 
 1,996 14 
 
 1,306 92 
 
 319 85 
 
 986 54 
 
 1,419 22 
 
 181 24 
 
 1,572 65 
 
 4,608 44 
 
 244 21 
 
 667 24 
 
 1,602 43 
 
 464 68 
 
 502 32 
 
 1,466 52 
 
 47 46 
 
 17,651 16 
 3,110 22 
 1,465 04 
 3,402 52 
 3,299 80 
 1,896 33 
 1,482 99 
 
 749 77 
 
 168 03 
 3,041 49 
 
 333 97 
 3,490 44 
 1,215 93 
 3,048 49 
 
 599 00 
 4,807 54 
 
 Atn'tfordis Whereadjudi- 
 tribution, cated. 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 $43 40 
 
 274 74 
 
 9,410 40 
 
 5,159 00 
 
 16,775 26 
 
 490 86 
 
 116 63 
 
 484,962 01 
 
 4,770 80 
 
 3,246 68 
 
 46,614 69 
 
 33,296 14 
 1,537 46 
 2,407 63 
 20,212 46 
 11,457 86 
 239,703 71 
 
 893 85 
 
 1,270 08 
 
 13,923 03 
 
 112 26 
 
 4,901 62 
 
 6,506 IS 
 
 23,601 16 
 
 69,161 63 
 
 11,516 87 
 
 2,207 42 
 
 4,911 40 
 
 662 68 
 
 2,296 87 
 
 84,382 80 
 
 323 25 
 
 4,673 49 
 
 3,583 14 
 
 17,277 60 
 
 263,296 83 
 
 216 60 
 
 132 OS 
 
 5,362 19 
 
 8,193 58 
 
 4,192 72 
 
 329 05 
 
 7,009 42 
 
 266 58 
 
 11 29 
 
 848 68 
 
 2,262 31 
 
 4,207 87 
 
 8,861 99 
 
 36.237 06 
 
 1,406 16 
 
 21,187 18 
 6,507 86 
 5,229 98 
 1,880 15 
 2,103 80 
 
 16,928 74 
 390 16 
 8,369 91 
 130,393 67 
 1,631 69 
 6,032 47 
 
 13,926 54 
 1,165 85 
 1,726 27 
 
 10,280 69 
 452 56 
 
 223,244 46 
 34,618 62 
 
 8,469 98 
 37,609 10 
 32,682 60 
 21,600 41 
 
 6,848 74 
 
 4,760 38 
 
 284 08 
 
 29,470 22 
 
 1,492 80 
 12,116 44 
 
 4,252 88 
 
 12,998 32 
 
 13,433 40 
 
 164,321 87 
 
 Sey West . . . 
 
 ....do 
 
 , .do.. 
 Philadelphia 
 Key West . . . 
 Washington . 
 
 .Springfield. 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West . . 
 
 ..do 
 
 New York.. 
 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 ...do., 
 ...do., 
 ...do.. 
 ...do.. 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 do 
 
 Washington. . 
 
 .do 
 
 ....do.. 
 Key West. .. 
 .do 
 
 New York , . . 
 Philadelphia . 
 
 Washington . . 
 Key West . . . . 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans . 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 St. Augustine 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West... 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia.. 
 Key West 
 
 Dec. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Nov. 12, 1864 
 Mar. 9, 1864 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 New Orleans . 
 Philadelphia, 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ,...do 
 
 New Tork. 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 do.. 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 Key West .... 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston 
 
 ..do 
 
 Key West .... 
 ....do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 do 
 
 Springfield. . . 
 
 Key West 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 New Orleans. 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans. 
 Washington., 
 New Orleans 
 
 Key West 
 
 New York 
 
 New Orleans.. 
 
 do 
 
 Key West 
 
 do 
 
 May 19, 1864 
 Aug, 24, 1864 
 Mar, 14, 1865 
 June 29, 1865 
 July 18, 1863 
 
 Nov. 26, 1863 
 Nov. 26, 1863 
 July 12, 1862 
 Jan. 2, 1363 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 
 Oct. 17,1862 
 July 22, 1863 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 
 May 17, 1862 
 Jan. 11, 1864 
 Feb. 6, 1863 
 Oct. 8, 1863 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar, 17, 1864 
 April 12 1864 
 
 May '21,' 1864' 
 June 8,1864 
 Nov. 4, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1866 
 Mar, 22, 1866 
 April 21, 1865 
 April 21, 1865 
 Aug. 25, 1865 
 Oct. 16, 1862 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 
 Nov. 17, 1864 
 AprU18,1866 
 
 Dec. 1. 1863 
 Jan. 31, 1863 
 Oct. 20, 1803 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Ethan Allen. 
 
 Sagamore, Fort Henry. 
 
 Crusader, Mahaska, Samuel Kotan. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Primrose, Cceur de Lion. 
 
 Fairplay. 
 
 Conneetieut. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Harriet Lane, Minnesota, Wabash, Cumber- 
 land, Susquehanna, Monticello, Pawnee.- 
 
 R, E. Cuyler, Massachusetts, New London. 
 
 Perry. 
 
 Union. 
 
 Vandalia. 
 
 Ottowa, Housatonic, Flambeau, 
 
 Minnesota, Cumberland, Perry, Keystone 
 State, Star (now called Monticello). 
 
 Pawnee. 
 
 Jamestown. 
 
 Juniata. 
 
 Island Belle, Anacostia. 
 Currituck. 
 Bohio. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 Florida. 
 
 Kanawha, Colorado, Lackawanna, Pocahon- 
 tas, Aroostook, Kennebec, E. B. Cuyler. 
 Calypso. 
 Tahoma. 
 Octorara. 
 Somerset. 
 Tioga. 
 Vincennes, Clifton. 
 
 Dee. 1, 
 Oct. 10, 
 Oct. 17, 
 April 27, 
 Jan. 30, 
 Mar. 17, 
 Mar. 9, 
 Mar. S), 
 Mar. 17, 
 Mar. 17, 
 Mar. 29, 
 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 18 3 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1^64 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 
 April 12, 
 April 23, 
 May 21, 
 June 18, 
 Oct. 11, 
 Oct. 7, 
 Oct. 11, 
 Oct. 12, 
 Oct. 19, 
 Mar. 22. 
 April 22, 
 April 21, 
 June 3, 
 June 26, 
 Aug. 12, 
 Aug. 16, 
 
 1864 
 1804 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1804 
 1804 
 1864 
 1863 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Pawnee, Columbine. 
 
 Eolus. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Sunflower. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Merrimac. 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 Mercedita. 
 
 Jamestown. 
 
 James 8. Chambers. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Potomac. 
 
 Mohican, Potomska, Pocahontas. 
 
 Mohican, Potomska, Pocahontas. 
 
 Augusta. 
 
 Sonoma. 
 
 Commodore Perry, Underwriter, Whitehead. 
 
 E. R. Cuyler. 
 
 Harriet Lane. 
 
 Arthur. 
 
 Sbawsheen. 
 
 Restless, 
 
 Kittatinny. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Circassian. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Tioga. 
 
 Tiogo. 
 
 Kennebec. 
 
 Pembina. 
 
 Benton, St. Louis, Louisville, Carondelet, 
 
 Cairo. 
 De Soto. 
 Kennebec. 
 Cayuga. 
 Penobscot. 
 
 Cimarron, Nantucket. 
 Conemaugh. 
 Proteus 
 Penobscot. 
 Zouave. 
 
 Augusta Dinsmore. 
 Sunflower. 
 South Carolina. 
 Chocura. 
 Seminole. 
 Matthew Vassar. 
 Acacia. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of Ooeur de Lion. 
 
 t Vessel not included. 
 
 } Waiting lor prize lists of the Vincennes and Clifton. 
 
 § Waiting for prize lists of Mohican, Potomska, and Pocahontas 
 
 II Waiting for prize list of Shawsheen. 
 
 IT Waiting for prize lists of Benton, St. Louis, Louisville, Carondelet Cairo 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 839 
 
 Name. 
 
 Soh. Kate: 
 
 Sch. Kate, cargo of. . . 
 
 Str. Kate Dale 
 
 Str. KaskaBkia 
 
 Str. Kate 
 
 Sloop Kate 
 
 Sloop Kate* 
 
 Soh. La CrioUa. , 
 
 titr. Lodona 
 
 Hoh. Lion 
 
 Sch. Ladies' Delight. . 
 
