Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 3. — Report of Brig. Gen. W. S. Walker, C. S. Army, commanding Third Military District.

 No. 3.

Report of Brig. Gen. W. S. Walker, C. S. Army, commanding Third Military District.

HDQRS. THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA,        

Pocotaligo, S.C., April 16, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that at daylight on the 9th instant I attacked the armed steamboat George Washington, in Coosaw River, with two guns of the Nelson Light Artillery, Captain Lamkin commanding, and four from the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, under Lieut. H. M. Stuart. Six companies of the Forty-eighth North Carolina, Col. R. C. Hill, and five companies cavalry, Col. B. H. Rutledge commanding, and two pieces light artillery, drawn by mules, under Capt. W. L. Campbell, Company I, Eleventh Regiment Infantry, were ordered to the neighborhood of Port Royal Ferry and Chisolm's Island as a support.

After a few discharges the steamer was set on fire by a shell and burned to the water's edge. The enemy raised the white flag and our cannonade ceased. They availed themselves of the cessation of our fire to escape to the shore.

Capt. Stephen Elliott visited the wreck and found her armed with two 24-pounder brass howitzers and a 20-pounder James rifle gun. Two men of the crew were found mortally wounded and 1 dead. The wounded reported that 1 was burned up with the wreck, and among those who escaped several were wounded.

A detachment of Captain Cooper's battery, three Parrott guns, and Capt. Stephen Elliott's battery, two guns, had been sent to intercept a gunboat moving toward Port Royal Ferry. She passed the ferry, however, before the batteries arrived. The Parrott guns were then used in shelling the pickets on the opposite shore, and exhibited great range and accuracy of fire.

Upon the night of the 10th two pieces of heavy artillery and nine of light, supported by three companies of infantry and three companies of cavalry, the whole under command of Capt. Stephen Elliott, were sent to Chisolm's Island with boats for the purpose of raising the guns of the burnt steamer. It was found that the enemy had raised one gun, a 24-pounder howitzer. Captain Elliott, with a section of the Beaufort Artillery, raised and brought to shore one brass 24-pounder howitzer, several Enfield rifles, and some portions of the vessel's equipments. With the means at his disposal he found it impracticable to raise the 20-pounder James gun. The enemy shelled the wreck from the opposite shore, making it dangerous to work.

There were no casualties in either affair on our side.

I take pleasure in stating that the artillery practice was excellent, and the whole command showed great promptitude and alacrity throughout the enterprise.

Capt. Stephen Elliott exhibited his characteristic coolness and skill as an artillery officer. Lieut. E. H. Barnwell, Capt. John H. Screven, and Lieut. George L. Washington, of my staff, were zealous in the discharge of their duties, and rendered efficient service.

I inclose the report of Capt. Stephen Elliott.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. S. WALKER,        

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN,
        Chief of Staff, &c.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 282-3

Official Reports of the Destruction of steamer George Washington, near Beaufort, S.C., April 9, 1863: No. 4. — Report of Capt. Stephen Elliott, Jr., Beaufort (S. C.) Artillery.

No. 4.

Report of Capt. Stephen Elliott, Jr., Beaufort (S. C.) Artillery.

HDQRS. ARTY., THIRD M IL. DIST. OF S.C.,        

 April 14, 1863.

 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.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR.,        

Chief Artillery, Third Military District of South Carolina.

Capt. JAMES LOWNDES,
        Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 283-4