No. 2.
Report of Col. Joseph R. Hawley, Seventh
Connecticut Infantry.
GENERAL: I have the
honor to report certain facts concerning the loss of the armed steamer George
Washington.
I most respectfully
declined obeying the peremptory order of General Saxton to send the Washington
to Beaufort before she had completed the task assigned her by yourself, as I
supposed, in protecting Captain Graef's operations. General Saxton, on board
the Flora, went to Seabrook's and commanded the Washington to follow him to
Beaufort, and Lieutenant Blanding felt obliged to obey.
On the 8th the E. B.
Hale and Washington started to go around Port Royal Island on a reconnaissance,
conducted by Captain Briggs, Third Rhode Island Artillery. Before reaching the
ferry the Hale got aground. At night she got off, and about 4.30 a.m. of the
9th started, without the knowledge of the officers of the Washington. The
latter started about 5 or 5.30 a.m. to follow her, and had proceeded a mile or
two when a turn in the channel revealed a rebel light battery directly astern,
perhaps a mile distant, which instantly opened fire. The Washington had only a
howitzer astern, and could not turn to reply. The second shot exploded the
magazine, which was in the afterpart of the vessel, unshipped the rudder, broke
the steering gear, ripping up the deck, tumbling the howitzer into the hold,
and destroying all the ammunition for the James rifle forward. The vessel took
fire and began to fill rapidly. The master backed her toward the marsh on our
side. Captain Briggs ordered a white flag raised—against the protests of the
master, Campbell, who continued his attempt to escape. They put the wounded on
the marsh and all scrambled off. The rebels, seeing this, resumed their fire,
of course, and with great accuracy, though it is not known that any were struck
while crossing the wide marsh. The wounded lying on the bank were captured by a
boat party of rebels.
The E. B. Hale,
somewhere near Broad River, was informed by some one (she having heard the
firing, it is said) and went back and sent or received a flag of truce and took
the wounded. The Washington burned to the water's edge.
The total loss is
14, all, it is supposed, from the explosion. Two were killed instantly; 2
seriously (probably fatally) wounded, 8 slightly, and 2 missing. Some of the
men were hours scrambling through the marsh. No officers were hurt.
No unusual movements
of the enemy have been perceived. All is quiet.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Chief of Staff, Department of the South.
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