 £ch. Lookout , 
 
 Sch. Lion 
 
 Sch. Lavinia 
 
 Sch. Lily 
 
 fich. Ly nnhaTon 
 
 Soh. Lovely Belief. . . 
 Sch. Louisa Agnes — 
 Sch. Lizzie Weston. . . 
 Sch. Lucy C. Holmes. 
 
 Sch. Louise 
 
 Str. Lizzie 
 
 Sch. Louisa 
 
 Sch. Linnet 
 
 Sch. Lydia and Mary. 
 Sloop Louisa Dud.ey. 
 
 Sch. Lady Maria 
 
 Str. Lizzie Dayis 
 
 Sch. Locadie 
 
 Sch. Lida 
 
 Sch. Louisa 
 
 Sloop Last Trial 
 
 Sch. Lily 
 
 Soh. Lynchburg 
 
 Sch.LUy 
 
 Sch. Laura 
 
 Str. Little Ada 
 
 Str. Lady SterliD g ... . 
 
 Sch. Louisa 
 
 Sch. Lone 
 
 Str. Lucy 
 
 Sch. Leartad 
 
 Sch. Linda , 
 
 Sch. Lowood 
 
 Str. Laura 
 
 Sloop Lydia 
 
 Sch. Lily 
 
 Sloop Last Resort 
 
 Sloop Lauretta 
 
 Sch. Lucy 
 
 Brig Lilla 
 
 Sch. Late Hurley 
 
 Sch. Mars 
 
 Sch. Major Barbour. . 
 
 Sloop Mercury X 
 
 Sch. Maria 
 
 Brig Minna 
 
 Sch. Maria Bishop . . . . 
 
 Sch. Mary Jane 
 
 Str. Magnolia 
 
 Sloop Margaret 
 
 Sch. MagnoUa 
 
 Sloop Maria 
 
 Sch. Margaret 
 
 Sch. Martha Ann 
 
 Sloop Mary Grey § 
 
 Bark Meaco 
 
 Soh. Mabel 
 
 Sch. Morning Star 
 
 Sch. Mary Wood 
 
 Sch. Mary Elizabeth. . 
 Soh. Major B. WilUs. . 
 
 Merchandise, 680 pieces II 
 
 Sch. Monterey 
 
 Str. Memphis 
 
 Merchandise, cargo of If.. 
 
 Sch. Meteor 
 
 Sloop Magnolia . 
 
 Sch. Maria Alberta 
 
 Str. Merrimack 
 
 Sch. Mississippian 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $4,188 33 
 
 98 00 
 
 370,708 39 
 
 1,300 00 
 
 31,180 00 
 
 3,672 22 
 711 81 
 2,828 64 
 246,651 32 
 4,935 25 
 1,813 72 
 1,468 87 
 8,573 54 
 9,580 38 
 6,189 53 
 7,000 00 
 
 2,200 00 
 
 1,106 GO 
 
 76,286 67 
 
 29,745 62 
 
 46,053 49 
 
 12,244 73 
 
 1,977 27 
 
 2,022 42 
 
 2,864 66 
 
 2,693 07 
 
 30,646 45 
 
 18,361 16 
 
 1,997 00 
 
 9,753 64 
 
 6,611 S6 
 
 109 96 
 
 6,996 66 
 
 11,449 43 
 9,019 94 
 6,843 01 
 
 44,489 96 
 
 609,354 64 
 
 6,491 49 
 
 2,631 60 
 
 268,948 20 
 
 43.261 72 
 1,237 65 
 
 34,556 03 
 
 36,062 92 
 1,302 17 
 1,102 00 
 1,987 58 
 52 63 
 6,879 64 
 
 73,679 67 
 3,500 86 
 1,141 00 
 
 44,667 76 
 
 1.548 20 
 3,399 92 
 2,340 11 
 4,639 96 
 1,731 39 
 
 173,955 77 
 
 3.549 98 
 41,731 61 
 
 4,849 37 
 378 73 
 
 1,498 02 
 224 37 
 
 { 92,213 47 
 
 8,781 60 
 
 1,168 61 
 
 3,292 78 
 
 686 68 
 
 36,242 46 
 
 312 16 
 
 837 10 
 
 543,495 15 
 
 2.50 80 
 
 2,589 70 
 
 661 25 
 
 4,583 26 
 
 202,741 16 
 
 34,981 94 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 Am'tfordis- 
 tribution. 
 
 $693 23 
 
 61 25 
 
 14,910 27 
 
 376 56 
 
 1,890 42 
 
 442 22 
 
 126 27 
 
 871 83 
 
 14,944 84 
 
 1,350 70 
 287 32 
 264 00 
 
 1,093 68 
 880 96 
 836 88 
 401 15 
 
 319 85 
 
 1.401 00 
 
 8,738 92 
 
 3,952 10 
 
 1,970 51 
 
 1,836 04 
 
 1,078 62 
 
 388 17 
 
 918 66 
 
 620 60 
 
 2,228 42 
 
 2.441 08 
 
 666 44 
 
 1,374 46 
 
 1,121 50 
 
 108 85 
 
 966 68 
 4,437 27 
 1,074 50 
 
 871 94 
 1,680 69 
 9.463 35 
 1,227 36 
 
 723 69 
 6,534 72 
 
 4.380 79 
 171 50 
 
 6.948 70 
 
 1,589 90 
 
 224 76 
 
 625 04 
 
 290 16 
 
 52 63 
 
 341 52 
 
 3.929 46 
 
 1,246 75 
 
 1,1.57 04 
 
 8,278 68 
 
 646 99 
 
 2.048 62 
 
 1.381 10 
 2,667 80 
 1,033 74 
 6,651 61 
 
 234 47 
 
 3,199 02 
 
 722 26 
 
 160 95 
 
 714 44 
 
 166 01 
 
 a30,166 55 
 
 6,090 02 
 
 1,753 61 
 
 646 02 
 
 1,039 79 
 
 596 82 
 
 2,098 37 
 
 106 32 
 
 287 04 
 
 32,581 08 
 
 82 92 
 
 201 86 
 
 130 38 
 
 337 87 
 
 11,702 48 
 
 2,496 62 
 
 $3,595 10 
 
 46 75 
 
 366,798 12 
 
 923 45 
 
 29,289 58 
 
 3,130 00 
 685 54 
 1,956 81 
 231,706 48 
 3,584 56 
 1,526 40 
 1,214 87 
 7,479 86 
 8,699 42 
 4,353 65 
 6,698 85 
 
 1,880 16 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 67,467 76 
 
 26.793 52 
 
 43,082 98 
 
 10,408 69 
 
 898 65 
 
 1,634 25 
 
 1.946 00 
 
 2,072 57 
 
 28,418 03 
 
 15,910 11 
 
 1,340 66 
 
 8,379 09 
 
 4,489 85 
 
 1 11 
 
 5,028 98 
 
 7,012 16 
 
 7,945 44 
 
 6,971 07 
 
 42,909 26 
 
 494,891 29 
 
 4,264 13 
 
 1,908 01 
 
 262,413 48 
 
 38,880 93 
 
 1,066 15 
 
 28,606 33 
 
 34,463 02 
 
 1,077 41 
 
 476 96 
 
 1,697 43 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 6,638 12 
 
 69,760 22 
 
 2,255 11 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 36,289 08 
 
 1,002 21 
 
 1,351 40 
 
 969 01 
 
 1,872 15 
 
 697 65 
 
 167,404 16 
 
 3,315 51 
 
 38,532 59 
 
 4,127 12 
 
 217 78 
 
 783 68 
 
 68 36 
 
 55,967 89 
 
 7,027 89 
 
 623 59 
 
 2,252 99 
 
 88 86 
 
 34,144 08 
 
 206 84 
 
 5.50 06 
 
 610,914 07 
 
 167 88 
 
 2,387 84 
 
 430 87 
 
 4,195 38 
 
 191,038 68 
 
 32,486 42 
 
 Whereadjudi-«Cit;^? \^ 
 ^^°- distribution. 
 
 Key West ... 
 Washington. , 
 Philadelphia. 
 Springfield.. 
 New York — 
 
 Key West... 
 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington, 
 
 ... do 
 
 Key West.... 
 
 . . do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New York... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West . . 
 Philadelphia 
 Key West . . . 
 
 ....do 
 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 New Orleans. 
 Key West . . . 
 
 New Orleans 
 New York , . 
 New Orleans 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston. 
 New York . , , 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ....do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West . . . . 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 Key West 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 Key West 
 
 .do , 
 
 do 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans. 
 New York 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ,.,do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 .do 
 
 Washington., 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 . . do. . . ^ 
 
 . do 
 
 ..do , 
 
 Boston 
 
 Washington, 
 New York . . 
 Washington, 
 Key West,.. 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 New York. . . 
 Key West. . . 
 
