SIR: I have the honor to submit a report of
the capture of the armed steamer George Washington by a portion of the
artillery of this command on the morning of the 9th instant.
At 5 o'clock on the
8th instant a gunboat and a steamer were reported near Chisolm's Island, the
former aground and the latter making efforts to get her off. The following
artillery forces were ordered to report at the causeway leading to the island,
viz: Beaufort Artillery, Lieutenant Stuart, six guns; Nelson Artillery, Captain
Lamkin, four guns; Cooper's North Carolina battery, three 10-pounder Parrott
guns, and Company I, Eleventh Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, Captain
Campbell, two guns.
While the batteries
were being brought into position the gunboat, which had now been set afloat by
the rising tide, moved off toward Port Royal Ferry. General Walker then
directed me to divide the guns and to take one portion to the ferry with the
view of intercepting her, and to order the other portion to open fire on the
steamer as soon as she should attempt to move. I directed Captain Lamkin with
two guns and Lieutenant Stuart with four guns to remain, and sent forward the
rest to the other point. At 5 o'clock a.m. the steamer gave indications of
moving, and these guns were rapidly placed in battery by their commanding
officers and a brisk fire opened upon her with 6-pounder shot and 12-pounder
shell. After two rounds it was evident that she was disabled. She raised a
white flag and drifted up the river and across to the opposite shore.
Upon hearing the
firing I returned, and observing that her crew were attempting to escape into
the marsh opposite I directed the commanders of batteries to reopen fire upon
them, and continued it until they had disappeared. She was now evidently on
fire, and as soon as the explosion of shell and powder on board had subsided I
boarded her and found that she had sunk in 4 feet of water, was burnt to the
water's edge, and had carried two 24-pounder howitzers aft and 20-pounder
Parrott pivot gun forward. There were 3 men in her yawl, which lay astern, 2 of
them severely wounded and the third dead. They were taken ashore. Efforts were
made to bring off one of the howitzers, which from want of proper means were
unsuccessful. Attracted by the cries of wounded men in the marsh I entered it,
but the reappearance of the gunboat rapidly approaching rendered it unsafe to
remain any longer. As the wounded men had been left where they would not be
perceived by the enemy and could not be assisted by us, I rode back with a flag
of truce and directed the attention of the captain of the gunboat to them, and
after some unimportant conversation with him returned. No information of
importance was elicited from the prisoners while in our possession.
The practice of our
batteries reflected great credit on the gunners, conducted as it was at early
dawn and at a rapidly moving object half a mile distant.
The expedition sent
down two days afterward succeeded in getting off from the wreck a 24-pounder
howitzer (which was buried on shore until it could be brought off with safety),
the bell, and a small kedge anchor. A heavy and continuous shelling of the
wreck from the opposite shore forbade all further attempts to secure the pivot
gun. The enemy had already moved the other howitzer.
My thanks are due to
Captain Earle, of the Furman Light Artillery, a volunteer, who rendered
efficient aid during the attack upon the boat, and also to Captain Barnwell, of
General Walker's staff, who upon both expeditions afforded me the most valuable
assistance.
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
No comments:
Post a Comment