 Oct. 23, 1863 
 Oct. 23, 1863 
 Jan. 6, 1864 
 Jan. 11, 1864 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 July 6, 1864 
 
 Nov, 26, 1862 
 April 25,1863 
 Nov. 5, 1863 
 Oct.l 9, 1863 
 April 16, 1862 
 Oct. 16, 1862 
 Jan. 23, 1863 
 Oct. 13, 1893 
 Deo. 8, 1863 
 
 Feb. 17, 
 Jan. 31, 
 Jan. 23, 
 Jan. 11, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Dec. 14, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Mar. 17, 
 May 7, 
 June 7, 
 Nov, 26, 
 April 23, 
 June 4, 
 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 June 18, 
 July 28, 
 July 28, 
 July 28, 
 Feb. 16, 
 Feb. 7, 
 Feb. 14, 
 Feb. 14, 
 Mar, 9, 
 Mar. 22, 
 Mar. 22, 
 April 22, 
 April 22, 
 April 22, 
 June 2, 
 Aug. 26, 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1805 
 1865 
 1865 
 1866 
 1866 
 1865 
 1865 
 1866 
 18C5 
 1865 
 1866 
 1865 
 
 Aug, 12, 1865 
 June 20, 1865 
 Aug. 22, 1865 
 
 Jan. 30, 1803 
 
 Dec. "i. 1863 
 Nov. 20, 1S63 
 Dec. 24, 1863 
 Deo. 9, 1863 
 Oct. 16, 1862 
 
 Oct. 16, 1862 
 Oct. 8,1863 
 Oct. 17, 1863 
 Oct. 6, 1862 
 Oct, 1, 1863 
 
 Mar. 11, 1863 
 
 Nov. 6, 1862 
 Nov. 26, 1862 
 Nov, 11, 1864 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Nov. 5, 1863 
 
 April 16, 1862 
 Nov. 10, 1863 
 
 Dec. 3, 1864 
 June 11, 1861 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1S64 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Adolph Hugel. 
 
 R. R. Cuyler. 
 
 Cricket. 
 
 Mount Vernon, Iroquois, James Adger, 
 Niphon. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 Pursuit. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Unadilla. 
 
 Delaware. 
 
 Primrose, Anacostia, Currituck, Satellite. 
 
 Coeur de Lion. 
 
 Kingfisher. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 W. G. Anderson. 
 
 Delaware, Louisiana, Hetzel, Commodore 
 Perry, Valley City, Underwriter, Morse, 
 Ceres, H. Brincker, Whitehead, Shawsheen, 
 Lockwood, General Putnam, J. N. Seymour. 
 
 General Putnam. 
 
 General Putnam. 
 
 Itasca. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 Albatross. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Union. 
 
 Restless. 
 
 McLellan. 
 
 De Soto, Stonewall. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Commodore. 
 
 Seminole. 
 
 Queen. ' 
 
 Beauregard, San Jacinto, Dale, Tioga, Taho- 
 ma, Huntsville, Wanderer, Eugenie, Sun- 
 flower, Sea Bird, Honduras, Marigold. 
 
 Penobscot. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Owasco. 
 
 Owasco. 
 
 Gettysburg. 
 
 Calypso, Eolus. 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 Fort Morgan. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Beauregard, Norfolk Packet. 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Hendrick Hudson. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Metacomet. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Koebuck. 
 
 Hendrick Hudson. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Chocura. 
 
 De Soto, Kittatinny. 
 
 Quaker City, Memphis, Powhatan, Flag. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 Victoria. 
 
 Courier. 
 
 Mount Vernon, State of Georgia. 
 
 Huntsville. Brooklyn, South Carolina, Mer- 
 
 cedita, Itasca. 
 Sciota. 
 Hatteras. 
 
 Rachel Seaman, Kensington. 
 Tahoma, Hendrick Hudson. 
 Samuel Rotau. 
 Eureka, T. A, Ward. 
 
 Brooklyn, St. Louis. 
 
 Dale, St. Lawrence. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Pawnee. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Mystic, State of Georgia. 
 
 Powhatan, Housatonic. Paul Jones, Huron, 
 Unadilla, Augusta, South Carolina, Amer- 
 ica, G. W. Blunt, New Ironsides, Flag, 
 Stettin, Lodona. 
 
 Hunchback. 
 
 Resolute. 
 
 Magnolia. 
 
 Coa'ir de Lion, Dan Smith. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 ."^an Jacinto. 
 
 Iroquois. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of the Pursuit. 
 
 + Totan Tmt ^Tfl.r DfiTiartment : not tiaid for. 
 
 5 Waiting for prize list of the T. A, Ward. 
 
 I Wn.ifintT for nrize list of tile Hunchback. 
 
840 
 
 THE NAVAL HlSTUUr 
 
 Name. 
 
 Str. Maggie Fulton 
 
 Sch. Mary Jane 
 
 Soh. Mattie* 
 
 Sch. Miriam 
 
 Sloop Minnie 
 
 Str. Montgomery 
 
 Sch. Mack Canfield 
 
 Merchandise, 4 mules and 
 1 buggy , 
 
 Mules, 21 
 
 Mules, 13t 
 
 Sch. M. J. Smith 
 
 Str. Minna , 
 
 Money. $627 26 t 
 
 Sch. Martha Jane 
 
 Sch. Mary Douglas 
 
 Sch. Marion 
 
 Sch. Mary Ann 
 
 Sch. Mary Sorley 
 
 Sch. Maria Albert 
 
 Sch. Mary Clinton 
 
 Str. Minnie 
 
 Str. Margaret and Jessie § 
 
 Str. Matagorda 
 
 Str. Mayflower 
 
 Sch. Mary 
 
 Sloop Maria Louisa 
 
 Sch. Miriam 
 
 Sloop Mary 
 
 Brig Minnie 
 
 Sch. Mary Ann.. 
 
 Sloop Mary Ellen 
 
 Sch. Minnie 
 
 Str. Mail , 
 
 Sch. Matilda 
 
 Soh. Malta 
 
 Sch. Mary Ellen. . 
 
 Sch. Mary 
 
 Sch. Medora 
 
 Sch Nelly 
 
 Brig Napier 
 
 Sloop (no namell) 
 
 Sch. Newcastle 
 
 Bark (slave, name 
 
 known*) 
 
 Brig Nahum Stetson .. . 
 Sch. (name unknown).. 
 
 Sloop New Eagle 
 
 Ship North Carolina 
 
 Sloop Neptune, cargo of 
 
 Str. Nicholai Ist 
 
 Sloop {no name) 
 
 Sch. New Year 
 
 Sch. Napoleon, 
 
 Str. Neptune , 
 
 Str. Nassau 
 
 Sch. Nanjemoy 
 
 Sloop Nellie 
 
 Str. Nutfleld 
 
 Sloop Neptune 
 
 Sloop (no name) 
 
 Str. Nan Nan 
 
 Sloop Nina 
 
 Sloop Osceola 
 
 Sch. Olive 
 
 Str. Ouachita 
 
 Sch. Odd Fellow 
 
 Sch. Olive Branch 
 
 Sloop Octavia 
 
 Sch. Orion 
 
 Sch. Ocean Wave 
 
 Sch. Olive 8. BreezeK 
 
 Sch. Ocean Bird, cargo of. , 
 
 Sch. Ora Monita 
 
 Sch.O. K 
 
 Sloop Oscar 
 
 Str. P.O. Wallis** 
 
 Sch. Providence 
 
 Sch. Prince Alfred 
 
 Sch. Pride 
 
 Property, lot of 
 
 Property, lot of 
 
 Property, lotoftt 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $1,107 71 
 689 88 
 
 1,913 69 
 47,939 13 
 
 4,290 66 
 20,251 94 
 33,446 11 
 
 365 00 
 
 1,900 00 
 
 1.175 00 
 
 89,809 65 
 
 116,901 21 
 
 627 25 
 
 21,130 14 
 
 4.865 75 
 381 96 
 
 116,544 74 
 103,083 46 
 
 3.866 94 
 10,432 43 
 
 353,943 42' 
 
 170,708 34 
 
 389,367 36 
 
 20,114 22 
 
 28,638 62 
 
 4,106 67 
 
 2,869 15 
 
 9,660 89 
 
 6,409 29 
 
 2,971 81 
 
 3,875 36 
 
 3,362 16 
 
 63,319 11 
 
 7,219 87 
 8,636 46 
 6,082 00 
 804 84 
 12,462 05 
 1,164 83 
 4,702 67 
 
 488 66 
 34,921 85 
 
 9,631 27 
 4,710 68 
 2,000 00 
 
 8,008 60 
 10,850 00 
 15.669 17 
 33,226 88 
 196 63 
 16,908 18 
 
 1,071 87 
 
 40,820 68 
 
 71,968 63 
 
 35 GO 
 
 20,643 24 
 
 2,219 00 
 
 20,046 35 
 
 95 00 
 
 21,006 03 
 
 440 71 
 
 600 00 
 
 1,750 00 
 
 9,800 00 
 
 7,069 62 
 
 5,944 74 
 
 686 00 
 
 7 900 80 
 
 41266 69 
 
 2,078 05 
 
 282 31 
 
 856 20 
 
 2,890 70 
 
 32,079 00 
 
 929 90 
 
 8,618 20 
 
 2,918 06 
 
 2.043 74 
 
 6i;9 11 
 
 269 97 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $377 09 
 122 83 
 390 29 
 
 3,465 84 
 619 67 
 
 2.069 22 
 3,028 13 
 
 93 27 
 
 139 02 
 
 1,014 39 
 
 7,381 35 
 
 6,990 77 
 
 76 22 
 
 2,022 26 
 
 818 71 
 
 235 62 
 
 4,188 42 
 
 5,292 18 
 
 805 49 
 
 3,197 65 
 
 9.070 16 
 12,549 87 
 
 5,798 62 
 
 1,831 01 
 
 1,661 22 
 
 408 71 
 
 367 78 
 
 1,007 89 
 
 1,261 75 
 
 837 99 
 
 444 82 
 
 296 76 
 
 6,421 11 
 
 1,238 10 
 
 1,660 03 
 830 67 
 127 20 
 
 3,853 08 
 732 16 
 
 1,006 79 
 
 188 09 
 2,686 62 
 
 691 39 
 317 92 
 316 86 
 
 1,196 48 
 6,763 74 
 1,464 96 
 4,848 94 
 
 133 72 
 1,776 22 
 
 679 90 
 
 4,460 44 
 10,699 23 
 
 1,580 90 
 363 60 
 
 1,654 68 
 87 92 
 
 2,036 78 
 105 66 
 240 95 
 274 20 
 
 2,167 84 
 
 1,321 29 
 
 344 68 
 
 74 62 
 
 709 33 
 
 1,084 63 
 446 09 
 212 60 
 249 96 
 297 86 
 
 2,621 97 
 
 678 94 
 2,001 20 
 401 39 
 286 85 
 170 02 
 92 30 
 
 Am'tfordis 
 tribution. 
 
 $730 62 
 567 06 
 1,623 30 
 44,473 29 
 3,670 89 
 18,192 72 
 30,416 98 
 
 271 73 
 
 1,760 98 
 
 160 61 
 
 82,426 30 
 
 110,910 44 
 
 651 03 
 
 19,107 88 
 
 4,047 04 
 
 146 44 
 
 112,356 32 
 
 97,791 28 
 
 3,061 46 
 
 7,234 88 
 
 344,873 26 
 
 168,168 47 
 
 353,568 83 
 
 18,283 21 
 
 26,977 40 
 
 3.697 86 
 2,501 37 
 8,543 00 
 6,147 64 
 2,133 82 
 3,430 53 
 3,065 40 
 
 67,898 00 
 
 6,981 77 
 
 6,986 43 
 
 4,251 33 
 
 677 64 
 
 8.698 97 
 433 67 
 
 3,696 78 
 
 300 56 
 32,234 73 
 
 9,039 88 
 4,392 76 
 1,684 15 
 
 6,812 02 
 
 4,096 26 
 
 14,204 22 
 
 28,377 94 
 
 61 91 
 
 14,129 96 
 
 391 97 
 
 36,360 14 
 
 61,269 40 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 19,062 34 
 
 1,866 40 
 
 18,390 77 
 
 7 08 
 
 18,970 24 
 
 335 16 
 
 369 06 
 
 1,475 80 
 
 7,632 16 
 
 6,748 23 
 
 6,600 16 
 
 611 38 
 
 7,191 47 
 
 3,182 06 
 
 1,632 96 
 
 69 71 
 
 606 24 
 
 2,692 84 
 
 29,457 07 
 
 31,232 76 
 
 250 96 
 
 1,617 00 
 
 2,516 67 
 
 1,766 89 
 
 399 09 
 
 177 67 
 
 Whereadjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 Key West 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 New Orleans . 
 
 ....do 
 
 Springfield.. 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 Boston 
 
 Springfield. . 
 Key West . . . 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston. 
 
 New York 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West .... 
 
 New York 
 
 Key West 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 New Orleans 
 Key West. ., 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 June 9,1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 June 9. 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 
 April 23, 1864 
 Nov. 17, 1864 
 
 April 23, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Key West 
 
 New Orleans. 
 
 Philadelphia 
 .do 
 
 Washington. 
 Key West . . . 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 New York... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do.. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington . 
 Key West . . . 
 New York , . . 
 
 Key West . . . 
 New York . . . 
 Washington . 
 New York . . . 
 Washington. 
 Key West . . . 
 .do 
 
 ,do 
 
 do 
 
 New York 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 do 
 
 Key West 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia . 
 Key West .... 
 
 Boston 
 
 St. Augustine 
 Key West . . . 
 
 .do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Philadelphia . 
 
 ..do.. 
 Washington. . 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 June 1,1864 
 June 8, 1864 
 June 17, 1864 
 July 19, 1864 
 July 28, 1864 
 July 28, 1864 
 Oct. 29, 1864 
 Oct. 10, 1864 
 Oct. 17,1864 
 Dec. 3. 1864 
 Feb. 2, 1865 
 Mar. 22, 1865 
 Mar. 22, 1S65 
 Mar. 22, 1866 
 Mar. 22, 1865 
 April 18, 1866 
 April22, 1866 
 April 26, 1866 
 April 26, 1865 
 April 26, 1865 
 
 June 26, 1865 
 Aug. 22, 1865 
 Aug. 16, 1866 
 Aug. 12, 1866 
 Aug. 21, 1866 
 Mar. 2, 1863 
 June 28, 1864 
 
 Oct. 16, 1862 
 
 Nov. 26, 1862 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 Dec. 8, 1863 
 
 Jan. 27, 1863 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 Dec. 26, 1863 
 Nov. 26, 1863 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 May 10, 1864 
 
 July 19. 1864 
 Oct. 29, 1864 
 April 26, 1866 
 
 May 1, 1865 
 
 July 21, 
 July 21, 
 Nov. 25, 
 Dec. 17, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 13, 
 Oct. 17, 
 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1802 
 1862 
 1863 
 1862 
 
 June 4, 1864 
 Nov. 4, 1864 
 Mar. 22, 1805 
 April 26, 1865 
 
 Nov. 6, 1862 
 July 21, 1864 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Oct. 19,1863 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Gem of the Sea. 
 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Annie. 
 
 Itasca, 
 
 fluntsville. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 W. G. Anderson. 
 
 Argosy. 
 
 Juliet. 
 
 Conestoga. 
 
 Kennebec, 
 
 Circassian. 
 
 St. Louis. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Aroostook. 
 
 Grand Gulf. 
 
 Sciota. 
 
 Rachel Seaman. 
 
 Powhatan. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Fulton. Keystone State, Nansemond. 
 
 Magnolia. 
 
 Union. 
 
 Mackinaw. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Honeysuckle. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Lodona. 
 
 Itasca. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Honduras, San Jacinto (Fox, Sea Bird, Two 
 
 Sisters). 
 Penobscot. 
 Glide. 
 Kanawha. 
 Pursuit. 
 
 J. P. Jackson, Stockdale. 
 Alabama. 
 Mount Vernon, Mystic, Chippewa, Stars and 
 
 Stripes. 
 Commodore Morris. 
 Bainbridge. 
 
 Brooklyn, Massachusetts. 
 
 Commodore Perry, Delaware, Hetzel, Louis- 
 iana. VaUey City, Underwriter, Ceres. H. 
 Brinker, Morse, Whitehead, Shawsheen^ 
 Lockwood, J. N. Seymour, General Patnam, 
 
 Matthew Vasear, Sea Foam. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Housatonic, New Ironsides. 
 
 Victoria. 
 
 Eureka. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Stars and Stripes, Philadelphia, Louisiana, 
 Hetzel, Delaware, Commodore Perry, Val- 
 ley City, Underwriter, Commodore Barney, 
 Hunchback, Southfleld, Morse, H. Brinker,. 
 Lockwood. 
 
 Lackawanna. 
 
 State of Georgia, Victoria. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Sassacus. 
 
 Sunflower, Honduras, J. L. Davis. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Nita. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 New London, Massachusetts, R, B. Cuyler. 
 
 New Loudon, Massachusetts, R. R. Cuyler. 
 
 Memphis. 
 
 Mouticello. 
 
 Ktngflsher, Ethan Allen. 
 
 Sagamore, Mercedita. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Pawnee. 
 
 Two Sisters (tender to the Magnolia). 
 
 Norfolk Packet. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Union. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Hatteras, New London, J. P. Jackson. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Susquehanna. 
 
 Ohocura. 
 
 Reliance, Anacosiia, 
 
 William Bacon. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of the Annie, a tender. 
 
 t Waiting for prize list of the Conestoga. 
 
 X Waiting for prize list of the St. Louis. 
 
 g $54,426.59 distributed to owners, officers, and crew of the Ful- 
 
 II Waiting for prize lists of the Commodore Morris. 
 II Waiting for prize lists of the Two Sisters, a tender to the Mag- 
 nolia. 
 ** Final decree not received. 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 841 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sloop Pointer* 
 
 Property, lot of 
 
 Property, lot oft 
 
 Sch. President 
 
 Sch. Princeton 
 
 Sch. Prize 
 
 Sloop Pioneer 
 
 Str. Patras, cargo of. 
 
 Str. Planter 
 
 Str. Patras 
 
 Bark Pioneer 
 
 Pianos 2j: 
 
 Sch. Paul 
 
 Prize money.... 
 
 Sch. Pancha Larissa 
 
 Sloop Pickwicfe 
 
 Sch Peepo'Day 
 
 Sch. Pet _ 
 
 Sloop Phantom 
 
 Str. Pevensey, part of cargo 
 Str. Princess Royal 
 
 Bice, 10.3 casts of.... 
 
 Kice, 1,253 bags of.... 
 
 Sch. Revere 
 
 Sch. Reindeer 
 
 Sch. Rambler 
 
 Sch. Robert Bruce 
 
 Sch. Reindeer, cargo of. . 
 
 Sch. Rising Dawn 
 
 Sch. Rose 
 
 Sch.R. 0. Files 
 
 Str. Reliance 
 
 Sch. Rising Sun 
 
 Sch. Reindeer 
 
 Sloop Richard Vaux 
 
 Sch. Rebecca 
 
 Sch. Bowena 
 
 Sch. R. O. Bryan, cargo of 
 Bum, 8 bbls.. 37 hhds 
 sugar, and small lot of 
 lumber 
 
 Sloop Richard 
 
 Sch. Ringdove 
 
 Sloop Relampago No. 1 
 
 Sch. Royal Yacht 
 
 Sch. Rebekah 
 
 Sloop Relampago No. 2 
 
 Sch. R. F. Renshaw§ 
 
 Sloop Rosalie 
 
 Sloop Richardsll 
 
 Sloop Ranger 
 
 Sch. Rapid 
 
 Sch. Reserve 
 
 Sch. Restless Union 
 
 Sch. Ripple 
 
 Sch. RevereU 
 
 Str. Eouen 
 
 Sloop Racer 
 
 Sloop Resolute 
 
 Sch. Roebuck 
 
 Sch. Rebel 
 
 Sch. R. H. Vermylea 
 
 Sch. Rob Roy 
 
 Rosin, 25 barrels, etc. . 
 
 Str. Ruby 
 
 Sch. San Juan 
 
 Sch. Specie 
 
 Str. Salvor 
 
 Sch. Sarah 
 
 Sch. Susan Jane 
 
 Sch. Sally Mears 
 
 Sloop S. W. Green 
 
 Sch. Sarah Lavlnia 
 
 Sch. Southerner 
 
 Sch. Sabine • • ■ 
 
 Shoes, cargo of, etc 
 
 Str. Swan 
 
 Sch. Silas Henry 
 
 Sch. Stonewall 
 
 Sch. Sarah, cargo of 
 
 Sch. Sarah and Oarohne. . . 
 
 Sch. Shark 
 
 Sch. Soledad Cos 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $101 93 
 
 2,166 U 
 
 1,996 7B 
 
 12,411 13 
 
 3,870 28 
 
 837 84 
 
 2,366 92 
 
 68,787 64 
 
 198,690 58 
 
 34,000 00 
 
 31,401 26 
 
 134 00 
 
 976 65 
 
 69,943 42 
 
 8,980 85 
 
 336 66 
 
 3,488 84 
 
 19,820 25 
 
 621 25 
 
 6,456 60 
 
 360,882 61 
 
 3,510 34 
 4,134 92 
 3,336 73 
 
 10,147 90 
 8,807 99 
 
 38,338 17 
 8,895 29 
 3,212 70 
 7,778 40 
 
 36,065 40 
 
 84,719 60 
 
 1,294 02 
 
 24(1 00 
 
 380 00 
 
 2,022 41 
 
 6,563 01 
 
 1,209 78 
 
 4,479 60 
 
 3,474 65 
 
 1,036 51 
 
 3,396 39 
 
 27,676 28 
 
 2,868 09 
 
 3,161 61 
 
 860 00 
 
 2,710 76 
 
 790 76 
 
 1,338 85 
 
 7,564 31 
 
 4,624 37 
 
 377 00 
 
 26,986 66 
 
 766 46 
 
 38,662 26 
 
 6,350 38 
 
 663 25 
 
 9,071 02 
 
 114 69 
 
 6,220 89 
 
 628 43 
 
 20,494 47 
 
 14,286 00 
 
 2,728 86 
 
 10,214 86 
 
 38,260 94 
 
 21,464 10 
 
 12,658 36 
 
 2,800 00 
 
 232 50 
 
 416 00 
 
 605 00 
 205 00 
 672 68 
 
 218,475 52 
 8,213 20 
 1,2U0 00 
 
 606 99 
 4,322 61 
 4,811 44 
 3,974 63 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $86 29 
 269 37 
 
 236 46 
 1,293 16 
 
 916 96 
 
 237 64 
 1,068 18 
 6,336 82 
 
 16,872 00 
 
 4,077 41 
 
 2.913 81 
 
 103 21 
 
 134 01 
 
 1,198 86 
 
 1,225 00 
 
 102 70 
 363 70 
 
 3,952 08 
 
 103 47 
 691 16 
 
 22,666 60 
 
 896 33 
 
 1,098 87 
 
 1,744 87 
 
 1,644 70 
 
 1,384 63 
 
 6,981 62 
 
 2,051 53 
 
 1,213 69 
 
 758 92 
 
 2,831 15 
 
 6,394 27 
 
 246 93 
 
 162 20 
 
 164 82 
 
 612 04 
 
 929 96 
 
 371 13 
 
 466 83 
 370 28 
 160 85 
 588 01 
 2,663 74 
 426 08 
 447 65 
 112 35 
 436 86 
 209 26 
 187 12 
 777 11 
 
 973 42 
 341 27 
 
 2.067 36 
 300 00 
 
 1,906 72 
 741 13 
 122 63 
 
 974 63 
 88 38 
 
 1,118 36 
 
 98 36 
 
 3,091 81 
 
 2,492 61 
 
 1.031 85 
 
 1,276 91 
 
 (a3,029 19 
 
 I 3,379 18 
 
 1,671 22 
 
 2,763 66 
 
 1,427 45 
 
 109 55 
 
 163 89 
 
 164 10 
 114 19 
 179 91 
 
 16,177 49 
 
 1.068 08 
 114 35 
 
 91 91 
 
 1,118 26 
 
 1,253 22 
 
 750 78 
 
 Am'tfordiS' 
 tribution. 
 
 $16 64 
 
 1,897 17 
 
 1,711 31 
 
 11,117 98 
 
 2,963 32 
 
 600 30 
 
 1,308 74 
 
 62,450 82 
 
 181,818 58 
 
 29,922 59 
 
 28,487 44 
 
 30 79 
 
 841 61 
 
 68,744 56 
 
 7,766 86 
 
 233 16 
 
 3,126 14 
 
 15.808 17 
 
 417 78 
 
 4,765 34 
 
 337,816 11 
 
 2,614 01 
 
 3,036 36 
 
 1,690 86 
 
 8,603 20 
 
 7,423 46 
 
 31,356 65 
 
 6,843 76 
 
 1,999 01 
 
 7,019 48 
 
 33,234 25 
 
 78,325 23 
 
 1,047 09 
 
 77 80 
 
 226 18 
 
 1,410 87 
 
 4,623 06 
 
 838 66 
 
 4,022 67 
 
 3,104 37 
 
 885 66 
 
 2,807 38 
 
 25.022 64 
 
 2,432 01 
 
 2,713 96 
 
 737 65 
 
 2,274 89 
 
 681 60 
 
 1,161 73 
 
 6,787 20 
 
 3,650 95 
 
 36 73 
 
 24,919 20 
 
 465 46 
 
 36,766 64 
 
 6,609 26 
 
 440 72 
 
 8,096 49 
 
 26 21 
 
 6,102 64 
 
 430 07 
 
 17,403 66 
 
 11,803 39 
 
 1,697 01 
 
 8,938 96 
 
 [ 31,842 67 
 
 19,782 88 
 
 9,794 69 
 
 1,372 65 
 
 122 96 
 
 251 11 
 
 440 90 
 
 90 81 
 
 392 77 
 
 202,298 03 
 
 2,165 12 
 
 ' 1,085 65 
 
 515 08 
 
 3,204 36 
 
 3,558 22 
 
 3,223 85 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 Washington. 
 
 ....do 
 
 .. do 
 
 Key West... 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do. 
 
 New York... 
 
 ....do 
 
 Key West... 
 New York . . . 
 
 ...do 
 
 Springfield.. 
 Key West . . 
 Washington. 
 
 New Orleans 
 Key West . . . 
 
 do 
 
 New Orleans.. 
 
 Key West 
 
 New York — 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 New York 
 
 do X 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 ....do 
 
 -do 
 
 Washington.. 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia.. 
 ....do 
 
 Boston.. 
 
 Springfield. .. 
 
 Key West 
 
 ....do 
 
 ... do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West.... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ... do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans.. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West 
 
 Boston 
 
 .do 
 
 Key West 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 Key West 
 
 St. Augustine 
 Key West ... 
 Philadelphia. 
 ..do , 
 
 .do , 
 
 .do 
 
 do , 
 
 Washington. 
 
 .. do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Key West..., 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 New York 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 Oct. 19. 1863 
 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 24, 
 April 27, 
 Doc. 9, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Feb. 29. 
 April 14, 
 
 1862 
 1802 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 April 16, 1864 
 Oct, 29, 1864 
 
 April 22, 1866 
 Aug. 25, 1865 
 Aug. 25, 1865 
 June 26, 1805 
 Aug. 12, 1865 
 Aug. 21, 1866 
 Oct. 13, 1866 
 
 May 28, 
 Jan. 23. 
 Sept. 15, 
 Jan. 11, 
 May 2, 
 Feb. 4, 
 Nov, 26, 
 Jan. 11, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 16, 
 Jan. 29, 
 Oct. 19, 
 April 20, 
 Feb. 18, 
 Nov. 6. 
 Sept. 16, 
 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1864 
 1864 
 1884 
 1863 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1863 
 1863 
 1862 
 1864 
 1862 
 1863 
 
 Jan. 13, 1863 
 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 June 9, 1863 
 June 8, 1863 
 June 4, 1863 
 Nov. 2, 1863 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 June 22, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 ApriU2, 1864 
 April 12,1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 9, 1865 
 Mar. 22, 1866 
 Mar. 22, 1865 
 May 1, 1866 
 Aug. 16, 1865 
 June 29, 1866 
 Aug. 12, 1865 
 
 Sept', "ii 1866 
 July 21, 1864 
 Oct. 17, 1862 
 
 Jan. 14, 1863 
 
 Nov. 26, 1863 
 
 April 23. 1864 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Oct. 19, 1863 
 Sept. 21, 1862 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 Oct. 6,1865 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 Oct. 15, 1863 
 Oct. 23. 1863 
 Oct. 23, 1863 
 Sept. 15, 1863 
 Jan. 14, 1863 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Reliance. 
 
 T. A. Ward. 
 
 Matthew Vassar. 
 
 Owasco. 
 
 Susquehanna. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Portsmouth. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Lackawanna. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Monticello, Quaker City. 
 
 Great Western. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Curlew, Gen. Pillow, New Era, Louisvillb, 
 Mound City, Oonestoga, Marmora, Signal, 
 I'ittsburgh, Cincinnati, Gen. Lyon, Romeo, 
 Carondelet, Tyler, Petrel, Black Hawk and 
 tugs. 
 
 Sciota. 
 
 Sunflower. 
 
 Pursuit. 
 
 Bienville, Princess Royal. 
 
 Honeysuckle. 
 
 Newbern, 
 
 Unadilla, Augusta, Housatonic, America, G. 
 W. Blunt ($10,000 decreed to Memphis and 
 Quaker City). 
 
 Albatross, Norwich. 
 
 Albatross. 
 
 Monticello, Maratanza, Mahaska, 
 
 Arthur. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Penobscot. 
 
 W. G. Anderson. 
 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Sagamore, Mercedita. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 Wyandank. 
 
 Island BeUe, Satellite. 
 
 Primrose. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Pembina, Pawnee, Huron, Unadilla, H. An- 
 drews. E. P. Hale, Ellen. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Battler, Petrel. 
 
 Gem of the Sea. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 James S. Chambers. 
 
 W. G. Anderson. 
 
 J. S. Chambers. 
 
 Jasmine. 
 
 Louisiana. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Two Sisters. 
 
 Fort Henry, Wanderer. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Kittatinny. 
 
 Commodore. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Cambridge, Susquehanna. 
 
 Keystone State. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Stars and Stripes. 
 
 Pawnee. Columbia. 
 
 Proteus. 
 
 Susquehanna. 
 
 Dale. 
 
 Keystone State 
 
 Keystone State, Seneca, Norwich, Alabama, 
 James Adger, Shepherd Knapp, Roebuck. 
 Pawnee. 
 Quaker City. 
 T. A. Ward. 
 Primrose. 
 
 Wyandank, Jacob Bell, Teazer. 
 Resolute. 
 Dan Smith. 
 Amanda Bainbridge. 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Tahoma, Wanderer. 
 Hatteras. 
 Bienville. 
 Soutn Carolina. 
 South Carolina, Sam Houston. 
 
 * Waiting for prize list of the Reliance. 
 t Waiting for prize list of the M. Vassar. 
 
 § Waiting for prize list of the Louisiana. 
 
 ITWaiting for prize list of the Cambridge and Susquehanna. 
 
843 
 
 THE NAVAL HISTORY 
 
 Name. 
 
 Sloop Sarah 
 
 Str. Scotia 
 
 Str. Sunbeam 
 
 Sch.Sue 
 
 Sell. Southern Independ- 
 ence 
 
 Bark Sally Magee 
 
 Sch. St. George 
 
 Str. Seoesh 
 
 Sch. Southern Eights 
 
 Sch. Star 
 
 Str. Stettin 
 
 Sugar, 13 bbls.; 1 bbl, 
 
 molasaes 
 
 Sloop Surprise 
 
 Sch. Shot 
 
 Str. Spaulding 
 
 Sch. Sea Drift 
 
 Sch. Statesman 
 
 Scow, 1, and 69 bales 
 
 cotton 
 
 Sloop Southern Star 
 
 Str.St. John's 
 
 Sugar, 14 bbls., etc 
 
 Str. Southern Merchant... 
 
 Shoes, 498 pairs*.. 
 
 Sch. Segurt 
 
 Sundries, 12 boxes 
 
 Bch. Stingray 
 
 Sch Sylpnide 
 
 Str. Scotia 
 
 Sch . Sophia 
 
 Sch. Savannah 
 
 Sch., 1; sloop, 1 ,. 
 
 Sch. Sea Bird 
 
 Str. Sumter 
 
 Str. Susanna 
 
 Sch. Spunky 
 
 Sch. Susan 
 
 Sch. SortKo.l 
 
 Sch. (name unknown) 
 
 Sloop (no namej 
 
 Sloop Swallow 
 
 Sch. Sort No. 2 
 
 Str. Tubal Cain 
 
 Sch. Trier 
 
 Sch. Two Sisters 
 
 Sch. Theresa 
 
 Tobacco, 18 boxes 
 
 Sch. Three Brothers 
 
 Str. Tom Sugg 
 
 Ship Thomas Watsont. . . 
 
 Turpentine, 11 barrels. 
 Sch. Thomas 0. Worrellg. . 
 
 Tobacco, 2 hogsheads. . 
 
 Str. Tristram Shandy 
 
 Str. This tie 
 
 Sch. Three Brothers 
 
 Sch. Terrapin 
 
 Sch. Two Brothers 
 
 Sloop Theodora 
 
 Sloop Telemaco 
 
 Str. Union 
 
 Sch. Uncle Mose 
 
 Sch. Victoria 
 
 Str. Victory 
 
 Sch. Velasco 
 
 Sch. Venus 
 
 Sch. Virginia 
 
 Sch. Victoria 
 
 Sch. Volantell 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $7,382 41 
 
 104,636 60 
 
 74,966 74 
 
 10,062 20 
 
 66,213 94 
 8,160 00 
 4,573 04 
 
 19,080 46 
 
 664 24 
 
 800 00 
 
 226,393 10 
 
 457 29 
 71,117 16 
 
 681 36 
 26,314 67 
 4,260 10 
 13,600 67 
 
 13,438 69 
 1,686 63 
 
 47,792 40 
 1,176 07 
 3,000 00 
 
 273 90 
 
 3,160 00 
 
 816 03 
 33,988 04 
 3,060 69 
 76,448 62 
 1,212 60 
 1,326 00 
 818 21 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 Sch. Volante 
 
 Sch. Velocity, cargo of. 
 
 Str. Vixen 
 
 Sch. Wm. Mallory 
 
 Sch. W. C.Bee 
 
 Sch. William 
 
 Sch. Wm. E. Chester. . . . 
 
 Sch. Wave 
 
 Sch. Water Witch 
 
 Whiskey, cargo o\\. 
 
 Sch. Wave 
 
 Sch. Winter Shrub 
 
 Sch. Wanderer 
 
 Sch. Wave, cargo of 
 
 3,600 00 
 
 60,284 20 
 
 6,396 81 
 
 1,168 31 
 
 36,080 26 
 
 3,204 63 
 
 92 00 
 
 78,048 83 
 
 2,749 40 
 
 65,087 48 
 
 1,387 30 
 
 3,698 30 
 
 2,990 04 
 
 329 14 
 
 320 00 
 
 7,000 00 
 
 666 88 
 
 1.119 30 
 
 614 40 
 
 708 66 
 
 418,873 81 
 
 163,392 90 
 
 1,638 87 
 
 697 68 
 
 76 76 
 
 140 00 
 
 3,436 64 
 
 98,838 46 
 
 32,662 91 
 
 60,460 49 
 
 306,421 37 
 
 660 00 
 
 6.781 49 
 
 67,936 99 
 
 30,301 08 
 
 641 32 
 
 $1,243 75 
 10,939 98 
 16,611 69 
 1,716 13 
 
 4,244 46 
 3,762 98 
 2,015 65 
 1,394 77 
 
 133 63 
 
 168 61 
 23,921 08 
 
 84 81 
 6,067 39 
 
 143 76 
 2,640 41 
 
 698 72 
 1,622 07 
 
 1,192 40 
 
 169 37 
 2,332 89 
 
 206 60 
 481 30 
 *80 13J 
 113 63 
 tl,321 07J 
 607 86 
 196 98 
 
 2,968 16 
 769 96 
 
 3,009 02 
 359 26 
 244 96 
 272 62 
 
 Am'tfordis 
 tribution. 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 ,365 11 
 621 86 
 ,127 00 
 526 19 
 '.884 26 
 ,324 97 
 ,298 74 
 ,250 26 
 731 30 
 633 48 
 001 90 
 485 80 
 430 60 
 ,137 00 
 
 237 96 
 
 6,297 60 
 
 484 02 
 
 203 34 
 
 2.059 63 
 
 227 00 
 
 92 00 
 
 3,676 36 
 
 196 87 
 
 8,006 83 
 
 369 86 
 
 684 34 
 
 626 23 
 
 95 23 
 
 116 92 
 
 4,027 70 
 
 636 67 
 
 127 11 
 
 137 93 
 
 156 44 
 
 6,801 26 
 
 2,539 07 
 
 193 69 
 
 183 23 
 
 76 76 
 
 94 83 
 
 857 19 
 
 7,298 84 
 
 2,336 92 
 
 2,049 68 
 
 6,422 92 
 
 871 95 
 
 1,260 36 
 
 9,245 42 
 
 2,267 87 
 
 629 96 
 
 144 20 
 
 179 47 
 
 3,031 02 
 
 1,567 29 
 
 2,470 04 
 
 6,963 04 
 
 2,590 35 
 
 1,968 95 
 
 1,938 33 
 
 126 46 
 
 821 59 
 
 773 28 
 
 704 26 
 
 707 09 
 
 $6,138 66 
 
 93,596 62 
 
 69,466 16 
 
 8,346 07 
 
 61,969 48 
 4,387 02 
 2,667 99 
 
 17,685 69 
 
 420 71 
 
 631 49 
 
 202,471 42 
 
 372 48 
 66,049 77 
 
 637 61 
 
 22,774 26 
 
 3,601 38 
 
 11,878 60 
 
 12,246 19 
 1,427 26 
 
 46,469 61 
 
 970 47 
 
 2,618 70 
 
 [ 80 13J 
 
 1 1,321 07J 
 
 619 06 
 
 31.019 88 
 2,280 74 
 
 73,439 60 
 
 863 M 
 
 1,080 04 
 
 645 69 
 
 3,288 09 
 
 3,302 05 
 
 64,986 60 
 
 4,912 79 
 
 964 97 
 
 33.020 73 
 2,976 97 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 New York... 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Boston. ... 
 New York... 
 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Key West . 
 .do... . 
 New York. 
 
 Key West 
 
 ...do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Key West . . . 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 . do 
 
 Boston 
 
 New Orleans 
 ....do 
 
 ...do , 
 
 ...do , 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 74,473 47 
 
 2,662 83 
 
 47,081 65 
 
 1,017 44 
 
 3,013 96 
 
 2,303 81 
 
 233 91 
 
 203 08 
 
 2,972 30 
 
 121 21 
 
 992 19 
 
 370 47 
 
 662 22 
 
 412,072 56 
 
 160,853 83 
 
 1,445 28 
 
 514 36 
 
 46 20 
 
 2,678 45 
 
 91,539 61 
 
 30,226 99 
 
 48,400 91 
 
 299,998 46 
 
 No proceeds 
 
 4,616 13 
 
 48,090 67 
 
 28,033 21 
 
 11 36 
 
 1,210 91 
 
 442 38 
 
 66,096 98 
 
 5,968 90 
 
 28,414 21 
 
 88,371 93 
 
 19,708 39 
 
 4,291 31 
 
 3,792 47 
 
 408 02 
 
 4,180 31 
 
 712 52 
 
 726 34 
 
 3,369 91 
 
 Key West .... 
 New Orleans. 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 New York 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington.. 
 Key West .... 
 St. Augustine 
 Philadelphia 
 St. Augustine 
 Key West. .. 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 Key West .... 
 New York . 
 
 Key West 
 
 . do 
 
 ..do 
 
 Washington . . 
 
 .do 
 
 Springfield. . . 
 
 New York 
 
 Key West 
 
 Washington.. 
 Springfield . . 
 
 Boston 
 
 ..do 
 
 Key West .... 
 
 ...do 
 
 ....do 
 
 ...do 
 
 New Orleans 
 Key West... 
 
 ...do 
 
 Boston 
 
 do 
 
 New York... 
 
 do 
 
 Key West . . . 
 
 .do 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Key West ... 
 
 ....do 
 
 New York 
 
 Key West ... 
 
 ..do 
 
 ....do.. - 
 
 ..do 
 
 New York 
 
 ...do 
 
 Washington. , 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 .do 
 
 Jan. 27, 1803 
 Nov. 5, 1863 
 Nov. 20, 1863 
 Nov. 26, 1863 
 
 Deo. 1, 1863 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1804 
 Feb. 18, 1804 
 
 April 12, 1864 
 July 6, 1864 
 Mar. 22, 1804 
 
 Feb. 29, 1804 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 22, 1804 
 July 19, 1864 
 Oct. 2, 1866 
 
 Mar. 29. 1864 
 June 7, 1804 
 June 17, 1864 
 July 19, 1864 
 Nov. 12, 1864 
 Oct. 7, 1864 
 Oct. 7, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Nov. 4, 1864 
 Mar. 25, 1806 
 Mar. 28, 1806 
 April 20, 1866 
 June 29, 1865 
 
 No proceeds. 
 June 3, 1865 
 Aug. 12, 1865 
 July 20, 1863 
 Oct. 15, 1863 
 Oct. 24, 1863 
 Oct. 14,1863 
 Oct. 19,1863 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 April 12, 1864 
 
 June 1, 1864 
 
 Feb. 17, 1865 
 Oct. 10, 1864 
 Jan. 14, 1865 
 Mar. 22, 1866 
 Aug. 25, 1865 
 No proceeds. 
 
 Aug.'sil.isoV 
 Feb. 17, 1803 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 Jan. 12, 1863 
 Nov. 6, 1863 
 
 Matthew Vasaar, Sea Foam. 
 
 Bestless. 
 
 State of Georgia, Mystic. 
 
 Monticello. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Canandaigua, New Ironsides, Powhatan, 
 Wamsutta, Paul Jones, Lodona, Housa- 
 tonic, Huron, Unadilla, Fsia, Stettin, 
 Augusta. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 Bienville. 
 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Hunts ville. 
 
 Sagamore. 
 
 Union. 
 
 Itasca. 
 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Fort Henry. 
 Fort Henry. 
 Stettin. 
 
 Cayuga, Owasoo. 
 Diana. 
 
 Genesee. 
 
 Gulf squadron. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 Penobscot. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 Dan Smith, Huron, Midnight. 
 
 Perry. 
 
 Mor%e. 
 
 De Soto. 
 
 Pawnee, Columbine. 
 
 Metacomet. 
 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Roebuck, Honeysuckle. 
 
 O. H. Lee. 
 
 Nita. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Getn of the Sea. . 
 
 Tioga. 
 
 Honeysuckle. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Albatross. 
 
 Currituck, Anacostia. 
 
 Cricket. 
 Boanoke, Flag. 
 
 Feb. 17, J863 
 Oct. 7, 1863 
 Feb. 17, 1863 
 
 Nov. 17, 
 Mar. 29, 
 Mar. 14, 
 Oct. 16. 
 Oct. 16, 
 Oct. 7, 
 Oct. 10, 
 Nov. 25, 
 Nov. 6, 
 
 1864 
 1863 
 1865 
 1862 
 1862 
 1863 
 1863 
 1862 
 1863 
 
 Nov. 25. 1802 
 Nov. 6, 1863 
 Feb. 29. 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Wyandank, Jacob Bell. 
 
 Key West. 
 
 Kansas. 
 
 Fort Jackson. 
 
 Nita. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Roebuck. 
 
 Hibiscus. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Quaker City. 
 
 J. S. Chambers. 
 
 Tahoma. 
 
 Kanawha. 
 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Wachusett and Sonoma. 
 
 Mercedita. 
 
 Western World, Gem of the Sea, Yacht 
 
 Hope, Albatross, Henry Anderson, and E. 
 
 B, Hale. 
 Beauregard. 
 
 Kensington, Rachel Seaman. 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Huntsville, Brooklyn, Mercedita, Itasca. 
 Santiago de Cuba. 
 De Soto. 
 Montgomery. 
 Portsmouth. 
 Arthur, Sachem. 
 George Mangham. 
 G. W. Blunt. 
 Hunchback. Whitehead. 
 Sacramento. 
 E. B. Hale. 
 
 $80.13 >i paid as salvage to Samuel Butler. Prize list of Gen- 
 esee waiting, 
 t $l,321.07)i paid to James Taylor for raising and repairing 
 voaaoi -Decreed to West Gulf squadron informal. 
 
 vessel. - 
 
 X Waitmg tor prize list of the Ttoanoke and Flag 
 
 § Waiting forprize list of the Jacob Bell. 
 
 II Waiting for six prize lists. 
 
 IT Waitiner for nri^ft linl; nf t>in nan,./Y» ut„— „i, 
 
OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 843 
 
 27anie. 
 
 Sch. W. Y. Leitoh 
 
 Bark Winnifred 
 
 Sch. Wave 
 
 Sell. Winona or Alert 
 
 Str. Warrior and cargo 
 
 Sch. Wonder 
 
 Sch. William 
 
 Sch. Wm. A. Kain 
 
 Sch. Wild Pigeon 
 
 Str. Wando 
 
 Steam-tug Young America, 
 
 Str. Young Kepublic 
 
 Sch. Zavalla 
 
 Sch. Zulima 
 
 Gross pro- 
 ceeds. 
 
 $1,180 69 
 39,110 96 
 19,£00 89 
 93,281 25 
 
 29,276 67 
 3,627 85 
 
 2,463 32 
 
 23,909 32 
 
 188 71 
 
 415,690 83 
 
 13,600 00 
 
 422,341 99 
 
 4,126 14 
 
 2,480 61 
 
 Costs and 
 expenses. 
 
 $403 66 
 6.244 96 
 
 Am'tfor dis- 
 tribution. 
 
 1,905 46 
 
 7,037 14 
 
 3,590 63 
 
 966 01 
 
 246 36 
 
 2,382 67 
 
 81 22 
 
 6,203 94 
 
 219 72 
 
 10,822 20 
 
 1,296 16 
 
 164 02 
 
 $774 13 
 32,866 00 
 17,996 44 
 86,244 11 
 
 25,686 14 
 2,661 84 
 
 2,217 96 
 
 21,626 66 
 
 107 49 
 
 409,486 89 
 
 13,280 28 
 
 411,619 79 
 
 2,828 99 
 
 2,316 69 
 
 Where adjudi- 
 cated. 
 
 Sent to 4th 
 Auditor for 
 distribution. 
 
 Key West.... 
 
 New York 
 
 New Orleans 
 ....do 
 
 ...do , 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Key West . . . 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 Boston. 
 
 ....do 
 
 ....do 
 
 New York . . . 
 Boston 
 
 Dec. 10, 
 April 12, 
 April 23, 
 April 23, 
 
 Nov. 26, 
 Feb. 2, 
 
 May 1, 
 April 26, 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1866 
 
 1865 
 1865 
 
 Sept. 23, 
 Oct. 5, 
 Aug. 24, 
 Aug. 14, 
 Dec. 19, 
 
 1866 
 1865 
 1865 
 1863 
 1864 
 
 Vessels entitled to share. 
 
 Octorara. 
 
 Quaker City, Monticello. 
 
 Cayuga. 
 
 Kanawha, Colorado, Eichmond, Gertrude, 
 Kennebec, Octorara, Albatross. 
 
 Gertrude. 
 
 Daffodil (a detachment from Wabash enti- 
 tled to share.) 
 
 San Jacinto. 
 
 Restless. 
 
 Hendrick Hudson. (Waiting for prize list.) 
 
 Fort Jackson. 
 
 Cumberland. 
 
 Grand Gulf. 
 
 Huntsville. 
 
 New London. 
 
ER RATA 
 
 Pafff! Column Line 
 
 29 
 
 41 
 
 77 
 
 96 
 
 185 
 
 266 
 
 290 
 
 :t06 
 
 315 
 
 :il5 
 
 315 
 
 940 
 3K4 
 406 
 417 
 446 
 
 Left 
 
 Kigbt 
 Left 
 
 Right 
 
 Riglit 
 Left 
 
 RiRht 
 
 26 
 37 
 1 
 36 
 .■!2 
 11 
 63 
 14 
 22 
 31 
 
 2 
 Last 
 
 9 
 SO 
 37 
 
 For 
 
 'Commodore Jas. Allien," 
 'I." 
 
 Read 
 
 CommaiKler Jan. Aldcn. 
 we. 
 
 "pfecipitated," precipitate, 
 
 "restate," relate, 
 
 "comiug," moving, 
 
 "armed vessels," armored vessels. 
 
 "vesselB," iron-clads. 
 
 "fire," return. 
 
 " vessels," Federals, 
 
 "vessel," iron-elad. 
 insert Lieutenant-Commander Greer's name before that of 
 Lieutenant-Commanding Mui-phy. 
 
 "depotism," despotism, 
 
 "later," latter. 
 
 " Peninsuhir," Peninsula, 
 
 "enemy," Confederates. 
 
 " cut of," cut off. 
 
 For Dnpont. read DuPont, wherever it occurs. 
 For Gilmore (Gen. Q. A.}, read Gilimore, wherever it occurs. 
 
 Insert in list of " Keokuk's " offtcers the name of Acting-Chief Engineer "Winanp, 
 on i)age 391. 
 
"«-